I caught this opinion piece by Peter Funt while I was sorting through emails and catching up on news this morning. His view is true and another sign of the sad state of the newspaper business.
I never saw a kitten thrown out of a van, and don’t recall anything so crazy when I had my paper route, but his stories brought back a lot of memories that I rarely think about anymore of my first job as a newspaper delivery boy, tossing our hometown newspaper in suburban Kansas City onto the driveways in my neighborhood. … Maybe it was my second job – I worked for a couple summers as a little league umpire, too, but which one came first, I no longer remember. Later, once I could drive and entered high school, I was a “courtesy clerk,” aka grocery sacker, at the local Price Chopper – which provided some crazier experiences, including a night that I witnessed a robbery while I was collecting carts outside the store – and then a tester, and whatever else my dad needed me to do, at the LCD factory where he worked.
I don’t remember exactly how I came to be a newspaper delivery boy. A newspaper ad, it must have been, that my mom saw and shared with me to gauge my interest. I thought it sounded good, I assume at that age, mostly because it meant extra spending money in my pocket for baseball cards and Slurpees from the 7-Eleven a few blocks from our house. It was the early ’90s, and I couldn’t have been more than 13 or 14 years old.
I remember it was spring time – March or early April – when I took the job. I spent a few early mornings riding around with a woman who oversaw the newspaper delivery operation, learning my new route. Thinking about it now, in this day and age, it seems almost blasphemous to basically be picked up at 4 or 5 in the morning by a woman I’d never met and for her to drive me around for a couple hours in her beater of a car with no parental or company supervision. But the early ’90s still had a vestige of earlier decades when we were more trusting of people and kids were allowed to roam and explore our surroundings with the neighborhood kids and be gone for hours without Mom or Dad growing too concerned.
When it was time for me to do the route on my own, my mom drove me on most mornings until the weather warmed and I could go completely solo on my bike. By the summer, my parents and I had recruited my younger brother to help.
It was a daily newspaper. So every morning, one of my parents woke me up around 4 in the morning. We retrieved the stack of newspapers from our front step and then lugged them to the laundry room at the back of our house where we rolled them, placed them in rubber bands – we also placed them into orange plastic bags if it was a rainy day – and stacked them in my white canvas delivery bag. … Until that time, I don’t think I knew people got up and went to work so early.
Along with the stack of newspapers came a spreadsheet that showed all of the addresses on my route and the names of the subscribers. Every morning I had to review the list to look for new subscribers, or subscribers that had canceled and no longer required a stop at their address. I recall there were maybe 40, 45 addresses – it might have been much higher, now that I’m thinking about it – on the daily list, which covered our subdivision and two or three neighboring subdivisions, all located within one or two square miles.
The job for me didn’t last more than two or three months. By July I had moved on to other things. Because I was becoming a wise teenager and quickly realized – I think my parents did, too – the pennies I was being paid for each newspaper I delivered were not worth the stress of my parents rattling me out of bed every morning, carting me around on the days I couldn’t ride my bike and the amount of labor it took for a 13-year-old kid to get all of the papers neatly rolled and delivered by 7 a.m.
But some of the things I recall most clearly – and that make me happiest – about that time is the trust my parents put in me to do the job, to hold some responsibility and, above all, the care they took in helping me try it. Lord knows, they couldn’t have liked getting up so early those mornings either. … I remember, too, how good it made me feel on the occasions when one of the subscribers stepped outside as I rode up to the front step on my bicycle, complimented me on the job I was doing and handed me a dollar bill as a tip. It made me want to place the newspaper on that person’s doorstep just a little bit neater after that … I remember how fun it was to watch the progress of the sun rising as I neared the end of my route each morning … And I remember the fun my brother and I had on the days that he helped me, racing our bikes to see who could finish their half of the route faster and then wahoo-ing as we reconvened near the end of the route and raced up the winding road to our driveway.
Did it help shape my love for newspapers and influence me to embark on my newspaper journalism career? Maybe, but I believe that fate was sealed years earlier when I would eat breakfast with Dad before school and he’d share the sports pages of the Wisconsin State Journal with me. That’s a whole other story.
Showing posts with label newspapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label newspapers. Show all posts
6.16.2018
12.09.2016
Meet the Machinists Who Keep the New York Times Running
My friend Todd send this video link to me today.
Two days after I learned four former -- and highly respected colleagues -- from my newspapering days in K-Town accepted buyouts to walk away from gutting of the city's "most interesting newspaper," as our late publisher famously said. This round of news came a few weeks after the newspaper's editor -- a former city reporter with whom I joined the newspaper during what he liked to call "the youth movement of the early 2000s" -- resigned amid the turmoil and clashing with the new publisher. I loved every day I got to work with those five journalists for whom I have tremendous respect and admiration. ... Of course, the newspaper's front page article about the moves was nothing more than a public relations report to notify loyal readers and failed to get into details of their contributions to the newspaper and the community. The articles didn't mention it and I was curious, so I did some research -- the five of them had a combined 151 years with the company, not to mention two of them grew up in K-Town.
I digress.
Back to the video. This is a relic of the sweat, grinding and beauty that the daily newspaper operation once was.
Two days after I learned four former -- and highly respected colleagues -- from my newspapering days in K-Town accepted buyouts to walk away from gutting of the city's "most interesting newspaper," as our late publisher famously said. This round of news came a few weeks after the newspaper's editor -- a former city reporter with whom I joined the newspaper during what he liked to call "the youth movement of the early 2000s" -- resigned amid the turmoil and clashing with the new publisher. I loved every day I got to work with those five journalists for whom I have tremendous respect and admiration. ... Of course, the newspaper's front page article about the moves was nothing more than a public relations report to notify loyal readers and failed to get into details of their contributions to the newspaper and the community. The articles didn't mention it and I was curious, so I did some research -- the five of them had a combined 151 years with the company, not to mention two of them grew up in K-Town.
I digress.
Back to the video. This is a relic of the sweat, grinding and beauty that the daily newspaper operation once was.
8.26.2012
R.I.P. Neil Armstrong
I'm not old enough to have experienced the wonder Americans felt when Neil Armstrong made his "giant leap" on to the moon July 20, 1969.
Still, my heart sank a bit yesterday afternoon when I saw the news of his death. On Twitter, of course.
