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Comments:
Laura - 2005-02-10 23:07:42 I'm debating cancelling my own sub. I originally subscribed in the spirit of supporting a local paper, learning what's going on around town, and, admittedly, hearing from Judy Busack's vinegary cat Onyx, who was sometimes allowed to guest-write her column. I don't want to threaten the livelihood of the tattered remnants of the remaining staff members downtown by adding one more cancelled sub. But I sure don't appreciate the patronizing message that the current version of the Courier communicates. When you look at 19th century papers from Ypsi, you realize what a vital, colorful local voice those papers were. They contain whole columns of news bits about this local who cleared out the thistles from his ditch and that local who sold a horse and that other local who is down with the ague and what the local temperance group said at their meeting. That's what a paper should do--be the voice of the community. I'm merely noting that the Courier is fast moving away from that, and it's a needless loss that deserves harsh criticism.* * * * * * * * * * * * Andy - 2005-02-11 05:44:30 I for one don't miss the religion columns. They never struck me as Ypsi-centric, just the same old fatuous hogwash.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2005-02-11 07:30:13 I actually tried to buy a Courier this past Tuesday from the box outside Drake's Market. The box didn't work and I lost 50 cents.* * * * * * * * * * * * yd - 2005-02-11 08:25:01 Raymond: You lost 50 Cents? How long were you freinds with him? Is his mother worried?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 09:05:11 yd: 50 Cent has GPS, not to worry.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 09:05:31 Raymond: The box at the downtown bus stop works. I bought one on the way home since I cleverly left my sub version at work. The box is leaky and the papers are wet, but aside from that...* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 09:05:52 Andy: you are right on the money. I agree with you. The Religion column's essays' content was fatuous hogwash. Same old feel-good, cliche-ridden, superstitious Christian nonsense. No argument here. However, I liked the fact that it was all local folks writing the columns. And I did always read it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2005-02-11 09:44:32 Laura, don't censor yourself on my behalf -- if the post doesn't look interesting because it's too ypsi-centric, I just won't read it. But honestly, as a former SE Michigander, I read your blog partly for the same reason that my mom still gets the Bingham-Newton Post -- the newspaper from her old home town from whence she moved almost 40 years ago. I *like* getting the Ypsi/Ann Arbor local-level news. And you rightly point out that the local papers don't do a great job of that anymore. A.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 09:49:38 Well, I'm glad you're reading it.* * * * * * * * * * * * pat grimes - 2005-02-11 10:03:17 hey, there - a note from someone closer to the paper... as i understand it, james mann and thom verwys got lost in the email ether, just as i did the previous week. that is, the email address we were instructed to send our work to did not arrive on our new editor's virtual desk. i remain hopeful when the nuts and bolts smooth out under the new ownership, the courier will retain much of it's local charm and value. and i hope you'll give it a few weeks before you ditch it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric - 2005-02-11 10:08:05 You might have noticed the dearth of letters to the editor in recent weeks. Apparently, the email addy [email protected] wasn't sending letters to the new editor, Renee Collins, who works from the Belleville office. Ms. Collins suggested that people send letters to [email protected] instead. FYI.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 10:10:57 Good heavens, this tiny blog is becoming a local-celebrity watering hole. I'm totally flattered. I've enjoyed many of your columns Mr. Grimes. Thanks for explaining the missing work. However, I find the email glitch rather silly. That's no excuse for Heritage. It's a weekly. There should be time enough for Plan Bs. Besides, why weren't the writers asked to send it to an alternate address when the original one didn't work? Strikes me as not only inept on their part but weird. At any rate, Mr. G., thanks for your visit. I'm very flattered. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 10:13:28 Eric, I had indeed noticed "No Letters" for the last few weeks and kinda wondered about that. They just revamped the Courier site, so maybe some code was dinged somewhere. At any rate, thanks for the update. Good info.* * * * * * * * * * * * pat grimes - 2005-02-11 11:12:20 laura, delighted you've enjoyed my feckless prose. i cetainly enjoy writing it. i'll not be an apologist tool for the new regime, but i can appreciate things falling thru the cracks when chewing off a big new bite. so to speak. here's hoping they'll soon achieve nominal masticative functionality. so to speak.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric - 2005-02-11 13:26:45 Laura, the letters section online isn't the same as the print edition. My letter is in both, but there are two other letters missing from the site. And, of course, Pat's column isn't in the online issue (but it never has been, either.)* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 13:42:38 Ypsidixit admires Mr. G.'s gutsiness in saying that he will not be an apologist tool for the new regime. I won't, either--readers may have already reached that conclusion. Mr. G.'s mastication metaphor suggests that the Courier is a meal for the corporate maw, and, as a soggy little bolus heading down, will eventually, um, transmogrify. Or did I pursue that thought too far? Yes, I believe so. At any rate.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 13:47:16 Oh, I didn't originally understand you had a letter published, Eric--congrats! Now I'm very curious to read it of course, (I looked online but didn't find it in the new site) and will do so soon's I get home. * * * * * * * * * * * * Eric - 2005-02-11 13:54:16 Thanks. You have to click on "Letter to the Editor." The link... http://www.ypsilanticourier.com/stories/021005/opi_20050210011.shtml * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura, impressed - 2005-02-11 14:10:32 That is a very well-written letter arguing against the Braves mascot. Very nicely done, Eric; thank you for letting me know about it. I hope the school does the right thing.* * * * * * * * * * * * addiann - 2005-02-11 15:15:59 I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness on behalf of nonYpsi-ites, but I, too, find the Ypsi/A2 jostling, your local historical pieces, and the just plain what's-going-on-around-townstuff quite interesting. As a nonnative to the state it's fun for me to learn more Michigan stuff, and before friends moved back here I had visited them in Ypsilanti and liked the feel of the town.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-11 15:37:37 Thanks for your nice comments Addiann.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric - 2005-02-11 20:16:57 Thank you, Laura. I think that the outcome depends on the balance of alumni who have a change of heart, and the newcomers to Ypsi who have no attachment to the mascot, versus the Ypsi "aristocracy." I hope I changed a few minds, anyway. An interesting compromise seems to be gaining currency: drop the mascot/icon but keep the name "Braves." I'm still waiting to find out what my Native American friends think about that.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2005-02-12 09:59:44 Your points are so reasonably presented in the letter that I think it will persuade some. Of course, if you ask me, all this mascot business just fosters tribalism and the herd mind, which we have to get away from, but then I'm just a crazy dreamer.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |