Tag Archives: anniston star

How To Get Around The Newspaper Paywalls

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Today, the Anniston Star joins a growing list of newspapers that are charging people to view content online.  The Gadsden Times started doing this around a month ago and they charge you $9.95 a month for online content.  The Anniston Star will charge people $13.00 dollars a month after the first month 99 cents promotional rate.  This change has created a huge backlash online on social media sites.  To me, I am not too surprised this is happening!

Newspapers all across the country have lost subscribers since the internet was created.  Many people have dropped their print subscriptions and have read the newspapers online.  So newspapers are finding ways to recoup their revenue by charging people to read online.  Some people have given up on newspapers all together because they lean-to the left as well.  The newspapers around NE Alabama / NW Georgia also does not like me Nathan Young and the Geek Alabama blog because I am competition.

Newspapers are dying, the website CareerCast named newspaper reporters as the worst job in America.  Newspaper workers across the country have been laid off.  And the workforce’s at many newspapers have shrunk through the years.  At this rate, I don’t see a future for many smaller newspapers across the country.  Sure, the big newspapers like the New York Times will always be around.  And by the way, they have a much better paywall system than the other newspapers.

Since this is Geek Alabama; I am here to show you, the average person, some ways to get around the newspaper paywalls.  The first option is to go to websites like AL.com or the TV station websites whom often tells the same stories as the newspapers for free.  Another simple way is to use a different internet browser when you reach the free article limit.  I have Google Chrome and Internet Explorer installed on my computer.  That means I can get double the free articles every month!

Have you reached the free article limit and still don’t want to pay?  I have found a very simple solution so you don’t have to pay.  To do this trick, you need Internet Explorer installed on your computer.  By the way, everyone should have two internet browser programs installed on your computer.  I have Google Chrome and Internet Explorer installed on mine!  Go to the control panel on your computer and click on Network and Internet.  Then click on delete browsing history and cookies.

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You open up the internet properties folder.  Make sure the tab is on “General”, then scroll down to Browsing History and click on delete.

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Make sure you have check-marked cookies and website data, history, and temporary internet files.  Click on delete and there you go!  I tried this and that annoying pop-up you see on the Gadsden Times website is now gone.  You have to do this every time after your free article limit is up.  So for now, I will use Google Chrome for my average internet stuff and use Internet Explorer to access the newspapers!  You have to be glad to not see a paywall pop-up!

Don't like seeing these!

Don’t like seeing these!

Before this post ends, the Anniston Star is putting a paywall on just about everything including videos and photos.  That means this fall people are going to get angry when they can’t view their high school football photos.  I have a great suggestion for TV 24!  Why not hire me and two other people who would take photos at high school football games each week during the season.  The photos would be put online for everyone to see for free!  More people will come to you instead of going to the newspapers.  It’s a win-win for everybody!

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The Beginning of the End For Newspapers

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I hate to say this, but the downfall of newspapers in Alabama is only going to get worse in the next few years.  Starting today, the Tuscaloosa News and the Gadsden Times began to charge people to get access to online content each month.  The Gadsden Times charges around $10 a month and the Tuscaloosa News charges around $13 a month for online content.  When these changes were announced, many people hated it!  And I believe the newspapers are going to make less money from subscribers and advertisers because of this move.

I would not be surprised one bit if newspapers started going under in the next few years.  For one, many people in Alabama don’t like the newspapers because they are left-leaning.  Many people in Alabama are right-leaning believers and they will not read anything that promotes the left.  So if the newspapers wanted to make more money.  Why don’t they stop talking about the Democrats and President Obama?  Another fact, why don’t the newspapers start covering some more interesting topics?  The newspapers do a good job covering local news, sports, and events.  But when I go out to cover events I always get the evil look from the editors of the newspapers because I take away their readership.

The photographers at the Anniston Star and Gadsden Times know me and I am friends on social media with them.  I know they would do anything to help me if they could.  The heads of the Anniston Star, Gadsden Times, and other newspapers sadly don’t like what I do.  Mostly because I lower their readership online which results in lower ad revenues.  Don’t you love it!  I believe many people would not care to see the newspapers go under for good.  Now the radio and TV stations love what I do and I have even been featured on them!

