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In a recent gathering of Denver news people and others, discussion was had of Hollywood's historic treatment of the press, which usually is overly dramatic and often quite critical.
Consider, for instance, the drama that began as a stage hit, "The Front Page," and later became a screen classic, "His Girl Friday," set in the World War II period, starring Rosalind Russell as Chicago reporter Hildy Johnson and Cary Grant as her editor, Walter Burns.
The film is still celebrated for some of the sharpest lines of dialogue you'll ever hear. A particular favorite of mine is Hildy's scathing description of what is actually her own occupation (and once was mine), that is, a newspaper reporter.
Her title is "journalist."
"A journalist," Hildy says. "Now what does that mean? Peeking through keyholes. Chasing after fire engines. Stealing pictures off old ladies. Waking up people to ask them if Hitler's going to start another war....
"I know all about reporters, Walter. A lot of daffy buttinskys running around without a nickel in their pockets so a million hired girls and motormen's wives will know what's going on."
Is that true? Not entirely, but largely. I've been there.
Oh, I never stole a picture off an old lady. But more than once I persuaded some vulnerable person of a certain age to lend the newspaper a treasured portrait off her piano, promising it would be promptly returned after being copied in the photo lab.
And I meant it. And I expect it was. Returned, that is. But did I ever check to make sure? I don't remember doing that.
As for the "journalist" thing, I just heartily dislike that word. Always have.
The journalist doesn't chase fire engines, cover city hall, check politicians' police records or write obituaries. He aims at editorships, public acclaim, Pulitzers.
So let there be no "journalist" in my obituary, please.

PAYDAY

Golf-playing big shot
Gets a million as bonus
Blue collars laid off.

ballots

Candidate's prospect
Was so sweet he could taste it
--- Damnable voters!

Season's Greetings

Kansas cow pastures
Accommodate diamonds
Boys choosing up sides

Charley

survival

Chris Romer lost the mayor's race by a mile, taking a big hit both in political stature and his bank account.
We hope, however, he won't be giving up on the whole idea of public service.
We need guys like him at every level, local state, national. Guys who are smart, honest, experienced, inventive. fiscally sharp, compassionate, personable, keenly aware of diverse needs in a diverse society.
Romer spent a lot of money and personal goodwill against Michael Hancock. He was too negative -- yes he was, clearly -- and he also suffered from the wilder, over-the-top negativism of some of his independent, uncontrolled backers. It was all just too much.
Altogether, toward the end, the Chris Romer campaign seemed almost frantic.
Okay. It wasn't his time, and a very good man beat him. And now it's history. And as months and years and political currents go by, times change. You never know for sure what's down the road. Keep watchin'.

The Sunday New York Times these days is offering some unique merchandise for sale, by phone or internet, and for those who may have missed the Father's Day edition, I mention a couple.
The emphasis of this NYT "store" is naturally on things New Yorkish, on things historical, and heavily on sports memorabilia. A couple of items in particular caught my eye.
For $179.95 a fellow can buy an original and authentic "Goldrick brick -- yes a real brick, 7.5"x2"x4" -- from construction of Yankee Stadium in 1922-23. Tastefully encased.
Whoa, you say. Come on. Many. many sports fans are not even faintly fond of the Yankees, or of New York in general. Some are downright hostile. Wouldn't pay a dime for a brick.
I know. These fans, though, might be interested in another Times offering of much broader geographical interest. The store is selling, in single frames, a collection of individual items from each one of the 30 major-league stadiums.
So what are these items? They're "capsules."
What's in them? Dirt.
But not ordinary dirt.
According to the Times' sales pitch it's "game-used" dirt. Authenticated dirt.
Honest.
You can get it for $279.95. Probably plus shipping.

mea culpa

In an earlier blog on the Chris Romer-Michael Hancock mayoral election, I criticized Romer's pronounced and repeated negative campaigning. I quoted specifically, however, from a fancy mailing put out by a pr0-Romer "citizen's" group, not by the candidate or his campaign.
The brochure repeated the several Hancock negatives that Romer himself has raised, and continues to raise. But I don't believe Romer has ever charged that "voters can't trust Michael Hancock to do what's right," and he has denounced the group's mailings.
One sad fact about politics is that it is so easy for independent groups to broadcast lies and distortions and then simply fade away. Another sad fact is that a candidate can benefit from such political slander while publicly washing his hands of it.
In this case I don't believe Chris Romer had any part in the "citizens" mailing. And he didn't benefit. It cost him.