Secrets of the City

How about a URL that works?

fixed url to the story. I’ve only read half of it so far….

Wow, what a horseshit story. Even Michael Brodkorb could have twisted a couple meaningless neighbor opinions into a more controversial piece.

Funny that Barr seems to know the CP well enough to give them the equivalent of “um, fuck off.”

Worst…story…ever. Wow. What a non-story. “He yells while watching Twins game! He runs on a treadmill!” ZANY! Humans…AREN’T THEY CRAZY! So out of control!

What’s next? City Pages does an expose on people who talk to movie screens? Dogs that bark at intruders? Or even crazier…People who take craps in TOILETS?

…after the collapse of I-35W, Barr said, “We’ve got nothing for you.”

What an unethical way to twist the 35W bridge collapse into the story. It seems pretty clear that Barr is responding to the fluff CP article, not the bridge. It’s dishonest of the CP to relate the timing of the comments to an unrelated story. At least that’s how I read it.

Hey, I know…let’s take The Onion, remove most of the valuable content, and take everything that’s left and make it completely unfunny. Hmm….now, what do we call this publication? I know…we can call it the City Pages!!!

When I first moved here I used to pick up the city pages every week.

I don’t think I’ve even bothered looking at it in a couple months now. Shitty Pages.

If “Ben Westoff” is Ben Westhoff, then it looks like this is another example of the hacktastic articles we’ll be seeing as articles are farmed out to freelancers outside the Twin Cities.

MySpace profile. Again, assuming it’s Ben Westhoff who writes for Village Voice, not “Ben Westoff.”

Wow. He sings along to music on his iPod. What a nutcase!

Hilary Cheeley, a health care technology project manager, says she recently caught him yelling at the television during a Twins game. “When someone would strike out or whatnot he would say, ‘Oooh!’ or ‘C’mon, hit it!’” says Cheeley, who is 32 and lives in the Grant Park condo building with her husband.

Jeez, those Twins fans sure are CRAZY! And Al is ONE OF THEM!!

When I first moved here I used to pick up the city pages every week.

I don’t think I’ve even bothered looking at it in a couple months now. Shitty Pages.

Dittos, Wayne. It has just got worser and worserer since I moved here on January 30, 2004.

I would love to work out and watch baseball with Al Franken! Seriously, that would be a gas. A New York Jew and an Iowa Republican bonding over weights and baseball.

(singing)
Only in America, dreamin’ in red, white and blue.
(/singing)

The whole image really grosses me out. As if I want to imagine Stuart Smalley biting a towel while sweating and yelling at a TV. No thanks.

I couldn’t resist. I emailed Al Franken to directly ask him the questions that his campaign wouldn’t answer for the City Pages.

You see, this is why neighbors suck!

Aaron, that was great!

I love that “A Hermit” can comment on here and we’ll never know who it was.

“ She encountered Franken in the workout room once in April and once in late May or June, she says, and both times he was decked out in a white t-shirt, white socks pulled halfway up his calves, and white tennis shoes.“

Trees were killed so CP could tell us this.

No CP’er should ever, ever make any holier-than-thou environmental comment to anyone ever again.

“You see, this is why neighbors suck!“

Your basic premise is wrong. I asked around, and not all of them will.

Move to my neighborhood, bobby.

Nice, bobby_b.

Zeller says Franken has his own campaign bumper sticker plastered to his car, which she finds odd.

Dumbass question of the day: Why would she find this odd? Wouldn’t/Don’t most candidates post their crap on their crap?
If I were running for any office I’d have my campaign crap plastered all over, heck, I’d have a dress made out of campaign stickers.

I can’t believe time was wasted on this story, and worse yet, that I read and commented on it.

both times he was decked out in a white t-shirt, white socks pulled halfway up his calves, and white tennis shoes

No pants? That IS newsworthy!

(Add your own Stuart Smalley joke here.)

“…he was decked out in a white t-shirt, white socks pulled halfway up his calves, and white tennis shoes.”

But…but…was he wearing pants? Shorts? Free-balling? COME ON, CITY PAGES! I NEED TO KNOW!

Jinx, Josie!

Do I owe you a Coke?

