Every now and then, you think the traditional media gets it. Sure, they create "blogs" of their own by tossing together places where columnists can pitch their rejected pieces as if they're handing out bars of gold, and get astonished when their big name efforts don't work, but at least they seem to understand the basics.
Even the right-wing Wurlitzer-generated furor around Amanda Marcotte's hiring and resignation at least seems to indicate that some importance is being attached to blogging. Traditional journalists still don't quite grasp that bloggers aren't easily slotted into one of the usual roles (opinion columnist, reporter, publicist), but they've at least stopped thinking of bloggers as some meaningless noise on the sidelines.
Or at least, most people have. That's why this "humorous" bit from the show Weekend America is such a clunker.
During a panel discussion of Edward's blogger troubles, regular guest Dana Gould had this to say
Dana Gould: Now, is blogging a job?
Bill Radke (host): I don't know.
Gould: Can any human activity now derive income? 'Cause I love
Funyuns. And if I could get paid to just eat Funyuns, that would be
sweeeet!
Radke: Vilsack campaign Funyun eater, Dana Gould.
Gould: (laughing) I mean, at what point do things not become jobs. I
make my own dip. I keep waiting for the checks to show up.
(laughter from all)
It's nice when folks that have spent the week begging for my money have such respect for what I do. Apparently saying anything ou damn wel feel like, no matter how idiotic, is considered a job on Weekend America.
Gould happens to have, his own web site, which includes (you guessed it) a blog.