By MICHAEL SCHENKLER
We look back at the Not 4 Pub columns of the second half of 2000 and
share some thoughts with you.
Happy New Year!
CAMPAIGN MAILINGS: We believe that campaign reform must also
regulate the use of public funds and staff. However, the guys and gals that make the rules
are the guys and gals that benefit from not having any. - July
TIFFANY’S: I don’t judge people on what they wear,
where they shop, or the shiny stuff they have on. I often don’t even notice that sort
of thing. If I can buy it online, I usually do. If I need something — you know, like
the old one has a hole in it — put me in a store, show me my size and I’m done.
If, indeed, clothing makes the man, I’m easy.
It’s a commentary on the economy.
Saturday was beautiful. It was pleasant, sunny — you know as good
a summer day as you get in New York. Everyone should have been away, or at barbeques, or
the beach, or park, or outside breathing super pleasant air for the metro area. The stores
should have been emptyish.
We had to stand in line at Tiffany’s.
C’mon, gimme a break. - July
TERM LIMITS: I am not an advocate of term limits. In principle,
I oppose them. The people should be bright enough to exercise term limits at the ballot
box whenever appropriate. But big money, the advantages of incumbency, paid-for mailings,
special interest groups and the lack of real campaign reform have made it near impossible
to beat an incumbent.
And so, although this writer opposes term limits in principle, I
applaud them in practice. Strange, huh?
The worst thing about changing elected officials is the sorry look on
the face of those who can’t accept the fact that the party is over. - July
"I love politics and can't stand it when
politicians give it a bad name."
- Term Limits, The City Council And
A Case Of Disregarding The Voters - Oct. |
A PUBLISHER'S JOB
AIN'T EASY: Adult advertising – which was a matter of slight controversy two
decades ago – has become an accepted form of promoting adult entertainment. What is
advertised in community papers, dailies, alternative weeklies, and on the web is sometimes
disturbing to some.
However, with a society saturated with sexual images and innuendos
— television airing prime time images and topics once taboo, billboards suggestive to
the point of traffic jams, and sex of all kinds as acceptable topics of conversation
— the unacceptable of just a couple of decades ago has become the norm.
All the innocent or offended can do is look the other way. - July
GOD HELP THE UNITED STATES: Now, I’m not a religious man. And
perhaps, my humor occasionally offends some devote folks, but I believe in your right to
worship or not worship whatever god you choose. I couldn’t even name all the
religions and gods who dwell in our borough, the land of multiculturalism, but each of us
can follow whatever beliefs we choose and the government stays out of religion.
Not so in the great state of Texas.
[On their] web page was a proclamation declaring "Jesus Day"
in the State of Texas. It said in part: "Throughout the world, people of all
religions recognize Jesus Christ as an example of love, compassion, sacrifice and service
. . . I urge all Texans to answer the call to serve those in need. By volunteering their
time, energy or resources to helping others, adults and youngsters follow Christ’s
message of love and service in thought and deed.
Therefore, I, George W. Bush, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim
June 10, 2000, Jesus Day in Texas."
The State of Texas website doesn’t introduce a man of inclusion
but a bigot of the worst type. No, I’m not accusing the Governor who wants to be
President of hatred; I’m accusing him of ignorance and insensitivity. He is ignorant
of our country’s marvelous heritage of religious freedom which separates church and
state; and he is insensitive to all who are not like him.
What will he do if he becomes President?
Whose rights will be trampled next?
God save us! - Aug.
A GREAT IDEA: Community print journalism is a real quick way to
make a difference. Change on a small scale is easier to effect than change on a grand
scale. Advocacy journalism is the stuff stars in our industry understand and thrive on.
There is no more meaningful use of space inside a community newspaper
than to urge the community to action. There is no more worthy action than to take part in
our participatory democracy. - Aug.
A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD: Shame on you Clearview Gardens! - Sept.
POLITICS AND THE OLYMPIC DREAM: I love sports. I love politics.
Sometimes you can’t tell them apart. - Sept.
LATERAL THINKING: A Creative Mental Exercise And A Reporter’s
Tool: The reader – our readers – have a right to know the whole story; not
just what "they" want to let you know. Therefore, reporters must be trained to
think outside the traditional box. They must come up with approaches to problems that are
not the norm.
 Lateral Thinking is like an optical illusion of the
mind.
|
It is my version of "lateral thinking," a term coined
by Edward de Bono to denote a problem-solving style that involves looking at the given
situation from unexpected angles. Sometimes a problem seems difficult or insoluble because
our assumptions about it are wrong.
To me, the best way to visualize lateral thinking is by picturing an
optical illusion. There can be two ways to view something. Or perhaps the picture
doesn’t make sense. But sometimes, when you look at things one way, you are sure of
what you see. With lateral thinking, a different approach may make a different image
appear as plain as the nose on one’s face.
