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Is Social Media Impeding Economic Recovery?

In Local News on September 26, 2011 at 8:20 pm

 

 

 

 

 

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

Recent changes to the social media website, Facebook, has its 800 million users, shall we say, apprehensive. Constant updates to the software on our personal computers is nothing new, but now that such technology has become a pivotal tool in managing our professional and social networks, people get worried when it changes even slightly.

Social media has become such a perceived necessity, that entire industries are evolving whose sole purpose is getting business professionals connected on Facebook or Twitter. Unfortunately, some important business axioms are being put into question by the very existence of these virtual networks.

When I first went into business, sometime in the early 1990’s, there were two things you had to do to let people know you were out there. First, you ran an ad in the local newspaper. After that, made sure everyone you knew was aware of your new venture and helped to spread the word.

Growing up, my family had our own business – several actually, so I guess I come by my diverse careers honestly. I remember my dad and brother always slowing us down from whatever we were doing because they had to stand and talk to people.

I just wanted to get the job done and get home. What I didn’t know then, but thrive on now is that they were actually developing long-term relationships with customers and vendors, albeit far informally. Actually, they probably didn’t know what was happening either, chalking it up simply as a friendly conversation. But now, we refer to that kind of face-to-face, personal business contact as, “networking.”

Networking occurs when people of mutually beneficial needs and resources interact. It requires a willingness to listen and learn about the other parties to determine how you can be of assistance to them. In return, they will be receptive to your needs and respond in kind.

Building a solid business network takes time and effort on the part of all involved and some are more fruitful than others. Virtual or web-based networks offer only exposure with limited or no credibility. Online testimonials from colleagues and customers can help, but until a potential client gets some face time any relationship you might develop will be short lived.

As businesses continue to struggle in an ever-floundering economic environment, social media could actually be impeding recovery. Facebook and LinkedIn might make it easier for professionals to connect with potential markets, but moving from a visibility stage to something more profitable takes far longer because you can’t develop a level of understanding or trust over email.

In my opinion, it’s just not possible to reach the same level of credibility over a broadband connection that you do sitting across the table from someone over a cup of coffee. It might seem old-fashioned and time consuming, but truly successful business people still venture from behind their computer screens, shake hands and learn about their clients and vendors first hand.

As a freelance business writer and publicist, I get nearly all of my clients by personal referral. I frequently advise clients to build a social media presence, as I have. Although I have made extensive use of the technology, almost none of my work has come as a direct result of using social media.

Running a sustainable business takes the skill of a farmer, not a computer hacker. You have to plant the seeds – lots of them. You need to nurture them and have the patience to cultivate them until they grow into a crop that can be harvested. If you don’t understand the analogy, you could be in trouble already.

While I never expect to get new clients through my social media contacts I do stay in touch with them that way. I also use various social media sites to promote my column, books I’ve authored and client work; more for exposure than anything else. If your own business is struggling, and you’re considering working with a marketing specialist, take a nickel’s worth of free advice.

Anyone insisting that you jump into the social media maelstrom without recommending a healthy dose of in-person networking is not giving you good advice. Social media has its place, but nothing will ever replace a sharp coat and tie or a hand shake to seal the deal.

Gery L. Deer is an independent business writer and marketing specialist based in Jamestown. Learn more at http://www.gerydeer.com.

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Address Unknown: Saving the Postal Service

In Business, Economy, Jobs, Local News, National News, Opinion on September 20, 2011 at 7:03 am

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

 

Cell phones, text messages, email, Facebook; the list of personal contact options is virtually endless and growing daily. Is it any wonder then that it seems like the only things mail carriers leave in the mailbox are bills and junk mail? And now the United States Postal Service is on the verge of shutdown.

In July, faced with a $5.5 billion health care bill owed to the federal government, Postal Service officials announced plans to stop Saturday deliveries, shut down some 3,600 service locations and lay off more than 200,000 employees. If the debt is not paid by September 30, 2011, the agency will be in default and forced to shut down.