Geek Alabama rarely talks about anything in the world of politics.  Most of the time, if politics is talked about it’s because it will affect something in the geek world like the internet.  Geek Alabama talks about good news stories and things you need to be aware of like events, charities, TV shows and movies, games, sports, music, businesses, special people, or anything in the geek or nerd world.  Geek Alabama averages around 500-700 readers a day and it keeps on growing!  I have some plans to expand Geek Alabama with new writers, more videos, more pictures, more stories, more event coverage, basically you are going to like what is going to come on Geek Alabama!

I want to turn Geek Alabama into an online blog / magazine where people across Alabama, Georgia, the Southeast, and the country turn too each day for pictures, videos, interviews, interesting topics, recipes, reviews of products and businesses, geek and nerd talk, and more!  There is a market for stuff like this in Alabama and the Southeast and I think we will succeed!  If the newspapers go under, I really will not miss them!  TV, radio, and blogs is where people are watching, listening, and reading for their information daily!  If the newspapers don’t change their coverage soon, they will go under!   No doubt about it!

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A Day With Diane McWhorter

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To read about the 2012 Ayers Lecture featuring Connie Schultz; click on the link!

http://geekalabama.com/2012/03/09/a-day-with-connie-schultz/

On Thursday afternoon, Jacksonville State University held its 26th annual Ayers Lecture Series featuring Diane McWhorter.  This year, the event was held on the 5th floor of JSU’s stadium tower overlooking Burgess-Snow Field.  The views were awesome!

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JSU President Dr. William A. Meehan and Anniston Star Chairman and Publisher Brandt Ayers said some kind words to Diane McWhorter before she took the podium.

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Diane McWhorter is the author of “Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama, the Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution.”  This book won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction. This book was also named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best non-fiction books published since the magazine’s founding.  McWhorter also writes for USA Today, Slate, and The New York Times about race and civil rights history.

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Diane McWhorter is always obsessed for bad things to happen.  And yes, it does get on people’s nerves.  McWhorter talked about her trip to Germany and the visit to the  Buchenwald Concentration Camp.  She visited to conduct research for her upcoming book about Nazi rocket scientists like Wernher von Braun, who immigrated to America to become heroes of the Cold War.  Yes, there were former Nazi guards who moved to Huntsville, AL to work for NASA.  She even took her daughters to Germany to see the former concentration camp.  She wanted her daughters and other people to look at the victims eyes.  And the eyes of the guards doing the torture.

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Several photos were shown during the event.  The photos above showed the citizens in Germany turning their heads away from the torture.  Many people feel the civilians in the picture above were disgusted by the acts, but McWhorter believes they were upset more that they were forced to look at what they allowed to happen.

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The book “Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama, the Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution” is about Birmingham during the 1960′s Civil Rights Movement.  Back then, people were shocked to hear of white people growing up on the wrong side of town.  The City of Birmingham took the position that black people were rioting and the riots were staged.  During the protests, Fred Shuttlesworth used school kids.  And the Birmingham News refused to print images from the protests because it would make the city look bad.  One of the questions was why white people were participating in the bad system.  Just like George Wallace and Bull Conner.

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During the protests, Birmingham was called “Bombingham.”  Miners and workers from U.S. Steel used dynamite during the protests.  U.S. Steel and the manufacturing industry wanted to maintain white clan power as well as keeping wages low and preventing unions from forming.  When the Freedom Bus was bombed in Anniston, it was not the end of the violence.  When these riders got to downtown Birmingham, they were attacked!  The Birmingham Police gave the white clan 15 minutes to do whatever they wanted!  And sadly, the FBI was involved in the violence as well.

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One of the most shocking things; Birmingham police chief Bull Conner ordered the assassination of Fred Shuttlesworth.  And a shield was put in to prevent criminal prosecution of white people.  The violence did not end after President Kennedy signed the Civil Rights Act.  On September 15, 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed killing four girls.

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McWhorter says segregation stopped working, and “that’s when Birmingham caved.”  The media tried to expose the corruption by using fancy electronic equipment to interview Bull Conner and others.  McWhorter said the truth of living through this was much scarier.  And there was a conflict between good and normal instead of good vs. evil.  Today, Alabama is still going through some racism.  It’s not from black people, it’s from Hispanic people.  McWhorter compared the H.B. 56 Immigration Law to the civil rights violence in the past.  ”It’s not Jim Crow, it’s Juan Crow” said McWhorter.

