The Tribune Company and the Minneapolis Star Tribune are more or less bankrupt and many other nooze organizations are slimming down. Blame the internet, Citizen Journalism, or some other trend? The problem with Journalism today has very little to do with Journalism. The problem is that their business model has broken and no one has the slightest idea what will replace it. This comes from the fact that their business model, based on ad sales, never had anything to do with Journalism in the first place. As a result, we have no idea what, if anything, people are willing to pay for nooze.
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The musings of someone who picked it up on the streets.
Rules for Radicals
It was hot under the seats of the old Tropicaire horse track, but no one expected otherwise. Events like the Around the World Fair are always hot and sticky in the nether reaches of suburban Miami. I was wearing a long-sleeve white shirt because the sun would destroy my skin, so white I always said that any paler would be regarded as a skin condition. So as I sorted through the old books that were tucked away in the rummage section, 2 for a dollar, I was dripping with sweat. Anyone else would have melted, but not me. I was on a treasure hunt. As is the first rule of a treasure hunt, victory belongs to the persistent regardless of how sticky their shirt becomes. So it was only a matter of time before I found it.
Small Talk
Many people have something they dread about parties and gatherings, especially ones where a lot of the people are strangers. Some people worry about what they have to wear or how their hair looks. Some are introverts who worry how long it will take them to feel exhausted. I have a different problem – wondering how I’ll keep my mouth shut. It’s not because I’m afraid I’ll say something stupid because I know that’ll happen. What I hope I can avoid is betraying my social class and revealing myself to be a potentially dangerous outsider.
Myths, Big and Small
The essays come home in waves, taking the form of a packet. There’s a lot to wade through in order to understand how the kids are doing, but it’s every parent’s job. Since I’m more visual, and since I like to know how all the kids are doing, I find the walls of the classroom taped up with dozens of essays in one giant object d’art much more interesting. Standing in front of it I can see the plain truth of third graders; the composition is iffy, the spelling atrocious, but overall they are more honest and know what matters better than many adults.
Motivation
It’s my usual time to write my novel, first thing in the morning. I make myself a cup of Twinings Prince of Wales, fidgeting through the time it takes to steep. I turn the radio on to Minnesota Public Radio and hope that they’re playing something I like. When the tea is ready I stuff my nose into the cup and breathe in the musty fragrance. I let whatever is playing sink into my morning as I look out the window at Irvine Park, the center of my existence. As I relax into my world, I’m ready to write. I’m motivated.
Barataria - The work of Erik Hare 