Another “harsh online critic” of the Duluth News Tribune
By Paul Lundgren on Oct 13, 2009 in Media Watch
John Ramos’ Cheerleader Blog presents: “How to Control the Media: A Rant.”
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By Paul Lundgren on Oct 13, 2009 in Media Watch
John Ramos’ Cheerleader Blog presents: “How to Control the Media: A Rant.”
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The conspiracy theorist in me thinks that the DNT knows this project will come up dismally short in the long run. Government spending controversies (though woefully explained in any real context by the media) still sells papers.
As always, Ramos provides us with food for thought. Great report, John, thanks for giving us the real story behind the hype.
Fantastic story. He’s right about how the local media fails us. They don’t investigate, don’t attend meetings, and don’t ask questions. Whether or not a slide at Spirit Mountain is a good idea is not even the issue. The issue is that no one bothers to look in to anything, they just plunge in to the next big thing, and there is no media coverage to alert the public to what’s going on, or present another side of an issue.
Issues like this one are another reason why Duluthians are so-called “anti-growth.” You have everyone from the local government to the local media unquestioningly shouting that something is the “next big thing,” and it ends up failing and costing the taxpayer millions of dollars. If you dare to question it, someone labels you “anti-business” or “anti-progress” or a “CAVE” or a “NIMBY,” and claims that you somehow want the city to fail. Then the city government ends up selling parcels of beachfront or Tiffany windows to pay for it, all because at the beginning of the process, no one was doing their job. Everyone thinks their job begins and ends with boosterism.
Ramos’ work here is top-notch, and the title of his blog/magazine is still a relevant reference.
Cheers to Ramos for keeping the Lyle Lanley’s in check.
Who the fuck is going to pay eight bucks to ride a slide?
It’s not a slide, it’s a coaster. Or is this already an aquarium vs. fish tank situation?
I’m sure a lot of people will cough up the $8, but will all those $8 add up to $8.4 million in any reasonable amount of time? That’s the question.
The alpine slide in Lutsen is pretty awesome.
I love the Alpine slide in Lutsen. I think they have some kind of deal, you pay in the $20 range for unlimited sliding? I know we’ve done it all day there, we love it so much.
Can we send freshwater fish sliding down the “coaster”?
I’d pay eight bucks for that.
What about getting that independent, nonprofit journalist thing going and paying Ramos for this kind of work? This article was a more satisfying journalistic meal than anything I’ve seen out of the DNT in at least a couple of years!
Further thought:
I don’t think I’d pay $8 to ride a slide, no matter how long it is or how many times I get to lurch my innards into my throat–I do think I’d pay $8 a month or so to have people like Ramos watchdogging my local government!
Good article.
I did think it was a great idea, thanks for ruining it with the facts again Ramos! Once I saw the rides were gonna be $8 each (or thereabouts, I decided that me and local people like me would never utilize it enough to make it viable). In my opinion, one of the problems with the aquarium from when it was built is that the prices were a teench to high for our economy. Once the so-called slade-gate hit and alienated thousands of local greenies, environmentalists, and other outdoors types, the place was screwed.
Speaking of good reporting … could we see a story on how vitally important LOCAL people and customers are to making and “next big thing” work sustainably.
As someone is a vaguely tourist oriented business I appreciate all of the visitors coming buy to spend their $, but I know its the regulars coming back once or twice a month that are gonna make or break the venture.
Oh … back to the $8 rides. If Calk’s number $20 is for an all-day pass is accurate, while that certainly sounds better, but it my case with 5 of us, that would be $100. I still don’t think we’d go much. By contrast, the community pond/pool in Cloquet is very nice and they charge about $25 for families to use the place for the season. I know the admission costs may not be able to cover the bills, but every time I drove by there this summer the place was packed.
If I cheer the cheerleader am I knocking a booster or boosting a knocker?
And Ramos, if you manage to obtain a cost-benefit/feasibility analysis for this project, please post it.
The Lutsen Alpine Slide is $7.50 per ride, $22 for 5 rides or $30 for unlimited rides.
I want a Central Hillslide that starts at the Copper Top and ends up in the Lake. And I want a Duluth Office for MinnPost.
I think Goat Hill needs an Alpine Slide, except it needs to be car-sized… oh, wait, they have that already…
mesaba.
Central Hillslide. I love it! Someone develop a master plan RIGHT NOW!
When I was a kid, we lived in the country. We had a little hill behind our house, where we’d slide down on cardboard. And in college, after it snowed, we’d take the food trays from the dining hall and slide down a hill behind the dorm. Those were the days and didn’t cost us anything.
I say we propose a slide that slides right by the Honking House. Then when they catch wind they will pay to have it moved and built at Spirit Mt. they need something to spend their money on VS a 60ft fence, 6ft high 2ft off Skyline Parkway.
We could use the slide to make it even easier for us to put poop in the lake. Two for one!
Ramos’s report needs to be read by everyone who lives in this city and will be affected by this proposal, if it moves forward. It’s already been re-posted on Progressive Action. Ramos, maybe you could suck it in and submit it to the Reader?
That would certainly require sucking it.
Za-zing! The harsh online criticism is runnin’ wild!!!
What’s “The Reader”?