Category: Main

TTLB featured on CNN’s Inside Politics

TTLB was showcased on CNN’s Inside Politics yesterday: transcript is and thanks to The Political Teen, video can be seen here. The segment highlighted the new look, in particular showing off the Iraq topic page and the Milbloggers community page.
I had no idea the Inside Politics folks were planning this — kids, e-mail next time! — but it was a most pleasant surprise. And seeing TTLB up on CNN’s monitors sure made me glad that I spent much of this weekend cleaning up visual styles around these parts…

Where are the liberals?

We’re almost a week into the new launch, and one question I’ve heard asked (yes, I’m looking at you, Lisa) is “where are the liberal communities”?
We’ve got the Brotherhood; we’ve got the Raging RINOs. As of last night, we’ve even got Gunbloggers. But specifically liberal-focused communities? I got nuthin’.
It is not for lack of trying on my part. I sent my announcement post to several of the most prominent liberal bloggers, and it appears to have landed with a solid ‘thud’ in their virtual circular file. Similarly, I reached out to the Liberal Coalition, which I’ve supported over the years through the old TTLB’s ‘Alliance’ functionality, with a similar lack of effect.
It is my genuine goal to make TTLB a portal to all of the best in the blogosphere, not just the swath of it that tends to lean towards my own political views. So this is a genuine disappointment to me — but it is never too late. So if you consider yourself a leftie and have a good idea for a community: speak up!
But in the meantime: consider this a no-complaining zone for those who like to whinge about “lack of balance” in the blogosphere…
-NZB
Update: Dawn Eden at the NY Daily News picked up on my call for leftie participation, and actually tracked down Kos himself to ask him what’s up with that.
It would have been cooler if she went all Michael Moore on him and showed up at his front door shoving a microphone in his face, demanding “Why are you repressing the Truth Laid Bear? What do you have to hide? Is it true you’re prejudiced against bears?”
But I suppose a polite email was a tad more professional…thanks, Dawn!

Welcome to the new Truth Laid Bear

Folks:
Does something look…. different?
No, I haven’t changed my hair, but thanks for asking.
Yes, at long last, the new release of TTLB is here. As I hope will be apparent, a great deal of thought and effort has gone into this new release, which essentially amounts to a top-to-bottom redesign of the site, including oodles of new features. Things are still a bit rough around the edges, and I’m still polishing, polishing, polishing: but the fundamentals work, and it’s time to let this baby leave the nest.
Here’s a quick summary of some of the goodies you’ll find:
Posts : Summaries of the most-linked posts across the blogosphere over the past few days. The creme de la creme of bloggy goodness.
Topics: Topic pages aggregate the latest & most popular posts on specific topics. What’s hot in the blogosphere now? TTLB’s topic pages will tell you. And if the topics I’m currently tracking don’t fly your flag, you can also create your own custom topic page on whatever subject strikes your fancy.
Communities: Similar to topics pages, community pages focus on pre-defined sub-groupings of weblogs. Example communites are groups like milbloggers, or Canadian Bloggers. Each community has a community page which shows the latest & most popular posts from within the community, and a special Ecosystem-like listing which ranks the community members against each other.
UberCarnival: A directory page which shows the latest ‘carnivals’ around the blogosphere. Now you don’t ever have to worry about tracking down where the latest edition of your favorite Carnival is this week: TTLB will do it for you.
And of course, the old Ecosystem by-links and by-traffic ranking pages are still around, along with some incremental improvements to the individual blog details pages, including the display of actual blog-post titles on the ‘most popular posts’ listing as opposed to cryptic URLs.
So: take a look around, enjoy, and by all means, let me know what you think. I’m just getting started, and so, must inevitably quote Sir Winston:
“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
Update: Thanks to all for the kind words and the links. One question that is coming up is “how do you select communities, and can I suggest a new one”? The answer is that the communities you see today are merely a starting point, meant to demonstrate the direction I’m taking TTLB in. I’m actively seeking suggestions on additional communities that would be useful to add, so if you’ve got one in mind, please, speak up.
And one specific note on that subject: while I have my own political views and will continue to express them on my blog page here, I try to keep the rest of TTLB nonpartisan. So I’d definitely like to add some communities and topics that would be of interest to the left side of the blogosphere. If you’ve got a suggestion, let me know!

Kerry Releases Records. Sort Of.

