[Writer's note: The use of "FAIL" in a title definitely flies in the face of the subtitle, "Old-style musings on new things." But there are times when new-style musings are needed, and this has the needed effect.]
As a writer, I cringe at the glaring front-page errors in the local daily paper. As a former newsletter editor, I know it can be tough to catch every error every time. But at some point, one has to draw the line. I probably drew that line years ago.
Today, voters in Virginia went to the polls to choose the Democratic candidate for governor and lieutenant governor; some precincts had local races, as well, on the ballot. Virginia primaries are open, meaning that voters can participate regardless of party affiliation. Despite this, turnout was expected to be low, based on absentee ballot returns. Naturally, you’d expect some sort of front-page coverage of the election, and sure enough, the local daily paper offered such an article. (Unfortunately, I can’t find the article on the paper’s website.) When it came to the page turn, I read this:
Again, I understand that mistakes happen. But how can you screw up something like this:
How many people only read the first part and didn’t go to the polls today?
