You would think feminist would be proud
Pravda and Izvestiya
The chickens finally came home to roost for the Mitchell family, soon to be the former owners of the Times Argus and Rutland Herald. Cutting back to four days a week and trying to rely on internet revenue wasn’t going to cut it. Fortunately for them a sucker white knight came to the rescue. (is “white knight”…racist?)
Ever since the internet became the vehicle of mass communication the dead tree media has been in decline, especially in that most important category…revenue. So how does a newspaper generate revenue? Selling advertising of course, no different then commercials on television which produce revenue for the networks. Television advertising revenue depends on “ratings”, newspapers depend on circulation. One problem is that a lot of people can read it for free by passing it around or taking it out of the recycle bin. I don’t think anybody gets home delivery anymore.
I’m old enough to remember when the “Valley News” sold for 7 cents, but over the years the price kept going up and the content kept going down. I remember when “Dick Tracy” was removed by the editors because it was deemed to violent. P.C. in its embryonic stage.
Many years ago a city of any size at a least two newspapers. During the Civil War newspapers were very partisan, consider the critiques of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Chicago Tribune: “The dedicatory remarks by President Lincoln will live among the annals of man.”
Chicago Times: “The cheeks of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat and dishwatery utterances.”
Journalism used to be the 5 “W’s”, who, what, when, where, and why. Investigative reporters sought to expose corruption, wither political or corporate and it didn’t matter the political party. Those days are long gone.
Today the vast majority of “Journalist” are very partisan. They are wedded to leftist ideology and they consider themselves members of an elite class. They attempt to crush one political party while totally ignoring the lies and corruption of the other. They look down with arrogant condescension on anyone who could possibly have a differing political opinion.
Which brings us the to the Times Argus/Rutland Herald situation. Now I understand that the majority of Vermonters are of a liberal bent. But I wouldn’t think that it would be a wise business practice to constantly be shitting on insulting 40-45% of your potential readership. Add the usual Danziger cartoon depicting conservatives as inbred hicks and well… after reading about the little revolt and firings at the Rutland Herald I felt more then a little schadenfreude.
Reade Brower, the owner of the Portland Press Herald and two other newspapers said that they were “committed to community journalism, as well as common sense and prudency”. I’m all for covering local news events but unless the “elitist” attitude about their “progressive’ ideology is tempered… well, I hope that he has deep pockets.
Memories…memories, faces from my past
One of the greatest things that happen when your on a excellent adventure is the people that share the adventure with you. I’m going to introduce you to one of them. Now were talking 43 years. Unfortunately I lost contact with these fine people long ago. Life happens, you move on. Hopefully they are all still with us. In the unlikely event that someone who knows them or they themselves should stumble upon this blog they can contact me at deepredpond@gmail.com
The person shown above is Mr. Phil C. Filling his truck with government gas. We had great times cruising in that truck. Think of an Alaskan version of Cheech and Chong. One of the things that we did was knocking over stop signs. He justified it by saying that he was creating employment for the locals. Sure enough the stop sign would be replaced by a better one, a steel pole embedded in cement. Like they were saying “hit it again M.F.”.
Gosh there is something about being young, stoned, and laughing so hard you think your ribs are going to break. A great guy. I went to his wedding after we got out. I hope he’s had a wonderful life.
The town of Kodiak then always reminded me of a frontier town. The great Alaska earthquake which practically destroyed the town was less the ten years before. The bars in town opened at 9:00am and didn’t close until 4:00am Just long enough to sweep the floor. clean the glasses, and restock the bar.![48[1]](https://i0.wp.com/deepredpond.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/481.jpg?resize=500%2C365)
This is Beachcombers, formally the S.S. Princess Norah a steamship that ran between Seattle and Alaska. After the Earthquake it was beached at turned into a Restaurant and Bar, with the emphasis on bar. It had a stainless steel dance floor. Some really great bands played there. It also has cabins to rent by the hour.
Well I’m looking at the clock. I have to wrap things up for now. I will have more in later posts about my year long vacation. But on a final note
I would never compare myself to the people serving today, especially those who are in harms way. Those who come back broken physically and mentally, and end up getting screwed by the V.A. .
I had too much fun.
The Great depression of 1920-21
Does anyone teach in American history about the great economic depression of 1920-21? If only Silent Cal had decided to run another term. But for a game of tennis history might have turned out differently.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5puwTrLRhmw
We will probably never see his like again. Reagan came the closest.
