[eastbay]

... having three newspapers delivered to my door because of the waste and because I can read most stories online anyhow. Newspapers are getting really inexpensive these days. I remember in the mid '60's delivering them door to door charging the going rate of $5.00/month.

Now, 40 years later, I can get the SF Chronicle delivered to my house five days/week for less than that. The several smaller local papers charge $20.00/year. It was so easy to just pay the few bucks and have all three delivered, but last year I started getting a bad feeling recycling all those papers and decided to stop the waste and madness and just say no to home newspaper deliverey.

I must not be the only one because at this rate in a few more years they'll be paying people to accept daily delivery lol.

I would start a poll but I'm in an anti-poll mood so I just wanted to mention this little lifestyle change around our house. I wonder how much energy we could save if everyone quit home newspaper delivery?

[Paul64]

The major paper media companies are getting desperate for business and looking for any way to keep going. I am always getting teaser offers from the Boston Globe; a month or two at a deep discount followed by an exorbitant regular rate. I am realizing it's not worth playing that game. And of course more and more we have the 'premium' internet services like 'Times Select', but c'mon, are the limited insights of a Krugman or Brooks really that valuable?

[duke3522]

As I was reading this thread my phone lit up with a call from the local newspaper trying to get me to re-subscribe. They call almost everyday.

But since I started reading our local paper online I realized just how little actual local news is in our paper. It takes me about five to ten minutes to scan most everything I need to know. The rest is just a rehash of AP and other online articles.

The only reason I even think about taking a paper again is to get the paper. I like using newspaper in the garden to smoother out weeds, and shredded newspaper is a great addition to the compost pile.

Also, back when I could get a lot of newspaper for free, I would roll up the newspaper and make logs for campfires or the wood stove in the greenhouse.

[lateStarter]

I remember having a conversation with a phone rep that wanted me to subscribe to 'Sunday Only' and they would throw in the rest of the week free. When I tried to explain that I just didn't have the time to sit down and read the newspaper, he suggested that I just throw it in the recycle bin. I was so dumbfounded, I had no response and had to hang up the phone.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lateStarter', 'I') remember having a conversation with a phone rep that wanted me to subscribe to 'Sunday Only' and they would throw in the rest of the week free. When I tried to explain that I just didn't have the time to sit down and read the newspaper, he suggested that I just throw it in the recycle bin. I was so dumbfounded, I had no response and had to hang up the phone.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('duke3522', '
')The only reason I even think about taking a paper again is to get the paper. I like using newspaper in the garden to smoother out weeds, and shredded newspaper is a great addition to the compost pile.

Also, back when I could get a lot of newspaper for free, I would roll up the newspaper and make logs for campfires or the wood stove in the greenhouse.

[basil_hayden]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '
')
You've got me thinking - I could heat my house with those flyers.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hen I tried to explain that I just didn't have the time to sit down and read the newspaper, he suggested that I just throw it in the recycle bin. I was so dumbfounded, I had no response and had to hang up the phone.

[eastbay]

... old newspaper can be made into writing paper??? I don't doubt you, but could you share the formula with us?

Thanks,

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

I can't give you my exact formula right now its with my paper making screens in storage. but if you are interested I will pm them to you when I get all that stuff out (i've been menaing to for two months now) here is what I can tell you for now.

What you need:
1 - 1 1/2 foot by 2 foot rubbermaid-like container that is at least 9 inches deep (should have a really flat bottom that your paper screens can rest on the bottom of)
1 blender
paper screens (more about these later)
cut/ripped up old newspaper and lighter coloured paper (computer paper works good)
decorations (confetti, sparkles, food colouring etc)

You start by making a slurry out of old newspapers (this is your base). use no more than 3:2 ratio (3 parts old newpaper to 2 part lighter coloured paper). the more newpaper you use the darker your paper will be in the end, you can use coloured flyers etc but its good to stay away from teh glossy magazine like paper.

so cut or rip up a couple cups (remember 3:2ratio) of different papers. this is where you will decide what colour you want your final product. and you will lean towards that colour for the flyers you put in. put it in a blender with around 1 1/2 -2 cups of water and blend until its a lumpy, sloppy pulp. the more you blend it or the coarser you leave your sludge, will determine how fine or coarse your paper is. you can get some really neat textures.

once blended to the desired consistency put it in your rubber maid container. add more water to your container and make another batch of slurry. (I can't tell you right now how many cups of water to each batch of slurry, I'll get that later)

this will also depend on how coarse or fine you want your paper. for coarser textures you will want a higher percentage of slugde. but don't worry cause if it doesn't work out you can just blend up the paper you made and try again.

once you are at the right amount you will decide what colour you need to add or what decorations you want. you can add food colouring to change the colour before you bring up the paper, add confettic or sparkles for interesting finished paper.

next you put your paper screens in . these are a very fine meshed screen on a wood frame. the inside (part without wood frame behind should be the size of the finished piece of paper. ie: if you want 8"x11" paper then that should be the size of your screen INSIDE the frame).

pull the frame up with the sludge on top of the screen and allow to dry (24 hours usually) you can add more decorations at this point. I've occasionally thought about using a chocolate mold or other light plastic form between the screen and sludge to give the paper an embossed effect.

and that is how you make paper at home. Like I said it can be a fun project/hobby escpecially for scrap book hobbyists. and you are recycling which is a passion of mine.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '.').. old newspaper can be made into writing paper??? I don't doubt you, but could you share the formula with us?

Thanks,

[eastbay]

Wow, I had no idea it was that (relatively) simple. But for now it still seems simpler to buy a ream and maybe just use a little less. But paper making will certainly come in handy in the future so the formula will be a keeper.

[elroy]

20 dollars a year for a paper seems ultra cheap to me. When I did a paper round, it was like 90 guilders a year, and nowadays it's probably around the same in euros.
Just checked. Volkskrant costs 157 a year. Haarlems Dagblad costs 219.95 a year. Telegraaf (most popular paper) is 220 a year.

[eastbay]

Yeah, 20 bucks is really cheap. I just checked the online subscription rates for the local paper I recently quit and it shows $120.00/year, but we've always paid between $10.00 and $20.00/year taking advantage of 'special offers'.

I expect a new offer to arrive in the mail any time now, but I ain't biting this time. No more.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('basil_hayden', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '
')
You've got me thinking - I could heat my house with those flyers.

[eastbay]

The local paper today had an article about how circulation is way down this year for all Bay Area newspapers... and the SF Chronicle is down more than any of them.

I'ld post it but I couldn't find it online so you'll all have to take my word for it... lol.

But the point is their days are numbered... and it's about time. They are a big waste of resources.

[Doly]

There is only one kind of paper that will last a bit longer: the small ads papers that you get for free. If you are completely broke and need a job, you may not have access to the Internet.