This year started with a commentary on the forums so what better way to end then with another commentary on the forums? We lost the Astoria Citizen's Journal forum and KAST Coastwatch forum finally got away from the annoying VOY layout. We were amused and flattered to see that they used our "matters" headings in their board topics, too. We copied some things from the Rust forum, adding our own touches and KAST copied us. If it ain't broke why fix it?
We can still claim title to the longest continuous running open membership forum in the county. Whether or not that is a title that holds any merit it does mean we are persistent and useful. That is most obvious in the recent elections when the ballot measure for 4-123 failed. The forums played a major role in getting information out when the media, namely the one and only daily newspaper, was dismally lacking in accurate reporting or blatantly lying.
NorthCoastOregon.com is undergoing a metamorphism right before it's readers eyes. One moment it is a typical blog chronicling the life of the writer, the next it is a commentary on local news, the next it is reporting news long before the other outlets are aware of the topic.
Bloggers in the area have kept one another, and the public at large, informed of many facts that would otherwise have been kept from them by those who deem us too naive to understand, to small to matter, or too inept to appreciate the finer points of politics. To this day the Daily A has not explained how it is that the Committee to Retain the Independence of the Office of District Attorney mailed out $2600 worth of newsletters without having any printing costs associated. At 21 cents per flyer that's close to 12,500 of those two paged, double sided flyers that were sent out. The bloggers know only one source that has the capacity to print out 25,000 double-sided pages and write it off. Hey, Daily Astorian you want to explain how come you didn't report that expenditure? Uh, Larry? Uh, Sky? Uh, Steve? Uh, Josh?
The forums aren't always right, we've had a loopy woman posting as a commissioner. We've had a disgruntled former resident move back east and post lunatic threads polluted with sexual innuendos. We've had the dodgers, the thought police, threats of libel, threats of exposure, threats of laptop confiscation, grammar and spelling monitors, flame wars, rhyming wars, punsters, warped thinkers, finger pointers, SHOUTERS, and a day or two or three with no posters at all (horror of horrors)!
Though people are piecing their lives back together after the storm, I suspect that times are good at the moment. It is when we are agitated that the forums are in their peak use. There are things that are coming to a boil under the surface for a great many topics. Expect to see action on the forums in the coming year.
A few people feel betrayed by the County Commissioners, stating that they have overlooked the citizens' concerns for public safety by voting for LNG, seemingly for economic growth. The cry of "recall, recall, recall" is always in the air. The Daily Astorian continues with its arrogant editorializing and omissions of reporting real news. A few feel betrayed by the Port Commissioners, each of the city councils, as well as the college board and other school boards. There will be an election in May, politics usually lights up the boards.
Our forums have developed, evolved, become better or dropped off the charts. The people have become better communicators or stopped communicating. Some people have hopped from board to board chasing people away, some people have hopped from board to board chasing ideas down. Some people have online avatars distinct from themselves, a few post only as themselves. Some say they abhor those posting "anonymously". ROTFLMAO! As far as we can tell, everyone has posted using an avatar at least once. If it is good enough for Benjamin Franklin, in order to get a point across that otherwise wouldn't be listened to merely because it came from him, then it is good enough for us.
A toast to the year behind and all those with the courage to share their thoughts and comment on others'. A toast to those forums that continue to grow, providing an outlet to the community. A toast to the leaders who take the time to read, sort through the emotions, listen to their community, and find their way to the answers. A toast to the new year ahead. May we find our way together. Building a community, our voices uniting.
12 comments:
And a toast to the Carlton pair for providing an outlet for us to read and comment on. It has been very beneficial to me this past year and I thank you for it.
We thank-you Commissioner Hazen, for the compliment, for your integrity and commitment to your, and our, community.
Although we only have two pseudonyms to go by we do assure all there are five of us. As you can all see by our threads in the administrative area of the proboards forum we chat it up discussing upcoming articles, ripping them to pieces, going over topics, discussing where to hit next, what masks to wear, and who's stockings need to be mended (Sid, did you take care of that yet, and your petticoat was showing at the last meeting as well!).
We have discussed hosting a masquerade ball one of these New Year's Eve's or Halloween to benefit one of the local organizations. Do you think it would be well attended?
And maybe after the Daily Astorian tells us how the CIDA could mail 6000 hand-made flyers for $3000 then someone (not the Daily A!) will tell us how the mystery woman could finance 9000 really high quality flyers for to 50% more people for the same amount to oppose 4-123!
Maybe it'll be the mysterious but oh so brave Catrons?
LOL! Were you drunk when you typed that? Call Witham and Dickey and get their price list. For $3500 you too can get the same deal, the same "high quality flyer" printed out and mailed to 9200 households. Using your telephone you call Sunset Presort and ask them how many pieces of mail they will send out at 21 cents each if you give them $2600. If we go with the LIE that the flyers were "homemade" that's still 12,000 double sided pages that had to be printed out. Yeah, on a home printer? PUHLEEZE, give us a break! Those flyers were two-pages apiece. CRIODA was a bunch of liars financially backed by the Daily Astorian. The "mystery" woman was identified, as were all of the CCCCI contributors per state regulations. Unlike CRIODA's main "inkind" contributor. Think all the rest of us can get the same deal you gave the crybaby's, daily a?
Am I smelling something new here?
Nope, same old shit...
Yeah, but same old shit tastes almost as good as freshly laid crap, huh?
Each year, the county doles out about $15k to various non profits in the county. One of the ideas that we are tossing around thanks to Commissioner Samuelson is to hold a "Commissioners' Ball" to raise money for those non profits rather than use tax monies for donations. My feeling is that we could raise and donate a hell of a lot more money that way.
Good idear Jeff! Glass slippers are ready.
It appears the flame wars of 2008 have begun! Its going to be a toasty warm year.
SO only 6,000 flyers were sent out? I know the one coming to my house only cost 21 cents postage, according to the stenciled stamp on it. That's $1260. What did the other $1340 paid to Sunset Presort go for? Any CRIODA people wanna explain that?
Thank-you for the compliment. Our Blogroll and links are for connecting to local individuals and businesses.
The Crescenet site, for those wishing to translate it, is in Portuguese. I don't know that we have a Portuguese community in Dried Salmon Co.
Whats's Up i am new to this. I hit upon this forum I have found It truly accessible and it's helped me out tons. I should be able to give something back and help others like it has helped me.
Thanks, See You Later
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