John made note of this new WAPO contest last week. Today, having received the email all subscribers get, reminding me that I could be America’s Next Pundit , I sighed. I asked why, to no one in particular, as I was alone in a Panera Bread in Chevy Chase, sucking up free wireless while waiting for a friend. I suspected the gentleman sitting at the next table in his Brooks Brothers suit, looking sheepishly from side to side as he typed, was answering WAPO’s plea. I hope for his sake he was applying for a job at some conservative think tank.

We need more pundits? WAPO is replete with them. Are they not willing to pay real journalist any longer, or is it that Americans don’t want real news? Don’t know what real news is? Is this a desperate attempt to get readers? And more than this, would anyone with an opinion of worth — backed with experience and working knowledge of any given subject — want to give that opinion for $200 per column? I don’t think so.

“Blogger Payola” news. (source, FTC Votes to End “Blogger Payola). I just love that term don’t you?

Stemming from the unintentional shoddy ethics of what some call “Mommy Bloggers” who pretend to use and love products in order to receive free products, or for a paycheck, there are some new rules being instituted in December by the one and only FTC. The full pdf offered at the CJR site is available here. Some bloggers complained they couldn’t trust their long time reads any longer. So now it’s about transparency.

I resign myself to transparency, and promise that when I tell you to read a post by Blogger A or Blogger B it’s because the post is worthy and the blogger is prime. It will never be because they pay me. How do I know this? Because I’ve asked them to pay me. They said no.

Not a nerve pluck, but a recommendation. From the Washington Post, believe it or not. An Op-Ed by Steven F. Hayward, a bit of an expert in conservatism, and not one of my favorite people, but still a worthy read. He asks, Is Conservatism Brain-Dead?

A worthwhile read, even if you already know the answer, and most of you do of course, know the answer.

I want to pass on good thoughts to someone I’ve never met. I’ve read about him often enough over the last 4 years, at Pia Savages Courting Destiny. She calls him Rafe, though I know not his real name. He is part of her life, and part of her writing, and for that I thank him. Consequently I have a bit of an attachment to his character, if not the real life entity.

Rafe suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm while lifting a treadmill and has undergone surgical correction, evacuation of the blood, and repair of the aneurysm. He is thus far doing well, but it is touch and go. My vibes are out there, so feel free to send your vibes along to Rafe. We are all characters in someone’s story, and we may all need someone’s thoughts some day.

peace

I know PITS can say it because he’s Jewish, but I like the way it sounds.

Happy New Year Jews

And half a Happy New Year to Half Jews

love ya baby

Peace