I have spent the last week devouring everything I can get my hands on to determine whether or not we are going to have a job for the next couple of years. It's no secret that the newspaper circulation numbers are dwindling and the DMN is trying everything they can to boost or at the least maintain its hold in this industry.
My bible has been Tim Porter's First Draft . He has written a 12-part (so far) series dissecting The Vanishing Newspaper, and offering his views on the survival of the newspaper as we know it today.
I've been in this business off and on for over 35 years from writing, editing, and now circulation and I don't think there will be many years left. The DMN has made dramatic changes in their approach with the Spanish edition Al Dia, their fast-read Quick and the real, real fast-read At A Glance. But the heart and soul of the newspaper is slowly losing its subscribers. In my opinion, it's because we have lost an entire generation of newspaper readers. Oh yeah, the Internet and Cable TV News has punched a giant hole in the numbers. But I am constantly getting news updates on the Net and have CNN on for an hour or two a day; however, I still read the newspaper from front to back everyday. I think it is simply getting a reader in the habit of reading the newspaper for in-depth articles and not depending on it for late-breaking news. The DMN is also making strides to tie-in their online version which can provide the immediate news albeit shallow information.
Anyway that's what I have been doing and that is why I have "TIRED HEAD".
Feb 19, 2005
Feb 9, 2005
Feb 4, 2005
Happy Valentines Day
Looking for a nifty Valentine's Day gimmick for your web site. Check out This easy site .
These and more can be found at Dynamic Drive
These and more can be found at Dynamic Drive
Feb 1, 2005
"Quick Hits"
Cathy's Engagement
Is it just me or does Cathy's engagement just seem to be going on and on and on. I know I am admitting to my "girlie" side but since she moved over to the "real" comics section and off of the "women's" pages I have been following her. I am, however, waiting for the big wedding night scene.
Power of the Blog
I had the fortunate opportunity of having my post re: Cedar Waxwings linked on D Magazine's Magazine's Front Burner. As a result the hits increased about 800 per cent on Saturday and the same on Sunday. Amazing!! Blogs are being created every 4 seconds. If you are not there yet, you really need to get on board.
Ticket Genius
As I am writing this I am listening to Gordon Keith at KTCK's The Ticket. Gordon is never better when he is a roving reporter during the Super Bowl. The gang will be in Jacksonville all week. If you have never heard the Amazing Gordon, he is a multi-talented local radio personality who is destined for national success.
Weird Stories
Received this link Weird Stories from my bro' Dave. It's a mix of outrageous stories mixed in with a few urban legends.
High School Home Page
I'm lucky to have great contact with my High School via Fairview 66' . Nancy Steinert, has spent endless hours along with her Webmaster, Keith Hardin in providing all of us with information and pictures from years past as well as updates on what many of our friends are doing these days. We have the 40th Reunion coming up next year. I guess it is time to get back on the ol' treadmill. Well, maybe I'll start tomorrow, er...next week.
Jan 30, 2005
"Surround Sound", Eight Tracks" and "Ana godda da vida "
You can generally guess the generation someone grew up in by the words in their audiophile vocabulary.
For me, I was definitely a vinyl 33 1/3" man until I later graduated to 8-tracks in the mid 60's. For those who never lived the experience of an eight track tape . Well, imagine what it was like when you got your first MP3 Player or IPOD. Eight tracks were revolutionary. For the first time you could actually hear the songs that you wanted without waiting for the radio to broadcast them over the A.M. dial. That's right. A.M. dial. We didn't have F.M. stations back in those days. But that was O.K., because what you didn't have, you didn't miss. One of the downsides of the eight track though, you had to wait until the tape completed the loop before you could hear your song again. That is if the tape player ever worked.
My first exposure to eight tracks was riding with a couple of fraternity brothers from the University of Oklahoma to Dayton, Ohio during Spring Break my freshman year.
We hadn't discovered Padre Island yet!
We listened to the Beatle's, Stone's, Beach Boys, and the Iron Butterfly's "Ana godda da vida" for 12 continuous hours.
The eight tracks didn't stay around very long though. As I mentioned earlier, the biggest reason was they rarely worked and the tapes would get tangled in the player spewing out a long trail of your favorite music. It was common to see hundreds of feet of tape flying around the street or caught to the underside of one's car.
After the eight tracks came the cassette tapes. The only cassette tapes I had were either ones that I had used my recorder to tape from the radio, or the one that Ford offered with the purchase of a new car. Oh yeah, I did buy KVIL's "Christmas Songs" because we would play them while opening presents. I can still hear that tinny sound that would start to slow down as the tape came near its end.
I kept up my collection of 33's though with the obligatory Carol King's "Tapestry" and the BeeGee's "Greatest Hits"
Today, I'm here to tell you that I now am the proud owner of both a MP3 player and what I just purchased this week at Fry's, a complete Home Entertainment Center with Dolby sound, Subwoofers, DVD player, AM and FM, etc. I'm still working to get the speakers at the right angles to get the full effect. Pattye has already nixed the idea of mounting anything on the walls. And, she said "can't you do anything with all of those wires". Everything should be in place later this afternoon.
By the way, guess what's on my MP3 player and will soon be blasting from my high tech surround sound? You guessed it. The Beatles, Stones and the 15 minute version of "Ana godda da vida". Can't wait to hear that drum solo.
Maybe technology changes, but great music lasts forever.
For me, I was definitely a vinyl 33 1/3" man until I later graduated to 8-tracks in the mid 60's. For those who never lived the experience of an eight track tape . Well, imagine what it was like when you got your first MP3 Player or IPOD. Eight tracks were revolutionary. For the first time you could actually hear the songs that you wanted without waiting for the radio to broadcast them over the A.M. dial. That's right. A.M. dial. We didn't have F.M. stations back in those days. But that was O.K., because what you didn't have, you didn't miss. One of the downsides of the eight track though, you had to wait until the tape completed the loop before you could hear your song again. That is if the tape player ever worked.
My first exposure to eight tracks was riding with a couple of fraternity brothers from the University of Oklahoma to Dayton, Ohio during Spring Break my freshman year.
We hadn't discovered Padre Island yet!
We listened to the Beatle's, Stone's, Beach Boys, and the Iron Butterfly's "Ana godda da vida" for 12 continuous hours.
The eight tracks didn't stay around very long though. As I mentioned earlier, the biggest reason was they rarely worked and the tapes would get tangled in the player spewing out a long trail of your favorite music. It was common to see hundreds of feet of tape flying around the street or caught to the underside of one's car.
After the eight tracks came the cassette tapes. The only cassette tapes I had were either ones that I had used my recorder to tape from the radio, or the one that Ford offered with the purchase of a new car. Oh yeah, I did buy KVIL's "Christmas Songs" because we would play them while opening presents. I can still hear that tinny sound that would start to slow down as the tape came near its end.
I kept up my collection of 33's though with the obligatory Carol King's "Tapestry" and the BeeGee's "Greatest Hits"
Today, I'm here to tell you that I now am the proud owner of both a MP3 player and what I just purchased this week at Fry's, a complete Home Entertainment Center with Dolby sound, Subwoofers, DVD player, AM and FM, etc. I'm still working to get the speakers at the right angles to get the full effect. Pattye has already nixed the idea of mounting anything on the walls. And, she said "can't you do anything with all of those wires". Everything should be in place later this afternoon.
By the way, guess what's on my MP3 player and will soon be blasting from my high tech surround sound? You guessed it. The Beatles, Stones and the 15 minute version of "Ana godda da vida". Can't wait to hear that drum solo.
Maybe technology changes, but great music lasts forever.
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