Chicago -
By The Angry Aussie of Humboldt Park
The Year in Review in Australia as told by Andrew Kingsford’s ten favorite Sydney Morning Herald stories of 2008.
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Headline: “Aussies beware: the Kiwis are coming”
Date: July 2, 2008
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Headline: “Budgies: an endangered species”
Date: August 8, 2008
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Headline: “Tempers flare at Boobs on Bikes parade”
Date: August 20, 2008
Posted on December 31, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
The Sun-Times was already a joke on several levels, including its ownership, before 2008, but while the Tribune and Tribune Co. have always had their share of problems, they weren’t jokes worthy of pure ridicule until this year. Here are two press releases the new Tribune Company put out that neatly bookend, I think, how lame this venerable institution actually became.
( I almost picked another moment instead to illustrate the point – when Tribune reporters e-mailed me asking if I thought Sam Zell was for real because they were so excited to find a cardboard cutout or somesuch of Bob Dylan in Trib Tower with the lyric, “the times, they are a-changin’,” to which I could only try to suppress the urge to throw up on several levels, but no, I think these do nicely.)
Note to Tribune Company: The only thing worse than not being funny is trying to be funny and thinking you’ve succeeded when you haven’t even gotten close.
Secondary Note to Tribune Company: You can’t change organizational culture with slogans and press releases.
Addendum to Secondary Note to Tribune Company: While irreverence is welcome, facts are not to be trifled with by a news organization. Duh.
Here we go.
1. Tribune Company Press Release, April 7, 2008. This is real, folks.
Surely You Can’t Be Serious? Marc Chase – President Of Tribune Interactive!
Randy Michaels’ run of acquiring radio-management stars came to a screeching halt today with Chase’s appointment
CHICAGO, April 7, 2008 — Another freaking Clear Channel Communications executive on the payroll and this one’s been named President of Tribune Interactive.
Tribune Broadcasting’s Randy Michaels’ past finally caught up with him when Marc Chase obviously blackmailed his way into a position he is not remotely qualified to hold. Insiders are irate. Chase is a fraud. A source inside Tribune HR, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that Marc Chase’s resume (below) was obviously fabricated. First of all, his name isn’t even Marc Chase–it’s Mark Thompson. The whole thing is a sham.
Posted on December 30, 2008
By David Rutter
The coin of Blago’s realm has become so hopelessly deflated that confused observers are even amazed about his ability to curse, as if he had any skill at it. I say it is the opposite.
The State of the Cursing Union has become so flaccid that the governor’s lame excuse for blue language is given far more credit than it deserves. Ever the hack, the guv apparently wasn’t raised properly.
I was. Lucky the son was taught to cuss properly by his father.
Fathers may teach many skills but the cathartic, cleansing value of expletives well-launched cannot be overstated.
Posted on December 24, 2008
The Latest News From Pueblo Colorado
GUIDE TO TAKING MEDICINE
Sorting through medication labels and managing both over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be very confusing. That’s why the Federal Citizen Information Center and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Women’s Health have put together the Guide to Taking Medicine, a free package of publications that will help you better understand what you need to know before you take any medication.
When you see your doctor, it can be hard to know what to ask about medicines you’re already taking or those being prescribed. Use the fact sheets in the Guide to Taking Medicine package for a list of essential questions. The package also explains how to read prescription medication labels and spot red flags you should follow up on. For example, is your medicine an antibiotic? It’s important to know that antibiotics work differently than other drugs.
Posted on December 17, 2008
By J.J. Tindall
WONDERLAND
So I got fired and may lose my home.
I wonder why it has to be so hard.
The very December wind now hounds me,
chilling visions of homelessness abound.
I wonder “why now?” I wonder “so how
do I party with the holiday crowd?”
Life takes no holiday. Life is this hard.
My sense of self has imploded in shards.
But I must smile my way through the season
and I must guile my way through cold reason.
The garish December sun gives no warmth
though after Solstice light again comes forth . . .
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Posted on December 16, 2008
By The Special Guests Publicity Service
SAYS NORTH POLE HAS FIVE YEARS TO LIVE!
While In Germany Last Week, Former V.P. Says North Polar Ice Cap Will Be Gone Soon
An “allegory” is a visual symbol representing an abstract idea. It’s also a word that may sufficiently explain Al Gore’s argument that Santa will have to think about relocating.
Rob Roselli is an average American citizen with a civil engineering background that was utilized to unmask the fake science of the scam radical environmental movement and the real intentions of the environmental movement; a group our illustrious new leader embraces. Today, he has reached a point of such concern for his country that it has assumed “top priority” status.
Roselli is convinced that the entire climate change movement is a scam with a much bigger agenda. “People need to open their eyes,” he says, “Never has their been better time for the old Wizard of Oz movie line, ‘pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.’ Besides, all the evidence is showing that the earth has actually been cooling for quite some time now. Mr. Gore better start thinking about getting himself a flamethrower if he wants to bolster his argument.”
Posted on December 15, 2008
By The Beachwood Blago Extortion Affairs Desk
As we all know by now, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is accused in a federal complaint of trying to strong-arm the Tribune Co. into firing a couple of editorial writers in exchange for his help on the sale of Wrigley Field. What not even Patrick Fitzgerald knows is that the Beachwood wiretaps have picked up additional conversations about other things the governor tried to extort from Tribune. Here they are for the first time.
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Fire the statue of that McCormick guy outside the front door, too.
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Get “Nancy” and “Andy Capp” back in the comics.
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A counter-editorial from Tom Skilling saying what a nice guy Blago is.
Posted on December 10, 2008
By The Beachwood Facebook Ethics Affairs Desk
Like many other media organizations, the Tribune Co. is grappling with ethical issues raised by the use of Facebook and other forms of social media by its employees, or, as the case may be, it’s “citizen contributors.” This anonymous, optional survey recently went out to all Triblocal workers and gives you an idea of what concerns the company has. (One can’t help but wonder if this, in part, is what prompted it.) But also note the question about discussing the Tribune in online forums; plans to hire more Triblocal reporters; and the question about whether reporters should also work as marketers.
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This survey is designed to address specific ethics concerns about the print edition of Triblocal and Triblocal.com. Some of the survey questions are multiple choice and others require a brief essay. If you have additional comments please include them in the “Additional Comments on Triblocal Ethics” section at the conclusion of the Ethics Committee Survey.
A. Social Networking Web sites, including Facebook
I. Political Postings
Are political affiliations as broadcasted on Facebook more sensitive than any other affiliations on the site and others like it?
A. Yes
B. No
Posted on December 8, 2008