Hey everybody. Just to clear a few things things up:
1) It’s a lighthearted story not meant to be a huge expose.
2) Aaron: The reason we included the bit about the I-35W bridge was to provide context to the quote, “I don’t really think that it’s the appropriate time for him to be commenting on what, with no disrespect intended, seems like kind of a light-hearted story,” Barr said.
3) Ben Westhoff is a native of Minnesota who currently lives in New York and freelances for the Village Voice, among other publications. He was back in town for a friend’s wedding and pitched me this story, which I thought was kind of a funny look at a local celeb/political candidate.
Thanks for reading (and commenting).
Kevin

Wow, an okey-doke you owe me a coke reference. Excellent.

Current MNspeak jinx coke debts:

Josie owes yepnone one Coke.
Kevin owes Josie one Coke.
Kevin owes Amber one Coke.

All debts to be paid at a time of the owee’s choosing provided that all parties are present.

———–
Free-balling? < ------------- LOL

S4xton, it was his press guy who said, “I don’t really think that it’s the appropriate time for him to be commenting on what, with no disrespect intended, seems like kind of a light-hearted story.”

Seems to me the writer only made the bridge reference to explain that quote. [Which itself seems like a lame way to dodge the [[even lamer]] questions.]

So really Kevin is the only person obligated to purchase a Coke.

Zeller says Franken has his own campaign bumper sticker plastered to his car, which she finds odd.

Christ, next thing you know, he’ll be voting for himself!!! That bastard!!!!

Kevin,

For a “lighthearted story”, it sure seemed pretty mean-spirited. And if it were tongue-in-cheek, is it really appropriate to get straight quotes from Franken’s campaign manager, Andy Barr?

And if he pitched this story to you, who pitched it to him? Did Franken’s neighbors come forward about his apparently troubling behavior.

Also, did you check out these neighbors’ political affiliations to make sure that they aren’t coming forward with their evidence of Franken’s unseriousness in oder to score political points (e.g. are they party-registered, have they donated to Coleman’s campaign, etc.).

And, can we expect a similarly light-hearted article re: Norm Coleman?

The lampa: everyone who comes forward with every story is doing it to score points of one sort or the other. The reporter did write at the end:

Though she’s a Republican, she swears her politics haven’t affected her perception of Franken. “Politics aside, I prefer not to associate with people who are clearly attention seeking.”

So really Kevin is the only person obligated to purchase a Coke.

I harbour no ill will. It is a supreme act of compassion to pass along the pleasure of a Coke to your fellow man.

If Al Franken supports his own candidacy, I cannot vote for him.

Oh, and I guess The Hoff already explained as much. Never mind.

Ah, thanks for pointing that out to me–I must have overlooked it!

Well, I guess this was a political hit piece then. Clever!

I actually drive around with a bumper sticker for KARE 11 News, as I cannot direct attention to myself ormy blog; and I certainly wouldn’t encourage people to sign up to get my video blog. It’s just unseemly.

K-Hoff-

1) It’s a lighthearted story not meant to be a huge expose.

That part is obvious. But why highlight his habits while working out? By highlight, I mean have your illustrator work on it too. And those opinions from the two sources are fluffy at best. All you’re doing is illustrating how someone works out. How about we do a story on your facial expressions while you take a dump? Or how Norm Coleman’s sweat smells when he jogs? What’s the point of the story? To get people to do exactly as “Bx” responded, I suppose: “The whole image really grosses me out. As if I want to imagine Stuart Smalley biting a towel while sweating and yelling at a TV. No thanks.” That’s what you’re going for?

2) Aaron: The reason we included the bit about the I-35W bridge was to provide context to the quote, “I don’t really think that it’s the appropriate time for him to be commenting on what, with no disrespect intended, seems like kind of a light-hearted story,” Barr said.

Then why did you even include that in the first place?

3) Ben Westhoff is a native of Minnesota who currently lives in New York and freelances for the Village Voice, among other publications. He was back in town for a friend’s wedding and pitched me this story, which I thought was kind of a funny look at a local celeb/political candidate.
Thanks for reading (and commenting).

Thought it was kind of funny? But when this community decided to do a little expose on your MySpace page, which involved about as much research as this “funny look” CP provided, with about just as many “facts” about you… you flipped out.

