Campus Newspapers

Okay, I have to admit that I am a newspaper junkie. Real live newspapers though, not the on-line version, although I do read them, as well.

That said, I thought it was a neat idea, although pricey, when the free newspaper program was kicked off. I would have thrown the Chicago Trib in there instead of USA Today, but hey, that is just me. Yep, I know the program is from USA Today but it isn't like a trademarked program......

I had my doubts how successful it would be and have continually noted that even later at night in Reeve and in Clow, there usually is a pretty good stack of available newspapers particularly the JS and NYT. Why the USA Today runs out I can't imagine.

That said, I'm surprised at the little machines dispensing the newspapers. There didn't seem to be an issue with there not being enough papers to go around, at least in my little haunts. Were we having non-students go into dorms, the Rec Center etc to get a free newspaper? Was there really a problem?

I'm sure somewhere, somehow, part of UW Oshkosh paid for the machines. How much? They don't look cheap. Reminds me of the old story about a men's razor company (Gillette?). They had the idea that they didn't sell razors, that they sold razor blades, hence they damn near gave away the razors for free so one would buy the blades.

Is that what happened conversely with the machines? Did UW Oshkosh get in to a program to get out newspapers for free (fairly inexpensively) and then got stuck buying these white elephant machines?

Anyone know truly how much they cost or what the issue is?

CNN

We've got one of those awful anniversaries upon us and the cable news shows are doing their best to mark it: 45 years since JFK's assassination.

On CNN this morning though, they run through it and state that Lee Harvey Oswald was 'accused' of the assassination and was shot to death 2 days after the assassination. Is there anyone other than Oliver Stone who thinks otherwise? Ever hear of the Warren Commission?

To be sure Harvey wasn't convicted of the killing because he never went to trial courtesy of Jack Ruby. But for CNN to say that Lee Harvey Oswald merely was 'accused' is beyond all logic and becomes revisionist history.

We have a news network saying a presidential assassin was 'accused' while running seemingly non-stop repeats of a former VP candidate in front of some redneck turkey ranch. And we wonder why our students don't have a better grasp of history?

Ummm

Ummm, I was watching the 10pm news tonight.

Ummm, there was an ummm interview with with our VC Petra Roter and ummm, she was talking about ummm, a pub crawl thing like, ummm.

Dr Roter, if you are going to be the official commentator for UW Oshkosh, please turn it up a notch.

Ummm is not a word, but it was the predominate sound you made during your interview.

You did verbally defend you dissertation, didn't you?