North Coast Post

on hiatus

2007-07-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, it's been a fun run, but one chapter of the Postmaster's life is about to close and a new one begin. We'll keep the NCP here for your perusal and – who knows? – perhaps be back. But for now, a long-overdue vacation is about to begin.

Ciao!
PM

Media incest, update – and redux! – and really, this must stop

2007-07-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

From her former cohorts at the ER, news that the "wicked smart" Ashley Ramone is returning to KSLG where she'll join the er, awfully nice, Arcata Eye Scene Editor Jen Savage.

And, to connect the dots once again:

KSLG's Monica Topping writes an entertainment column for the T-S. (And dates "Humboldt County's youngest elected official" and a former, albeit briefly employed, Eye-staffer, Shane Brinton.) Way to rob the cradle, M!

The Journal editor, Hank Sims, has a talk show on one of Lost Coast Communication's other stations, KHUM.

Arcata Eye editor and publisher Kevin Hoover also sets loose Frank Zappa upon an unsuspecting population on KHUM, as well as serves up some mildly objectionable news features on both KHSU and KMUD.

The Fat Guys on Film, too big to remain confined by the pages of the T-S, broadcast on KSLG as well.

Eye photog extraordinaire Terrence McNally sings Judas Priest, while Fat Guy Chris Durant does a little Republican Duck Hunting.

Then you have the folks content to simply, oh, do good work. At least for a few more days.

The ever-vigilant Kevin Hoover has pointed out the following:

Jack Durham of the McKinleyville Press also does news for KHSU once a
week, as does Christine Sackey of the Humboldt Beacon.

Wendy Butler does Art Waves on KHSU.

Kevin and possibly Hank Sims do an occasional Friday Focus for KZPN
Bayside (JPR).

(While we at the NCP do not make a habit of encouraging vices – well, not all the time – we must insist you only listen to Wendy Butler interviewing artists after smoking copious amounts of the best weed you can get your hands on. Trust us, it's for the best.)

OK, one more, courtesy of Durant:

"James is in a band too. Anchorite and Mystic, they're playing all over the place in the next couple months. In fact we're playing together at Six Rivers Brewery, Aug. 11. Come on out and introduce yourself."

There.

Everyone loves the ER! (Especially the advertisers!)

2007-07-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

At first we thought Judi Pollace had moved to Oregon! But, noooooooooooooo.

Just your run-of-the-mill confusion. Oregon, California, same diff.

Out in Oregon, the Eureka Reporter was born out of a web site started in August 2004. After six months, it began printing as a free weekly, and in January 2006 it went daily with a circulation of about 10,000.

The family-owned paper’s philosophy is that no one should have to pay for news about their community and that ad rates should be kept affordable so that small businesses can flourish.

“We’ve gone back to basics,” says Judi Pollace, publisher. “This is what a community newspaper was 100 years ago. We’re hyperlocal. That’s why everyone loves the paper.”

By all indications the philosophy is working.

Bolstered by ad rates that are kept in line with circulation at $17 an inch, compared with the competition’s $27-an-inch rate, the Reporter’s ad sales are up. So is circulation, to 25,000. That puts it ahead of its paid competition at 19,000, after just two and one half years.

Take that, "competition" – ha!

Imagine this as a bouquet of flowers

2007-07-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, how completely remiss of us to not point out that GFS is back! Regrettably, his brush with death did nothing to sharpen up his writing whatsoever.

"Eureka has way too many traffic collisions and, in my opinion, leading the intersections for the potential worst-case scenario is the haphazard Myrtle and Sixth Street 'intersection,' if it can even be called that."

I prefer to call it “the intersection designed by those oblivious to the realities of the road.”

Yes, Glenn-o, we get that it's your opinion – hence the name attached to the column. Oh shucks, he is kinda cute when he's got a cause isn't he?
Besides, international policy-makers (you and I know them as "the deciders") can finally start moving ahead, now that Glenn's back!

Damn-near Dandy worthy

2007-07-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

Juicy!

"Taking the stand in Judge David Higgs's courtroom, Par Ridder couldn't have looked more like a rich boarding-school kid. The 38-year-old publishing scion was decked out in country-club navy blue with a haircut that was square in every sense of the word.

"His counterpart, MediaNews CEO William Dean Singleton, a self-made media mogul from Graham, Texas, cracked wise with reporters in the gallery outside the courtroom. Shuffling on legs hobbled by multiple sclerosis, the 55-year-old was in town just to enjoy the show — and to watch Ridder squirm."

Media geeks*, enjoy!

*And yes, we include the NCP, of course.

Reporting on oneself is so rarely done gracefully #2

2007-07-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Really? Really? This is the best space-filler you could come up with? A feature on your own production?

Sigh. Sadly in character.

Fishwrap staffs bulking up?

2007-07-23T11:10:00.001-07:00

The perenially understaffed print media outlets have been especially desperate of late -- even the limitless pockets of their owner haven't kept the folks at the movie set from feeling the pressure. So it is with pleasure that we look forward to the contributions of those new on the various teams.

New at The Journal: Japhet Weeks.

Bringing the freshness to the ER: Steve Spain.

Welcome.

In news of the other sort, Humboldt County's favorite young ~~communist~~ Democrat Shane Brinton has left the Eye before we could even address his presence there. Shane, we hardly knew ye!

Meanwhile, over at the T-S, with parent company MediaNews laying off staff left and right and left again, even the fat guys might start looking a bit lean.

Editorial nonsense, part 3

2007-07-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Ah, how did we miss this?

But Andrew, scintillating as your essay on editorials is, when you say, "The Times-Standard editorial page has improved under Rich Somerville," you destroy any credibility you might've had.

"...hard-hitting and direct... blunt and often scathing" -- uh, yeah, right.

Like these gems?
"Roast
To all those involved in the recent high-speed chase from Arcata to Crescent City, putting others at risk. Luckily, no one was injured.
Toast
To all the firefighters putting their lives on the line to save others and their property. Thank you."

Wow. Condemning criminals and praising firefighters? That's taking a risk, for sure!
What's next? Strong words against child molesters? Kudos for the Food Bank? We're aglow with anticipation.

Oh, and this? A direct rip-off of this.

Arcata du Blanc

2007-07-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

From "The White City" to _____________?

The 150th Anniversary Committee met again last week to further plan the City of Arcata’s birthday next year.... A logo contest is planned, as is a “re-branding” effort intended to recast Arcata as “a great place to live,”...

'Cause right now, as we all know, it's nothing but homeless and druggies!

Editorial nonsense, con't

2007-07-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

And in the other corner:

"The plaza in Arcata is the center of that community, both geographically and psychologically, so it is no small concern when the City Council considers ordinances that will impact that gathering place."

So wait... The plaza is not only the center of the town, but the center of the community's mind? Heavy...

"Residents aren't the only ones who love the plaza. So do the homeless and druggies...."

Oh, no! Homeless and druggies?! How do the people of Arcata survive such an invasion?

"Creating more reasons for residents and visitors to gather at the plaza could mean more reasons for street people to move their activities somewhere else."

When you say "street people," you mean the homeless and druggies, right? And yeah, they oughta go somewhere else! And take those smokers, drinkers, dog-walkers and sidewalk sitters with you!

"Unfortunately, Arcata doesn't seem ready for that experiment... In the end, such a half-hearted experiment will end up benefiting no one."

