Author's Podcast 1 February, 2006 - American News is Comedy 2 February, 2006 - A Uniformly Uninformed Citizenry 7 February, 2006 - ... Nor Any Drop to Drink 8 February, 2006 - Reader Comments 10 February, 2006 - Lead by Example: OUR STORY 15 February, 2006 - Kidnap & Ransom: Perspective 23 February, 2006 - Kidnap & Ransom: Conclusion

READER COMMENTS: Rod shares what some of the visitors to this project have had to say thus far.

8 February 2006: This afternoon I'm going to pause in the trajectory of this project, as I begin the research for Friday's launch of the heart of what I mean to do, in order to share with you the comments of other people who have visited here and read one of more of the initial posts. I'll also be sharing a short clip with you that I found amusing and informative from Ben Cohen, of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, at TrueMajority.org.

As you might expect, this project is so new that only a fraction of a percent of you have bothered to give me any feedback. Half of that fraction are people that I actually know. Oh well. I'm happy and grateful that anyone bothers to take a chance on such a prosaic project. If anything, besides what I consider actual comments, most people (not included in this sampling) have written in to ask me how they can vote for the project.

Well, I have to tell them that I don't know. My assumption is that voting will actually begin at the end of the month.

The very first person to contact me and say anything about this project was Natalie Davis of the All Facts & Opinions Blog, who was a recent interview subject at the World's Magazine. She e-mailed me after the very first post.

Natalie wrote:

Dear Rod,

Excellent piece. I have to agree with your points. It is indeed disconcerting to know that most young people get their news from comics and that so many journalists are going the humor/gossip/sensationalism route.

But here is some comforting news: There are journalists around who practice serious journalism, the prevailing climate be damned.

For one, there is you. For two, there is me. And there are others. What we must do is try to reach the young in the hopes of inspiring the next generation of reporters and writers and editors to take the craft seriously and treat it with honor and professionalism and distinction.

Can't wait to see more!

Best,
Natalie

My next e-mail comment came after the second post. I was now one-for-one.

Ron D. wrote from North Carolina:

Rod:

An idea -- in the mid-90s Jim Hightower used to say that for the vast majority of Americans, the "Dow Jones averages" are meaningless numbers. What we really need to know are the "Doug Jones averages," like where can you get a decent used car for less than $1,400; can you buy beef unadulterated with antibiotics and growth hormones, and where; are the brightest kids getting into college and how are they paying for it if their parents are poor.

Combined with -- Ralph Nader said repeatedly in the run-up to the 2000 election that the major newspapers apply the best research and statistics and analysis to sports: if the major media applied the same standards to national and international news -- and especially to Washington, D.C. -- as they do to sports, both Republicans and Democrats would be swept from office, and for good reasons.

The point is that the major media have substituted the activities of a hopelessly corrupt financial system (Wall Street, NYSE, NASDAQ, the commodity exchanges) for the facts about the real economy of the real U S of A. Does anyone believe Washington's figures on employment and unemployment? their statistics on poverty and the cost of living? the focus on the U.S. Supreme Court, with its dozens of cases, as opposed to the "justice" delivered by the circuit and district courts of that system?

Meanwhile, have you heard anyone dispute the calculation of McNabb's "quarterback effectiveness" or "quarterback efficiency"? do fans dispute the batting average of Johnny Damon? the pitching statistics of the 1957 Giants? the win/loss record of the Boston Bruins from 1950 to 1975?

How is it that the FACTS of U.S. sports are all but indisputable (because they are scientifically based on numbers, perhaps?), while the FACTS of U.S. government are all but impenetrable (because of the fudging and shaving and cheating of the politicians, perhaps?) ? ? ?

R E D

It wasn't until the most recent post that I was able to move up to being two-for-one. I'm chuffed!

Ed C. of Michigan, USA, had this to say:

Good article Rod!? You know, you really have matured(I mean that as a compliment) on your perception of this medium, from those halcion days when I was writing for the "G".

Just 5 years ago,? everyone was ranting, on your site and others.? Now, more sophisticated readers(and writers) have realized that it's like the old saw that "opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one".

Good writers like you have realized that something is missing with the unlimited "bullies pulpit" of blogs and rants.? Something important to say.? Even a well written, heartfelt and truthful testimony or personal insight is a breath of fresh air in the anger and tongue-in cheek world of blogs and rants. It would be nice if budding reporters(or just individuals with a bent toward writing, with a smidgen of social conscience) would report on news that is happening in their locale.? Obviously the mealy-mouthed-mainstream-media will not pay people to cover some of the stories we NEED to read.

And then I one from Africa. Moraa G. of Mombasa, KENYA said:

Good morning,

I've just visited 'It's only smoke'

It's scintillating & educative - I wish more people would write the way you do - you know you grab someones 'Whole' attention!!

Good for you, and I wish you luck

MORAA

It's nice when people appreciate your efforts. So, hey, take the plunge. Drop me a line and let me know your thoughts on this project.

And do come back on Friday when I plan to begin to lead by example.

Here's the clip I promised. It's about money and cookies.

Thanks for dropping by.

Go to First Post - AMERICAN NEWS IS COMEDY

Go to the Second Post - A Uniformly Uninformed Citizenry

Go to the Third Post - ... Nor Any Drop to Drink

Go to the Fifth Post - Lead by Example: OUR STORY

Go to the Sixth Post - Kidnap & Ransom: Perspective

Go to Final Post - Kidnap & Ransom: Conclusion

© 2006, Rod Amis.
E-mail your comments to rod@g21.net.