A Patch editor's cry for help?

Sure sounds like it. Romenesko posts this absurd story that a Patch editor says is likely a "protest post" to the company's mandated mobile posting. I believe it. The editor's bio includes freelance work for the NYT and WSJ, probably not the the corporate Kool-Aid drinker who might embrace something like this...



http://jimromenesko.com/2013/07/18/this-shows-its-really-time-to-pull-the-plug-on-patch/

 

Meh, a real protest would be a picture of her lawn, with the headline: "Grass is growing".

 

What in the wide, wide world of redundancies is "water ice?"

 

If you're into astronomy like me, you'll know it's what the scientists call it to differentiate it from, say, methane ice, like on the moons of Saturn.

 

So if the kids are good they get water ice. If they are bad they get methane ice?

 

Commenter notes that Rita's seems to be the go-to place for this reporter's fluff-filling, at least for the past two days:

http://northwhitehall.patch.com/groups/editors-picks/p/kidspeace-employees-take-a-ritas-water-ice-break

 

"Mama, I took out the trash. Can I have some water ice?"

No. You didn't clean your room, so METHANE ICE for you!

 

My first instinct is that Rita's paid for this story. Given all we know about Patch, why wouldn't the higher-ups be selling story placements to local advertisers?

It appears a couple other Patch sites ran Rita's photos and stories in recent days. . .

http://westchester.patch.com/groups/summer/p/lining-up-for-treats-in-heat

http://rockyhill.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/ritas-and-kiwi-spoon-of-rocky-hill-loving-the-hot-weather

 

I don't think that's the case. Patch sucks but I don't believe they're running a payola racket. Too corporate an outfit to get their hands dirty with smalltime pay for play ad sales from Rita's ices.

 

If Rita paid for placement, you'd think it would want the correct name used. It's Rita's Italian Ice.

 

"Water ice" is the common term in the Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania area, which is where North Whitehall is.

 

Really? Never heard the term, and I live in NEPA. I head to Rita's a few times a month with the family.