After several posts on Plog (The Pitch's news blog at pitch.com) reported on recent layoffs at The Kansas City Star and business editor Chris Lester's non-layoff departure for a job at the Chamber of Commerce, some commenters paid their respects:
"As someone who works at a mainstream paper, I can tell you that those who work at alternative papers do not have more passion than those of us working for a daily or weekly owned by a major corporation. I tend to think anyone who gets into the journalism field has a complete dedication to print, mostly because if they didn't, they'd leave after the first week. Seventy-hour workweeks for very little pay? Constantly dealing with people who suspect we're biased? Seeing friends and co-workers being laid off? Pay cuts? Yeah. That sounds like a thrill ride. I doubt very many people actually think of those staff writers — the first-year journalists writing police reports and accident stories. The ones typing up obits (still the most well-read page in the paper) and wedding announcements. We make very little and are looking at a dying field; our jobs may not exist in five years. And we still come to work every day, trying to get those stories written and sent online/to print so people can have the (accurate) information quickly. Yeah, I'd say we have passion."
— Anonymous
"Oh, the Internet: How much easier it makes our job, the researching and fact-checking part of the job. Thank God it has not figured out how to write stories for us. That is the only skill that distinguishes us anymore. It is a great profession, a privilege to have worked in it, a quarter-century of fascination, excitement, education. A job that pays you to learn and slaps your hand when you don't get it right. That's fair enough. Increases the excitement. For me, it all began 28 years ago in Lawrence, then KC, Phoenix, Dallas, New York and London. What else would have taken me so many places, always demanding the best of me, the end coming fast but not without warning. The whole thing is sad, but less sad than many of the stories I wrote."
— Oogles"[Former Star books editor] John Mark Eberhart gave me my start as a book reviewer. I'd written a lot of computer journalism — software reviews and articles for PC World, InfoWorld, and quite a few other major and not-so major computer magazines for years. But I'd never written and published a book review, something I'd always wished I'd done. I sent out multiple queries to several newspaper editors. Eberhart was the only book editor interested.... Not only did Eberhart publish my book reviews, but his Books section was one of the few in major newspapers (maybe the only one) that published poems by local authors. Usually it's the younger writer who thanks the older master for giving him his start. I'm half a decade older than Eberhart, but thanks, John Mark."
— Joe Peschel"I am sorry to see Chris Lester leave The Star. I had the great fortune in my career to compete against him when he was the City Hall beat reporter, and I did the same for KMBZ 980. We competed against each other fiercely, and I respected him more than most newspaper reporters whom I encountered in my 33-year career. A few years later, after going to work for Bill Johnson at Business Radio KPHN 1190, I got to work with Chris when The Star and 1190 partnered to air business news in Kansas City. It's a relationship I'll always remember because I didn't just get to work with Chris; I also became close to Jennifer Mann, Diane Stafford and Jerry Heaster. I'm no longer in the journalism business, and soon, Chris will no longer be in the business as well. I know he will miss The Star but I know he will be energized using the skill and experience he crafted so well over the years."
— Scott Simon"Star readers will be poorer without Chris Lester's input. Among the things Chris will no doubt miss: no opportunity to quote punk-rock lyrics in writings for his new gig."
— RickShowing 1-4 of 4
To 'think' or to 'know'. That is question, Pres. Obama,
Response to Pres. Obamas lack of response by Sahjkaya
Category: News and Politics
TO �THINK� or TO �KNOW� that is the question
To �Think� is not just that you don�t think, it�s that you don�t Know.
Yes, I understand the subtle nervous laughter that comes from not knowing the issue enough to respond with intellectual understanding.
However Mr. President, it is imperative that you Know. We don�t expect you to know everything but we expect you to find out. This is the reason why this issue rose to the top from your online supporters. It is because we who have historical, overwhelming evidence of its overall value to humans, our environment, agriculture, as well as our economy, recognize that you need to be brought up to date on this issue. There are many references but I want this simply and precise, so I went to wwww.youtube.com/domasunofisis and read for you and all those that can�t, don�t, won�t read, or can�t find the time, I read it to you. Urgent! Why hemp is really illegal. The Marijuana conspiracy written by Dough Yurchey.. He explains in short why Mr. Obama you had such a response on this issue. One of the things I�ve noticed about you is that you try to choose your words carefully and you saying you don�t think said to me that you don�t know and you could not intelligently address this issue for your lack of knowledge about it. In this instance, you can not be dismissive because what you�ll find out about cannabis/hemp is that it is the no.1 unlimited renewable natural resource whose seeds and cellulose does everything that fossil fuels and petroleum does without contaminating the environment, as well produces food, fiber and medicine. That it has no Lethal attributes, it cannot kill you.