As far as newspapers go, that day in 1969 also gave birth to some of the greatest front pages of all time ...
Still, my favorite "Man Walks on the Moon" front page, hands-down, has got to be that of The Onion ...
I own a copy of it now, but the first time I came across it in the aisle of a bookstore -- I laughed to the point of tears and my knees buckling.
Enjoy. Read as much of it as you can.
Still, my heart sank a bit yesterday afternoon when I saw the news of his death. On Twitter, of course.
As far as newspapers go, that day in 1969 also gave birth to some of the greatest front pages of all time ...
Still, my favorite "Man Walks on the Moon" front page, hands-down, has got to be that of The Onion ...
I own a copy of it now, but the first time I came across it in the aisle of a bookstore -- I laughed to the point of tears and my knees buckling.
Enjoy. Read as much of it as you can.
5.01.2011
Mr. Brown
When my good friend Laura sent an email to me Friday morning that said, simply, "Call me," I had a feeling the news wasn't good.
I immediately dialed her number and she answered. "It's a sad day in the newsroom," she said, her voice breaking.
"Why is it a sad day?" I asked, knowing the answer that was coming. She shared with me a couple weeks ago that Mr. Brown, the publisher and president of the newspaper where I spent seven wonderful years before moving to The 'Ville last year, had been diagnosed with cancer. Just a few days ago, in an update, she told me the cancer was progressing fast.
"Mr. Brown passed away this morning," she said. My heart sunk.
Quite simply there was no other publisher like him, and it was an absolute privilege to know him and work for his company.
Nowadays a lot of publishers and newspaper heads are known for hiding in their corner offices - if they set foot in the building at all - and communicating with their ground floor employees through insincere company-wide emails. Prior to arriving at the News, I worked at smaller community newspapers where that was the case. But that wasn't Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown -- even in his 80s, at an age when a publisher's heirs usually are well in control -- was notorious for strolling through the newsroom at least once, sometimes two or three times, each day, checking in with the staff and passing along story ideas. It was not rare to see him in the morning hours as the next day's stories were just starting to be written, or late at night as the copy editors were putting the next day's edition to bed. He knew every reporter's name, he knew their beats and he was always quick to say hello.
Mr. Brown was such a mainstay in that newsroom, I can't imagine what it will be like without him. When our executive editor retired a couple years ago, he told a story about going to dinner with another editor on his first night in town 15 years earlier. The new executive editor made a comment about Mr. Brown's age and suggested that he couldn't be publisher for much longer. The other editor, who was a veteran of the paper himself, told our executive editor, "Mark my words. Mr. Brown will be signing your retirement papers." ... And he did.
Any compliment on a story coming from Mr. Brown was the highest compliment you could receive. "You had a marvelous piece on page one today," he would say in his low, gravely voice. ... One in particular that will stick with me was a story I wrote about a homicide. It was one of those mentally draining stories on which I'd done a lot of researching and reporting. And a compliment from Mr. Brown the next morning made it all worth it. But the funny part was Mr. Brown -- the kindest of men who never wished ill on anyone -- even added some quip like, "We need to have more shootings on our front page."
The memories and his impact will live with me for a long time. I'll never forget how he was always quick to compliment Kates and remind me how lucky I was to be with her when we saw him at city or company gatherings. I'll cherish the Christmas cards he and his wife sent us, and the embroidered blanket they sent us when Phoebe was born.
I will especially cherish the personal letter he wrote to me after I left the newspaper last year, in which he wished me good fortune and expressed confidence that I would make "a significant contribution to the advancement" of my college. He also thanked me for the Christmas card our family sent him that year, and wrote that he put it on his bulletin board so he could say "good morning" to our family when he arrived at work each day.
Now I say good morning to him at my new place of work. When I moved into my new office at the university, one of the first things to go on my bulletin board was a button of Mr. Brown that the newspaper handed out a few years ago to commemorate his birthday.
And no recollection of Mr. Brown is complete without mentioning the sayings he was known for around the newsroom. He had many. He often ended conversations with "Have an interesting day," or "Be of good cheer."
One of my favorites has always been that he called our newspaper the city's "most interesting daily newspaper." ... The joke was in that it was the only newspaper in town.
By mid afternoon Friday, as more people learned of his death, so many of my friends and former colleagues from the News began expressing their thoughts and condolences in Facebook status updates and tweets. ... The sentiments appeared almost like a viral campaign among our little circle of friends with the way all of us began "liking" and commenting on each other's postings.
Throughout the weekend, I've been reading the newspaper's coverage on the death of our community icon and all of the tributes that have followed. This one from a publisher in Massachusetts, I think, says it all ...
I immediately dialed her number and she answered. "It's a sad day in the newsroom," she said, her voice breaking.
"Why is it a sad day?" I asked, knowing the answer that was coming. She shared with me a couple weeks ago that Mr. Brown, the publisher and president of the newspaper where I spent seven wonderful years before moving to The 'Ville last year, had been diagnosed with cancer. Just a few days ago, in an update, she told me the cancer was progressing fast.
"Mr. Brown passed away this morning," she said. My heart sunk.
Quite simply there was no other publisher like him, and it was an absolute privilege to know him and work for his company.
Nowadays a lot of publishers and newspaper heads are known for hiding in their corner offices - if they set foot in the building at all - and communicating with their ground floor employees through insincere company-wide emails. Prior to arriving at the News, I worked at smaller community newspapers where that was the case. But that wasn't Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown -- even in his 80s, at an age when a publisher's heirs usually are well in control -- was notorious for strolling through the newsroom at least once, sometimes two or three times, each day, checking in with the staff and passing along story ideas. It was not rare to see him in the morning hours as the next day's stories were just starting to be written, or late at night as the copy editors were putting the next day's edition to bed. He knew every reporter's name, he knew their beats and he was always quick to say hello.
Mr. Brown was such a mainstay in that newsroom, I can't imagine what it will be like without him. When our executive editor retired a couple years ago, he told a story about going to dinner with another editor on his first night in town 15 years earlier. The new executive editor made a comment about Mr. Brown's age and suggested that he couldn't be publisher for much longer. The other editor, who was a veteran of the paper himself, told our executive editor, "Mark my words. Mr. Brown will be signing your retirement papers." ... And he did.
