We're already at that point. Look at virtually any news outlet and you'll see a ton of stories from The Associated Press. News organizations can't afford to have their own reporters cover everything so they rely on a central source. And, despite that, AP is feeling the squeeze too. They're in my office building and they've had staff cutbacks. When newspapers first came into existence they were generally one- or two-person operations supported by selling the papers to people. Advertising created a shift in the finance. The readers still paid their share but ads added a lot of money to the coffers. That allowed news organizations to hire more staff and do more investigative reporting. That model remained in place for a couple of hundred years. Even 50 years ago ads paid half the costs and subscribers/newsstand buyers paid half. The real problem today is that the technology is changing so fast that no one can figure out how to make it pay. A circulation department that makes money today is a miracle. Advertising pays the entire freight and print advertising is drying up. And internet advertising doesn't begin to make up the difference. If the New York Times is losing money on the paper and barely breaking even on the web, they've got to save money somehow and they'll do it by cutting jobs. And eventually there won't be enough staff to get the news stories. So until someone figures out how to make a profit on the web from something other than a store or search engine, we're in trouble. And I guess we need a "getting off my soapbox now" emoticon.

The real problem today is that the technology is changing so fast that no one can figure out how to make it pay. The technology is also forcing those of us ink-stained wretches to adapt constantly. I started out with manual typewriters and copy paper. My first job with computers -- my first couple of jobs actually -- didn't have enough computer terminals for all the reporters so you had to wander around and find a free one. Now I'm constantly pushed out of my comfort zone. Web video? Sure, I'll interview someone on camera, no problem -- when that's normally the last thing I'd want. Mind you, I do think and believe that journalism will find a home, I just think it's going to migrate more and more to the web. Hence the need to make it pay. There was a report for the Poynter Institute earlier this week that the majority of new journalism school applicants are women, because, they said, men are more concerned about making money and fear they won't in journalism. (Poynter researches and advises the journalism business. If you're interested in changes, check out poynter.org. The Romanesko column has become something of a obit page listing all the closings and happenings.)

I'm on the magazine side and it's the same thing. In market research 80-90% of our job is working with databases that are elsewhere. At my first job there was a computer room with 2 computers for 6 of us to share. When I got to my next job, I had a computer all to myself (I was a one-person department) and I had to call a friend to find out how to multiply on Excel. 18 years later, my current magazine decided that they were going to focus on the Internet and drop all print research so I was job eliminated. Then they realized that they still had some print studies (just weren't buying buying them in the future) so I got rehired 2 days a week as a freelancer (no benefits but still way ahead of a lot of friends in the industry who got cut.) Nine months later they've finally grasped that the money just isn't there on the web yet and they can't afford to ignore the shrinking market in print so they're running around like headless chicken trying to come up with a business model to actually make money. If we weren't owned by a billionaire who cares about having this platform, the magazine would have shut by now.

At this point, why do they even announce they're having another kid? Of course they are, there's a new season starting, isn't there?

I think they are almost at the end. I think Jichelle was jealous of the new womb in town and had to steal her thunder. Michelle says that since she was 36 years old, her doctor has given her and Jim Bob pamphlets about prenatal testing since there is an increase of risk of health problems in babies with older mothers. But, she says they don't worry about those risks and don't take the tests. "We know what could happen," she says. "We read through the information. If the Lord chooses to give us challenges along the way, we know His grace will be there, so we don't opt to do the testing." I hope they are going to call it Jermajesty.

Tonight I had my first fencing lesson. I was the oldest person in there, because most of the students are children and teenagers. Still I had a good time, although my shoulders and legs hurt. This was something I have wanted to try for a long time, so I'm really excited.

That is SO cool! I'd love to try fencing.

This version of Swan Lake must be seen by every person on the planet. It is amazing.

I can't resist adding my kudos to the re-invented Swan Lake. Unbelievable! Who could even imagine legs "flapping" as if they were wings--and with the utmost grace. Thanks, Poeia.

Random question: does anyone know a good freeware screencapping program that can knock out batches of decent quality caps?

I'm kinda in love with this little old lady.

Now that's a broad what knows how to dust herself off and get back on that horse! Man, I feel like I should go out and get me a new boyfriend right now. I'll barely have time to have 23 husbands at the rate I'm going!

I know, right? I'm going to have to slam through at least 4 husbands this year if I want to catch up. Go, little old lady!