2 @ Your Library

Locally, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees unveiled its tentative closure/consolidation plan. No surprise considering the fiscal mess the County is in. For now, I'll address local media coverage of this issue.



I don't watch much local TV news. The reason being is that their coverage is so poor. Local print and radio isn't much better but at least I'm spared the visual hairspray and eyeshadow presentation from local himbos and bimbos. Nonetheless, WGRZ-TV provides aggressive coverage of Erie County's budget crisis. They've done some commendable work but they've gone overboard with their cheesy "redcoat brigade". A few months ago I was crossing the street on Delaware Ave. not far from the TV station. Outside stood several of their "investigative" reporters all decked out in these bright red coats with the lastest edition of their logo. They were getting ready for a "live shot" and the costumes seemed to say, "We wear red coats, we're working hard and we're guarding the taxpayers' rights." Whatever. Just report the bloody story instead of looking like you're ready for the Mickey Mouse club roll call. The other stupid move they've made is their "Taxpayers Weblog". Puh-leeeze, it's a bulletin board. Stop abusing terminology in an effort to make your station look technologically hip and to make your viewers/online visitors feel like they're cutting edge. It is a bulletin board not a blog. There is an inherent difference between the two. Here's the definition of a blog from Webopedia:

(n.) Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.


Compare that to Webopedia's definition for a bulletin board system:

An electronic message center. Most bulletin boards serve specific interest groups. They allow you to dial in with a modem, review messages left by others, and leave your own message if you want...

After reviewing the "Taxpayer Weblog" link, which term do you think is correct? Multiple authors contribute to a space that serves a specific interest group--Erie County taxpayers. Smells like a bulletin board to me.

It's just a place for the ignorant peeps to vent. Check out this piece of retarded wisdom from Tony in Lakeview:

"Library closing a step in the right direction. The tax saving is great. If there is anyone in the within a certain distance of a library named for closing flag his tax record on the computer. Give them a exclusive access to that library and tax only them for that library."

Hey Tony, first off learn how to write. Secondly, "exclusive access" and "public library" are oxymoronic terms. Why don't you just send people to a bookstore? It's publicly available but unlike a public library, only those who can afford to buy items can leave with books, etc. Maybe students can prepare their school reports or study for exams in the aisles of Barnes and Noble.

Whatever happened to providing intellectual resources for the public good?