Howdy, Folks!

I met my wife this evening, and she told me about the following segment on NPR's "All Things Considered," February 8, 2000:

"High-Tech Truckers -- NPR's Don Gonyea reports the trucking industry is undergoing rapid changes as firms of all types deploy new technology. Use of that technology is allowing some of the best productivity gains the industry has ever seen. Independent truckers are also using the Internet to find loads and avoid making return trips with an empty trailer. (8:00)"

(Not archived yet, but tomorrow you should be able to listen to it at their site.)

The page it is on right now is:

http://search.npr.org/cf/cmn/cmnpd01fm.cfm?PrgDate=2%2F8%2F2000&PrgID=2

I list this here because of something very interesting that my wife said. According to her, while they went into some detail about the trucking industry, NO MENTION was made of the current fuel price hikes.

None.

Zip.

Nada.

Seems that diesel going up to over two bucks a gallon in the northeast would be relevant to an article on the trucking industry! I used to look toward NPR as a good "balance" to the rest of the news media out there, but I am finding that forums such as this are becoming far more reliable for getting out truly relevant information in a timely matter.

Is it just me, or is the total lack of mentioning the current fuel crisis in what would appear to be a very relevant article somewhat irresponsible from the standpoint of a news report?

Thanks, and keep up the good work, all y'all. I wish I could send some of our beautiful weather here in Austin to those that are in colder climes. Take care, and think of us in July!

Peace and Love,

Don

-- Shimoda (enlighten@me.com), February 08, 2000

Answers

I wonder if the northeastern liberals (i.e.:NPR) are capable of mentally comprehending a 'problem.' Oh, the trucking companies will work out the problem and continue to deliver the food to the grocery stores. No problem here. No, can't happen. Let's not blow this out of proportion. Move along.....

-- Y2kObserver (Y2kObserver@nowhere.com), February 08, 2000.

I'd say diesel prices of $2.00-$2.50 should at least take "honorable mention"

-- Juan Valdez (vgd38@hotmail.com), February 08, 2000.

Don, my husband and I were just discussing the near-total absence of news about oil price rises/shortages, except for a few northeast local newspaper stories. (And there's not all that much there, either -- and I LIVE in the northeast.)

We are also finding more news about the heating oil crisis here on this forum than from anywhere else. (Thanks everyone!) The only exception is that we are getting pleas from local Salvation Army organizations for desperately needed contributions to help strapped folks pay for heating oil.

I have no explanation for the lack of coverage, unless perhaps it's simply contrary to all the recent news about how "great" our economy is. Just glad we don't heat with oil -- learned our lesson in the 70's when we fell behind on our mortgage payments just trying to keep the kids warm one winter. Remembering that prompted me to answer the SA pleas for contributions. Nothing like being there once to boost the empathy. If there was more reporting, there would be more voluntary help, too, which makes me rather upset that the media seems to be turning a blind eye at the moment.

All the super-economy stories are starting to make me want to gag. Sorry, guess I just had to let off steam and your post gave me an excuse. Maybe somebody else has a clue about "media balance", cause I surely don't.

-- Bonnie Camp (bonniec@odyssey.net), February 08, 2000.

NPR is beholden to a Republican Congress for the grants that allow it to operate. Far from being liberal (once upon a time it was) NPR is a chatty middle of the road/conservative network. A CNN executive is now the head of the organization. Don't expect anything too controversal or anti corporation from NPR.

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 08, 2000.

I have Dish Network and get New York and LA news. Just a while ago the blurb for the 11:00 NY news said to tune in to find out why fuel shortage problems may soon be relieved. If I can find a weblink I will post.

-- Kyle (fordtbonly@aol.com), February 08, 2000.

NPR is beholden to Clintons legacy. The only thing the want from Congress is a change of parties.

Balance, unbias, jeeesh you can't find it at CNN how would it ever be at NPR.

-- Squid (ItsDark@down.here), February 08, 2000.

Carl Jenkins:"NPR is beholden to a Republican Congress for the grants that allow it to operate. Far from being liberal (once upon a time it was) NPR is a chatty middle of the road/conservative network. A CNN executive is now the head of the organization. Don't expect anything too controversal or anti corporation from NPR."

With all due respect, NPR, conservative, yeah, when pigs fly. But then again, the Republican Congress is not my idea of conservative. "Chatty", yeah. "Middle of the road", yeah, but not conservative. ...sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), February 08, 2000.

"NPR is a chatty middle of the road/conservative network."

NPR may be "chatty" and "middle of the road" but they are not conservative. Pigs will fly before NPR can be called conservative. Unfortunately, too many "middle of the road" "republicrats" look like socialist liberals on too many issues. But then again, I've given up all hope in the "republicats" (yes "cats") for the good of the nation. ...sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), February 08, 2000.

What I'd like to find out is how come the prices drop so fast as you head west? Our local ABC affiliate did a story where a news crew drove west through PA and saw the prices drop forty cents when they hit Ohio. And there were confirmed reports that crossing from Ohio into Indianna dropped the price another twenty-nine cents.

Hmmm... Lower prices the further away you get from the coast. Could it be that those Venezualan refinery problems are biting the coastal regions where the products would normally be delivered?

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), February 09, 2000.

NPR should be called NSR (National Socialist Radio), as they have the same political positions as PBS (Pompous BSers for Socialism). Too bad PBS has some good science shows too (Nova, mainly), or we'd get rid of it from our satellite feed.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), February 09, 2000.

Steve, agreed. They suck.

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), February 09, 2000.