Re: The Once and Future Chron

03/03/09 - posted by jb

Thanks John & Frank for adding some solutions to the problem. You are both to be applauded for your long and thoughtful responses. Honestly, I feared of straying too far out of the hood with this posting; however, I figure the Chron has been a part of our lives for so long, if only a transient doormat on Outsideland porches, that it is at least a tangentially on-topic issue: I hope others will chime in. Perhaps you both should send your replies to the Chron as it would give them enough food for thought to toss an office party, hopefully in lieu of a wake. P-Rose keeps em honest on a near-daily basis: I'm sure he has their ear.

Shortcake's daughter is a megablogger in Manhattan and, as I read her stuff, I shudder to think that this is the way by which the written word is moving. When a guy with a cell phone can break the story of the plane going down in the Hudson and then have the major papers quoting him, indeed the cart has moved ahead of the horse sense. Today, everyone is a "reporter" or a "stringer" yet few seem to know the art of journalism. Personally, I like George Will even though our politics sit at separate tables.(make that eat at different restaurants)

Maybe the little neighborhood rags will flourish? I'm not sure if Woody ever got feedback about the two he mentioned and I somehow I can't locate that posting. Maybe there are good papers to be had; just not being printed in English. When my mother's family came here from Lithuania, they used the newspapers to learn how to read and speak English. They'd compare the New York Times to articles in the Yiddish Press and became both well informed and well versed in English at the same time. For years, my Irish Uncle Tom would sit in the Mechanics Library on Post and read the Chron, NY Times and WSJ, along with the Christian Science Monitor if time allowed, so as to get as many perspectives as possible in formulating his ideas and opinions. The Chron also brought him to many neighborhood venues, events and dining experiences all over the City. He died in 2006 having never viewed a computer screen.

Like so many things these day, I guess we will just have to be patient and see what time brings. Only problem is that lately, my Timex seems to be running fast. Shortcake and I will be in Israel for two weeks this month; we'll be sure and say a few prayers for the Dailies along with some for all the gang here, who keep writing and SF history alive and well in the hood.

Cheers,
jb