AMERIQUE:


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: It is the unspoken statistic, but it is as real as anything to do with the lingering U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the military, 1,800 American servicemen have killed themselves since the initial invasion of Baghdad. That is in addition to the more than 4,000 who died in battle. This week, families of the soldiers who committed suicide asked President Barack Obama to change the government policy of not forwarding letters of appreciation to mothers and fathers of these servicemen. By week's end, the White House had reversed the policy and agreed that such letters are needed, as well... - Eduardo Paz-Martinez, Editor of The Tribune

Saturday, July 3, 2010

In The Local Newspaper War, Not A Single Issue Can Be Lost To Thieves...

By PATRICK ALCATRAZ
Editor-In-Chief

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The chubby kid behind the counter said something about the district manager saying the store couldn't keep losing the newspaper to thieves. In the local world of competitive newspapering and coffee shops, that is a big deal. Patrons drop-in, ask for their cup, step over to the newsrack to grab for the daily, and walk it to a corner for a little reading and sipping. It happens. Mostly, it is a learned activity, one of those peculiarly American habits.

So when a Starbucks store on the Upper West Side here recently began seeing their copies of The New York Times disappear, scolded employees took steps. As the sign shown above says, patrons must now ask for The Times. It's kept somewhere behind the counter.

The Wall Street Journal and USA Today remain in their slots. No one is stealing those. Crime is funny that way...

- 30 -  

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Most R.G. V. residents , do not even know where New York City is or if it even here in the U.S.A....
Seriously, most of Bronwsville's elementary school kiddos, trully believe that Dora the Explorer was / is actually one of the " Discoveres of the American continent ".
Sadly and Incredible in this age of Technology !!!

Patrick Alcatraz said...

ANON:...There is a feeling in the RGV that what it has is enough for a life. Of course, it isn't. But it's there - strapping the population to a lifetime of Nothingness. It is at once sad and deserved... - Editor

The Voice said...

Why don' t all Intellectual and civil ' Leaders " come together in a special type of meeting or convention , have seriously discuss ways to improve so many negative issues in the entire Rio Grande Valley... I mean , If any body is serious enought , and leave their starving EGOS at their place. We are so in need of really improving Culture, Social status, economy, political issues, Identity problems, gangs, Real education with a future in the R.G.V., Great- paying jobs, get people out of their " Little and Safe Cocoon "... and so many more stuff.

> Complacency brings Mediocriocy.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

VOICE:...what RGV residents call "Leaders" are really opportunists. A "Leader" is someone who will draw willing followers. What Valley "Leader" has true followers? We cannot think of one. Elected officials win with such low voter turn-outs that to call them "Leaders" is to devalue the word... - Editor