BuzzMachine... by Jeff Jarvis

June 08, 2004

Compare and contrast

: PaidContent tells us that Yahoo is testing a new home page.dowland aliens vs. predator 2

What, they made it even messier?dowland aliens vs. predator 2

Go look at Yahoo. Then go look at Google. Rococo vs. Reformation. Mess vs. not. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

DoubletTree sucks

: I'm imprisoned in a Doubletree "hotel" in Skokie right now in a sweltering room with an airconditioner that doesn't work and a front-desk "manager" who doesn't give a damn. Not that you should care. But some hapless traveler who may come upon this post someday stands warned. DoubleTree sucks. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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In-N-Out

: I thought people would give up anything for an In-N-Out burger, even - ahem -their virginity. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

But, no, Avril Lavigne wouldn't topple for Fred Durst's everything with fries. Best Week Ever (again) reports Avril's account:

"I mentioned to Fred that I was hungry, like, 'I want an In-N-Out burger.' "He had someone go out and get me a whole box of them, with fries. I was like, 'Yeah!.' Then he took a private jet out to one of my shows, expecting me to bang him. He was disappointed that I wouldn't even go near him. He was a little pissed that I went to my room alone that night."

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A three-episode cruise

: Best Week Ever reports the perfect meeting of life and art: The Real Gilligan's Island:

That's right -- Gilligan's Island is coming back on TBS -- and this time, you can be a part of it!dowland aliens vs. predator 2
The producers of "Gilligan's Island" are teaming with the producers of the "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" to bring you The Real Gilligan's Island.dowland aliens vs. predator 2
This all-new version of the classic sitcom will feature real life versions of the original show's characters: a real-life skipper, first mate, millionaire couple, movie star, professor and Kansas farm girl. And one of them could be you!dowland aliens vs. predator 2
Just like the original show, the castaways will work together to get off the island, and episodes will include situations drawn from the original series.dowland aliens vs. predator 2
So if you're the perfect Gilligan, Skipper, Thurston or Lovey Howell, Ginger Grant, Mary Ann, or The Professor (just what was his name, anyway?), fill out the application and mail it in, along with a video of yourself telling us why you'd make a great castaway.dowland aliens vs. predator 2
Who knows, it could be you who takes the fateful trip to that tropic island nest.

Go to the open casting call. Or nominate a favorite enemy...dowland aliens vs. predator 2

Come to think about it, about a reality Beverly Hillbillies? Petticoat Junction (who wouldn't want to watch that casting call?)? Cheers (the drunken reality show)? Taxi (with translators)? M*A*S*H (in Iraq!)?dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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Hired gun

: Hugh MacLeod advises how to use a blog to get a job:

3. Narrow the focus of your blog to just these 4-6 distinct parts. Create them as official categories, if you have to.
4. Blog like crazy about them.
5. If you're any good (I'm assuming you are) eventually somebody interesting will get a whiff of it, and invite you to scatter your pollen throughout their company in exchange for decent money, as opposed to doing it for free in the 'sphere.

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Another blog confob

: Mary Hodder together with Chris Shipley, Susan Mernit, and Ross Mayfield are running a blog conference in northern Cal in July. They've asked me to blather; trying to work out the schedule now. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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On my way to Northwestern for the hyperlocal project. Blogging from Skokie later. Oh, how I love catching an earlier flight....dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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No Olympics, please

: The NY Times reports on a blog fighting against having the Olympics come to New York. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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RSS primer

: Bob Stepno has a pretty good RSS primer/comparison chart in PC World. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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Reverse publishing

: The San Diego Reader is republishing blogger Brian Dear's Brainstorms blog in the paper to show its readers what a blog is really like. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

It's a good idea. But it doesn't need to be a one-time thing.dowland aliens vs. predator 2

The wise print publisher would take, say, Gizmodo and syndicate it in print. [via Blogistan]dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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Big Blog Company

: Jackie Danicki, whose au Currant blog I miss, is in the blog biz. She reports she's now an associate with the Big Blog Company, which "develops blogs for businesses and trains employees in how to blog (technical, writing guidelines, legal guidelines, etc). It's a blogger-run company and is already doing quite well." Good idea and good for her. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

The Big Blog Company is hiring! Full job spec here. Preferably Londoners. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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And you know what happens to the fatted calf

: Johann Hari (one of the guys at Harry's place) gets past the insipid questions usually asked of the Dalia Lama in an interview in The Independent. And the holy man calls John fat. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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Bacteria blog

: David Weinberger reports that Stoneyfield Farms has five yogurt blogs. They're best when they don't just tell the company's story but, instead, look at the world through the prism of the Stoneyfield brand: When they link out to stories about healthy women and children and the environment, they tell us that that's what the company cares about. If they essentially underwrite good blogs about things people care about, that can be good. When they tell me about Stoneyfield's work, well, I don't much care.dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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Convention assignment desk

: Do we know which bloggers have been credentialed to cover the Democratic National Convention?dowland aliens vs. predator 2

I want to know so all of us can start assigning our pool bloggers. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

: Meanwhile, I neglected to link to the Demo Convention blog with lots already from Matt Stoller. dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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Helping the Monitor

: The Christian Science church is in financial trouble and so it is looking to end subsidies to the Christian Science Monitor:

"We have begun plans for adjustments to the Monitor," Mrs. Campbell said. The goal is to support "the vital role of the Monitor in bringing the highest quality journalism to humanity, while bringing expenses in line with revenue."dowland aliens vs. predator 2
Monitor staff members will shortly be asked to "help us formulate the next steps," Campbell said. "This could result in a paper with fewer pages and feature sections, as well as a leaner staff."dowland aliens vs. predator 2
The Trustees also said they plan to name a blue ribbon panel of experts from pertinent fields to submit ideas and recommendations aimed at moving the Monitor to profitability. The Trustees also invited comments from Monitor readers, which can be sent to ideas@csmonitor.com.

Well, they could kill the print edition. Online, the former paper's journalists can serve the world without the limitations of broad physical distribution and the expense of production. Advertising is growing online. However, I see hardly any advertising on the Monitor's site. Is that because they aren't trying or because advertisers aren't buying? [via Romenesko]dowland aliens vs. predator 2

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