Some days I have too many ideas swimming around my head to settle on just one topic for my column. Today’s one of those days. I thought I’d share a few of them.

Mark Bonacorso

Foremost on my mind this week is the sudden passing of Mark Bonacorso, a PR wizard in this industry who was so well liked and respected. I learned of his death on Facebook, and having been a FB friend of Mark’s, I had gotten to “know” his wife Molly and their love of life out there in Tucson. He was a dad and a chef and a dog lover. I am still very sad about this loss. I’d met him several times at industry events over the years and liked Mark very much. There's a lovely piece about him on PI here.

Print Buyer Survey

I really need your help. If you source print, please take our short survey. We’re gathering info for a report about key trends, such as how much of your work is offset vs. digital, how important is color management certification, how big a “buying” staff your company has, and what value-added services from printers mean the most to you. We’ll do more surveys in the coming months, including some for service providers. Please take two minutes to complete our survey? Thanks. Here’s that link directly – please share with buyers/designers everywhere: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2013PBIPrintBuyerSurvey

Four Things I NEED in Print

News online? Check. Ipads and Kindles in the house? Check. Actively engaged in social media? Check. Following family/friends via Facebook? Check. Holiday shopping online? Check. Yet there are certain things I need in print, being the emotional sap that I am. Here are 4 of them:

1. My son’s high school yearbook. Due out next spring, I’m just thankful the school’s still offering such a relic. $100 seems pricey, though.

2. Printed photobook of my minipoodle Charlie. No one loves you like your dog. I’d pay good money for a book that includes pictures of Charlie that chronicled his (good) life with the Danas.

3. Exquisite letterpress holiday cards. Never a fan of e-holiday greetings. Send me the real McCoy. Nothing moves me like letterpress.

4. Autographed copies of books by authors I admire. Novelists like J. M. Coetzee or Julian Barnes. Industry geniuses like Frank Romano or Dr. Joe Webb. Local columnists like Brian McGrory or Dan Shaughnessy. I want the books to display on bookshelves. Treasured trophies! (How do you get signed copies of e-books?)

© 2012 Margie Dana. All rights reserved. You’re free to forward this email. However, no part of this column may be reprinted without permission from the author.