Five New W's and a H

British journalist Paul Bradshaw is paving the way for a brave, new world with a fascinating reorientation of the traditional journalism axiom of the five W's (and an H): Who, what, when, where, why and how.

Paul suggests before a newspaper publishes stories on its Web site, each story is rethought to consider how the reader can "make connections - along these lines:"

• Who can I connect with?
• What did the journalist read to write this?
• Where did this happen?
• When are events coming up that I need to be aware of?
• Why should I care?
• How can I make a difference?

Paul's insight further lays waste to the tired notion that newspapers can just put their newspapers online and manage to make deep connections with an Internet audience.

Read all about it here:

Five W’s and a H that should come *after* every story

More later,


Mark

What Color is Your Browser?

Among the many statistics that I can view each day about the traffic at Mark's World is a pie chart that demonstrates the various browsers that folks use to navigate here. Check it out:


We're en route to another record-setting month here (more than quadrupling November 2006's traffic) and I was stunned to discover yesterday that only 18 percent of visitors utilize the same browser as me: Safari 2.0. Of the remaining 82 percent, most people use something called "Internet Explorer" which I barely remember from the 1990s. Also a wonder to me are those people using Internet Explorer 7.0. I believe Internet Explorer stopped releasing Mac versions at 5.0. Have you not seen all of the cool Mac vs. PC commercials?

Hi, I'm a Mac.

And what the heck is Konqueror 3.0? Does that come with a Dell?

Anyway, it's fascinating to see how people get to Mark's World. I will continue to work hard to make sure everyone comes back!

More later,


Mark

You Say 'Industry Leading;' We Say 'Stodgy'

Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi has a great piece in the current edition of American Journalism Review about newspaper woes on the Internet entitled "Online Salvation?"

It's a terrific, enlightening, thought-provoking article and must-read material for all Masters of Printing Mechanisms. An excerpt that should seem very familiar to regular visitors to Mark's World:

"The news may be the primary product, but the way the news is served online needs to be updated, too, says Mark Potts, a Web-news entrepreneur and consultant. He says newspaper-run sites are falling behind the rest of the industry in their use of technology. 'For the most part, once you get past the bigger papers, newspapers are not up to date' online, he says. 'They've got some video, a podcast, some blogs, yes, but mostly ... they're just pasting the newspaper up on the screen. That was barely OK five years ago.' Potts ticks off the tools that news sites usually lack: social networking applications, database-search functions, mapping, simplified mobile-device delivery technology, services that let readers interact with one another, etc. His one-word description for the state of newspapers online: 'Stodgy.'"

Read all about it here:

Online Salvation?

More later,


Mark

Wild Bears Win!

From our sister site, Super Bowl-Bound Bears, one of Devin Hester's outstanding returns as the Bears went on to beat the Denver Broncos in OT, 37-34:



More details:

Super Bowl-Bound Bears

More later,


Mark

Skip the Mall!

If you haven't been to our exciting Holiday Steals & Deals page in the past hour, here are some deals you may have missed:

• Seinfeld Seasons 5, 6, 7 or 8: $21.99 each.
• 12 bottles of Bath & Body Works antibacterial soap: $28.
• Michigan State University T-shirt: $8.80.
• Top Universal DVDs like "Cinderella Man," "Dave Chappelle's Block Party," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotted Mind" and "The Producers:" $3.19.
• 80 percent off iPod accessories.

Merely press the header right up there at the top of the page! We scour the best pages for the best deals, you merely have to click... And get your credit card out... And wait for the mail to be delivered...

Also, you may have noticed, too, that Overstock.Com is having a 10 percent off sale all weekend PLUS $1 shipping. You can't go wrong! Plus, Sharper Image has a cool, free memory game on the HS&D site that just might land you a huge prize!

Go! Now!

More later,


Mark

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mary and I were the guests of my Aunt Judy and my Grandma Kuglich for Thanksgiving. Aunt Judy cooked up quite a spread that featured this picture-perfect, 12-pound bird:



Here, my aunt is posing with her delectable turkey. The menu also included all the traditional fixings: stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberries and rolls as well as pumpkin pie.



My Mom and Dad were there as well. Here's Mom with Grandma who is 92 years old. Grandma is fond of saying "I get around but I'm slow!"



Everyone ate so much, we were all getting around slowly!

I hope your day was as enjoyable! I am all ready for "Black Friday!"

Thanks again, Aunt Judy!

More later,


Mark

CNET Kindle Review

CNET.Com has provided us with this video synopsis/review of the new Kindle. Enjoy!



More later,


Mark

A Bundle of Kindle Views

The Internet is ablaze with viewpoints on the Kindle, the "wireless reading device" that Amazon.Com unveiled this week. Here is but a sample of the firestorm unleashed by just a little Kindle-ing...

