Fuck Bush Says a Student Newspaper

The headline and editorial ran thusly: "Taser this FUCK BUSH" I will withold comment on the lack of proper punctuation in said headline.

That was the entirety of a four-word column in the student-run Rocky Mountain Collegian. I think that's great. But in response to the headline, it's way too juvenile for a professional newspaper which a college paper puports to be. Still I admire their spirit, if not the lack of a carefully placed asterisk or two.

A number of newswires have picked it up from Raw Story who are running it unedited to Fox News and USA Today who are commenting on it with an expletive deleted tag. Most coverage is local and even those who sympathize with the sentiment are not giving the headline good marks.

The editor will likely lose his job, and the staff are facing pay cuts to compensate for lost advertising revenue. I was just amused that it's come this far. I agree with the sentiment. Totally. I just don't think it should have run without an asterisk in a newspaper.

Paris Hilton Dragged Back to Jail

Normal people everywhere rejoiced as Paris Hilton, the out of control über-skank, was returned to jail today. Here's a woman totally out of control, and her hangers-on have done nothing to tell her she's behaving like a spoiled brat. At her age, it's simply ghastly behaviour.

Here are excerpts from the wire report; follow the link to read it all:
Paris Hilton was taken from a courtroom screaming and crying today seconds after a judge ordered her returned to jail to serve out her entire 45-day sentence for a parole violation in a reckless driving case.

"It's not right!" shouted the weeping Hilton. "Mom!" she called out to her mother in the audience.

Hilton, who was brought to court in handcuffs in a sheriff's car, came into the courtroom dishevelled and weeping. Her hair was askew and she wore a gray fuzzy sweatshirt over slacks. She wore no makeup and she cried throughout the hearing.

Her body also shook constantly as she dabbed at her eyes. Several times she turned to her parents who were seated behind her in the courtroom and mouthed the words, "I love you."

As he made the final pitch for Hilton's further incarceration, Hilton's entire body began trembling. He had a ball of tissue clutched in her hand and tears ran down her face.

Seconds later the judge announced his decision.

"The defendant is remanded to county jail to serve the remainder of her 45-day sentence. This order is forthwith," he said.

Hilton screamed.

I hate to say I find parts of this amusing, but the article mentions "dozens" of fans. Michael Jackson had more fans than that and he was accused of being a paedophile. Why she passes as "entertainment" I cannot fathom and why she is in the news I do not understand. It's sad and she should be left to wallow in the misery she created for herself. It is her family's responsibility to help her since she obviously cannot. However the fact remains all people are ultimately responsible for their own actions (unless they are mentally ill).

The sheriff is in hot water for violating the judge's order and that is how it should be. Being rich should not get you out of prison. And that's the only reason she got out. As the judge said, "her release after only three days erodes confidence in the judicial system."

Don't mock the judge. She brought this all upon herself. It's sad and amusing, but it isn't entertainment.

Dear Editor, How's Your Grammar?

The Miami Herald and daily fishwrapper has slipped to a new low today.

5 June 2007

Dear Editor:

I have been a subscriber of the Miami Herald for well over 20 years and I read it almost every single day. Lately the numbers of errors in proofreading have been utterly appalling. I am not sure who, if anyone, proofreads your articles, but they are in desperate need of a new career more suited their skill level. In today’s paper you had two grave errors after which I gave up reading and tossed the whole thing in the recycling bin.

I will assume that the reporters themselves are committing these errors, and they certainly should know better. However, your proofreader has one job: and that’s to make sure these offenses don’t reach the public. The public at large is already struggling with basic grammar, and for the Herald to let these sort of errors out for people to see, and possibly think are correct is inexcusable. In today’s paper there were two of the most heinous grammar errors known to man.

First: “The Fillmore Miami Beach will open it’s doors in October” was a headline on the Front Page of section C. Secondly, in today’s article on various water beverages, the same error appears again: “WaterPlus drinks like a juice because of it’s intense fruit flavoring.”

Please inform your proofreader that IT’S is a contraction for IT IS or, less commonly, IT HAS. It’s certainly not a possessive. Almost five years ago, I wrote your office after a similar rash of errors and the editor at the time wrote me back and argued with me. Really. I almost didn’t write this letter, but it’s been pretty bad lately and you need to do something.

I would respectfully request you please send your proofreader(s) back to fifth grade for a re-training program. This is a poor reflection on what was once a great paper. I am sure your employees are educated but one wouldn’t know it from reading.

Respectfully,

Eric A. Seiden