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For those of you who, like me, just can't get enough of this story — Dirk Van Susteren responds to the Associated Press' claim that Graff was canned in part for allowing AP reporter David Gram to participate in a Dean bio. Van Susteren, editor the RH/TA Vermont Sunday Magazine, edited the book in question.

He writes:

At our first meeting at the Capital Grounds coffee house in Montpelier,on a morning in August of 2003, Gram said to me point blank that hewould only participate if I could assure him we would meet AP'sstandards of impartiality. I gave him that assurance, and he passedthat on to Graff and was granted permission to participate in theproject.

I know little about the AP's freelance policy; I don'tknow if Graff needed to go up the AP chain of bureaucratic command toget permission to allow Gram's participation. But I strongly believethat both Gram, and Graff, made a good-faith effort toward a worthyjournalistic goal. And for that, at least, the two should have beencommended, not condemned.

The Burlington Free Press has the scoop this morning — 135 Pearl will close June 3 and become a Papa John's pizzeria, with apartments on the 2nd floor. I had heard as much Monday, but I thought it was being kept quiet. Guess it was actually front-page news!

Glad the Freep covered it so extensively. My only comment is that three of their four non-Pearl's sources — Peggy Luhrs, Clark Sheldon and Bob Bolyard — work at R.U.1.2? Community Center, located conveniently half a block from the bar. The story makes it sound as if they're just random people the reporter found walking around, when in fact I'm betting that either Brent or John walked down the street to R.U.1.2? and asked folks for their opinions. Why wouldn't they mention that? Seems strange to me.

I know this is off-line news, but it's a pretty big deal for the cultural life of Vermont's biggest city.

UPDATE: Here's 135 Pearl owner Robert Toms on VPR. I think it's toward the end.

Got an email at Seven Days today that 135 Pearl is closing June 3rd. The GLBT and ally-friendly nightspot is a Vermont fixture. Owner Robert Toms circulated a message explaining that he's gotta move on.

An excerpt:

It has been a twelve-year journey for me at 135 PEARL and a 22-year journey for some of you. After many years of producing the most amazing parties, cutting-edge theatre, and live music, I have decided to move on. None of the success could have happened without all the love and support from the community and staff of 135 PEARL. Endless heart and soul has been poured into this old building. I truly feel that we have defined the word COMMUNITY.

Not only has it been home to the gay/lesbian/bisexual and transgender communities, but it has also become home to an allied heterosexual community. Over the years, I chose to open the doors to artists, because I feel artists channel information that society so desperately needs in order to evolve. I have always looked at 135 PEARL as a platform for social change – a place where people could truly be themselves with out the fear of discrimination, prejudice or separatism. People have become part of the woodwork – from the bohemian set to the die-hard dance crowd. If these walls could talk, they would never shut up.

Wonder if Pearl's will really close...? I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this.

Today's front page, above the fold story is about MySpace. Headline on the web: 

"Computer social sites are attracting tons of teens but is it a good thing?"
Subhead: "MySpace hooks the teen demographic, worries some parents and principals."

I guess it's good that the daily is covering MySpace, though it really bugs me how the story plays up the dangers of internet predators and completely ignores whatever redeeming qualities social networking sites possess.

If parents are so concerned about their kids using MySpace, they ought to hop online, create their own accounts, and figure out how the hell it works so they can talk to their kids about it. Same goes for employers and professors. I think this fear-mongering discourages adults from trying to understand the sites' appeal. Which they should absolutely try to do.

UPDATE: One newspaper is trying a different approach. Spokane's daily Spokesman-Review created a profile for its paper months ago and has been using the site to network ever since. That's frickin' smart. Why didn't we think of that?

Publisher Ken Sands:

"The worst thing about journalism is that we'reall so risk-averse that we're too damn afraid to try anything untilit's proven because it might fail and we might look bad to our peersand our bosses," he told journalism.co.uk.

"That whole ideablows. We need to innovate the way hi-tech firms do. Google allowseveryone to spend 20 per cent of their work week working on somethingexperimental - some of their products are launched in beta, sometimesfor years. We need to adopt this 'ready-fire-aim' approach instead ofthe ponderous 'ready-steady-aim-aim-aim... fire?' approach."

