Saturday, December 06, 2008

Fear and Loathing In (Las) Legislature

You learn something new every day!

This could almost turn into a rant about what is wrong with people who live in a snow capital that makes them incapable of driving whenever they see the first snowfalls of each season .... but it won't.

Suffice to say that I was in my vehicle ( yes it's a planet killer full sized truck) for a long time on Friday afternoon, trying to navigate from the west side of the Red River (Pembina in Fort Garry) to the East side (St.Mary's in St. Boniface) and while so incapacitated was left with little to do but listen to the radio.

I was surprised to catch a bit of a local talk radio program that actually had something intelligent to say about current events. I was listening to the Great Canadian Talk Show where it turns out that there are Bloggers who have air time and a great opportunity to take the battle with the local MSMers to a broader format.

So it is that the folks from TGCTS are on the air at KICK FM here in WPG.

The interesting thing today was a story about some MSM dinosaur lashing out at a local blogger inside the MB Legislature on Thursday during an open media scrum.

The Black Rod .... tells the story here in his own style.

As to how local blogger Jim Cotton came to be on the wrong end of a temper tantrum reportedly let loose by Free Press reporter Bruce Owen it remains to be seen. Let's just say that quite few of the Insiders at NDP central and the Mainstreamers from the Freep look like they're trying to circle the wagons on the independent citizen journalists in their midst.

It strikes me that what we have here is Fear and Loathing at it's finest.

The dead trees and opinion purveyors feeling the threat of new predators on their turf, their place of privilege and entitlement being challenged as the very brick and mortar walls of their world collapse about them. They are now resorting to lashing out in impotent rage.

The dirt dwelling serpents of the political house sense the danger of new animals in their own realm and seek to inject some of their poison before slithering away.

I intend to keep reading all three bloggers at least until this papyro-raptor is done being pummeled.

Oh and BTW Marty .... you might tell your younger cohorts and audience members that some of us over 55 types have been using computers since before the young folks were born and the internet before it was the internet.

Keep up the good work!

OMMAG

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6 Comments:

Blogger Lost Johnny said...

What I find even more surprising (than the complete lack of Winnipeg driving skill) is how this story didn't make it to ANY MB mainstream news.

Heheh, run, fat boys, run.

12/06/2008 2:25 p.m.  
Blogger OMMAG said...

They think they can shove it down the memory hole.

12/06/2008 8:16 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great point.

Both sides fear losing control. Having amateur "reporters looking for answers can be dangerous.

I will be putting out a newspaper called Bloggers where bloggers/reporters can file their stories and get some cash.

I think there are alot of people out there who would enjoy reading some of this stuff while they have a coffee. Bloggers need to go mainstream and I believe "print" can do it for them ( its ironic I know )

12/07/2008 1:14 a.m.  
Blogger OMMAG said...

Ironic?

Indeed ... Also I think maybe a good idea in the short term. A coffee express sheet each morning.

Understand that the dynamic change from print media means that there is a constantly reduced demand for it.

The papyro-saurs don't get it and they are making things worse for themselves by failing to recognize their own limitations and liabilities of their behaviour.

Remember that at one time in any giving community there were dozens of independent press operators cranking out their own newspapers on their own terms. Then it was radio then it was TV.

Now it's the web and everyman who wishes is a journalist publisher.

I like the fact that kickFM has a talk show that features news from the blogs.
This will be a trend.

12/07/2008 1:31 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes I agree that paperasaurasus are dying but what has me thinking is how few people really read the blogs.

Having a paper available that provides interesting and informative local issues would be welcome for many people on the street who don't know where to find you, don't have access to a net, or simply want something to read while they eat ( thats me )

It would be like a Kick on paper. I think I can get enough advertising to get it printed as well as provide some cash to the bloggers. A plus is that each article chosen will have the bloggers website which would direct future readers to the site for a conversation or to see an expanded article.

SO far the Title is

Bloggers

Where the Uncovered gets Covered


or


Bloggers

Rants and Raves

12/07/2008 5:33 p.m.  
Blogger OMMAG said...

Good Luck !

Keep me posted on your progress.

12/09/2008 8:40 p.m.  

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