Let's Hope Kindle Is Only Chapter One

Electronic Books: If It Ain’t Broke . . .

Amazon's Kindle vs. Sony's Reader

Spindle the Kindle

The book is dead

Eight Opinions on Amazon’s Kindle E-Book Reader

The Amazon Kindle and paid content

Review: Amazon reader needs more juice


My 2 cents: I don't own a Kindle and have never held one in my hands, but in theory this is the kind of radical innovation that Masters of Printing Mechanisms like newspapers have given lip service to, but have thus far been too timid to try. The Kindle might be a black-and-white elephant, but at least it is a noble attempt to radically re-platform existing and emerging mediums. There are a variety of possibilities. I wonder if Amazon will allow all blogs to play?

However, I'll probably wait for Kindle 2.0 so i can read the USA Today in color. I like the idea of a lightweight, portable, easy to read gizmo that can store my favorite books, magazines and newspapers. Plus, as it is wireless, newspaper updates could make the Kindle as current as wireless access is available and as competent Web masters are prevalent.

I have an open mind, but at this stage, from a distance, the Kindle seems to fail the intuitive test for anything other than the printed word. And the content choices seem too limited. Some augmentation for other wireless activities (maybe e-mail access or digital music feeds) might make the Kindle more versatile and inviting.

The irony of using a cool video platform on Amazon.Com to introduce the Kindle which cannot utilize video seems rather ironic. On the other hand, I do like the idea of e-ink...

More later,


Mark

The Future?

There has been much excitement – and a far amount of debate – in the past 24 hours since Amazon.Com unveiled "Kindle." This device is billed as a "wireless reading device" and as the picture on Amazon suggests could have broad implications for Masters of Printing Mechanisms.



Read all about Kindle (and watch some informative videos) here:

Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

There are are already more than 400 "reviews," even insight from people who have never touched a Kindle. Jump right to these here:

Kindle Customer Reviews

The Associated Press has this story about all of the fuss:

Amazon sells own gadget to boost e-books

Kindle or kindling? Thats the $399 question. Obviously, as new technology, this is something I am itching to get my hands on...

More later,


Mark

Karen's Classic Column

Our family has known for a long time that my sister Karen is an extraordinarily gifted person. Now, the world knows!

Karen has written (for free, I might add!) periodic columns for her local newspaper, The Times, back in Ottawa, Ill. for several years, now. Little did she know the impact that one of her columns had on a young athlete. Now that impact is spreading, thanks to a great column by that newspaper's editor, Lonny Cain.

I can't do the story justice by summarizing it here, so I will just suggest that you click below for an absolutely touching tale:

2005 column becomes a keepsake

I am so proud of my sister! If you agree, it might not be such a bad idea to email Lonny, the long-time editor of The Times, and suggest that maybe Karen be added to the budget as a regular columnist. He can be contacted at lonnyc@mywebtimes.com. Be kind to him! He's a good guy. He's just needs a nudge in the right direction...

More later,


Mark

Christmas Is Just 40 Days Away

I'm sorry for causing that shiver that just went down your spine. But you have holiday shopping to do and unless you have your very own concierge at your disposal, how can you tap into scores of the best deals out there by pressing one button?

How about clicking below:



Yes, it is here: Holiday Steals and Deals! Filled with the latest feeds from the best bargain-hunting Web sites out there AND discount offers from top retailers.

Stumped for an idea? Press this:



And immediately you'll find great ideas, low prices and big discounts.

Consider Holiday Steals and Deals my holiday gift you.

Now get shopping!

More later,


Mark

Our Family's Chef

My nephew Matt recently shared some great news: He has parlayed his culinary school skills into a chef's job in Wisconsin!

In fact, the family helped pack up Matt for the move north the weekend my sister Karen turned 50! Talk about a whirlwind weekend...


Matt and Karen

Matt has accepted a job as chef at the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, Wisc. The renown theater is close to where Matt and his parents and sister have vacationed since he was a wee tyke. You read all about "one of the Midwest's most popular professional theatres" here:

Fireside Dinner Theatre

Everyone is extremely proud of Matt and excited about his new opportunity. He has been cooking professionally (as well as wowing his folks at home) in Illinois for a number of years. This looks to be a wonderful opportunity for him to hone his culinary skills en route to being the next great chef!

More later,


Mark

Wow! I Can HEAR the Counter Spinning!

On Friday Nov. 9 – LAST Friday – Mark's World had more visits and page views than we had for the entire month of November 2006!

Aye Caraumba! At this pace, we'll crown our Mr./Ms./Mrs. 10,000 well before Christmas! I better get my elves working on the special prize worth, as I suggested earlier, at least 10,000 pennies! And, in response to the many inquiries, yes, I will also throw in a deluxe Mark's World stein.

