I hadn't even thought of that angle; it's a good one. I don't like pay walls either, but my take on it looks at the idea of the Times becoming the first freemium news organization. It's long-winded and maybe even a little crazy, but it'd be nice if it helped it become a viable option. http://dresramblings.com/2011/03/28/nytimes-paywall-thoughts/ Your last point about it making it more social would be an even better side effect; it could even drive folks to have more conversations about the stories too.

I'd shared these comments on Facebook, but realized they belonged on the blog instead: Thanks for sharing. It's nice to be reminded of the joy of writing - and sharing with others. Recently it's become apparent that the joy and excitement doesn't come across like it used to. I keep hoping that I will get a chance to tell some more stories - though it's becoming harder. I'm looking forward to September when I'm hoping I'll get to be immersed in a similar environment and be able to communicate the excitement again. Reading this was a good start though :)