{"id":5281,"date":"2006-04-24T20:47:10","date_gmt":"2006-04-25T00:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2006\/04\/24\/old-dorp-less-backwards-less-"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:53:58","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:53:58","slug":"old-dorp-less-backwards-less-appealing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2006\/04\/24\/old-dorp-less-backwards-less-appealing\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Dorp: less backwards! less appealing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pop quiz: which Upstate New York city is often called “Old Dorp<\/em>“?<\/font><\/p>\n

[Hint: it is the now-disowned birthplace of GE] Give up? The answer <\/font><\/p>\n

is my adopted hometown of <\/font>Schenectady<\/font><\/a>, New York. As f\/k\/a<\/em> <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

explained<\/font><\/a> a year ago:<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

Probably because the name Schenectady is tough on headline <\/font><\/p>\n

writers, our City is often called “Dorp” or “Old Dorp,” from the <\/font><\/p>\n

Dutch word for <\/font>village<\/font><\/a> or <\/font>hamlet<\/font><\/a>. <\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

We also noted, per <\/font>Encarta<\/em><\/font><\/a>, that <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

“dorp<\/em>” is especially used in South Africa to refer<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

to a village “perceived as backward or unappealing<\/em>.”<\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That characterization drew no dissent from us at the time. But, Old Dorp <\/font><\/p>\n

might be getting its high-tech aura back, and earning the name RoboDorp<\/em>. <\/font><\/p>\n

(You’ll have to decide for yourselves whether our image become more or less <\/font><\/p>\n

appealing.) <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"RemELSAGlogo\"<\/font><\/p>\n

Remington ELSAG<\/font><\/em><\/a><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The exciting law enforcement news around here last week was that our city <\/font><\/p>\n

of 62 thousand souls now has two <\/font>SPD<\/font><\/a> police vehicles equipped with the <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Mobile Plate Hunter 900<\/font><\/em><\/a> from <\/font>RemingtonELSAG<\/font><\/a>. MPH900 is at the leading <\/font><\/p>\n

edge of license plate recognition technology. What does that mean? Mounted<\/font><\/p>\n

atop a police vehicle, the device can: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

“scan 20 license plates a second and then feed the information into <\/font><\/p>\n

a computer database to determine if the owners are wanted for any-<\/font><\/p>\n

thing from unpaid parking tickets and lapsed vehicle registration to <\/font><\/p>\n

Union<\/em> [Albany], April 20, 2006 (reprinted <\/font><\/font>here<\/font><\/a>) ] <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Granted, Los Angeles, CA, had the gizmo a year ago [see “Wired.com<\/em>, <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

“<\/font>Grand Theft Auto Meets Robocop<\/font><\/a>,” June 17, 2005], but Old Dorp just had <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

its credit rating raised<\/a> above Junk Bond status a week ago by Moody’s, and <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

this old town has not been cutting-edge in anything this Millennium. It’s no <\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

wonder then that the media is all a-buzz: See, e.g<\/em>., Fox23News<\/font><\/em><\/a>; and Daily <\/em><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Gazette<\/font><\/a>,<\/font><\/em> “<\/font>A high-tech hunt for scofflaws<\/font><\/a>,” April 20, 2006.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"copLightG\"<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\nAs its creator <\/font>tells<\/font><\/a> us: MPH900 not only “operates independently of officer on <\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nboard (in the background) – enhancing officer safety by keeping hands on the <\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nwheel and eyes on the scene,” it also <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\n“Works at patrol and highway speeds – oncoming differential speeds <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nof in excess of 120MPH and passing speeds in excess of 75MPH+ <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\n(truly mobile-to-mobile). LPR translates the read plate data into a <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\ndigital image, checks versus an onboard hotlist, and returns an alarm <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nback to the operator in milliseconds for appropriate interdiction.”<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The Editorial Page of our daily newspaper, the Schenectady Gazette<\/em>, was <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

thrilled — praising the City’s ability to recoup the $20K per unit in a matter of <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

months by finding ticket scofflaws, and opining:<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

“Being harassed for a relatively minor violation will make the <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

scofflaws feel less welcomed in Schenectady; and if that en-<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

courges them to clean up their act or get out of town, so much <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

the better.”<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The Gazette<\/em> even added:<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

