China

China gets all the perks. First it was announced that they would host this year's Olympics. If that weren't enough, they also got the total solar eclipse.

You can go here to check it out in case you missed it. They have a few videos recapping the amazing event. Totality occurs a little after 51 minutes in the telescope-only video.

I will always be amazed by the cosmos. I do recall a solar eclipse when I was in elementary school that was truly amazing. ...Go on

Gas Up. TV Up.

USA Today had this in yesterday's paper. Turns out the increased gas prices are leading to more people turning on the tele. I also read about an increase in movie attendance.

The Big 4 networks (and total TV viewing) are up slightly, reversing years of declines, even as basic cable continues to grow with more original series.

"People are home more," says John Rash, media buyer at Campbell Mithun, a Minneapolis ad agency. "The sluggish economy may have meant more people opted for television as their entertainment of choice."

Unintended consequences of rising gas prices. ...Go on

When You're Smiling

There's no denying it. Being young has its disadvantages, especially in the world of journalism. You can look forward to long hours, low pay (if you're lucky enough to get paid), hostile treatment from sources and the often depressing nature of covering what's wrong with the world.

But, just in time, there is this site: windowonthemedia.com/JollyJournalist.

I heard about this in an Australian podcast, which examines the current media situation in Oz and around the world. So, if you're feeling the malaise of being unappreciated take a refresher course in what makes journalism great.

My reasons: you get to see the world through the eyes of others and tell stories. Plus, you aren't chained to a desk.

Why do you pursue journalism? ...Go on

Patch Print Problems In Three Easy Steps

I'm a parasite.

A leech.

According to this article in the Maui Time Weekly I am part of the problem, not the solution. Ted Rall makes some interesting market-based points about how to remedy the tanking print industry. Among them, all newspapers should pull the plug on their online offerings.

Other suggestions included copyrighting every article and cease participation in wire services.

Other key points:

• "The New York Times or the big city daily has better news, but how much better?" said San Jose State University business professor Joel West. "If it's $20/month (or even $10 or merely requires a login) will readers bother? Most won't. As with other commodities, better loses to 'good enough.'"
• "A reader of The New York Times' print edition generates about 170 times as much revenue as someone who surfs NYTimes.com. (This is because print readers spend 47 minutes with the paper. Online browsers visit the paper's website a mere seven minutes)."

...Go on