The Boston Globe’s Michael Kranish today that the Globe has obtained John Kerry’s “full military and medical records”, but that there is a “lack of any substantive new material about Kerry’s military career in the documents.” Michelle is roundup central and Tom Maguire provides his take.
I have a few questions — not for Kerry, but for the Globe:
1) Why hasn’t the Globe posted the full set of documents on its web site? Was there a condition on their release that they not be published in their entirety?
2) If there was a condition on their release, why isn’t that disclosed in the piece?
Kranish’s story seems like an utterly useless piece of non-journalism when viewed through the spectrum of blogger standards. The original materials exist, they are the primary (the only) relevant information conveyed by the story — but the Globe won’t let us see them. No need for you to read for yourselves, ignorant masses, we’ll just tell you what’s in them so you don’t need to worry your pretty little heads.
Unless, of course, the Globe is prohibited from this disclosure in some way, in which case they should disclose that. (And if that is the case: just how hard did the Globe argue with Kerry’s team that they should be allowed to publish the documents — and thereby invalidate their exclusive? Color me skeptical.)
Either way, this seems like the worst sort of MSM paternalism…
Update: Beldar is thinking the same thing I am…

Kerry does a 180: So Can Middendorf talk now?

The Interwebs are abuzz this morning with news that John Kerry may indeed have finally his Form 180. See Michelle, Ed, and Kevin for more.
Here’s the question I have: does the fact that he has signed and submitted (when/if he actually submits it) the Form 180 allow those with knowledge of his service to go on-the-record publicly?
I refer specifically to the broad hints that we heard right before the election that Kerry may have received a less-than-honorable discharge, and that former Secretary of the Navy William Middendorf might confirm that — but couldn’t because doing so would be a crime.
If he signs the 180, does that let Middendorf (or anyone else) talk?

Fake But Accurate is So 2004

Andrew Sullivan offers Newsweek entirely superfluous assistance in their race to the journalistic bottom:
“Even if this incident turns out to be false, our previous policies have made it perfectly plausible.”
False but plausible: it’s the new fake but accurate!

Instant Films: Making movies in 48 hours

If you’re in the LA area tonight, consider dropping by LA Center Studios to check out Films, an intriguing film festival / contest in which filmmakers are given 48 hours to go from concept to finished product.
The contestants were given a story idea Thursday night, submitted their scripts yesterday, and by now should be putting the finishing touches on their films for presentation tonight. And yes, they’re blogging the experience (natch).
Tickets are $10 online and the event is at the LA Center Studios on 450 S. Bixel.
An old friend is competing in this evening’s edition, and it sounds like a blast. I unfortunately can’t make it, but that shouldn’t stop you!

HufPo Discovers Truth In Advertising

From Huffington Post’s User Service Agreement:
“WE DO NOT MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS, NOR DO WE ENDORSE THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS OR RELIABILITY OF ANY ADVICE, OPINION, STATEMENT OR OTHER MATERIAL OR DATABASE DISPLAYED, UPLOADED OR DISTRIBUTED IN THIS SERVICE OR AVAILABLE THOUGH LINKS IN THIS SERVICE.”
Honesty is good! CBS, NYT, etc., please take notes.
And if you haven’t read the full user agreement, you should, because I suspect there may be a quiz. And because, well…damn.
P.S.: To my deep dismay, a full week into the launch and Ms. A hasn’t had her minions add HufPo to the Ecosystem. So I did it for her. Stay tuned here and let’s see how they evolve.
P.P.S.: But no SiteMeter counter! Come on, Arianna, show us your traffic…

TTLB Logo Contest: Last Call!

Folks:
Last call for entries in the TTLB logo contest. I’ve received a few new entries over the past few days, so out the display page to see them in all their glory.
The contest will offically close at 12 noon PDT tomorrow, so if you’ve been holding out, it’s now or never!

