I Won't Be Ignored, Dan

After a harrowing several months on the run from Rick Fromm and his henchman from the publishing cabal, I'm back on the tubes! Did you miss me? I know I certainly did. And you're very likely thinking, "Gosh, I'll bet Scott has probably matured, and spent a lot of time and energy on self-reflection and personal growth." No. That is not the case.

It seems like the longer I live in D-town, the less I know about what's happening around here. Is that intentional? Couldn't say, but I certainly feel like I'm losing touch with the local goings-on. But even if it were intentional, could you blame me? No, you probably could not. I mean, bollocks, this year's shiny thing is the controversy(!) over whether we can plant gardens in our boulevards. Will the Mayor veto? Can we survive as a community?? Will there be blood??? Yeesh...

Speaking of the Problems of the Privileged, I'm involved in several projects that are absolutely stonewalled and driving me nearly mental with frustration. Have you ever worked with those people who are so hung up on ancillary details that they never get anything done? Gah! It's just maddening to listen to these folks go on and on about the buzz and glory and whee! of things when they won't do any of the actual work required to get the project moving. Again, gah! I'll be the first to admit that I'm no poster boy for Ambition, Inc. but we're talking about relatively easy, mostly painless work that needs to be done here and my project-mates are running around in circles and giggling to themselves about how much everyone's going to love what they're doing. Frankly, it's a sad day when I'm the voice of reason.

Meanwhile, Spring comes a'creepin' to our fair city. I've seen some crocus and tulips popping up in the last few days and the weather is getting to a point where I can peel off a few of my normal half-dozen layers of thermal shirts and fleece pullovers. Being the jaded bastard that I am, however, I'm not quite ready to put it all into Summer storage and bring out the tropical shirts and shorts. Not this month, yet, anyway. And, of course, Spring means yard work. I'll admit my fondness for gardening, mowing and general yard upkeep has waned aggressively in the last few years. I'm not quite ready to pave the yard but the logic and appeal is not lost on me.

All that said, I can't really complain. Things are going reasonably well, I've plenty of food and a nice place to live, and the days are growing longer and warmer. It'll be a busy few months ahead, to be sure, but I guess that's the point of it all, isn't it?

Is it too much to ask? Probably, yes...

With all the goings-on at every level and every turn in our lives - local, state, national; social, political, cultural - y'know what causes my blood pressure to spike and makes me reach for a beer or six? The ridiculous, pissant excuse of a newspaper in this town. Seriously, it's a damned embarrassment to our fair city.

Hey, Rick, I get it - the internets are scary, and computers are very probably trying to take over the world and steal your precious bodily fluids. beep! boop! brrrttt! Error! Error! But for fuck's sake, man...

How you publish an alleged "newspaper" in this town with nothing but quotes and watered down press releases escapes both my natural sense of logic and my understanding of journalism (limited as it may be.) Yet, you have the audacity to criticize and denigrate bloggers because they're "not journalists" and dare to offer their opinions on the afore-mentioned goings-on. Blow me, newspaper man. Hell, you pulled your "Bloggers Aren't Journalists" editorial from your website.

And let's talk about your pathetic excuse for a website, for a minute. Here's what local citizens get to read when they click into your paper's opinion pieces online:

To read the rest of Rick Fromm's award-winning column subscribe to Decorah Newspapers at 563-382-4221 for just 34 cents an issue. Or purchase one at any of the many convenient locations in Decorah and throughout Winneshiek County.

You're kidding, right? 1) Award-winning? Whatever. 2) Subscribe to the dead tree version of your newspaper to read opinion columns? Nice racket ya got there, pally.

But wait! It's not just your columns, it's every damned opinion piece - check out the letters to the editor. Same thing:

To read the rest of this letter to the editor subscribe to Decorah Newspaper at...

But let's ignore, for the moment,the dismal and built-for-mockery quality of your newspaper and your bathetic (with a "B") tantrums about the internets and all the damned kids with computers(!), and think about this from a business perspective. You are charging local businesses American money to advertise on your crappy web site. But you're pulling a fast one on them, yes you are, by purposefully not posting 100% of the material you link. Y'know what that is, Rick? That's fraud. Or hucksterism. But mostly fraud, I think. Y'see, just because it's on the internets, it doesn't mean you get to rip off your advertisers. And that's exactly what you're doing: ripping them off. I don't know who's in charge of your web site, but you should fire their manager or just take the damned thing down.

And this is my problem with you, Rick. I really couldn't give a fuck if you insult bloggers. Really, I couldn't. I've been blogging for 5 years and I guarantee I've done more research, investigation and real, actual "journalism" than your newspaper has put out in the same time. But, I'm not offended. Hell, you write opinion columns; you're nothing more than a blogger with a big printer, begging people to pay for your paper and ink and then buy your revelations. Oooh, you hunt pheasants! Wow, suddenly everything is so significant!

But it would be nice if the local paper actually told us what the fuck is going on, once in a while. Maybe your advertisers would actually get their money's worth from you. And even though we don't have personal jet packs or flying cars, it would be nice to be able to read some local news on our new-fangled computer box gizmos without some crotchety old fuck insulting us because we realized it's two-thousand-and-fucking-10 and felt like giving the trees a break.

This is off the top of my head. I'll have more details and insights into the sorry state of our local news outlets, later.

Straining the limits of Machine and Man

It's been so long, I've almost forgotten how to write. No, check that - I think I've completely forgotten how to write. Ah well, onward!