Any compliment on a story coming from Mr. Brown was the highest compliment you could receive. "You had a marvelous piece on page one today," he would say in his low, gravely voice. ... One in particular that will stick with me was a story I wrote about a homicide. It was one of those mentally draining stories on which I'd done a lot of researching and reporting. And a compliment from Mr. Brown the next morning made it all worth it. But the funny part was Mr. Brown -- the kindest of men who never wished ill on anyone -- even added some quip like, "We need to have more shootings on our front page."
The memories and his impact will live with me for a long time. I'll never forget how he was always quick to compliment Kates and remind me how lucky I was to be with her when we saw him at city or company gatherings. I'll cherish the Christmas cards he and his wife sent us, and the embroidered blanket they sent us when Phoebe was born.
I will especially cherish the personal letter he wrote to me after I left the newspaper last year, in which he wished me good fortune and expressed confidence that I would make "a significant contribution to the advancement" of my college. He also thanked me for the Christmas card our family sent him that year, and wrote that he put it on his bulletin board so he could say "good morning" to our family when he arrived at work each day.
Now I say good morning to him at my new place of work. When I moved into my new office at the university, one of the first things to go on my bulletin board was a button of Mr. Brown that the newspaper handed out a few years ago to commemorate his birthday.
And no recollection of Mr. Brown is complete without mentioning the sayings he was known for around the newsroom. He had many. He often ended conversations with "Have an interesting day," or "Be of good cheer."
One of my favorites has always been that he called our newspaper the city's "most interesting daily newspaper." ... The joke was in that it was the only newspaper in town.
By mid afternoon Friday, as more people learned of his death, so many of my friends and former colleagues from the News began expressing their thoughts and condolences in Facebook status updates and tweets. ... The sentiments appeared almost like a viral campaign among our little circle of friends with the way all of us began "liking" and commenting on each other's postings.
Throughout the weekend, I've been reading the newspaper's coverage on the death of our community icon and all of the tributes that have followed. This one from a publisher in Massachusetts, I think, says it all ...
"He was the kind of man who never failed
to make an impression on anyone he met.
He dedicated his whole life to journalism,
and you couldn't ask for a better boss. He was generous,
trustworthy, loyal, charitable and open, a person
who could be acutely perceptive and charming,
all in the same sitting."
to make an impression on anyone he met.
He dedicated his whole life to journalism,
and you couldn't ask for a better boss. He was generous,
trustworthy, loyal, charitable and open, a person
who could be acutely perceptive and charming,
all in the same sitting."
11.08.2009
Fighting words
Kathleen Parker had an excellent column over the weekend about a pair of Washington Post writers who came to blows ... In it, she writes about the scenes that have gone missing -- or at least are dwindling -- in American newsrooms ...
Fights may have been infrequent, but tempers often flared as deadlines loomed and reporters sweated over just the right word, usually under the baleful eye of an editor whose own deadline was bearing down.That's how I felt last night when I returned from covering an event and asked my editor how much time I had. 15 minutes he said ... The sweat started sprouting from my veins.
The newsroom wasn't just a workplace. It was a rendezvous point for renegades from the ordered life who, nevertheless, were compelled to perform under fire. To create on demand is a contradictory skill. To do so artfully is not usually a function of charm.
9.04.2009
Overheard in the newsroom
... One of my favorite blogs is "Overheard in the Newsroom."
Today, I submitted this piece of dialogue heard in our newsroom ...
Reporter: "I'm not feeling a lot of love for that video."
Editor: "Well then let's make some love."
Today, I submitted this piece of dialogue heard in our newsroom ...
Reporter: "I'm not feeling a lot of love for that video."
Editor: "Well then let's make some love."
9.02.2009
8.19.2009
8.06.2009
When the lights go out
So we had a "planned" power outage in our newsroom this morning ...When I walked into the building this morning, the security guard actually pointed to a collection of lanterns set up on the front desk and he asked if I wanted one to help me see ...
My friend Liz was the second person to arrive and brought a cooler for soda and assorted drinks. That's right, no vending machines, either ... I had stopped at a downtown convenience store on the way in to get some goodies for myself. Although, as a lunch treat, the company did have Subway sandwiches delivered for us.
The entire newsroom was dark and devoid of the usual buzz, except for the shine of our computer screens -- which were running on a generator and limited for use. In fact, only one corner of the newsroom had power, which meant most of us were assigned to computers other than our own. That also meant many of us had to work without the various settings, programs and software each of us uses to do our individual jobs each day. I'm also a pretty clean/organized person who was assigned to a desk where a co-worker has stacked decades/ mountains worth of ... stuff.
As one of my co-workers put it, we were running on about 10 percent of our usual capacity ... But then again, if there's any certainty in our business, it's that we'll publish the newspaper -- wind or rain, snow or sleet, every day of the year.
Knowing the troubles of the media industry these days, you might think the outage stemmed from budget cuts. Actually, it was only done so the local electric company could replace an old underground cable.
It wasn't fun, but it wasn't terrible either ... Just another quirky day in my quirky work.
Update 08.07.2009: ... Oh yeah, Facebook and Twitter were down, too.
5.08.2009
Swine Flu Strikes the Newsroom
Got this one from my friend Matt a couple weeks ago ...
This is a must (and hilarious) read for all newspaper journalists.
This is a must (and hilarious) read for all newspaper journalists.
4.11.2009
Life After Newspapers?
Newspapers are dying, right? Or are they?
I don't know. I wish I had the all-saving answer.
Every day it seems like another great newspaper is in trouble. And another columnist is pitching a noble idea to get us all turned around.
In my view, this downfall has nothing to do with the economy. It's simply the result of an industry slow to adapt with evolving technology.
Here's a collection of some of the related stories I found interesting during the last couple weeks ...
a Life After Newspapers
a A Plan to Save Our Free Press
a Newspapers aren't assets to be flipped, leveraged, and stripped
a Threat to Globe triggers flood of feelings
a Bail out journalism
a US newspaper owners ratchet up pressure on organized labor
a Google Insists It’s a Friend to Newspapers
a AP cuts fees for U.S. papers, struggles with copyright
a A.P. Seeks to Rein in Sites Using Its Content
a Local Web site The Dagger takes a fresh stab at journalism
I don't know. I wish I had the all-saving answer.