On Monday, President Obama announced a plan to save the Postal Service and its employees from insolvency. In addition to other stipulations, the plan includes the previous idea of discontinuing Saturday mail delivery and also allows the U.S. Postal Service to use $7 billion from an overfunded pension account to avoid financial collapse.

Unnamed officials in the Obama administration have admitted that the president’s relief package, at best, would provide only short-term solutions.  So the question now is whether the Postal Service, as it exists today, should be saved at all?

Constant rate increases and regular customer service complaints add to the already tarnished reputation of the USPS. Sometime in the 1990’s, postal mail became known as, “snail mail,” for the agonizingly slow rate at which a letter travels compared to electronic correspondence. Sending letters or parcels overseas or through priority service can often require complicated and confusing forms and fees, any of which can change without notice.

However, while the Internet has caused the decline in overall postal traffic, it has also helped the Postal Service – and the consumer. Priority and Express mail, as well as flat-rate shipping, are far less expensive than competitive services through UPS or FedEx making it easier for online stores and auction sellers to deliver their products to customers.

Unfortunately, low cost shipping services have done little to shore up declining sales of first class stamps. As with most other government services that are hopelessly mismanaged and over budget, the Postal Service has continued to operate outside its means, and now the mortgage, so to speak, is in foreclosure.

As much as they politicize the idea and protest against it, each blaming the other for badly spent tax revenue, Congress and the White House continue to pour cash into failing programs and badly managed agencies filled with waste and redundancy. The Postal Service is no different. But what can be done?

It seems as though it would be impractical to completely eliminate a federal postal service, but perhaps the time has come to scale it back and adjust to the times. But even if a trimming of the fat occurs in time, it will still mean more unemployed workers and perhaps an increase in the cost of postage.

Besides USPS employees, millions of other workers would be affected if the Postal Service were to be shut down. Mail room employees, print shop and direct mail workers, delivery drivers and mechanics would all be out of work.

Losing mail service would also have a harsh effect on the elderly and the poor inAmericabecause of limited internet access and education. Many of senior citizens still pay all of their bills by mail and send hand-written correspondence to family and friends. Plus, alternate methods would need to be found for inviting guests to weddings and other formal events and paper greeting cards would eventually become a thing of the past.

Rather than looking for a complete solution to the Postal Service budget issue, government officials are too busy running for office. Politicians – including President Obama – desperate to keep their government jobs in 2012 have done little to directly address deficit problems at the post office. Instead, it has been thrown into tax reduction plans and budget talks as what can only be referred to as an afterthought.

The time to make a decision about the fate of the Postal Service is now. If congress does nothing, the agency will go bankrupt. In the meantime, the clock is ticking and Americans really don’t want to have to pay for another bail out.

 

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist based in Jamestown. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com

 

 

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Jamestown Serves Up Fun And Beans This Weekend

In Entertainment, Local News, Media, State News on September 13, 2011 at 3:42 pm

That is, if the street paving is done.

Downtown Jamestown comes to life this weekend for the annual Jamestown Lions Club Bean Festival.  the festival kicks off at 5PM, Friday September 16 and continue through Saturday night, September 17th.  A parade, beginning south of town off of Waynesville-Jamestown Rd. will begin at 6PM and travel east on W. Washington St. (US 35).

The festival includes vendors of all kinds, kiddie rides, games, bean soup and corn bread, local bands, pancake breakfast, car show, ham and blanket game, $2,500 raffle, bingo and more.  In addition, the newly refurbished Jamestown Opera House will be open for tours throughout the weekend.

Planning and preparations continue though the small town has been undergoing major road repairs. For several weeks, most of  North and South Limestone Streets (St. Rt. 72) have been excavated making travel hazardous, even to the town post office. The festival is centered at the intersections of SR 72 and US 35 in the middle of town.

 

 

 

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9/11: Oh, the humanity.

In Media, National News, Opinion, Politics on September 5, 2011 at 6:52 am

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

I don’t know which is harder to believe; that it has been ten years or that it really did happen. Unprecedented in the history of the United States, the events of September 11, 2001 changed lives around the world.

