News-Record.com

In a word? Agapion.

In two words? ConvergeSouth (or is that one word?)

Since you didn't preclude the sneak peak with the words "in no particular order" I'm sure it is just happenstance that 'new ballpark' leads the list. However...

First Horizon Park would certainly be first in terms of the amount of N&R ink devoted to the stadium's first year, but I really doubt it is nearly that high in terms of significance and/or reader interest.

One man's opinion?... At least Switch your #1 and #9, then add Sandra Anderson's meteoric rise to pro-tem.

The list was in no particular order, David, except that the ballpark was first because we used that as a primary photo with the package.

Mr. Robinson:

I recognize and appreciate the efforts you have made to convert our local newspaper into a more balanced news outlet.

I still have concern ,however, when I read the feature "the idiotic, the ironic and he just plain weird: strange days '05" by your staff writer, Len Alexander.

In this article, he mentions Bill Frist, Lindsay Graham, President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, antiabortionist Neal Horsley, porn star Mary Cary attending a fund raiser at the White House, Pat Robertson, Tom DeLay, Representative Don Young R-Alaska, and Michael Brown in a derogatory manner.

Surely, he could find some examples of bonehead statements or actions by Democratic notables such as Howard Dean, John Kerry, Jesse Jackson, Ted Kennedy or others that he could include in this article, unless, of course, the reporter had an obvious political bias; which is clearly the case.

No question, Mr. Conklin, that boneheaded actions and statements aren't solely the province of Republicans. When the Dems controlled the White House, I assure you that Clinton took his share of hits. Bear in mind that it's always easier -- and funnier -- to poke fun at people in power, rather than out of power, which might be one reason for what you see as an imbalance. And I believe Lex would tell you that he's a registered Republican!

The Dems "control" Raleigh. Yes? And the "boneheaded" stuff just keeps piling up. Great big piles. But it doesn't seem to merit as much of the News & Record's ink.

What, Blogsboro didn't make the list? ;-)

What about the demise of Red Light Cameras, or was that 2004? I loose track sometimes.

What was missing in the newspaper list? The choice of a better word other than people being "tickled" the "Choice" Plan in High Point is gone.

That is like saying you have only pulled out 5 of my fingernails and it really hurt, thank you for leaving the other 5 in. The children and families we have lost to private school are not coming back. The friends that have moved are not coming back. The stress you have caused on families cannot be undone. No, "tickled" is not the right word. I don't think people are "tickeled" at the millions of tax dollars WASTED on this experiment doomed to fail from the beginning.

There is more to come down the pike. Plans are underway to kill any future school bonds for a long time coming if High Point and Jamestown are not treated like the rest of the county once and for all. Enough is enough. People have had enough.

In reply to your reply-- check back on Len Alexander's articles during the Clinton administration! You will find he was just as big a Republican basher then as he is now.

As far as him telling you he is a " registered Republican" I'm reminded of the old saying-- "with friends like him,who needs enemies"
in the past you have described him as a "conservative" reporter. If he is what you consider a conservative, that would explain the difficulty you have had in restoring some balance to your news coverage.

If you continue to hire wildly liberal reporters, such as the one who made the movie review of the movie "Good Night and Good Luck" for the alternative newspaper, you will continue to have biased reporting.

Mr. Alexander has inspired me, with his year-end-articles, to write you prior to this. If you keep your letters to the editor, which I requested not to be published, you can see that he is a completely biased reporter!(And not nearly as funny as he thinks he is)

Mr. Conklin, I've called Lex many things, but I don't ever recall calling him conservative.

I guess I had better end this dialogue! I knew upfront I was violating advice given by Mark Twain (or was it Will Rogers?) To paraphrase,

"Never get in a pissing contest with someone who buys printers ink by the barrel." And

"Never get in a wrestling match with a pig. You'll both get covered with mud, and the pig will like it."

Seriously, I read your column and appreciate your efforts to make the paper more relevant to your readers. I have noticed your emphasis on local events, your increased investigative reporting, and your balance on the editorial-page with liberal columnist balanced by conservatives. (Although I suspect if Bush were to cure cancer, Molly Ivins would charge him with a plot to lower the employment rate of lab rats.)

I understand you and your staff have a view of yourselves and your work. I only wanted you to consider that your view may be flawed, and you may not see yourself as others do.

Although, as was stated in today's paper, I recognize that there is a difference between the editorial-page and rest of the newspaper. However, what you consider as news, how it is emphasized,and the placement in the paper all can create a biased view.

Thanks for this opportunity to express myself, and your willingness to indulge me.

As for Lex Alexander-- let me quote another famous 20th-century philosopher-- Bob Knight.

"All of us learned to read by about the fourth grade, fortunately most of us went on to something more productive"

I just did the unforgivable! I misquoted Bob Knight! His quote should have read:

"Most of us learned to WRITE by about the fourth-grade, fortunately most of us went on to something more productive"

I guess we all make mistakes!