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McWhorter is ashamed about why it’s harder to do things for the right reason instead of a profit reason.  She also talked about the torture of terrorists and why that was wrong.  When you think of cities in Alabama with a racism past.  You think of Birmingham and Selma.  But you can also add Huntsville to the list.  I still can’t believe that former Nazi guards were helping to put people on the moon.

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McWhorter urged the journalism students to keep their eyes wide open and to take notes.  This is something we all can follow!  Before the event wrapped up, Diane McWhorter answered a couple of questions from the audience.  One of the questions was about the Supreme Court case where Shelby County is trying to overturn Section 5 of the Civil Rights Act.  She called Shelby County as white flight south.  She even suggested that God is punishing them with horrible traffic jams.  She argued for the case of keep Section 5 because it would prevent state legislators from discriminating against race and class.

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McWhorter believes there is no such thing as a post-racial society.  The issues today are not about race, it’s about capitalism, money, and politics more than race.  She feels like people are afraid to stand up to corruption today.  And this country has a long way to go before realizing MLK’s dream.  Especially about poverty.  McWhorter believes we still see corruption in government today.  And she fears public corruption will get worse as the free press like newspapers keep on shrinking.  To wrap up her speech; McWhorter said “without competition, journalists don’t do very well!”  So true!

To watch the Ayers Lecture series with Diane McWhorter; click on the link! http://qik.com/video/57678701

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Nathan’s Thanksgiving Wishes 2012

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I think this is something that would do well during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.  This Thanksgiving I just don’t feel thankful at all.  I have been through multiple tough things in 2012 and this Thanksgiving just feels like a bummer to me.  By the way; Geek Alabama will be transformed into Christmas 2012 over the weekend!

No doubt; 2012 has been a very tough year for me.  I have been unemployed for 16 months!  And I am still on that quest for my 14th job in seven years.  I have tried everything to find work.  I applied to many jobs online.  I went to 14 job fairs so far in Anniston, Gadsden, Birmingham, Boaz, and Roanoke.  I have tried every temp agency in the area with no success.  I have gone to several job events for openings like Publix and several factories.  The only problem is hundreds of people turn out along with me.  I have also chased down any job leads in the newspapers like the Anniston Star.  But nothing has happened there as well.

During the presidential election between Obama and Romney.  I Tweeted out something that got picked up by Headline News and CNN!  I was so happy seeing my Tweet re-sent by many people!  Then I got this reply from this person which hurt me big time!

Yes; there are people out there who believe I am lazy and not looking at all.  I did reply to Douglas Cole and I have not heard from him again.  I also believe the reason I am not working is because of my disability which is Asperger’s Syndrome.  In some of the last 13 jobs I did; I was put in some tough situations where I would screw things up.  Some of the crazy things I did on the job include dropping multiple gas caps in the water, breaking the soda machine, dropping food, breaking plates, causing an accident with the bosses car, etc.  You name it; if it’s a fast-paced job I have a good chance of breaking something.

There’s nothing I can do about being clumsy.  I try to be real careful while working but sometimes I will mess something up.  And this results in costing the company money; and this will mean I am being fired!  So now I am facing my next challenge.  I exhausted all of my unemployment and I have only $100 in the bank.  I will let you know how that goes. :(

Over the last year I have had great success with Geek Alabama.  I have been involved with multiple great events in NE Alabama/NW Georgia.  I have volunteered with several events and with TV 24 Pigskin Roundup.  Many people have come to Geek Alabama to read the posts I have written and I love that!  I was on ABC 33/40 in 2012 and appeared in a Atlanta Journal-Constitution Google Hangout.  And I appeared in a UAB documentary in Birmingham.  Here are the videos!

I feel like Geek Alabama is only going to get bigger and bigger with time.  Sadly this will mean I will make many more state politicians angry at this blog.  I love doing that by the way!  The new mayor in Anniston Vaughn Stewart wants me to be in a committee about streets and roads!  This is a prefect fit for me but mayor first; someone has got to hire me!  Maybe the mayor knows of folks who would accept a disabled person who might mess things up.

