The Shirt Factory apartment complex, at left.

A trek through Kingston reveals its rebirth, as old buildings find new lives and progress looks as promisingly clear as a late April sky. It's sketchy here and there, but the potential is transparently obvious. It's pretty much every week that I hear people talking about the city's renaissance, in those very words, and those positive voices are finally drowning out the usual complaints.

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They are meant to be noticed and avoided. But often, traffic cones get run over and displaced. And it is then, ironically, when down and out of place, everybody really notices them.

It's like life online.
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Example of a brand using a trending topic without understanding the context #Advertising #SocialMedia #WhyIStayed pic.twitter.com/iTSmfaT6Xv
— Scott Paul (@scottatslee) September 9, 2014

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about how to deal with a social media FAIL. It happens! How do you react when you mess up on Twitter, either as an individual journalist or with your news account? How do you respond when people are piling up on you on Facebook, be it for typos, miscommunication or perceived insensitivity? What do you do if you post something that ends up being a hoax? How do you deal with provocations? Bring your lessons and your #realtalk.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.
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Rock City Road in Woodstock. 

There is a conspicuous frame surrounding a conspicuous bench on Rock City Road in Woodstock near the green.
If you were to be near it, would you sit on it and take a photo? How many people do you think have done that? Is that the point of the piece (which also ends up advertising the Woodstock Chamber)?

Those are the kinds of things one could be thinking while in the bathroom, which is the white building at left, out of frame and ever, conspicuously present.

For the record: I didn't sit on the bench or took a selfie (I'm terrible at selfies) so you could say I'm a First World Anarchist.
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Woodstock, being Woodstock. Finger at bottom right is mine because I can't take photos.

The town of Woodstock is the star of its own show, and people come from all over to watch it every weekend. Some episodes feel like re-runs, but it's always nice to tune it and get lost in the magic every now and then. You be you, Woodstock.

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Rotary Park in Kingston in the summer of 2013.

Take a walk with me.

***

I really hope you're note eating if you read this lede.

Donuts in space.
China will like you to please stop bringing strippers to funerals.

Let's go ride the NASDAQ. 

ME IRL.

***

The Four:

* Albany buffalo Albany buffalo buffalo buffalo Albany buffalo. That's not quite what happened but at least it's grammatically correct.
* I live inside a red circle. 
* Empty building is still empty. 
*  How would you like a Holiday Inn near the site of Woodstock '94?

One cat: Presented without comment.

Guys look at this photo my aunt posted on FB I have no idea what it's supposed to mean pic.twitter.com/CPM0KrT5ge
— Elahe Izadi (@ElaheIzadi) April 23, 2015

Yesterday's Internet, Today! will like to sleep on some kebabs. But only after you subscribe. It costs $0 and there's extra stuff!

North Front Street in Kingston this morning. It was kind of cold-ish.

It's getting cold in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills and it's terrible, mostly because I'm not wearing enough layers. I'm a baby when it comes to minor inconveniences even though I know better, but I won't let it go.
We all know better, but we still do things we don't like, sometimes because of who we are, and sometimes because of things outside of our control.

***

John Robinson opens up about a terrible time when he had to let journalists go.  :'(


Here's the most terrible app available right now.  It was nice knowing you.  Also, I hope you know Chinese.
Here's the most terrible Florida Man right now. 
Here, go find your doppelganger.  Let's hope she or he is not in Florida.

The Four:

* Levon Helm was the man. 
* PCBs won't let go.
* "This is like Meals on Wheels on steroids."
* Here's how to make the Ulster County District Attorney dance.

***

One cat?

sorry everyone i win pic.twitter.com/oJJmy3FC9B
— Digital First cat (@DFNewsCat) April 23, 2015

Yesterday's Internet, Today! won't let it go until you subscribe for freesies and get your extra ~content~.

A horse by a back road in Accord last year.

Let's start with this while you read. 

Today is Earth Day. I could try to write something profound and thoughtful, but I don't need to.
Here's Hudson Valley resident and something something Mark Ruffalo saying something something about that. 
Anyway, let's enjoy the air and be nice.

Also, if you're reading this on Thursday: Today is not Earth Day.

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Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about what can journalism learn from social media. But also, what can social media learn from journalism. What can social media do to increase the impact of a story?  Are there necessary journalistic practices being eroded because of social media? Bring your #realtalk.

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.
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Route 209 in July 2013.