I believe I found the root of the author’s interest in Franken’s health maintenance habits.

Under “general,” on his myspace page, Westhoff is interested in “avoiding trans fats” and has self-diagnosed himself as having “hypochondria.”

And, hey, I didn’t even have to get any inside, Republican sources from the author’s kitchen to learn that he likes standing in there and reading, presumably while waiting for his trans fat-free food to finish in the microwave–he puts it all right out there on his myspace.

Wow, this light-hearted character exploration stuff IS fun!

Oh, and jderusha–just because, as you say, “everyone who comes forward with every story is doing it to score points of one sort or the other,” doesn’t mean the hypothetical reporter should immediately run to his teletype machine, bash out a He Said, She Said story, send it to his editor, have it printed, and call it a day.

A media gatekeeper like yourself should certainly understand the press’s role in either lending credence to someone’s ax grinding or telling them, “Thanks, but there’s no there there.”

This political hackery of the worst kind. The City Pages is just trying to get everyone worked up by smearing the liberals’ golden boy in a supposedly left-leaning, hip, young person’s publication.

Oh, how out there!

“If “Ben Westoff” is Ben Westhoff, then it looks like this is another example of the hacktastic articles we’ll be seeing as articles are farmed out to freelancers outside the Twin Cities.”

“Ben Westhoff is a native of Minnesota who currently lives in New York and freelances for the Village Voice, among other publications.”

so, is the real story the fact that city pages reporters can’t even spell their own names right?

It’s just “a lighthearted story” rew. No need to edit it, or anything.

This political hackery of the worst kind. The City Pages is just trying to get everyone worked up by smearing the liberals’ golden boy in a supposedly left-leaning, hip, young person’s publication.

I think it’s interesting that people seem to be holding this story up to the same standard as something that would appear in the Strib or on WCCO. My guess is this was something CP thought was funny, and so they ran it. Big deal. Turn the page if you think it’s dumb.

Yeah, I don’t understand why Franken’s supprters have their panties all in a bunch. I mean, they’re going to vote for the little marxist anyway no matter what some alleged journalist writes about him.

If you’re worried that a less than flattering piece is going to change people’s minds about him, I wouldn’t.

You either laugh at Franken or you don’t. heh

Turn the page if you think it’s dumb.

Jason, I did and it was dumber. *Cheezy Grin*
I’m not a Franken fan (maybe Stuart) and call me a lemming, but if something is posted on mnspeak, I tend to read it and the humor was lost on me.

I hope none of the people at Lifetime Fitness call CP and report about my workout habits. I’ll give up the goods right here: sometimes I don’t wipe down the sweat off the machines. And sometimes I sing along to Game Show themes and broadway musicals. I also walk around my house totally nude, but just try to get any of my Maple Grove neighbors to go on record complaining about that. They love it.

Which brings us back to josie’s previous comment of FB. Plus, when you’re layin’ it bare, so to speak, it’s a funny overshare.

Kevin, can i have the 10 minutes back that i just wasted on a ridiculous story? one that’s neither funny nor entertaining? thanks! i appreciate it.

doesn’t EVERYONE yell at the TV during sporting events? i always do! how’s that a scandal? how does that make Franken “weird”?

ugh.

i find it ironic that Ms Zeller “prefer(s) not to associate with people who are clearly attention seeking” yet she couldn’t wait to tell the Shitty Pages all about Weird Al and his White Workout Wear.

you go Lauren! WOOT!

doesn’t EVERYONE yell at the TV during sporting events? i always do! how’s that a scandal? how does that make Franken “weird”?

i watch the twins all the time at my little health club, and rarely (see “never”) shout at the tv. but then again, i’m an adult and generally know how to act in public.

honeybun, do you also put your towel in your mouth and bark like a dog? (have you seen anybody, anywhere ever do this?) please, if he was some 300lb frat boy meathead shouting “go pork chop!” to himself we would all be secretly laughing our smug little asses off. but because he’s the lefty’s golden boy, everybody does it, right! go heavy or go home! whatevs.

listen, it was just a trite little piece the CP is pretty much know for anymore. get over it.

