November 20, 2004

Mary Sanchez, a columnist for the Kansas City Star, recently discussed the downside of being a journalist: "Most reporters have stories of being hassled and sometimes even stalked by a source or a reader. This is not something I recall learning about in journalism school. Yet it is an important topic, especially for young female reporters who might find themselves with the attention of an unwanted suitor/source."

As a reporter and columnist, I've been hate-mailed, stalked and threatened with death. Someone once scrawled "Fuck You, Bitch" on my bathroom window. Another fellow left a message on the newspaper office's answering machine that said he was going to blow up the building because of a column I'd penned. Dealing with this type of extremist behavior is part of the job.

However, I need access to reader feedback, and the public needs access to me. So, I provide a mail drop address, office phone numbers and numerous e-mail addresses for sources to contact me.

I take a few precautions, as well. I rarely publish my photograph in print. I've taken self-defense courses. I've changed my home number to one that's unlisted. I've stopped accepting mail at home (at one point, all of my letters were x-rayed for anthrax). And, any hate mail that comes my way is immediately deleted or forwarded to the appropriate authorities (ISP or otherwise).

These actions keep the majority of psychos at bay.

E-Media Tidbits is a group Weblog written by "the sharpest minds in online media/journalism/publishing." (Conflict of interest disclosure: I write for this Weblog on occasion.)

November 19, 2004

Apparently the Republicans in Washington have a new motto: If you can't beat the rules, change them to suit your own purposes.

This week, House Republicans voted for a new procedure that would allow the majority leader, Tom DeLay, to remain in power, even though he faces a felony indictment in Texas. The old rule would have required DeLay to step down.

But wait, there's more. Yesterday, Sen. Arlen Specter won the unanimous backing of his Republican colleagues for the chairman seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In response, Specter released a statement that said he might support a change in Senate rules in order to thwart any attempts by the Democrats to keep anti-abortion judges off the bench with a filibuster, a tactic that takes 60 votes to overcome.

"It is my hope and expectation that we can avoid future filibusters and judicial gridlock with a 55-45 Republican majority and election results demonstrating voter dissatisfaction with Democratic filibusters. If a rule change is necessary to avoid filibusters, there are relevant recent precedents to secure rule changes with 51 votes," Specter stated.

Ian Anderson returned from Iraq last spring after he was shot five times during a reconnaissance mission. The 23-year-old Marine from Spokane, Wash., received a Purple Heart and a hero's welcome. In exchange for his sacrifices, the military gave him a $250/mo. paycheck.

Today, Anderson, his wife and their 2-year-old daughter are living on welfare. They receive $130/mo. in food stamps. Until his claim for veteran benefits goes through -- a process that could take a year -- Anderson is fighting the pain of his injuries and working odd jobs just to survive.

November 18, 2004

Congratulations! You are Susan Mayer, the divorcee and single mom who will go to extraordinary lengths for love.

Take the 'Desperate Housewives' Quiz
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November 17, 2004

A new Jaded Writings column has been posted. This week I discuss the practice of preaching on public property.

* Margaret Atwood - 11/18/39
* Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire - 11/21/1694
* George Eliot - 11/22/1819
* John Grant - 11/22/49
* Shel Silverstein - 11/23/32
* Toni Lo Tempio - 11/23/53
* Jade Walker - 11/23/73
* Carlo Collodi - 11/24/1826
* Frances Hodgson Burnett - 11/24/1849

November 15, 2004

On the outskirts of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, Britain, developers have named a dozen streets after poets. There's John Ruskin Avenue, Shakespeare Road and Rupert Brooke Close. If your local city planners were naming a street after you, what would it be called?

I've always wanted to install one of these in my house/castle.

November 14, 2004

Patience and Fortitude, the regal stone lions who guard the New York City Public Library, had some work done last week. When asked about their $114,000 face-lifts, both felines declined to comment.

That was the sound of ultimate suffering.

Past Afterthoughts