Comments on: 14th Monthly Milestone Message

By: Barbara Levin Bergman

Barbara Levin Bergman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:07:37 +0000

A column!

That’s what Tom Friedman writes, David Brooks writes and what you, Mary and Dave write so well. We all read columns. We all expect to find opinions in columns. That’s why we read them and that’s why various forms media continue to publish them.

Long live your media. Long live your informative and thoughtful columns.

By: Rebecca Lopez Kriss

Rebecca Lopez Kriss — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:11:09 +0000

Mary, I have to say I agree with Fred Zimmerman. His sentiment mirrors my own.

I love the Chronicle for its no-nonsense reporting by talented writers. And I get plenty of opinions in the comments, usually by a diverse set of informed constituents.

Please stick to your tag line, “it’s like being there.” Your publication provides a necessary service by providing the background and information necessary for diligent citizens to make informed decisions (without having our lives run by the civic calendar!)

Let the opinions hash it out in the comments section and stick to what you’re good at. ;-)

Sincerely,

Rebecca

By: Petee

Petee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:09:41 +0000

Those leaves really would have been in agony! In the event that Mr. Lopatin didn’t let you know, you’re likely to get a much tastier jasmine tea from less-than boiling water. I’d start at 180 degrees for your pearls. Vary to your taste, but at 212 you’re probably cooking rather than steeping.

By: Fred Zimmerman

Fred Zimmerman — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:21:14 +0000

Mary,

Let me first say you did a great job with the news and opinion coverage this month. I read lots of it and enjoyed it all.

But you should not be surprised (or stressed!) about the reception of this opinion piece. The traditional news categorization of opinion doesn’t work very well any more. For better or worse, publishing opinion pieces *is* a political act.

Rightly or wrongly, readers draw conclusions about your political stance from the “vector sum” of your opinion pieces. (And I might add that they ignore all the ones that they already agree with ;-) Like it or not, accept it or not, your publication is a political actor in the community.

keep on truckin’!

Fred

By: Steve T

Steve T — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:15:14 +0000

Very well put. You continue to bring the rigor of traditional journalism to the new medium. Hope the trend catches on. Reading the comments on Judy’s piece show it will unfortunately be an uphill battle.

Steve

P.S. I drink a green tea at work called “Gunpowder” that, before the leaves “agonize,” they look exactly like mouse turds. I tell gullible coworkers that I collect them in the stairwells.

By: Jeff Herron

Jeff Herron — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:53:35 +0000

Congrats on another month of growth. Controversy is further evidence you’re relevant. I continue to appreciate being better informed about my community than I was before The Chronicle came online.

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:45:23 +0000

Either way, Vivienne, you taught me a new word: comestibles I had to look that one up :)

Just think Mary & Dave, one day you’ll be writing your 14th *year* update…!!! :)

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:52:44 +0000

My metaphor may have been misunderstood; on rereading it I didn’t like it much. I was trying to say that Mary took a confusing, upsetting situation and refined it to a delicate conclusion. It is too bad that the McGovern column blew up and the comments got so unGenerous – like Mr. Carty’s.

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:15:28 +0000

Mary and Dave – you are a real asset to this community, and I am happy to see that you are doing well enough to employ some free lancers. Judy McGovern and John U. Bacon are interesting to read, and what would we do without Del Dunbar? Keep up the good work.

By: Karen Moorhead

Karen Moorhead — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:13:15 +0000

Congrats on another great milestone and I’ve been out of the country for a week so I have much to catch up on in the A2C…first I have to go vote.

Looks like you have been doing your best to keep people accountable. Interesting development and I can’t wait to read it.