“I think it’s interesting that people seem to be holding this story up to the same standard as something that would appear in the Strib or on WCCO.”

True, J, we did all sort of swarm onto the newsworthiness and purpose, as if this were delivered as serious news in a serious tone.

But, to be fair, wouldn’t CP demand to be treated with the same respect as the Strib, the same veneration, and accorded the same benefits and powers and immunities contained within all of those constitutional precepts that recognize and serve the value to our society of having that free serious press that delivers facts and information and argument – that makes us an informed electorate? Wouldn’t they demand that same high stature that we accord to serious news orgs like the Stri . . . . well, like serious news orgs?

I mean, I still like Mad Magazine, but I’d die laughing if they came out demanding respect as news pros.

I suppose I’ll let CP defend themselves. I just think there’s room for different news organizations with different tones and different sensibilities. You can still do stories that are hefty and important next to stories that are light and fluffy and irrelevant. At least I think you can.

“If you’re worried that a less than flattering piece is going to change people’s minds about him, I wouldn’t.“

C’mon – you know that about ten percent of society is truly (and maybe unhealthily) plugged-in daily as political wonks – meaning, the ones who read political blogs, argue politics on the net, and get worked up over the issues. (The stoopid ones, who write multi-paragraph comments about politics. Sheesh. What Losers.)

And you know that those in that 10% (on both sides) look at the rest of the country – most of whom don’t know what cloture is, never heard of Harry Reid or Tom Coburn, think a primary is grades one through six, and think ads and pretty hair provide an acceptable informational basis upon which to make their vote something of value and meaning – as being fairly numb, dumb sheep, willing to vote for the most transparent lie when seven people shout the truth of that lie in their presence, and we know that most of the shouting on both sides of the 10% is driven by the fear that the other side will, with what we consider to be transparent fallacies, lead the sheep astray for the important vote.

And, of course, it’s a correct fear. It works. We build up our themes about people and ideas that completely oversimplify and mislead, and they do the exact same thing – because it works. I can name ten major-story lies that Democrats, by simple repetition, have made into Conventional Wisdom, and they can name ten from us. (No, let’s not quibble back with “you’re worse, we can name eleven lies from you @*# baby-killers!”)

Which is why such an asinine CP effort counts, and which is why such an asinine editorial paradigm as possessed by the Strib – the “we-think-conservatives-are-stupid-and-evil-and-their-ideas-suck-but-
it’s-not-bias-because-it’s-true” mindset – counts . For many individuals, on both sides, this really does sum up how they can picture themselves as central and openminded – but what’s at least expected in individuals is a central lie in an organization that lays claims to neutrality in delivering raw info to The People. It cheapens, even more, the basis upon which we pick the people who get to decide, in small closed rooms, how millions of lives will proceed.

jderushe: no one is arguing that there can’t be different tones or sensibilities.

Please answer my question.

What I am asking you is whether this kind of story ought to get past the gatekeepers of the mainstream media (read: print, broadcast, cable) and actually be presented to the citizen. Yes, sure, you can bicker re: whether CP represents the mainstream, but let’s just say it does since it’s widely available and widely read (I assume) within the MSP area.

Sure, I can turn the page on something I find stupid. But I’m still offended that someone–anyone–would put this out there as if it had some sort of news value.

When this all gets aggregated, when this all comes down to the end game of how public figures are perceived and who gets elected or not because of those perceptions, is this City Pages article on a public figure running for the United States Senate a Good Thing or a Bad Thing for the democratic process? I look forward to your response.

Heaven forbid someone laugh at the alleged comedian.

First, thelampa, I think CP would be offended to be presented as “mainstream.” They’re supposed to be counter-culture, alternative. So they’re presenting an alternative. To me: I’d think it was dumb if this showed up in the Metro section. But I’d be cool with it in C.J.’s column.

You guys don’t see this even as moderately interesting? The guy is running for U.S. Senate: and he does this:

“He yells, ‘Go Al!’ and then puts his sweaty towel in his mouth, shakes his head back and forth, and growls like a dog,” says Lauren Zeller, a 28-year-old risk consultant. “The cycle repeats: ‘Go Al!,’ towel, shake head, growl.”

I tend to agree with cubbie’s take on things above.

“You can still do stories that are hefty and important next to stories that are light and fluffy and irrelevant“

Light and fluffy are good, relaxing, needed things. But too often, especially when used in the context of important national or state conversations, they simply provide cover for trashing. Let them write such a story about the owner of CP, or you, or me – don’t excuse smarm in an election context.

(And I effin’ HATE Franken.)

Bobby_b makes some sense there to me also. Don’t make me change my mind, bobby.

jderusha: Is this a Good Thing or Bad Thing for democracy in the United States.

A simple yes or no (if at all possible, with a bit of exposition) will do.

I can name ten major-story lies that Democrats, by simple repetition, have made into Conventional Wisdom, and they can name ten from us.

You’re a better man than I gunga din. I couldn’t name ten from us if I was tortured with John Kerry speeches.

Look, I admit to being a bit disingenuous in this argument. I’m simply amazed that people who take great pride in the knowledge that they’ve managed to convince tens of millions of people, foreign and domestic, that the leader of the free world, the commander in chief of all U.S. forces, a man who graduated from Harvard and Yale, and who is a trained fighter pilot who flew in the TANG, who has a higher IQ than John Kerry and twice the academic credentials as Al Gore, and who twice served as governor of a large state, is actually a man of below-average intelligence who dodged his military obligations and has no leadership abilities (compare and contrast with Hillary Clinton or Barak Osama for example to get my point), are now concerned that their candidate is getting dissed.

(Wow, that was very Big G-like, wasn’t it? heh)

You’re awful bossy, thelampa!

No.

Ha! That makes no sense! Is it good? No. Is it bad? No. It’s just a dumb story in City Pages.

cubbie-

like i’m going to take a character witness’ testimony about some famous dude seriously. hell, it’s a stretch to even believe a word the chick said. and besides, i made a specific comment in regards to the “‘C’mon, hit it!’” comment. i stick by my assertion that every sport loving individual yells at the TV when their favorite team is playing.

and it’s kind of pathetic that you have to bust out the lefty card. if it was oh, i don’t know, karl rove, the righty’s “golden boy”, i’d still think it was a shitty article and have a hard time believing any of it. and i hate karl rove.

give me a goddamn break.

I am known for being bossy, thanks.

So you have no opinion then on whether this was a Good Thing or a Bad Thing for democracy? Your answer is so incredibly cute in its non-committal-ality.

If it’s just a stupid article in the City Pages, why are so many people talking about it?

If a stupid article in the City Pages is about, as bobby_b astutely said, “how millions of lives will proceed”, doesn’t that elevate the matter to something higher than some stupid article?

I believe I gave my opinion. It is not good for democracy. It is not bad for democracy. Perhaps you inflate the importance of one article in City Pages to a level much higher than I do.

If you really want to talk more about this, send me an e-mail. I’d be happy to engage with you off-site.

jderusha: Off-site shmoff-site. You’re a journalist, I’m a citizen. Let’s discuss. Out here.

I’m not asking whether this CP article Destroys Democracy and Civil Society As We Know It, but rather in a sort of “tipping the scales” sort of way, does this article brighten or obscure? Does it clarify or muddle? Does it reinforce or counteract?

I’m not asking you to out yourself as a Republican or a Democrat or a wish-washy moderate. I’m not asking you to render a decision on the whole of media, democracy,

I am just simply asking if this article contributes to The Good or The Bad in terms of what we all would like to see in our political discourse regarding the election of people that can potentially affect our lives in profound and meaningful ways.

But if you want to be all fence-sitting and objective and all that, that’s fine. Sit there on the fence and we’ll just get on with the discussion and maybe you can do some sort of story on it or whatever you people do.

It’s too easy for my to comment on your blog name, Pretentious Blowhard. That’d be a lame obvious joke. So I’m moving on.

You want my real opinion? Your question lays out a false dichotomy. This article doesn’t contribute to anything. It’s the equivalent of a story about female candidates and the clothing they wear. It reinforces the opinion of those who already have made up their minds.

To Democrats who love Franken: What a hack job! This is ruining America. What about the issues?

