Portrait of a doomed business model

No offense to my friends in journalism, but it's pretty clear why newspapers are dying: they think it's still the 1980s.

A friend who runs a local business ran a help wanted ad on Craigslist. The ad was free. He got hundreds of responses, 50 in the first few hours. He eliminated a bunch of the candidates by checking out their Facebook profiles, and ultimately he ended up with a couple of good candidates. Did I mention that all of that was free?

Meanwhile, the same online ad via the Charlotte Observer would have cost $420, and $570 to appear in the print version of the paper. And both packages came with a time limit. Check out their rates for yourself.

It used to be that if you wanted to reach interested people, your local newspaper was the only game in town. It's sad that they still think that's the case.

The countdown is on

BiBi is waiting. We'll be in China three weeks from now to get her, but in the meantime she has to hang on just a little longer.

This journey began last July, when Lisa found a 2-year-old girl named Jiang Mei Bi on a list of children waiting to be adopted. In a whirlwind of doctor consultations and paperwork, we started the process of bringing her home. It's been long -- but not as long as last time.

Then last week we finally got the news that everything was in order and we had China's approval. We would travel at the end of March, with gotcha day on March 31. Nothing left but to book the tickets, start packing and enjoy the end of our Zone Defense family structure. Time to start playing Man-to-Man.

Sophie's been excited about her sister from the beginning, but now it's reaching a fevered pitch. Everything we own has become hers and BiBi's, from the sides of the bed to her candy collection.

It's fun, it's exciting, it's scary, and it'll be here in just a few days. And as if a new daughter wasn't exciting enough, March promises the usual work, ACC basketball on TV, NCAA games in person and a mini-Geek Weekend (featuring two side-by-side Rock Bands on HD).

Hang on, BiBi. We're almost there.

Freewheeling on Freecycle

What do you get when you post an online ad for 34 free concrete pavers? A ton of emails, a lot of respect, some bad grammar and a just smidgen of psychodrama.

I would love to be considered for this. Can pick up tomorrow evening. Thank you

Lori

Hello,

If these pavers are still available, as to whom you will choose, we would be very grateful for your consideration. We have a truck & would be happy to pick up tomorrow or anytime at your convenience. It must be difficult to choose from so many responses. Thank you for offering!

Kelli

I would really love to get these...............We're fixing up our back yard for a Summer Wedding & these would be perfect. my husband can pick up whenever you need

Thanks

Crystal

I would be very interested in these if they are still available. I can pick them up tomorrow if that is good for you. So you will know I am serious and will not be a no-show, my phone number is 704 821-5788

toodles
Neesie

SEE THE LARGE,OLDER WOMAN WAVING FRANTICALLY IN THE AIR AT YOU!!! THAT'S ME....................I CAN COME TOMORROW MORNING WITH HEARTY TEENAGERS (GRANDSONS) TO TAKE THESE OFF YOUR HANDS. THAT WAY I CAN MAKE A PATH THROUGH THIS WONDERFUL N. C. CLAY...........TO MY TRUCK! I'M NEW FROM FLORIDA AND USED TO sand ................ IF YOU HAVE NOT CHOSEN ANYONE YET, PLEASE CONSIDER ME.

I MAY BE OLD, BUT I'M STILL PUTTERING ALONG JUST FINE!

Jane

MY COMPUTER BURPED JUST ABOUT THE SAME TIME I WAS SENDING YOU A REQUEST FOR THE PAVERS..... DID YOU GET THE FIRST REQUEST FROM THE LARGE OLD WOMAN WAVING AT YOU????

sorry i was just a bit excited at the time

I imagine you have had a lot of replies for these. I am one of many who are doing a landscaping project and could use them. I can pick up most any evening if chosen, thanks for considering us, the Ellisons.

