(sigh) This just sucks. I mean I know times are changing, the economy is tanking and we should embrace new technology and whatnot. I just hate to see a good paper go down like this. Really, really hate it.

Watch the video The Rocky staff put together to document the paper’s last breath. Be prepared to tear up and to be very impressed with how pretty their newsroom is/was:

The only issue I take with this is the blog-bashing. I mean seriously? Blogs are NOT the only reason newspapers are dying, folks. Craigslist, sure. Bloggers, not so much. Just say’n.

You like it, you love it, you want some more of it:

• A Newspaper Refuses to Die Quietly (readwriteweb.com)
• Rocky Mountain News to close, publish final edition Friday (dvorak.org)

Saw this Cult of Mac post about a Blackberry Storm ad that was rejected by RIM.  Though the gun message and copy claim is clearly misguided, I still find it rather clever.

Of course, you already know how I feel about the Storm after my brief time throwing it against the wall trying to figure it out. (sigh) Bless ‘em.

You like, you love it, you want some more of it:

• BlackBerry advert sticks it to Apple (reghardware.co.uk)
• The BlackBerry Storm ad that might have been (engadget.com)

I fully realize that when you read that headline you IMMEDIATELY thought, “Oh sure, Margie, I’ll get right on that blog thing in my spare time.” Here’s the deal – I’m not telling you to start blogging because I think you are bored. I’m suggesting it because of its social, emotional and educational value. Plus, blogging is a skill you can add to your resume. Bonus!

Before you roll your eyes and mutter about what a nerd I am (A.T.) just read my argument. THEN you are free to roll your eyes:

Chic Geek | BLOG IT TO ME (March 2009)

If you are a woman with an opinion … about anything … I’d like to challenge you to start a blog. I’m serious. Read More…

NashvilleZoo Next week we start introducing some new animals. Think black & white and stay tuned…er twixed…er tweeted.

sallykent mucinex is the best stuff ever

nashvillest Your commuting editor reports that traffic is even backed up past Cool Springs. We can haz detour?

KarenRussell Sorry, Phil Collins, had to skip you on Pandora.

hotdogsladies Hooters should do a Sadie Hawkins Day where chickens get to gnaw on fat guys while skanks pretend to like them.

BrazenCareerist Corporate Blogs That Get It: Sharing Mayo Clinic http://tr.im/gNSE

csledge I am man enough to admit that I thought my phone was messed up this week … only to find it was disconnected from the wall. I am a man.

If you like FlackRabbit, you’ll love this:

• Mayo Clinic launches new culture blog (tissuepathology.typepad.com)

Image by Laughing Squid via Flickr

Let’s play Find the Bias in this “news” story where neuroscientist Susan Greenfield swears that Twitter, Facebook and the like are making us all self-centered idiots. Come on! It’ll be fun. We’ll start with this one:

More than 150million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and post regular updates of their movements and thoughts. A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the ‘micro-blogging’ service that lets users circulate text messages about themselves.

Did you see it? That part where the ONLY thing you can do with a Tweet is talk about yourself? Holy crap! I’ve been using it wrong this whole time!

Oh! And here’s Greenfield talking about how she’d rather be hunting and gathering for her supper, you know, just like we did before Twitter. What?

‘I often wonder whether real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these sanitised and easier screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing, skinning and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages of meat on the supermarket shelf.’

I’m so sick of this either/or crap.  Why can’t we see some value in both Twitter and Text Book? Don’t get me wrong, I fully believe in limited TV and video game time for the under five set.  I wholeheartedly support the notion that all humans – tiny and fully grown – should appreciate and nurture interpersonal, face-to-face relationships.

Here’s the deal: you don’t have to pick just one! You can read a great book and then blog about it. You can hear about an interesting blogger and go buy her book. You can Twitter a meet up and find yourself face-to-face with 200 fabulous strangers.

Children should still learn to read, write and communicate in full sentences. Adults should, too. But, IMO, they should also feel free post to a Facebook wall while they’re at it without fear of being called a selfish moron.

Agree? Or am I just blinded by the geekish glow of my laptop?

Related articles by Zemanta

• How to give up Facebook for Lent and keep your friends (news.cnet.com)
• Caution: Facebook and Twitter Give You Da Cancerz (montysmegamarketing.com)
• Google brains made safe from Zombies (inquisitr.com)

No worries! We’ve got your Thomson Twins right here: 

I LOVE how the percussionist is wearing iPhone gloves!

Happy birthday TT! We love you and your shedding facial hair

Posted via email from margienewman’s posterous