To Republicans who hate Franken: Ah, it proves he’s a total clown. Not serious enough to be a leader.

To the rest of us: Huh. Wonder why Franken yells like a dog when he works out.

This is not part of a serious DECISION 2008 package of coverage. It shouldn’t be analyzed like it is.

“I couldn’t name ten from us if I was tortured with John Kerry speeches.“

Aw, c’mon. Five minutes on the Internet Gore Built and you could find several. In the time it takes for Dean to Scream, you could find a few more. In the nine sober minutes Kennedy has each year, another will appear. Kerry could Flip-Flop his way to three, at least. I bet we’d find at least one hidden in that bag full of illegal-immigrant votes that swung several important races last year.

Etc. . . .

Take a chill pill, thelampa.

I believe that Jason was hoping to engage you off-site in order to spare the rest of us from your badgering. Also, perhaps before you engage in a debate with someone, you should possibly gauge whether or not that person is even interested in debating the topic at hand. I am aware that you find this sort of philosophical ponderment interesting and enlightening, but you might also want to consider that insults do not necessarily prompt others to honor your request.

I did enjoy the title of your blog, however. It’s so eerily apt I thought I was imagining it at first…

“He yells, ‘Go Al!’ and then puts his sweaty towel in his mouth, shakes his head back and forth, and growls like a dog,” says Lauren Zeller, a 28-year-old risk consultant. “The cycle repeats: ‘Go Al!,’ towel, shake head, growl.”

As funny and normal as that is (my workout self-encouragement is to say “Come on you bitch” outloud), it might not have occured to Lauren that he was probably putting on a show, because that’s what performers tend to do.

but kwatt, lauren doesn’t like people who show off. dontchaknow.

“Your question lays out a false dichotomy. This article doesn’t contribute to anything.“

This is true. What’s the moral measure of a candy bar? Good? Evil?

This will be my last word on this, because I’m sick of hearing myself on this issue, and I never get sick of hearing myself.

I’ve been e-mailing Grant off-site (despite his comment above), and he suggested I share some of my e-mailed comments here.

He wrote:
“I used to do journalism (as a student and elsewhere as a part-time job) and I understand the interest in staking out a seemingly neutral middle ground of ‘maybe.’”
I responded:
And I never said maybe. I answered your question with a NO! There’s
nothing redeeming about this article. It’s not good for democracy, certainly. I also don’t think it’s bad for democracy. Our democracy has thrived for years with rumor, innuendo, scandal, lies, and total fabrications mixed in with policy discussion and analysis. This story was intended to be funny- and it’s provoked a lot of discussion — so I suppose that’s something.

Candy bars? Well, in the grand scheme of things, probably Evil. But then again, I am not a fan of chocolate so I am biased.

Just so everyone knows, jderusha and I have made peace via the “email.”

He did answer my question, in his own way, and I was badgering him to get more out of him. His last comment lays it out pretty plainly and I appreciate it.

Here’s my final comment on the matter:

All of this stuff, this reporting, these stories, this specific “light-hearted” article gets aggregated into the great big thing we call public opinion. The predominant storyline out there is that Al Franken is Not Serious Enough to be a Senator. City Pages, if not mainstream media (as I see it) places itself (as jderusha sees it) as counter-culture. I don’t see what’s counter-culture about reinforcing a GOP talking point by sourcing at least one admitted anti-Franken Republican who lives in the same building as the man regarding his supposedly odd workout routine.

I do, however, see an established (if not establishment) media outlet running a story that is detrimental to the candidacy of one particular person running for one of the highest offices of the land. Sure, maybe it’s just for fun or amusement or whatever, but I think it’s hard to deny that, when aggregated, this City Pages article will add to rather than subtract from the image of Franken as a comedian, an oddity, a jokester. Given Minnesota’s experience with the Body, these are very problematic labels for someone to bear.

Editors, especially at those publications which seek to pose themselves as authentically counter-culture, should ask themselves what greater purpose this article (or that article) will serve in educating the public. Yes, I know this was just for “fun” or whatever, but still–will this article have a positive effect on our ability to self-govern and have a productive, happy society? Or a negative effect? Can we change it to make it better? Should we drop it altogether?

