Digital subscription
The digital paywall appears to be working at The New York Times, so it is only logical that other newspaper companies would try it, too. The Times' paywall is very porous. You can see most of the content if you follow it on Twitter, or you can clear your cookies and the site would still let you see more than the 20 articles per month.
I originally resisted paying for its content until my daughter asked for a digital subscription. (Two people can legitimately share a Times account.) I was delighted that she was interested in reading a newspaper, and I was more than willing to subscribe.
She is the only one in our family who has a smartphone, and the smartphone application comes with the Times digital subscription. One reason I had initially resisted paying for digital access centered on not being able to utilize that function. Since my daughter wanted the content, she would use the application. Maybe there is hope for newspapers yet.
Original news content is not free, and I wish the Journal success in its digital subscription model ("To our readers," Nov. 1). I have always paid for a seven-day weekly print subscription, and I hope others, too, realize the value of paying for our local paper.
TAMMY BLACK
Winston-Salem
Advocate for Israel
In response to the Oct. 28 letter "Gilad Schalit returns home," I can honestly say that I am an advocate for Israel. My reasons for it are based on several pillars, one of which is that my ancestors have inhabited Israel for thousands of years. I do not think that it is fair to deny the Israelites their freedom when it was made clear that many people around the world thought that the Jews deserved a homeland. The effort of these people formed a historic document known as the Balfour Declaration. Israel officially became a safe haven for the Jewish people on Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day), a fact that any Jew would know.
Now, let us consider the Hamas Charter. The writer has skipped over some important details. As most of the world knows, Hamas is a notorious terrorist organization. In fact, the Hamas Charter explains that its mission is to destroy the state of Israel by any means necessary, which, in turn, could result in yet another attempted destruction of a significant portion of world Jewry.
Those who are familiar with events in Israel and attend Jewish religious activities know that Israelis would be thrilled to live in peace and harmony with Muslims and Christians alike. This is made difficult by the Hamas practice of killing civilians and schoolchildren. Perhaps the writer could tell us how many Israeli suicide bombers there have been.
ALEX FLOCH
Clemmons
Promoting equality
On Oct. 15 at the Winston-Salem PRIDE parade I had the time of my life. I was there to support LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) equality and rights with my Equality Club from West Forsyth High School.
When I arrived at the parade on Saturday morning, I felt so uplifted because this was my first time experiencing something like this. And I loved the diversity of people who were there to offer support. Gays and straights alike showed up to promote equality. Generous people and organizations had paid for our club to have our own professional float in the lineup. I was ecstatic and beyond grateful that someone would actually do that for us.
We were on the float for all of 45 minutes and when it was over I was almost voiceless. The whole time we screamed to the crowds, who roared back at us. The embrace of the supporting people was so warm. The 4,000-plus lined the streets as the floats rolled down the pavement. I'm very lucky that I could experience it all.
With the recent spike in LGBTQ youth suicides, I just wish the kids who are slumped in a depression about their sexuality could feel the embrace of hope the PRIDE parade gave me. They need to know there are people out there that support them.
With hope, more people will come out for 2012 PRIDE and be instilled with a sense of encouragement as I was that wonderful day.
BRAXTON DRAPER
MEMBER, WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL EQUALITY CLUB
Clemmons
Not surprised
Some people were surprised when they learned that that Sen. Richard Burr had voted with Sen. Kay Hagan on the amendment to H.R. 2112. The amendment refused to allow American consumers to purchase U.S.-made drugs from a Canadian vender.
I was not surprised. Sen. Burr is not a strong supporter of limited government. He has consistently voted for government mandates and regulations that restrict the private sector's freedom of choice.
B. FRANK EVERHART
Advance
The digital paywall appears to be working at The New York Times, so it is only logical that other newspaper companies would try it, too. The Times' paywall is very porous. You can see most of the content if you follow it on Twitter, or you can clear your cookies and the site would still let you see more than the 20 articles per month.
I originally resisted paying for its content until my daughter asked for a digital subscription. (Two people can legitimately share a Times account.) I was delighted that she was interested in reading a newspaper, and I was more than willing to subscribe.
She is the only one in our family who has a smartphone, and the smartphone application comes with the Times digital subscription. One reason I had initially resisted paying for digital access centered on not being able to utilize that function. Since my daughter wanted the content, she would use the application. Maybe there is hope for newspapers yet.
Original news content is not free, and I wish the Journal success in its digital subscription model ("To our readers," Nov. 1). I have always paid for a seven-day weekly print subscription, and I hope others, too, realize the value of paying for our local paper.
TAMMY BLACK
Winston-Salem
Advocate for Israel
In response to the Oct. 28 letter "Gilad Schalit returns home," I can honestly say that I am an advocate for Israel. My reasons for it are based on several pillars, one of which is that my ancestors have inhabited Israel for thousands of years. I do not think that it is fair to deny the Israelites their freedom when it was made clear that many people around the world thought that the Jews deserved a homeland. The effort of these people formed a historic document known as the Balfour Declaration. Israel officially became a safe haven for the Jewish people on Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day), a fact that any Jew would know.
