Portland Outdoor sign in (where else?) Portland, OR
Portland Outdoor sign in (where else?) Portland, OR
More PR identity sketchiness reported by The Guardian in The fake persuaders: "Sometimes, in other words, real people have no idea that they are being managed by fake ones." [via MeFi] I'm not sure what a fake person is, but I know what the writer is getting it. It's all about honesty and disclosure.
New Weblog Bookwatch Feature : Focus Links
For every book on the Weblog Bookwatch there is a corresponding mentions page. These pages show all of the weblogs that have mentioned that particular book. The new feature: now each mention will have the option of being "focused" to a specific post. By clicking on "focus this link", you'll have the opportunity to put in the permalink location for the post that discusses that book. The link will then have a star next to it on the mention page to let people know it's referring to a specific post. The link will stand out, and the Weblog Bookwatch will be a little more useful for everyone. Instead of pointing to the general weblog URL, and having to search for the mention, people can find the relevant post instantly. It requires a little bit of copying and pasting, but those focused links will probably get a bit more traffic because they'll be more useful.
If used, focusing the links should also help differentiate between people discussing the book, and those who just have it listed in their sidebar reading list.
This feature is brand new and may have a few bugs to be worked out. If you notice anything odd, let me know. It works on the honor system, so if it's abused it'll probably go away. Hopefully we can cooperate to make it work. Thanks!
Update: To get a feel for how it works, check out the mentions page for "A New Kind of Science". I went through and focused the links for several of the weblogs.
For every book on the Weblog Bookwatch there is a corresponding mentions page. These pages show all of the weblogs that have mentioned that particular book. The new feature: now each mention will have the option of being "focused" to a specific post. By clicking on "focus this link", you'll have the opportunity to put in the permalink location for the post that discusses that book. The link will then have a star next to it on the mention page to let people know it's referring to a specific post. The link will stand out, and the Weblog Bookwatch will be a little more useful for everyone. Instead of pointing to the general weblog URL, and having to search for the mention, people can find the relevant post instantly. It requires a little bit of copying and pasting, but those focused links will probably get a bit more traffic because they'll be more useful.
If used, focusing the links should also help differentiate between people discussing the book, and those who just have it listed in their sidebar reading list.
This feature is brand new and may have a few bugs to be worked out. If you notice anything odd, let me know. It works on the honor system, so if it's abused it'll probably go away. Hopefully we can cooperate to make it work. Thanks!
Update: To get a feel for how it works, check out the mentions page for "A New Kind of Science". I went through and focused the links for several of the weblogs.
Argh! Driving back from Yosemite the other day we were listening to some marginal radio stations. Since then I can't get Lady by Little River Band out of my head. It's driving me insane. Anytime there's a quiet moment in my head I hear a little, "Look around you, look up here. Take time to make time, make time to be there." Or worse, the chorus. I'm hoping this post will help. Anything stuck in your head at the moment? (Maybe I can have a mental battle of catchy tunes until they all destroy each other.)
Lim's Cafe sign in Redding, CA
Douglas Rushkoff on writing: "As I see it, all writers - fiction and non-fiction - are like travel writers. We go to places that most people dont' have access to, and then write about them. Whether they are physical places, emotional places, or psychic spaces, we either have been blessed with access to them, or we are crazy enough to venture into them. Our only obligation as writers, is to report back what we've found, and to add as much or as little analysis and commentary as we feel is appropriate."
I'm co-writing a book about weblogs called We Blog: Publishing Online with Weblogs. (You can pre-order or add it to your wishlist at Amazon already.) I haven't mentioned it here yet, so it's about time. It has been great working on a project with Meg and Matt again.
And keep an eye on blogroots for more info.
And keep an eye on blogroots for more info.
Me and my RSS files are taking part in the <link>-a-thon.
MSNBC.com Launches Weblogs. And, of course, MeFi discusses.
NYT: Climate Changing, U.S. Says in Report. The Bush administration finally admits the climate is changing thanks to fossil fuel emissions, but their suggestion is to adapt to the changes instead of trying to stop them. It's especially sad that they know unique environments like the delicate and beautiful Rocky Mountain alpine tundra could be gone forever, but don't seem willing to do anything about it. I think the President should go on a tour of our National Parks so he can experience some of these unique places firsthand. Then he might not be as cavalier about their destruction. I know that sounds naive, but I'd like to think it's a lack of experience instead of the alternative.
