I checked out the alternative paper available at the U.C.S.C. library. This is a sample. It is plenty legible, but I don’t thing the quality of the news is up to our standards. So I will stick to the NYT for the time being. It was interesting to come across an early Herb Caen column though. He started with the Chronicle in July 1938, so he was still a rookie at this point. I was a Chronicle reader for many years and grew to dislike him. He once included a humorous poem my grandmother wrote and sent him in his column. It was about birds eating fermented pyrocanthus and getting drunk. The title was “Crocked Robins.” Grandmother was the classic San Francisco little old lady. She lived in a tiny flat on California Street and would never be caught dead outside without white gloves and a hat.
I agree with your thoughts on our standards. :-) I think the NYT from years ago is much more interesting.
I used to correspond with Herb... I treasure the notes he sent me from his old typewriter!