Clicks Actually Not the Most Important Media Audience Measurement Statistic

Journalists always brag on number of clicks, if they get them.  But it is not necessarily the most important statistic.

The Charleston Daily Mail until recently had the address www.dailymail.com .  To someone not paying attention, this could have been easily confused with www.dailymail.co.uk    This is the home of the Daily Mail, far and away the most viewed news website in the world.

Obviously there had to be some spillover traffic with people looking for Daily Mail who actually ended up accidentally at Charleston Daily Mail.  So why didn't the paper based in the West Virginia state capital simply rest on their laurels of massive numbers of clicks?

To explain why they made the change, deterring the accidental visitors, Charleston Daily Mail editor Brad McElhinny explained  on Twitter that "they depressed time spent on site figures as they navigated away immediately."

As it would be difficult for the Charleston Daily Mail to find a way to take advantage of the accidental traffic from readers of the Daily Mail,  this move seems to make sense.

A Case Example of Government Greed: Kanawha County School Levy

The Charleston Daily Mail's Don Surber provides this week's example of government greed at work.  It's worth a quick read.

The Kanawha County School Board asked voters to support a levy that would cost $130 million over five years.  Within the request was $3 million for school libraries, but a lot more for who knows what else.

Voters rejected it, breaking from history.

Surber writes that Kanawha County has changed over the past few decades.  What was once a manufacturing center has become a shopping destination.  The valley has jobs, they just pay a lot less.  Supporters argued that it would be one less latte per day, which is true.  Most voters, however, never buy lattes because it is ridiculous to pay so much for a cup of coffee.  

We're talking about people who have to brown bag tuna salad because they want to pay their bills and save a little for Christmas.  Surber notes that it adds up to one less night eating out per month, which will end up meaning one less restaurant.

In general, this is a classic case of government greed.  They ask for more than the voters can bear and try to make voters feel guilty because golly gee, it's for the children.

No it is not for the children.  It is for the bureaucrats.  It is for federal mandates that kill, rather than support education.  It is for retreats and conferences.  Don't say it is for the children.  It rarely is in education.  

And all too often, it is not for the teachers either.

Kanawha County would have supported a small levy simply for libraries because they see the value in that.  But tens of millions more that would not have been spent wisely?  No.  Not today.

Government got greedy and voters did not fall for its manipulation.  It is a shame that its greed cost the children.

Things are tough all over.  And government does not care.

Obama's Stimulus Mess Continues to Create Havoc

Back in 2009, Obama convinced the Democratic led United States House of Representatives and Senate to pass what the country was told was around $800 billion worth of economic stimulus.  Others argue that the real price tag to the country ended up between $1 trillion and $1.7 trillion .  Ever since its passage, reports have continued to detail the horrific waste of resources.

Among the first signs of trouble came when Franklin Center reporter Bill McMorris uncovered billions sent to non existent congressional districts.  This included assertions by the federal government that $2.5 million in stimulus funds created a total of 14 jobs in the 54th, 9th, 4th, 12th, 13th, and 00th congressional districts in the Mountain State.  Elected representatives from each of those districts were all unavailable for comment then or now.

Then came questions from Congress about stimulus funds intended for expanding broadband access in West Virginia.  Marmet's tiny public library with a single obsolete computer received a $20,000 router designed for much larger and powerful networks.  Similar purchases of expensive equipment went directly  into storage because the state had no use for them.

An Obama administration official defended these purchases on the grounds that the state anticipated future needs.  It would be interesting to know how much the West Virginia state government anticipates that the Marmet branch of the Kanawha County Public Library will expand.

Now come revelations from the West Virginia Legislature that even more stimulus money was misspent.  Furthermore, both the Legislative Auditor Aaron Allred and at least one delegate, Gary Howell of Mineral County, publicly stated that the misuse of money was illegal.

According to the Charleston Daily Mail, money from a $126 million federal grant, which also overpaid for the routers, went towards the construction of a series of microwave towers.  The allocation of funds bypassed the bidding process as required by West Virginia law.  Non licensed and out-of-state subcontractors did much of the work on the towers while funds were distributed through county governments to avoid state purchasing oversight.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has promised to examine the Legislature's report.  A decision to request an investigation from the US Attorney's office has not yet been made.

Post Script.  This does not mean that all state agencies wasted funds.  But the ones who spent responsibly and followed the law are now being combed over by federal auditors.  This process uses up countless manhours to answer questions about money that was spent that originally had very few guidelines.  Questions must be answered.  It is a shame, though, that the foolishness of a few has thrown many state agencies into major behind the scenes anxiety when they acted responsibly all along.

The Return of Jerry Mezzatesta?

Because of the relevance of the saga of the fallen former Hampshire County Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta to the Eastern Mineral County and the Potomac Highlands, I have re-posted the following from my post at the Think Tank this morning:

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The Return of the Mezz?

Well, hopefully not.Former Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta is trying to get old job back at Hampshire County Schools. The Daily Mail reports:

Bailey urged Taylor to uphold the grievance board's decision, while Bruce asked that Mezzatesta be allowed back in his previous position and awarded back pay, Bailey said.

Back pay? Does this fellow have ANY shame?

Aside from diverting $35,000 in education grants to a local fire department, the Mezz and his wife pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of destroying and altering legislative computer records in Kanahwa County in 2004.

And of course, the Mezz wanted the taxpayers to foot the bill for his trip to the magistrate as Eric Eyre reported back in December of 2004.

Former House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta wants the state to reimburse him nearly $1,000 for a three-day visit to Charleston during which he cleaned out his office, said goodbye to friends, and pleaded no contest to a criminal charge in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.Mezzatesta has requested "duty day" pay for this past Saturday, Sunday and Monday at $150 each day. He also put in for $115 in expenses for each of those days, and $192 for mileage to and from his home in Romney.

If you don't recall or weren't around for the fall of the mighty former House Education Chairman (who was also former Speaker Bob Kiss' right hand man), you can read about it here in this award winning series by Eric Eyre at the Charleston Gazette.

Speaking of Don Surber

When he is not blogging, Don Surber has a weekly column at the Charleston Daily Mail, which is the closest thing we get to relief from the morning paper here on the banks of the old Kanawha.

Just like most Thursdays and the occasional Saturday, Don has a column out today, in which he demonstrates that Bush deserves credit if Iran is indeed abandoning their pursuit of nuclear arms. Here is my favorite line:

The real danger to the world is not a strong commander-in-chief. It is a weak
one. A mealy-mouthed one. One who worries more about world opinion than he does about the world's security.

His columns are often humorous and entertaining to read, but he has a knack for understanding history and how current events will be woven into its fabric.

Hello, Everyone!

Hello, I am Charles Bolen, Vice-President of the West Virginia Republican Club. I am above with the love of my life, Crystal. You can visit my MySpace page at: http://myspace.com/charlesbolen

I live in Charleston, and am also occasionally known in the blogosphere as the unofficial chief of the "South Hills Bureau" of Don Surber's world famous blog at the Charleston Daily Mail (closing in rapidly on 2 million served - click on his counter and look at where all the hits come from. It is amazing.)

I was invited to participate by my good friends at the Potomac Highlands Republican Club, and I hope to be able to share some interesting news and commentary in the future.

To learn more about the West Virginia Republican Club, you can visit our website at: http://wvrepublicanclub.org/ and you can visit our blog "Think Tank" at http://blog.wvrepublicanclub.org/. My good friend Gary Howell will also be posting there from time to time.