At first I thought the entirely blank, white page where New Albany's city website usually appears was intended to be symbolic of the recent snowfall, but upon further reflection, symbolism probably isn't high on the list of City Hall's priorities.
Still, as the curtain closes on the Garner team's first year in office, a bare spot for the city on the information superhighway indeed speaks volumes.
It's a legitimate political strategy to elevate form over substance, but lacking any concept of form, we're left with the immortal words of Billy Preston: "Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'."
In other web related media news, I nominate the following for Velocity's weekly "What Rocks ... What Sucks" column:
What Rocks: Visit Velocity's web site the night before the paper's Wednesday release, and the whole issue already is posted.
What Sucks: It's still Velocity, and there's still nothing of importance to read there.
Down three days and counting:
http://www.cityofnewalbany.com/
Up for more than a year, and doesn't really matter:
http://www.velocityweekly.com/
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ReplyDeleteSpeaking of alternative weeklies, We got our LEOs in and what to my wondering eyes does appear but what seems to be a giddy New Albanian brewer. Upon further investigation, it turns out to be some imposter, but further diligence reveals the expert commentary of that self-same publican, who basically trashes the opinion of the cover subject with the dismissive "tastes like soda pop to me."
ReplyDeleteI told Ann I'd love to see Mr. B striking that same pose with his beloved bottles on the cover of LEO, but I've not yet seen our devoted blogger quite reach that state of bliss.
Still and all, couldn't we get the editors to make that pose a monthly item? The Charmed Hat lady could cock her head while clutching her chapeaus (chapeaux?); the manager at Ermin's could embrace an armload of struedel while grinning like a loon; and your local bookseller already has the dome to approximate that pose while fondling his favorite tomes.
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ReplyDeleteJust moments before checking out your latest, I had need of the city's Web site and made the discovery you had made earlier. I found it, however, more annoying than symbolic or ironic.
ReplyDeleteSince this is the unofficial backup site for the city, allow me to post a link to this article from the Chicago Daily Herald, a suburban newspaper from the City with Big Shoulders...well, actually Naperville, Ill.
I think it's a challenge to a city like ours and I'll wager Naperville's downtown is only on the way down, not at the bottom. But still, couldn't our leaders jump on this concept?
Here's the repost from the story
Naperville shoppers to get 'treasure' maps
By Jill Jedlowski Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted 12/29/2004
Several kiosks and maps look to be erected early next year in downtown Naperville in an effort to make the business district more easily navigable.
The $250,000 project entails building kiosks in six locations, including near both parking decks and city hall. The kiosks will serve as information pit stops, featuring an updated map of downtown and an accompanying directory, similar to what's found in most shopping malls.
The guides will work in tandem and the directories will be color-coded based on categories like booksellers, jewelers, home furnishing shops and restaurants. The kiosks also will highlight upcoming community events.
The structures will be built primarily out of metal and limestone and are designed to complement their surroundings with similar elements incorporated from downtown light posts, city Project Manager Anastasia Urban said.
City officials said they hope to award the construction job within two months, once the drawings are approved.
The project is intended in part to encourage downtown shoppers to explore the area and perhaps visit stores besides their primary destination.
"It's so people can find other destinations they didn't know about," Urban said.
The Downtown Naperville Alliance director said members wanted a new, detailed map that was current, easy to read and informative.
"They want something that they can be proud of and is really helpful, also," Executive Director Patti Roberts said.
A number of wall-mounted maps probably will pop up in the area, as well. Two already have been hung in downtown parking decks.
City staff will update the maps regularly "just because there's so many listings and things change so rapidly," Urban said.
Revisions are expected to be made quarterly. The Downtown Naperville Alliance will be responsible for the upkeep, Roberts said.