So the Rocky Mountain News, one of two dailies that cover the Denver area, published its final edition today. The staff was notified a month ago that the paper was up for sale. There were no buyers. The following 20-minute video documents the final days:

Newspapers have folded before. But what I find interesting about The Rocky is this paper seemingly did everything right. It embraced changes in the industry. People loved this paper in that community. And it wasn't enough.

It's clear now that newspapers will continue to fold. The only question is: who's next?

(By the way, today's edition of The Fresno Bee features the Rogue Festival on the cover of its 7, the Friday entertainment section. Donald Munro, who'll be among the Beehivers covering the festival, asked me to simply remind everyone.)

By the way, if you have a theory on who's to blame, post it here.

OK. I'll spill: Cause this stuff cracks me up.

I went out last night to take a few pictures of people in crazy getups, but I figured < a thousand words would be better ...

@The guy outside Starline with one pair of beads around his neck, smoking a cigarette and talking on the cell phone yet still asking every girl who walked by him if they wanted to flash him for beads: Dude. Seriously?

@The girls who took up other guys' similar offers throughout the night in various places such as outside Babylon: Ladies (and I mean that loosely). Seriously?

@The one woman who already flashed for one pair of cheap beads but came back and asked, "What else can I do for more beads?": Have you never learned the law of supply and demand? Now you're just coming across as desperate.

@The guys who really tried hard to get any action at all: Lemme get this straight ... When the girl says she doesn't want to flash you, you say "OK, no camera." Then when that doesn't work, you ask to just see her bra. You then realize she might be interested, so you up your bead ante. [Hold on, I'm taking notes here.] Then, when all else fails, you ask her to make out with your friend. Finally he gets a peck on the cheek. ... Those are some impressive negotiating skills. I guess you just really have to want it.

@The girl with the bunny ears, black shorts with tail sticking out and really open top (and your friend in the impossibly short police-woman dress with the cleavage):

The following blog entry is dedicated to my friend Bryan Zera, who once challenged the Yetti at Sequoia Brewing Company (among other food feats).

When Heather first mentioned that Jack in the Box was giving out free tacos today, I didn't think much of it. But when my coworker (and Beehive developer) Steven Crosby said he printed out 15 coupons and mapped out five local JitB's, a mission had presented itself to me ... and I chose to accept it.

There they are, folks: Tacos Nos. 9 and 10.

As posted on YouTube, before they get taken down (because we can't get enough Oscars) ...

Ben Stiller sends up Joaquin Phoenix:

Hugh Jackman's opening number (you know, because that's how he rolls, with his Craig's List dancers):

Bee photographer (and now videographer) John Walker caught some of the sights already seen (more detail of the awesome car, everyone's favorite jester) and some others (someone flashing their nipples for beads) in this video:

John also says he'll be posting some photographic outtakes over at the Bee There blog.

No, this isn't a reference to local cops beating up homeless people, and the following video should in no way reflect how Fresno's finest handle their business:

Shot near River Park, and currently getting a 69% rating on funnyordie.com, this swede of sorts by Blare Media has some funny bits in it (though not as unintentionally humorous as the real "CSI:Miami") and a quick shot of The Fresno Bee's Local & State section(!).

The following is by no means a comprehensive look at the characters out and about Sunday afternoon at the parade ...

Here is Donald (who'll be providing more pics after he recovers from the Oscars) with my dog, Truman.

*** UPDATE: Donald has added his photos (you can tell which are his because they're the good ones).***

Since Beehiver Donald Munro, friend of the community and arts critic extraordinaire, isn't the type to toot his own horn ...

... I'm merely reminding everyone that once again, he will be live-blogging the Oscars. So check back 5 p.m. Sunday and join in on the discussion. Last year, Donald had 55 comments. When Mike Oz did the Grammys, there were more comments than people watching the show.

I used to love the Oscars. I used to live by them. All those updates that Felicia has been doing ... that would have been me between the early 1990s and the mid-2000s. But something happened on March 5, 2006: "Crash" won best picture over "Brokeback Mountain."

Lemme ask you this: Which film stands up three years later? Did anyone go back and watch "Crash" again? What was its relevancy factor? I ask these questions because the winner of the Oscar best picture award should have better answers than "Crash" would get.

And yet, I still watch. (Oh, Oscar, I wish I knew how to quit you.) But it's not like I care anymore. They've become irrelevant to me. How about you? I'm sure there's been an Oscar mishap that has affected your viewing of the awards show.

So, on behalf of The Beehive, I ask you ... which film do you think should have won an Oscar?

Other acceptable answers: "Armageddon" should have won best visual effects. "Road to Perdition" deserved to be nominated for best picture. "Ice Age" should not have won best animated feature.