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

It is inexcusable that some in this country do not have access to the great equalizer of high speed internet, if for no other reasons than all should be able to read the garbage put out by media who sell connections to their journalists for $25,000 to $250,000. Access to tainted journalism for all I say.

I don’t care about WAPO generally, but it’s disappointing nonetheless, and this certainly isn’t going to help WAPO’s dwindling credibility ratings. More disheartening is the fact that a lobbyist was the first to wonder publicly at the ethics of it all. I know media shapes the news. I also also know the best in class do so by omission, not commission.

So, is someone going to tell me who among the mass of congress people, and who at the executive palace, if anyone, and my fingers are crossed here, agreed to be part of this?

I guess the question, one that has been asked before, and will forever be asked, being such an insidious old root in our history, is what did they know (who), and when did they know it.

Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve a many curious things to shew when you are there.”
Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”

Excerpt from The Spider and The Fly by Mary Howiit

Specter to switch to Democratic party. There is no such thing as a Democrat or a Republican. There are just politicians.

Best comment I’ve read on the web today:
“WAPO articles suck but I love reading the comments.”

Coffee break is over. I have to go get my summer schedule straightened out and buy a decent antihistamine.

Peace and Pollen