Look, if they're not ready for an experiment, then they can't also be performing a half-hearted one. Hello?! Consistency?

"Making the plaza a compelling and safe place to visit... will require creative ideas."

Again with the deep thoughts. Really, thanks for stating the obvious. So... Do you have any actual ideas on how to wrest the plaza from the tar-stained hands of the poor and the addicted?

T-S, you depress us.

Editorial nonsense

2007-07-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

The writing that is. This one's a three-drinker.

The whole thing makes our heads hurt.

Here's a highlight: "...is removal of the trees absolutely necessary or can trucks safely meander through the grove if drivers are steadfastly careful?"

The excerpt begs the questions, "Can trucks meander?" and "What if the drivers are merely careful, but not 'steadfastly' so?"

The big finish: "Perhaps all options have been studied and this is the net effect of that cycle, but it should be pointed out that a bypass around the grove has been on the table for decades without the state acting on it as it should have done."

Whoa. What? Can you hear those poor words screaming in pain as they're twisted into unnatural positions and made to form a sentence so vague and passive as to utterly fail in imparting meaning?

Thought so.

Feeling blue? w/additional update

2007-07-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

Just as we supposed – Charles Horn, fired from KHSU 90.5 FM, has been hired for air duty by Ferndale-based KHUM 104.7/104.3 FM. Horn's popular blues show, 'The South Side,' will air on KHUM in its former KHSU time slot, 8 to 10 p.m. Friday evenings beginning August 3. MMMmmmmmreeeeeow!

What we wonder now is, who is the "female former station associate who requested anonymity for professional reasons"?

Someone who also defected to Lost Coast Communications? Hmmm... Could be interesting...

From your "diverse public radio" station KHSU: Sources report underwriter/business head honcho Charles Horn is now former Development Director Charles Horn. Further, despite the station's staid exterior, this firing is only the latest in a series of unpopular decisions made by General Manager Elizabeth Hans-McCrone.

With all the budget cuts – "Then there was a report from the University Budget Committee, a group of faculty, staff and students who compiled a report ranking the importance of various university departments and programs. The committee was unanimous in placing First Street Gallery and the campus radio station KHSU dead last in importance to the school’s central mission" – is this a way to ensure H-M's own $82K salary remains unaffected?

Or will the loss of Bluesman Horn send the station further into financial decline?

Will Horn be swept up into the ever-growing tentacles of Lost Coast Communications (KHUM, KSLG and the Point), who employs not only other former KHSU employees/volunteers, Michael Moore, "Dr." Syd Reagan, and Jennifer Savage, but also The Journal's Hank Sims and the Arcata Eye's Kevin Hoover?

(Hoover also does news spots on KHSU and KMUD as well. Busy guy!)

Staff meeting wrap-up

2007-07-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

"Everyone! Attention, please! Stop the whispering and eye-rolling. This is Ms. Ivoria Tower. She's been gracious enough to come to our office and will now share her thoughts on this week's paper. Do have the courtesy to at least pretend to pay attention!"

"Thank you. First of all, what a lovely and expansive office you have. It's amazing what money can buy, isn't it? Like you, I reside in a world that has little to do with the reality most journalists face – the daily toils, the dark dungeon-like working conditions, all those unpleasantries – which makes me the perfect person to help you, don't you think? Please tell Mr. Arkley you think so, won't you? All these budget cuts at HSU have me the slightest bit worried... But I digress. Let's look at your delightful paper.

"First of all, your Arts section? Stunning. Wendy Butler – yes, you, Wendy – sure can turn a phrase, can't she? You'd do well to follow her example. Also – and excuse me, you two there? Do you have something you'd like to share with the rest of us? No? OK, then? – after carefully reading everyone's work, I must say, I cannot believe Laura Provolt is a mere intern! Fine work, Laura. Excuse me, sir, but what is that you keep sneaking? Is that a flask? Oh, dear."

"All right, team! Yeah! Nice work as always, Johnny boy. James, whose the fat guy now, huh? That's right, buddy! Don't leave me hanging! Hand me one of those donuts, will ya? Who says we don't take care of our people? That's what I'm talking about!"

"I think I could've fit one more color on the front page, but otherwise, it's a decent issue, aside from that unfortunate headline typo on the front page of course. Oh well, let's try again this week. Everyone have stories? OK. See you all on deadline. I'll bring snacks. Terrence, your photos are stunning as always. This week, don't be afraid to go artsy. I think I'm really going to push the envelope design-wise."

"OK, guys, we've got a big story coming up. Let's take some time to get it right. Love being a weekly. Love it. But we'll need some filler this week. Bob, think you could write something, oh, I don't know, about yourself this week? Super."

Did you hear something?

2007-07-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Property buy falls through; Redwood Teen Challenge back to drawing board
Thadeus Greenson/The Times-Standard

EUREKA -- After weeks of public outcry and heated debates at City Council meetings, plans to convert the dilapidated church building at 321 West Wabash into a Redwood Teen Challenge facility died quietly this week.

Oh so quietly... So quietly, in fact, that the ER had nothing about it.

'Course, given the covoluted prose of previous coverage, we might want to be thankful for that.

T-S repoeter gets Romenesko'd

2007-07-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

From tavern poet
to T-S man on the street
James gets recognized

Does it fly?

2007-07-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

I had much to learn, and Driscoll was ever the willing teacher.
Like the great artist Pablo Picasso had his Blue Phase, Dr. Driscoll at the time was in his bird period. He had perfected the use of birds in a lede, and he wanted all ledes coming out of the T-S newsroom to have that same resonance, that same lift, the same energy.
They need to take flight, he often said.

"MANILA -- The Board of Supervisors today will consider allowing Manila to poll its residents on whether they want fluoride added to their drinking water."

An average afternoon at the ER

2007-07-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

"Um, excuse me... I don't know who to point this out to... I mean, there's not many of us left and Nathan's looking really worn out and I don't want to be the one to push him over the edge – "

"What is it, girl?! Spit it out already. I've reservations at Avalon in 15!"

"It's just that... Well, I've noticed that sometimes the headlines – "

"What about the headlines? I don't want to hear about the headlines! Now, where are my keys?"

"No, I mean, the headline, the front page headline... Well, sometimes the way they juxtapose over the front page photo..."

"You're killing me. Do you have a point? Who are you any way?"

"Um, the new intern... And, well, I just noticed that sometimes it's kind of funny, but not in a way we would want to be funny – "

"We do not want to be funny! We are serious! And I am serious about the fact that if I am not sitting in a window seat at Second and G with a martini in hand in ten minutes, you'll never intern in this town again!"

"Okay, so I noticed that we have this headline, "Local Girl Makes Good," overtop a photo of Shane Brinton."

"That communist?! What's he doing in our paper?!"

"Er, he's trying to bring John Edwards to – "

"Hush! Be quiet right now. I will not tolerate this! Who wrote that story?"

"Uh, Rebecca..."

"That short-timer! What does she care? What does anyone care? Everyone's running amok, thinking for themselves! What's happening to us?!"

"But... but... the headline about the 'Local Girl'... That's all I wanted to say... It looks like it goes with the Shane Brinton photo."

"Communism! Anarchy! What's next? Democracy?! Now, where the hell are my keys? You're on notice, intern!"

