Vintage typewriters, Salmagundi West, 321 W. Cordova St., Vancouver, B.C.
Need a low-cost notebook computer as portable as a book? Why not try a netbook? Read Tim Walker's article in The Independent about the latest high-tech innovations available for a song. I'm thinking a netbook (in addition to my laptop) would be a wonderful thing, especially for travel.
Underwood typewriter, @Home Vintage General, 320 W. Broughton St., Savannah, Ga.
Another newspaper faces demise
The respected Seattle Post-Intelligencer is for sale and expected either to fold or establish an online-only presence. This is a huge blow to the Seattle area, particularly as its rival, the Seattle Times has a decidedly-conservative slant. The Times played a direct role in the election defeat of Democrat Darcy Burner, having twisted facts in a story, then refused to print a correction.
Fabric based on vintage Bingo cards and markers, Fibers Exhibition, June 2008, Savannah College of Art and Design.
A popular magazine succumbs to the economy
Sad news that Country Home magazine is folding. The publisher has announced the March issue will be its last. However, the website hasn't been updated to reflect the reality - it's still offering subscriptions.
Meanwhile, Al Franken won the senatorial race in Minnesota. So why do his right-wing detractors - O'Reilly,Limbaugh, Morris, et al - keep making up lies about the recount?
We can thank John McCain for unleashing the inane pronouncements of "Joe the Plumber," while the novice plays at being a reporter.
And Alaskans are wondering, where's Sarah? Another reminder of how we dodged a bullet!
I know! They're dropping like flies - Country Home, O at Home, Home Companion (and House & Garden already went). Who knows what's next? So disappointing.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 18 January 2009 at 02:17
Oh, man. Oh, man!! The Country Home news makes me sad. What is happening to all my beloved magazines?? I adore magazines. The internet is wonderful and amazing, but you can't hold it and drag it around with you and tear out pages to stick on your inspiration board. SHOOT!
Posted by: Relyn | 17 January 2009 at 22:54
The face of journalism is changing and many newspapers and magazines will fold/are folding. It is hoped the community newspapers will survive, but only if the local communities support them. Living in Paris, I read most newspapers online; yes, that's greener, but I do miss the weekend editions of big papers. Probably the only time I read an actual newspaper is when I take the train to London or when I'm in London. I occasionally buy Le Monde, but it, too, can be read online.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 January 2009 at 09:57
I hope the newspapers and print media companies can pull through this crisis. Though the internet is convenient for keeping up to date, it would be a sad day if that and TV coverage is all we have left to depend on. I had let my subscriptions lapse, thinking I was being more green, by buying just certain issues - but perhaps it's time I renewed some - at least to the local paper!
Posted by: tinker | 16 January 2009 at 07:14
I agree with you completely. The new Victoria, for me, pales compared to the old one. I loved the old one...
Posted by: Colette Copeland | 15 January 2009 at 06:15
I'm going to look for one the next time I'm in London. The ones here all have the French keyboard.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 January 2009 at 16:57
One of our daughters has one of these netbooks and absolutely loves it.
Posted by: Di Overton | 14 January 2009 at 15:16
Me too. I'm sure there are thousands of disappointed readers.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 January 2009 at 10:30
I love old typewriters too - but I can imagine keeping them dusted is not much fun.
A netbook would be useful in the kitchen for looking up recipes. Yesterday I was in FNAC, a big electronics/music store in Paris looking at the netbooks. I was quite taken with the HP 2133 Minibook, as the keyboard is still large enough to type easily, but was dismayed by the heat it emitted. Plus I've read reports it doesn't run quickly enough w/ Vista - that you need to order it w/ XP. Of course Microsoft is discontinuing support for XP. So I think I need to go to London and look at other netbooks available - or wait until the bugs are ironed out in the existing ones.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 January 2009 at 10:29
Oh, no - Home Companion? Cottage Living? Whatever next??!!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 January 2009 at 10:25
I will be sorry to see Country Home go. I have subscribed to them for many years, I especially loved their holiday issues.
; )
Posted by: Christina | 14 January 2009 at 05:09
Well, I just sent a check in for Country Home Gardens. So I guess that one is probably out as well? Also losing Home Companion and Cottage Living. What's the world coming to? I look forward to walking out to the mailbox each weekday and coming back with perhaps a magazine or two to savor until bedtime.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | 14 January 2009 at 01:42
How I love old typewriters. We used to have an old Adler - it was a 1960's vintage, sleek model. I believe it was olive green.
