I’ve received some helpful comments to improve this blog from my ongoing Kona Blog survey (for example : turning on nested comments). However, I’ve received some irritating observations complaining about the poor spelling and grammar of my posts. These errors cannot be corrected unless the readers of this blog speak up and tell me.
The most interesting comment I received was this one posted below. It regarded my criticism of Hawaiian Telcom for failing to aggressively go after federal subsidies and stimulus funding to improve its aging infrastructure.
I recommend that insofar as telecom-related matters are concerned, you do proper research before you open your mouth
Hey, you don’t have to read what I write. If you feel that my criticisms are off base you can go elsewhere to read your news & commentary. I’ll keep on commenting about Hawaii’s inadequate telecommunications infrastructure regardless of what you have to say about it.
“Your continued ridiculous assertions that Hawaiian Telcom did not make an aggressive push for federal subsidies and stimulus funding to upgrade its infrastructure. You obviously did not read the rules in the RUS’ and NTIA’s joint NOFA for BB stimulus funding. Had you read and understood the rules, you would know that the BB stimulus funding can not be used for a general statewide or even an islandwide upgrade of HT’s infrastructure.
Furthermore, had you done the aforementioned research instead of popping off your mouth, you would know that of all of the applications for BB stimulus funding for projects in Hawaii, only Hawaiian Telcom’s and Aloha Broadband’s apps complied with the rules. The only question that remains is whether the federal government is actually going to actually stick to the rules when it evaluates the applications. If the government has integrity, only Hawaiian Telcom’s and Aloha Broadband’s applications will be approved. If the government deviates from its own rules, then literally any application can be approved, including the applications that were not NOFA-compliant.”
I dare you to show me these “rules” you so eloquently state as the law of the land in this instance. It is my understanding that you can apply for funding for the entire state. However, the government has given priority towards applications for unserved and underserved areas.
There are three levels of funding Last Mile Remote Area (Aloha Broadband), Middle Mile (University of Hawaii,Sandwich Isles Communications,Gold Ivory LLC), and Last Mile Non-Remote Area (Hawaiian Telcom).
Happy to oblige!
“like activating nested comments” = sentence fragment
“survey.However,” = missing two spaces after period
“grammar of my posts ?” = extra space before punctuation & question mark incorrectly used to end a statement that is not interrogative
“below.It” = missing two spaces after period
“their aging infrastructure” = plural used where singular is appropriate; “their” should be “its”
“state.However” = missing two spaces after period
Beyond the grammar issues, the larger problem is that your argumentative skills are weak. You say it is the responsibility of readers(!) to proofread your work. How’d that claim fare in English class? haha
Worse, you tell a commenter presenting facts contrary to your opinions that he or she should not read your opinions if he or she believes those contrary facts. Yeah, that rhetorical strategy will really influence people and demonstrate that you are a credible commentator…
Doug, I really appreciate the spelling and grammar corrections. This is the kind of constructive feedback I appreciate. It is very irritating when people just say that there is spelling and grammar issues with my posts but don’t bother to point them out.
I didn’t say its the responsibility of my readers to proofread my work.I’m just asking to tell me if they spot spelling and grammar issues with my postings and not just arbitrarily complain about it.
Lastly, who appointed you to be the blogging expert here ? You criticized me for my weak argumentative skills when you haven’t actively blogged since June 28, 2009 ?
Patience, grasshopper. My blogging frequency is not the topic here. I make no claim to be an expert, but I know the difference between an argument and an assertion.
Oh, and I think you meant to write, “I’m just asking (them) to tell me,” and you could delete the redundant use of “to tell me.” Heh.
Wow! This is kind of annoying to read. Many bloggers write in their own style as Aaron does in this blog. The grammar and spelling errors take nothing away from the content. It creates a voice that is unique and different from other Big Island blogs. I enjoy the perspective The Kona Blog brings and its intrinsic value.
Thanks Aaron and Doug, bruddah you gotta chill out kine lidat! You stay in da islands!
Original post: “There is three levels of funding” – there “are” ….
Comment: “just say that there is spelling and grammar issues” – there “are”
Not criticizing or complaining, (I could be wrong) but you asked that errors be pointed out!
How do you justify HT for filing a puny single $6 million application because of Aloha Broadband’s self serving interpretation of the rules? Sandwich Isles, in any of its identities and aliases, uses one of the best federal subsidy consultants in the industry – GVNW – and they would have caught such a limitation and worked around it. So could HT. This sounds like angry self justification to me. If HT actually built an effective broadband network why would Hawaii need Aloha Broadband? If the perspective is broader rather than confined to Aloha’s narrow interpretation, what’s the answer if one of those making a broader application gets a sizable grant outside Aloha’s narrow interpretation of the rules? “Oops?”
HT could only find $6 million within the rules? That is preposterous. Couldn’t they find one for each island that was in this overly strict and self rationalizing interpretation of “the rules”? They made one single application on one island? It’s a big leap from one puny $6 million application to “general statewide upgrade”. How about something in between – like 15 or 20 applications for $5 million each?
Nice of you to question whether or not the “government has the integrity”. I hope that doubt is taken into consideration when Aloha Broadband’s application is considered. If there are doubts in your mind regarding the federal government’s integrity and adherence to your interpretation of “the rules”, you should support HT making the broad statewide applications even if parsed into smaller applications because there is no penalty for making a rejected application. It’s a bankrupt telephone company for God’s sake– the only one in the history of the United States since the 1934 Communications Act – with the worst service in the entire nation. HT could take the chance it strayed outside even the most narrow and self righteous interpretation of “the rules”.
HT has lost an important opportunity that could have been preserved by making fifty applications covering every eligible area. It would be a lot of work but that is why the executives who bankrupted a company are being paid bonuses (utter nonsense by itself). Your pious interpretation of “the rules” and verbal abuse of those who see HT’s responsibilities being broader by alleging “ridiculous assertions” is not either justified or even accurate. Oh, by the way, read the rules – no penalty for making a rejected application – just in case you did not get it the first time. HT did not make a sincere and diligent effort in its application for stimulus funding.
Don, If you like Aaron’s writing style, then that is great. I don’t care for it, and since Aaron explicitly asked for criticism, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity. I’m a proud pedant, after all!
Doug, you are putting words into my mouth. I only asked for my readers to let me know of any grammar and spelling issues in my postings. It was getting irritating reading the complaints in my ongoing survey criticizing me about this. However only a few individuals have bothered to e-mail me and point out these errors.To these folks, thank you.
On a related note, who made you a BLOGGING GOD. YOU haven’t even blogged since June 28, 2009.I would look in mirror before you start to criticize others.
Oh, of course. Only those readers who blog more often than you may criticize your grammar. My bad.
Aaron, I forgive you. Go and sin against the blogging (and grammar) gods no more. haha.
I guess assholes and immature individuals come in all forms.
I have been only an occasional reader so far. But your request for alerts for grammar and spelling errors impresses me and I will now add you to my list of daily reads! Mahalo.
I wouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Aaron. Most of the time you’re not an asshole or an immature idiot.
Doug, I was talking about you, not me.I have tried to regularly blog unlike you. It seems you are simply being an asshole to me because some frustration regarding the latter. Your mother must be so proud of you.
Wow. Curb you rage, dude. You are one of the thinnest-skinned bloggers I’ve ever read.
Probably not in the way you meant it, but I agree that you “regularly blog unlike [me].” As in, you regularly WRITE POORLY. Heh. So, yes, your frequent and poor writing IS a cause of my frustration and, thereby, of your consternation.
Quantity vs. Quality, blah blah blah. But what do I know? I’m an asshole, according to you.