I am hoping for a great Christmas season 2012.  I will start it off by donating all the toys I  got from the Activision Family Game Summit.  Enjoy the holidays everyone.  And hopefully I am not living in a car and homeless in Anniston.  I guess getting paid for anything is a pipe-dream for me.  Believe me; starving yourself because of lack of income is not fun!  Also wondering about your future is not fun as well!

P.S.: Sorry folks; I voted for Obama again.

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The Evening Post: Area Teen Deaths

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Well this is a post I hate to write.  But in the recent days in NE Alabama two teenagers from Oxford and Ragland have been killed.  First; Izamar Linares died on Monday at Regional Medical Center.  She was found unresponsive in a bathroom in Oxford High School and was taken to RMC where she was later pronounced dead.  If you want to hear more about her life click on the link from the Anniston Star.  http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/20588884/article-Life-cut-short–Family–classmates-remember-Oxford-teen?instance=home_lead_story.

From ABC 33/40.

Sadly that is not the death involving a teenager.  Monday night Kristan Cox was killed after she was thrown out of the car after hitting a tree.  She was not wearing a seat belt.   Kristan was a cheerleader at Ragland High School and here are two photos I took featuring the cheerleaders.

Here is the story from ABC 33/40 talking about this death.  http://www.abc3340.com/story/19898049/friends-remember-ragland-teenager-killed-in-crash.

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9-11-01 11th Anniversary

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Can you believe it.  On this exact day eleven years ago America and the world witnessed the worst terrorist attack in American history.  When the entire event unfolded just about everyone was shocked.  And it did change everything we think about our world today.   I would like to say thank you to all the first responders or heroes I like to call them who risked their lives during the attack.  I would also like to say thank you to all the people serving our country keeping us safe and our freedom intact.  I would also like to say thank you to all the people who are volunteering their time to make our communities better.  This is one day no one will forget ever again.  And visiting the 9-11 memorials in New York City, Washington and Shanksville, PA on TV is one thing everyone needs to do.

Last year during the Fireball Run here in Anniston several cars were done in honor of all the people who are serving our country and the people who made the ultimate sacrifice to help America defend its freedom.

Here is an article that I wrote which was published in the Anniston Star.  This story is about our thoughts in witnessing the attacks on America.  Never forget 9-11-01!

Most of us began to cry

“I was in school at Marion Academy, and our teacher said there is a huge event going on that could start World War III. We went to the library, though none of us there could believe what was going on. We were asking the other students that were already there what happened, and they said a plane went into the tower. Most of us thought this could be an accident until we watched the plane go into the second tower. Then we all believed this was a terrorist attack.

Most of us gasped and a few began to cry because we knew America was being attacked. Some students were talking about what is going on when someone yelled that one of the towers was starting to lean. Then one of the towers collapsed. Some in the library screamed, some cried, and some were silent and in shock. We were all stunned. Everyone knew people were getting killed; most of us in the library thought more than 10,000 were killed.

How could this happen in America, what is in store in the future, could things get any worse? We were high school students then and we were thinking about what could happen next. When I got home, I went immediately back to a TV to continue watching the non-stop coverage. I was still stunned and shocked about what happened that day.

I kept my little brother from watching any news coverage; he watched kid’s shows for the rest of the day. I just kept watching the coverage and reading stories on the Internet until I went to bed that night. The next morning at school, the entire school had a prayer and a talk about what happened. That is one day I will always remember.

Nathan Young
Anniston

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Justin Sollohub Wreath Laying Ceremony

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On midday Friday a wreath laying ceremony was held for former Anniston Police officer Justin Sollohub who was shot and killed on August 24, 2011.  Around 100 people turned out to see the Anniston Police Honor Guard deliver a wreath to the Justin Sollohub Memorial at the Anniston Centennial Memorial Park.  I was there and shot video and photos of the ceremony.  For even more photos from the Anniston Star click on the link.

http://www.consolpub.com/slideshows/as/20120824sollohub/

Our Big Problem Town Hall Meeting

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On Thursday night I attended a town hall meeting hosted by the Anniston Star.  I watched a portion of the HBO documentary The Weight of the Nation.  Then a discussion was held by the people there on what we can do to solve the obesity crisis in Calhoun County and across the country.  To learn more about The Weight of the Nation and watch the documentary online go to http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/.