Now, let us consider the Hamas Charter. The writer has skipped over some important details. As most of the world knows, Hamas is a notorious terrorist organization. In fact, the Hamas Charter explains that its mission is to destroy the state of Israel by any means necessary, which, in turn, could result in yet another attempted destruction of a significant portion of world Jewry.
Those who are familiar with events in Israel and attend Jewish religious activities know that Israelis would be thrilled to live in peace and harmony with Muslims and Christians alike. This is made difficult by the Hamas practice of killing civilians and schoolchildren. Perhaps the writer could tell us how many Israeli suicide bombers there have been.
ALEX FLOCH
Clemmons
Promoting equality
On Oct. 15 at the Winston-Salem PRIDE parade I had the time of my life. I was there to support LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) equality and rights with my Equality Club from West Forsyth High School.
When I arrived at the parade on Saturday morning, I felt so uplifted because this was my first time experiencing something like this. And I loved the diversity of people who were there to offer support. Gays and straights alike showed up to promote equality. Generous people and organizations had paid for our club to have our own professional float in the lineup. I was ecstatic and beyond grateful that someone would actually do that for us.
We were on the float for all of 45 minutes and when it was over I was almost voiceless. The whole time we screamed to the crowds, who roared back at us. The embrace of the supporting people was so warm. The 4,000-plus lined the streets as the floats rolled down the pavement. I'm very lucky that I could experience it all.
With the recent spike in LGBTQ youth suicides, I just wish the kids who are slumped in a depression about their sexuality could feel the embrace of hope the PRIDE parade gave me. They need to know there are people out there that support them.
With hope, more people will come out for 2012 PRIDE and be instilled with a sense of encouragement as I was that wonderful day.
BRAXTON DRAPER
MEMBER, WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL EQUALITY CLUB
Clemmons
Not surprised
Some people were surprised when they learned that that Sen. Richard Burr had voted with Sen. Kay Hagan on the amendment to H.R. 2112. The amendment refused to allow American consumers to purchase U.S.-made drugs from a Canadian vender.
I was not surprised. Sen. Burr is not a strong supporter of limited government. He has consistently voted for government mandates and regulations that restrict the private sector's freedom of choice.
B. FRANK EVERHART
Advance
Promoting Equality, Braxton Draper: Go Titans.
ReplyDeleteBraxton, yesterday was a banner day for openly LGBT candidates in state and local election across the nation. Houston, TX, the nation's 4th largest city, re-elected it's mayor for a second term.
We've had 14 (billion dollar +) natural disasters already this year. No matter the cause of climate change, we need to be prepared for what is coming.
ReplyDeleteThe digital paywall appears to be working at The New York Times, so it is only logical that other newspaper companies would try it, too
ReplyDeleteTammy Black
Tammy: By whose definition, by what facts? Get with Bobby and put some facts into your LTE. You'll earn more credibility.
Pandering to the editors at the Journal will get you a free subscription to a worthless newspaper, that's about all.
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: Of course posting all of your content online for free was going to greatly affect subscriptions. I'm just surprised newspapers didn't utilize a digital subscription model from the time they first put their content online.
LTE 2: The destruction of Israel was a noticible omission by the original writer from the Hamas Charter. The Israeli govt isn't exactly an innocent victim however. I do agree with Mr. Floch's statement that "Israelis would be thrilled to live in peace and harmony with Muslims and Christians alike" and I'm sure the other groups feel the same way. You'd think you would get tired of skirmishes after 60 years.
LTE 3: Glad you had a great time Mr. Draper. Hopefully you will see a day when there is no need for a parade to support equality because sexual orientation will be viewed as just a part of that person just like someone's race.
LTE 4: Anyone who knows how much pharms spend on lobbying shouldn't be surprised. The US subsidizes the cost of medicine for the rest of the world. Mr. Everhart is forgetting that the ones behind these bills are those who pay the campaign bills. Big business is all for limited govt until people's choices start to affect the bottom line.
One of the more fascinating off year elections I can recall yesterday. OH said no to union restrictions, MS said no to declaring life begins at fertilization, and Mesa, AZ recalled Rep. Pearce who proposed and wrote AZ's anti-undocumented immigrant bills. People across the country seem to be saying they want economic changes only. They couldn't care less about social changes. If it has nothing to do with jobs or would seem to have an adverse affect on jobs, they're going to reject it. The people may also be seeing that the R's can be even more intrusive into personal lives than the D's. It will be interesting to see how much carries over to next year.
ReplyDeleteJoe Paterno, one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, has to retire because of a homosexual, pedophilic employee.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous.
It seems to me that Ohio voters are a bit moronic. Their union vote will cause them to lose jobs, and they voted to block Obamacare, which they can't legally do.
ReplyDeleteOf course, people voted for Obama too, so one can never underestimate the stupidity of Democratic voters.
I'd like to know how many college aged boys Coach Sandusky of Penn. State leered at while they showered.
