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Honest Blogging: A Public Declaration

Governors Island, New York, August 2009

I was kind of amused to see that there's some American government agency planning to regulate misleading blogs. You've got to admire their ambition, even while laughing long and hard at how pointless and Sisyphean a task they've set themselves. Maybe their initiative will have the effect of increasing voluntary transparency - which would be welcome. So in such a spirit, here's what you need to know about what you read here.... more »

posted: 11/10/2009 | comments »

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UFOs, Area 51 and Common Sense

Unidentified Flying Object over the Groom Lake area, October 2, 2007. The object, which appeared as a white disc-like shape, its lower portion apparently in shadow, hovered persistently over the vicinity, making no noise, exhibiting no discernable motion.

As noted earlier, the historic 2009 Roadrunners Reunion took place in Las Vegas this week, and it's good to see the local media covering the event. Still hilarious, though, that there are people who want to ask about flying saucers and little green men when they have the opportunity to talk to people who did something much more amazing.... more »

posted: 10/10/2009 | comments »

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Murdoch, the Internet and the Future of Journalism: Grounds for Optimism Detected

Slow-moving traffic ahead: near Pahrump, NV, September 2007

It's been an interesting few days in the Future of Journalism debate. Fortunately, the present for this particular journalist has been uncommonly busy, so I'm only just getting caught up. And the catch-up starts, as so often of late, with Rupert Murdoch.... more »

posted: 09/10/2009 | comments »

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I Wish I Was In...

Lockheed A-12 Article 124, California Science Center, January 2008

It's been a good week, lots done and no complaints at all. But I would have loved to have been able to be in Las Vegas, where the Roadrunners have been meeting the public for the first time.... more »

posted: 08/10/2009 | comments »

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Later with Jools Holland: How to Do Music Properly on TV

Andy Williams, with Jools Holland at the piano: BBC Television Centre, 6 October 2009.

Photo credit: Andy Csillag/Relay Photos; courtesy BBC/WPR

The scientific jury is still out on what life forms could survive on our planet following nuclear Armageddon, but I'm willing to bet that the Tuesday after the apocalypse, the cockroaches, irradiated protozoan ooze and internet-based life forms will sit down to watch the 437th series of Later with Jools Holland. While every other music show on terrestrial British TV has shuffled off the cathode ray coil, Later... endures, for several good reasons. Going along to the studio to watch it being made last night, for about the fourth or fifth time, helped remind me of them.... more »

posted: 07/10/2009 | comments »