You can scarcely pick up the newspaper these days without reading that people are reading newspapers less and turning to the Internet more.
The charming object shown here is a reminder that there are other reasons to buy the paper-beyond learning what’s going on in the world (not to mention why).
We can all rhapsodize about the wonders of Google, craigslist, YouTube and Facebook. But I defy you to fold any of those into a paper hat, an airplane–or a cute little boat.
Besides noting the huge amount of information and entertainment you’ll find in your daily newspaper, let’s quickly add that the Internet is not much help if you need something to line a bird cage, housebreak a puppy, cover your head in a downpour or protect your rump from the dew-wet grass while you wait for the sunrise.
There’s also packing up the Christmas decorations, building a fire, swatting flies, instant insulation and mulching the garden.
In the process of using your paper in ways whimsical and strictly utilitarian, you’re well advised to stop to examine the words produced with that ink on paper. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll find out something you didn’t know before.
And if you enjoy soaking in the tub with a good read, a newspaper is infinitely better suited than the sturdiest laptop, hovering perilously above a watery grave.
But, back to the boat.
One online reviewer says the drain stopper shown here ($8.99, perpetualkid.com) is “as fun as it gets if you’re taking your bath alone.”
If you’d rather make your own bathtime fun, the newspaper boat is an ideal marriage of old and new information technologies.
An Internet search turns up basic folding directions (origami-instructions.com/origami-boat.html). There’s lots of YouTube videos on the topic too, including one that takes you through the process of folding the thing-and then waterproofing it.
Newspapers can’t be beat. The Internet is indispensable. There’s plenty of room for both on today’s info highway.
Whatever floats your boat.
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— Because of its absorbency, newspaper not only soaks up ink. It’s excellent for wiping away tough streaks on glass as it absorbs the cleaning fluid.
— Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, did not actually start in Japan. It began in China around 100 A.D., then spread to Japan sometime during the 6th Century.
Source: realsimple.com; library.thinkquest.org
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Read senior correspondent Ellen Warren’s shopping adviser column every Thursday in the At Play section and join the conversation at chicagotribune.com/ellen shopellen@tribune.com