The Paradox of Vermont
The State of Vermont since 1962 has morphed from a conservative rock that never voted for Roosevelt to a looney tune liberal la-la land. The Democrats presently vying for the governorship are all trying to outflank each other on the left by advocating free healthcare (single payer) free college, and a $15 per hour minimum wage. And pay for it all by soaking the rich! That likely the majority of the rich are also flaming liberals might cause them pause, they are also no doubt quite adept at using every legal means at their disposal (tax attorneys) to lower their tax burdens be it income or property taxes.
So this will mean that working people, small business owners and homeowners taxes will be going up if any democrat is elected.
Vermont is deep blue but when it comes to gun control it means shooting with a steady hand and well aimed. Private purchases? No problem. Concealed carry? No permit required. Your not even required to tell a police officer at a traffic stop that you have one.
The caveat is of course is “law abiding citizen”.
Even flaming libs who live way out on a remote country road know that law enforcement can be a long way off should something like a home invasion by drug addicts looking to steal to support their habit occur. And note that Vermont has the worse Heroin and opiate addiction problem in America.
For some though this still sticks in their craw.
Of course this is what the situation is now. If Hillary is elected and we elect a governor and legislator more in line with Bernie then with Ethan Allen it could all change.
So vote wisely this fall. That is if you care at all about keeping more of your hard earned money. Keeping your right to bear arms and self protection, and simply hanging on to the few freedoms you still have left.
Rino’s and Wall Street
Meg Whitman, former CEO of Hewitt Packard, failed politician, billionaire, RINO has joined the billionaire’s for Hillary club and has shown her true colors.
Wall Street…48.5 million for Hillary, $19,000 for Trump.
One would think that Bernie would be a little embarrassed.
It’s the Mega Rich in concert with the millions wedded to government dependency to crush the middle class.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNTwYQGeWow
And of course gut the 2nd amendment. Soon to ration your healthcare.
And the fools cheer.
The Stupid party
The Democrats(progressives) have only one goal, that is political POWER! With power comes FORCE, which they will use to cement and maintain their power Forever!
The Stupid party establishment frets about their principles (what principles?) They hate Trump( they hated Cruz too). Some in the Republican establishment want Hillary to win so as to discredit Trump and Tea- party conservatives. Banish them forever and take back permanent control of the Republican party and shoot for 2020.
What the stupid bastards don’t seem to realize is if Hillary wins it’s likely all over for the Constitution and America as we know it. She’ll pack the Supreme Court and the lower courts even more then they’re packed now. Have you noticed all the State voter I.D. laws that are being shot down by the Federal Courts? You need a picture I.D. for everything except the most important civil function a citizen can do, voting. Vote early and often is their mantra.
Hillary, the Left, and the media are out to destroy Trump, by any means necessary. Aided an abetted by the Republican Establishment. The Stupid Party!
City of Kodiak. Today
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE6r2kI2UvE
It’s grown considerably from when I was there. Hope to go back one more time before I die.
Maybe I should start a go fund me page…NAH!
Destination Kodiak Alaska
After graduating ET school at Governors Island I had made my choices on the “dream sheet” of where I would like to be assigned. Looking back it seems quaint that a branch of the military would actually give you a choice. They basically owned me, they could have sent me anywhere they thought I was needed. But there happened to be an open slot at Loran station Spruce Cape . I had always wanted to see Alaska as my Father served there back in WW2.
Kodiak was my first choice, and I got it.
I had never flown before in my life. Now I was going to fly 5 time Zones. Leaving home and going to far away places all on the governments dime.
Nothing really prepares you for that first flight. That first take off. You have a slight knot in your belly. Flying is the safest way to travel they say. Statistically correct, the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor, but it’s a lottery where winning is very, very bad. I flew out of Lebanon N.H. to Boston, from Boston to Chicago to Seattle-Tacoma airport arriving in the late evening. Bunked at the USO located at the airport for a 6:00am flight to Kodiak.
The plane was a Boeing 707. The seating capacity was approx. 150. There couldn’t have been more then thirty people on the plane. The plane had a full crew compliment which meant that the stewardesses (they were still called that at the time, mini-skirt uniforms too.) had more time to give us more individual attention. One of them came by and asked if I would like some champagne. I said no at first until she told me that it was “free”, compliments of the airline. Well OK! Nothing like a cup a champagne at 6:30am to calm the nerves for a four hour flight over the pacific ocean. I set my empty cup on the tray expecting her to come and take it but no, “would you like more Sir?” Apparently this was the Champagne flight, and for the entire trip my cup was never empty. The golden age of air travel. Needless to say I was quite “corned” by the time we landed. Oh well, so much for first impressions. The first class ET was a little annoyed with me but I explained that it was because of my nervousness of flying that I overindulged. That was my story and I stuck with it.
This of course is not MY arrival. Making video’s was a lot more involved in 1972.