Every day it seems like another great newspaper is in trouble. And another columnist is pitching a noble idea to get us all turned around.
In my view, this downfall has nothing to do with the economy. It's simply the result of an industry slow to adapt with evolving technology.
Here's a collection of some of the related stories I found interesting during the last couple weeks ...
a Life After Newspapers
a A Plan to Save Our Free Press
a Newspapers aren't assets to be flipped, leveraged, and stripped
a Threat to Globe triggers flood of feelings
a Bail out journalism
a US newspaper owners ratchet up pressure on organized labor
a Google Insists It’s a Friend to Newspapers
a AP cuts fees for U.S. papers, struggles with copyright
a A.P. Seeks to Rein in Sites Using Its Content
a Local Web site The Dagger takes a fresh stab at journalism
3.31.2009
3.20.2009
Rough seas
There’s no easy way to say it.
Six more people lost their jobs at my company this week, including one of my editors and my good friend Raechel …
That’s on top of six writers who were laid off last fall …
And that’s on top of two more good friends in the biz who were laid off from their respective entities in the last two months.
I’ve rarely been so uncertain of my standing than I am right now. Honestly, I’m terrified.
As the subscriptions fall, the bankruptcies are filed and the presses shut down, the voice in my head seems to get louder: Get out while you still can! ... One of my college mentors, Erica, has done some wonderful work chronicling the cuts.
The signs have been all over the place for me … Our pastor has preached about it. I also got a fortune cookie with a fortune that told me now is “a good time to start something new.”
There’s also that CareerBuilder commercial where the man walks into a copy place and confronts a mirror image of himself. The guy throws his mirror image over his shoulder and leaves the copy place. Then the tag reads “Help you, help you -- CareerBuilder.com.”
Amid all of it, this story and the scene it paints has been engrained in my head since I read it a couple weeks ago.
It’s not so easy for our breed to just pick up and try something else. There’s a reason we got into this business. It’s a passion; it gets into your blood. A lot of us are of the mind set that we don’t sail until the ship is sunk. We stay true to our mission.
I’m not ready to sail yet.
Good reads ...
a How to save your newspaper
a The 10 Most Endangered Newspapers in America
a Frayed Thread in a Free Society
a Seattle Times still standing, but for how long?
Six more people lost their jobs at my company this week, including one of my editors and my good friend Raechel …
That’s on top of six writers who were laid off last fall …
And that’s on top of two more good friends in the biz who were laid off from their respective entities in the last two months.
I’ve rarely been so uncertain of my standing than I am right now. Honestly, I’m terrified.
As the subscriptions fall, the bankruptcies are filed and the presses shut down, the voice in my head seems to get louder: Get out while you still can! ... One of my college mentors, Erica, has done some wonderful work chronicling the cuts.
The signs have been all over the place for me … Our pastor has preached about it. I also got a fortune cookie with a fortune that told me now is “a good time to start something new.”
There’s also that CareerBuilder commercial where the man walks into a copy place and confronts a mirror image of himself. The guy throws his mirror image over his shoulder and leaves the copy place. Then the tag reads “Help you, help you -- CareerBuilder.com.”
Amid all of it, this story and the scene it paints has been engrained in my head since I read it a couple weeks ago.
It’s not so easy for our breed to just pick up and try something else. There’s a reason we got into this business. It’s a passion; it gets into your blood. A lot of us are of the mind set that we don’t sail until the ship is sunk. We stay true to our mission.
I’m not ready to sail yet.
Good reads ...
a How to save your newspaper
a The 10 Most Endangered Newspapers in America
a Frayed Thread in a Free Society
a Seattle Times still standing, but for how long?
3.08.2009
Sunday reading
Just said good-bye to the parents, who spent a couple days with us here on the homestead ...
A great weekend. Great food. Great conversation. Great times playing with Phoebe ... And not so great weather. It poured almost endlessly yesterday and today ...
The afternoon is fast turning into a lazy Sunday evening. Kates and I can barely keep our eyes open.
Here's some of the reads that caught my eyes over the last few days ...
Sports ...
a A tragic end for minor leaguer traded for bats
a For Free Throws, 50 Years of Practice Is No Help
a Manny Ramirez has some things to say
a What Yankees Knew About Rodriguez’s Injury, and When They Knew It
Media & the Internet ...
a When Everyone’s a Friend, Is Anything Private?
a 15 Fake and Funny Twitter Accounts
a WIAA files suit against Gannett over broadcasting of postseason games on Internet
a In Denver, Residents Lament the Closing of a Newspaper
a Will Report for Tips
a Small Town News" journalist dissed by Letterman was laid off last week ... I'm posting this mostly because I thought the "Small Town News" segment -- in case you missed it -- was hilarious. I think this reporter's reaction to it is a little over-the-top.
a Copyright Challenge for Sites That Excerpt
a YouTube and Universal Music Are Said to Discuss Deal
a A Google Search of a Distinctly Retro Kind
a How To Save Print ... A good funny
Politics ...
a For Young President, Flecks of Gray
TV ...
a CBS has its eye on Fox's ratings prize
Music ...
a Kelly Clarkson's 'All I Ever Wanted': 3.5 stars
a U2 looks in, branches out
Life & other stuff ...
a Here, all sales are final ... Never made it to any of the local Circuit City sales to check out the big sales (We don't have the money to spend), but this was an amusing read nonetheless.
a This winter, last year's add up to some bragging rights ... I'm throwing it back.
A great weekend. Great food. Great conversation. Great times playing with Phoebe ... And not so great weather. It poured almost endlessly yesterday and today ...
The afternoon is fast turning into a lazy Sunday evening. Kates and I can barely keep our eyes open.
Here's some of the reads that caught my eyes over the last few days ...
