I’m not about to argue with my techie friends that the digital world isn’t full of wonderful, even magical, conveniences. But analog technologies, whether vinyl, film, or ink on paper, persist, even though by comparison with digital alternatives, analog is inconvenient.

I wouldn’t think of reading a novel on a tablet, and I even prefer reading magazines on paper. That indulgence comes with a price. Consider Vanity Fair’s Holiday 2018/2019 double issue. It finally arrived at my house a few days ago, well after the February number had tumbled through the mail slot.