Amen, brother.
 

I got invited to be on a "New Media" panel next Tuesday. It's for Leadership Champlain, a training program run by the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce. Participants in the 10-month course attend eight day-long seminars about various community issues and institutions. The one I'll be at is devoted to "The Media."

The day includes two panels. The morning "Traditional Media" event includes folks from WPTZ, WCAX, the Burlington Free Press and VPR. The afternoon "New Media" talk features former Dean staffer, adjunct UVM prof, and occasional Friday Coffeeblogger Zephyr Teachout, author and St. Mike's prof David Mindich  and someone named Kathy Resner (they mispelled my name on the agenda).

The letter I just got from Lisa Quinlan, acting LeadershipChamplain ED, says, "Our objective is tounderstand the changing world of media as both a consumer and acommunity leader."

I haven't put together a list of things to tell these 40 folks yet. Anybody have any suggestions? What do you wish Vermont's community leaders knew about "the new media," whatever that is?  One thing I'll probably address is workplace blogging/Internet policies. Any books or resources I should suggest?

My friend Alison clued me in to our recent loss:

Thank You, Dear Reader    

To y'all--

Iheard once that most blogs don't make it past a year. Of course, Iconsidered that a challenge. It's been a year and 5 months since I gavebirth to New York Ex. And you know how ornery toddlers can be.

Withmy orneriness in mind, it's time to step away from New York Ex. I wantto thank all of you for checking in, commenting, riding my ass andmaking me laugh over and over. It was because of this blog that Ifinished my book, as it gave me a shot of confidence to pick it upagain. You were no small part in that. Thank you.

I'llstill have the blog/archives up and once my book comes out, I'll postinformation so that you can purchase all of the sordid details about myreal life. I suppose I'll have no choice but to reveal my superheroidentity but until then...

Love and regards,
New York Ex

SAD! I really enjoyed her sense of humor.

More Vermont blogs, for your edification and amusement:

What's the Point?: Political postings from a former Howard Dean backer who calls himself "Vermonter."

The Deadbeat Club: The online extension of Eva Sollberger's  public access tv show of that name. Eva posts her experiments on YouTube, and recently summarized and dissected some of her YouTube hatemail. The post is called YouTube Bug-Eyed Fugly Frigid Man Troll, and an excerpted version is this week's post o' the week in Seven Days.

Vermont Libertarian Party Blog: Exactly what it says it is.

VT NORML: "Working to reform marijuana laws in Vermont."

NU Daily: That's Norwich University Daily. Apparently by "spitfire," a female Norwich student. An interesting window into the mindset of a member of the corps of cadets. From an April 27th post entitled You know you want to:

I have to say, I fantasize about keying the silver subaru parked in the staff lot behind Harmon every time I walk by it on my way to my 1000 class MWF ... You know, the one with the bumper sticker that says,

"Vermonters for a Bush/Cheney Regime Change."

"That deserves a shut the fuck up."

Rantings of a Mad Brewer: Guy in Southern Vermont. Likes to brew beer.

Open Heart Farm: By new farmers in Burlington's Intervale.

Here There Be Dragons: A livejournal blog by Vermont author Laura Williams McCaffrey.

Now we know. Turns out it was that Leahy Sunshine Week op-ed after all.

How time flies.

Last week was my first blogiversary — as an official, Seven Days blog, anyway — and I was so busy reporting my stories for this week that I missed it. Then I celebrated by spending the weekend offline, visiting with friends, talking with my partner and playing with my adorable and constantly changing son.

So here we are. What a year it's been. I started off with a handful of Vermont blogs on my blogroll, and just 500 or so visits in the first month. Now I'm listing more than 160 Vermont blogs (more on the way, I promise). Last month, 802 drew about 3500 visitors. That's down from a high of 5500 in March, but, hey, I went on vacation for a week. And it's not every month that I unmask a plagiarist.

Thanks for sticking with me, and for sending me all those tips. I intend to keep up my end of this conversation, even if I do take occasional breaks for babysitting and picnics at Colchester Pond.