You’re right

1 comment May 15th, 2008

David,

Thanks for pointing out my error. I should have looked up the exact quote before using quotation marks. Duh!

It was good to read the whole quote again, savor the thought and learn that Kennedy said it at Rice University.  Thanks for all.

‘We choose to go to the moon’

2 comments May 14th, 2008

Thirteen members of the Register Star’s Voters’ Panel convened at the paper on Tuesday night. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed hearing what readers have to say about this never-ending election cycle and the problems facing the nation. Their voices and ideas stick in my mind.

For me, one of the main takeaways from Tuesday night was how much the members of our voters’ panel care about our country. I was getting goose bumps as I listened to them explain their frustration with the lack of a national purpose, and the need for  sacrifice.  We are just itching to be the next Greatest Generation.

One person reminded the group of President Kennedy’s famous call to action: “We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” In my mind I could hear that famous Boston accent saying those words. Haaaahrd. That has long been one of my favorite quotes, and propels a lot of my own decision-making. Who wants to do anything that’s easy?

In the office today, my colleague Chuck Sweeny did a pretty good imitation of Kennedy saying those words. I’m wondering if it resonates with lots of readers. Let me know what you think.

You like looking at Jenna’s wedding pics

1 comment May 12th, 2008

Who knew pictures of Jenna Bush’s wedding would drive traffic? This morning, we posted 11 photos of the prez’s daughter and so far the gallery has generated nearly 6,000 page views. It’s been hit and miss with “celebrity-type” galleries in the past. Some galleries of red-carpet events like the Oscars didn’t garner many page views. I figure most people come to us for local-local news, stuff that other Web sites don’t have. And our priority is to publish those types of photo galleries first. Last month, we posted more than 70 local news photo galleries, for example.

happy 1st birthday, rockford woman!

Add comment February 25th, 2008

i ran out of time friday to mention this, but the release of the march/april issue marked rockford woman magazine’s first birthday. design director margo morgan took these quick shots of our awesome cake from costa confections in belvidere. it was yellow on top, chocolate on the bottom. yum!

From: Pollock, Jennie
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 11:06 AM
To: Rockford-All
Subject: happy birthday, rockford woman

it’s hard to believe: one year ago, few had ever heard of rockford woman when we launched our magazine by, for and about women of the rock river valley.

back then, we were thrilled to have 48 pages.

today, our march/april issue is 72 pages, and we only expect to grow more.

thanks to hard work across the building, rockford woman has been a smashing success, connecting with both readers and advertisers. I get phone calls, comments and emails pretty much every day.

consider this:

we have more than 200 subscribers.

we’ve featured the faces of more than 400 women.

we are available at more than 100 select locations.

we had 3,500 votes for rockford woman of the year and 2,200 entries for our christmas gift giveaway.

be proud!

tornado: people still remember 1967

Add comment January 8th, 2008

RRS file photo | After the tornado had ravaged Belvidere High School, this group of students staggered from the building in a driving rain. Behind them the force of the storm had all but ripped the name of the school from the building. As she left the school, one girl asked, “Where was God?”

monday’s tornado in boone county reminds folks of the tornado from april 21, 1967.

we’ve reposted our special multimedia report for you to revisit the memories. you can find maps, photos, stories and the “day after” newspaper.

or you can read more local tornado history here.

if you want to share your thoughts about that tornado from four decades ago, email onlinenews@rrstar.com.

rockford woman of the year

Add comment December 20th, 2007

the january/february issue of rockford woman hits newsstands friday, and therein we announce the five finalists for rockford woman of the year.

you will be able to vote (the site is changing over from last issue to this issue gradually today) until jan. 9.

merry christmas, and happy new year!

making newspapers sexy

1 comment November 19th, 2007

i have to admit i fell for buying the people magazine that lists its 2007 picks for sexiest men alive.

therein, tom ford, ceo and fashion designer, says one of the five things a sexy man needs is a daily newspaper. “a sexy man needs to be informed.”

mm-k. when i went to link to his site, i have to say he believes in sexy: there was a warning for sexually explicit images. and believe me, they are.

(fyi, the image above is from askmen.com.)