Las Vegas...Review-Journal to raise newstand cost. Not worth paper printed on!

As I strolled in to the local grocer to snap up a steaming cup of hot java and the morning paper, the clerk informed that the cost of the Review-Journal was going up to seventy-five cents on July 1st.

Well, what is my savvy consumer response to that?

As Samuel Goldwyn once quipped,

"You can count me out!"

Nope, I won't be gleaning the news that's not fit to print, anymore.

No loss.

After all, recently I became frustrated with the daily for a couple of reasons.

The - um - journalists, for starters.

A few days ago one of their columnists - Doug Elfman - chose to take a swipe at pin-up gal - Pamela Anderson - on a very shaky premise which was a big turn off.

Notwithstanding, that kind of tabloid-style piffle should be left to the gossip mongers, not to a writer employed at what has been hailed as a reputable newspaper in Las Vegas.

In addition, I have found that their reporters go on ad nauseam about this 'n that, much to their detriment. Obviously, the Journal has a lot of excess space each edition - otherwise - why would the editors let these bozos expound on such fluff?

When I wrote for a major daily years ago, my editor gave me a great piece of advice: get to the point. I adhere to the principle to this day.

I was also shocked this past week at the arrogance of one of their reporters - Benjamin Spillman - who claims to toil in the business section of the paper.

He had the audacity to zip off an e-mail to me in response to a post I wrote a few days ago - assuming that because I chose not to mention a tidbit in the feature - that somehow my report was off. On the contrary.

His assumption that I was not familiar with a particular fact was way off-base too.

Not only was I aware of the item, but I chose not to include it in the feature, because the mainstream media had been all over the item like flies over sh**. More importantly, the tidbit was so old, it was turning grey with age.

I always endeavour to report on news that is current and fresh and of interest to my readers. Unlike reporters at the Review-Journal who rely on old archives to whip up a story, I am actually in-the-trenches getting the scoops. And, more often-that-not, get my news flashes to copy for my readership well ahead of the "competition".

Notwithstanding, it should be noted that a Managing Editor (with a reputable publication) posted a comment on one of a number of web sites my blog is fed to, and applauded me for a story - he asserted - was the best report on the subject he'd read in fifteen years.

Benjamin, you're out of your league.

Now, go scrape the egg off your face.

Hillary Clinton...Black enough?

Recently, Hillary Clinton faced a group of testy Black Journalists who were asking the candidate point blank: "Are you Black enough?"

Some argue the "other guy" is a better choice to represent Black issues in America today.

Mrs. Clinton asserted, "..I can make a strong case that my experience and my ideas, going back into the White House, is exactly what we need at this point in history."

She used the occasion to her advantage at The National Association of Black Journalists conference to underscore a number of bold-faced efforts she intends to pursue on issues affecting urban and black America when she's firmly ensconced in the Oval office.

Clinton is proposing a $10 Billion investment in Universal preschool and $100 million for Internships giving to middle-school and high-school student job skills.

She said she would increase funding for the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission and reverse proposed Federal cuts in child support enforcement.

Another worthwhile project is a plan to set aside $200 million over the next five years on community partnerships aimed at helping ex-offenders to re-enter the job market.

Where does she expect to get the big bucks from, Mr. Hsu?