On the Virtues of the Old (Media)

Last night I felt #%$@*&^%%#$ because the column I've worked on for a couple of days got bumped to Sunday night (... wait for it). Everything is always meant to be, so I waited for the blessings of this situation to become apparent, and they did.

This means the zillion emails in response to any column won't show up until next week. That's great ... breathing room to work on other stuff. As those of you know who write me from this board, I try to respond to people who write in earnest. Sometimes you can tell from the header line whether to dread opening an email. Other times the sinking feeling doesn't arrive until you actually read words like this:

    don't we all: "I am not yet a billionaire but feel that I have so much in common with Warren Buffett..."

     for the thousandth time: "i am still at a loss as to why buffet feels individuals in the usa should pay higher taxes. Any thoughts appreciated."

     "alice darling," (eye-roll, please) "instead of spending your time listening to some bridge playing doofus, why don't you swing on over to my place, i'll have some wine, and a couple of steaks."

     but what about the invention of the microchip? "It could be said that the rise of China is a direct consequence of Buffet's advice."

Occasionally you get something  too good not to share. From someone who liked my column about Disney buying Greece: "I have the perfect cast for the Pirates of the Aegean role:  "Somali Pirates Say They Are Subsidiary of Goldman Sachs."
 
In fairness, this guy cannot spell doubloons. Which leads to another virtue of old media: editors. My column was held up by a piece on the iPhone, not by editing. But it's great for readers that editors question everything closely (not that I feel that way while trying to get a column out).