It is a very generous and rarely seen Freecycle item. Best of luck and happy freecycling. Toodles

I would be interested in these pavers as we need to put in a patio in the back. I am in Concord. Please let me know If i have been choosen to recieve them. Thanks

Hi, I would love to have the pavers if they are still available. I planned to do a sidewalk but haven't been able to so these would be great. Thanks, Darin

Our athletic association could use them at a make shift office we have.

My husband would love the pavers! He could pick up today too! We'll be outside doing yardwork, so just call his cell. Thanks! Lisa and Jimmy

I would love to have the pavers and would put them to good use. I've been wanting a path to a garden area in my backyard. This would be perfect! My schedule is very flexible... could pick them up any time in our truck. Thanks for considering...

Joan

If you still have these pavers I would love to recieve them from you. I have a van and could come pick them up whenever it is convenient for you. We are trying to convert some front yard space off the porch into seating area. Thank you so much for your consideration. You can feel free to call me. Again thank you. Terry

hi. if these are still available, it would be a real blessing to have these. we just bought our house in april and are talking about putting in a patio this spring for cookouts. we could pick up at your convenience. thank you.

michelle

I could really use these for my back deck/padio project. Thank you for your concideration.

Thanks,
Shawn

l could sure use your pavers as l have a cracked drive and sick husband who can not fix it. l think these would work or use in my back patio. Thank you. I can pick up on Monday if you choose me to have them.

I am extremely afraid of dogs. Will your dog be out and about if we come over in the morning tomorrow? I can handle my daughters dog but no others. I watched a child get mauled by the family pet. Both were raised together. Ever since I have major trouble with dogs.

A month of concerts

Squirrels and Giants and Police, oh my! After several years of pretty much not hearing live music, I made it to three shows in a month's time (and all within a 2-mile radius of the house). Each was good in its own way and made me remember what I like about hearing bands.

Squirrel Nut Zippers: Seeing SNZ without Tom Maxwell is like seeing The Beatles without George Harrison. Amazing, but with a major piece missing. The band is now more like the Katherine Whalen show with accompaniment by Jimbo Mathus. Still, it was fun start to finish, and they even squeezed in a couple Maxwell songs ("Hell" and "Put a Lid on It") to keep everyone happy. All in all, this was the most fun show, especially because Lisa came out too.

Verdict: The show I'd most like to have a recording of to keep for posterity.

They might Be Giants: I don't know how I ever got through my college music years without seeing these guys live, but that's now been remedied. I couldn't get over how varied the band's sound is live, and just how many amazing songs they've written over the years. For all their joking around onstage, TMBG is incredibly professional, and that's their one weakness. They aren't the most exciting band to watch, and their songs -- while fun -- are performed to perfection.

Verdict: The band that I'd see again in the future because their set would vary the most.

The Police: Again, I can't believe that I'd never seen them, given what a huge fan I was back in the day. The reconstituted group confirms everything I'd ever thought about them: Sting is one of the all-time great songwriters; Stewart Copeland is a peerless drummer; and Andy Summers isn't nearly as good live as he is in the studio. But the band is doing this tour right by leaving the backup singers and keyboardists at home, and making every sound you hear themselves. Sting played the "Hello, Charlotte!" card one time too many, and it's clear from his body language that he isn't crazy about being with his old band. Still, they played "The Truth Hits Everybody" and other rarities, so I can't complain too much.

Verdict: The show that I'm most glad to have seen for posterity's sake.

Run! It's the Police! (Update 1)

Two tickets, $90 each, section 116. Not bad. Should be close enough to see Sting's sexy yoga-toned torso.

Run! It's The Police!

A friend emailed to ask if I was getting tickets to The Police's Charlotte show. They go on sale tomorrow, and I was thinking about it, but I'm honestly scared that they're going to play nothing but the hits. As I told my friend, I don't really need to hear "King of Pain" for the millionth time, but I'd kill to hear songs like "The Bed's Too Big Without You" or "The Truth Hits Everybody."

I assumed songs like those would never see the light of stage.

Then I checked Wikipedia and found the tour set list. What the...! BOTH songs are on there, and "Invisible Sun" too!