I think the netbook is a great idea, especially if you travel a lot. It would even be useful in the kitchen. When my daughter cooks, she sets up her laptop with the recipes from her favorite websites. It's easier to read than a Blackberry but I'm always terrified that she will spill cake batter on it. A netbook would be a good compromise.
Posted by: dutchbaby | 13 January 2009 at 23:40
How lucky you are to have that typewriter! I wonder where one finds old typewriter ribbons these days? And trouble w/ the NYT? Whatever next??!!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 13 January 2009 at 22:25
The Underwood typewriter in the first photo looks like mine. I keep it in my studio when I need vintage text, or that was the thought when I purchased it a few years ago at a yard sale down the street. The keys work fine but I haven't replaced the ribbon. On the to-do list.
Someone sent me a notice about trouble with the NYT too!
Posted by: kris | 13 January 2009 at 20:21
Yes, please do photograph your typewriter! The missing key adds to the charm.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 13 January 2009 at 19:28
Yes, I love those old films! As for the Chronicle, I remember when it was considered one of the top ten papers in the US. Sadly, those days are over. It is a shadow of its former self.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 13 January 2009 at 19:27
Sad to read that Domino is in trouble, I look forward to mine each month. Not a reader of Country Home however. I don't know that we have it here.
Yes, we dodged a bullet alright! LOL
Your vintage typewriters resemble mine, I'll photograph it and post it for you. Mine hangs out in the living room...minus the Y key. Not sure where it went. Although, I do have an almost four year old....! :)
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 13 January 2009 at 19:25
Well they certainly don't hold up the Seattle Times as an example of good journalism in j-school. I hope the P-I finds a way to at least maintain an online presence. The situation reminds me of what happened years ago in Arkansas. The Putlizer Prize-winning newspaper, The Arkansas Gazette, was bought by Gannett. The company hired know-nothing managers and failed to invest in the paper's growth and let it fall apart. Little Rock's second newspaper (which was not nearly as good as the Gazette) survived and much of the Gazette staff started a weekly magazine.
It seems the newspaper industry is going through major upheaval at the moment. Sadly, many more are expected to falter before the year is out.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 13 January 2009 at 17:56
Marilyn, I thought Mary Emmerling was still a contributing editor? In any event, it's disappointing that Country Home is disappearing. It's one of my favourites and I was about to go through a big stack of them to rip things out and thow the rest away. Now I think I'll hold on to them. I also have many issues of the old Victoria magazine. So far the new version of Victoria isn't comparable to the old, but perhaps it will improve.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 13 January 2009 at 17:50
Jeanie, I agree with you about the newspaper situation. It's very disheartening. I hope the Seattle P-I finds a buyer to at least maintain an online presence. Living in Paris, we've adapted to reading newspapers online - although nothing beats having an actual big fat newspaper to read on a weekend. (And Country Living is still in business; it's Country Home that's folding. It seems Domino is also in trouble; they've just had a big staff shakeup).
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 13 January 2009 at 17:48
Those old typewriters are amazing. Of course they make me think of my favorite old films with the newspaper angle: His Girl Friday, Ace in the Hole, etc.
I have to say that I'm surprised that better papers than ours (the SF Chronicle) are going before ours. Our paper seems to be so full of stories from other reporters outside SF, or just the AP, that I wonder why people even bother with a subscription. The other day I was in the Hearst Building and it was quite a reminder of how powerful the papers used to be.
Posted by: tangobaby | 13 January 2009 at 17:40
My family has lived in Seattle since 1890. We've always preferred the P-I. The Times has always thought it was "all that and a bag of chips" and been conservative as you said. I hope someone buys the P-I and keeps publishing it so the Times doesn't have a monopoly. Did you know that the P-I have under 200 employees to put out a daily paper? Pretty amazing.
Posted by: anonymous | 13 January 2009 at 16:54
I am sad to hear Country Home is folding, I have a subscription. I enjoy it more than Country Living. I was, however, sad when Mary Emmerling left the magazine.
Posted by: Marilyn | 13 January 2009 at 16:23
This newspaper thing is getting me down. The Detroit papers -- in a bit of a pickle for more than a few years -- have stopped home delivery except on Friday through Sunday. Our local paper laid off 34 employees including the entertainment writer who had been there for years and was amazing. Then they combined sections and now the free rag you pick up at coffee shops is rivaling it for size.
That's sad about Country Living -- always enjoyed that one.
Posted by: jeanie | 13 January 2009 at 15:55