Cold off the presses (Jack Bog's Blog)

We spend a lot of our time reading. But unless it's something for work or the blog, we read slowly. Books can take us forever. And often our hard copy of the the Sunday New York Times -- the only paper we have delivered any more -- sits around all week before we get to it. When we're through with it, we pass our paper along to a neighbor who's even more leisurely than we are. Often that means she doesn't get it until it's seven or eight days old.

Last night, we found ourself just finishing up the magazine section of last Sunday's edition of the Times, and it was one of those issues that reminds us of why we get the thing delivered. In addition to the splendid profile of Neil Young, which we had read on the web a few days before it appeared at our front door, there was also this absorbing piece about Cuba, and a 50th anniversary assessment of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring."

We'd have this happen in the old days, too, when we had the Times delivered daily. Occasionally there would be a day on which there was nothing in it, and then there would be a day or two with gold on every page.

The familiar thunk of the paper on our porch just occurred for another week, and we wonder if there's a smash hit or a dud inside the plastic bag. We may not know for sure for several days.

Comments (12)

A liberal boomer's dream. Where's my current issue of National Review? I need to cleanse.

Posted by Pom Mom of LO | September 30, 2012 5:58 AM

Drinking the Kool-Aid does feel good.

Posted by Sam L. | September 30, 2012 7:47 AM

The National Review is the thunkiest of the thunkers.

Posted by Langston | September 30, 2012 7:47 AM

Jack's take on the Times mirrors mine.It isn't about liberal or conservative. You who would dismiss it based on some misguided perceptions about it are missing some great reads on all manner of topics. Look at the variety Jack found in last Sunday's magazine alone. Where else are you gonna come away with absorbing information, entertainment and enlightenment about topics as diverse as Neil Young, "Silen Spring" and an overview of Cuba, all in one place? Even the daily Times often has an amazing array of in-depth stories you just don't see elsewhere. I pick it up a couple of times or more a week with my Starbucks (You can find it at most all their locations at get it at the drive-thru with your coffee.)

Posted by TimnesToRead | September 30, 2012 8:38 AM

It's to the point where people arent satisfied with just being anti-intellectual anymore. The movement is now anti-literacy.

Posted by Chuck | September 30, 2012 9:24 AM

The summit of Sunday morning. While I hesitate to pay $1 for today's Oregonian (and usually only for the crossword which has become distressingly weird over the last week) I consider $6 for the Sunday New York Times a bargain.

Posted by NWPortlander | September 30, 2012 10:49 AM

I had completely forgotten about Rachael Carson & Paul Erlich's version of the "Global Warming" panic of the day back in the late 60's. World population explosion was the settled "scientific fact" of the day.

And so many recent college grads with various worthless "Ecology" degrees can thank Carson & Erlich for their $ 10/hour waitress job.

I wonder if my old college books still have my REQUIRED reading copy of "The Population Bomb" ?

Posted by ltjd | September 30, 2012 11:25 AM

Completely agreed, Mr Bog. The Sunday NY Times is amongst the only newspaper publications worth purchasing. Totally worth every penny.

Posted by Mizzz | September 30, 2012 11:39 AM

Worth every penny to me as well, online.

I don't pay a penny (nickle, dime or however many dollars they charge), and I do read it sometimes cover to cover. No ink stains and I don't have to have that total guilt complex of knowing how many trees I killed, how much 'blood for oil' went into the transportation costs, nor the landfill issues afterward. And the smug sense of self righteousness I get because I'm so much more sustainable and enviro that my liberal friends, that it makes up for the fact that I drive a 200,000 mile clunker instead of a shiney new Prius. Priceless indeed!

Posted by Harry | September 30, 2012 12:41 PM

Does Cuba still throw people in jail for offending the party line?

Can you run a small business yet? A privately owned restaurant?

Can you or own a house? Can you afford to buy one?

Thanks
JK

Posted by jim karlock | September 30, 2012 1:47 PM

Ah... Cuba. My Grandparents went to the casinos there before Vegas was invented. When the last of the Castros are gone, I'm taking a half dozen new Kias to Havana and trading them straight across for 57 Chevys.

Posted by ltjd | September 30, 2012 2:45 PM

If you don't read the Times because you disagree with its editorial positions, you miss out on a lot. It's the same with the Wall Street Journal, the Oregonian, Willamette Week... By shutting out information because of the publisher's biases, you just make yourself stupid, or perhaps more stupid.

Posted by Jack Bog | September 30, 2012 6:01 PM

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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Cold off the presses

Comments (12)

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