"It's just a minor layout adjustment!"

"Excuse me? Excuse me? What did you say?"

"Um... Adjust the layout?"

"You obviously don't know how things are done around here, do you? Well, let me give you a little lesson – guards! Guards! Take her away! Off with her head!... Ah, that's better. And here are my keys. Wonderful. Avalon, here I come. Oh, how the world will improve once I put my gin-colored glasses on... 'Change the layout,' indeed. Now that's funny."

When he poured, he reigned

2007-07-06T22:11:00.000-07:00

We owe Mr. Rushton an apology.

We don't get out much. Sure, we'd like to, but the world is so big. And scary. And often cold. Typically, we huddle over the keyboard, one hand gripping a coffee mug filled with – on a good week – Jameson's. But to stave off the rumors of impending alcoholism, we sometimes find ourselves drinking "socially." During one of those unfortunate* outings, we discovered Nathan Rushton's former career slinging cocktails at a particular bar on, as the Arcata Eye refers to it, Tavern Row. Singularly focused as we are, we failed to delve deeper into Nathan's legacy.

For that, we are truly sorry.

Let the record show, Rushton's expansive bartending credentials include The Ritz, Lost Coast Brewery, Plaza Grill and Abruzzi. We have no doubt he makes a mean martini.

* The "unfortunate" had nothing to do with NR and everything to do with a certain blonde with a penchant for fruity drinks and maladjusted men. But we digress.

Whither The Driscollator?

2007-07-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

He told us it might happen:

The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District is poised to hire the Port of Oakland's former maritime director to oversee shipping and related activities here. Wilson Lacy was a key contact for the harbor district during his three-year stint in Oakland, and will jump aboard to direct port operations if commissioners approve his employment at their meeting tonight.

But when it did, we never saw a word about it – in the T-S, that is.

Nathan got it:

As part of a new staffing reorganization, the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District board of commissioners voted unanimously Thursday night to hire Port of Oakland Maritime Director Wilson Lacy to take the helm of the district’s new director of maritime commerce post.

Jennifer Savage (a name almost too good to be true) expanded out of the Eye's B section and covered it:

A vote to approve the hiring of Wilson Lacy for the newly created position of Director of Maritime Commerce was a foregone conclusion. Three of the four commissioners present at last week’s Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District meeting – Third District Commissioner Mike Wilson was absent – had already praised Lacy and the staff’s recommendation to hire him.

Hank did a Dandy job with it:

Well, good news then that the district has hired former Port of Oakland official Wilson Lacy to be its new “director of maritime commerce,” at a salary of $100,000 per year. In his new role, Lacy will bring his heavyweight Port of Oakland credentials to bear on developing Humboldt Bay’s shipping operations.

$100,000 a year – of taxpayer money – to advertise a port that doesn't actually exist?

Seems like JD would've been on that.

One of these things is not like the other

2007-07-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Two of these stories offer original reporting and even some – dare we say it? – personality. One of them appears to be a touched up press release.

One is by Kevin Hoover of Arcata's mildly objectionable Arcata Eye.
One is by young Thadeus Greenson of the tenacious T-S. (Actually, we don't know if he's young, but we like to imagine him as a sort of bold upstart in his early '20s, still idealistic and willing to aggressively pursue the story, no matter where it leads...)
One is from the Eureka Reporter.

How quickly can you match'em up?

DeVries, Pellatz save Arcata's fireworks
“I tried everything,” DeVries said. “I actually offered the guy flowers for his office every week for a year. I said, ‘You know what? You’re gonna be looking at the flowers every day, thinking what a good deed you did for Arcata.’”

But it was no use. “There was absolutely no way they could do it,” DeVries said.

He related the bad news to Pellatz, who had one last trick up his sleeve. A longtime member of the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department, Pellatz recalled a visit to a pyrotechnic firm called Fireworks By Boom Boom, located near the Hayfork office of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Pellatz paid Boom Boom a personal call – very personal. Entering the company’s office, he asked, “How far down on my knees and how much whining do I have to do to get fireworks for Arcata?” The firm forewent the offer of kneeling, but buckled after an estimated 10 minutes or so of Pellatzian whining – possibly some wheedling and cajoling as well, though this wasn’t confirmed – and agreed to handle the Arcata fireworks display.

Sparks to fly at Arcata jubilee
The Arcata Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that its “fun-filled and family-friendly” Fourth of July Jubilee Festival will go on as scheduled Wednesday — with fireworks, through the help of a prominent Arcata businessman.

Although the chamber officially canceled the fireworks earlier this month, citing increased costs and slower-than-usual donations, Lane DeVries, chief executive officer of The Sun Valley Group, stepped up in recent days, agreed to underwrite the fireworks and fronted the $10,000 cost.

Benefactor saves Arcata's July 4
Thanks to a last ditch effort by Sun Valley Floral Farms President and CEO Lane DeVries, it looks as if pyrotechnics might light up Arcata's Fourth of July sky after all.

”I'm so excited right now, it's unbelievable,” DeVries said Thursday evening, moments after hearing the news that he might have saved Arcata's fireworks.

Earlier this month, the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, which runs the annual July Fourth Jubilee, announced that it had come up short in raising funds for the event's pyrotechnics. To make matters worse, Pam Godwin, president of the chamber's board of directors, said that the deadline for a deposit on the fireworks had passed in April and the situation appeared hopeless.

Apparently, DeVries didn't get the memo, saying he only found out about the situation Wednesday.

(Extra credit if you can name how DeVries found out!)

Keeping the "new" in news

2007-07-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

Didn't we know all of this already?

We are a bit concerned about a guy who deems himself "The Playa," but maybe that's what the kids are into these days.

This might've been a good time to shoot

2007-07-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hitting a van with bricks?
At his mother's house?
We sure hope her big brothers show up to kick his ass.

And, oh yeah, looks like the Grand Jury was right – those EPD officers could use a wee bit more training with them Tasers.

ER visit

2007-07-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

We were feeling a bit down last week, what with the slew of emails (okay, three) begging us to ease up on a certain well-endowed daily rag.

"Don't pick on the editor! He's very ill!"

"You know, she barely survived a car accident. You should cut her some slack!"

And our favorite –

"You stupid bastard! If you had to actually work here, you'd know how fucking hard it is and shut the hell up. Do you even have a job? You obviously don't have a life!"

True, all of it, as far as we can tell – certainly the "no life" bit rings the ol'accuracy bell – but we're used to that. In fact, we rather enjoy the odd tongue-lashing. We've even been known to attempt putting out fire with gasoline.

But adding to the suffering in the world? We abhor suffering. We change channels whenever we see it. We can barely suffer through the immature, convoluted and pompous writing eroding the our local rags like some unstoppable flesh-eating disease – a bottle of gin and a dose of the Dandy must be kept nearby at all times.

So we were understandably saddened to hear these dark tales. Rumor has it that a certain someone is on a bender (and we don't mean the redhead). Reporters are fleeing left and right (and we do mean the redhead). The salacious Christine Bensen-Messinger moved away... And with the boss out sick? Who will advise the governor? The president? We feared the free world and all we hold dear might collapse.

That's the pit of pain we found ourselves writhing in Friday night. But then, like the dawn of a new day... Saturday morning brought hope. "This Grand Jury report thing is all right!" we thought. Blue Lake Police Chief busted! Eureka Police trained to kill! Dog pound doing good! Yeah!

