There's big trouble in Flathead county (n.y. times link, reg. required)
March 2, 2002 11:54 PM   Subscribe

There's big trouble in Flathead county (n.y. times link, reg. required) There's so much to ponder in this completely insubstantial story including the first time I know of that the Newspaper of Record has described someone as having "... a long history of being annoying".
posted by rdr (8 comments total)
 
...the first time I know of that the Newspaper of Record has described someone as having "... a long history of being annoying".

I had the same reaction at first -- is this the NYT or The Onion?

However, closer inspection suggests that the entire sequence of non-restrictive relative clauses that includes the quoted phrase is being attributed to Sheriff James R. Dupont:

The sheriff] identified the militia's leader as David Earl Burgert, 38, whose last known job was renting snowmobiles, who could often be heard carping about judges on a local right-wing radio station and who has a long history of being annoying.

The reporter apparently saw this as having the same force as writing "The sheriff said [...] that Burgert has a long history of being annoying," which would not cause the same sort of double take.
posted by myl at 5:25 AM on March 3, 2002


ho hum...what does Artie Sulzberger think we should think about today? His paper has become unreadable.
posted by mikegre at 6:16 AM on March 3, 2002


Picture Quality Defining Front-Page News = Bad
Full-Page Headlines every other day = Bad
posted by goneill at 8:26 AM on March 3, 2002


His paper has become unreadable.

Oh come on mikegre! I realize the value of criticizing the NYT to keep it on its toes - no other newspaper is so closely scrutinized - but that just isn't fair. It's a very well written, highly readable newspaper.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:53 AM on March 3, 2002


no way... I grew up in Kalispell. In fact, my parents live on the 2-mile country street which, on Christmas, is lined by the neighbors with votive-lit paper bags. I'd ask them about this story, except they've been in Florida this week.

Get the local scoop here. According to the local paper, there's even a "Project 56" in neighboring Lincoln county!

Another local link of interest: a webcam was placed on an old grain elevator there last summer. See what the town looks like from 100 feet up.

And one more comment: Around there, a home with 35 guns is not "bristling" with weapons. That's an average-sized collection.
posted by razorwriter at 9:43 AM on March 3, 2002


Oh, but "Project 56" is completely different. It opposes "road closures, the New World Order and grizzly bears." ;)
posted by rodii at 11:13 AM on March 3, 2002


"long history of being annoying," seems like fair comment, given the fellow's own statements. What caught me aback was the grey lady's scribe saying "they go outside not to work but to recreate."

Uggh.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:03 PM on March 3, 2002


Original discussion started here.
posted by Wulfgar! at 12:49 PM on March 3, 2002


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