Here is the Anniston Star article about the meeting.  http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/19072414/article-Ideas–philosophies-shared-at-meeting-on–Our-Big-Problem-?instance=home_lead_story

During the documentary;  most people in the room were surprised that heart disease and plaque in the arteries was present in young children.  People also agreed that obesity hits the low-income people the hardest because it’s cheaper for a large family to eat cheap unhealthy food.  There are options to help low-income families to afford healthier food.  Removing taxes on fruits and vegetables and putting on a new tax on soft drinks and processed foods in my belief is a great option to get people to eat healthier.  But the current political environment in Montgomery will not allow that to happen.  But local cities could do something like this.

Most people said that kids needs role-models in their lives.  Anyone from coaches, teachers, volunteers, and community members could be used as mentors to inspire kids to eat healthier and live by example.  Kids also look up to their parents.  So when they see parents eating junk food or pulling out a frozen pizza for dinner after hard work is not leading by example.  It can still be frozen but it can be healthier.  One thing I would suggest is community cooking classes for anyone so they can learn ways to cook healthier for low-cost and it is quick.  Parents also needs to inspire kids to be active.  If kids see their parents active and in shape; they will be inspired as well.  One thing I liked that was suggested was sitting down together and having a family meal.

Schools also needs to teach kids about healthy eating and being active.  I would like to see P.E. classes required all the way through high school.  And the excuse of having a doctor note is not valid in most cases.  During P.E. classes try out new ways of being active throughout the year instead of doing the basic sports.  I would also like to see recess in schools as well.  During the school year time could be taken to teach younger kids about eating healthy and being active.  Another thought could be teaching high school students to cook healthier while at school.  But the community also has to be involved in getting people healthier as well.  The knowledge to fix a healthy meal is not there anymore.  And that needs to be changed.

One thing I liked about what Disney is doing is not allowing TV ads based on junk food on their channels aimed at kids.  People agreed sadly that some people get information on food by watching TV.  The businesses marketing unhealthy food does not have the best interest in the American people.  Do you also notice that there are many other infomercials about diets and exercise programs about getting healthier and it’s not working.  People also agreed that everyone needs to spend less time watching TV or being on a computer.  At the same time grocery stores have to always compete with the unhealthy fast food joints.  Stores could put out ingredient lists for a meal and you could pick up quick.  Publix does this by having someone demonstrating making a meal each weekday.

The community also needs to make the change.  One thing I really support is complete streets.  Which reduces the road size to slow people down and adds sidewalks and bike lanes to make it a safer environment.  Parks also needs an update.  The traditional playground and basketball courts will not make everyone happy and gets boring.  Why not add a skateboard park, or a paintball park, or more swimming options.  Kids love getting dirty and cities needs to capitalize on that even with the liability issue.  Also the communities needs to be safer.  Some areas are not safe for kids to play outside and that needs to change.  One person suggested fruit and vegetable trucks to replace the ice cream trucks you see during the summer.  Another suggestion was a community garden.

Also the area needs to advertise the great options we have got like the Chief Ladiga trails and the Coldwater Mountain Bike Trails.  Communities also needs to increase access in doctors and health care.  Some people can not afford health care because of the costs.  People also needs to enjoy what they eat, be wise in what they are eating, and know what they are eating.  Everyone knows people needs lifestyle and culture changes but it’s not brain surgery to make these changes.  Another great suggestion is to know your BMI and eat breakfast!  It’s not wrong to eat a cookie or a donut but not eat too many at once.   Over time it has become acceptable to be overweight and that needs to change.  We need to change the view of the public that being overweight is not okay.  I thought that was very thoughtful.

Overall this was a great meeting.  This is something that I hope will catch fire over time.  By the way I do Shape Up! here on Geek Alabama.  Watch the video below to learn more.

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Shape Up! – Week 21

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This is week 21 in my series of Shape Up!  The weekly post on what I did over the last week in my quest to getting healthier.

So over the last week I have been in panic mode.  I still can not find a job.  And I am only a few weeks away from my one year anniversary of being out of work.  I went to yet another job fair last week and had two calls for interviews but yet again they went and hired someone else.  I even applied to try to win a job but I have not heard back from these people yet.  This trying to find a job and on some days not put a post on the blog until as late as 3:00pm is getting old.  I just wish someone out there would see my talents and give me a chance.  I know I am searching for my 14th job in 6 1/2 years.  Please just have someone out there hire me!