Sports ...
a A tragic end for minor leaguer traded for bats
a For Free Throws, 50 Years of Practice Is No Help
a Manny Ramirez has some things to say
a What Yankees Knew About Rodriguez’s Injury, and When They Knew It
Media & the Internet ...
a When Everyone’s a Friend, Is Anything Private?
a 15 Fake and Funny Twitter Accounts
a WIAA files suit against Gannett over broadcasting of postseason games on Internet
a In Denver, Residents Lament the Closing of a Newspaper
a Will Report for Tips
a Small Town News" journalist dissed by Letterman was laid off last week ... I'm posting this mostly because I thought the "Small Town News" segment -- in case you missed it -- was hilarious. I think this reporter's reaction to it is a little over-the-top.
a Copyright Challenge for Sites That Excerpt
a YouTube and Universal Music Are Said to Discuss Deal
a A Google Search of a Distinctly Retro Kind
a How To Save Print ... A good funny
Politics ...
a For Young President, Flecks of Gray
TV ...
a CBS has its eye on Fox's ratings prize
Music ...
a Kelly Clarkson's 'All I Ever Wanted': 3.5 stars
a U2 looks in, branches out
Life & other stuff ...
a Here, all sales are final ... Never made it to any of the local Circuit City sales to check out the big sales (We don't have the money to spend), but this was an amusing read nonetheless.
a This winter, last year's add up to some bragging rights ... I'm throwing it back.
2.27.2009
Winding down
Please join me in a moment of silence for the Rocky Mountain News.Here's Howard Kurtz's take.
* * *
About Wednesday night's "American Idol," I wrote ...
"Ah, who am I kidding. Matt's more likely to make it than Megan."I should've wrote ...
"Ah, who am I kidding. Adam Lambert's more likely to make it than Megan or Matt."Despite my disdain for Adam's performance, he got through last night. And I disliked his encore just as much ... Allison and Kris's encore performances, for the record, again sent chills down my spine...
And Brooke White made an appearance! Oh, sweet Brooke ... I didn' think her new single was as great and poppy as she made it sound in her introduction. But I did like it, and I'm anxious to download her album.
* * *
Also, for the record, I'm not and never plan to be a Taylor Swift fan ...
But her "Love Story" is everywhere ... And it's growing on me.
This morning I caught the first half of it on the radio before I had to turn off my car and get to work ... Then, when I returned to my car to leave work tonight, I turned on the radio and caught the song picking up right where I'd left it.
2.22.2009
Sunday reading
It been a good, quiet weekend. How 'bout you?The three of us spent this afternoon watching "A Series of Unfortunate Events." ... Good flick, but not nearly as good as I'd expected. I give it a three out of five stars.
Afterward, we sprawled out on the couches for naps. Good times.
Tonight, we'll watch the Oscars. Even though I don't have the slightest interest in the awards show and we haven't seen any of the movies ...
Here's some of the reads that grabbed my attention during the last week ...
Sports ...
a He really must change his tune
a A-Rod Takes Us Out for a Spin
a Rodriguez Bracing for Worst, but Hoping for the Best
a In the age of baseball parity, pitching health rules ... If this story doesn't get you excited for the prospects of a new season ...
a The Final Goodbye: Shea Rests in Pieces
a Soriano OK with moving out of leadoff spot
a Soto has tough act to follow, his own
a Closer adjusts to life with Crew
Politics ...
a The legend of FDR's first 100 days in office
a Paterson Had Staff Deny Kennedy Was Top Choice
Entertainment ...
a Chris Brown, Rihanna and the image problem
a Entertainment merger isn't music to consumers' ears ... Don't even get me started on how wrong Ticketmaster's "convenience" fees are.
a Tamer ‘Rent’ Is Too Wild for Some Schools
a The greater reality of minorities on TV
Media & the Internet ...
a Didn't you know? Facebook is forever ... A great read from my friend Raechel. I thought the hubbub last week over Facebook's user rights was way overblown for exactly the reasons outlined in this story.
a Facebook Won't Let You Remove Dead Relative's Page, Per "Policy" ... On the other hand, a family's request to have a deceased person's page removed is a request that should be honored.
a Facebook Made Me Do It ... Ok. No. 1: I'll admit I did the whole trying-to-get-more-friends-than-my-nemesis thing at first. Then I noticed how fast Nemesis was adding friends and knew for certain that Nemesis barely knew, if at all, the people Nemesis was adding. I realized how sad and pitiful that was and quickly put an end to the whole competing thing. If I haven't had/currently have a meaningful relationship with you, I'm not adding you as my friend on Facebook ... No. 4: Yeah, who hasn't done that? ... No. 5: I'm sooooo not over Facebook. I think it's a great tool and I'll promote its use to anyone willing to listen.
a You Can’t Friend Me, I Quit! ... Now this is amusing.
a The Facebooker Who Friended Obama ... In all the Facebook hoopla last week, I stumbled on this one in a "related links" section.
a How Low Will Newspapers' Ad Revenues Go?
The Onion ...
a Nation's Blacks Creeped Out By All The People Smiling At Them
a Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era ... This story, which came from my friend Matt, could actually be true.
Life & other stuff ...
a Who Says Stress Is Bad For You? ... Well, this is good news for me.
a GM, Chrysler don't get it ... Makes me want to scream.
a His wife died, his love didn't ... Great read, another one from my friend Matt.
a How Humans Lock Lips Holds the Key to Our Hearts ... Very interesting.
2.15.2009
Sunday reading
Ugh.
... Did the taxes yesterday. Happy Valentine's Day to us.
... Got my ice skating fix for the winter. And this year I did it with clear vision.
... And we had the family over to celebrates Kates's dad's birthday tonight.
We're exhausted.
Here's some of the reads that caught my eyes this week and were worth sharing ...
Sports ...
a Francona is having the time of his life
a Griffey wants to return to Seattle ... Sweet!
a Confronting A-rod
a A-Rod Dead At 33 ... From The Onion.
a Measuring A-Rod
a A-Rod proves apologies are not easy
a One Name Is Not Enough In This Case
a Steroid stench grows even stronger
a This soap opera is beyond sordid, yet we still watch
a Baseball's Tainted Month
a Hall of Fame needs to get rid of ridiculous character clause ... This is a really tough one for me. I still think the character clause is a valuable factor in determining Hall-worthiness. But I also think guys like Pete Rose, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens put up deserving numbers in their prime, rule-abiding years.
a Juice has sucked fun out of voting ... Another good read about the Hall voting.
a Attendance figures and revenue could decrease as teams are feeling the pressure
a Sox-Yankees: Tranquillity vs. trauma
a Favre: Top 10 All-Time? ... His knack for throwing interceptions and coming undone when games were on the line certainly doesn't help his cause.
a Coach K Never Forgets an 'L'
Music ...
a Scenes from Grammy weekend ... You go Death Cab.
a Grammys on key, but also a bit offbeat
a Wild Thing ... Good stuff about Neko Case.
a Vinyl Takes Another Spin With Music Lovers ... Love it! Except for the stores that charge like 30 bucks for a good vinyl. That's just robbery.