When you are in a car or a bike or even just walking, do you ever stop to enjoy the view?
You should try it every now and then. Maybe take a photo and think something nice.
And next time you pass that spot, that nice thought will come back.
Roll with it.
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It's raining.

Do you enjoy the rain? It's dark and moody, but it brings life with it. Does it reflect your state of being? Or does it simply bother you when it taps you on the head?
Whatever your answer, one thing is true: It is a fantastic thing.
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The Kinderland playground in Kingston in 2013. It is no longer there. But it's coming back.

When you look at a place that's no longer there, what do you think? Do you remember what was there? Do you get nostalgic or happy about what's there now?
The places very much influence the answers to those questions.
But so do our age and maturity.

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We tinker with some responses to find out how the choices you make determine your real Hudson Valley and Catskills age. (By "we," I mean "me" and by "real," I mean, "C'mon! Not really.")

The corner of Thomas Street and Broadway in Midtown Kingston last year. It used to be Ulster Lighting. It is now this.

The city of Kingston is evolving. It always is. As it changes and grows, we sometimes complain about how things are not as they used to be. It is what we do, I guess (especially in the comments).
But I like to think that things are getting better. There are signs and statistics about this, all over, all the time.
Not all things, obviously, but if you put it all together, we're better off.
Think about it.
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Route 9W near the Hudson Valley Mall last year.

Every now and then, at around dusk, the Hudson Valley and Catskills sky has the most magically bright orange and pink and and sometimes blue and purple hue. People sometimes get out of their cars and just look up and take photos with their phones (or Google Glass, in my case) but those phtoos don't remotely do the sky justice. They never can.

The sky doesn't care, though, and it just makes everything look amazing (and hard to drive if you're facing the sun), no matter who or where you are or even if you feel that you've kind of written this before.
It doesn't need a reason. Sometimes there doesn't need to be one.

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Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are revisiting what seems to be a perennial topic: Aggregation.

How much block-quoting is too much? Are there instances where using large parts of someone else's work OK, like, say, annotations? What about tweeted photos of large parts of text, even if highlighted? What is the proper way to use someone else's content, like photos, online?

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

Read more »

The sign by the old Freeman building, now Mariner's Harbor in the Rondout.

Parts of the old press at the Freeman, long unused and inaccessible, were finally taken apart today.
No more stopping that guy.
But there's no stopping journalism, either.  Technologies change, but the task continues. And the soul of journalism is not encased in one machine or process. It's too big for that.

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The marina in Connelly last year. The third boat from the left is solar.

Today is a beautiful day and I don't feel like making any sense.
So stop reading this and go outside if you can.

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The bridge that leads to the D&H Canal trail in High Falls last year.

It's Friday! Let's make the weekend a good one. And let's make this short.

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The Rosendale Trestle in June of  2013

There was a very imposing and long and loud and lonely and lovely thunder last night. My tiny informal survey of the newsroom informed me that it was heard across the region.
Jimmy Buff was on Radio Woodstock talking about it. Facebook was lit with it.
Hudson Valley Weather explains:

So about that lightning strike last night- Have seen a lot of questions floating around about last nights lightning...
Posted by Hudson Valley Weather on Thursday, April 9, 2015

"Hope this clarifies that it was not space invaders or a meteor impact, or a T-Rex that escaped Jurassic Park, just nature marking the start of spring in surround sound."

Most importantly, for me, was that it was a reminder, not of how small we are, but how we're all the same under the sky.
It also highlighted how impressing things can happen when they get mashed up.
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A double rainbow outside the Freeman building in May of last year

I once had a conversation with Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and tried to include as many 'double rainbow' quotes as I could while on the phone. I'm reminded of that ever time I get to see a double rainbow, which hasn't happened in a while.
I guess that's why we have photos, to remind us of the time when we wasted other people's times.
It's so beautiful.

***

Louis CK stopped by Jimmy Fallon's "Tonight Show" on Tuesday and they talked about what was Bananas in Poughkeepsie, where Fallon started (he graduated from Saugerties High School, etc., etc.) and every time Louie said "Poughkeepsie, New York" it sounded like he didn't even want to say it. And it was fun. All the way.

It reminded me when Lewis Black was talking to Jimmy Fallon about Poughkeepsie. And Kingston.  So intense.

Today was #dfmchat day and the topic was how local news organizations can grow and serve their audiences. Once again, we were joined by a number of journalism students from around the country and I have no idea how this is being spread. But, high five emoji to the students, because their gif game is strong:



I could teach you. But I'd have to charge.

