July 24, 2004 - Saturday
" It wasn't for a lack of fight," writes Chicago Tribune correspondent Leon Lazaroff, "but Frank Wood finally sold out to the enemy."
The comment came after yesterday's announcement that Gannett is buying the Green Bay News-Chronicle and other publications owned by Wood. The sale, tiny on the scale of modern media consolidations, has drawn attention because the News-Chronicle has battled Gannett for 25 years and was featured in the critical book, "The Chain Gang". The book's depictions of Gannett's corporate greed were, in turn, referred to repeatedly during the fight to save the Star-Bulletin and it was distributed to major advertisers by the S-B's new owner, David Black, in an effort to show how important it is to maintain competition.
News-Chronicle columnist Ray Barrington was a distant but strong supporter of the Star-Bulletin and kept in touch both with Burl Burlingame and myself over the past five years, trading tales of newspapers happenings and local industry dynamics.
Gannett currently says it plans no immediate changes and that the News-Chronicle will continue publishing.
Aloha to Ray, Frank, and all the good folks there in Green Bay. You did your best. What more can any of us say?
| Despite what my typical set of morning photos might indicate, all the action isn't on the beach. One morning earlier this month gave us a "bad news-good news" experience. The bad news was that we got caught in the rain, but the good news was the bright rainbow that graced the cliffs behind Kaaawa as a result. |
 Kaaawa rainbow
Click for larger version |
July 23, 2004 - Friday
I notice that the online edition of this morning's Honolulu Advertiser breaks with their normal practice and leads with a Gannett News Service story on the 9-11 Commission report.
I found former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter's Sunday column to have an informative perspective on the warping of policy and intelligence.
It was interesting to see the play given by the Advertiser to Rep. Mark Takai's questions regarding disclosure of certain travel by former UH head Evan Dobelle. The story appearing on Wednesday had lots of comments but didn't really make clear what I believe is the key issue: What is the UH Foundation and what set of state laws does it have to comply with?
When the legislature sought information on Dobelle's travel and protocol fund spending, the foundation asserted that it is exempt from the state's public records law because it is a private entity rather than a state agency. After getting stonewalled, Takai then simply posed the obvious question: If the foundation is indeed a private entity, then the money it provided Dobelle is a "gift" which must be disclosed in Dobelle's annual gift disclosure statement. It's got to be one way or the other, and Takai's attempt to involve the Ethics Commission in sorting out the matter is pretty creative. But the Advertiser's account makes it sound a bit more like simply part of a vendetta against Dobelle. Too bad.
Just one comment was received on yesterday's photos: "I don't know about the Cuisine but I approve your choice of beverages." Do you suppose he's talking about the wooden water goblet shown with the curry? It's beautiful wood, and it was filled with water. Oh, the bottle next to it? That's another story.
July 22, 2004 - Thursday
Yesterday I received a message from the Office of Information Practices concerning records I tried to get from the Insurance Commissioner back in July 1995. It appears that the request first languished at OIP for a bit before being sent over to the Attorney General's office, but an AG opinion letter in February 1996 ruled records relating to Mutual Benefit Societies (our nonprofit health insurers, such as HMSA) maintained by the Insurance Commissioner are subject to the disclosure provisions of state law. The problem was that OIP never notified me of that determination until now, nine years after my original request.
Sean McLaughlin is circulating a copy of his remarks during the FCC localism panel last night in Monterey, California. I should note that the spell checker in this program flagged "McLaughlin" and offered up an alternative--"Michelangelo". Don't let it go to your head, Sean.
| I've had a couple of nights of above-average cooking. It always makes it difficult--how do you follow meals like this? Click on the photos for more on these culinary events. |
Chicken curry
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Lemon-garlic pork w/pasta
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July 21, 2004 - Wednesday
Sean McLaughlin, president and CEO of Akaku: Maui Community TV, will be a panelist in one of two sessions at this evening's meeting to discuss "broadcast localism", part of the Federal Communication Commission's special proceeding to evaluate how broadcasters are serving their local communities.
McLaughlin is appearing on behalf of the Hawaii Localism Coalition, an ad hoc group formed earlier this year to address the loss of diverse local media caused by media consolidation. McLaughlin previously has presented testimony on behalf of the Honolulu Community-Media Council in opposition to allowing Emmis Communications to continue its ownership of both KHON and KGMB, a "duopoly" generally prohibited by the FCC.
Official information about the FCC's Localism Task Force is available from the agency, and has also been compiled by SPJ Hawaii..
A message from McLaughlin to members of the Media Council about the FCC hearing and the localism proceeding, which included a solicitation for funds to cover travel costs, elicited a very chilly response from Mike McCartney, president and CEO of PBS Hawaii.
In two emails also copied to all council members, McCartney, writing as an individual and not on behalf of PBS Hawaii, repeated requests for the names of individuals and organizations making up the Hawaii Localism Coalition, an advance copy of McLaughlin's testimony, and information on fiscal follow-up and "an accounting of expenses".
"I just think people need more information, some insight about your associations with others and your intentions," McCartney wrote.