The kids'll be fine, just fine.

Which means we don't feel the slightest bit of shame in making fun of today's front page photo. What the hell? Dandelions? A rag? An intersection? Is this story about weeds on street corners? Litter? Loneliness? Despair?Was a mountain lion sighted near here?

Solomon's no O'Neill, but he's been giving it a decent go. Someone should remind him that a little relevance goes a long way.

2007-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Time for a game: Match the column excerpt to the columnist!

At hand: Nathan Rushton, Glenn Franco Simmons, John Driscoll, Rich Somerville, James Faulk.

----------

1. The lion cub froze, poised either to run or perhaps to launch itself at my inquisitive hound. I kept one hand on the study walking stick I always hike with, made myself as large as possible, and commanded Nellie, "Come!" Because she's a well-trained girl, she trotted to my side, although she kept one suspicious eye on what, to her, must have seemed a tempting subject to harass. But a mountain lion cub, although deceptively cute, is a far cry from a house cat. I didn't want Nellie to find that out the hard way. Hikers should beware of lions of all sizes -- and make sure to only bring absolutely obedient dogs on allowed wilderness trails.

----------

2. It was brought to my attention that a local blog said some critical words about our paper. Well, I don't think it's bad at all. I've think everyone is happy. Really happy. Like one big family. I should know, I've worked at more newspapers than anyone else at the paper. So that blogger obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.

----------

3. This is the deal, people: you say it, we print it. "Off the record" is for weenies. Now, I've sat through a lot of these political meetings and talked to a fair number of politicians and I'll tell you, a little sophistication about these matters would go a long way. 'Nuff said. As for the rest of this column, well, sometimes there's not a lot to say. So, gimme a whiskey, ginger ale on the side. And don't be stingy, baby.

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4. As a journalist, I can't help but be critical of other journalists. This may be of no interest to you, dear reader, but bear with me. See, sometimes I get upset because other reporters write about themselves. Or they utilize their connections to get a better story. Not fair! But maybe you don't care about that. Maybe you shouldn't even read this column, then. If you're still with me, though, first I'll digress. You'll recall from My Cats, part Three, that we last left Johas perched on the sofa...

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5. I have recently received emails from numerous people if I would allow my reporters to do any stories which strayed from our mission to deliver the news on the best paper possible. My answer is no, we would not. If a story cannot justify our very expensive ink, then it would be unfair to our readers to take that chance. I do not believe in gimmicks to increase readership, which is built over time and is based on solid paper. The kind of paper that allows us to run gigantuan photos and large font. This is what soldiers die to protect, and I believe to honor them by printing on anything lesser is an injustice at best and unethical besides.

Redhead blows town

2007-06-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

From the ER staff digs comes the news that Ms.Rebecca S. Bender's long-delayed departure is scheduled to happen by August. Reactions from the movie set range from sadness ("We're losing one of our best reporters!" "Who will make fun of the Features section with us?!") to glee ("Only one more month!"). Apparently a margarita party is in the works, but which faction is throwing it isn't clear...

In any case, when it comes to the reporting of democracy inaction, the always stylish carrot-topped Bender can't be beat. GFS'll be hard-pressed to replace her.

(She's not bad with monkeys either.)

They're like, totally alternative!

2007-06-21T04:54:00.001-07:00

From The Journal's Town Dandy:

"The North Coast Journal had been deemed worthy of admission into the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, journalism's most exclusive fraternity...we were very nearly done in by the sickly remnants of our public service mission. Here's what the AAN membership committee had to say about the Journal: '[I]t's a little too rah-rah -- take, for example, the story about the local food co-op and how wonderful it is for the community.'... Luckily it appears that our team's heroic imbibery in Portland more than made up for our sometimes schmaltzy, substandard copy."

From the AAN, regarding its member papers: "What ties them all together are point-of-view-reporting; the use of strong, direct language; a tolerance for individual freedoms and social differences; and an eagerness to report news that many mainstream media outlets would rather ignore.

Well, obviously The Journal qualifies!

Point-of-view-reporting? Check! The Journal's Bob Doran is the master of the point of view – in fact, we're not sure he knows how to write without incorporating the first-person pov.

"...when I called him at a Bozeman motel."
"In the '80s and early '90s when I was chef at the Silver Lining..."
"In 1994, I was hired as assistant manager for the about-to-open WildPlatter Café..."
"On my way to town that Saturday morning I ran into a couple..."

Strong, direct language? Check, again!
And again, Doran does his part:
"...the potential fine for saying fuck or shit or some other arbitrarily banned word is huge."
"Rooster McClintock getting all twangy and shit on Saturday..."
"All I can say is, what the fuck?"

Tolerance for individual freedoms and social differences? News ignored by mainstream media? Checkity check! In fact, only five words are needed to remind us all of The Journal's hard-edged reporting and vital journalistic contribution to the social diversity of the North Coast community: "What's up with your hair?"

Confidential to Arcade of Scribes

2007-06-21T04:35:00.000-07:00

Regarding: "Yesterday, I stopped by the Sacred Grounds Coffee House in Arcata requiring a refill for the home stash. To my dismay, the doors were closed. The tables and chairs were gone. What once was a vibrant community meeting place now sported misplaced restaurant machinery, brooms and piles of dust on its floors. What the hell happened?"

You might consider reading the Arcata rags.

Like the Eye, for example.

"Sacred Grounds Organic Coffee Roasters at the corner of Seventh and F streets, will close on June 16."

Or, The Journal.

"It may not be summer-related, but Sacred Grounds is closing for good after one more week."

And, Karen Wilkinson of the Times-Standard also had the story!

"Sacred Grounds will close its doors next month after falling sales, rising overhead and competition became too much to keep the coffee shop a fruitful Arcata business..."

6,000?

2007-06-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

Ah... memory lane.

But where were we?

Oh, yeah – here. Someone needs to update their circ figs.

Body count

2007-06-20T12:14:00.001-07:00

From the front lines.

T-S hanging tough despite dungeon-like work conditions.

ER remains "unscathed by the daily pounding."

In other news, Somerville on diet?

Fish in a barrel

2007-06-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

We could mock the ER's headline choices, but a bit of amusement from this one still lingers.

We could tease the thin-skinned Ms. Muller about the fact that after her dramatic coverage of the intersection where the mountain lion was sighted, the actual killing of the beast was reported via press release.

But that's too easy.

Let's turn our attention to the T-S. An ER-sized photo with a fairly gripping lead and story by the ever-golden John Driscoll. The photo's a little weak -- we'd love to see "DRAMATIC REENACTMENT!" screaming across the top -- especially for something that large that doesn't actually show anything. The juxtaposition of "Lion killed in Arcata neighborhood" next to the teaser "11-Year-Old Killed By Bear While Camping" headline works well, however. (Er, unfortunately well, that is.)

Rising T-S star Thadeus Greenson continues his solid coverage of the Teen Challenge brouhaha, although we must say, "There seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding..." seems to be a bit weak. Why not go with "Some confusion surrounds..."?

We abhor the passive.

But quibbles... quibbles... What else?... Faulk sets us up nicely, like the opening scene in one of those movies he's always going on about: "Not feeling his best..."

'Course the ER's got the bone and the McCoveys.

