Couldn't sleep Saturday morning. Of all the days I'd like to sleep in, no obligation Saturday is the one.
So, That got me thinking. Haven't read a local newspaper in years so thought I 'd kill time doing that. So, I hustled off to the local up the local convenience store and whoa, it was now 50 cents PLUS tax. Plus tax? (I remember when it was 10 cents and NO tax..did they slip another tax in on us?) I thought they only tax things that were important!
There was the usual front page musings, ie Trump this, Trump that, upcoming elections and ADVERTISING. Yep, there is now advertising on Page 1. I really thought it was too expensive to advertise on Page 1?
The next few pages were devoted to stories about mishaps, injuries, shootings and death. Of the remaining pages in the first section, the most prominent "story" was ADVERTISING! Yep, full page ads, too. Everything from cars, furniture, education and medical remedies. Where's the news?
What is news, anyway? Is it something we don't know? Is it something we need to know? Or is something we need to buy? Is it fake or real? After reading the first 20 pages of the Saturday morning newspaper, I know where to buy my next car (although I don't need one) , which hearing aid is best for me ( I hear perfectly) where to get my next education degree (I can buy those online, can't I?), where to get a new mattress (I sleep on the couch!), how to get rid of burning, tingling or numb feet (wear larger shoes!) , and oh, three different ads on why I should buy this newspaper!
I don't know why I should pay for a newspaper, after all, don't the advertisers pay for it? Does my 50 cents (plus tax) really help offset the paper costs, printing, or color pictures?
I've decided to abandon my paper reading and just leave the rest of the paper for someone else to read. I'm gonna do something more invigorating, healthy, inspiring, time consuming and something that might SAVE me money..... garage sailing!
Yes, this is for me. Stopped on the way home from buying the newspaper and followed the signs to the first garage sale I've been to in years. And did I get a DEAL...The guy offered me a FREE Saturday morning newspaper!
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