In this context, these seem relatively loaded questions. Apparently there's more going on here behind the scenes.
| This is Ms. Hina--a.k.a. Hina #2. During the summer, she's outside more often when we walk by in the morning and she's a very very enthusiastic audience of one. Anyway, just click on her photo for this week's round of morning dogs. |
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July 20, 2004 - Tuesday
I did hear back yesterday from at least a half dozen people who confirmed problems in viewing images here for the last couple of weeks. If you are into troubleshooting, most reported the trouble while using a RoadRunner Internet connection and Microsoft Internet Explorer software. It's interesting because most RoadRunner and Explorer users have not experienced any problems, so it is definitely a puzzle.
But for the time being, I've disabled the hotlink protection which may be the culprit and will instead try another approach suggested by former Star-Bulletin webmaster Blaine Fergerstrom--inserting messages into the few specific images targeted by the hotlinks. That will be a job for today.
So now a lawsuit has been filed over Kamehameha Schools' handling of a sex controversy. One reader here wondered:
So the Kamehemaha sex tape story resurfaces on cue from the attorneys for the expelled students.
is this the only way local media feel comfortable about covering such hot topics? When it's handed to them on a silver platter?
No one knows if the tape even exists, and my question is how much independent probing did any reporter do into the matter between last November and now?
Certainly Kamehameha is a fortress but with the right application to the matter I'm sure something could have been turned up.
Any replies from the sports desks?
I had a small item in Honolulu Weekly this week on the collapse of a multimillion dollar Kailua building project after the arrest of the property owner in Hong Kong. Makes you wonder whether the problem of funny money investments might be more extensive than generally recognized.
| During this time of year, we're not the only ones on the beach in the early morning. Sometimes, as on this fine morning last week, there are more serious attempts at fishing going on in the waters just off of Kaaawa. Just click on the photo for a larger version and more info.... |
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July 19, 2004 - Monday
One reader has reported that for a week or more he has been unable to see any of the images on this site. They show up as little blank boxes with a red "x" in the corner. If anyone else is having a similar problem, could you please just send me an email and tell me who your Internet provider is and what browser you're using. This will help in figuring out how to solve the problem. At least I hope it will.
A reader in the journalism biz offered up this reaction to yesterday's note about the Advertiser's latest McCubbin story:
That's a very interesting item on McCubbin. The way it was done seems to fit into a pattern out here. Someone appears to have persuaded management to back off McCubbin's history on the basis that it's not necessary to tie negatives into a fresh start.
Maybe that's naive. But I know I've been warned off of using what I considered to be pertinent negative histories in some stories I did.
Or maybe you could say this state's media is very forgiving.
I've had some people I covered complain about how scrutinizing the Hawaii media is, but that's not true. It's relatively soft, and there are some people out here in positions of public trust who can get away with doing things under and above the radar.
I think there are public figures here who should be very happy they don't live in New York, L.A., Boston or Chcago.
I hesitate to assume management meddling in this kind of situation, but would be interested in hearing other views about how Hawaii news media stacks up on the forgiving/scrutinizing scale.
And on the question of the Star-Bulletin's failure (so far at least) to exercise their option to duplicate the archive of clippings and photos, here's another reply:
I heard figures in the $110,000 to $150,000 range. It's not that much, if you think about it on scale. I'm sure the Canadians would have it done in a heartbeat if the staff were to give up the money in pay cuts or concessions. They've demonstrated no interest in the historical Star-Bulletin, instead professing that it is a "new" Star-Bulletin, unfettered by and unconcerned with the paper's 120+ year history, or what it means to readers.
Another estimate puts the cost substantially higher to duplicate both photos and clippings, somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000. Now you're talking real money.
| We barely dodged the bullet again this week when this kitten was brought in to the waiting area while we were at the vet's office in Kaneohe for Ms. Kili to get her ears examined for mites. It's hard to see a kitten and not recall how much fun they are to have around. Luckily, though, the people who found it decided to keep ms/mr kitten, so we didn't have to struggle with the temptation. Whew. Oh, I have to put stuff into Kili's ears for a week or so, but otherwise she's just fine. And half a pound heavier than on her last visit. |
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July 18, 2004 - Sunday
The McCubbin controversies appear to have disappeared down the memory hole, at least as far as the Honolulu Advertiser is concerned. Bev Creamer's story yesterday about McCubbin's appointment to a position at UH didn't mention allegations McCubbin faced at Wisconsin and later at Kamehameha, nor the public opposition that his consideration for a top administrative position on the Manoa campus drew. The closest Creamer got was a mention in the lead sentence that he had "resigned abruptly" as Kamehameha's CEO.
Speaking of the memory hole, check out this column from the Seattle Times about the woman who took those now famous photos of the coffins coming back from Iraq.
And while you're at it, add the Memory Blog to your morning rounds. It's worth a stop.
Rob from Palm Bay, Florida, made my weekend with an unsolicited note:
Dude . . .
You take some of the BEST sun/oceanscape pictures I've ever seen!
I live in Florida and we get some pretty impresive morning and evening oceanscapes here. But, I now feel almost compelled to visit Hawaii. My wife and sister-in-law have always told me about it. One step closer to sold.
Take care of the eyes, man - they're great!
Many thanks, Rob!
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