TV ...
a Joaquin Phoenix and late night: What's old is new again ... Phoenix's Letterman appearance is one of the craziest things I've ever seen on television.
a Joaquin Phoenix mystifies David Letterman
a Flight 1549 crew gets laughs on 'Letterman'
a As Conan heads west, where will his humor go? ... I was one of those guys who loved watching Conan in college. Some time after that I realized he's not that funny. I think he's going to have to make some changes to survive Leno's spot.
Politics ...
a Stalled Switch to Digital TV A Classic Tale of Breakdown ... Pretty much. If you're not ready, it's your own fault, I say.
a Even Tiniest Lincoln Relics Command Reverence
Internet & Media ...
a What Newspapers Do, Have Done and Will Do
a Newsweek Plans Makeover to Fit a Smaller Audience
a Boy Photoshops girl: A Flickr love story ... This is my friend Raechel's submission for the week. I found this story both very cool, and kind of creepy.
a TV's Mark Suppelsa connects to 5,000 friends on Facebook
a How Google Decides to Pull the Plug
a Do We Need a New Internet?
a How fast can you add Facebook friends? Faster than Facebook will allow
a How Social Networking Sites Have Changed The Breakup Game
a Twitter? It’s What You Make It
Life & other stuff ...
a Snuggie Pub Crawl coming
a 40 years' worth of thanks ... Great story. If you can, watch the video, too.
a Queens Driver Unknowingly Drags a Body Nearly 20 Miles ... Awful.
a From tech bubble to tech bobbleheads ... I so want one.
... Did the taxes yesterday. Happy Valentine's Day to us.
... Got my ice skating fix for the winter. And this year I did it with clear vision.
... And we had the family over to celebrates Kates's dad's birthday tonight.
We're exhausted.
Here's some of the reads that caught my eyes this week and were worth sharing ...
Sports ...
a Francona is having the time of his life
a Griffey wants to return to Seattle ... Sweet!
a Confronting A-rod
a A-Rod Dead At 33 ... From The Onion.
a Measuring A-Rod
a A-Rod proves apologies are not easy
a One Name Is Not Enough In This Case
a Steroid stench grows even stronger
a This soap opera is beyond sordid, yet we still watch
a Baseball's Tainted Month
a Hall of Fame needs to get rid of ridiculous character clause ... This is a really tough one for me. I still think the character clause is a valuable factor in determining Hall-worthiness. But I also think guys like Pete Rose, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens put up deserving numbers in their prime, rule-abiding years.
a Juice has sucked fun out of voting ... Another good read about the Hall voting.
a Attendance figures and revenue could decrease as teams are feeling the pressure
a Sox-Yankees: Tranquillity vs. trauma
a Favre: Top 10 All-Time? ... His knack for throwing interceptions and coming undone when games were on the line certainly doesn't help his cause.
a Coach K Never Forgets an 'L'
Music ...
a Scenes from Grammy weekend ... You go Death Cab.
a Grammys on key, but also a bit offbeat
a Wild Thing ... Good stuff about Neko Case.
a Vinyl Takes Another Spin With Music Lovers ... Love it! Except for the stores that charge like 30 bucks for a good vinyl. That's just robbery.
TV ...
a Joaquin Phoenix and late night: What's old is new again ... Phoenix's Letterman appearance is one of the craziest things I've ever seen on television.
a Joaquin Phoenix mystifies David Letterman
a Flight 1549 crew gets laughs on 'Letterman'
a As Conan heads west, where will his humor go? ... I was one of those guys who loved watching Conan in college. Some time after that I realized he's not that funny. I think he's going to have to make some changes to survive Leno's spot.
Politics ...
a Stalled Switch to Digital TV A Classic Tale of Breakdown ... Pretty much. If you're not ready, it's your own fault, I say.
a Even Tiniest Lincoln Relics Command Reverence
Internet & Media ...
a What Newspapers Do, Have Done and Will Do
a Newsweek Plans Makeover to Fit a Smaller Audience
a Boy Photoshops girl: A Flickr love story ... This is my friend Raechel's submission for the week. I found this story both very cool, and kind of creepy.
a TV's Mark Suppelsa connects to 5,000 friends on Facebook
a How Google Decides to Pull the Plug
a Do We Need a New Internet?
a How fast can you add Facebook friends? Faster than Facebook will allow
a How Social Networking Sites Have Changed The Breakup Game
a Twitter? It’s What You Make It
Life & other stuff ...
a Snuggie Pub Crawl coming
a 40 years' worth of thanks ... Great story. If you can, watch the video, too.
a Queens Driver Unknowingly Drags a Body Nearly 20 Miles ... Awful.
a From tech bubble to tech bobbleheads ... I so want one.
1.25.2009
Sunday reading
Kates and I spent the afternoon with her parents, marveling at Phoebe's latest milestones -- primarily her ability to roll all over the floor ...
And tonight I was holding her when she started grabbing my fingers and moving them to her mouth. Not unusual, she's done that a lot ... Only now she has teeth. She took my thumb, put it in her mouth -- and bit.
I yelped in pain and now have a pinhead-sized red mark on my thumb.
Here's some of the reads that caught my attention during the last week ...
Sports ...
a Big and Rich ... sad and true.
a The Hall of Fame Unemployment Line ... This is so fascinating to me, how times have changed these players.
a Sign of the times: Oft-injured Sheets still available ... If you ask me, Sheets is a better deal than Burnett, injuries and all. Though I'm hot surprised teams are hesitating.
a Now's not time for new Cubs owners to start thinking outside the suggestion box
a Tribune Co. departs Wrigley Field without a Cubs pennant
a Wrigley Field's deficiencies obstacle for next Cubs owner ... Yes, there's a lot of things that need fixing. Just don't turn Wrigley in the spaceship that is now Soldier Field.
a Thank you, Kerry Wood
a Insider’s View of What Went Wrong in the Bronx
a Kent calls it a career after 17 years in baseball ... I never paid much attention to Jeff Kent, but this story struck me.