Now I saw this report from the Anniston Star that should come as no surprise.  Alabama high school students has one of the highest soda-consumption rates in the country and this should give chills to everyone.  These numbers below if true would mean Alabama is the fattest state in the country.

The study, an annual survey of 15,500 students in 158 schools nationwide, concluded that 17 percent of Alabama students in grades 9 through 12 were obese in 2011. Another 15.8 percent were considered overweight – meaning that 32.8 percent of Alabama high school students were above what is considered a healthy weight. The study calculated overweight and obesity using the students’ self-reported height and weight.

Approximately 41 percent of Alabama students reported drinking at least one soda per day. That’s the highest rate in the nation, though other Deep South states were close behind. Thirty-one percent said they drank two per day, and 19 percent said they drank three sodas or more. Again, other Deep South states were within a percentage point of Alabama’s numbers.

I would see this as no surprise.  And I would give this two reasons why Alabama is the fattest state in the country.  One; we have a culture of eating unhealthy foods.  People in the south including me enjoys eating fried foods and many desserts as well.  And with some people being poor the cheap unhealthy foods are all they can afford.  If you are a poor family of 4 or more.  What are you going to buy; a pack of cookies for $1 or a carton of strawberries for $4?  Plus to add insult to injury Alabama charges a high sales tax for everything including groceries.

I would love to see the people and governments in Alabama embrace people to have a better lifestyle.  Including ways for families to eat healthier while saving money.  That would mean the government of Alabama would need to quit charging people taxes on groceries.  I wonder how well that will go?  Plus when I go walking along the side of the road I would appreciate not getting harassed by other drivers and the police.  I found this interesting infographic about what happens to your body when you lose weight and fat.  It is very interesting.

Here is what I ate:

Saturday: Sub sandwich, Sweet tea, Fruit bar.

Sunday: Chicken breast, Brown rice, Sweet tea, Fruit bar.

Monday: Yogurt, Small pizza, Sweet tea, Fruit bar.

Tuesday: Yogurt, Ham steak, Brown rice, Sweet Tea, Fruit bar.

Wednesday: Yogurt, Hotpockets, Sweet tea, Fruit bar.

Thursday: Yogurt, Ham steak, Brown rice, Sweet tea, Fruit bar.

Friday: Yogurt; Hotpockets; s’mores, Sweet tea.

Have a great week everyone!

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Sad Day for Newspapers

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http://blog.al.com/al/2012/05/alabama_media_group_a_new_digi.html

If you missed the announcements this morning it has to hit you hard if you love newspapers.  The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Mobile Press-Register and the New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune have all announced they are cutting back the print editions of their newspapers to three days a week.  The affected newspapers starting in fall 2012 will only be printed on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.  And the online media content will be expanded.  But these cutbacks are going to affect many employees and contractors who deliver the newspapers to the houses every morning.  And for the people who love to hold something in their hands to read something.  They are having a bad day right now.

But is this something we all knew was eventually coming?  I mean more and more people get their news from various online sources now.  Plus more and more people are growing tired of newspapers because they have an left-leaning slant toward news.  Also; have you seen the redesign of al.com?  Many people have already commented saying they do not like it.  I tend to agree with them as it looks confusing.

The future of media and getting news is something James Spann has been preaching for a while now.

http://www.bigbrainsmedia.com/2012/03/24/who-are-we/

We believe the old broadcasting model is dead. Other models that are going away…

*Broadcast networks
*Traditional, over the air delivery of programming
*Broadcast towers and antennas

Not only newspapers are slowly dying; but our average TV stations are slowly dying as well.  What is going to take over that old media platform?  It’s blogs!  Blogging has grown over the last few years and has become relevant news sources.  Geek Alabama has also seen great traffic growth and it’s only getting better.  I would not be surprised in 20 years blogging becomes a major news source!  Also podcasting is only going to get stronger as well!  The cool thing about all of this is anyone can start-up a blog or podcast and become a major media source over time.  Also anyone can become an instant news reporter through their phone!  I am sure you have also seen many stories from someone’s social media account.  I encourage you to watch this video when James Spann spoke about social media.

I’m sorry to see the newspapers slowly going away.  I get the Anniston Star daily and read multiple news websites daily.  But the future of news is changing for the better!  And that should get anyone excited!  That’s why the internet is open to anyone!

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