This Week in the Mercury
Friday, May 15, 2009
News Good Morning News!
Posted by Sarah Mirk on Fri, May 15, 2009 at 8:53 AM
War is Over!: The War On Drugs officially is, at least.
Obama About Face: The president restarts the same military tribunal process to try Gitmo detainees that he called "flawed" while campaigning.
Salmonella - It's Your Fault: Food companies leave safe prep step to the consumers.
Car Cuts: Chrysler and GM dealers scramble for a Plan B after their companies cut ties.
Aporkalypse: NYC shuts three schools due to swine flu.
Nike Slashes Jobs: Including 500 from it's Oregon HQ.
Portland Cyclist Dies in Crash: The tragic second bike death this year (after 2008's zero-death record) happened last night on NE Prescott. Initial investigation cleared the driver of wrongdoing - he had the right of way.
Sam Adams Finally Bikes to Work: For the first time in recent memory, Adams is slated to ride his bike to City Hall today.
1
The man who ran the stop-sign was the cyclist that got hit, not the motorist who hit him.
Clarity, dear. I know it just seems like so much work right now, but you'll thank me some day.
Clarity, dear. I know it just seems like so much work right now, but you'll thank me some day.
2
Also, if you end up editing your piece, put in some text that conveys the fact that it was be edited. I'm not sure what you learned out in Nebraska, but it sure as hell wasn't copy-writing fundamentals.
3
wait a second...
if the investigation is still ongoing, how does sara mirk "know" that the cyclist ran a stop sign?
was she there?
did she happen to take a video of the collision?
or is this just another example of the media making assumptions and running with it?
granted maybe the dude did run a stop sign...
but i haven't heard of any eye witnesses' stories corroborating on that fact.
an edit is sorely needed indeed
if the investigation is still ongoing, how does sara mirk "know" that the cyclist ran a stop sign?
was she there?
did she happen to take a video of the collision?
or is this just another example of the media making assumptions and running with it?
granted maybe the dude did run a stop sign...
but i haven't heard of any eye witnesses' stories corroborating on that fact.
an edit is sorely needed indeed
4
Did either of you read the fuckin article linked???:
"The Police have also already determined that the person operating the motor vehicle had the right of way and that impairment was not a factor. Voepel told Blue that it appeared the man operating the bicycle “made an error”. Police spokesperson Mary Wheat told The Oregonian that, “it appeared that the driver of the vehicle had the right of way.”
"The Police have also already determined that the person operating the motor vehicle had the right of way and that impairment was not a factor. Voepel told Blue that it appeared the man operating the bicycle “made an error”. Police spokesperson Mary Wheat told The Oregonian that, “it appeared that the driver of the vehicle had the right of way.”
5
Abusive, none of that says a thing about running stop signs. You're right. It seemed like a reasonable jump at the time. Sarah's half-assed use of 'words' just further obfuscates things.
6
I just want to encourage Smirk rather than berate her all the time. My father was a berater and abuser. It only makes you want to act out and fuck up on purpose like Matt Davis and his meta trolling.
7
Were you here when S.Mirk showed up as an intern? She was showered with love and encouragement. She was literally the only hope that anyone had for this place until PAC showed up. Somehow a paid position seems to have wrecked all that...
Anyway, I don't think we can draw apt parrallels betweens shitty parents and blogtown trolls. Anyone that chooses to write for the Merc should know that they're putting themselves on the line for one of the more self-consciously "snarky" publications around.
Bait the trolls, and you get trolls. And who said we don't like people that "act out and fuck up on purpose like Matt Davis and his meta trolling?"*
*Right, I have. You get my point, though.
Anyway, I don't think we can draw apt parrallels betweens shitty parents and blogtown trolls. Anyone that chooses to write for the Merc should know that they're putting themselves on the line for one of the more self-consciously "snarky" publications around.
Bait the trolls, and you get trolls. And who said we don't like people that "act out and fuck up on purpose like Matt Davis and his meta trolling?"*
*Right, I have. You get my point, though.
