When the American autopsy is finalized, it could turn out that the little things finally nail our culture’s coffin shut. Mr. Coffee machines, ATM cards, electric can openers and plastic grocery bags are potentially far more nefarious than factory farming, too big too fail banks, food-borne illness and the mountains of non-biodegradable garbage we’ve created.
Probably not, but good for the Barrington Town Council in any case for taking on what in the future will seem like a real no-brainer: banning plastic grocery bags. The Council could vote on the proposal at a meeting tonight, according to ecoRI.
It was the invisible hand of the marketplace that gave us this non-biodegradable form of temporary storage and long-term pollution and it’s right that the public sector step in and help to encourage more wise use of our resources.
Though, as the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity humorously points out: “the American Progressive Bag Alliance spokeswoman argues, ‘Paper bags are worse for the earth.'” Who is the American Progressive Bag Alliance, you may ask (because the local right-wing propaganda machine sure didn’t tell you?) They represent the plastic bag industry, of course…
Here’s a tip for translating Orwellian language in politics: when you hear someone talk about freedom and prosperity, they probably aren’t talking about your freedom, or your prosperity.
The Projo finally covers Anthony Gemma’s fake Twitter followers and Facebook friends in its print edition. We liked its web version better in which they credited RI Future with breaking this story way back in March. But then again, we didn’t mention that they actually took on the same issue in the last election … though they reported then there was no way to prove or disprove Gemma’s outlandish claims about his social networking prowess…
Also in the Projo’s Political Scene piece this week: they mention again about all the legislators who are declining raises. About Rep. Scott Guthrie, they write, “As recently reported here, Berman tells Political Scene that there is just one lawmaker, Rep. Scott Guthrie, D-Coventry, who accepts no legislative pay.” Interesting choice of words given that the Projo was beat on this story by at least two Rhode Island news organizations. Maybe it should read: as reported here more recently than elsewhere…
Speaking of the local daily being behind the curve … Ian Donnis reports that the Projo (which I should note I actually love dearly and is easily one of my all-time favorite newspaper) is now encouraging its reporters to take advantage of social media. I hear they are also suggesting reporters use laptops rather than tele-type machines and drive automobiles to assignments rather than traveling by horseback…
Ian’s right, there are no shortage of Projo reporters who are fun to follow on Twitter … one he left off, IMHO, is education reporter Jennifer Jordan. Personally, I’m looking forward to more of the paper’s staff to join the fun on Twitter (did anyone hear the rumor that Apple is considering buying Twitter, btw?) especially members of the editorially board – the state’s paper of record ought to have someone on the left who can to counterbalance conservative Ed Achorn. If its interest is in fostering a healthy marketplace of ideas that is…
Anyone notice that GoLocalProv seems to be making a big move into local sports coverage? say what you will about publisher Josh Fenton, and he and I have certainly had our disagreements (or, more accurately, he’s threatened to sue me!!) but he is a tremendously bright businessman and he seems to be the first to take advantage of the lack of local sports coverage. Nice work id’ing another info niche, Josh … and thanks GoLocal for naming my brother-in-law Steve King, a former Henricken, Brown U. and NHL hockey player as one of the best athletes in West Bay history.
Speaking of props for the Plain/King clan … thanks also to Ted Nesi for giving a nice shout-out to our daily Progress Report this weekend … Likewise, Ted’s Saturday Morning Post is a great place to gather what he calls scooplets. For example, this weekend he informed his readers that Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick could end up an Obama SCOTUS selection. Also interesting to note … both Ted and I use the “Speaking of…” lede to transition from item to item. Probably we both picked it up from Bill Reynolds’ “For What It’s Worth” column … Reynolds is the godfather of this genre of journalism in Rhode Island and his Saturday morning column gave birth to my love of the written word, reporting and being a local blowhard…