NOW REPLACING PEDER ZANE....

Several years back we had Peder Zane of the N&O Lifestyles section viewing downtown Raleigh in overtly sexual overtones. And now?

Meet David Menconi.

Earlier this year, he wrote of the Michael Buble concert:

"A couple of songs in, Bublé did a comedic monologue that was surprisingly salty, with a couple of F-bombs and flip-offs (although they were so good-natured, it was hard to imagine anybody taking offense)."

Yes, what parent would take offense at some F-bombs?

And now?

Menconi writes about the Lady Gaga concert:

"Over-the-top show borders on brilliant."
"The show drew a packed house of people dressed for the occasion in remarkably elaborate gender-bending costumes..."
"Like lady M, Gaga espouses self-empowerment and sexuality as sacrament, in a cultural context of gay-friendly androgyny."
"During the latter song, flames began shooting from her naughty bits. It was brilliant"

Seems like all that's missing is a few good natured f-bombs. I guess flames "shooting from her naughty bits" is good natured as well beyond being brilliant.

Oh yeah and calling the Wake County Board of Education racists as well.

Class Act Menconi.

Read the article here.

BUBLE DROPS F-BOMBS AND FLIP OFFS BUT N&O SAYS IT WAS GOOD NATURED SO ALL IS WELL

Neglecting my commentary on this guy’s musical ability (he mostly does covers it appears), I’ve always felt that his music catered to more of a family friendly audience. He was in Raleigh on Friday.

I found the N&O's commentary of note:

A couple of songs in, Bublé did a comedic monologue that was surprisingly salty, with a couple of F-bombs and flip-offs (although they were so good-natured, it was hard to imagine anybody taking offense). He made the obligatory local references, including Crabtree Valley Mall and Clay Aiken, and he also poked fun at his own non-masculine image.

Read the story here.

“…hard to imagine anyone taking offense).” Yes, it’s hard for me to imagine that Mom and Dad with child in tow would take offense at a few f-bombs and the flip offs. I’m sure when that nice child goes home and starts repeating the good-natured gestures no one would take offense at their school, church, social gathering, etc.

Why not use the f bomb word and quote in the N&O? It was in good nature. Would the local tv news outlet run that good nature spot as well?

IF YOU NEEDED ANOTHER REASON ABOUT HOW POOR THE N&O IS ....

You can find it in the Life, etc. section this month.

The News and Observer, in the spirit of March Madness decided to compose a "Music Madness" tournament. Simply put, they matched up 64 musical groups and indivduals over the course of pop music history and invited readers to participate in deciding who is the greatest pop music act in history.

So why bring this up today, April 1st?

Yes it's the birthday of arguably the greatest soul musician ever - Marvin Gaye.

And guess what? He's not on the list.

Nope, but somehow the O'Jays, Isley Brothers, and Sly and the Family Stone made the list? What braintrust over at the N&O put together the soul pairings for this? Were they even over 30 years old?

How in the world does this not make the list?

Weak. You can see the N&O list here.

IS PEDER ZANE OF THE NEWS AND OBSERVER CHEATING ON DOWNTOWN RALEIGH

Cue the music.

At first blush it would appear so.

When we last found found Peder Zane, he was engaged in quite a libidinous relationship with downtown Raleigh.

And now it seems his eyes have strayed on to his latest fancy - June Guralnick, Executive Director of Raleigh's Art Commission.

Affair? Cheating on downtown Raleigh?

We don't think so. We liken it more to a menage a trois.

If you're dating, let her pick up the tab. At $72,000 a year in Raleigh funds, she can afford it.

SCHOOL DIVERSITY'S COSTS

School Board Member Ron Margiotta has responded to Steve Ford's column about school buses in the N&O.

You can read it here.

IS PEDER ZANE OF THE N&O HAVING SEX WITH DOWNTOWN RALEIGH?

Cue the music.

Related Story (N&O - April 13, 2008)

Okay, let's "strip-bare" this story. I suspect we can reach climax quick enough.

From the N&O Lifestyles section.

First the title: Raleigh rising.

Next the subtitle: As arts, dining and entertainment options expand bit by bit, downtown throbs with a glorious sense of possibility. (emphasis added)

I feel dirty already.

If we have any of Raleigh's finest still left on the force, can some of you run down to Fayetteville Street and make sure he's not doing anything indecent.

I think he and downtown need to get a room. I'm sure our Mayor would recommend this one.

On a more serious note, beyond Zane's obvious attempts to sex-up downtown Raleigh, is the fact that he has partaken of way too much flavor-aid on this infatuation with downtown Raleigh. I've never heard anyone put "Raleigh's Renaissance" in such overt sexual overtones though.

