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Old 09-21-2009, 04:40 PM
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Default King Canute Knew Better

Print Media is dying and there is nothing we can do to save it. With one exception, The Wall Street Journal, every major newspaper has seen great decline in circulation and ad revenue. The NY Times has had to borrow $250 Million from the Mexican Billionaire, Carlos Slim Helú, at an interest rate of 14%. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/bu...a/20times.html

Of the 100 largest papers in the United States, 11 have declared bankruptcy, 4 have ceased printed news on a daily basis and three have ceased printed news altogether.
http://online.wsj.com/public/resourc...APERS0903.html

Magazines sales are rapidly declining and many well-recognized names have declared bankruptcy, most recently The Readers Digest.

Perhaps, most significantly, the digital (Kindle version) of NY Times best sellers now exceeds sales of the printed version. Every distributer of books such as Barnes & Noble can see the writing on the wall and are rushing to bring a competitive product to the market.

King Canute was wiser when he said:
"Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings. For there is none worthy of the name but God, whom heaven, earth and sea obey".

So spoke King Canute the Great, the legend says, seated on his throne on the seashore, waves lapping round his feet. Canute had learned that his flattering courtiers claimed he was "So great, he could command the tides of the sea to go back". Now Canute was not only a religious man, but also a clever politician. He knew his limitations - even if his courtiers did not - so he had his throne carried to the seashore and sat on it as the tide came in, commanding the waves to advance no further. When they didn't, he had made his point that, though the deeds of kings might appear 'great' in the minds of men, they were as nothing in the face of God's power.

Let’s hope Washington shows the wisdom of Canute and not his courtiers.