Death of the Print Newspaper? - Nothing to Hang Onto!

Last week the Capital Times daily newspaper, the mainstay afternoon paper in Madison, Wisconsin, ceased it regular publication. It was all part of a plan, so they say, because circulation has dropped over the past years.


They note that in the information age, "nobody" is reading hard copy newspapers anymore. The Capital Times plans to join forces with morning paper, The Wisconsin State Journal, and provide copy for a couple of weekly news magazines that will be inserted in the regular paper. And, they point out, that they are not really going away but rather will be available only on the Internet.


I think it is a sad day for a couple of reasons. First, the Cap Times as it was affectionately know, was the liberal balance to the more conservative WSJ. It is mildly interesting that in Madison, the supposed hotbed of socialism and the Berkley of the Midwest, it is the liberal newspaper that bites the dust. They will, of course, say that it is because the afternoon paper is less likely to be read in our wildly busy world. I suppose I can buy that because I, personally, would only have need for a morning paper.


My other more selfish reason for being sad is that I hate to see any newspaper quit publishing an edition I can buy, take with me to breakfast (note: morning paper), read at my desk, and finish up the crossword when I get back home -- never mind the cheap newsprint with smudgy ink that gets on my fingers and clothes.


Other big city newspapers are also having circulation problems and advertisers are finding the daily paper less valuable as a medium for their wares. I would disagree in that I do scan the ads each day as I go by them, something I will be less likely to do online.


So there are many thing changing in this country and this world. I would just like to read about them while holding each paper section firmly, making my fingers black, without having to be next to a computer.

Going Home - Leaving Arizona for Wisconsin

We started our early retirement by heading southwest in our 39 ft. Winnebago motor home last October and planted ourselves in Apache Junction, Arizona for the winter. We have enjoyed the past five months immensely. We have met new people, seen new sights, and just plain enjoyed the contrasts between the Arizona desert and the Wisconsin North woods. We now love both.

So, as long as we are able, we will return to this beautiful desert area each fall to avoid the bone-chilling cold that our chilled bones appreciate less and less each year. I have been told numerous times by those we left in Wisconsin that this was the year to be gone. Record snowfalls, record temps - is all we needed to make another life decision that will likely surprise our family and friends.

Our beloved 2005 Winnebago is now for sale. We will drive it home, clean it out, spiff it up, and hope that we find a buyer. What we decided was that, although we still loved the RV lifestyle, we knew we would return to the Phoenix area. We can get to California, Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas in a few hours from this area. So what did we do?

We bought a house in a 55+ community in Mesa. Actually it is not built yet, but will be this summer. It is not a large house, but it is bigger than the motor home and with its two bedroom, two baths, will allow us to have a few of our friends and family visit us during those snowy Wisconsin winters. Oh, we will still travel, only now we won't be able to take our lodging with us. But it all works out.

We can't wait to get back home to Wisconsin, but honestly, we will be looking forward to returning to Arizona to see our new house next fall. We don't want to wish our lives away, so will try to stop projecting ourselves into next winter.

Anyone want a good deal on a nice motor home? Give us a call.

Potomac Primaries - Is the Die Cast?

Six short months ago I could never have predicted where this presidential campaign is today. McCain was left for dead, and like the Phoenix, (appropos) he rose from the ashes to be the nominative candidate for the GOP. Governor Huckabee is fighting the valiant fight, but short of a major faux pas from Senator Mack, he may only get the VP consolation prize, if that.

Similarly, six months ago Hillary was swatting at the Obama gnats buzzing around, just biding her time until the early primaries would thrust her into the lead and then with a few more, she would be crowned the solid candidate of the Dems. Yet, not many would have predicted the tsunami of the Obama movement that now has left only a few state primaries to save the day for Mrs. Clinton. I am sure that she and Bill are shocked and annoyed that the American people could be so naive as to pass on her candidacy. She is pinning her hopes on Ohio and Texas, seeming to leave Wisconsin alone to go to Obama. He is already beginning to campaign in the Badger State, not wanting to alienate any possible constituency.

Of course it ain't over til its over, but the fat lady is standing in the wings.

Super Bowl Without the Packers

I have finally begun to get over the Green Bay Packers loss to the NY Giants. So close with so many chances. I am not that great an NFL fan, but when our Pack gets this close I can even get my wife to watch.

I am doubly dismayed this year because we are wintering in Arizona, east of Phoenix, waiting to return to our native Wisconsin in April. And I thought for sure the Packers would come here to visit us (well, figuratively). We had already scoped out the University of Phoenix stadium, although we never would have attended the game (have you heard about Phoenix traffic?). We were ready to see many more Wisconsin license plates in the Valley, and even those god-awful cheesehead hats. Not all Wisconsinites follow the Pack, but the numbers increase dramatically when they approach the Super Bowl.

My son-in-law's view was that they'd best not get to the Super Bowl, or they (and we) would be embarrassed by their loss to the Patriots. Well, geez, give up already! I still would have liked to see them play in the great game.

I might even have worn a cheesehead in our resort that day. Do they have size 7-7/8s?