The savage, heart wrenching images of that morning are forever emblazoned into the collective memories of a generation. A horrible tragedy set against the clear, blue sky of Manhattan. Those of us watching from other parts of the country felt it right along with New Yorkers; the tragedy, the helplessness, the pain, the destruction, the hot, debris-filled wind that would sweep over our nation and rock us to our very core.

The day before the attacks, I had returned to Ohio from a week-long trip in Las Vegas. A co-worker heard on the radio that there had been some kind of bombing in New York City and was frantically trying to find information about it on the Internet. But CNN’s website would not come up, neither would CBS nor NBC. In fact, none of the major news sites were available. Millions of hits at once knocked down the websites before any of us could find out what had happened.

Retrieving a 3-inch color television from my truck, several of my colleagues huddled around my desk trying to get a look at the replay of the first plane flying into one of the World Trade Center towers when the unthinkable happened. A second plane ripped through the remaining tower and it too burst into flames. Shock and silence settled over the motley crew of engineers and technicians gathered around the tiny screen.

Ten years later, we’ve all seen those images over and over again, from virtually every angle. We’ve been deluged time and again with eye-witness interviews and video of the brave emergency response teams trying desperately to save as many lives as they could in the midst of utter chaos and destruction.

Many of the morning television news programs originating from New York had instant coverage of the disaster. Reminiscent of Herbert Morrison’s anguished report from the site of the Hindenburg crash, live broadcast reporters were overwhelmed by pure emotion, moved to tears by the terror they witnessed. Morrison was the radio announcer on the scene in Lakehurst, New Jersey that day in 1937 as the great Zeppelin exploded and crashed to the ground.

Sent by a Chicago radio station to cover the airship’s arrival, the recording of Morrison’s immortal delivery and genuine disgust for the disastrous scene before him became the prototype for how broadcasters would report tragedy and war for decades to come. I wonder, at times, how he might have described the scene that day in New York but I believe his most famous phrase is more than sufficient, “Oh the humanity.”

Actually, even after the hundreds of news stories about the terror attacks, it’s difficult to fathom what else could be said to describe one of the worst days in American history. I can say, though, that I believe the days that followed 9-11 brought about an amazing spirit of survival and determination in our country.

From unmitigated calamity arose an unparalleled sense of unity and patriotism. Americans had spent the last half-century bickering amongst themselves over political and social issues. For the first time since the Second World War, we had a common enemy, even if we were not yet sure who it was. What we did know, however, is that the United States would recover, as a people and a nation; and we did.

On the tenth anniversary of that fateful day, all Americans send thoughts, prayers and best wishes to the families and friends of those who perished in New York, at the Pentagon and in the fields of Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania. Nothing can return their loved ones to them but they will be forever remembered by a nation.

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist based in Jamestown, Ohio. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com

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Political Autobiographies: Style Lacking Substance

In Entertainment, Local News, Media, National News, Opinion, Politics, State News on August 29, 2011 at 10:24 pm

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

 

Between Joe Biden’s spray-on tan and Michele Bachmann’s fashion faux pas, the political stage has never been graced by such a ridiculous cast of insubstantial people. It’s amazing how many people of lackluster quality can gain the attention of so many Americans.

As the kings and queens of shameless self-promotion, each one spends most of his or her time in front of a camera criticizing the other guys for doing the same thing. Of course, that’s part of their job, but running for the highest office in the land should depend more on substance than style. Sadly, however, that’s just not how it works on modern politics. Today it’s all about marketing.

Getting the word out to the mush-brained masses requires use of every media trick in the book, old and new. All those 2012 Republican nomination hopefuls are jetting around the country doing television interviews and giving stump speeches in the hopes that they will be the next tenant at1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Seemingly in three places at once, these people maintain an almost inconceivable campaign schedule. One way to disseminate as much information as possible is by writing an autobiography.

Books are a great way to control what information is given out about a candidate, but they’re almost never written by the politician. When political heavyweights want to write a newspaper column or a book, they often use a ghost writer.

Ghost writers are authors who write material that is officially credited to someone else. The ghost writer does the research and develops the manuscript, sometimes with little or no  intervention on the part of the person whose name eventually ends up in the byline.

