My Print Worlds Collide

Today is recycling day in my neighborhood and it is my most hated day of the week.  You see in beautiful Long Valley you have to tie up your newspapers and magazines separately - no you can't put them in a paper bag.  It occurred to me during the thirty minutes I'm sitting in my hot garage alone, that this is some kind of wasteful tribal ritual performed by people everywhere.  Then I remembered a letter I received in the mail today asking me to renew my subscription to the paper edition of The Wall Street Journal for twice what I'm paying now. Hmmmm, talk about worlds colliding.

Within the last 6 months I've subscribed to 4 newspapers during the week.  The Wall Street Journal, The Newark Star Ledger, The Observer Tribune, and The New York Times.  Needless to say, that newspaper pile after two weeks looked like Mount Rushmore.  I canceled the paper edition of the NY Times because I was throwing out more sections then I was reading; plus the electronic edition is just about as easy to read.  Ok - now I'm down to three papers.

The Observer Tribune is my local town newspaper, so I need to read this for local news; plus their website is not that great so I guess I'm stuck.  Besides, I tried getting them to reprint the best of my posts in a week so I ought to keep it just in case. 

The Newark Star Ledger is my standby for NJ news and sports.  The website located at njo.com has all of the stories, but I think it is too cluttered with ads so I don't like spending time there.  Finally, it is not that expensive and I need something for the kids to play with Playdough on.

Now comes The Wall Street Journal which is my primary source for national and business news.  Really it should be a must-read everyday for business people.  The online version is almost as easy to read and I actually use both so this is not an either or decision.  I also use the print edition to get material for some of my ad bashing posts.  On the negative side, it is expensive unless one of my Dow Jones fans wants to comp me a subscription.

So, now I turn this over to you.  Should I keep  the paper edition of The Wall Street Journal or not? You decide.  I'll do whatever you want me to do.  And, because people are afraid to post comments, I included this survey question for you to fill out.  Don't embarrass me and not cast your vote.  It will prepare you for the 2006 mid-term elections.

PardonMyFrench,

Eric