Lateral thinking is about moving sideways when working on a problem to
try different perceptions, different concepts and different points of entry. The term
covers a variety of methods including provocations to get us out of the usual line of
thought. - Oct.
FLORIDUH! Chads; Dimples; Anomalies; Ain’t Democracy Wonderful?
The issue, to this writer, is clear. To both sides, it is not a question of procedure;
it is not a question of sanctity of the process; it is a question of winning or losing.
Those aloof elitists citing the nobility of Richard Nixon not going to court against John
Kennedy are as absurd as James Baker calling for the Gore folks to stay out of court and
then running there himself.
Now don’t get me wrong. I readily admit that the Gore guys are
playing by no higher standards than the Bush guys — and where are the women? If the
lead shoe were on the Gore foot and not the Bush foot, it would stink there too. Neither
side is nobler — should they be?
The process becomes politicized. The courts become involved.
The talk shows continue to spin. The former Secretaries of State
continue to spin. The lawyers continue to spin. Our heads continue to spin.
And the process goes on. - Nov.
BUTTON OF THE YEAR |
|
A BABY NAMED CHAD, A BROTHER NAMED
JEB & A GUY NAMED GEORGE: Each year, each election, each political conflict seems
to become more and more mean spirited and divisive. Politics is no longer a philosophical
process where ideologies battle and balance for the common good. It has become a war where
people do battle for power and the spoils.
No wonder we are all skeptical.
Congratulations, Mr. Bush. We look forward
to a rich American language for the next
four years.
We wish you well. - Dec.
BEEP, BEEP: Sure, I have my
favorites. But above all, I have a job to do: to run a newspaper which advocates for the
best for the people of Queens.
You’ll find me here doing my job. -
Dec.
| An Emmy For Playing A Tribbie It was quite a trip last night to sit and watch
Hank Azzaria accept an Emmy for playing Mitch Albom, author of Tuesdays With Morrie
in a made-for-TV movie by the same name. Jack Lemmon also won an Emmy for playing Morrie.
The movie won the Emmy for Best Made For TV Movie and received two other Emmy nominations.
In accepting, both Azzaria and Lemmon paid tribute to Mitch Albom’s writing.
 Former Tribune Editor
Mitch Albom with his teacher and friend Morrie Schwartz. The made-for-TV movie based on
Albom’s book was a big winner at the Emmys.
|
Mitch took his first writing job with me, here at the Tribune in
the early ’80s, moving up from reporter to managing editor during his three-year
tenure. He went on to a sports writing slot at the Detroit Free Press, one of the
nation’s leading dailies.
This weekend’s New York Times Best Seller List shows that
Mitch’s Tuesdays With Morrie, has regained the number one position which it
has held much of the past three years. This true account about the celebration of life as
one faces death is in its incredible 151st continuous week on the Times list.
We take great pride in our successful alums. Mitch is one of many.
Congratulations, Mitch! - Sept. |
There’s Audrey and Helen
and Carol and Sheldon
and Karen all in this race!
It’s Marshall and Leffler
And it’s Koz, Gresser, Pheffer
Shulman they want to replace!
It’s Claire who can’t run
The fun has begun
Term limits has opened the seat.
The Dems are all scrambling
While County is gambling
On a candidate that won’t see defeat.
They’ll battle for cash
Without it they’re trash
And can’t make it into the fray.
They search out a pro
Every night on the go
To win there’s no other way.
It’s not fun at the paper
You’re not into the caper
Friends claim you’re not on their side.
It’s nine months away
It’s their game to play
They entered with eyes open wide.
It’s unpleasant at best
If you’re up to the test
You’ll be there on Primary Day.
But hold on to your hat
Look for a real job at that
Only one of five will be here to stay.
We consider all of you friends
And when this election ends
We’re here with the Trib & the Press.
We’ll opine and we’ll write
We’ll do what we think right
We promise to give it our best.
We’ll cover it fair
This we declare
Friends get no special breaks.
You’ll get what you deserve
We’ll record all we observe
Including warts and mistakes.
Work hard and stay true.
There’s plenty to do.
Utilize all of your means.
Fight clean and fight fair
At the end we will share
A victory for the people of Queens.
It rhymes and it’s nice
But take our advice
It isn’t the way it’ll be.
Politics just ain’t so pretty
Things are bound to get shitty
Like Florida and Washington DC.
There’s Audrey and Helen
and Carol and Sheldon
and Karen all in this race!
It’s Marshall and Leffler
And it’s Koz, Gresser, Pheffer
Shulman they want to replace! - Dec. |
_____________________________
Michael Schenkler can be reached at: MSchenkler@QueensTribune.com
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