Stop the Presses!
After hearing nothing from my editor in over a week, I got an email from her today asking if I want to undertake a story about some family who might be buying cows and keeping them locally, in someone's field. Um, no, not really. My editor called it, "strange, but amusing." But I am not so sure. I feel like the only thing this story will do is get some cow-buying folks mad at me, because I am pretty sure it will turn out that they are in violation of some city ordinance or other, and since I would have to call the city manager for a quote on the legality of what these people are doing, authorities will find out about it and go after them if they are in fact doing something wrong.
Oh, the hot drama of small-town news!
Of course, if it turns out they are within their rights, and have a permit or whatever it is you would need to have cows in your backyard, then the whole story is pointless. "Extra, extra, read all about it--people keeping cows in a field! Turns out they're allowed to! Extra, extra!"
You know, I am really not cut out for journalism.
Oh, the hot drama of small-town news!
Of course, if it turns out they are within their rights, and have a permit or whatever it is you would need to have cows in your backyard, then the whole story is pointless. "Extra, extra, read all about it--people keeping cows in a field! Turns out they're allowed to! Extra, extra!"
You know, I am really not cut out for journalism.
posted by grackyfrogg @ 5:18 PM
9 Comments:
At 8:12 AM ,
The Little Kappa said...
I am still boggled by the "word verification" section of the comment box. What is it, exactly, that they are testing? My ability to recognize letters?
Also, to quote my oft deep cousin: "Don't hate."
Small town news is the cornerstone of American Journalism. I mean, what would all the elderly of this great nation do with thier abundance of free time if there wasn't a section of the newspaper devoted entirly to "Local Lady Creates New Recipe for Peach Cobbler" or "First Baptsist Toy Drive a Success"? How else will the 100-year-old Birthday Girl or the 5-year-old Essay Contest Winner get their 15 minutes? Where else can I get up-to date dog show news, or find out about the renovation of old buildings? And what about information on the arguement that broke out in the latest PTA meeting?
I think i've made my point. Without our local news the very fiber of our society would crumble. There would be riots, panic in the streets, and bad holiday dressing.
As for the "important" news, about other places (like you know, other countries and stuff); that's for liberals and communists. If it's not about pie-eating contests or the local small business promotions, then I say, forget it. Let the bleeding hearts go get that news (if you can really call it that) from Public whatever or or the biscuit-eaters, but don't pollute *my* newspaper witht that garbage.
So that being said, keep up the good work, the good American work, of keeping our lives (or at least the lives of your papers readership) full of good, grassroots, democratic news. I thank you. America thanks you. I think that even God Himself probably thanks you.
At 10:30 AM ,
Kappa Man said...
*wink*
At 10:39 AM ,
grackyfrogg said...
you are in a funny mood today, kappa!!
as to the word verification...it is due to the fact that i was starting to get spambots leaving dumb comments like, "hey i like your blog! now come to mine where you can find out how to make money by selling cat food from the comfort of your home! if you like cats, you'll LOVE my blog! and keep up the good work!" spambots cannot do the word verification (yet--cue "terminator" music), but for now i have foiled them! muuhahahahahaha!
At 10:46 AM ,
grackyfrogg said...
and btw, i actually have done an article about a local woman who won a recipe contest! haha!! it was for cheesy herb crisps, i think. she was a very nice lady.
but i think my all-time favorite article that i have done, was about a woman who caught a ghost on film while taking pictures in a haunted mansion (well, not film because it was a digital camera, but anyway). now, THAT story was "strange, but amusing"!
At 1:13 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Here's a twist on the cow story...how about from the cow's perspective of living in the field and seeing people staring at him...kind of gary larsen-like. I read my local paper and I actually like it a whole lot better than the big one...very little is depressing and most of it is pretty entertaining. (especially the misquotes and local politics) as an aside Michael says politics broken into it's word form is poly meaning many and ticks being blood sucking bugs. Hmm I think he is on to something!
Aunt B
At 1:22 PM ,
grackyfrogg said...
aunt b, i am CRACKING UP! did he really say that??? oh man, i am really, REALLY sorry now that i did not make it for thanksgiving. dang, i have to visit you guys before he gets too old to say awesome stuff like that.
i should send you my ghost story article. i bet you would get a kick out of it! i still have the photo too!!
At 1:50 PM ,
Anonymous said...
He really did...I'll have to ask if he heard it somewhere or if it came up in the gray matter. Send the story...love to read it.
Saw Edie at a party and she said to say hi. She is teaching writing workshops at her house...very cool
Aunt B
At 4:46 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Heard it from Dan who heard it from a teacher.
Aunt B.
At 5:02 PM ,
grackyfrogg said...
i don't care, it is still funny, because i can picture how he would have said it. :) funny kid.
please say hi back to edie for me! she had told me about the writing classes. she must be having a blast.
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