“Now that the city has embraced this kind of gee-whiz technology, <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

we have a suggestion for another: red-light cameras. They’re in-<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

stalled on traffic signals at busy intersections, and triggered when <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

motorists run red lights.”<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

[<\/font>See “Let Big Brother do more to help police,” April 21, 2006; scroll <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

to <\/font><\/font>Reply 5<\/font><\/a>]<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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\"CrazyBusyCoverN\"<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font>CrazyBusy<\/strong><\/font><\/em><\/a><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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Normally quite opinionated, the f\/k\/a<\/em> Gang admits to having mixed feelings <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

about <\/font><\/font>this high-tech RoboCopping. Part of me is quite pleased to think that <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

parking and motor-vehicle scofflaws will be under the all-seeing eye of MPH900. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

And, having Old 900 checking plates so that patrol officers can keep their eyes <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

on more important dangers to the community is a big plus. [As part of a commun-<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

ity policing seminar I took two years ago, I spent a couple hours on a night shift <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

in a patrol car. The officer has a lot of responibility out there, and both needs and <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

deserves to be <\/font><\/font>focused on things other than unpaid <\/font><\/font>parking tickets. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\"tiny As a small boy, I remember asking my dad whether <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

the red lights left a mark on the top of your car if you <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

ran a red light. I can’t remember whether I was relieved <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

or disappointed when I learned they didn’t. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Still, I am a bit concerned about privacy rights (not to mention <\/font><\/font>the fact that <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

those who can park in garages are beyond MPH900’s view).<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n\"traffic The Times Union<\/em> article states<\/a>: <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\n“Each computer can store up to 1.5 million license plates. Police said <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nthey expected to keep a record of all scanned license plates, even those <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nthat don’t register a violation, in the off-chance the vehicle surfaces in <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nconnection with a future crime. Police could then search computer files <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nto determine if a suspect’s car was recorded in the vicinity of a crime <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nscene.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>
\n“That raises concern with civil libertarians. ‘That would be a privacy <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nconcern <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>of ours,’ said Melanie Trimble, executive director of the New <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nYork Civil Liberty <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>Union’s Albany office. ‘They shouldn’t be storing infor-<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nmation <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>on people who <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>are perfectly innocent. They should wait until <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nthe person registers a violation.’<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\"traffic<\/p>\n

“The Police Department was undecided about how long the records would <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nbe <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>kept, but [SPD Lt. James] Sanders said it was likely the memory would <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>
\nbe erased every 30 days.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

What do you think? Don’t be shy (and don’t be as lazy as Your Editor). Please <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

think about the issues and let us know. Maybe <\/font>Albany Lawyer<\/em><\/font><\/a> weblogger Warren <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Redlich, who handles lots of <\/font>traffic tickets<\/font><\/a> in the Capital Region, including Schenectady, <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

will post on this topic soon, or leave a Comment here.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

update<\/font><\/strong><\/em> (April 26, 2006): RiskProf<\/a><\/em> Martin Grace isn’t worried<\/a> about MPH9000<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

(or, is he?) See “High Tech Scofflaw Detection System,” April 26, 2006.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

“tiny check<\/font>” Do you need a haiku break? For a little transition, I should <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

tell you that <\/font>it has been raining a lot in Schenectady the past <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

few days. I’ve been wondering how two of our Honored Guest poets, <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

who work here in Schenectady, at Union College, have been coping <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

with all these April showers.<\/font> Until I find out, proefssors Hilary Tann<\/a> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

and Yu Chang<\/a> <\/font>can speak to us through their haiku and senryu:<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>mud season <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>three brown cars <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>at the intersection<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>\"umbrella<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>downpour <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>the end <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>of the story <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>work load —<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>low clouds <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>over the swollen river<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\nspring sun<\/span><\/span><\/font>
\nthe snake and I <\/span><\/span><\/font>
\nmotionless<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>Hilary Tann<\/font><\/a> <\/font><\/strong><\/font>Upstate Dim Sum<\/font><\/em><\/a> (2004\/II<\/font><\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

turning over <\/font><\/p>\n

a dead leaf<\/font><\/p>\n

an earthworm twitches<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

nesting season <\/font><\/p>\n

I drift <\/font><\/p>\n

a little closer<\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Starbuck’s<\/font><\/p>\n

a man in cowboy boots<\/font><\/p>\n

asks for latte<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"umbrella<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

