Saturday, July 24, 2010

Des Moines | The board visits an Iowa workhouse

As Des Moines Register workers prepare for Gannett's board of directors visit on Monday and Tuesday, I've been reading David Perdue's Charles Dickens page about Oliver Twist. Here, the workhouse is run by Bumble the Beadle, and Limbkins is chairman of the board of guardians for the workhouse.

The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:

"Please, sir, I want some more."

The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupified astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.

"What!" said the master at length, in a faint voice.

"Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more."

The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arm; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.

The board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr. Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said,

"Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!"

There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.

"For more!" said Mr. Limbkins. "Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?"

"He did, sir," replied Bumble.

"That boy will be hung," said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. "I know that boy will be hung."

[Image, inset: today's Register, Newseum]

8 comments:

  1. That Oliver photo is so appropriate for this post. It depicts Crystal Palace as well!

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  2. Please don't remind me!

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  3. From what I hear, some of the cleanup/fix-em-up work done on the Register building for this board visit suggests a lot of micromanaging. Who has the time to come up with these ideas?

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  4. Oh my goodness. I had to laugh and smile at this satire. No matter what company you work for, the rite of taking on management for a more equitable sharing of the wealth -- or at least a sharing of the life risk we undertake joining in the mission -- is captured in a single image that is Oliver.
    Daily, a journalist somewhere puts his life on the line challenging sources or subjects of stories truth and justice. Back at the office, they expect their company to consider this when figuring on paying them and supporting them in the battle.
    Logically, a company has to make sure it'll succeed and may ask adjustments or planning to make it so. Good people can get frustrated and/or hurt in change.
    The good company stops itself from swinging the ladle and rethinking for compassion. Can we feed folks more and get more back? A company should wonder when the step of offering major rewards back into the mix should be part of the formula through the mess.
    I mean bonuses and raises should be public and direct to the people we all credit with making the tough choices and for constantly putting their necks on the line for the mission.
    When a journalist challenges authority, right or wrong internally, that is something to foster.
    Corporation reach a point where luxury and rewards at the the top seemed placed on corporate royalty rather than battlefield promotions.
    The former happens when times are good and pressures are light. When the tables turn, too few soldiers with gritty experience leave a leadership vacuum in crisis.
    Editors do not seem to be rising up to defend the decisions affecting their room or criticizing. This is a sign that Oliver has no chance. With Oliver, much hope is lost.

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  5. Is it any where near Delhli?

    DELHI, Iowa, July 25 (UPI) -- Iowa's rain-swollen Maquoketa River continued to rise Sunday, a day after it breached a section of a dam and inundated farmland downstream, forecasters said.

    The National Weather Service said the river would top out late Sunday at 11 feet over flood stage, breaking a record for the river set in 2002.

    The cresting comes too late for residents downstream from the Lake Delhi dam, which crumbled Saturday and unleashed a torrent of water that wrecked several homes, flooded fields and caused about 1,200 people to evacuate the area.

    Funny, corporate decides to visit and the "DAMN DAM" Breaks!
    ROFLMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  7. Des Moines, in central Iowa, is nowhere near the record flooding in and around Deli, located in eastern Iowa. I'm glad widespread devastation is amusing to you, though.

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  8. Well at least the person can spell it!

    Dehli NOT Deli!

    Which I will be going to the Deli for a sandwich at lunchtime!

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