Some publishers will print only a limited run of political autobiographies to generate as much revenue as possible while the subjects are in the media headlights. With the help of reasonably good writers, political biographies can be interesting and informative, even though they’re just a 300-page brochure for the candidate. Unfortunately, there are times when the political figure has too much influence over a manuscript.

Here’s an example from Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue: An American Life. “I was sitting next to the stove, patching up little Gopher’s North Face jacket, when I got the call (to be John McCain’s running mate), and I figured, gosh-a-mighty, why not? Well, they scoot me down toDayton — and let me tell you, that place could use a new coat of paint…” And she goes on to say that theDayton reporters will, “Twist and turn my words so I look like an idjit.”

It gets worse from there. Did she actually use the word, idjit? Unless she was trying to get a part in a movie opposite Yosemite Sam, the reporters wouldn’t have needed to do much to make twist her words. In fact, it would take more effort to untwist them enough to understand exactly what it was she had said in the first place. Clearly, there are times when a ghost writer is not only an option, but a necessity.

Once released, political autobiographies have a short shelf life and quickly end up in the bargain rack.  Publishers do their best to cash in on these projects while there is still widespread demand for information.

Without question, there is a broad audience for this material and, at least initially, most of these books sell very well – some better than others. Barack Obama’s two books for example, Audacity of Hope (2006) and Dreams From My Father (1995), both of which he wrote before ascending to the presidency, have sold nearly a half-million copies.

In the past, a politician could only get a book published if he or she had made some significant contribution. Today, however, the trend seems to be in writing the book before ever doing anything and cashing in on 15 minutes of fame.

 

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist based inJamestown. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com.

 

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over This Labor Day

In Local News on August 24, 2011 at 8:34 am

XENIA – The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition has joined nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving August 19–September 5, known as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

The problem of impaired driving is a serious one. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows the number of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in America fell from 2008 to 2009, but the numbers are still too high.

In 2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life. Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re in full support of our local law enforcement agencies that are intensifying enforcement during the crackdown. Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, our local law enforcement agencies will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Laurie Fox, Safe Communities Coordinator.

Across the country, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher. According to the latest data, nearly a third of fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involved a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC above the legal limit – an average of one fatality every 48 minutes.

The crackdown will include law enforcement officers in every state, Washington, D.C., and many U.S. cities and towns.

The Greene County Safe Communities Coalition applauds our local officers, troopers and deputies foraggressively looking for allimpaired drivers during the crackdown and arresting anyone they find driving while impaired — regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day.

“Their message is simple and unwavering: if they find you driving impaired, they will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Fox. “Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life.”

According to the Ohio State Patrol,violators often face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

“Driving impaired is simply not worth all the consequences. So don’t take the chance. Remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” said Fox.

For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at http://www.stopimpaireddriving.com/.

Indoors Or Out, Fireplace Safety A Must

In Local News on August 24, 2011 at 8:28 am

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

As the weather begins to cool in the Midwest, people will begin to use indoor fireplaces more often. Attractive and warming, a fireplace can provide inexpensive supplemental heat while adding to a home’s value. Unfortunately, it can also cause a potential danger if not properly maintained.

According to the most recent statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 25,000 chimney fires each year are responsible for 30 deaths and an average of $126.1 million in property damage.

During the off season chimneys can become damaged or clogged with any number of contaminants including bird nests and storm debris. In order to guard against potential chimney fires, The National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org ) recommends that fireplaces and chimneys should be inspected annually and cleaned after each cord of wood burned.

Incidentally, a cord of wood is a considerable amount, possibly more than many people realize. It measures 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long with a volume of 128 cubic feet. Since a single family might burn two or three cords over a winter season, fireplace cleaning becomes even more important.

Properly cleaning the fireplace and chimney takes more than just removing the ash from below the fire grate. Regular cleaning helps to prevent the build up of creosote, a highly flammable material that starts out as liquid residue from condensed components in smoke including tar and soot. Because of heat, the liquid dries into a solid, flaky glazed form.

