Kudos! Its June 27 front page article "No 'Helping Hand' from Highmark: Insurance giant denies money for parents' preferred procedure" describes how "Highmark would cover the surgery cost of $150-200,000" but would "only pay $4,907.18 of the $15,600 total billed" for prosthetics that give the same appearance and avoid complicated major surgery.
WATCHDOG: It is encouraging to see a Lancaster Post article that seems well researched and is consistent with the front page headline and graphics. Keep up the good work!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
NEW ERA
Published on June 28th an editorial favoring paper ballots and a column entitled
"F&M's presentation on rail yard fails to win over skeptics."
WATCHDOG: New Era earned double kudos!
First, an Editorial entitled "Paper ballots on comeback trail" states "Following Florida's presidential election fiasco in 2000, many states abandoned punch cards - once used by nearly a third of the electorate - and mechanical level machines in favor of electronic touch-screen voting systems." It then explains how electronic voting machines without a paper trail of each vote actually cast often fail (or we would add, sometimes are rigged) and there is no possible way to check on what took place.
What the article is not clear about is that the voting machines which former commissioners Pete Shaub and Dick Shellenberger insisted on buying in disregard to Molly Henderson's objection have no verifiable paper trail. The sooner that the County gets rid of these second hand "bargains," the better!
Second, the New Era carried an article by columnist Carol Petersen that properly challenges for lack of candidness and fair play the presentation by F&M College last week to home owners in the vicinity of the proposed (and almost certain) relocation of the Norfolk & Southern freight yard.
Samples:
"The two most important issues on a long list of citizen concerns are the potential health risks associated with freight trains and their cargo and the loud impact noise inherent in coupling and uncoupling train cars. Imagine residents' surprise and disappointment when they learned from the engineering firm that those two critical items were 'not within the parameteres given to us by F&M.'"...
"'You just have to take our word for it' that there would be remediation should it be needed, [John Fry] added.' Trust is earned, and without solid answers to their long-standing questions resident are running a little short of trust in F&M."
"F&M's presentation on rail yard fails to win over skeptics."
WATCHDOG: New Era earned double kudos!
First, an Editorial entitled "Paper ballots on comeback trail" states "Following Florida's presidential election fiasco in 2000, many states abandoned punch cards - once used by nearly a third of the electorate - and mechanical level machines in favor of electronic touch-screen voting systems." It then explains how electronic voting machines without a paper trail of each vote actually cast often fail (or we would add, sometimes are rigged) and there is no possible way to check on what took place.
What the article is not clear about is that the voting machines which former commissioners Pete Shaub and Dick Shellenberger insisted on buying in disregard to Molly Henderson's objection have no verifiable paper trail. The sooner that the County gets rid of these second hand "bargains," the better!
Second, the New Era carried an article by columnist Carol Petersen that properly challenges for lack of candidness and fair play the presentation by F&M College last week to home owners in the vicinity of the proposed (and almost certain) relocation of the Norfolk & Southern freight yard.
Samples:
"The two most important issues on a long list of citizen concerns are the potential health risks associated with freight trains and their cargo and the loud impact noise inherent in coupling and uncoupling train cars. Imagine residents' surprise and disappointment when they learned from the engineering firm that those two critical items were 'not within the parameteres given to us by F&M.'"...
"'You just have to take our word for it' that there would be remediation should it be needed, [John Fry] added.' Trust is earned, and without solid answers to their long-standing questions resident are running a little short of trust in F&M."
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
In a June 24th lead article, the Intell reports County home prices rising. "'Stable' local market ranks well on national index."
WATCHDOG: According to AP in an article , "... a report from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight said U.S. home prices fell 4.6 percent in April from the same month last year, when the index peaked. That marked the biggest decline ever in the agency's monthly index which dates back to January 1991. The government index is calculated using mortgage loans of $417,000 or less. (Emphasis added.)
Earlier in the same article headed "US home prices tumble in April at record rate" it says "The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 cities fell by 15.3 percent in April versus a year ago, according to Tuesday's report. Prices nationwide are at levels not seen since August 2004."
Now anyone who looks around at all the "For Sale" signs and has talked with those hoping to sell their homes knows that prices have plummeted in the County over the past couple of years. So to what can we ascribe the differences between the Intell's "feel good" article and tangible reality?
Was this a sop for their real estate advertisers to encourage consumers to buy homes?
First of all they interchange "value" and "prices", and they are not the same thing. More importantly, as indicated above, the Fed's numbers are based on mortgages and then on only a portion of the market.
Watchdog is not saying the Intell has it wrong. But if anyone could understand the article and believes the conclusion, please write us!
WATCHDOG: According to AP in an article , "... a report from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight said U.S. home prices fell 4.6 percent in April from the same month last year, when the index peaked. That marked the biggest decline ever in the agency's monthly index which dates back to January 1991. The government index is calculated using mortgage loans of $417,000 or less. (Emphasis added.)
Earlier in the same article headed "US home prices tumble in April at record rate" it says "The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 cities fell by 15.3 percent in April versus a year ago, according to Tuesday's report. Prices nationwide are at levels not seen since August 2004."
Now anyone who looks around at all the "For Sale" signs and has talked with those hoping to sell their homes knows that prices have plummeted in the County over the past couple of years. So to what can we ascribe the differences between the Intell's "feel good" article and tangible reality?
Was this a sop for their real estate advertisers to encourage consumers to buy homes?
