Bloggables + I’m Going to Argentina

andy_stephy_jelloshotsHappy to announce that I will be travelblogging for what feels like the first time in years and, if I do it right, will actually be a return to my early blogging form circa my 7 month trek in and around Europe, 2000-2001. I’ll be in Argentina and Chile before, over, and after New Years. Drop a line if you’d like to meet up for a drink. Here are a few recent stories that I would have liked to blog about, but have been too busy:

* Nick Denton is looking to hire bloggers with “real” journo experience, and we’re not talking Owen Thomas types here, apparently. This has everyone going in circles once again on the can blogs = journalism if not journalists do not = bloggers meme.

* Ayman al-Zawahri, yeah — Al Qaeda #2 with the questionable name — wants his very own YouTube debate. Noah Schactman has the low down and an entertaining selection of reader-contributed questions in the comments.

* Google Zeitgeist 2007 has been released. Data that’s fun to play with, at your fingertips here.

* Early results are in on Nielsen’s new way of ranking online news sites’ success. Stickiness. Most sites don’t got it.

* and Google is getting more and more social. I’ve been starring and sharing Google Reader stories of interest for some time now and if you’re a GMail or GTalk contact of mine, we can now actively share our “shares” in our Readers. So far, I’m disappointed that it seems none of my contacts use the Goog reader or at least don’t share. These are my shared items, I’ve also been marking stories for coverage on LAist using Clipmarks and quite like their new version 3.0 interface. See what I mean here.

Cubs Land Fukudome; ’08 Year of the Cub

fukudome will be a chicago cub in 2008 and beyond world seriesThe Chicago Cubs had one distinct goal this off-season and Wednesday morning they will announce mission accomplished.

30-year-old left-handed outfielder Kosuke Fukudome is Chi-town bound after agreeing with the Cubs to a reported 4-year, $48 million contract.

fukudome chicago cubs babyFukudome is everything that Corey Patterson never was and further indicates the Cubs organization’s newfound understanding that top talent on the farm (see Wood, Prior, Guzman) ain’t always what it’s cracked up to be. For Japanese baseball stars who’ve come to America, the results have been awesome. Suzuki. Matsui. Dice-K. Okajima.

I went to the awesome World Baseball Classic nearly two years ago and — while I primarily remember Japan’s incredible pitchers — Fukudome stood out as well, and not just because his name is so badass.

After Japan won the WBC championship, Fukudome returned to play for the Chunichi Dragons and turned out an MVP season, batting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBIs.

This is exciting — and Lou can make it happen. I imagine Hendry making a couple more moves — pitching-wise — someone who could stay healthy all year. I don’t want to sit through another spring watching Guzman, Prior, and Wood go through the motions only to find out that they’re arms are bunk (and Kerry, yes, you’ve regained my faith — for now).

Cubs in ’08.

YouTube Multi-Video Uploader… So Slow it Almost Makes You have to read the beige and annoying ToS

YouTube's new multi video uploader may allow you to go up to 1GB, but it takes forever. Puhleeze

YouTube’s Multi-uploader: LINK
The videos of Sharon Jones & Dap Kings from tonight via my Fuji F50fd if they ever make it there: LINK
Photos from the show: LINK

UPDATE: My review + photos + video of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings 12/4 @ El Rey.

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Tony Pierce to the LA Times

Pajamas likely headed to Blogger Hall of Fame

tony pierce will be ditching the pajamas and blogging for spring streetThe blogger and LAist editor who inspired myself (among others) to dedicate much time, passion, and keystrokes to group blogging, is moving on after 17 months at the helm of Gothamist‘s Los Angeles operation.

Myself and Zach Behrens interviewed Pierce soon after he dropped the bomb on LAist staffers last Friday.
Read the whole damn thing here.

The news doesn’t surprise me — Known to some as “The Blogfather,” Tony Pierce worked hard for many years to land this gig. LA Times Interactive under Meredith Artley continues being proactive, taking chances and gaining steam tony pierce in pajamas at LAist party popping a celebratory bottle of champagnetoward staking its claim as the new media beast it should be.
Perfect match.

Pierce worked his ass off for LAist as I imagine he did in previous jobs — always doing it his own unique but successful way. A big fan of city-centric sites since my days with Centerstage, I considered trying to write for Chicagoist and LAist but it wasn’t until I got hooked on Tony’s and his bulked-up, liberated staff’s posts (OK, and also because Tony is an insanely die-hard Cubs fan like myself) — about one year ago — that I gave it a shot.

Continue reading “Tony Pierce to the LA Times”