Tube City Almanac

October 17, 2010

Blogging Lessons from a Machine-Made Man

Category: Sarcastic? Moi? || By

A few months ago, I learned that I'm part of the Mayor Jim Brewster Machine, or the "JB Machine" as it's called on other websites. This came as a surprise to Brewster when I told him.

I asked him what sort of benefits accrue to members of the "JB Machine." He said I can park Downtown for up to a half-hour for only 25 cents, and I can use Renzie Park whenever I want (between sunrise and sundown).

Also, I just got my sewerage bill, and it shows a $23.51 credit. This may be because I stupidly overpaid last month's bill, but I prefer to think it's because of my status as a member of the Machine.

Unfortunately, because I'm part of the "JB Machine," when internal city financial reports are leaked, I don't get a copy. Those are only "made public" to people who aren't part of the "JB Machine," I guess.

. . .

I've also recently become part of the "Mayor Luke Ravenstahl Machine." I learned this after I wrote a commentary about Rich Lord's "The Network" series in the Post-Gazette.

I foolishly thought that the stories were about the complicated relationship between private consultants and local governments in the Mon Valley. But I have since been told privately they were actually an attack on Ravenstahl.

Because I professed not to know this, I was told I must be an apologist for the "Ravenstahl Machine" and was gently chided for peddling "the conventional wisdom."

. . .

There are only two cities in Allegheny County whose mayors haven't yet made me part of their political machines --- Clairton and Duquesne.

The balls are in your respective courts, Richard Lattanzi and Phil Krivacek. Let me know if I can peddle some conventional wisdom for either of you gentlemen. I'm also good at apologias.

. . .

One group that isn't part of any "Machine" is comprised of people who post comments on the Topix.com forums. I see from Saturday's Daily News (which is sometimes part of the "JB Machine" and sometimes isn't) that a West Mifflin police sergeant is suing the website to obtain the names of people who made "inflammatory comments" about him and his wife.

Setting aside the obvious First Amendment implications, I noticed that the Daily News refers to those commenters as "bloggers" four times, counting the headline.

Sweet sainted ghost of Eleanor Kratzer! Do we need to have remedial Internet classes?

OK, fine: A "blog" is defined as "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer."

. . .

Not everything that's on the Internet is a "blog" any more than everything in a newspaper is a "news article." People who comment on an Internet forum are no more "bloggers" than people who write letters to the editor are "reporters."

This isn't the first time the Daily News has made this mistake --- while reporting on a similar case involving a Forward Township supervisor, it kept calling the defendants "bloggers." They're not either --- they're anonymous commenters on the elizabethboro.com website.

. . .

To be fair, the Daily News isn't the only newspaper that makes this mistake, but it is the one I read most frequently (besides Grit and The Hobo News).

Anyway, if the Daily News is going to persist in calling these people "bloggers," then I will begin calling the Daily News a comic book, since they both contain cartoons, right?

Thus endeth this Sunday's lesson. Please contribute generously to the political machine of your choosing.

. . .

Note: For next Sunday's sermon, entitled "I Got Mine, Suckers," I will take for my text St. Newt's First Letter to the Palinites. Brother Pat Toomey will then lead us in singing, "What a Friend We Have in Von Mises."

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Your Comments are Welcome!

Your site needs an anonymous like button. I wanted to say I liked the article, but dont want to be accociated with the Togyer Machine. It seems there are more “Machines” in the Mon Valley lately then during the Steel Boom.
Adam - October 17, 2010




I actually wasn’t “chiding” you for peddling the conventional wisdom. I was complimenting you on producing such a fine example of it on that issue.
Bram R (URL) - October 18, 2010




@Bram: Hmm. Thanks. I guess. ;)
Webmaster - October 18, 2010




How many people do you think will get the von Mises reference? Two? Three? One-half?

Remember: the only way to put an end to repeat offenders is to stop re-electing them.
Aynthem - October 18, 2010




Aynthem: Hey, you got it. We only want smart readers here at the Almanac. And ones susceptible to flattery.

Besides, every Sunday at least one of the columnists in the Titanically Rock-Solid Total Media newspaper mentions either Von Mises or Hayek, so I figure many reasonably well-read people know who he was.

Also, you’re painfully close to a slogan I once devised for a now-deceased state legislator: “Keep a Criminal Off Our Streets. Send Him Back to Harrisburg Instead. Re-Elect (Name).”
Webmaster - October 19, 2010




Jason, I may have been the first to call you part of the machine. While it is true that you have had the occasional sip of the Kool-Aid, typically your writing is very objective.
Non machine Mayoral Candidate - October 19, 2010




Hmm. Is this kind of like how conservatives think Fox News is “fair and balanced”?

“Very objective” = something I agree with
“Sip of the Kool-Aid” = something I don’t agree with
Webmaster - October 19, 2010




The Kool-Aid was a joke and the Fair and Balanced was a shot at Faux News and a compliment to you.

If you’ve read any of my recent writings on my homeless web-site (I am between web hosts. Yahoo is tooooo expensive) or on Topix, I think you will understand that I am back to the positive talk and fundamentals that won for me in 2005. 2009 was a rough year for me and my family, especially my kids. Please don’t hold me to everything I said then; my thinking was clouded by frustration that I have now come to grips with.

It is my sincere hope that you remove the blocks that you have on my name for writing here so that I may utilize your site to answer constituent questions (if any) and promote positive ideas for a better, check that, TRANSFORMED, Mckeesport.

Many look around and see only decay and despair. I on the other hand, see nothing but opportunity and hope. The same great geography that attracted Andrew Carnegie to the Mon Valley and Mckeesport in particular still exist today. If we can stop the crime, redo our tax system and get our best and brightest involved, Mckeesport can and will be greater than it ever was!

I believe that with my whole heart and THAT is why I am running for Mayor of the City of Mckeesport.

Keep up the great work! (For real, for real.)

Be Safe and Blessed,

That Crazy Gun Toting Former Councilman (lol)
Non Machine Mayoral Candidate - October 20, 2010




BTW,

I still provide a link to YOUR blog at mine…

OK, that was a shot. :)

Peace. Out.

- Mckeesport’s Next Elected Mayor (God Willing)
Non Machine Mayoral Candidate - October 20, 2010




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kpjiuc (URL) - October 15, 2014




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