The New York Times is my hometown newspaper.
I was born in New York City and grew up in
Manhattan. Why would I read The Washington Post?
Some people think the NYTimes is too liberal. Some people think it’s not liberal enough. I think it’s just
too big.
The September 14th weekend paper had 416 pages.
The September 22nd issue had 558 pages, and the September 29 issue had 320 pages.
I’ve written five books. All of them combined aren’t
as long as a week of the NY Times.
If I haven’t read all of the weekend news by Sunday night, I’m filled with guilt. My I.Q. lowers. My blood pressure rises.
Who has the time to read all that stuff? And that’s only the weekend paper. Who can afford to buy, to eat,
to see all that stuff?
I could get rid of five sections in a second.
First, the Style section must go. My style doesn’t change from Sunday to Sunday. As a matter of fact, it hasn’t changed in thirty years.
I don’t care about the weddings of people I don’t know.
I wasn’t invited. I don’t care where they went to
school, what they do for a living, how they met or
who their parents are. I never met their parents either. I’m still trying to figure out my own three weddings.
Next to go is the Sports section. The money the players make is obscene compared to teachers and nurses salaries. 
My husband’s a Yankee fan. But nobody’s perfect.
Politics is the big news every day. It’s like having a Super Bowl Sunday 24/7. But the players are the Democrats and the Republicans and the stadium is Washington, D.C.
Football, baseball, basketball all have a limited season. Politics goes on and on and on. You have to pay $3,295 plus a hefty service fee—and you must buy two tickets—to get tickets to Superbowl Sunday.
On Tuesday, November 3rd, you don’t have to pay anything to vote but, depending on the outcome of the election, you’ll be bearing the costs morally, culturally, and financially for four years.
Which team are you routing for? Who scored today? Who’s out today? Who do you think is going to win?
Third, why a Business section? Got money to invest? Buy the Wall Street Journal.
Fourth, the Real Estate section is ridiculous. Nobody
can afford to live in Manhattan. That’s why there’s a
New Jersey.
Fifth, the Food section. A recipe for gluten-free, pumpkin, cinnamon, walnut banana bread is not news.
I don’t make anything that has more than one flavor
or more than three ingredients (plus spices).
So what’s news?
“However, The New York Times reported
the couple’s divorce has included fights
over kitchen renovations, fountain pens,
cigars and the dividing of their assets.”
Guiliani’s divorce is not news. It’s his third one and
I hope his third wife gets all the fountain pens and
cigars and everything else and more, and I don’t
even know her.
My grandmother always said, “No news is good news.”
When I ask my grandkids “What’s new?” they usually
say “Nothing.”
But I’ll tell you what’s news.
News to me is when anyone in the White House isn’t lying.
News to me is if I could fit into a size 10.
News is when my husband puts down the toilet seat.
Of course I’m being silly. But there’s so much going on
in the world that’s important, why is one of the world’s significant newspapers turning into a bunch of magazines?
If I want to read about Guiliani’s divorce, I’ll choose a long check out line at Shoprite and read the Enquirer while I wait.
The news on TV and cable isn’t much better. CBS, NBC, ABC news focuses on murders, the weather and sports. The newscasters’ white teeth are blinding and they always seem to be having so much fun with each other. I’m never that happy that early in the morning.
Fox news makes me violent.
The MSNBC and CNN newscasters all say the same things. Then they bring in experts who agree with them.
I don’t have an iphone to check out news and everything and everybody every minute so that’s another headache I don’t have to have.
It’s news to nobody that PBS Television has worthwhile programing. But there goes the evening. Who’s going to turn off Downton Abby to watch a Trump rally?
But I can get good news—well, not good like happy.
There is no good news today. But good like real news
on NPR and WNYC radio FM stations. I listen to them in bed before I go to sleep. So instead of worrying about family stuff, I can worry about the world.
Who–where–do you get your news from?
You’re just a button click away and I’d love
to hear from you.
About your world, your family, your joys and frustrations, growing up, growing older, even recipes– even though I stopped cooking–by request–years ago.
Goodbye until next time…
Hope your day turns out
as well as I hope
(but doubt) mine will,
Gingy (Ilene)
Chuckling with memories of my childhood… My parents had NYT, NY Observer, The Village Voice, WSJ and The Star Ledger delivered. Heaven’s to murgatroyd …. all the news that’s fit to print! I’m also haunted by a story my mother told…… her girlfriend was dating a man, one night as she was wrapping up fishbones in newspaper, the woman saw her boyfriend’s wedding announcement. yikes!
Love to you Ilene!
Hi Ilene, my sister and husband from California and I just met you and your husband in line at port authority. Reading your blog on the bus….. you are so funny. So happy to have met you both!!!
I realized that I do read the Week in Review. Saves a lot of time.
Interesting. Here’s what I do – I read the paper edition of the NYT’s front section ie international and national and opinion page, especially when it’s Frank Bruni or Gail Collins day and sometimes Paul Krugman. Once in a while if something good catches my attention i glance at the Arts section, but most of the time no because I don’t live in NYC so I’ll never see the good shows unless several years later they come west. Sunday I read most of the Opinion section besides the front section. Peter flips through the Food section so I guess it’s ‘chaque a son gout’ for that section. Mostly he just peruses the NYT food on-line. We’re just back from Japan and we could keep tabs on impeachment on-line but a day earlier news. OK, never say never.
LA and SF news I only get summaries on line. That’s how I stay in the know about what I want to know.
Amen, sister!
