Universal Press Syndicate's Offbeat "Digital Slob" Column Wins Over Editors, Gains Newspaper Clients

In one recent column, the Digital Slob tried to get out of his cell-phone contract without paying an early termination fee, "which is like trying to break up with Liza Minelli without getting hit in the head." Recent print clients for the weekly column distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, include The Aspen Daily News in Aspen, Colo., and The Sentinel in Carlisle, Pa.

(PRWEB) February 21, 2005 -- "Digital Slob," Universal Press Syndicate's new humorous technology column, continues to build its client list nationwide.

The most recent newspapers to purchase the weekly feature include The Aspen Daily News in Aspen, Colo., and The Sentinel in Carlisle, Pa.

"Digital Slob," written by Curt Brandao, also runs regularly in such papers as The Times in Shreveport, La., and the Star-Bulletin in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"Don't let his handle fool you. The Digital Slob has his eye on the horizon and can spot trends faster than the average couch potato can click through channels," said Peg Fallon, city editor for The Sentinel.

Fallon's newspaper, part of the Lee Enterprises chain, signed "Digital Slob" in December for its new 4-1-1 section, aimed at tech-savvy younger readers.

"Both snobs and slobs enjoy his funny take on life and technology," Fallon said.

"Curt's the kind of guy whose dream technology is a TiVo that knows when to order pizza 45 minutes in advance," Paul Boutin, freelance writer for The New York Times, Slate and Wired magazine, said.

For large papers, Digital Slob" can draw more readers to their extensive, but too often stuffy, technology sections. And for smaller papers, it offers an amusing, easily accessible high-tech presence.

Because of shrinking newshole, many tech features get boxed in, offering either too little info, or cramming in so much they read like binary code. "Digital Slob," however, is designed for all readers, no matter where they land on the techno-geek bell curve.

"Technology is now universally stressful, after all, and it's time we gave it the mocking it deserves - in 600 words or less, that's an attainable goal," Brandao said.

In one recent column, the Digital Slob tried to get out of his cell-phone contract without paying an early termination fee, "which is like trying to break up with Liza Minelli without getting hit in the head."

As a Valentine's Day present to his wife, he deleted all of his long-forgotten online dating profiles that had been gathering digital dust since 1995.

And while the world's other tech journalists were content to cover the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Brandao scooped them all by hopping in a time machine to see what technology has in store for us in 2018 - like a XM Satellite microwave that plays entree-appropriate tunes while nuking food, and computerized clothing, a breakthrough that creates a nation of Net-assisted know-it-alls, and forces Alex Trebek to host "Nude Jeopardy!"

More info about "Digital Slob" can be found at http://www.digitalslob.com, including audio excerpts from recent radio interviews.

"Digital Slob" is available every week for immediate download, e-mail or physical delivery via Universal Press Syndicate's One-Shot Service.

Just contact the Universal Press Syndicate's sales administrator by phone (800-255-6734 ext: 6929) or e-mail UPS (available at http://www.upsoneshots.com/) to receive pricing, distribution and delivery information.

# # #