I had a great time over the Reunion weekend, which shouldn't really be a surprise, and met some folks I literally hadn't seen since high school. Apologies all around. I'm not much for staying in touch with people after I've moved, and was frankly surprised, and chagrined, to find that some of them live here in Decorah. Oops! I hope, now that we've reconnected, we (I) can be a little more neighborly and keep in touch. A few folks left earlier than I'd hoped, too, which was a bit of a drag. Maybe next time, eh?

I was disappointed that a few people weren't able to make it - hopefully they know who they are. All in all, though, I was pleased with the turn out and it seemed like most of us had a good time. A slight hitch in the entertainment plan turned out to be rather a blessing, keeping me on my best better behavior Saturday night. Reunions seem to have an inherent level of hedonism that will be not denied its time. Fortunately, at least in my case, no unexplained bruises, hickies or serious injuries to report, though Friday night definitely took its toll.


(I managed to grab some decent pictures but obviously some of them need some editing - it's on the list.)

The level of physical change we've gone through over the years was interesting. Some of us really hadn't changed a bit, and others I didn't recognize until I was close enough to look them in the eyes. Even more interesting to me, there were a few folks whose voices were instantly recognizable, though I hadn't talked to them in years.


Overall, everyone looked great and I hope it was fun for everyone. Thanks to everyone who showed up, and I hope we'll see the rest of you soon.

On Decorah!

Momentum? I hardly know him!

Finally, some decent weather around here! Looking outside, though, it seems very Autumn-y today - where has the Summer gone???

I really need to get outside and check the garden, but I'm flirting with the idea of just letting it go. The plants have been growing like crazy but I haven't even eaten any of the produce yet, since I'm not enough of a cooking fanatic to bother with any of it. I know, kind of a waste but... I just don't have the emotional connection required to enjoy it this year. It's almost as if I'm satisfied just knowing that something grew in that little patch of dirt.

It's going to be a busy week here in the Valley due to several concurrent projects. My buddy, Eric, and I are putting together a little band with another local musician whom some of you may know, and hope to play a show mid-October. Believe it or not, that's not much time for me to practice and learn new songs. I'll give you the details once we've worked everything out.

The Class Reunion is coming along, thanks to some serious effort by a couple classmates, so I hope to have everything settled enough to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. I was somewhat surprised that Facebook isn't more effective at spreading the word, but invitations have been mailed. We shall see.

I'm also working on a serious deadline with the non-profit organization I'm involved in. The current project is a last-minute scramble to help the family of a disabled Iraq vet - housing, household goods, clothing, moving help... these folks need everything. Trying to find housing and coordinate donations and volunteers by the end of the month is turning out to be a bit more complicated than I'd originally anticipated. I'm actually using my second cell phone and carrying it around with me, and I am definitely not a phone person. But I know all too well the miserable weight of desperation, so I'm glad I can do something to help these folks.

(As an aside, PayPal can be one of the most frustrating outfits you'll ever deal with on the internets. The concept is great but the hoops you're forced to jump through will make you pull out your hair. Honestly, they have one of the worst User Experience models I've encountered.)

I guess that's it for the moment. Here's hoping the coffee kicks in soon, so I can accomplish something today.

The Dogwood Days of Summer

It's August and, though we haven't been experiencing the brutal heat and humidity we're accustomed to this time of year, tempers are flaring, harsh words are exchanged, and citizens are taking sides in a great debate over the most important issues of our time. Health Care Reform? Nope. President Obama's birth certificate? Not even close. Tastes Great/Less Filling? Not this time, no. I'm talking, of course, about bicycles and tree trimming. That's right - bicycles on the streets and trimming trees are the issues that are tearing our fair community apart.

Bicycles - Decorah has a fairly large population of bike riders, which I think is great; but the good citizens here are locked in a battle over cyclists' rights and responsibilities that puts the Windows v. Mac debate to shame. I fully expect violence to break out at a City Council meeting as each side ratchets up the righteous indignation and demands their opinions be codified and enforced. To which I say: Hey, knuckleheads! It's common sense. Bicycles on the streets is not a new phenomenon in the city, nor are cars and trucks. Use your brains and drive/ride safely.

Tree trimming - The level of angst and panic on display over the city sending out certified letters to property owners re: tree trimming could only be matched by the news that a meteor was heading directly toward Winneshiek County, with hellish, fiery death a certainty for all. It's almost embarrassing to witness the hysteria that's overtaken the community as people try to comprehend this unheard of fascism ordinance that's been on the books since Decorah started paving its streets and sidewalks.

I'll admit I don't pay too much attention to issues at the local level; not because I have any kind of disdain for my community, it's just that I tend to follow national issues more closely. I guess I have a kind of "WTF? This is what you're upset about?" attitude toward some of the goings-on around here, and I find the level of outrage and shock over various issues somewhat odd. Then again, who am I to judge what's important to my neighbors?

Now, I'd better get a move on. I need to edge my sidewalks and mow the lawn before someone calls the Lawn Patrol on me.

Random photos from this morning

Early morning antagonista

So, my buddy decides that I deserve a couple drinks for taking care of the puppy. Yay, me! Then he decides that, rather than pick the puppy up right then, let's go out first and pick the puppy up on the way home.

Guess who's still at my house this morning.

Very sneaky, Eric. I see what you did there.