This is probably a good time to remind you that with Christmas just around the corner, perhaps you might check out Mark's World Crap-A-Rama for your many holiday gift-giving needs! I finally got to check out one of those fine, hand-crafted, old-world quality Mark's World steins when I visited my brother in Illinois and I was amazed at the craftsmanship the fine folks at the Crap-A-Rama put into each an every stein.

The stein would look great poking out of the hole of your TV screen the next time Rex Grossman comes in and immediately fumbles on his first snap from center (or sitting in a cherished shelf in your dining room cabinet).

More later,


Mark

Tony Traven Visits!

Our good friend from the old Shaw Newspapers days, Tony Traven, dropped by to say "Hi!" this weekend. Here he is at City Tropics, one of our favorite Indialantic haunts, where we got caught up on old times.

It's like they say about Florida: Sooner or later everyone stops by for a visit!



Tony was part of that great Northwest Herald team that set so many many circulation records and won so many awards in the late 1990's and early 2000's back in Illinois. He was our outstanding circulation director. Now he works for a spin-off company from the OAD personality profiles that were used to help create that great team. He's in business with our former boss, Bob Shaw.

Bob retired from Shaw Newspapers in 2002 after winning the Suburban Newspapers of America's Dean Lesher Award and securing Editor & Publisher's newspaper honor as among the "10 That Do It Right."

Tony and his wife, Robin, now live in California.

Tony has family in Merritt Island and Orlando and is working hard to build this new business. It was great seeing him again!

More later,


Mark

These Pictures Have Teeth!

Fred Zwicky has shared some of his photos from the grand Vampire Ball. His eye is just as keen as ever and, seriously, still almost as good as mine! Thanks Fred!


Fred Zwicky, Brad Keefauver and Mark Sweetwood 23 years after the ol' Tazewell Publishing Co. days.


Mary has some amateur theater background while, obviously, films are my forte.


The Count has arrived. Right after this picture was taken, I turned into a bat. Really!

More later,


Mark

House of Keefauver Vampire Ball

There is that one moment in every Brad Keefauver party that guests both fear and antticipate - and fear again! That is the moment that Brad, microphone in hand, compels us to do something.

During the Vampire Ball to celebrate Brad's 50th birthday, that moment was caught on video by me as Brad lead us all in a grand dance. Or something like that. It features a cameo by Fred Zwicky from the old Peoria days when the three of us toiled at the old Tazewell Publishing Co.

I should say that the video is punctuated by a rather rude vampire who declares "Pray he doesn't turn 60." We all pray Brad lives well past 60 years of age (after all, he is a vampire!) but we also pray he loses his microphone before the next party...

Enjoy!



More later,


Mark

Bad News Day

The nation's daily newspapers had to face the music Monday and release the bad news: Circulation is plummeting again. The gory details are here:

Many Top Papers Take Big Hits

More later,


Mark

I'm Back And It's A Miracle!

To paraphrase Barry Manilow, you wouldn't believe where I've been. The cities and towns I've been in. From Creve Coeur to Dayton and every town in between.

Woo. Woo. Woo.

We at Mark's World are a little tired, having just flown in from our secret trip to Illinois. Three hotels in three nights. Attended (and helped set up) two parties in two nights. I have stories aplenty (and video!) for later this week but here are a couple of images.

First, Mary, my parents, Eric and I surprised my sister for her 50th birthday Friday night at Hank's in Ottawa, Ill. Karen thought she was going to meet her kids for a quick dinner before a gathering of friends at the Dayton Ridge Country Club. She was surprised – to say the least – to see us all there.


Here's Mom giving a shocked Karen a birthday hug.


My present to Karen was a blown-up picture of my Dad holding her as an infant roughly 50 years ago AND the actual sweater that he wore which somehow made it into my collection and stayed there all these years. This is as close as we could get to an actual recreation of that photo.


Here are the three kids: Me, Karen and Eric.

On Saturday we headed to Peoria – East Peoria, to be exact – to switch into our costumes for good friend Brad Keefauver's Vampire Ball at the Creve Coeur American Legion Hall. This was Brad's way of handling his own 50th birthday party.

I certainly do know a lot of old people, as it turns out...


Mary and I pose in our vampire best.


The 'Man of the Hour' Brad and his lovely wife, Kathy.

Stories? Do I have stories!?! The secret surprise that topped the surprise dinner party? Someone's new job that requires a move? The dance craze that will soon be sweeping YouTube.Com? What surprise reunion had many vampires holding their collective breaths (if vampires do require breathing, that is)?

More later,


Mark

To My Dear Sister

Karen Roth:

Today, you expected
something gifty.
But I have photos
(because I'm shifty).
Don't despair as
your mind gets drifty.
As the sands of time
are oh-so sifty.
After all,
you're old and 50!

50-47=3!

Love,

Mark