TTLB Logo Contest Starts Now

Ok, folks, here’s the scoop on the new logo contest. I’m soliciting submissions as of now, as follows:
What are you looking for?
A new logo / header graphic which will be part of an overall site redesign for TTLB.
What’s the prize?
The winner will receive two months of free advertising on TTLB.
How will the winner be chosen?
Purely by my own subjective choice, although I will consider feedback from the TTLB community as well.
Is the contest-winning logo guaranteed to be used on TTLB?
No. I will definitely select a winner of the contest to receive the two-months advertising prize, but if even that submission doesn’t quite measure up to what I’m looking for, I may not elect to actually use it on the site. If I do want to use it, I’ll be prepared to discuss reasonable compensation (beyond the 2-month prize) of either actual cash or additional advertising time for full rights to use the logo.
I’m an artist with an extremely fragile ego and will be really offended if you don’t like my work. Should I submit an entry?
Probably not. I’m damned picky, and this is an extremely subjective and personal choice. I’m sure there will be submissions that are quite skillfully done which just won’t match my vision or style that I will have to turn down. If this prospect upsets you, it might be best not to play.
Will the entries be publicly posted?
Yes. I will be setting up a gallery of submissions that will be updated as they come in, and will include a link to your home blog / web site with your submission. The gallery will also be linked from the top of the Ecosystem page. In this way, simply by participating in the contest, you can be assured that you will receive some visibility and publicity for your work.
When are entries due by?
The deadline is tentatively set for Friday, May 13th (oooooh). But the sooner you submit an entry, the longer it will be up in the gallery and the more visibility you will get.
Enough with the contest rules already. What exactly are you looking for in the logo itself?
Ah, now the fun stuff. I am looking for a header-style graphic that would span the top of the new TTLB pages (as opposed to the current, square logo). It should include the text “The Truth Laid Bear” somewhere: I am open to suggestions on an appropriate font (don’t feel tied to the current Timesy look, because it is going away with the redesign). And let me be clear that I like (love) the current bear logo. The idea of the new logo is not to ditch the bear, but to re-present him in a different setting / pose.
The new TTLB site design is meant to show TTLB as a guide to the blogosphere, and I want the new logo to reflect that. I’m very partial, therefore, to the idea of showing our bear poring over maps, or a globe, or other such images to reflect the idea of “navigation”. My favorite concept thus far is to show the bear at his desk, facing 3/4 away from us, staring at a big world map with little pinpoints somehow representing blogs being tracked around the world. I am open, however, to other suggestions.
But wait: there’s more. For the bear, I do not want any major changes in the character design or look. I like the bear; don’t mess with the bear. But there is a new character that needs designing: my bride, Lady M.
That’s right, it is time to give a true blogospheric incarnation to my beloved, who has labored behind-the-scenes in support of TTLB (and in particular, me) for so long. So if I manifest as a polar bear online, what does Lady M look like?
A cute, female squirrel, as it turns out. We like this squirrel, to give you an idea on the kind of look we are looking for. Cute, feminine — a little sexy is OK too. A lady of sophistication, elegance, and beauty: but a little on the silly side, too.
Lady M should be integrated into the overall logo, working with Mr. Bear on the serious task of tracking blogs across the world. One idea is, if you go with the wall-map concept, to have Lady M perched on a ladder in front of the map, adding push-pins or somesuch to the map to represent new blogs.
I have questions; how do I get answers?
Please post all questions as comments here, and I’ll reply publicly, so that information can be shared with all.
And with that, let the games begin! I look forward to your submissions…

TTLB Logo Contest

Folks:
I’m in the process of planning a major redesign for TTLB, and one component I simply can’t do myself (due to lack of talent) is the creation of a new logo.
So, I’m looking for help. I am quite willing to pay real money (or provide TTLB advertising) for this work, but I want to ensure that I’m truly getting a product that both I and TTLB’s users will be impressed with. Therefore: a contest.
I will be putting out a call for submissions of a new logo designed to my specifications this weekend, along with process details.
More will follow, but if you are interested in participating, or have an artist you would recommend I invite to participate, please title=”N.Z. Bear”>drop me a line. Thanks!

Happy New Pope!

I haven’t had much to say on the selection of the new Pope. As a non-practicing agnostic, to me, the fanfare of the past few days has been roughly equivalent to learning that the Marlins have found a new star pitcher: it’s not just that they’re not my team, I don’t even particularly follow the sport.
But that said, the course and fate of what is arguably the most successful organization in the history of humanity can’t help but be important on a planetary scale, so I wish Benedict XVI the best, and congratulate Catholics worldwide. I also proffer two bits of advice for the new pontiff:
1) Get a new publicist, like, right now. We’ve all heard the expectation-setting pre-spin that you’re not going to be as telegenic a Pope as JP was, but that doesn’t mean you have to let people publish photos of you that make you like a vampire.
2) If you see Andrew Sullivan, cross the street.