I received a phone call from a staffer at the Milwaukee Urinal today. She informed me that one of my letters to the editor would appear in tomorrow morning's edition. Don't know which letter--all she could say was "the long one".

I expect some public ridicule, but the truth is seeping into the mainstream press drop by drop. Soon, I expect, the floodgates will open.

I'll keep everyone posted.

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), October 14, 1998

Answers

I know there were several times when you wanted to give up. Aren't you glad you didn't? The breakthroughs you have had this week alone are worth it all. Thanks for giving us all hope and CONGRATULATIONS!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 15, 1998.

The (nearly complete) letter ran this morning. To see my complete, unedited letter, refer to "Local rag runs this letter to the editor". My letter was in response to Ald. Knudson's, and it ran under the following headline: Y2K problem poses real danger.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the following excerpt was removed:

For anyone interested in a crash course on Y2K and the electric power industry, I refer you to the following Internet address: http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/results_.cfm/Power_Grid.

Why was that removed? Granted, it interrupted the flow of the letter. My suspicion, however, is that the media doesn't want the public to know the full story.

I'll let you know what kind of feedback I get.

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), October 15, 1998.

Go Steve!!!!! Huzzar!

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 15, 1998.

Congrats Steve, your persistance paid off. We should celebrate even the smallest successes. Too bad they removed the URL but anyone even the least bit interested in researching thing thing on the Internet will find 1000's of links. -Arnie

-- Arnie Rimmer (arnie_rimmer@usa.net), October 15, 1998.

Steve,

No offense to you or anyone else here, but it comes as no surprise to me that they would not print a reference to Gary North's web site. I don't think I need to spell out why. I think they did you a favor.

-- Buddy Y. (DC) (buddy@bellatlantic.net), October 15, 1998.

Buddy:

I understand your point, and you may be right. Being "linked" with Gary North runs the risk of being identified as an "extremist" on this issue. I certainly don't agree with everything he writes, and I would certainly lose credibility with most people if I advised them as Dr. North would. I'm not saying Dr. North's advice is wrong; I'm saying his "sell your urban homes" advice is impractical for 99.9% of the population, myself included.

However, if anyone new to the subject wants to find a wealth of information in one place, his site is THE place to start. Agree or disagree with his commentary. I encourage newbies to skip the commentary entirely, and go straight to the links. If they do, they are likely to reach a similar conclusion: It's a massive, messy problem that won't get fixed in the time remaining. Armed with that information, they can then prepare as they see fit.

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), October 15, 1998.

Providing news, information and a public forum for discussion is the purpose of a newspaper. They aren't doing anyone a "favor" when they print your letter; you are doing them a favor by providing them with content. And they certainly aren't doing anyone a favor when they excise references to the existence of alternative media. Newspapers and journalists are worried about unfiltered news media on the internet. Their priestly function as info-spoonfeeders and analyzers is threatened when you can read the AP wire yourself; compare with foreign press to see what's been omitted, and why; in a few minutes gather comment from dozens of sources (a lot of them officially marginalized) on the same issue. Allowing the public to actively seek out information and make up their own minds? Horrors!

E.

-- E. Coli (nunayo@beeswax.com), October 15, 1998.

Steve, here it is online:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/1015letters.asp

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 16, 1998.

An article from the same paper:

http:// www.jsonline.com/news/1015y2k.asp

-- anon (anon@anon.com), October 16, 1998.

I get your point here, E. However, I think the "alternative media" you refer to is doing just as much "spoon feeding."

-- Buddy Y. (DC) (buddy@bellatlantic.net), October 16, 1998.

I agree that they did you a favor by not mentioning Gary North's forum. There is so much more information that is not presented to shock but to inform.

-- Slick (slick@hucheemama.com), October 16, 1998.