Theodore Roosevelt camped in Yosemite with John Muir, and wrote about his experience. We need another camping President. (Sounds like the seed of a good Hollywood script.)
Theodore Roosevelt camped in Yosemite with John Muir, and wrote about his experience. We need another camping President. (Sounds like the seed of a good Hollywood script.)
Congratulations Greg and Anju!
When you enter Yosemite, a ranger gives you a map and some other papers. One of the papers is bright yellow with bold letters: "This is active bear country!" Sometimes you'll see a large grey tube on the side of a road with a sign that says "bear trap." (a picture.) At each campsite they provide bear lockers to store your food. If you happen to leave a cooler lying around outside of a bear locker, the park rangers will confiscate it. (I found that out the hard way on my first trip to Yosemite.) These are the motions you go through when camping at Yosemite, and it's just part of the routine. Even though these bear signs and warnings are all around, it wasn't the first thing on my mind when going for a hike...until now.
The Snow Creek Trail is on the North end of the valley, and is the steepest ascent to the high country. We didn't see anyone else on the trail. (Even hiking the length of the valley to Yosemite Falls once above this initial climb, we only saw two backpackers.) The first part of the trail is switchback after switchback after switchback. About 2/3rds of the way up, with Preston in the lead, he yelled down to Chief and me, "Bear!" We all froze.
I could hear the bear rustling in the bushes, but I couldn't see it. I tried to remember everything I had casually read about what to do when you see a bear. A fuzzy algorithm appeared: if (grizzly) {play dead?} elseif (black bear) {make a lot of noise?} I couldn't remember which went with which. I calmly yelled up anyway, "What kind is it?" Preston yelled down, "It's a brown bear." That didn't help too much. Then I worked out another algorithm: startled bear = bad. I yelled up again, "Does it know we're here?" Chief said, "I think so." I was looking for an escape route, and trying to figure out the best way to go. Should I run uphill? Down the trail? We all stayed frozen. Then I had a good look at the bear as it made its way across Chief's path. I yelled up, "It's coming down Chief!" He stayed still and got an even better look at the bear as it crossed the trail about eight feet away from him. The bear made its way down across the switchbacks and through the bushes.
We regrouped a ways up the trail and tried to remember what we were supposed to do. My adrenaline was flowing, and I wasn't so cool under the pressure. I think Preston, on the other hand, got a close-up picture of the bear. With the flash!
After seeing the size of a bear, and being with one in an uncontrolled environment, I'll read those bear warnings and safety tips with a heightened awareness.
The Snow Creek Trail is on the North end of the valley, and is the steepest ascent to the high country. We didn't see anyone else on the trail. (Even hiking the length of the valley to Yosemite Falls once above this initial climb, we only saw two backpackers.) The first part of the trail is switchback after switchback after switchback. About 2/3rds of the way up, with Preston in the lead, he yelled down to Chief and me, "Bear!" We all froze.
I could hear the bear rustling in the bushes, but I couldn't see it. I tried to remember everything I had casually read about what to do when you see a bear. A fuzzy algorithm appeared: if (grizzly) {play dead?} elseif (black bear) {make a lot of noise?} I couldn't remember which went with which. I calmly yelled up anyway, "What kind is it?" Preston yelled down, "It's a brown bear." That didn't help too much. Then I worked out another algorithm: startled bear = bad. I yelled up again, "Does it know we're here?" Chief said, "I think so." I was looking for an escape route, and trying to figure out the best way to go. Should I run uphill? Down the trail? We all stayed frozen. Then I had a good look at the bear as it made its way across Chief's path. I yelled up, "It's coming down Chief!" He stayed still and got an even better look at the bear as it crossed the trail about eight feet away from him. The bear made its way down across the switchbacks and through the bushes.
We regrouped a ways up the trail and tried to remember what we were supposed to do. My adrenaline was flowing, and I wasn't so cool under the pressure. I think Preston, on the other hand, got a close-up picture of the bear. With the flash!
After seeing the size of a bear, and being with one in an uncontrolled environment, I'll read those bear warnings and safety tips with a heightened awareness.