Good. Now perhaps someone can write something that doesn't sound like an eternal funeral. Hell, I'd even tolerate Elephantman repeating everything Rush Limbaugh says.

Hart,

Is that where you work(ed)?

This column is funny, but really very sad. Maybe because I used to be a journalist, I realize what we're all losing. I wish more people did. With Fox News and Clear Channel controlling so much media in this country, real and independent journalism is dying. It's going to matter more than people seem to understand.

The local Chamber of Commerce head said that 'people shouldn't be expecting to have a job for their entire lives'.

Incredible coming from a man that hasn't worked a 5 day week in decades and makes a very high 6-figure salary defending the auto companies and chemical giant in the area.

The high and mighty are so high up now that they can't even see the 'little people'. Fodder for the machines...

scouring his letters to sniff out anything that varies from the one true way.

It leads to snark, which can be funny. But the thing whiny journalists seem to miss is that printed newspapers are not necessarily dead, but corporation-owned printed newspapers may be. What is happening now is the end result of actions from years ago with corporations buying up local newspapers - it's already happened with radio stations. Other than NPR affiliates, local radio journalism is mostly dead because of it.

The defeated can whine about this, but the survivors will look upon it as an opportunity. Much like the situation that musicians find themselves in, you're left to answer the big question of why you're in the news business. Is it because you love journalism? If it is - and if you're a wily practitioner of your craft - then you'll figure out a way to survive and thrive through the current gloom.

The fact is that journalism is not dead, just some of the older outlets of the form. Community newspapers are still managing to hang on, as are online outlets. What journalists need to do is to prove that they are valuable, that they can beat community journalists and bloggers at their own game and prove their worth by making themselves worthwhile. Just saying they are isn't enough.

And, for the record, I am a newspaper editor in a small city. Lay-offs have been hanging over my head as part of my daily work routine for several years now. To me, it's the privileged who are finally feeling that ax on the back of their next as well. But my feeling is that I can't piss and moan in public about it - I just have to prove that they can't do without me instead. It's a seemingly trite aphorism, but it's true - actions de speak louder than words. And living by words, that can be hard for journalists to accept.

My daughter's boyfriend has two jobs, $6 in the bank, and is always hungry. He got a filling dinner from her sister last night made up of fried Zuchinni and baked cucumbers with goat cheese. Should have filled him up for about an hour or two.

He rides 10 miles to work on his bicycle each day, even into strong winds from the north. Breakfast is a heaping glass of water. Of course, no gas needed - except human. Starting to live on beer, which has some calories. Or maybe not.

I heard all media is dead and the future is twitter - any random assortment of shit in 130 character bursts.

Having been fired and trashed by a major corporation, I can tell you that you will survive and adapt. To a lower wage, less benefits and no job satisfaction or security. Even under St. Obama, the sob's always win. Also don't depend on your social security, because I am 62 and siphoning off the fund on the 18th of every month. Good luck and have a nice life.