Suddenly we feel so very content.

Make it stop

2007-06-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

*yawn*
*stretch*
*shake out the kinks*

And... Monday?! Whoa. And, whew. Just goes to show, you spend the weekend... imbibing ...and find yourself Monday morning with either a stale blog or a hot-off-the-press-and-ready-for-distribution Arcata Eye. Although, speaking of stale, while the print edition of Arcata's most mildly objectionable rag is as full of creamy-goodness-with-a-kick as Pacific Rim's Wasabi Sauce, the site offers one lone news story from last Tuesday's issue.

Not that we're unwilling to fork over the dollar. Or nickels and pennies as the case may be.

But back to the boozing. Unlike the bar-hopping Terrence McNally, perhaps Nathan Rushton saw too many ugly drunks during his former bartending stint... Perhaps the reins at the ER are simply too tight and the days of a journalist keeping a flask in his desk are, sadly, long gone. But we at the NCP think -- barring a predeliction toward alcoholism -- ol'Nate could use some liquid inspiration. Maybe he'd be funnier. Maybe he'd be sharper. But this whole writing about nothing thing? Not working.

We're sure the young and earnest Mr. Rushton is immensely likeable. He can write a news story. Today's about the bees? Good stuff. Much like the T-S' immigration stories from last week, it's a local angle on a national problem -- in this case, a national mystery.

So we wonder, does the ER require a little slice of life from all its reporters? 'Cause just like the colored jeans on Casual Fridays, not everyone can pull'em off.

Speaking of credit...

2007-06-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Mostly kicked ass, that is.

From Wednesday's The Journal: "When the other shoe dropped, it did so very quietly. On Monday afternoon, not even Eureka city officials knew that relatives of Cheri Lyn Moore had finally made good on their threat to sue the city and members of its police department. This despite the fact that the federal suit had been filed in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago."

Yesterday in the Humboldt Herald.

From today's T-S: Moore wrongful death suit filed

Today in the ER.

Credit where credit's due

2007-06-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Times-Standard kicking ass this week.

Well-written and relevant reporting. What started as breaking news was followed up and contextualized. Illegal immigration is all over the national news. The T-S gave readers a solid and, we can't emphasize enough, well-written, look at how deeply the issue affects us locally.

Well-played, Thaddeus. Well-played.

Oops, we almost forgot. The ER has some news, too.

Worth somewhat less than 1,000 words

2007-06-14T12:16:00.001-07:00

"A sign posted at Jacoby Creek Elementary School on Wednesday stated a mountain lion had been seen earlier that day on Hyland Avenue, directly across the street from the school."

What, no frightened school children to photograph? Couldn't get a picture of the actual sign posted? Even another file photo would've been something!

Where's that Tyson Ritter when you need him?

a social experiment, con't

2007-06-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,
We at the NCP don't mind anonymity – obviously. But we do prefer that one assumes a single identity with which to associate one's words. If one can't use one's real name for professional or personal reasons, we grok that. But the next best option, we have felt and continue to feel, is to adopt a nom de plume for reasons of consistency and at least a semblance of accountability. Simply spewing forth nasty comments is oh-so boring.

For that reason, we initially chose to limit comments to registered users. Some of you liked that. But others made reasonable argument (see jdublyou) advocating open commenting, so we agreed to try it out.

Statistically, for what it's worth, the numbers went up when the comment restrictions came off – but not so dramatically we feel compelled to continue this experiment. We still prefer our initial stance.

Thoughts?

Thank you.

Today's word problem – with clarification

2007-06-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

U.S. Census stats reveal a few interesting details that might've flavored today's ER story a bit differently if they'd been included.

"Ten-year Humboldt County employee Kim Kerr confirmed Tuesday that she has taken a job as city manager of Ione, a municipality of roughly 7,500 residents located halfway between Sacramento and Stockton."

7,500 is a bit of an overstatement, but that's not the juicy part. Check this out: Ione's population is 80 percent male! But ladies, don't start packing -- no, the reason so many men reside in Ione is not an especially enlightened attitude toward homosexual men, but the fact that of the 7,129 residents, over 4,000 of'em are incarcerated. (The underage portion of those are here.)

So, if one County employee moves to a town of over 7,000 but over half of those residents are in correctional institutions, how many people will she truly manage?

Ms. Muller obtained population information from the City of Ione – information more current than the 2,000 census, she explained. We can dig that.

So of those additional 500 (or thereabouts) new residents, how many are town citizens and how many are new prisoners? We wonder.

And one more clarification – the numbers intrigue us, but we wish Ms. Kerr the best. Those summers'll be quite a change.

First the flag, now this?

2007-06-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

We were pondering a post over at the Herald, trying to put our fingers on what was really bothering us about the ER billboard.

Oh yeah, now we remember: "...The North Coast Railroad Authority has canceled its lease for several billboards to CBS Outdoor, which reportedly has not responded and has done nothing to remove the signs."

Does this mean the ER's billboard is illegal?

Maybe someone should reorganize Keep Eureka Beautiful?
"The committee works hard behinds the scenes to reduce the proliferation of billboards. Recently the committee halted new construction of one billboard and had four others removed.'We prevented one gigantic billboard from going in at the south end of town,' said McKeegan. 'It would have been 32 feet high mounted, 48 feet wide and 14 feet high -- double-faced and illuminated. It would have been the Goliath of billboards.'"

Keep Eureka Beautiful should not be confused with Clean Up Eureka (CUE IV).

Nice one, T-S

2007-06-13T05:57:00.000-07:00

Scoop-a-rama

The Republican Duck Hunter and former Lumberjackian done right good.

In other news, Happy Homes!

a brief social experiment

2007-06-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Anyone (i.e. non-registered and anonymous) may post comments for the moment.
This is most likely not permanent as we generally encourage good writing and discourage the illiterate spewing of hate.

Ready... set... go!

Ab-so-lutely fabulous, we're sure

2007-06-12T05:56:00.000-07:00

Oyster beer joins lineup for Arcata festival
"...this year's festival has a few new things on tap...the first Oyster Shuck and Swallow Contest. The new contest will see professional shuckers teamed with amateur eaters to see who can down the most oysters in the allotted time period. Also new this year will be oyster beer, a savory concoction of beer, tomato and clam juice, which Stockton called fabulous and a natural fit for the festival."

Thaddeus writes well, but "Shuck and Swallow"? Who comes up with these things?

Oh, apparently these people.

And oyster beer? Blech. Does that pass the breakfast test?
We at the NCP think not. In fact, we're going to go lie down now.

Well, if she was 14

2007-06-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Plea may add more time to accused child molester's sentence

"The initial charges against Toomey, 28, of Redway, consist of one count of a lewd act with a child under the age of 14 and two counts of lewd acts with a child, age 14 or 15, when the perpetrator is more than 10 years older. Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Schwartz said the proposed plea agreement... alleges 10 charges: one count of a lewd act with a child, age 14 or 15, when the perpetrator is more than 10 years older; and nine other counts regarding unlawful sexual intercourse.

Brown said the new charges listed in the plea agreement carry a maximum penalty of 12 years in state prison — the maximum prison sentence Toomey could have faced if convicted of his initial charges was nine years, four months.

