Not All Change Is Good

On a national level, the changes we've seen are good. We've got a president with a brain who speaks English and who isn't afraid of tough questions. That's such a breath of fresh air. I'm no longer embarrassed about the man who represents this country. I actually WANT to watch presidential press conferences again. It's such a refreshing change.

On a more local, work-oriented level, change isn't always good. We recently had to change our comics page. Also the crossword puzzles.

What's the problem you ask? Well, apparently there are a lot of people who claim to only subscribe to the newspaper for the comics and/or crosswords. The range of complaints go from slightly annoyed to downright outrage. I understand that. When you're used to something being one way and it changes on you, sometimes it's hard to take. Especially when it changes completely and no vestiges of the old are available to you any more.

However, when you start making complaints about the change and ask why because you completely missed the THREE COLUMN PIECE THE EDITOR WROTE EXPLAINING IT on Saturday, then you need to go out and get a flippin' life. Seriously.

If I were paying for a newspaper subscription, the comics - which I admit I NEVER read, didn't know what we had nor what we got instead until people told me - wouldn't matter one bit to me. I understand we all have things we like and dislike. Some of you may read the paper and enjoy the comics a lot more than I do. But if that's all you subscribe to your local newspaper for, then maybe you should buy comic books instead or something. Especially those who complained over Peanuts being gone.

Listen, I got news for those people, Charles Schultz has been dead for about nine years now. All you're getting are repeats. They've all been done before. Buy a book of Peanuts comics and you'll be getting a better bargain.

Yes, I'm being a bit of a bitch but honestly, we've got bigger problems here. Besides the economy, we've had two murders in our county recently. One was a second grade teacher at my oldest granddaughter's school who taught the same grade she's in. It wasn't her teacher but it's such a small community I know on some level she's going to be affected.

As I was leaving the office today a call came over the police radio about another gun shot victim. The crime reporter went out to investigate and all I know is, we're having a lot more murders in this community than I can remember in the entire time I've lived here. Violent crimes.

So I'd like to ask those people who took the time to call in their displeasure - especially the ones who were so vitriolic in the expression of their disappointment - WTF is their problem? Get a life and/or subscribe to another paper. Good luck. We're the only one that actually carries local news. If you don't care about that don't even bother with the paper.

With all the staff cutbacks and the crappy equipment we're expected to do our jobs with, I'd love to have them try and do our jobs for just one day. I have a computer that locks up on me at least once or twice a day. It's guaranteed. To try and avoid it we just reboot sometimes to avoid having it lock up at an inopportune moment. Like in the middle of billing or after typing in a really long legal notice that would make anyone's eyes cross to have to proof read. I know, I've had it happen to me and it's not fun.

The editor, who has the most updated equipment has her computer crash on her regularly, too.

So people, before you call your small town local newspaper to complain, consider they may be dealing with an asshole corporate office who doesn't give a rats behind about you or them and cut them some slack. It's not easy for anyone out there these days and being a nasty prick is only going to get you people who will put out the least amount of effort on your behalf. Trust me, I know.

Okay, bitch fest over. I'm going to try and get more upbeat about things tomorrow. Have a good Wednesay all.

[Nothing playing now. Just watching PBS.]