LETTER TO JOHN DRESCHER AT THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (PART 3)

John,

Here’s yet another example straight from this morning’s front page of Triangle and Co. (Page 2B)


http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/story/1245640.html


Your article lists about 200 people. Less than the 250 from the Life Chain rally on Sunday I referenced in a previous email to you. Much less than the 1000 people who march in downtown Raleigh every year for NC Right to Life that does not receive this type of coverage from your paper.

This story features a color photo and extensive story. I could not read the print edition version as the News and Observer failed to print the remainder of the story on Page 2B. Nothing was there.

As I mentioned, I am seeking to understand the standards for political/issue oriented news coverage.

Does Linda Williams, Senior Editor for News, make decisions on which stories receive coverage in the News and Observer?

I welcome a response and greater clarification.

Thanks.

Joey Stansbury

LETTER TO JOHN DRESCHER AT THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (PART 2)

John,

Here’s another good example. This is an event from the left with only about 60 people. Fairly large story.

Can you explain why this merited some pretty good coverage yet a large protest with 250 people on Six Forks Road merits none?

Just curious as to the standards.

Thanks.

Joey Stansbury


http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1148447.html

Coals glow at global warming rally
Sabine Vollmer, Staff Writer Comment on this story
Leave it to Greenpeace to make grilling environmentally friendly.
The advocacy group cooked some red meat over an open fire to rally troops in the Triangle at a grass-roots election campaign Sunday.
But true to its cause, Greenpeace advertised the Pullen Park cookout on fliers printed on 100 percent recycled paper and encouraged participants to walk or bike to the event. Half of the hamburger patties and hot dogs were vegetarian, and everything was grilled over charcoal without chemical additives.
More than 60 people came, the majority of them under 30. They wrote letters, planned events and made calls designed to goose Brad Miller, a Democratic Congressman from Raleigh running for re-election, and his Republican opponent Hugh Webster into taking a stance against global warming.
In advance of the cookout, which was the first local event of Greenpeace's national Project Hot Seat, volunteers had talked to hundreds of people in the Triangle about global warming, said Kelly Miller, Greenpeace's field organizer in Raleigh.
"There's a lot of concern in the area," Miller said. "And we're not only going to vegan potlucks."
Richard Blackmon, a 24-year-old electrical engineering student, walked about a quarter of a mile to Pullen Park to participate in his first grass-roots campaign about global warming.
He said several of his family members disagree with him that melting polar ice, droughts and floods are signs of manmade climate change. Though he has tried to use less energy -- he car pools, buys long-lasting light bulbs and turns the water off while he shaves -- he had never been active politically before the Greenpeace event.
"It's about time," Blackmon said.
Ricardo Calderon, 22, who studies renewable energy sources, agreed.
"It's our generation and our children's generation that are being affected," Calderon said.
The Greenpeace event also attracted about a dozen old hands who've been green for years. The cookout was the first collaboration between Greenpeace and N.C. Interfaith Power and Light, an initiative by the N.C. Council of Churches.
"Honey, I've been doing this since the '60s," said Bonnie Reiter, 60, an environmental advocate who is active in several local groups, including the green team at the Unity Church of the Triangle in Raleigh.
Webster has yet to announce a position on global warming. And Reiter wasn't too impressed by Brad Miller's environmental record.
"He accepts global warming," she said. "But he hasn't done a darn thing about it."
sabine.vollmer@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-8992

LETTER TO JOHN DRESCHER AT THE NEWS AND OBSERVER (PART 1)

John,

I met a photographer for the News and Observer who covered the Respect Life “Life Chain” on Sunday, October 5, 2008 on Six Forks Road in Raleigh. We were pleasantly surprised and pleased that the News and Observer would cover the event. From our count over 250 participated in this protest against abortion.

I did not see any coverage of the event in the paper this morning and am perplexed. What I did notice was another protest that featured a full story on the front page of the Triangle and Co. section. The story was accompanied by two prominent photos – one of which was in full color. I also noticed that the photo featured only about 8 protesters. Your writer notes “about a dozen.”

I am just curious to know what the standards are and how this decision is made.

Year after year I see about a thousand people marching through downtown Raleigh with NC Right to Life and never is coverage displayed like this.

I will from now on be keeping a documented tab of events, the number of people attending, your coverage and provide that to you on a regular basis.

This event just fuels people’s ongoing disillusionment with the News and Observer and the well documented bigoted nature of high placed staffers such as Linda Williams. I’ve seen no public commentary on her to allay any concerns.

Also, with all her biased talk about Kenn Gardner, I’ve not seen the N and O addressing Stan Norwalk’s very sketchy ethical past. When you don’t address it, it will fuel even further speculation about Ms. Williams bigoted nature.

If a photo did appear in the N and O then I would welcome being proven wrong.

Joey Stansbury
Subscriber since 1991.