Why is there a “vs.” between the names of the two companies in this headline? PaidContent vs. TechCrunch: Two Visions of Blogging’s Future.

Remind me in what way the two companies compete? Advertising? Readers? Their vision? Huh? They don’t even cover the same industries or markets — so in what way do they compete again?

I can think of several business-to-business media companies that PaidContent.org competes with and out-performs, but TechCrunch is not on that list. I can think of several business-to-business media companies that TechCrunch competes with and out-performs, but PaidContent.org is not on that list.

The only quote in the post that makes any sense to me is this one from Rafat:

“If CNet is the only target you can aspire to be, that is selling yourself really short.”

I agree. I think Rafat should be targeting Crain or Reed Business and Michael should be targeting IDG. Those billion-dollar companies can all trace their lineage directly to founders who were the bloggers of their day — men sitting around kitchen tables putting out dinky publications in nascent industries.

In January, I wrote about the format-busting Apple ad that was running on the front of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal websites. A week later, I pointed out how the ad format compromised the visual effect of editorial following a breaking news story. While I’m a fan of the creative execution of the Apple ad (but still not a fan of its mean-spiritedness and, frankly, don’t believe the veracity of the core message), I pointed out that what was taking place would never be allowed by business magazines or in the print New York Times or Wall Street Journal.

Today, NYTimes.com is running another execution of the ad, however, the ad is not appearing on WSJ.com. Perhaps after the close of market today, the WSJ.com will run it? I’ll watch.

(via: Patrick Ruffini’s Flickr photo stream.)

I’m pleased to note that the really smart guy in this interview at WSJ.com is my friend and Congressman, Jim Cooper. I wish the WSJ.com did a better job at time-stamping their video as I don’t know when they posted this interview regarding the potential next steps that should (or should not) take place with regards to a “housing bailout.”

And speaking of smart politicians from Tennessee, the state’s governor, Phil Bredesen, is omnipresent in the national media these days for his suggestion that the Democratic Party hold a mini-primary/caucus/convention for Super Delegates in June. Sidenote: Both Cooper and Bredesen are Super Delegates. Cooper is an Obama supporter and Bredesen has not committed to a candidate yet.

A belated shout-out congratulations to my friend (and fellow business-to-business media veteran) Matt McAlister who’s leaving Yahoo! to join the Guardian, as in, he and his family are moving from San Francisco to London.