the town dandy / By Hank Sims

Peanut gallery

(April 19, 2007) ‘Bloodbath On Buhner St.’

‘Seaport Satirist Shocker’

‘Bombastic Blogger Is City’s Legal Beagle’

Yes, everyone has most likely already heard the news, seeing as how it prompted a local media blitz the likes have which have not been seen for about a year (nearly to the day, in fact). The enigmatic blogger previously known as Captain Buhne has stepped forth from the shadows. In a front-page Arcata Eye story “streeting” this week, Buhne’s Clark Kentish alter ego reveals himself to be Ryan Hurley, legal assistant for the City of Eureka.

Everything that can conceivably be said about the subject has probably already been said, but indulge me with one observation. In all the local blogosphere, no one’s true identity was more eagerly sought than Capt. Buhne’s. The Captain has beguiled a lot of powerful people in the last couple of years (check his archives if you’re among the uninitiated - Google “Buhne Tribune”). No one else working the blog circuit has near as much mindshare. And you can bet that none of the anonymous chatterers holds anywhere near as sensitive a position in real life. But Buhne stepped forward anyway.

Conclusion: Ryan Hurley has stones, and the other blog chatterers don’t. I’m looking at you, Heraldo of “The Humboldt Herald.” And you, Anon.R.mous of the “Super Happy Fun Blog.” You two, especially - unless you can convince me that your job is more delicate than Hurley’s, the inescapable conclusion is that you are anonymous because you are too small, morally, to take responsibility for your words. Period, full stop, end of story.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to hear me kick Hurley’s ass live on the radio, tune into KHUM tonight (Thursday, April 19) at 6 p.m.

Through no fault of its own, the Journal seems to have gotten itself into the middle of a nasty spat between two Manila neighbors concerning a proposed new building development in that seaside community. Having done so, we now find ourselves in the tedious position of having to adjudicate their dispute.

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