Frank Mickadeit

   Every day the Local section of the local paper, the Orange County Register, is emblazoned with the face of this guy in the image here as if we should worship him like a god. "FRANK MICKADEIT ON PAGE 2!!!" is always under it as if we should be falling over ourselves with excitement that yes, miracle of miracles, like yesterday (and the day before, and the day before), he has once again seen it in his heart to benevolently share his wisdom with us on page 2.

   I once actually read one of his articles and it was the most shockingly vapid gossip (About "The Real Housewives of OC") I think I have EVER seen in a self-respecting (or not) newspaper. And apparently vapid gossip about "the Real Housewives" is a favourite topic of his.

   So yesterday I was commenting to mother on how I think its odd that his column is very prominantly advertised every single day with his hideous visage (in colour!) in the upper right hand corner of the section front page. To reconfirm that his writing was indeed drivel I decided to actually attempt to read it. Despite my low low expectations, I was actually shocked by how bad the article was.

   And now, if I could prevail upon you to humour me and read something that will utterly fail to keep your interest, I invite you to share my confusion as to why this guy is even published by
( reading the article in question HERE )

   Now this actually inspired me to write a letter to the editor. Only not a "letter-to-the-editor" but one actually intended to be read by the editor. If you would like to read my rant letter before attempting to read his article it might make the latter more readible by actually giving you something to look for in it (I critique why exactly the article is terrible).

( My rant to the editor )

   So yeah. But seriously. Especially my former Aggie writer friends, am I insane or is this guy shockingly terrible?

   Anyway, much to my utter shock, only about two hours after I sent off the above email, the "Editor and Senior Vice President" or the OC Register wrote me back. O= I really wasn't actually expecting anything more than a form response sent by the office intern if anything.

( Senior Vice President's Response )

   Anyway I'm not going to argue with him, but I think his "ardent fans" probably largely overlap with the "ardent fans" of "the Real Housewives of OC" and other such sordid day-time TV / gossip-column type drivel. Which is fine, I guess, if it makes them open a newspaper, but I think advertising him like he is the hero of the Local Section puts way too much emphasis on that and, IMO, makes the paper look bad.