Politics ...
a Oath of Office Is Administered Again ... I found the hub-bub over the Oath of Office totally amusing last week, and that Barack Obama had to take it -- again. For good measure.
a Staff Finds White House in the Technological Dark Ages ... This would drive me CRA-zy.
a I Wish You Were Here ... Good stuff on the people who helped 'the change' but weren't around to see it. From the ground anyway.
a Barack Obama's election is a joyful and historic time
a Woodstock Without the Mud
a More Than Charisma
a The BlackBerry accord of 2009
a If Obama Grows Old Before His Time, Stressed-Out Cell Tips Might Be to Blame ... This is fascinating.
a Two Faces of Obamamania
Music ...
a Taped Inaugural Music Is Live Issue ... Some good points raised here that I completely agree with. But, in Tuesday's cold case, I don't blame the performers for going with a recording.
a The Frigid Fingers Were Live, but the Music Wasn’t
TV ...
a Miss America: Does anyone care? ... If you ask me: Nope. I can't remember the last time I've watched.
a John Krasinski: Success after a ‘Hideous’ start
The Internet & media ...
a Free press, with profits
a Let’s Invent an iTunes for News ... This is genius.
a Design Magazines Find No Shelter From the Slump
a That Shrinking Feeling: Time, Newsweek Narrow Their Focus
a In Facebook age: Jobless, but not friendless
a Katie Couric in no hurry for change
a Melding Obama’s Web to a YouTube Presidency
The Onion ...
a Hey Man, You Got A Second So I Can Fire You?
a Obama Inauguration Speech Ruined By Incessant Jackhammering
And tonight I was holding her when she started grabbing my fingers and moving them to her mouth. Not unusual, she's done that a lot ... Only now she has teeth. She took my thumb, put it in her mouth -- and bit.
I yelped in pain and now have a pinhead-sized red mark on my thumb.
Here's some of the reads that caught my attention during the last week ...
Sports ...
a Big and Rich ... sad and true.
a The Hall of Fame Unemployment Line ... This is so fascinating to me, how times have changed these players.
a Sign of the times: Oft-injured Sheets still available ... If you ask me, Sheets is a better deal than Burnett, injuries and all. Though I'm hot surprised teams are hesitating.
a Now's not time for new Cubs owners to start thinking outside the suggestion box
a Tribune Co. departs Wrigley Field without a Cubs pennant
a Wrigley Field's deficiencies obstacle for next Cubs owner ... Yes, there's a lot of things that need fixing. Just don't turn Wrigley in the spaceship that is now Soldier Field.
a Thank you, Kerry Wood
a Insider’s View of What Went Wrong in the Bronx
a Kent calls it a career after 17 years in baseball ... I never paid much attention to Jeff Kent, but this story struck me.
Politics ...
a Oath of Office Is Administered Again ... I found the hub-bub over the Oath of Office totally amusing last week, and that Barack Obama had to take it -- again. For good measure.
a Staff Finds White House in the Technological Dark Ages ... This would drive me CRA-zy.
a I Wish You Were Here ... Good stuff on the people who helped 'the change' but weren't around to see it. From the ground anyway.
a Barack Obama's election is a joyful and historic time
a Woodstock Without the Mud
a More Than Charisma
a The BlackBerry accord of 2009
a If Obama Grows Old Before His Time, Stressed-Out Cell Tips Might Be to Blame ... This is fascinating.
a Two Faces of Obamamania
Music ...
a Taped Inaugural Music Is Live Issue ... Some good points raised here that I completely agree with. But, in Tuesday's cold case, I don't blame the performers for going with a recording.
a The Frigid Fingers Were Live, but the Music Wasn’t
TV ...
a Miss America: Does anyone care? ... If you ask me: Nope. I can't remember the last time I've watched.
a John Krasinski: Success after a ‘Hideous’ start
The Internet & media ...
a Free press, with profits
a Let’s Invent an iTunes for News ... This is genius.
a Design Magazines Find No Shelter From the Slump
a That Shrinking Feeling: Time, Newsweek Narrow Their Focus
a In Facebook age: Jobless, but not friendless
a Katie Couric in no hurry for change
a Melding Obama’s Web to a YouTube Presidency
The Onion ...
a Hey Man, You Got A Second So I Can Fire You?
a Obama Inauguration Speech Ruined By Incessant Jackhammering
1.11.2009
Sunday reading
We got more snow this weekend ...
At least a foot, I'd say, which is a few inches more than the meteorologist I talked to Friday night said we were going to get ... At the pace it was falling yesterday, it took me almost three hours to clean our driveway and sidewalks, and then shovel the driveway again when the plow came by and stuffed it closed. The piles of snow in some places are literally up to my eyeballs ...
Phoebe appears to be feeling much better. It's no wonder; she also appears to have handed off her cough and cold to Kates and I ...
Which is perfect considering it's supposed to get really cold this week ...
Some of the reads that caught my eyes recently ...
Sports ...
a Old guard squeezed in new market ... A new era is definitely taking hold ...
a A Really Big Deal ... You can't blame a guy for wanting to play for the Yankees. But the money involved here is just sick.
a Apples for a Nickel, and Plenty of Empty Seats
a Pursuit of glory is turning gory
Politics ...
a 'Virtual JFK: Vietnam if Kennedy Had Lived' -- archival bits and pieces forge a fantasy history
a The perils and joys of self-esteem ... From Garrison Keillor
a Palin Pummels the Press
a Sweet on Caroline
a Caroline Kennedy Is No Sarah Palin
a Let Roland Burris have the Senate seat and move on, already!
Media & the Internet ...
a Can America’s paper of record survive the death of newsprint? Can journalism? ... Ugh.
a For newspapers, time's the enemy
a Sunnier Times in New Mainstream Media ... Say what you want about Jay Mariotti, but his debut column for AOL brings up some great points ... Phil Rosenthal has more here.
a For BlackBerry, Obama’s Devotion Is Priceless
a Former Tribune photog gets White House post
a On the Net: 'Tis the season for year-end lists
TV ...
a Paving the way to 'Sesame Street' ... Who doesn't love "Sesame Street."
