It wasn’t until college that I actually met someone that knew someone that was in a real gang. I know at Oneida High School (or maybe the middle school), we couldn’t wear bandannas for their alleged gang symbolism.

I never had any experience being anywhere near gang activity, even living in downtown Buffalo. I heard on the news about drivebys and gang shootings but I felt disconnected from the “gansta” lifestyle.

My best friend in college liked rap music and was from Brooklyn, I guess that counts for something. He also made fun of me for putting quotes around “gangsta,” which I’ve always done—in the air if speaking aloud. There were rumors that one of our friends kept a gun in his apartment...

CATEGORY: Curiosities & Oddities

TAGS: gangs, salt lake city, gangland

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There are a lot of jobs out that where political conversation is considered taboo. Unfortunately, a newspaper editor is not one of those jobs.
It is a constant topic of the newsroom. I could tell you whom most of my fellow Eagle employees are voting for…in every election on the ballot.
Not only do I hear your average political banter, but there are also the debates about which candidate as a company we are endorsing in the upcoming elections. Political candidates were in and out of the newsroom last week arguing their case to be our candidate of choice in front of the editorial board...

CATEGORY: General Society

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This past weekend I celebrated my marriage with friends and family from all over the country. I was so excited to have this time with them, but don’t worry, I’m not going to go into how beautiful the day was or how great a time I had.
I wanted to instead, use this space to express how utterly impressed I was at the local vendors who made the reception everything I could have hoped.
As many brides do, I spent the last year and a half reading about three dozen bridal magazines. And also as many brides do, I worried that my wedding would never live up to those I saw pictured on the pages. There were couples with an unlimited budget and hundreds of vendor and location choices from New York to Cancun...

CATEGORY: General Society

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Even at the busiest common council meeting, there are only 20 to 30 people in attendance. This is in a city of 10,000. The vast majority of people get the information they need from newspapers.
I know a lot of the reporters in the area, which is not surprising. It’s a small community and we cover many of the same meetings and events. I am often disappointed in the flippant attitude of others in my profession—not only in our community, but everywhere.
I don’t think many reporters think about the fact that many readers take what you say as fact. This leaves little room for error...

CATEGORY: Government

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