The Observation Deck

Jim, Ken et al.

I'm late to this debate and I'm not going to weigh in except to say that Ms/Mr. Batdorf's challenge to meet Jim alone should not be acted upon.
If this meeting can't take place in a public place, in the light of day, skip it. It's just too easy to be set up in any number of ways.

Several years ago, during an interview, Billy Graham was asked why other evangelists were being caught in unseemly acts and circumstances and his core group was unscathed. He responded that early in his career he and the men he worked with made a pack to NEVER be alone in a room with a woman, who wasn't their wife or a family member. A very smart man. I think this principle has a universal application.

Frankly, I'm surprised this thread has remained engaged to the extent that it has.

So, how about Sunday? Anyone else cooking out?

Joan Roberts wrote:

Kenneth Warren wrote: for a newspaper that has done more in one year to cover the good works of the Kiwanis Club than all the others combined for their history. (I am sorry Ms. Roberts to raise my Kiwanian claw in another swipe.)

No need to apologize. You are entitled to your personal lens, as I am mine.

I just always make sure the batteries are fresh in my hubris detector.

However, one thing does puzzle me. Mr O continually insists the Observer is "not a newspaper" but the front page of the paper says, right there on top, "Lakewood's Only Newspaper". Which or who is correct?

The Sun Times and PD, flawed as they are, make no bones about it. They take their lumps. Like being pregnant, you can't be a "little bit" of a newspaper, it seems to me.

Joan

No problem, but the mere fact the paper is printed on news print would mean it is a newspaper. Besides that we are generally weeks ahead of the Sun Papers in news. Yesterday they ran a blurb above the fold on the Hall House. We have been covering it for almost 8 weeks. At the same time we make no effort to cover day to day "news" we just do not have the people to do it.

So in fact we can be a little bit of a newspaper. so in fact Lakewood's only newspaper, finest/largest website and a member of the Google family.

But I must say that you have to look at the Mission Statement to get the idea behind why it was started.

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terry batdorf wrote:Hey Jimmy,

I will continue with freewill and free speech and encourage others to do the same. I can take your immature behavior and unwarranted personal attacks. I am amazed your a Publisher of a paper and you act in this me.

If you think I am fake, I invite you to set up a meeting between just me and you. Can you bring it without all your buddies around you?
We'll see.


Happy Easter Everyone!!!

Terry

Terry

I know you are not fake, never said you were. you must be getting unhinged. I am the one that is trying to find out if you were the soldier that served two terms in the Air Force. Why would I ask that if I thought you were fake. As far as attacks, again I think you have it way wrong. Infact you have been wrong since you signed on. To date no editing of your posts, no deleting of your posts.

Now as far as my buddies, 80% of this board I have never met.

Just trying to correct all the BS. But I have two thank you, you have cause a national advertiser to sign on, and an old sponsor came back after reading your post. We have had more calls for ads than the week before. To be honest this issue would have been our lowest advertised ever, but you have brought out solid Lakewoodites and the city is responding.

Joe

How can you say it was buried? It heads the letters page, it is on google, and you claim it was buried.

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Suzanne

Good call. As for cooking out, there's a really great recipe in the last issue for a butterflied leg of lamb. I urge everyone to try it.

Jeff

Hey observers!

Its funny where a culinary insight can arise. as I'm reading over this thread, my mind turned to a favorite dessert...English Trifle. Really a decadent concoction of custard, fresh berries, whipped cream and lady fingers. It was originally called a "Foole". Happy to share the recipe with any one.

Jeff

On why this thread continues, I think there are several reasons. One, it is a funny kind of boycott in that the person doing it is not only still using the product to read (which we would never know) but also to use (he continues to post on this thread as well as others). It is like boycotting Nike but continuing to wear their shoes and a baseball cap with their logo on it. Secondly, he has made some rather heated statements that have, oddly enough, done more to galvanize what (to me) has become a more divisive site over recent weeks (what with all the Iraq, Bush, Liberal/Conservative rants going on...self included). That said, even those that I think he expected to fall in step with him have put some distance away from his rhetoric, both directly challenging his points or at the very least making a joke out of it (I loved the Around the Corner backdoor discussion ). But mostly I think it is a sort of frustration that one has when arguing with a toddler. Not to say Terry is a toddler (I would say early to mid-20's at most) but having a discussion with him comes across this way. And like arguing with a toddler, the moment you engage, you are lost. Anyone who argues with a 2 or 3 year old knows this. There is no winning. Either you ignore the behavior that started the discussion or put one's foot down. I always giggle when I see a parent pleading, coercing or otherwise trying to debate with their toddler on some issue like dessert, eating their veggies, putting down a toy in the store, etc. You just can't win by debating. Yet, it is hard not to engage!

