Day: March 14, 2012

The notion of the “informed insider” is why people read message boards and blogs. Let’s talk Henry Mencken 1951 a bit more.

On the Yahoo finance boards I have befriended:

  • Several college professors.
  • An employee of the NSA.
  • A high ranking government official from a major US City.
  • A small businessman who was doing the CEO’s secretary of a mid cap publicly traded company.
  • An executive vice President of a major tech company
  • And many other highly interesting people too numerous to mention.

Coming from that to hang with the unwashed massed on several local newspapers and blogs a few years ago, it did not take me long to figure out that as a general rule newspaper web masters were pretty much clueless about the power they had in their comment sections and forums. And without naming names I’ve seen a couple of local journalists write they did not read comments to their stories and I’ve had a couple tell me the same. I was always amazed at the specter of writers not wanting feedback on their own work, though I’ll grant a thick hide is required.

With that said, it appears the folks over at NOLA.com are getting hip to the subject as they profile David Lat of Above the Law, a site we have linked a time or two through the years here on Slabbed. Lat was also a blogger when he was a federal prosecutor, which career ended when he was unmasked by New Yorker magazine. Continue reading “The notion of the “informed insider” is why people read message boards and blogs. Let’s talk Henry Mencken 1951 a bit more.”

Dominick Fazzio in court this morning but all eyes were on assistant US Attorney Sal Perricone

At least that was the way WDSU TeeVee spun today’s Fazzio hearing on his motion to dismiss the charges against him. Luckily for everyone, Paul Rioux from the T-P was also there and he gave a good account of the hearing’s subject matter, Fazzio’s allegations of prosecutorial misconduct against Team Letten.  Here is a snippet:

Berrigan has previously said she isn’t sure the June 3 meeting between prosecutors and Fazzio “passes the smell test.” She called the meeting “pretty disturbing” and used the same phrase to describe transcripts of the recorded conversations in which Titus repeatedly implored Fazzio to get a new attorney and cooperate in the River Birch investigation.

However, Berrigan also has said she didn’t see “any inherent misconduct” in using the fraud case to pressure Fazzio to cooperate in the investigation of his employer.

Our readers may remember Judge Berrigan holds fondness in her heart for Tulane U, Bad Faith Insurance Companies, and hard-core criminals. Based on her prior remarks, I can’t imagine Big D will get far with his motion to dismiss.

Stay tuned as things are greatly heating up.

sop

Since SLAPP suits have become fashionable down south: Henry L. Mencken 1951 links

Speaking of going south, my quick persual of the NOLA.com comments on the various Mencken stories, indicates Team Heebe astroturfers have not been effective at steering the conversation as Henry Mencken himself has appeared again on NOLA. We must be a match for Henry here at Slabbed as I had to do a double take on yesterday’s site traffic here just a few minutes ago as this story seems to have everyone’s attention. Some Henry Mencken links:

He’s Back !!!!!!!!!!Henry L. Mencken1951 that is, on NOLA this A.M. at 6:15. ~ Lockemuptight Slabbed New Media inviting Henry to come join us on Slabbed.

Landfill owner Fred Heebe had ex-FBI linguist analyze NOLA.com comments ~ Paul Rioux, Brendon McCarthy & Gordon Russell, The T-P

Online commenter alleged to be federal prosecutor resurfaces ~ Gordon Russell, The T-P.

Heebe wants federal prosecutors deposed over website posts – Sabrina Wilson, Fox 8 TeeVee

Criminal target Fred Heebe files suit against anonymous commenter ~ Mike Perlstein, WWL TeeVee

Fed. Prosecutors Named In Petition Decline Comment On Allegations ~ WDSU TeeVee

Bear with me folks while I work my way back to the hive and resume a more normal posting schedule.

sop