Glazed creosote is recognizable by its shiny, tar-like appearance. It is essentially wood tar that has baked onto the walls of the chimney flue or liner. This is also the most flammable and hardest to extinguish once it gets burning.

A hot fire of around 1000 degrees Fahrenheit can easily ignite the creosote deposits into a roaring chimney fire. In addition, burning embers from the substance can land on rooftops or in dry brush or leaves, endangering surrounding property.

Despite some urban legends to the contrary, there is no such thing as creosote-free burning and the kind of wood makes no difference at all. In fact, the danger lies, not so much in what is burned, but how.

A low burning fire will result in incomplete combustion, which is the number one cause of creosote accumulation. An improperly installed fireplace or insert can cause the smoke to cool too quickly and allow the airborne particles to settle inside the chimney flue.

If contaminants begin to build up inside the chimney, they will produce a smell in the house smell similar to a campfire on a damp, wet day. If that odor is present, it is probably time to have an inspection done by a qualified chimney sweep. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Lighting up the fireplace also triggers some folks to start building outdoor fires. In some areas it is illegal to burn yard waste or other items, but for those people who live where it is permitted, the same attention to safety should be paid to outdoor fires as to using a fireplace.

Burning leaves is almost never a good plan. No matter how dry they might seem, leaves retain some water and rarely burn but instead just smoke. A really hot, blazing bonfire can incinerate leaves and lawn material but also creates a danger to nearby homes because of falling embers or excessive smoke.

In addition, outdoor fireplace units, whether metal or ceramic, were not designed for burning trash or yard waste and are often placed too close to trees or buildings. Above all, be considerate of the neighbors if you live in a densely populated area. Many people suffer from allergies during the fall and smoke from yard fires can create serious health issues. Smoke from burning yard waste can trigger allergy and asthma attacks.

Whether sitting around the fireplace or a back yard pit, safety and common sense should always come first. With yards, brush and fields so dry for lack of rain this season, extra care should be taken whether the s’mores are toasting indoors or out.

Questions or Comments? Email Gery L. Deer at gery@deerinheadlines.com. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com.

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Local writer, entrepreneur to speak at Columbus fiction conference

In Entertainment, Local News, Media, National News on August 17, 2011 at 9:21 am

The Jamestown Comet.com editor Gery L. Deer will speak at this year's Context fiction conference in Columbus.

JAMESTOWN – Local writer and entrepreneur Gery L. Deer of Jamestown will be sharing his expertise with aspiring writers as a panelist during the 24th Annual Context Speculative Fiction Conference in Columbus, August 26-28. At 10AM on Saturday August 27, Deer will host a session on the business of freelance writing and serve on several other discussion panels during the course of the weekend.

Speculative fiction is more commonly known as science fiction and encompasses a wide range of material including manga, anime, science fiction, fantasy, or horror. Context is a convention focused on speculative literary works and related games, comics, television and films. Throughout the weekend, aspiring writers, artists and graphic novelists attend workshops and panel discussions hosted by working authors and related experts.

Gery L. Deer is best known for his self-syndicated editorial series, Deer In Headlines, but also writes for various other regional and national publications. As a professional business writer with GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing, he provides on-demand copywriting and marketing services to business clients and self-publishing authors, providing editorial and promotional services.

“Literary science fiction events like Context are not the Star Trek conventions people might imagine,” Deer explained. “Conferences like this are geared more towards aspiring writers of science fiction and fantasy and provide the opportunity to meet and talk with well-known writers, agents and publishers.”

Deer will also be attending the conference to promote a new book by a client author. “Images Old and New,” byOhiowriter Sarah Seymour-Winfield, is a scholarly book about Christian Mysticism written from the intellectual and spiritual viewpoint of its reclusive author.

According to reviews, the book offers the reader ground-breaking new viewpoints on religious imagery in Judeo Christian canon. Released in May, it has already been chosen as a supplemental textbook for one religion class at theUniversityofDayton. Science fiction and fantasy authors are making use of the book’s unique perspective when developing new storylines based on biblical concepts.

