Conspiracy theorists: For some fun, you may want to read this discussion at Daily Kos in which some of the more left-leaning conspiracists who hang out there argue that the photo I posted of decorations below the portrait of Hillary Clinton was a “mocking” reference to Whitewater. First, I’ll point to a couple of other photos I’ve added to my photoblog of the reception that display how decorations appear on almost every flat surface available at the White House, not just Sen. Clinton’s portrait. Secondly, some of the more insightful participants in the commentary point out that if any reference to Sen Clinton is intending in the decorations, it is a reference to “a villiage” as the book she is resting her hand on is, “It Takes a Villiage.” Rather than “mock” her, the village decorations rather serve as a tribute, one could argue…if one were prone to argue about such village idiocy.

Is is okay for a writer to make money for the words he or she writes if he or she speaks them rather than publishes them in book form? Wake me up when Jack Shafer gets finished writing this column about whether or not it’s okay for New Yorker Magazine writers Malcolm Gladwell and James Surowiecki to receive speaking fees from corporations and trade associations. Shafer meanders around-and-around and I think, by the end, says one should judge a writer by the character of the words on the page and not by the color of his greenbacks. How can someone use so many words to say so little and not ever get around to this common sense ethically obvious point: Both writers, Gladwell and Surowiecki, are best-selling book authors. (And great ones, in my humble opinion.) Is it unethical for them to get rich from their writing (I’ve purchased and given away enough copies of Gladwell’s Tipping Point to finance an addition to the guy’s house, I’m sure)? I’m assuming Shafer will agree it is okay for a writer to have a book published and then allow a company to buy up lots of copies and hand them to all of its employees. If that is ethical, then why would it be even worth writing a column to question the ethics of an author being paid to make a speech about the topic of his or her book — basically, to speak the words from his or her book? I’m sorry. I don’t understand where there’s an ethical delimma here. Some major envy for Gladwell’s & Surowiecki’s success, perhaps, but an ethical delimma? Not one.

In-house White House blogger? The Washington Post’s Dan Froomkin, who made me famous for 15 minutes last February, has been nice enough to mention me again (scroll down) regarding my return visit to the White House. (I’m about to get on a plane or this post would be more link-friendly.) As for that quote, “So far, however, the closest thing the White House has to an in-house blogger is Rex Hammock.” Now, that’s funny. But thanks, Dan.

No comment: Actually, I’ve already commented on this vaporzine news way too much. “Blogzine”? Ugh. Psycho, indeed.

Age zero? On the vaporzine news front, Disney Publishing Worldwide, publisher of Family Fun and Disney Adventures, is preparing to launch a new quarterly title in 2006 named Wondertime. The magazine will be targeted to Moms with children ages 0 to 6, focusing on early childhood learning. (source: MediaPost.com)

Welcome back: Long time readers of this weblog will know I’m happy to point to news that the current incarnation of the National Magazine Award multi-winner Oxford American is off the press and on its way to a newsstand near you.

Quote:

Once a for-profit publication, The Oxford American was adopted by the University of Central Arkansas earlier this year. The campus and its resources breathed life into the magazine after it neared extinction in July 2003 because of a dearth of ad sales. Once bimonthly, the nonprofit — a blend of fiction, poetry, art and journalism — will now print quarterly. A new business plan should transform the magazine’s stability, said editor and publisher Marc Smirnoff. Though the magazine has shut down three times in 10 years, this will be its last rebirth, he promised. “We’re not going away anymore,” Smirnoff said after an event for the magazine’s debut. “I’ve learned some valuable lessons. I was exhausted after the Little Rock crash, but our readers are over-the-top passionate. It’s hard not to take that personally.”

I once said each issue of Oxford American was a gift, so I’m treating this news as an early package under the tree. I’ve never been to Conway, Ark., nor am I familiar with the University of Central Arkansas, but I’d like to thank those fine folks. Congratulations, Marc.