It was made illegal illegally without representation. Billions are wasted incarcerating our people over something that is not lethal and cannot hurt you. That the �M� word is a Mexican slang name and for those that are knowledgeable, it is as offensive as the �N� word is to people of color. We know scientifically it is cannabis sativa, industrially it is hemp, the �m� word is disrespect of our integrity. Some of the most compelling information is found in The Billion dollar crop (bullfrogfilms.org ) .and The Emperor wears no clothes by Jack Herer.
No. This is No Laughing matter. We need you to know the facts about it agriculturally, economically and environmentally and address us intelligently on this issue. We know that you will know the truth, not think, and the truth will set us all free, for we also know that in an abundance of water the fool is thirsty. We know that you are not a fool, we know you are not a coward . Many have been deceived and brainwashed by the ridiculous propaganda spread by �refer� madness, like the others at the town hall meeting that giggled with you. It is childish and exposes the lack of knowledge or ignorance of otherwise seemingly intelligent beings. When we were as a child we acted as a child, now we must give up childish things and behaviors. You may not know it but this will be one of the most important issue of your presidency and your research of it will reveal to you why.
We can, we must for the healing of the nation.
Sincerely
SahjKaya Kansas City
To 'think' or to 'know'. That is question, Pres. Obama, Response to Pres. Obamas lack of response by Sahjkaya Category: News and Politics TO ‘THINK’ or TO ‘KNOW” that is the question To “Think” is not just that you don’t think, it’s that you don’t Know. Yes, I understand the subtle nervous laughter that comes from not knowing the issue enough to respond with intellectual understanding. However Mr. President, it is imperative that you Know. We don’t expect you to know everything but we expect you to find out. This is the reason why this issue rose to the top from your online supporters. It is because we who have historical, overwhelming evidence of its overall value to humans, our environment, agriculture, as well as our economy, recognize that you need to be brought up to date on this issue. There are many references but I want this simply and precise, so I went to wwww.youtube.com/domasunofisis and read for you and all those that can’t, don’t, won’t read, or can’t find the time, I read it to you. Urgent! Why hemp is really illegal. The Marijuana conspiracy written by Dough Yurchey.. He explains in short why Mr. Obama you had such a response on this issue. One of the things I’ve noticed about you is that you try to choose your words carefully and you saying you don’t think said to me that you don’t know and you could not intelligently address this issue for your lack of knowledge about it. In this instance, you can not be dismissive because what you’ll find out about cannabis/hemp is that it is the no.1 unlimited renewable natural resource whose seeds and cellulose does everything that fossil fuels and petroleum does without contaminating the environment, as well produces food, fiber and medicine. That it has no Lethal attributes, it cannot kill you. It was made illegal illegally without representation. Billions are wasted incarcerating our people over something that is not lethal and cannot hurt you. That the ‘M’ word is a Mexican slang name and for those that are knowledgeable, it is as offensive as the ‘N’ word is to people of color. We know scientifically it is cannabis sativa, industrially it is hemp, the “m’ word is disrespect of our integrity. Some of the most compelling information is found in The Billion dollar crop (bullfrogfilms.org ) .and The Emperor wears no clothes by Jack Herer. No. This is No Laughing matter. We need you to know the facts about it agriculturally, economically and environmentally and address us intelligently on this issue. We know that you will know the truth, not think, and the truth will set us all free, for we also know that in an abundance of water the fool is thirsty. We know that you are not a fool, we know you are not a coward . Many have been deceived and brainwashed by the ridiculous propaganda spread by “refer’ madness, like the others at the town hall meeting that giggled with you. It is childish and exposes the lack of knowledge or ignorance of otherwise seemingly intelligent beings. When we were as a child we acted as a child, now we must give up childish things and behaviors. You may not know it but this will be one of the most important issue of your presidency and your research of it will reveal to you why. We can, we must for the healing of the nation. Sincerely SahjKaya Kansas City
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