“We feel these charges more accurately (reflect) the age of the (victim),” Brown said... With regard to whether the alleged female victim was 13 or 14 when the crimes were alleged to have been committed, Schwartz said both the defense and prosecution are “in total agreement” that the crimes occurred when the girl was 14.

However, Schwartz said, “the state of the evidence is that it’s a disputable issue” with regard to whether the crimes began when the girl was 13."

Is anyone else dizzy yet?

The audacity

2007-06-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

Nothing serious at Redwood Run
Nothing serious?!

Gregg Allman?
Joan Jett?
Molly Hatchet?
Izzy Osborne?

"The CHP said speed was a factor in the wreck that sent Maureen Bell, 44, to a hospital via helicopter. Though the exact cause of the crash is under investigation, the CHP believes speed was “strong” factor in the single vehicle crash."

Apparently, speed was a factor.

It's almost like no one takes him seriously

2007-06-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

RSB's wastewater rate hike story lingers in the stately News section of the ER, whereas poor Nathan's waste rate hike story (very similiar, wouldn't you say?) appears in the ever-so-much-less respectable Features section.

And this, when he's still likely smarting from yesterday.

We'd be searching for a message in a bottle, indeed. Preferably one containing a fine, aged, amber liquid of choice.

Hmmm... Sane and literate?

2007-06-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

"Are you sane and literate? The Arcata Eye is looking for a couple of volunteer proofreaders to help us with ensuring that the usual quota of seven typographical errors per page is not exceeded.

"If you can read, aren't crazy, don't smell bad and want to spend a few hours helping us with the paper tonight, Sunday, June 10 starting at 6 or 7 p.m., call (707) 826-7000 and reserve a slot."

----------

If this describes you, perhaps you can make a reservation for a future volunteer proofreading session. The job sounds tough, real tough, but the opportunity to soak in the ambiance of the Eye just might be worth it.

Talk about your tourist trap

2007-06-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Letters, we get letters... Or in this case, postcards.

Of course, they'll need to spiff up the design a bit.
(Pssst... This doesn't look worthy of your design department! What gives?! Awaiting your reply... PM.)

Ah... context is everything. Thank you.

What we have here...

2007-06-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

From today's T-S' Good news, bad news (And have we mentioned how that title makes us cringe from a cliché-induced headache every Sunday?):

Roasts
"To the tree-sitter who postponed the felling of a redwood tree over U.S. Highway 101. If you're going to do it, do it. You spared the tree an extra three whole days..."

Yo, Rich! James already did this one.
(As did Heraldo.)

"...Loop should have waited in line with the rest of the crowd for the public comment period... Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass... was right to crack her gavel... but should have taken Loop to task as well."

What? No "Loop" puns? "Loop short-circuits crowd's temper"? "Bass out of the Loop"? (In fact, there's gotta be a Bass-Loop something in there somewhere, too! Hither to thy copywriters!)

Toasts
"To the Sequoia Zoo Foundation, which is hosting the Brew at the Zoo at 6 this evening..."

Well, isn't this awkward? See, BatZ took place last night. (Nice photo, Daniel. You're gonna work out real well.)

"To State Senator Pat Wiggins and State Assemblywoman Patty Berg and their Advertisement staffs, who worked hard this week to get their meaningful bills through their respective houses..."

Patty Berg? You mean this Patty Berg: "Eureka Assemblywoman Patty Berg's office said they hadn't heard about the legislation, even though she is on record as having voted for it" – that Patty Berg?

They're killing us

2007-06-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

"Assisted suicide bill dies"

To recap: "If there is one thing that most newspapers need, it is more sophistication.” – Rich Somerville

(Alleged) Dirty, rotten shin-kicker caught!

2007-06-07T23:16:00.001-07:00

We sure hope he gives the nickels and dimes back.

Ah, Room 207

2007-06-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

Eureka City Council to look at Teen Challenge appeal this evening

"...On Tuesday, the City Council heard from the applicant and appellant, as well as from the City Council Chamber’s capacity crowd, which spilled into Room 207."
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There is such a thing as being too specific.

More pun and games from the T-S

2007-06-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Police hoping for illumination on lamp theft
($2,000 for a lamp?!)

How about "Homeowners hopes for safe lamp return dimmed"?

OK, we'll stop.

We really enjoyed the "Dope Beats" headline

2007-06-07T22:22:00.000-07:00

A while back, in the May 3, 2007 issue to be exact, the Journal formerly known as The North Coast ran a column by in-house media critic Marcy Burstner aka Media Maven, in which she berated The Eureka Reporter, The Times-Standard and her own NCJ for their weak dope stories. (No mention of The Arcata Eye's then-recent stories, though. Did she miss them? Or decide they were beyond criticism?)

(Hmmm... As we re-read, we're noticing some inconsistencies, such as MM accusing the ER of missing the "Legalize Pot Now!" protest when, in fact, they covered it. And how can she be sure she has "the cleanest urine in Humboldt County?" Doesn't she need at least two sources to confirm that? But we digress.)

She offers starter questions for reporters interested in doing a more comprehensive dope story: "How much more do people pay in rent because indoor growers pump up prices? How much money does PG&E pocket because of all the electricity consumed? How much are indoor growers adding to global warming because of all that hydroponic lighting? How does a conscientious grower do it right?"

This week, as things are wont to do in small towns, The Journal gets somewhat incestuous – this week's (guest) Town Dandy answers at least some of those questions posed by Burstner three months ago. Meanwhile, this week's MM column highlights Humboldt's high school reporters, plus Burstner's own (and here interests overlap again) Lumberjackians. But we applaud her kudos to the kids and look forward to The Journal's upcoming feature, The Children are Our Future.

Reporting on oneself is so rarely done gracefully

2007-06-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

"Oh, yeah? Well, we're... we're... we're gonna get our mom! And she's gonna tell you!"
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From the T-S: Ruling on legal notices is appealed

"The Times-Standard has appealed a judge's approval of The Eureka Reporter as a publisher of Humboldt County legal notices.

The Times-Standard challenged the free daily's claim that it qualifies as a newspaper of general circulation under California law, arguing that it does not meet the legal requirement of having paid subscribers. Superior Court Judge J. Michael Brown on April 9 ruled that voluntary donors meet the qualification, and approved The Eureka Reporter's petition.

...the prices the ER proposes to charge for legal notices are lower than those charged by several local weekly newspapers, which depend on revenue from legal ads much more than we do. We think the ER is playing the bully here. The local weeklies might not have the wherewithal to contest the local Advertisement court's decision, but we do.”

Other general circulation publications in the county that qualify to print legal notices include the Arcata Eye, Ferndale Enterprise, McKinleyville Press, North Coast Journal, and Humboldt Beacon."
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Yeah, so take that, ER!

Whither Rebecca S.? – updated

2007-06-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

For months, keeping up with the staff turnover at the ER reminded us of playing slots in Vegas. In a certain casino we prefer, where the machines are a bit... loose.

But for weeks, no drama – at least none that has escaped.

Or has an escape been made? Not dramatic, perhaps, the expected departure of Ms. Remarkable S. Bender -- she who was plucked from the Eye and allegedly accepted to numerous Ivy League grad schools of her choice

Certainly a blow to the crew of the Reporter.

We haven't seen her since May.
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Update: As noted in the comments below – thank you – Ms. Bender continues to soldier on at the ER – although with those prospects, how long is anyone's guess.