8
a quick click on my username shows that i'm not here to "troll" or target anyone.
i've been reading blogtown for years.
as it was pointed out above, NOTHING in the bikeportland articles states anything about someone running a stop sign.
when you start reporting without facts, it's a pretty slippery slope.
the portland police are famous about making statements to the media without being fact-based.
so i wouldn't have been surprised if they actually said that the guy rolled through a stop sign.
but every article i've read on the subject has only a hypothesis....or an ASSUMPTION on how the collision played out.
barring eye witness testimony and corroborating witness statements, it's unfair (and unprofessional) to report something as fact.
like i said before, theres a good chance the cyclist was at fault. however, that doesn't excuse sara from reporting something as "fact" when it has yet to be proven by anyone.
that my friend is the slippery slope of reporting.
kinda like how that one dude put a fake quote on wikipedia and tons of "legitimate" reporters around the world used it in their articles:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30699302/wid/1…
maybe sara just got her scoop from wikipedia too?
i've been reading blogtown for years.
as it was pointed out above, NOTHING in the bikeportland articles states anything about someone running a stop sign.
when you start reporting without facts, it's a pretty slippery slope.
the portland police are famous about making statements to the media without being fact-based.
so i wouldn't have been surprised if they actually said that the guy rolled through a stop sign.
but every article i've read on the subject has only a hypothesis....or an ASSUMPTION on how the collision played out.
barring eye witness testimony and corroborating witness statements, it's unfair (and unprofessional) to report something as fact.
like i said before, theres a good chance the cyclist was at fault. however, that doesn't excuse sara from reporting something as "fact" when it has yet to be proven by anyone.
that my friend is the slippery slope of reporting.
kinda like how that one dude put a fake quote on wikipedia and tons of "legitimate" reporters around the world used it in their articles:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30699302/wid/1…
maybe sara just got her scoop from wikipedia too?
9
The police report seems pretty cut and dry but, you're right, they are doing a more thorough investigation that could possibly turn up a different story. I'll rework the sentence to make that clear.
For the record:
Old sentence - The tragic second bike death this year occurred after a man ran a stop sign.
New sentence - The tragic second bike death this year happened last night on NE Prescott. Initial investigation cleared the driver of wrongdoing - he had the right of way.
Also for the record:
I went to school in Iowa, not Nebraska, O.N. Both are fine states, but Iowa's a little finer.
For the record:
Old sentence - The tragic second bike death this year occurred after a man ran a stop sign.
New sentence - The tragic second bike death this year happened last night on NE Prescott. Initial investigation cleared the driver of wrongdoing - he had the right of way.
Also for the record:
I went to school in Iowa, not Nebraska, O.N. Both are fine states, but Iowa's a little finer.
10
See now we all win!
"Come on people now smile on your broooother everybody get together and try to love one another right now"
Gawdamn I hate that song!
For the record I ride bike all the time. 14 miles (to work and back) + wherevs else I go. It's what keeps me ruggedly handsome.
"Come on people now smile on your broooother everybody get together and try to love one another right now"
Gawdamn I hate that song!
For the record I ride bike all the time. 14 miles (to work and back) + wherevs else I go. It's what keeps me ruggedly handsome.
11
actually.... you don't win at all "abusive" : )
we were right and you were wrong :)
and now sara is right too :)
looks like you're they only one left playing for "WRONG".
abusive: 0
everyone else : 1
: )
we were right and you were wrong :)
and now sara is right too :)
looks like you're they only one left playing for "WRONG".
abusive: 0
everyone else : 1
: )
12
Let me amend that score actually…
Insecure, unnecessarily angry trolls: 1
Everyone else (because like most people I'm really sickened by the abuse you guys cheerfully dole out): 0
Insecure, unnecessarily angry trolls: 1
Everyone else (because like most people I'm really sickened by the abuse you guys cheerfully dole out): 0
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