If you think these are too serious questions for editors to be asking themselves, then you should never be an editor, sorry. If you are an editor and think that you are not tasked with (or didn’t ask for) this huge responsibility, then you are deluding yourself and you might want to find another line of work. Otherwise, just try to keep in mind that you are a gatekeeper and the things you print or broadcast do indeed matter in the grand scheme of things… whether you intend them to or not.

Oh- my final insult: his name is Graham. Sorry!

Is Savage Love good or bad for Democracy? Are Dara’s food columns good or bad for democracy? Are the various postings on MnSpeak good or bad for democracy? Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes an article is merely an entertaining diversion, much like a skit on SNL.

“Editors, especially at those publications which seek to pose themselves as authentically counter-culture, should ask themselves what greater purpose this article (or that article) will serve in educating the public.“

Two main problems: First, there is no one objective definition of “educating the public” – the media tend to devolve to “teaching to the public that which I want the public to know.” Schools can “educate us” as to how to do long division, or titrate a molar solution, but media, in communicating about social policy, “persuades” rather than “educates.”

Second, the purpose of media organizations, in this capitalist society, is to make a profit for its owners. Serving the public, developing a long reputation for truth and honesty, delivering accurate raw information – these aren’t purposes so much as they are tools serving the profit purpose.

And third, by its very definition, if a publication wanted to take the counter-culture or contrary POV, it would be the republican point of view.

is “inaneist” a word? ’cause if it is, this is the inaneist thread I have ever read.

“What I am asking you is whether this kind of story ought to get past the gatekeepers of the mainstream media (read: print, broadcast, cable) and actually be presented to the citizen”

Since when are the media gatekeepers? In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t live in the utopian land of socrates. We don’t have gatekeepers. Guess what? People get to make up their own minds. They get to, and are responsible for, finding out information. Do they always do so? Maybe not, but as a citizens in a democratic society, it is our perogative to be as informed or uninformed as we are able/willing to be. Yes, any newspaper has a certain bent, but there are other ways to get information than the mainstream media. Alternative sources of information are more readily accessed on the web now than ever before. And anyone can access the web at the library, so there really is no excuse not to be informed.

As for a satirical article in the City Pages which was obviously meant as a joke, I see no reason why this has any bearing on citizenry or the public good. To take that article seriously would be like thinking that an article in the onion were true, or the national inquirer. Common sense dictates what is real and what is meant as entertainment.

City Pages loves to blow things up into something they’re not. The whole mayor of needle park episode where they tried to make the Needle Exchange look bad was pathetic. I won’t miss their crappy paper.

As entertaining as it may be to listen to a bunch of internet nobodies bitch about City Pages – Shitty Pages? I bet they’ve never heard that one before – the Hoff deserves some credit for coming here and commenting at all.

Then again, he’s chased away/fired the majority of the local writers/editors who’ve worked their asses off for that paper and replaced them with out-of-town ex-fratboy assholes who don’t give a shit about the Twin Cities and see this job as two years they have to hang in there until they can move on and fuck up some other New Times paper in a slightly larger city.

Not that all of the Hoff’s deletions will be missed. Anyone who wants to read about how awesome Jim Walsh thinks he is can already do so elsewhere. But it’s sad to see some really talented people forced out of that place and it’s probably even more sad to see the really talented people still there have to figure out how to live under the Hoff’s iron fist.

Don’t forget, this is all happening under the watch of a (cough cough) Bartel.

It just gets inaner and inaner.

Oddly enough, this piece is actually the most flattering account of who Al Franken is I’ve seen published to date.

It may, in fact, be the highwater mark for him.

It shows that Al is the guy who might finally bring some gravitas to the Democrat ticket; they are very lucky to have him.

Monitor exposer: Saw your post at MNMonitor on this topic. You didn’t expose much. What’s your beef?

Accident Prone, who actually lives next to Franken, has published a response.

“In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t live in the utopian land of socrates.“

Go to law school. You will then never again use “socrates” and “utopian” in the same sentence.

I’m glad Al likes the Twins. Al’s Minnesota credentials have struck me as better than some of these other carpet baggers who’ve settled here.

I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Ben Westhoff’s penetrating review of the new Interpol record in the very same issue!