Then again, the ER courted her hard from the beginning – perhaps they'll even let her flaunt the dress code if she agrees to stay.

The fat one likes us!

2007-06-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

(Thanks to Heraldo for the link.)

"Thank you, blogdom, for supplying us news dungeon dwellers with another blogger to while away the hours.
...
I encourage full participation in the dialogue there, as this person has taken a good stand in my mind: anonymous comments are not allowed. So all of you who want to opine about ~~Nick Bravo~~ will have to name yourselves and will therefore forever be defined by your fetish.

Said blogger is funny, smart, and irreverent."

----------

"therefore forever be defined by your fetish" – Mmmmmm, James, we love it when you talk like that.

Now say something in Russian.

Thank goodness for the Humboldt brain trust

2007-06-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

Because when it comes to gunning down massive boars, the relevance to Humboldt County cannot be overstated.

And when President Bush and his war team think al-Qaida, you know it's the ER they turn to first.

Then again, given the owners' proclivity for political donations and resulting influence, perhaps the ER shows up on the porch of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue just as it does the 22,000 lawns closer to home.

Priceless.

Thanks for clearing that up, Rich

2007-06-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

From the Endless Somerville desk:

"In last week's column, my commentary about headline cliches was about newspapers in general, and not about the Times-Standard. In fact, we have some good wordsmiths on our copy desk who know when to pun and when to play it straight. Some favorite recent headlines:

'Trails Day celebration afoot.'
'County keeps safety on DA rifle request.'
'Bill would let highway billboards shine.'
'Giants get flushed in Flushing.' "

("Flushed in Flushing"?!)

We need to lie down now.

A challenging read

2007-06-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

The ER gets a point for having the story first. (ER 1, TS 0)

Fred followed up on his blog.

And only today, three days later, does the T-S take a look at Eureka's own Jesus Camp.

But when it comes to the billionaire-funded upstart vs. the traditional corporate rag, first doesn't always mean better.

What we do get (besides the de rigeur parenthetical) are two angles on one story. Unsurprisingly, the ER takes the Christian angle: Is RTC bound to cut the Jesus from their program?

But God help us poor readers trying to figure out what's going on from Wendy Butler!

From the ER:
Redwood Teen Challenge’s philosophy could be compromised, Director Fred Lamberson III said, per a state or county alcohol/drug treatment license.
Teen Challenge is not governmentally licensed nor does it have any licensed medical staff, and the only on-site counselors are those trained at Teen Challenge.
Nevertheless, Teen Challenge, by virtue of contracts with its participants, often receives state or federal money from avenues such as Social Security, disability, tax refunds or Supplemental Security Income. If a participant cannot pay the cost of $1,400 per month (room, board and other rehabilitation services), they must agree to give Teen Challenge 85 percent of the cost of the above-mentioned services.

Something's going on. If only Butler, oh, conveyed it.

---------------------------

Meanwhile, over at the T-S, Thaddeus Greenson, who has now had time to not only take a different approach, but you know, actually write the story in a way that makes sense.

EUREKA -- At first, Kari Swearingen didn't seem to have any problem with a substance abuse treatment facility moving into an abandoned church building just a few doors down from her house.
”I think that it's a good thing,” she said on the stoop of her brightly painted Wabash home. “I'm not one to say, 'not in my backyard.' Look around. There's people on drugs, and I feel good about having a place to get people off drugs.”
Informed that the Redwood Teen Challenge facility would include 50 beds, making it one of the largest -- if not the biggest -- residential treatment program in Humboldt County, Swearingen appeared taken aback.

Ah, so a big drug-and-alcohol treatment center is being placed in a neighborhood without input from the people who live there? Got it.

(ER 1, TS 1)

But how important is original content really?

2007-06-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

Going head-to-head, mano-a-mano, balls-to-the-wall (er, no that doesn't really work), one-on-one in the Saturday news competition, we offer you the ritzy-glitzy Eureka Reporter vs. the scruffy and often overweight Times-Standard!

For our first click, the ER! Tops on the "News" page, it's... Human Rights Commission seeks members! Followed quickly by Fortuna council considers new bonds! And what's that? Group to host 'Dismantling Corporate Rule' workshop?! Awesome! For the final punch... Humboldt Heroes! Yeah!

Can the T-S beat these four oh-so-sexy press releases? We're talking about Saturday after all, when civilized people are catching baddies at the Beau Pre. But let's take a looksee at the ol'T-Stand.

Hammond Trail gap to be filled this summer. Ooh, chalk one up for the Driscollator! Next up, we have Leaning tree will lean no more Go, go Chris Durant! What's that? A whale spotted in the bay? Does Driscoll ever sleep?! And in the four-hole... it's Karina Gianola with Bike competition set for Sunday! That's right folks, four bylines in a row!

Judges, your decision, please?
Tick tock tick tock...

(And yes, we realize the ER print edition offers a big photo and front page story about Redwood Teen Challenge’s philosophy. In return we offer two things: first, Tyson Ritter takes very nice pictures; second, drink up!)

Loves us some fatty dank super vegans!

2007-06-02T19:47:00.000-07:00

Leaving Arcata and the Stepford Hippies
"Arcata: Ian (drummer) was hanging out in the Weinlander taking a load off when a frantic young woman approached, and with hands on either side of the door, inserted her dreadlocked head into the van.... She asked Ian, “Have you seen a guy walking around? he’s about 6 foot, with dreads, brown carhart pants and a black jacket and backpack.” The answer to that question was one of quippy simplicity: Yes, I’ve seen him about 50 times today.

What we realize is that young men and women of their early 20s make pilgrimages to Humbolt [sic] County. They set out on a journey with the intention of discovering themselves, and the world, through a unique life of nomadic travel, rich doobage, and bumming change to buy the occasional fatty dank super vegan pre-made spinach wrap at the local co-op.

In Humbolt [sic] County, however, they are no longer outside of mainstream society—they are the mainstream. They’re all the same! There’s no one to bum change from because everyone is already trying to bum a dollar. They’ve all traveled the majestic distance to live independent “fuck the system” lives, and ended up in a total system of their own." – John Weinland

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But what about the feces! Don't forget the feces!

Journalism and good writing do not have to be mutually exclusive

2007-06-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

Bringing policies up to date – a critique

We here at the NCP believe that while news stories differ stylistically from "creative" writing, a reporter should still strive to write in an interesting and compelling manner both as a courtesy to readers and to provide those readers an incentive to continue gleaning news from that particular source.

This proves especially true when writing an opinion column or features story.

For example, from today's T-S:

The office of the Humboldt County district attorney made public its “use of force” policy this week, after initially claiming it was not a public document. It was a good decision. Such a policy provides guidelines for use of force to reduce indecision in a crisis situation. Plus, as the California Peace Officers’ Association says, it helps create public confidence in law enforcement.

We also feel a sense of assurance that the county, before giving its approval for the district attorney to buy investigators eight AR-15 assault rifles, is asking for an updating and modernization of the use of force policy, and that Chief Investigator Mike Hislop is planning to ramp up weapons training for his people from once a year to four times a year.

The rationale for making sure that investigators have state-of-the-art equipment, including weapons, is sound. In a county such as ours, with a lot of wild remote corners hiding Mexican cartel pot farms and meth labs, officers should be ready for surprises.

