New day, same
ornery attitude

Journalists are born, not made. You can go to journalism school -- and it's helpful -- but it takes a certain personality to do this, day in and day out. We annoy almost everyone but ourselves. Depending on who you talk to, it's either a personality deficit or a streak of orneriness.

One of the best people at the Star-Bulletin would rather be running a liquor store in North Dakota. Another is by training a primatologist -- someone who studies monkeys. Go figure.

There are all sorts of rules for journalists, which is why we call it a "profession." But there are really only two rules:

>> You do the same story every year.

>> You can't do that story, because you did it last year.

Which might explain the ornery streak.

The fun of journalism is that while you apply the same skills and craftsmanship to each assignment, and you hope to get better at it as you gain more experience -- you hear me, Cal Ripkin? -- every day is a new game, and there's something marvelous to learn.

Ornery? That's 'tude, man.

Burl Burlingame

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