“The publishing industry is changing rapidly, particularly with regard to electronic press, and authors need guidance during the process,” says Deer, who has published three books exclusively for the Amazon Kindle eReader. “Those dusty manuscripts in the bottom of your desk drawer may get a new breath of life and our job at the conference is to help the author go from idea to publication.”

In addition to his commercial endeavors, Deer serves as the director for the Western Ohio Writers Association and serves on the advisory board of theFairbornCommunity Center. He speaks at schools, civic groups, university business schools and literary conferences around theMidwest. In 2010, he was nominated for the Ohio Public Image Network Award in Media and considered for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism for a Xenia Daily Gazette series on mental health services.

Opening ceremonies for Context 24 begin at 7PM on Friday, August 26th at the Doubletree Hotel,175 Hutchinson Rd.,Columbus. Gery L. Deer will be speaking during the following sessions:

Fri 9pm
Wake Up and Smell 2011 – Self-publishing in Today’s Market

Sat 10am
Freelance Writing To Fund Your Novel Writing  –  presenting this one alone

Sat 2pm
Agents – The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Sun 11am
Anthologies are for Beginners, Too

 

More information is available at http://www.contextsf.org.

Broadcasting Liberal Guilt and Conservative Fear

In Entertainment, Local News, Opinion, Politics on August 16, 2011 at 10:11 am

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

Liberals love to make people feel guilty about success in any form. Even as the country struggles to regain its financial legs, President Obama and his Democratic friends constantly seem to be apologizing for America’s achievements. Business or personal success and any obvious practices of capitalism are severely frowned upon in those circles, reserved only for people named Kerry, Pelosi or Clinton, all of whom are millionaires.

Take public broadcasting, for example, where the liberal talents of cloaking capitalism in good deeds and manipulation through guilt are masterfully played over the airways.

Both the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio refer to paying advertisers as “supporters,” and people who give in to their annual pleas for donations in exchange for a tote bag are called, “members.” Insulting the intelligence of their audience with the ridiculous notion that there’s something more dignified about the wordplay, an advertiser is an advertiser and P.T. Barnum would have been able to tell them why pledge drives work.

At local NPR affiliate stations, sound engineers crank the bass, throwing in just a touch of reverb, as a soothing, generally raspy, female voice begins to ply the money out of the wallets of listeners. “Keep the support coming,” the woman says softly, “Your pledge will make it possible for us to tell you the stories of the world.” Yes it will, but they still won’t be able to provide a traffic report that’s less than a half-hour old.

It still seems counterproductive that the only government-sponsored broadcasting services have, not balanced, but staggeringly left-leaning content yet are subsidized by the tax payers. Imagine the firestorm of anger that would ensue if a Conservative radio host like Rush Limbaugh was suddenly awarded federal grant money and began soliciting donations over the air. No doubt the Left would go berserk.

Of course, Conservatives have their own brand of manipulation in the form of, for lack of better terms, fear mongering. Their idea is to scare everyone to death about nearly anything in order to sway voters and promote the American dream, which, in their eyes consists of success in every possible way no matter who is trampled upon in the process.

Exaggerating components of important issues like Mexican immigration or social security, Republicans go on the air and strike fear into their constituents wherever possible. Imagine this scene for example.

The sound of what can only be interpreted as a fist impacting a wooden desk top is followed immediately by a voice kindred only to an evangelist at an old time tent revival. “My friends, we cannot let the socialist commies of the liberal party flush America down the toilet of the world,” the exasperated man says, breathless and loud. Papers shuffle in the background.

“We must protect the Ten Commandments on our court house lawns and keep the Democrats from taxing us back into the Stone Age or handing our country over to their Islamic cohorts.”

This onslaught of right-wing rhetoric is usually followed by the host playing sound bites of some popular Democrat which have been taken thoroughly out of context and cleverly edited to elicit just the right response from listeners. Usually, the desired reaction is anger and outrage.

For the record, it is the opinion of this reporter that Limbaugh and his blowhard buddies are uneducated, uninformed, fear-mongering hairdos. But they still have as much right to the airways as pretentious, know-it-all, liberal “newscasters” like Meeshell Norris and Robert Siegel.

