Wednesday, March 28, 2007

More complaints

The complaints choir phenomenon continues to grow.

Back in November Tony Palmeri suggested we do something similar in Oshkosh. I couldn't agree more.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

I don't think they did this on purpose, but....




Have you had a chance to look at the Northwestern's online video interviews with Oshkosh mayoral candidates Frank Tower and Paul Esslinger? They contain some not-so-subtle background messages:

* A vote for Tower is a vote for a sunny future for Oshkosh.

* A vote for Esslinger is a vote for a future in a frozen hell.


Note two things about the background in the videos. First of all are the differing weather conditions: sunny in Tower's, overcast in Esslinger's.

Then note how the depth of field has been changed, so that in Tower's video the downtown streetscape appears to be close to the candidate. In Esslinger's video, downtown is more of an empty expanse, far removed from the candidate.

It's no secret that the Northwestern is not a fan of Esslinger's, but I don't think that this is a foray into subliminal manipulation. I think the problem is a result of text-oriented journalists getting involved with the tools of visual communication and not paying enough attention to the things that we can safely ignore when we're just interviewing and writing: ambient light, focal length, etc.

I have to believe that video interviews will only become more important in future elections, and there is word of warning to candidates in this example:

Make sure you know what's being filmed in the background and that your background is the same (or very similar) to that of your competitors.

Happy St. Patrick's Week!

This is the family recipe for Irish soda bread. I'm publishing it here in part because it currently exists on a yellowed, torn scrap of paper ripped out of a reporter's notebook 25 years ago and every year I spend a frantic few minutes flipping through cookbooks until I find it. I thought it should be in a safe place.

4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 T caraway seeds
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
3/4 cup oil
1 cup raisins
1 cup buttermilk

Mix the above with a spoon and then knead briefly. Place in a greased 9-inch pie pan, and spread evenly.

Use a knife to cut a "Sign of the Cross" into the surface, marking four quadrants in the round loaf.

Bake for 60 minutes in a 350-degree oven, or until a straw tester comes out clean.

There are some variations. First of all you can use powdered buttermilk if you don't have the real thing.

Variation No. 1: Substitute one cup whole wheat flour.
Variation No. 2: Substitute chocolate chips for the raisins.
Variation No. 3: Substitute a tablespoon of bacon drippings for an equal amount of the oil.
Variation No. 4: Mix and match any of the above alternatives.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

March 4th

Welcome to the only day in the English language in the imperative mode.