Bias. Sensationalism. Misrepresentation. Evil! OK, so maybe the last one down isn't in the top accusations routinely levied against journalists but it may as well be. Even when we're striving do nothing more than present the events as they occurred, we sometimes get criticized. I've never been shy about admitting there are some lackluster news gatherers out there … Continue reading More on bias in the news

When is it officially the dead of winter? Maybe it's when writers start writing columns about the official start of the dead of winter No one seems to know exactly when the dead of winter is, but you can get a fair estimate by multiplying the number of icicles hanging from your nose by the … Continue reading The dread of winter

What happens when you can't sleep three nights in a row? You rewrite Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire with The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring themed lyrics. So, enjoy or don't. I won't lose any sleep over it. We Did Depart the Shire (Frodo's Song) Sung to the tune of … Continue reading Billy Joel sings … Lord of the Rings?

This fun and important (at least to the family of the missing lizard) story began as a two-line press release. Unlike Godzilla, he won't likely be terrorizing any neighborhoods. But “Squirt,” the 7-year-old green iguana owned by one local family is on the loose somewhere in Boyne City. According to owner Michael Cain, his three-and-a-half-foot … Continue reading Northern Michigan lizard on the loose