Terry is clearly upset about something. He also, like a toddler, might be trying to seek attention (there is a part of me that really thinks he is getting off on this). He pounds his chest to "bring it" to a person he claims to be affronted by, but like a petulant toddler or even teenager, he can't actually articulate what is upsetting him. How many times did I snap back at my mom "nothin'" when I was asked "what's wrong with you?" I honestly didn't know and I don't think Terry knows, either. People want to reach out to him and help him along, get his point of view and try to remedy what his concerns are but can't because he can't answer a straight question without some barb or threat (not much implied at this point).

So the thread continues probably until Terry stops responding. I think that is the strength of this site. Some admins on other discussion boards could have played the active parent and simply deleted the thread the moment he made his first implied threat or random diatribe that contained no substance by bile. Instead, they give him and others the room to air the grievances in, what I assume, is a genuine hope that Terry at some point calms down and says "Okay, here are the articles I have issues with" or "I have a hard time with the LO because..." He clearly wants to remain a part of these discussions for some reason. Maybe a feeling of community? If he wants a site with a strict Conservative bent I could suggest some other discussion sites. If you want one with a LOT of points of view, this is the place but then one's skin will have to be significantly thicker than it has been.

Just some thoughts.

I for one enjoyed some Hungry Howies last night (though I really prefer Angelos any day). I brought up this discussion with my friends who know the owner personally. asked "What could the possible reason be that someone would boycott Hungry Howies?" They couldn't think of anything. Was it strictly the involvement with LO? Do they advertise with the LO? I don't remember seeing an ad but then again I don't read the paper for the ads.

Who knows...

Take you meds and relax. You attacks are a joke to me.

Phil

The attack on Hungry Howie shows the depth of Terry's understanding. They are no longer an advertiser! So the boycott again goes down the drain. Like I said the response from the lurkers has been overwhelming. Much like Harrison's going out of business sale, I wish he had started it two issues ago. I mean let's be honest as you put it, it has brought the board together, and it is bringing the city together behind the Observer. At least from emails and calls.

But I will defend his right to post.

Again this post has once again shown the strength of this project. For that I must thank Terry again. While people can talk about deleting, well two Joe and Terry, this thread is proof to how open and how strong this concept is. Check the number of people reading this thread! I wouldn't delete it for the all the tea in China.

I do find it odd that "competition" is out trying to capitalize on this thread. But the board is not me, it is not you it is the city's, and that is what it was always meant to be. This is why the attacks are laughable. All they have to do is take part in the paper, and they would see first hand.

As for where this discussion goes I have to think back to the words of my favorite right winger Kate Parker. "Even if you win a gold medal in the Special Olympics..."

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so, how 'bout them indians?

Jeff - I can't wait to try the lamb and may I please have the trifle recipe? Suzanne

did you guys know that the lakewood ranger baseball team is off to a very very good start this spring? Look out for the exciting news in the next issue of the observer.

and also as the top of the paper says..
Please patronize our advertisers!!
not boycott.

before you know it there will be hungry howies pizzas and bread-sticks floating down by the marina and we'll call it "the lakewood pizza party"

if only we had a tea shop advertising, oh boy!

"I will continue with freewill and free speech and encourage others to do the same."

I'll have to try that out myself..


do us all a favor and boycott the forum terry

Well, I love trifles & fooles, but I'll share a family recipe that's my father's favorite.

Start by lining a trifle bowl with lady fingers. Cover them with a layer of sweetened whipped cream. Cover that with a genrous layer of sliced strawberries with lots of juice. Layer the lady fingers, whipped cream & strawberries until the dish is full. Let it sit for at least a day until the juice from the fruit soaks into the lady fingers. Top with some whole strawberries & a little fresh mint, if you have a few tiny leaves around.

Show off the beautiful dessert to all guests. Serve with a ladle. After it has been served, you will understand why we call it "Strawberry Glop."

Fabulous dessert, but not too pretty on the plate. You can add different fruit or berries, depending on your preference.

My father has also used frozen custard in place of the whipped cream and made the dessert immediately before serving.

you guys are making me hungry!

Phil:

I appreciate your thoughtful post.

The LO is our community’s democratic mechanism for communicating with one another through, as Ms. Roberts suggests, a hubristic order of civic discourse. As we ride our civic chariots and thrust our homie swords into the sun, there is sometimes heated debate.

At other times there are good faith efforts to set context for decision-makers and to strike consensus and compromise that we all can live with in the democratic sense.

At our best we advance outside the corporate controlled media complex intentions to engage others in the production of truthful and respectful accounts about the company and character of our city.

Is it surprising such complex characterizations and intentions taking place among Lakewood citizens using real names in Mr. O’Bryan’s ‘petit journal’ could set off an over-the-top “Robo-Conâ€Â￾ reaction and boycott, which some take as fake and others as all too real?

In the city that would know itself better than any other, the Holy Week Boycott of the Lakewood Observer, which Mr. Batdorf has set into motion, is a parable for our times.

What does Mr. Batdorf know?

Whose interests are infused and infusing with Mr. Batdorf's knowledge?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Kenneth Warren