April shower —<\/font><\/p>\n

making small talk<\/font><\/p>\n

under the awning<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

back on shore<\/font><\/p>\n

the river <\/font><\/p>\n

pouring from his swamp boots<\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yu Chang<\/font><\/a>–<\/strong> <\/font><\/font>Upstate Dim Sum<\/font><\/em><\/a> (2004\/II<\/font><\/a>) <\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\"newspaperS\"<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Post Thoughts: <\/em>You may have noticed over the past couple years, that I <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

never link directly to an online version of Schenectady’s Daily Gazette<\/em>. That’s <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

because I refuse to pay $2.95 per week for an online subscription to the Gazette<\/em>.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

The paper — which was once available at no cost online — can be delivered to <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

your home for $3.50 a week. (The <\/font>subscription<\/font><\/a> page even explains that “7 day <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

delivery” includes Sunday.) Luckily, we have a community chat website<\/a> that <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

often posts pirated images of Gazette<\/em> articles that interest me. Still, it annoys <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

me no end that I can get “real” newspapers online for free (like the Washington <\/em><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Post<\/em> and the New York Times<\/em>), but the folks at the Gazette — whose Circulation <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Department often calls offering 6 free weeks of home delivery, no strings attached — <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

want money for online access. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

A post from our Region’s main media weblog Albany Eye<\/em><\/a> caught me eye and <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

my heart <\/font>last week, therefore, when its anonymous Editor said:<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\"eyeG\"<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“Let’s face it, most of you would sooner chop off one of your fingers <\/font><\/p>\n

than pay for news on the web. Who can blame you —and what are <\/font><\/p>\n

you really missing by not having The Gazette<\/em> online, or the godforsaken <\/font><\/p>\n

Amsterdam Recorder<\/em>? <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Still, it’s frustrating that instead of figuring out how to profit from the <\/font><\/p>\n

internet, papers like The Gazette<\/em> slam shut the door. Is it possible to <\/font><\/p>\n

make money with your newspaper on the web? Absolutely, but it takes <\/font><\/p>\n

work. It also takes a new mindset from people who can’t get past the i<\/font><\/p>\n

dea of you putting $.50 down on the counter. They call it a business <\/font><\/p>\n

decision; I call it alienating your customers.”<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p><\/blockquote>\n


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Albany Eye<\/em> even has a webpoll in the margin asking “How much are you willing <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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to <\/font>pay to read The Gazette<\/em> online?” So far, fewer than 4% of respondents would <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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pay <\/font>anything at all (and quite a few have chosen the less-polite options offered in <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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the poll).<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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false dawn<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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the paperboy hits<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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the snooze button<\/font> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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<\/font>dagosan<\/em><\/strong><\/font><\/a> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n


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<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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Since the Gazette<\/em> now offers “free” Saturday and Friday home delivery with its $1.50 <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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Sunday <\/font>subscription (which I do get for the comics, coupons and ad circulars), it <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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seems that <\/font>the management wants more eyeballs badly. The web version is an exact <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

replica of the <\/font>print edition. Albany Eye<\/em> is right that, with a little work, The Gazette<\/em> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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should be able to <\/font>make a profit from its website. With its grander competitor, the <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

Albany Times Union<\/em>, <\/font>offering a considerable amount of its content for free online, it is <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

difficult to figure out <\/font>the Gazette<\/em>‘s decision to hide behind an online subscription wall. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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It’s going to be hard to shake our Old Dorp “backwards” image, even with new RoboDorp<\/em> <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

gadgets, if search engines can’t even get to our newspaper of record. Does your home-<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

town newspaper have free online access? Does online availability keep you from buying <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

the hardcopy edition? Does f\/k\/a<\/em> erode its readership everytime it mentions Schenectady?<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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p.s. She doesn’t use purple prose, but she sure does use purple: It’s Brandy Karl <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


\n<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

and she’s hosting Blawg Review #54<\/a> at her bk!<\/em> weblog this week. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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\"traffic<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n


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<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pop quiz: which Upstate New York city is often called “Old Dorp“? [Hint: it is the now-disowned birthplace of GE] Give up? The answer is my adopted hometown of Schenectady, New York. As f\/k\/a explained a year ago: Probably because the name Schenectady is tough on headline writers, our City is often called “Dorp” or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926,2927],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006","category-schenectady-synecdoche"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-1nb","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5281"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12675,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5281\/revisions\/12675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

murder and robbery.” [“<\/font>Plate Hunter 900 has your number<\/font><\/a>,” Times <\/em><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n