First of all they interchange "value" and "prices", and they are not the same thing. More importantly, as indicated above, the Fed's numbers are based on mortgages and then on only a portion of the market.
Watchdog is not saying the Intell has it wrong. But if anyone could understand the article and believes the conclusion, please write us!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
SUNDAY NEWS
In a three inch article on June 22 headed "F&M Drops Charges", the paper states "Harper was cited with trespassing based on an order banning him from college property" and "Harper ... is still banned from college property."
WATCHDOG: Wrong on both accounts!
"Order" from whom? It was not a court order but simply a college-authored "Defiant Trespass" notice that, given the circumstances of its issuance, is unlikely to be worth the paper it is printed on.
"Banned from college property?" Hardly. Harper can come and go to events open to the public, use pathways normally traveled by the public, and patronize facilities such as restaurants and shops that the college operates or has leased to others.
See "F&M wrong re Defiant Trespass" posted June 17th.
WATCHDOG: Wrong on both accounts!
"Order" from whom? It was not a court order but simply a college-authored "Defiant Trespass" notice that, given the circumstances of its issuance, is unlikely to be worth the paper it is printed on.
"Banned from college property?" Hardly. Harper can come and go to events open to the public, use pathways normally traveled by the public, and patronize facilities such as restaurants and shops that the college operates or has leased to others.
See "F&M wrong re Defiant Trespass" posted June 17th.
Friday, June 20, 2008
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
June 20. Sub headline: "Residents oppose F&M backed plan"
WATCHDOG: This "pup" has probably had a lot more experience than the Intell reporter with such meetings with many scars to show for it.
The 'opposition' was relatively muted and issues raised thoroughly and, as far as the preponderance of the audience was concerned, satisfactorily responded to. A few neighbors that live closer than the rest showed understandable irritation, but even a leader of The Rail Road Action and Advisory Committee (TRRAAC) expressed support for the project, albeit some discomfort.
Also Watchdog's count was at least twice the 200 reported by the Intell. There were about 200 at the earlier meeting and perhaps 160 at the later, and people came and went throughout the evening. Except for the Watchdog, most dined at home or at a restaurant.
WATCHDOG: This "pup" has probably had a lot more experience than the Intell reporter with such meetings with many scars to show for it.
The 'opposition' was relatively muted and issues raised thoroughly and, as far as the preponderance of the audience was concerned, satisfactorily responded to. A few neighbors that live closer than the rest showed understandable irritation, but even a leader of The Rail Road Action and Advisory Committee (TRRAAC) expressed support for the project, albeit some discomfort.
Also Watchdog's count was at least twice the 200 reported by the Intell. There were about 200 at the earlier meeting and perhaps 160 at the later, and people came and went throughout the evening. Except for the Watchdog, most dined at home or at a restaurant.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL
Editorial, June 19, 2008:
Commenting on a 32% rise in head industry deaths for motorcyclists riding without helmets, the Intell rhetorically asks: "How can saving a few lives compare with the wickedness of restricting liberty, America's most cherished value?" And responds: "To that argument we respectfully say: baloney."
WATCHDOG: Having spent many happy years on its motorcycle (BMW, not Harley!), the Watchdog cringes every time a non-helmeted cyclist comes in view. This is pure Russian Roulette. We agree with the Intell when it says "Helmet laws are an appropriate extension of [licensing] restrictions." As the editorial indicates, there are huge social and economic costs involved from injuries and deaths, so it isn't just a matter of personal freedom.
Commenting on a 32% rise in head industry deaths for motorcyclists riding without helmets, the Intell rhetorically asks: "How can saving a few lives compare with the wickedness of restricting liberty, America's most cherished value?" And responds: "To that argument we respectfully say: baloney."
WATCHDOG: Having spent many happy years on its motorcycle (BMW, not Harley!), the Watchdog cringes every time a non-helmeted cyclist comes in view. This is pure Russian Roulette. We agree with the Intell when it says "Helmet laws are an appropriate extension of [licensing] restrictions." As the editorial indicates, there are huge social and economic costs involved from injuries and deaths, so it isn't just a matter of personal freedom.
Monday, June 16, 2008
LANCASTER INDEPENDENT PRESS
On June 15, the almost four decade old newspaper that evolved into a web site asked "Did the Lancaster Newspapers pressure Turkey Hill?" to cease distributing the Lancaster Post.
WATCHDOG: This may be the case, although we have no evidence to believe so and are skeptical. But Post News Editor Ron Harper, Jr., through several cover stories that seemed to be egregious attacks on local figures and institutions that were long on vitriol and short on facts, gave some cause in itself.
Nevertheless, NewsLanc urges Turkey Hill Minit Marts to continue its distribution of the Post. The test of democracy is not how we protect the freedom of the press of those of whom we approve, but how we do so for those who offend us. Furthermore, Turkey Hill routinely carries national publication that are far less tasteful.
WATCHDOG: This may be the case, although we have no evidence to believe so and are skeptical. But Post News Editor Ron Harper, Jr., through several cover stories that seemed to be egregious attacks on local figures and institutions that were long on vitriol and short on facts, gave some cause in itself.
Nevertheless, NewsLanc urges Turkey Hill Minit Marts to continue its distribution of the Post. The test of democracy is not how we protect the freedom of the press of those of whom we approve, but how we do so for those who offend us. Furthermore, Turkey Hill routinely carries national publication that are far less tasteful.
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