The Drudge Report was not the first web based text page to compile news articles from around the net, it is only the most persistent. Got to hand it to him. He post his own research online for all to see. He's been doing it since the late 1990s. Most of us have changed format to follow the technological trends, but his town square format still remains the same. Nothing wrong with that.
Today is the national No Facebook day. It is as if, somehow, the benign Facebook social site has become the malignant evil empire. There are plenty of doubters who say it will never happen. They say that people will not abandon Facebook for 24 hours just to show them who is boss. The doubters are probably correct. Still, it is fun to pull back from the amassed friends who you do not know, and will most likely never meet, to gain a little perspective on the whole experience. Let's face it, we may be social beings, but we have a need to pull back and contemplate in a certain level of solicitude.
A certain thoughtfulness is required in a public forum, and by its nature, lending to quick response to a post or link, such thoughtfulness is often tosses aside to the pressure to look quick witted, glib and articulate, yet such articulation of wit can fall flat and be void of content. Trolls are raised on such empty words. One can also point out the obvious: No great work of literature was ever penned in a five second press of showmanship. Cleaver lines to inspire a grin do not a poet make. I know, I've tried.
Where does all this lead? And what do the two have to do with each other?
Perchance Drudge has it right. One place for headlines. Another place for chatter ... and games.
News of the Day
From Time:
- What You Missed While Not Watching the New Hampshire GOP Debate -- Written as if politics were a spectator sport observed by a bored fan.
- Welcome to the Beginning of the End of the PC Era -- Windows 8 and iWhatever: Apple is cutting the USB umbilical cord.
From Yahoo News (who would have thought that name would stick around?):
- Racial hoax causes PR headache for McDonald’s -- Even in an era where there is a backlash to political correctness, some "jokes" are still in poor taste.
- Bank of America hindered foreclosure review: filing -- Are you still under the impression that business can be trusted?
- Retail sales fell for first time in 10 months -- With no real incentive, auto sales drag the economic picture.
- May retail sales post first drop in 11 months -- More details on story above.
- Analysts view: May retail sales post first drop in 11 months -- And, even more details.
- GOP debate winner: The Tea Party -- Based on the Monday Morning Quarterbacking in this chair, Obama has nothing to fear.
- Obama praises Giffords as an 'incredible spirit' -- Good News!
Late Entries:
- Activists cry foul over FBI probe -- Could Obama be going after all the critics who are pointing out the broken promises?
- Why ObamaCare Is Losing in the Courts -- OpEd out of the WSJ: What is not addressed, and rarely is, is how is mandating Health Insurance on a national level, as dubious as it may be, different from mandating Auto Insurance?
- What has Obama done for us? -- A review of the Daily Jeffersonian's July 2010 report out of Ohio (Caution Strong Language).
- Beyond 2011 -- Does Obama understand that people who are just months from eviction have little hope from his push for more education?
- Burger Run at Night, Beach at Day -- Relax and take a drive through Chicago, Illinois.