I guess I'm getting excited after all.

I popped my cherry this week

I'm 37 years old, and it had never happened to me. Back in high school, it seemed like everyone was doing it, like it was a right of passage. But it never happened to me. Not even in college. I grew older, got married, and even had a kid -- you'd think it would have happened by this point. I was starting to feel like the only person left in the world who hadn't done it.

And then, on the way to work this week, it finally happened. It was a complete surprise, too. It's just like people say: it'll happen to you when you least expect it. And in Lisa's car, no less. She was understandably upset. He wasn't the best-looking guy either.

Yep, I finally got into an accident. The traffic ahead of me just stopped on I-485, and I couldn't hit those brakes hard enough to miss him. His Tacoma bumper took a little damage, but I managed to crunch Lisa Subaru's left front corner pretty bad. Nobody was hurt, which is the plus-side that I keep reminding myself of.

Here's where things start to get a little weird. The guy I hit doesn't speak a lot of English, and he seemed plenty happy to drop the whole thing if I bought him a $350 bumper. That worked for me because I'm trying to keep my insurance rates from going through the roof.

So after calling around town, cutting out of work early, driving to a dealer and buying said bumper, I get a call from my guy's friend who does body repairs. Apparently, more damage has been discovered to a taillight and the truck bed and that I'm now expected to shell out for that as well. Details on exactly how much damage has been done are sketchy.

With that information in mind, I thank the friend, hang up, and walk right back into the dealership to return the bumper. The claim is now completely in the hands of my insurance company and their bi-lingual agents. My rates my go up more, but at least I'm dealing with the back and forth anymore.

Radio communication goes both ways

It used to be really really hard to care about our local public radio station WFAE. Lately, it's damn near impossible.

WFAE prides itself on playing it straight and traditional. There's the traditional three-hour blocks of the tedious Garrison Keillor, the well-meaning but tear-your-hair-out-to-listen-to Diane Rehm, the generic black-oriented community concern show hosted by someone with the demeanor of a Quiet Storm jazz show host.

If WFAE was all you ever heard, you'd be tempted to think the spectrum of public radio shows runs from oatmeal to dishwater. But thanks to podcasting, we know there are creative alternatives out there; case in point: the entire KCRW schedule. In fact, there's a website -- Public Radio Exchange -- whose sole purpose is to CONNECT programmers with new and upcoming shows.

With this is mind, I wrote WFAE suggesting they look into one great new podcast/radio show in particular: Filmspotting. It's fresh, it's interesting, the hosts sound like real guys, they discuss movies in an interesting way, and once you start listening, odds are you'll be hooked. WFAE's response?

"WFAE really isn't looking to make any programming changes at the present time."

Fine. As long as that's the case, I guess I'm not looking to make any listening changes at the time. My iPod is doing a better job of bringing me diverse radio programming than my radio station is.

3/27/06 Update: I sent in my donation to KCRW today after hearing yet another beg-a-thon from our local station. It was the usual without-your-help-these-great-programs-will-go-away schtick, and it made me realize that on the flipside all the terrible shows will stay if I do give them my help.

Charlotte Barbies

I can't not share this. It's an Internet meme that changes as it travels from place to place. (See the Southern California, Dallas/North Texas and D.C. versions.) Apparently, places aren't as different as we might think.

Mattel recently announced the release of limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the Metropolitan Charlotte market:

South Charlotte Barbie

This princess Barbie is sold only at Southpark Mall . She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade Handbags, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

Lake Norman Barbie

The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

Freedom Drive Barbie

This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) ... unless you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.

Myers Park Barbie

This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.

Mooresville Barbie

This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and Tweety Bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud Light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free.

Gastonia Barbie

This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of her house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with Barbie Mobile Home.

Dilworth Barbie

This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair, arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her Willow. She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Dilworth Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

CMS Barbie

This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

NoDa Barbie/Ken

This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts.