[BC] Rising Ratings and Higher Costs for WJIB

[Glen Kippel]

On 2/6/07, Jim Tonne <tonne at comcast.net> wrote:
<snip>

Another is the simple fact that HugeMarts of various kinds
> are causing the demise of the smaller businesses in town.
> For example here in Oak Ridge TN there are no "camera"
> stores, and a large list of other specialty shops.  Its not just
> HugeMarts, of course, there is the effect of the 'net to help
> close down the brick-and-mortar shops.  I confess that
> because there were no local stores from which to buy a
> digital camera in this area I bought one off the 'net.
>
> -------------


One reason for the demise of camera stores is the digital camera.  People
can go to Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc., buy a point-and-shoot digital camera for
under $200 and have at it.  Most people are not into creative photography,
only snapshots of the kids.  Palm Springs Camera, the last time I visited,
was about to close its doors and the owner explained that business was only
10 percent of what it used to be.  Nobody buys film, or film cameras
anymore.  When people can shoot as many pics as they want, without worrying
about running out of film, doctor them up with PhotoShop or one of its
rivals, and print them out at home or at the kiosk in the supermarket, you
can readily see that film photography is going the way of reel-to-reel
tape.  Meanwhile, I have a bit of an investment in my "glass collection" and
am hoping that Minolta might come out with a digital camera back to replace
my film plane.