Just my opinion.

At newspapers today it’s about revenue and finding the bottom line. Generally, I think the people on the top are great with numbers but that's all they can wrap their head around. For the most part, I don't think they are conceptual thinkers. You know, see the forest through the tree if you will.

I read a blog by a former LA Times reporter William Lobdell, http://lobdellsoc.blogspot.com. Scroll down to "42 things I know". He made 42 points about his views of the newspaper business and it wows. He made a point about Google and Yahoo that I agree with and I would like to take it a step further. One person’s comment proves my point. He said, he was a small business owner who spends his advertising money with Google for key wording and it has tripled his business.

Lobdell said papers should team up with Yahoo or Google.

If I were Google, I would be thinking what could you offer me? News content? News content is readily available and free.

If a giant like Google made a concerted effort to take over and dominate Internet advertising, I believe they could, without to much effort. The revenue loses for newspapers would continue to decline much as they are with classified advertising going to craigslist.

Imagine newspapers having to pay Google for advertising. Similar to what they already do with wire services.

Newspapers put advertising on their home pages. Jumping, giggling annoying ads that people hate and avoid like the plague. It doesn’t work folks. Gee, maybe a new way would be refreshing. Remember the old day's when mom would say; I buy the paper for the coupons. Direct people to an interactive individual page where there are printable coupons and other bonus advertising campaigns where people can "save money". Get the crap that does not work off the home page!

Like Lobdell said the people on top are slow to respond to the changing times. I don't know what goes on in the big guys office but I would agree from where I sit. It seems things move at a snail's pace. I hope they wake up before its to late. It seems print media companies are desperately trying to save the print product while innovative thinkers are thinking of ways to grow their business on the Internet. Two years ago we had the "web first" initiative at our paper. That lasted 8 months. Due to sinking revenue and declining circulation we're back to the print first initiative. OMG!

If advertisers go to Google and classifieds continue to go to Greg's List where does that leave newspapers revenue growth? Subscribers? Ops! We let them go when we decided to give the paper away for free in hopes of generating new print advertisers.

I know this sounds crazy but it could happen. Lobdell's commenter who is an advertiser is already giving his money to a system that works.

Lake Powell soundslide

Click on the image to view Lake Powell soundslide

National Day of the Cowboy

Last weekend was National Day of the Cowboy. With all good intention Lorie, our sons dog Nixon, and I went to Sedona, Az..
We were to check out the western festivities. About 6 miles from Sedona we ran into stand still traffic. After 40 minutes and only going 2 and half miles we started to think this is going to suck big time. So I feel like shit because this was my idea when Lorie leans over and said, you won't break my heart if we turn around and do something else. Thank God, that was my out. We turned around and headed back to I-17 and headed North. We thought about Flagstaff, but we didn't fell like being in the car all day. Stoneman Lake exit was a mile up the road and that looked fine to use. So the day was spent sitting around letting the dog run and enjoying beautiful scenery, Oh and we did drive by some people on horseback that satisfy out National Day of the Cowboy requirement. All ends well!

A couple images from last year.

Illumination provided by a Coleman lantern. This photo is a 30 second exposure at Lake Powell. Last fall I went on a "photo mission". I have been wanting to do this for years. I finally did it. Lorie drove the boat and I took pictures. Lots of fun and no one was there. Click on the photo and you'll be able see the stars in the larger image. Very cool!



Bush Highway. I hope the people in the truck are heading toward greener pastures.

Monsoon rain shower

Jason enjoys a summer shower from a rain cutter at our house. The young lady to the left is my other sons girlfriend Stephanie.

July 4th

The wife (Lorie) and I went to the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres baseball game at Chase Field in Phoenix this July 4th. After the Diamondbacks lost 5 to 1 we watched a pretty cool fireworks show from inside stadium. Hand holding long exposures limited my success. Lesson learned; lug a tripod around or expect poor results (which I did).

Better luck next time!

This is a photograph I made a couple of months ago from a trip to Oceanside, CA.. Lorie and I went there for the Ralphs Half Ironman Triathlon. The sad part is as soon as we got there we both got sick. We spent the entire three days in a hotel bed with chills and a fever then drove home. Better luck next time.