Social media update: I parked dailyfreeman on Snapchat and Melissa says people are going to send me penises. Melissa also said this.  It's too much.

***

The Four:
* New York City to Catskills train people: NOPE. 
* The Kingston sinkhole is so big, Sen. Chuck Schumer paid a visit.
* The phrase, ‘mom, you wouldn’t believe what we saw at school today' can swing both ways.

* HERE IS MY QUIZ TAKE MY QUIZ YAY!

One cat: Serving his audience.

OHAI #dfmchat! You know what your news site needs: pic.twitter.com/WkWIExkmr1
— Digital First cat (@DFNewsCat) April 8, 2015

Yesterday's Internet, Today! is bananas. If you subscribe, you get it in your inbox for freesies.

Facebook reach?
Or boa constrictor digesting an elephant?

Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about how local news organizations can build their online communities. This comes on the heels of a study that pretty much concludes we're doing a terrible job at it. The solution?

In order to grow their audiences, Hindman says local newspapers must answer two related questions: How can they make news “stickier” compared to all the other content on the web? And how can local news sites attract some of the audience that currently only reads national news sites?

Well, let's try answer those questions. Shall we?

The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.

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How well do you know the Mid-Hudson Valley and the Catskills? Take this quiz to find out.
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The Kingston Lighthouse on the Hudson River, as seen from Rotary Park in June 2013.

I'm aching to go out for a walk and every time I look for a Google Glass photo to start these posts I get impatient because it's not quite warm enough yet.
Let's go out for a web walk, instead.

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The Davis Tavern on Route 209. 

There's a 'REPEAL THE SAFE ACT' sign next to the Davis Tavern on Route 209 in the town of Marbletown. After trying to find out, among other things, why a historic site has clear opinions about controversial New York gun regulations, I landed on a million-dollar mystery and fight with the county involving a late actor who happened to be the first one ever to play James Bond and also the hotel manager who interviews Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining.'

Yeah, that guy. Also, wow.

But if you want to find out how this story ends, you'll have to wait a bit.
I've tasked Paula to investigate.
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North Front and Crown streets in Kingston at Peace Park. If you look at it in Google Maps, the murals are not there. 

It's Friday and it's nice out. Let's make this snappy.


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The Hoffman House in Uptown Kingston was built in 1679. It's a restaurant and 'talking house,' according to that sign.

April Fool's is out of the way, and thankfully, we avoided falling for any prank from these terrible local trolls, which, as you know, now includes the Kingston Police Department.
Also trolling us has been the weather, but today has been getting warmer in the Mid-Hudson Valley. And that's a good sign of good things to come, right? RIGHT?



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North Front Street in Uptown Kingston this morning, where you can play Pac-Man in Google Maps.

I like April Fools' Day and I'm not ashamed to say it.
Sure, there are a lot of terrible April Fools' pranks. It's a tricky business.
Yet, I'd say you're on pretty solid ground if you're funny.
Like Louis C.K. funny, though.
So tread carefully.
After all, only fools ...

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Journalists, members of Digital First Media and pretty much everyone else who wants to - are going to be taking part on the weekly Twitter chat Wednesday at noon, Eastern Time.

Today we are talking about posting content to social media. Not links. The stuff.
Facebook is reportedly preparing a partnership with news organizations to host their content there. What are the benefits and risks of such partnerships? What should other news organizations do in the meantime?
The feed is posted below. You can also check out past chats over here.

If you want to chime in, post a comment in the container or a tweet with the hashtag "#dfmchat" so it can automatically appear below.
Read more »

Selfie shoes

Today's April Fools' Day, the best and worst day of the Internet.
Here's a guide to help you through it.

What is April Fools' day?
It's a day when people's do and publish stuff that, years from now, will be googled and taken as fact.
How do I avoid falling for a prank?
You can't.
So what can I do?
Enjoy it! And remember that anyone who tells you to stay off Twitter or the Internet probably works in media and likely spends his or her time on Twitter or the Internet for a living.
I work at a news organization. Should I do an April Fools' joke?
No.
But...
NO.
But I saw the Guardian's?
The fact the you know about the Guardian tells me you are a professional journalist and that you also thought twice about whether the Guardian story about fluorescent tampons is real.
What if I work for a college news organization?
You get one try.
Also, this one try will backfire horribly and end up in Romenesko.
Can I tweet?
Stay off Twitter.
But you just said...
April Fools.

Posted by Kingston Police Department on Wednesday, April 1, 2015