But it’s important that, in its policy update, the district attorney’s office view its role as investigators and not enforcers. They’re not Lone Rangers, and have plenty of trained backup to support them.

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That's a lot of "its"/"it's," awkward phrasing and passive verbs. Granted, people talk in such a manner, but professional writing should be held to a higher standard.

Let's see if we can improve the T-S editorial.

The Humboldt County District Attorney’s office backpedaled from an earlier stance this week, making public its “use of force” policy after initially denying to release the document. We support this decision. Such a policiy not only provides guidelines for use of force to reduce indecision in a crisis situation, but also helps create public confidence in law enforcement.

We are also reassured that the county, before approving the district attorney's request to buy investigators eight AR-15 assault rifles, seeks an updating and modernization of the use of force policy, and that Chief Investigator Mike Hislop plans to ramp up weapons training for his people from once a year to four times a year.

Ensuring that investigators have state-of-the-art equipment, including weapons, is reasonable. With rural, remote corners hiding Mexican cartel pot farms and meth labs, officers should be ready for surprises.

But in its policy update, the district attorney’s office must remain investigators, not enforcers.

(Now, here we have a real problem. The final sentence is, “They’re not Lone Rangers, and have plenty of trained backup to support them,” but “They’re” and “them” refer to the “district attorney’s office,” which has heretofore been, correctly, reduced to the pronoun “it.” And how can "they" be "Lone Rangers"? If you have more than one ranger, then that ranger is no longer "lone"! Oh, what to do, what to do?...)

– we already have plenty of trained backup to support district attorney staff.

Enh. We tried.

Wouldn't it be more like poked in the Eye?

2007-06-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

”We need every nickel and dime we can get -- it really hurts us,” Hoover said. “We're struggling, we count our pennies around here and this is a big blow for us.”...”I think there's a special level of hell reserved for someone who... kicked the little hometown paper in the shins... ” Hoover said.

Hard times for what's been referred to as the most relevant read in the county.

Send donations to
The Arcata Eye
P.O. Box 451
Arcata, CA USA 95518.

Make mine a triple!

2007-06-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

Someone's
working
overtime.

Does Nathan ever misses the salad days of the Alibi? In any case, he looks sharper under the Arkley dress code than in a Hawaiian shirt.

At the very least, someone please buy the guy a drink -- or... wait... we feel inspiration bubbling up from within... here goes... We're going to start our own ER drinking game! For every story that ends with a parenthetical, bottoms up! (If the words "Security National" or "Rob and Cherie Arkley" are included, that goes double.)

Cheers!

Because we at the NCP are nothing if not fair

2007-05-31T21:49:00.001-07:00

"The Journal" has at least one good thing going for it besides the acerbic wit and newsy bits of The Town Dandy.

(Perhaps it's his absence provoking our bitterness? Hmmm... No, it's definitely the regressive design change.)

But back to ~~Helen Sanderson~~Heidi Walters. This babe can write. Case in point:

"Been to Orick, lately? No, not through Orick, but to. Pulled over, parked the car, got out, stretched the legs and grazed on the sights? Certainly we're not posing this question to Orick's few hundred residents, nor to the handful of plucky merchants who daily tootle out of the hills to unlock storefronts, kick aside yesterday's dust and then, as the hours tock away, sit humming to themselves in the pin-drop silences between yammering roars of semis jake-braking on the 101."

Look'it them verbs go! "Tootle"? "Jake-braking"? Yum.

And, hell, she makes going to Orick sound like a fine idea.

Must be easy to be a cop in Arcata

2007-05-31T21:29:00.000-07:00

Apparently the criminal mentality is exceptionally low in those parts.

Alleged 'tip jar bandit' arrested in Arcata Tuesday

The so-called “tip jar bandit,” an elusive figure who has been filching change from tip jars and Arcata Eye newspaper boxes... was allegedly identified and arrested by Arcata Police Department officers Tuesday night... Justin Rene Peron, 25, from Sonoma County, was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday for providing false information to a peace officer... Peron is also in custody for three warrants out of Sonoma County.

Stupidity's legal, so heroin charges will do
“He asked if we had spoons,” Nelson said. “I told him we have plastic spoons in the
deli. He said, ‘No I need metal.’” She described the man as “frantic” for the spoon. Nelson led the man to housewares on aisle 4, and noticed that he wore a sandal on one foot and a shoe on the other, with a plastic bag hanging out of one sock.

(And, is there a qualitative difference between a tip jar and an Arcata Eye newspaper box?)

So much for sophistication

2007-05-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

..."Apparently each new headline writer thinks he or she has invented an original pun, when actually it's been udderly overdone."

Um, like this?
Rail bill chugs to Assembly
County keeps safety on DA rifle request

Sigh.

That's where we've seen it before!

2007-05-31T10:28:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the influence of the Media Maven?

Now that's Rich

2007-05-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

"Since the Times-Standard could use some sophistication, we'll try for fewer udders in headlines in the coming months." – Rich Somerville on using headline puns 5/29/07

Somerville shares two "pun tests" he attributes to the late Ted Bernstein of the New York Times:

”The first is whether each of the two meanings of the word forming the pun is appropriate. ... The second test is based on the theory that the basis of humor is incongruity and unexpectedness. This means that the pun should not be obvious; it should not be just lying around waiting to be picked up. The best advice that can be given to the headline writer is to avoid the pun unless he is convinced that it is exceptionally good. If there is one thing that most newspapers need, it is more sophistication.”

Apparently someone at the ER thought Rich's advice was right on the money. On today's front page, for example: "Reel rewards".

Coincidence? Unusual choice for the 'porter, better known for such headlines as the cryptic "Harbor District commissioners to meet," the imaginative "Local doctor to be honored for youth oral care programs" and the oh-so-succinct "Dinner."

Well, humor in the ER was unexpected.

Getting lit in Humboldt County?

2007-05-30T10:57:00.001-07:00

From the front page of the ER (only, in print, about the size of a breadbox): "Sunset at the Arcata Bird Marsh and Sanctuary — Humboldt Film and Digital Media Commissioner Barbara Bryant said locations such as these are a start..."

From the T-S: (italics ours): "A bill that would allow run-of-the-mill highway billboards to be replaced with spanking new electronic message panels apparently slipped through the cracks of the state Assembly recently... CBS Outdoor owns several signs on Highway 101 in Humboldt County... It sees a captive audience..."

Might compromise those pretty sunsets, hmmm? You'd think the ER's Nathan Rushton would've been on this story -- 'specially with his hard-hitting look at local tourism -- but looks like the Driscollator scooped him again. Should we expect another limp-wristed smackdown from GFS? "We hope the Times-Standard and Driscoll can learn from this mistake and change direction." Apparently, they didn't -- JD just keeps on reporting on stuff.

Jumping the snark

2007-05-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Because the departure of Captain Buhne left a hole in the Humboldt blogosphere...
Because in a sea of sincerity, someone must wave the flag of sarcasm...
Because amid the recording of our daily lives, someone must look outward...
Because while softball is charming and obsession is cute in a way, the media folk need something to read besides boring press releases...
So arises the North Coast Post!

Wherever you find lame headlines, we will be there.
Wherever you find masturbatory media, we will be there.
Wherever you find backasswards graphic design, we will be there.

The North Coast Post.

The Captain is dead! Long live the Captain!