ReplyDeleteAnd some people say homosexual leering is not a problem. I say bunk to that!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOqBpsh94xQ&t=1m30s
ReplyDeleteDuring the Wisconsin union protests Bill O'Reilly attempted to paint the protesters as violent, and rolls video to prove it. There is a shoving match, but wait, there are palm trees in the background. They have palm trees in Wisconsin? And they then cut back to the original rally. If you're not paying attention, you're none-the-wiser.
who cares about Joe Paterno, what about the lives of those innocent children.
ReplyDeleteJoe Walsh is a true gentleman...one of the Tea Party's best:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45227865#45227865
And Rep. Child Support Arrears (R-IL) recently got an award from the Family Research Council.
Rapes of men are now being reported at OWS protests. Cover your ass has taken on a new meaning anymore.
ReplyDeleteThere has been one uncorroborated report by one person of a rumor about a rape of a deaf man. She did not see the rape, nor has she even seen the supposed victim. Among sane, educated, people, that is considered to be just what it is, a rumor.
ReplyDeleteOf course, it is obvious on the face of it that Buckbutt is not a sane, educated person from his continuing obsession with body parts and sexual violence. Anyone who knows even a little bit about psychology can read him like a book as the pervert that he is.
The Penn State business is astonishing. This creep got away with his slimy behavior for 10 years after he was first discovered. How many people are guilty of criminal failure to report Sandusky's crimes?
ReplyDeleteIt would appear that 2 janitors witnessed oral sex in 2000, and reported to their supervisor, who did nothing.
In 2002, the grad assistant reported sodomy to Paterno, who reported to AD and VP. He was later told that Sandusky had had his keys taken away and had been reported to 2nd Mile. Some action.
No one reported anything to the police. Sandusky remained on 2nd Mile's board for 8 more years.
In 2007, after a mother complained, Sandusky was barred from the school district and reported to the police, who did nothing!!!
In the end, Coach Paterno is most responsible. Sandusky was his employee, so he had more responsibility than to report him to the AD. He had the responsibility to follow up and find out what was being done.
Now we have him crying on TV and expressing how horrified he is. Where was his horrification back then? Crocodile tears...he was crying for his poor little self who is being unfairly persecuted, just like poor little innocent Herman Cain.
The trustees have done the right thing by firing both Paterno and his pal the president. Time to see if some criminal charges can be brought as well.
Slime balls all.
Herman Cain is a monster, and Bill Clinton was a godsend. Please.
ReplyDeleteWonder what happened to the 11/10/2011 comments?
ReplyDeleteOops, the Thursday page seems to have disappeared. Of course, we know why. It was aimed at censoring our most knowledgeable and erudite colleague, the honorable Senor Buckduck. Somebody is always out to keep him from expressing his wise and generous opinions. For the moment, the prime suspect must be Senor Bob, since Senor Stab, due to major recent changes in his life, has practically disappeared from the site.
ReplyDeleteActually, this is a good thing, because it allows me to make amends for my own recent neglect.
I had a very busy day yesterday, so missed Mr. Floch's letter of Wednesday, November 9.
It is a classic of ignorance and misinformation.
1. He states "…my ancestors have inhabited Israel for thousands of years."
Really? The surname Floch originates in Medieval France. I was unaware that France was located in southwest Asia. If you did a DNA trace on Mr. Floch, you would find that it leads nowhere near Palestine. That is true of the vast majority of those living in Israel today. Only a tiny percentage of Israeli Jews can trace their ancestry to the land in which they now live. On the other hand, almost all so-called Palestinians have their origins there.
2. He also states "This is made difficult by the Hamas practice of killing civilians and schoolchildren."
Again, I must ask, really? Since formal record keeping began in September, 2000, 124 Israeli children have been killed in the "Arab/Israeli" conflict. During that same period, 1,463 Palestinian children have been killed by the Israeli military and Israeli settlers.
The totals for all ages show 1,084 Israelis and 6,430 Palestinians killed during the same period. 9,226 Israelis have been injured, compared to 45,041 Palestinians. Who is making what difficult for whom?
All numbers are as of October 25, 2011.
3. And finally, Mr. Floch asks "Perhaps the writer could tell us how many Israeli suicide bombers there have been."
The technical answer is, a few, some of them directed at their "own" people by some of their extreme right wingers. The answer to the question that Mr. Floch is actually asking is that the Israelis don't need suicide bombers. Every time a suicide bomber kills a handful of Israelis, the Israelis retaliate by killing a hundred or so Palestinians, a technique known as "collective retribution" that they learned from the NAZIs.
For this, they do not use suicide bombers. Instead, they use tanks, aircraft and missiles. Where do those tanks, aircraft and missiles come from? Maybe from the $8.2 million per day in military aid paid to Israel by US taxpayers. Of course, we know that there are no more fair minded people than we Americans, so surely we help the Palestinians out as well. Well, there is a number for that as well. That number is $0 per day.
Of course, the average American knows none of this, so is mired in the same slough of ignorance and misinformation that Mr. Floch is.