Earlier this month, I listened to a fascinating program on NPR (yes, sometimes it’s possible) honoring the 80th anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial.
The Smithsonian recently discovered remarkable unseen photos taken in Dayton, Tenn., of the famous clash of religion, evolution and public school education.
Clarence Darrow questioning William Jennings Bryan outdoors on July 20, 1925
Bryan died five days after the trial ended.
RELATED: Bush – Intelligent Design Should Be Taught
Via Canadian blogger Colby Cosh:
Space shuttle astronaut to mission control: “Thought you’d like to know, Houston, that we’re just now crossing over into Canada. It’s a really beautiful view.”
CAPCOM to Discovery: “Canada? Is that the big country north of the U.S.?”
To get the joke, you have to know that CAPCOM on duty was Julie Payette, space veteran and Canada’s official Chief Astronaut.
You mean to tell me that’s a country above the U.S.? I thought it was a game reserve.
According to the Washington Post, a new U.S. intelligence review says that Iran isn’t as close to making a nuclear weapon as originally thought.
A major U.S. intelligence review has projected that Iran is about a decade away from manufacturing the key ingredient for a nuclear weapon, roughly doubling the previous estimate of five years, according to government sources with firsthand knowledge of the new analysis.
The carefully hedged assessments, which represent consensus among U.S. intelligence agencies, contrast with forceful public statements by the White House. Administration officials have asserted, but have not offered proof, that Tehran is moving determinedly toward a nuclear arsenal. The new estimate could provide more time for diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. President Bush has said that he wants the crisis resolved diplomatically but that “all options are on the table.”
The new National Intelligence Estimate includes what the intelligence community views as credible indicators that Iran’s military is conducting clandestine work. But the sources said there is no information linking those projects directly to a nuclear weapons program. What is clear is that Iran, mostly through its energy program, is acquiring and mastering technologies that could be diverted to bomb-making.
Phew, what a relief! Lets put this on the back burner now that we have years before Iran becomes a real threat.
But…
If the passive, anti-war, tree-hugging, goddess worshipping, pansies who conducted this new intelligence review are wrong…
Hundreds of thousands of people die.
And no, he wasn’t cat-blogging or posting the recipe for his favorite mess hall meal either.
(AP) An Arizona National Guardsman serving in Iraq has been demoted for posting classified information on his Internet Weblog, an Army official said Monday.
Leonard Clark, 40, was demoted from specialist to private first class and fined $1,640, said Col. Bill Buckner, a spokesman for the Multi-National Corps-Iraq.
Soldiers in Iraq are allowed to maintain blogs or Web sites but cannot post information about Army operations or movements. They also are barred from posting information about the death of a soldier whose family hasn’t yet been notified.
Stoopid.
Oh, and lest you think this was an innocent mistake, it appears that Clark is a Democrat who has run for the Arizona state legislature four times (a capital “L” loser). Could it be that he thinks the war is illegitimate and unjust? Given his intent, it’s highly likely.
Somewhere, in an organic trade association far far away.
“May the farm be with you…”
If you’re going to be a popular “A” list blogger, you have to get linked (often) by Glenn Reynolds, Wonkette, Michelle Malkin, Boing Boing, Kos, and other “A” list blogs right?
In order to get linked by the “A” list, you have to be liked by the “A” list, right?
The answer can be Yes or No, depending on your definition of “A” list.
Jeff Jarvis highlights a post from Nick Douglas of Blogebrity that asks the question, “What is sucking up to the A-list”? Go read Nick first then check Jeff’s reply.
Blogging requires time and attention. It’s not enough to simply copy a news story or bump a link from one site to another (although I’ve done this more than I care to admit). Blogging is about communication. Daily communication. The more interesting your blog posts are, the more likely your first time readers will become regular readers. Sounds simple right?
It’s not so simple.
Becoming a well read blogger is a tough job.
Jarvis says “There is no A list. There is only your list.” He’s right.
Accumulating regular readership is getting harder all the time, especially if your blog focuses on current events and politics. Why? Because of the echo chamber that exists. What’s worse, bloggers run the risk of constantly being ‘late to the party’. Here’s an example.
A news story breaks. Blogs come alive and start the analysis. A couple of hours go by and now there are hundreds of blogs out there and most are repeating the story and echoing the analysis. Trouble is, your blog is silent on the subject. Why? Well, you’ve got a day job and you can’t do any personal blogging until you get home at night. By then, your valuable reader has already visited a dozen or so blogs and they’ve essentially digested the story multiple times. After a few months of this activity repeating itself, the reader has settled in and regularly visit a short list of their ‘must read’ blogs, their “A” list. They don’t hop around to the myriad of other blog sites anymore because their time is limited, and they are already convinced that they’ve got the gist of any single story. Hey, they visited Drudge and they read ‘their blogs’. They’re up to date.
To be an “A” list blogger, you must become a member of the blog reader’s “A” list, and that list is different for everyone.
Sure, it’s great to be instalanched. It’s good to get on the blogroll. You’ll get noticed by a lot of readers, but it’ll take more than that for your blog to become a member of their “A” list.
Jarvis said something else about sucking up to the most popular bloggers. He cautions the big blogs against forming elite link clubs for a few privileged underling bloggers.
“The worst thing about old media is that it is a closed club. We shouldn’t be making this new world into a collection of clubhouses.”
In the words of Glenn Reynolds, “Indeed”.
The most important “A” list is the reader’s “A” list. Write for regulars. Don’t write for Glenn, Michelle, Ann-Marie, Andrew, Xeni, or Markos.
If you’re expending energy by sucking up to the “A” list bloggers, be sure to put equal effort into building and keeping regular readers, even if you can count those regulars on both of your hands and one foot.
Instalanche visitors come and go, but they don’t stick. Gaining regular readers and becoming a member of their “A” list will take time…a long time. Don’t give up to quickly. Write for them. They’ll stick with you, and they’ll tell two friends…and so on, and so on, and so on.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) A hospital official and an adviser to the royal family say Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd has died.
“The king died early this morning,” said an official at the King Faisal Specialized Hospital in the Saudi capital who declined to be identified because the death of Fahd, who was believed to be 82, had not been officially announced.
Saudi Arabia’s royal court says King Fahd’s brother, Crown Prince Abdullah, has been appointed the country’s new monarch.
Will Bush attend the funeral? It’s a toss-up as far as I’m concerned. I would think the security risks are too great.
UPDATE: Bush will not attend.