Thursday, January 20, 2005

Glenn Reynolds: "Not many people, forced to choose between SpongeBob Squarepants and James Dobson, are going to pick Dobson." Ya think? James Wolcott agrees. 9:50:27 PM    comment []

I asked Oliver Willis about blogging, journalism, and credibility. O-dub, currently making sure that a Fox News moment gets the Ashlee Simpson/Jon Stewart treatment on the Web, said this: "In an ideal world, truth would win out and credibility would be the stock we all trade in in the information universe. That is sadly not the case. Journalism is broken and blogging at least keeps some sort  of checks and balances in place, but neither venue is a bastion of credibility." 6:58:47 PM    comment []

Michael Christopher: "He was a blessing to many loved by most but to me he was simply my Dad. I miss him already." 6:52:21 PM    comment []

Blog swarming, the next thing in citizens' media? 5:55:39 PM    comment []

Also in the Wall Street Journal, three letters on the Kos/MyDD/Dean flap, under the headline "Bloggers Wander Into Ethics Swamp" -- where, presumably, the bloggers meet the nice folks from the Wall Street Journal. The first letter lauds the Journal for reporting this "scandal," the second (from Corinne A. Marasco of Alexandria, VA) explains clearly why this episode is different from the Armstrong Williams case, and the third (from Peter M. Bennett of Louisville) mocks Zephyr Teachout for trying to teach ethics to bloggers, concluding, "she should start with the racists, Holocaust deniers and child pornographers, and leave our political free speakers alone." 5:49:03 PM    comment []

Wall Street Journal: "Radio's Bush-Bashing Air America is Back in Fighting Form" (subscription only). WSJ reports that Air America is on the air in 45 markets, including DC, and should soon be back in LA -- on a Clear Channel station, no less. "It's a remarkable feat for a network that was nearly give up for dead," says the Journal. Ratings won't be out til later in January. "But local research and anecdotal evidence indicate that the network is gaining traction." It's the fourth most-popular Webcast, too. AA president Jon Swinton says the net is "expects" to be profitable. Wouldn't it be great to hear some of it on WZTK, which runs some pretty sorry stuff beyond Brad and Britt? 5:42:34 PM    comment []

Trot, trot to Boston...see you there. 10:40:41 AM    comment []

"What the generals don't know." In the New Yorker, Dan Baum writes about the new model US military emerging in Iraq. Gen X officers who grew up with the Internet are changing the game. "Platoon and company commanders were exercising their initiative to the point of occasional genius. Whatever else the Iraq war is doing to American power and prestige, it is producing the creative and flexible junior officers that the Army’s training could not." More: "The younger officers...grew up with the Internet, and have created for themselves, in their spare time, a means of sharing with one another, online, information that the Army does not control. The 'slackers' in the junior-officer corps are turning out to be just what the Army needs in the chaos of Iraq. Instead of looking up to the Army for instructions, they are teaching themselves how to fight the war. The Army, to its credit, stays out of their way." A fascinating story, clear-eyed about the realities of this war but also about American initiative and the technology that is helping to enable it. Read the whole thing. 10:38:15 AM    comment []

Elon names architects for its new law school in downtown GSO. I hope the demolition work mentioned in the release preserves the modern facade and the wonderful atrium and staircase of the old library building designed by Greensboro's own Ed Lowenstein. 9:43:08 AM    comment []

UNC Greensboro announces a new research institute at its school of music. Very interesting. But I can't find a word about it at the UNCG website. 9:38:51 AM    comment []

Scott Rosenberg continues the conversation about links with a reply to Atrios: "Different bloggers will do different things here, and their choices will affect their credibility. Those choices will also, to be sure, affect how widely they're read. There's a reason Matt Drudge has such an unmatched record for high page views and low trust!" More from Atrios here. 8:58:36 AM    comment []

Jon Bonné: "Journalism is a function; blogging is a form." 8:47:43 AM    comment []

Kos unveils a subscription plan. Same content, just no ads. 8:41:46 AM    comment []