Pocket xx
PS I refuse to read the Daily News or NY Post. They are not worth the paper they are printed on. 95% ads, 4% malicious gossip, 1% “news.” Everything else you said in your blog is SO true. Love it
Growing up, I used to read the Herald Tribune (my 5th grade teacher taught me how to fold it to read on the bus or subway) or the Daily Mirror if I was desperate. I thought they were the best of all the NYC newspapers. Maybe that explains why they went under. I also don’t get news on my phone, so the paper is my portable news method. I am horrified at the cost of the Times. Only the rich can afford it now. I sometimes read the Sunday Times though. I try to whittle those recipes down to 4 ingredients or less, I look at the arts section, since I was an art major, and I don’t get to galleries any more. I look at Style for small talk conversation and to drool over things I can’t afford to buy since this is the closest I will ever get to them. I skim the “news”. I used to do the crossword puzzles religiously, but there’s a calendar for that now. The other sections I give to the Nursery School downstairs to sop up spills at their water table or to protect the wood at their art table. And the Times does have some human interest stories, which are far better than the negative news (vast majority) that gets reported. Isn’t there any positive news any more? I guess that doesn’t sell well, which doesn’t say much for people. I read most of my “news” online–the pictures are in color–and they have lots of human interest and animal stories which make me smile. Plus, at the click of a button, I can play my brain games. LOVE the shoes. You should do a before/after (single/married) column one month.
Plus — The New York Times (remember to capitalize the The!) costs too much for too much bad news! Love, Sally
I guess you will think I must be weird because I subscribe to 3 newspapers- NYT, WSJ and the Bergen Record. They each have their own particular features and sections that I enjoy and find informative
Ginny, this is your best blog! You sound so wise! I am a news junkie but I am getting tired of the constant news anchors who are always guessing what Trump will do next! I now read the arts, science, and sometimes the sports sections first. But I do take voting very seriously!
I love this, agree with all. I get the Times and the Washington Post in my email every day. I quickly check out the headlines and don’t read any articles, unless it calls me. I like many columnists. Today I read in The Hill that 72 percent say traditional outlets ‘report news they know to be fake, false, or purposely misleading.’ I am one of those 72%. I don’t believe them, can’t believe the crap they pass off as news, as you say Guiliani etc, Trump’s tweets. Distractions. Plus it’s all so depressing, I lose sleep over the future, would rather not stoke that fire. Like my father always said, “You have to read between the lines.” If things go on like they are, we might not have a world in a while. You picked a great topic. Thanks for making us think about it. You should have a column in a newspaper!
I love this, agree with all. I get the Times and the Washington Post in my email every day. I quickly check out the headlines and don’t read any articles, unless it calls me. I like many columnists. Today I read in The Hill that 72 percent say traditional outlets ‘report news they know to be fake, false, or purposely misleading.’ I am one of those 72%. I don’t believe them, can’t believe the crap they pass off as news, as you say Guiliani etc, Trump’s tweets. Distractions. Plus it’s all so depressing, I lose sleep over the future, would rather not stoke that fire. Like my father always said, “You have to read between the lines.” If things go on like they are, we might not have a world in a while. You picked a great topic. Thanks for making us think about it. You should have a column in a newspaper!
Here’s some good news (I HOPE): I still love you and your blog (ESPECIALLY THIS ONE).
I love your writing. I look forward every month!
Ilene,
This is one of your best.
Interesting post… especially the shoes.
Here’s a poem about a special dress…
https://kceastlund.blogspot.com/2019/11/celebrating-poems-take-off.html?showComment=1573858472975#c3768903357824828288
Re: my blog: You can now put your email address into the box and my blog will come to your email automatically. Wanna try it?
Haven’t read the NY Times since they had an editorial against Israel and supported the BDF movement. I think they are no better than the Enquirer.
I ABSOLUTLEY LOVE THIS..it is what I have always thought that is why I have not read the New York times for about 25 years…the few times that I have had a chance to look at the times it has not changed in those 25 years.
I do disagree with one thing in your blog. (it may offend some..)
You mention the toilet seat not being put down.. I have felt the same in them past. Recently however i realized if the man puts the seat down it means he touches the seat AFTER he pees …
Writing to you from re-hab…trying to kick the NY Times habit!
You’re right–rather, your grandmother is right: No news is good news, especially these days. And it really takes up a lot of time.
Still, the Times is trying to offer something for everyone. It would be sad if they went under– along with all the hometown papers that haven’t survived–and left us with the TRULY unreliable (and dangerous) reports from the internet. Even here in NYT re-hab, I feel I want to support a real newspaper with real investigative reporters.
And if those odds-and-ends sections inspire a handful of advertisers, maybe we can live with it. But –more important–the shoes at the end of your blog: now there’s real news. Thanks for explaining why I don’t have a boyfriend.
Recipes with a bunch of ingredients are ridiculous. Great post! I agree with all of the above.
Down to the shoes everything you’ve written is too true.
We all tend to be not wise and follow all of the above daily.
true.https://lovelossandreallife.com/#pinterest
I enjoy getting my news from you!!!!
The size of the NY TIMES is quite interesting. I can see why my friend removed her daughter from a Governor’s School for Government and International Studies because the students were expected to read THE TIMES every night after seven hours of classes plus homework. I once read the wedding announcemnts in THE TIMES and found that including the names of former spouses, no longer in the picture because of divorce, not death, a bit odd.
Our local city newspaper has turned into something good for wrapping fish. Why is the weatherman expected each day to fill a whole page? Why do news and human interest stories continue for two full pages when a single column will suffice?