Hey, don’t get me wrong. I’d be lost without the internet. So would you, because if you are reading blogs then you are probably using the web for everything.

But I’ve got to tell you, sometimes the old way is better. Two examples I came across this week:

Yellow pages. Try finding a rigger—believe it or not, I had to find a rigger, or someone who has the equipment and the know-how to move large extra-heavy items, like a safe. Try finding a heating/cooling company to fix your central air conditioner.

You go to the Yellow pages on the web and you have to be specific. You need names of companies, or addresses or zip codes. Otherwise you can’t find nearly as many online as you can in the good old phone book. I’m serious. Try it. You will find the phone book better for getting help when you need it and when you don’t know who does it.

Maps. You can get maps everywhere on the web, including, of course, MapQuest. But those maps stink compared to the ones you can buy at a gas station or a stationary story, or a good old Hagstrom. Streets are poorly marked online and you have to zoom and scroll North, South, East, West, Southwest … well, you get the picture.

Pull out a paper map and, granted you have to fold it later. But pull out a Hagstrom atlas and simply turn the pages, and everything is marked superbly and correctly.

Plus you don’t need an internet connection.

This gives me pleasure.