Music ...
a Katy Perry fills music’s quirky girl void
The Onion ...
a Terror Experts Warn Next 9/11 Could Fall On Different Date
Life & other stuff ...
a Ford's Theatre to Curtail Display of Lincoln Coat
a The Next Next Things ... Some pretty cool stuff to look forward to.
a Milky Way not such a lightweight; new study suggests it's 50 percent more massive than thought
At least a foot, I'd say, which is a few inches more than the meteorologist I talked to Friday night said we were going to get ... At the pace it was falling yesterday, it took me almost three hours to clean our driveway and sidewalks, and then shovel the driveway again when the plow came by and stuffed it closed. The piles of snow in some places are literally up to my eyeballs ...
Phoebe appears to be feeling much better. It's no wonder; she also appears to have handed off her cough and cold to Kates and I ...
Which is perfect considering it's supposed to get really cold this week ...
Some of the reads that caught my eyes recently ...
Sports ...
a Old guard squeezed in new market ... A new era is definitely taking hold ...
a A Really Big Deal ... You can't blame a guy for wanting to play for the Yankees. But the money involved here is just sick.
a Apples for a Nickel, and Plenty of Empty Seats
a Pursuit of glory is turning gory
Politics ...
a 'Virtual JFK: Vietnam if Kennedy Had Lived' -- archival bits and pieces forge a fantasy history
a The perils and joys of self-esteem ... From Garrison Keillor
a Palin Pummels the Press
a Sweet on Caroline
a Caroline Kennedy Is No Sarah Palin
a Let Roland Burris have the Senate seat and move on, already!
Media & the Internet ...
a Can America’s paper of record survive the death of newsprint? Can journalism? ... Ugh.
a For newspapers, time's the enemy
a Sunnier Times in New Mainstream Media ... Say what you want about Jay Mariotti, but his debut column for AOL brings up some great points ... Phil Rosenthal has more here.
a For BlackBerry, Obama’s Devotion Is Priceless
a Former Tribune photog gets White House post
a On the Net: 'Tis the season for year-end lists
TV ...
a Paving the way to 'Sesame Street' ... Who doesn't love "Sesame Street."
Music ...
a Katy Perry fills music’s quirky girl void
The Onion ...
a Terror Experts Warn Next 9/11 Could Fall On Different Date
Life & other stuff ...
a Ford's Theatre to Curtail Display of Lincoln Coat
a The Next Next Things ... Some pretty cool stuff to look forward to.
a Milky Way not such a lightweight; new study suggests it's 50 percent more massive than thought
12.13.2008
CC, Blago and the slow death of newspapers
What a week, huh.
CC Sabathia went ahead and signed with the Yankees for a gazillion dollars. Dang, I was sure he had found a home in Milwaukee ...
Newspapers are continuing their slow death ... The Detroit newspapers are cutting deliveries. The Rocky Mountain News appears to be in serious trouble. And the Chicago Tribune is filing for bankruptcy.
Oh, and Rod Blagojevich is the laughing stock of the country ... As I told one of my editors this week -- we've been hearing all the talk of corruption and a possible indictment for months. But of all the things they'd get him for, we never expected it to be for selling the senate seat.
... Good thing I have another D-II National Championship game featuring my ol' Northwest Missouri State Bearcats to cheer me up.
Here's some reads about the Tribune's plight ...
a Tribune Co. Mulling Bankruptcy
a Downturn creates drama at NBC
a Roger Ebert: Trib bankruptcy a Zell of a deal
a Keeping calm about the Tribune's bankruptcy
a Tribune Co.'s crisis has been years in making
And here's some good stuff about Blago ...
a The indictment
a Tuesday was a great day in Illinois, a thrilling day, an exciting, hopeful day; one of the few happy days we've had lately.
a Portrait of a Politician: Vengeful and Profane
a Shakedown plot alleged by feds: U.S.: $50,000 sought from hospital chief
a Happy birthday, Guv — How about a little self-exam?
a Governor Blagojevich, resign
a Chicago Tribune withheld publishing at U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald's request
a Blagojevich sought firing of Chicago Tribune editorial writer in exchange for Wrigley Field deal
Also, it's been super-amusing to watching guys like David Letterman and Jon Stewart make fun of his hair and stumble over the pronunciation of his name. It's not that hard to say, people!
a Jon Stewart: Illinois graft 'nothing new'
a Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show": "Blagojevich is a [parental advisory here]."
a Stephen Colbert on "The Colbert Report": "It's going to take a huge bribe to get him out of this one."
a David Letterman on "The Late Show": "One count of Blagojeviching."
CC Sabathia went ahead and signed with the Yankees for a gazillion dollars. Dang, I was sure he had found a home in Milwaukee ...
Newspapers are continuing their slow death ... The Detroit newspapers are cutting deliveries. The Rocky Mountain News appears to be in serious trouble. And the Chicago Tribune is filing for bankruptcy.
Oh, and Rod Blagojevich is the laughing stock of the country ... As I told one of my editors this week -- we've been hearing all the talk of corruption and a possible indictment for months. But of all the things they'd get him for, we never expected it to be for selling the senate seat.
... Good thing I have another D-II National Championship game featuring my ol' Northwest Missouri State Bearcats to cheer me up.
Here's some reads about the Tribune's plight ...
a Tribune Co. Mulling Bankruptcy
a Downturn creates drama at NBC
a Roger Ebert: Trib bankruptcy a Zell of a deal
a Keeping calm about the Tribune's bankruptcy
a Tribune Co.'s crisis has been years in making
And here's some good stuff about Blago ...
a The indictment
a Tuesday was a great day in Illinois, a thrilling day, an exciting, hopeful day; one of the few happy days we've had lately.
a Portrait of a Politician: Vengeful and Profane
a Shakedown plot alleged by feds: U.S.: $50,000 sought from hospital chief
a Happy birthday, Guv — How about a little self-exam?
a Governor Blagojevich, resign
a Chicago Tribune withheld publishing at U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald's request
a Blagojevich sought firing of Chicago Tribune editorial writer in exchange for Wrigley Field deal
Also, it's been super-amusing to watching guys like David Letterman and Jon Stewart make fun of his hair and stumble over the pronunciation of his name. It's not that hard to say, people!
a Jon Stewart: Illinois graft 'nothing new'
a Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show": "Blagojevich is a [parental advisory here]."
a Stephen Colbert on "The Colbert Report": "It's going to take a huge bribe to get him out of this one."
a David Letterman on "The Late Show": "One count of Blagojeviching."
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