i L i n d . n e t

News about news…Starting with a loud “Welcome back” to Ragnar Carlson, who takes over this week as editor of Honolulu Weekly. Ragnar was at the Weekly previously before heading off to San Francisco several years ago. A Google search turns up a bunch of things written for the Weekly in 2005. His Friendster profile describes himself as a “Journalizer”, with hobbies and interests listed as “smoking cigarettes, watching the NBA, reading whatever’s at hand.” He contributed earlier this year to Barack Obama’s camaign. Anything more you’ll have to ask him.

A column in the Vancouver weekly, The Georgia Straight, wonders whether Star-Bulletin owner David Black might be interested in making a run for the Chicago Sun-Times.

The argument goes something like this. Black has built a news conglomerate out of a diverse network of community newspapers. He likes to buy at a discount and build value. Sun-Times Media Group owns a gruop of 70 community newspapers in addition to its Chicago flagship newwpaper, and its stock has fallen over the past year from just over $6 per share to under 50 cents per share.

And the strength of the Canadian dollar vs. the U.S. dollar would give a Canadian buyer an extra boost.

Of course, there’s no direct evidence that Black could be interested, but it’s certainly an intriguing scenario.

And Black was honored earlier this month by the Canadian Community Newspapers Association, which named him an honorary life member and presented him the Margaret Hennigar Award for Exemplary Leadership for 2008.

Then just a couple of other tales from Hawaii’s Democratic state convention.

One observer reported on Saturday’s business.

The afternoon count for attendance at the State Convention on Saturday was 934 delegates and official guests. As reported in Sunday’s newspapers, there were addresses by Rep. Abercrombie and Rep. Hirono, speaking to the enthusiasm of the Obama campaign while still respecting Hillary Clinton’s sense of her own campaign’s viability. In fact the convention floor was noticeably absent of egg shells, with old and new, Clinton-Obama, moderate and more radical, Oahu and neighbor island delegates in relative good spirits. One veteran reporter, with a half grimace on his face, referred to it as a love fest. (No conflict and controversy, no story.)

In debate on resolutions and others issues, there were many differences and mini-dramas. Indeed party insiders know that the need to have a party debate cannot be limited to once every two years if large numbers of members, especially those who are new or who feel marginalized, are to remain part of the organic whole. Filling that gap goes hand in hand with how to raise money to keep party communications and administration functioning effectively. The huge swell in membership, some of which is temporary and some of which has lasting potential, presents a significant organizational challenge.

Another reader added this tale:

One of the “traditions” of the state convention is for delegates and hangers-on to prowl the Saturday night hospitality suites set up by politicians and/or interest groups. While the convention was set up in the Coral Ballroom, at the top of the HHV parking structure, the party rooms were at or near the top of the Tapa Tower, across the main driveway through the HHV property.

One of the elevators in the Tapa Tower broke down at a critical time – just as deliberation on resolutions was wrapping up and the party rooms were opening. It required 911 assistance from HFD and a lot of scurrying around by hotel security to get folks out of the elevator, whose 17 passengers included an agitated retired UH professor who became quite vocal in demanding immediate assistance, loudly inquiring of the hotel operator on the emergency telephone link, “What steps are you taking to get us out of here, and why is it taking so long!”

In fact, the elevator was only incapacitated for ten or twelve minutes, but the hotel security check of that and the other elevators in the building delayed partyers for some time.

The parties themselves were a routine combo of catered and home-cooked foods and most included beer and/or wine; but the configuration of the rooms and the “enthusiasm” of the revelers led to complaints about noise from hotel guests sufficient to have security come and shut down gatherings on a couple of the floors – most notably the room sponsored by the State House of Reps, where some lawmakers (including former Vice Speaker Karamatsu) but mostly staffers were enjoying the evening.

A third reader had a different take:

The Saturday night shindigs were the most paltry that I have ever attended at a Democrat Convention (and I have been going to them since the early 90′s ) – while I can appreciate the costs that people went to – it also indicates to me that there is virtually no interest in large special interests to curry favor with delegates – perhaps because they can go directly to the legislators(??)…….

Back at home, we got an incredible price on a batch of bromeliads which have now been planted under the banyan tree on the side of our yard below our house, spaced among the existing Queen Emma Lily that are currently blooming. When the bromeliads bloom, this is going to be a beautiful area.