If fair and balanced reporting is what people want, it’s unlikely to be found in a free press. Broadcasters are often at the mercy of advertisers, especially in today’s economy. Once a format is chosen and it gains a following, broadcasters need to meet the demands of listeners by giving them what they want to hear and, subsequently, if no one listens, advertisers (or supporters, if you happen to be a Liberal) will dry up.

Keep also in mind that radio personalities like Terry Gross and Rush Limbaugh are performers, not journalists. Their job is to entertain the listening constituency of lemmings who follow their one-sided nonsense, no matter how ridiculous it might seem to a free-thinking person.

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and business writer based in Jamestown. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com.

Jamestown Grads Share Memories on Facebook

In Local News, Opinion, Uncategorized on August 9, 2011 at 1:37 am

By Gery L. Deer

Deer In Headlines

 

As the school bell begins to ring, signaling the start of a brand new year, I was recently reminded of how fast time slips by and what we miss along the way. Not to mention what we forget about entirely.

One evening, not too long ago, I was lurking on Facebook when I noticed that aJamestown,Ohiopage to which I subscribe was being bombarded by messages. I rarely get a chance to spend more than a few minutes looking at any of this stuff, so, having some free time at the end of the day, I decided to look in on it.

Appropriately titled, “You Know You’re From Jamestown If,” the group page is usually full of nonsense or bad jokes about small town life. On this particular night, however, something more fun and positive was happening.

A group of graduates from the 1980’s were sharing their memories of Greeneview High Shool and growing up inJamestown. I was in the Greeneview class of ’85 and rarely think of my school days. But watching the flood of memories being shared on the chat page was not only fun and entertaining, it was touching as well. Looking back through the eyes of others was a fascinating exploration into perspective.

Memories of people and events long forgotten were being typed and posted as fast as people could think of them. Some things being discussed I didn’t remember at all, while others, the amazing food at our elementary school for example, were clearly visible in my mind.

You know you are fromJamestownif you remember walking to the Pizza Pantry after football games, or if you had a history teacher who hired a belly dancer, or a language teacher that gave A’s to the girls who wore dresses to class. You know you are fromJamestownif you had a shop instructor obsessed with, “Glue and screws,” or a band director who looked like Mr. Kotter.

InJamestown, probably elsewhere too, girls used to wrap their boyfriend’s class ring with yarn so they could wear it on their finger instead of on a chain around their neck. Do they even still do that or has the class ring exchange been replaced with the, “In a relationship with,” notation on Facebook?

Besides their school memories, some people also reminisced about whatJamestownwas like in those days. Before the Wickersham building collapsed and the fires of the early 90’s ravaged the downtown, and before the railroad left,Jamestownwas thriving and busy.

There were gas stations at each end of town, two ice cream stores, and two restaurants: The Grasshopper and Curley’s, where my mother worked. The Jamestown Pharmacy had a soda fountain and while you waited for your ice cream you could go get your favorite candy from the five and dime next door. Back then, you often had to wait for trains to pass by in order to get from one side of town to the other.

Some folks even spent an unusually long time talking about the one, full-time traffic light at the center of town. Though before long, someone promptly noted that there were actually two, reminding everyone that the other one just flashed yellow after school hours.

No doubt we all remember our childhoods in our own way and many posters lamented over easier times. One person commented, “Life back then was so simple.” Another classmate said, “Since graduation I’ve lived inCincinnati,Cleveland,Columbus,Philadelphia,Minneapolis, andEvansville…still the best memories are fromJamestown.” That sentiment was shared by many, including me. Even one of the teachers chimed in to say that he has nothing but wonderful memories about his years at Greeneview.

As the Class of 2012 heads into their finale, here’s a special hat tip to them from the Class of 1985 – and all the classes of Greeneview, and Jamestown High School (yes, there was a “Jamestown High School” at one time), Ross Township, Jefferson Township, and Silvercreek Township High Schools. The Statler Brothers once sang, “Things get complicated when you get past 18.” They couldn’t have been more correct. So thanks for the memories everyone. You made my night.

 

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and business writer based in Jamestown. Read more at http://www.deerinheadlines.com.