Anchor Rising in Glossy Print

Anchor Rising is featured in a report by Ellen Liberman in the latest edition of Rhode Island Monthly (which hasn’t yet updated its Web site to reflect the new issue):

Diogenes of Sinope was one of the original Cynics, ancient Greek philosophers who shunned the status quo. Most famously, Diogenes wandered the birthplace of democracy, the marketplace of Athens, in broad daylight bearing a candle. He was searching for an honest man, someone like himself, who lived by his principles.
Strictly speaking, Justin Katz of Tiverton is not a Cynic. But as a political conservative, he’s found himself in opposition to Rhode Island’s liberal Democratic mainstream, and — ideologically, at least — lonely. In the modern age, however, one does not need a candle or a market to find a like-minded soul. Moveable Type software, suitable for blogging, and an inexhaustible supply of opinions and stamina will do.

Which is to say, perhaps, that technology is making it easier for those who live by their principles to carry their own candles. Not surprisingly, as bloggers never tire of pointing out, those who’ve gained access to spotlights frequently give the impression that they scorn candles because they distrust daylight. Says Chip Young, the Philipe of “Philipe and Jorge” in the Providence Phoenix:

“I don’t rely on blogs at all… It’s almost like listening to talk radio. You get all these disparate opinions from people who’ve had their first six-pack by noon.”

According to Liberman, Young writes “a political media and current events satire column,” so I understand that he might be attempting to showcase a biting wit. But to be so stupendously wrong about the purveyors of a medium of such acute interest in both his areas of focus leaves one with the impression that he is mainly guarding the cachet of his mainstream morning merlot.
At any rate, thanks to Ellen Liberman for the reminder that the wax burns (and hangovers) are not in vain.

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Ian Donnis
17 years ago

While my Phoenix colleague might not have much use for the blogosphere, I find it indispensable, particularly Anchor Rising and RI Future, which each offer a strong measure of thoughtful and passionate analysis.
I make mention of the value of these two blogs in a piece in this week’s Phoenix, on the winners and sinners of the 2006 political season.

george
george
17 years ago

Young has a point in this sense, there are a lot of crappy political blogs out there that are willing to post out right lies and mistruth to suit their political views. There are very few blogs that actually just report the news aned give insightful balanced commentary.

Rhody
Rhody
17 years ago

Was it yours, or R.I. Monthly’s error, on CHIP Young?
That said, I’m kind of bummed to see Phillippe taking a shot at bloggers. If you’re a longtime reader of those guys (at least 25 years), he and Jorge were bloggers long before the Internet era. Though they do still drop some classic takes, they’ve become part of the establishment in this state.

Justin Katz
17 years ago

My error; thanks for the correction.

Tom
Tom
16 years ago

National Transportation Safety Board recently divulged they had funded a project with the US auto makers for the past five years. The NTSB covertly funded a project whereby the auto makers were installing black boxes in four wheel drive pickup trucks in an effort to determine, in fatal accidents, the circumstances in the last 15 seconds before the crash.
They were surprised to find in 49 of the 50 states the last words of drivers in 61.2% of fatal crashes were, “Oh, Shit!”
Only the state of Texas was different, where 89.3% of the final words were, “Hey Y’all, hold my beer and watch this!”

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