TInteresting article from the Birmingham Post – These two journalists-turned-PR-people wrote an article about how over half their clients didn’t pay. I don’t know if I’d be as candid as they were, but it’s an interesting read. There are two other articles below it, talking about the changing face of PR. Have we all had these problems? I have, but usually the client is late, as opposed to not-paying. There’s a difference. Thoughts?

Well, I can sleep better at night. NEWS RELEASE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICEUnited States Department of Agriculture * Washington, DC 20250Ag Statistics Hotline: (800) 727-9540 * www.nass.usda.gov ________________________________________ Contact: Ellen Dougherty (202) 690-8122Krissy Young (202) 690-8123 USDA REPORTS AN INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE WEIGHT OF A TURKEY WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2005 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today reports that turkeys throughout the United States have increased their average weight by 4 percent. According to the monthly Poultry Slaughter report, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported that the average weight of turkeys slaughtered in 2005 was 28.2 pounds, up from 27.2 pounds a year ago. Historically, turkeys have increased in average weight annually for at least the past 40 [...]

And so, I open my mail this morning, to a "certified" (wasn’t really, just said it was for the hope that I’d open it faster) note from the AARP. (American Association of Retired Persons.) This in itself is a little odd, as we know, I’m 33. "Dear Mr. Shankman" Our records show that you haven’t joined AARP yet, despite being fully eligible to do so. As you know, AARP is the premiere organization for people over 50 like yourself…" That’s when I stopped reading. Over 50 like myself? Enemy for life, AARP has just made. Memo to AARP: GET BETTER MAILING LISTS.

Story from AFP about how newspapers have no future without the Internet. OK. Seriously. I’m done. I won’t gloat anymore. Probably.

Mediapost has an article saying that it’s official: 2005 is the worst year for newspapers since the last ad industry recession. How did Homer Simpson say it? "I AM SO SMART! S-M-R-T!"