Sipping champagne with Brendan O'Leary

I had the rare opportunity to have a bit o' the bubbly with Brendan O'Leary.

He's doing a bit of the the old in out with a friend of mine.

Very interesting fellow.

A vacancy in Brighton

The Town of Brighton's Communications Director/Assistant to the Supervisor, Melissa Hantman, has called it quits after an eight month stint. Recently married and moving south, according to elected Town officials, Hantman's last day was Friday the 13th.

As a Cornhill resident since 2006 and the recipient of a 50K+ salary, Ms. Hantman had this to say back in November:

"I think the town of Brighton is a great place to live and work." Brighton-Pittsford Post 11/29/06

Bullshit. On both counts.

Perhaps, Commissioner of Public Works, Thomas Low, knows of a good spin doctor in Hilton. As Brighton goes Green they could set an example by prudent use of a Town vehicle and carpool together on their trek to Town Hall.

When the law break in how you gonna go?

As I thought about some off topic comments on an RT post

..."You been drinking booze for breakfast?” - rottenchester

..."I once thought of printing out bumper stickers that said “what would Joe Strummer do” - exile

...“Congratulations! You’re under martial law!” - bythepeople quotes Jello Biafra.

and my earlier entry today, a song came to mind.

Rubbernecking at the D&C

photo: Jamie Germano

A closer look at this D&C article provides and odd timeline and little info given the nature of the photograph.

The timeline, as it reads, was updated at 12:57 PM, however, reading it now at nearly five o'clock the content seems to read as though Mr. Flanigan is clairvoyant. I've noticed in the past the times shown in the updates remains static even when the content of the story is changed throughout the day.

No big deal? Maybe just the manner the server documents the initial posting. But you must consider that as the story changes and develops throughout the day it appears as though they nailed it on the first release.

"Quick, get that shot of the cop with the assualt weapon on the front page ASAP!"

A few months back I followed a story during the day regarding a "stabbing" at East High. The first incarnation stated, and I'm paraphrasing from memory, "Victim transported to Strong with life threatening stab wounds to the face." Or something over the top like that. By the end of the day the story stated the victim was released with superficial scratches on the arm. All while displaying that original posting time.

Kind of like postmarking a letter and mailing it later in the week. Deceiving to say the least.

Perhaps Mr. Tobin's words in a recent EdBlog should be posted in the newsroom.(antiquated term)

"Let's go with the facts with this story, not the leap-to-conclusion approach. The facts are tough enough."

Poof! They're gone.

The Town of Brighton's "Official Newspaper", the Brighton-Pittsford Post has revamped its website. The new look was in order to create a similar brand amongst the GateHouse Media websites.

Here's the fun part. The archives are gone. Current web searchs for, say, um, let's see, Brighton Going Green are gone from the archives. Poof! At least we can read some commentary from the good people at RochesterTurning.

And here's the kicker. Did you like the paper for free at you local Town Hall or grocery store? Well, get out you pinch purses because as of Aug. 1 you're going to have to pay to play.

Speaking of paying to play, City Newspaper, which I gladly read weekly, had kind of a lame response to a reader that called them out about running a tobacco ad on the back (to be read: big money) page.

Here a taste from the LTE:


".......Are you in such bad financial shape that you have to do this?"

And a snip from the response:

....... we also have a commitment to support and protect freedom of speech. As part of that commitment, we make our advertising space available for the promotion of any legal product.

Sound the trumpets.

and...

"Should we refuse to accept letters to the editor if they promote a viewpoint with which we disagree?"

Accept all you want, we're talking about publishing and last I heard you don't cash checks from those that contribute via Letters to the Editor.

Make Pictures Not War

Farewell John.

From the NYTimes
-
John Szarkowski, a curator who almost single-handedly elevated photography’s status in the last half-century to that of a fine art, making his case in seminal writings and landmark exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, died in on Saturday in Pittsfield, Mass. He was 81.