Both Sides of the Fence

A Tosa resident since 1991, Christine walks the dog, cooks but avoids housework, writes and reads, and enjoys the company of friends and strangers. Her job takes her around the state, learning about people's health. A Quaker (no, they don't wear blue hats or sell oatmeal or motor oil), she has been known to stand on both sides of the political and philosophic fence at the same time, which is very uncomfortable when you think about it. She writes about pretty much whatever stops in to visit her busy mind at the moment. One reader described her as "incredibly opinionated but not judgmental." That sounds like a good thing to strive for!

Meet the competition

Blogging, news reporting, Wauwatosa

When asked why he wasn't covering more of the business of local government, one blogger said, "You'd have to PAY someone to do that!"

I don't agree that local government is boring. City council meetings are some of the best theater in town, if a little slow-motion. If you could edit the tapes, it would be Parks and Rec--without the sex of course.

But coverage of local political business that follows good journalistic standards is increasingly rare. We may get a brief report. However, instead of follow-up, we get anonymous comments that are far more likely to rile us up than to inform us.

I'm guilty of not reporting such events very often. Instead of attending meetings like this one, I wait for someone else to report. So far, no accounts here of what the new Community Development Authority and other city officals presented at Wednesday's meeting at the Hoyt Park Grand Hall.

In looking for an article, I came across WauwatosaPatch, a newer website run by bloggers. It's clean, simple, easy to navigate, and while I didn't find the report I was looking for, I found some useful information.

They say competition inspires us to do better. Seems there's a lesson or two here. Meanwhile, welcome to the free (and I do mean unpaid) marketplace of ideas!

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