Bloggers on the Bus, and in the Bowl
Tune in today to KBYR 700am today (5-7pm) to hear Shannyn Moore talk to Eric Boehlert, author of the new book “Bloggers on the Bus – How the Internet Changed Politics and the Press!” I was at work the other day when the mailman came in and handed me the usual stack of bills and junk mail, with the addition of a big brown padded envelope. “What’s this?” I thought, raising an eyebrow. It’s been my experience that brown padded envelopes are usually a good thing. And this time proved to be no exception.
Inside was my very own copy of Bloggers on the Bus with a nice little press release including a description of the book:
In Bloggers on the Bus, Boehlert examines how, at critical junctures during the election, the bloggers, and not the Beltway media, set the agenda. By communicating directly with their audience and involving their readers, bloggers helped democratize the political process by chipping away at the mainstream media’s control over campaign narratives. They infuriated the Republicans along the way by forcing a televised Fox News debate to be cancelled, vetting Sarah Palin better than the GOP had, and using technology to outmaneuver John McCain whose party, still in love with AM talk radio, seemed oblivious to the political revolution unfolding online.
Boehlert also reveals the untold stories of the internet activists who have amassed so much power in such a short period of time with so little money or resources behind them.
A quick look through the table of contents revealed that the name of Chapter 13 is “Saradise Lost,” the name of the series of posts on Sarah Palin which was a regular feature of Phil Munger’s blog “Progressive Alaska.” And sure enough as I skipped ahead to Chapter 13, Phil is featured prominently, as a Wasilla resident, political activist, composer, teacher and one of the bloggers that became a source for the mainstream media in those early days of September ’08 when the question on everyone’s lips was, “Sarah Who?” Nobody’s asking that question any more.
The book also features, Maia Nolan of Own the Sidewalk, Linda Kellen Biegel of Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis, Shannyn Moore of Just a Girl from Homer, Alaska Real, The Immoral Minority, Kodiak Konfidential…and yes, Mudflats! Mudflats got two lovely big paragraphs on page 231 that talk about my background, the Palin pick, and those crazy first weeks of the campaign. It even includes my eating habits in the month of September, which basically had one food group – cereal. Above you can see Eric’s book (because you’ll want to identify it in bookstores and take a copy home with you), and a photo of the little white bowl of blogger fuel that kept these fingers flying during election season.
For those of you who really want to experience “A Taste of the Mudflats” (the blog, not the Cook Inlet ooze) pick yourself up a box of Nature’s Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola. You can get the giant double pack at Costco. Pour on some cold rice milk, have a seat at your computer, and you’re good to go for hours.
I’ll be looking forward to hearing Eric and Shannyn chat about the book and how the blogging phenomenon is changing the face of politics, and the press. You can stream it live HERE.
After Shannyn’s Show, you can keep listening for two more hours of progressive talk with Mike Method who will talk to Jackie Buckley of Equality Works about the expansion of the city’s equal rights ordinance. He’ll also talk to Ret. Col. Ann Wright, a career military officer and a State Department diplomat for 29 years. She resigned publicly on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, and since then has been an influential spokesperson and activist in the anti-war movement.
Mlaiuppa……..a spoon that can hang instead of go in a drawer? or just a very neat and unique spoon design……if you are looking for a brand id you could email AKM.
Congratulations to all the progressive blogs! those mentioned in the book and those that didn’t, you’re all in this together…….and those who comment appreciate a place for others to hear our voices, also, too.
I don’t think I’ll ever get that wording out of my mind, lol.
I need to know what kind of spoon that is in the cereal bowl with the loop on the end. Anyone?
(Deep bow) To all the bloggers of Alaska!
Thanks for your clear voices during the run up to the November elections (and beyond). You have made a profound influence in the world we live in.
I had never thought I would see the day when I would vote Democrat, but She-Who-Will-Not-Be-Named and my dear Mudflats opened my eyes.
P.S. Lori in L.A. I like your sense of humor. Hope GINO likes her present.
Mudflats makes me happy. You do a fantastic job. You are not
nauseous at all, though you may be nauseated from time to
time. THANK YOU.
I voted for Tony Knowles also, but I would have much preferred to have had the opportunity to vote for Fran Ulmer again. The good people really made a poor choice in that election. How different to imagine ourselves with her in her second term now.
Lee323…….thank you, well said!
In case you missed the talk with Ann Wright, here is a video of her May 2009 appearance in Binghamton, NY: http://essentialdissent.blogspot.com/2009/05/ann-wright-on-gaza-1.html
Thanks for the timely review, AKM. It sounds like a way fun party. 🙂
Bloggers and the internet changed everything in the dynamics of politics. No longer could the politicians with their “measured spin” press releases…..or the cable/network news shows with their time and content limitations…..control the pace or content of the campaigns. Fact-checking was done at the click of a mouse. Many, many voices gave opinions, debated opinions, changed opinions. A blogger sitting in Alaska suddenly had the “voice” that everyone needed and wanted to hear….and could hear instantly….
Millions of voices, not just the blog writers themselves, are talking back and forth. Emotions and ideas from millions of people…. synergistically becoming greater than the sum of the individual voices.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…..The internet and blogging is a quantum leap for The People forming a government that is truly “by the people and for the people”……taking back the power from the career politicians, greedy politicians, crooked politicians, and media who are more concerned with their ratings and bottom line than getting to the bottom of the real story.
Accountability has come….in the form of millions of eyes and voices in a complex network called the internet blogosphere…..the People.
We are bloggers….hear us ROAR! (Take it away, Helen!….Helen Reddy, that is. LOL.)
I agree, Nature’s Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola is the BEST!
ENOUGHwiththetrainwreck Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 7:38 PM
—-
Great post and I totally agree! Kudos, AKM and mudpuppies; all bloggers!!
The Spin Stops Here, they where refering to their own cereal.
Snap, Snap, Crackle, Pop, Pop
Gino, Todd, Greta, Hannity O’reilly
Boehlert cereal needs Murdochs milk.
How apropos — I had just prepared a bowl of cold milk and shredded wheat, plopped into my favorite chair and curled up to read mudflats before calling it a day!
This is what Shannyn lists on her blog as the number to call
“Call me at 907.274.5297 (907.274.KBYR) or email me at [email protected]“
Canadian Neighbour Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 7:40 PM
crystalwolf,
EmailS. Obama was mine too!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember when he visited up there how proud you were…. ♥ 🙂
crystalwolf,
EmailS. Obama was mine too!!!
congratulations to all of the alaska bloggers — i tend to check out as many as i can from time to time. this is home however. thank you sincerely to each and every person in alaska that had the huevos to type the truth so we could read it. truly there are not enough words to express my deep gratitude.
because information alone is not enough — the back story, the side story, the humanity, the wit……..and the consistency. THAT was what saved us all.
Canadian Neighbour Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 7:21 PM
If you have listened to Shannyn’s show, on her blog page it says that you can Rate the show.
crystalwolf aka caligrl, make sure YOU go to her blog — you will see the information you wanted!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks…DUH!!! I have bad eyes and have this blog in big font…I guess I missed that! So far it seems mostly conservatives who happen onto her show are calling, except for your email. I would hope more Alaskan Mudflatter would call in to her. Maybe I will have a email for her next week 🙂
If you have listened to Shannyn’s show, on her blog page it says that you can Rate the show.
crystalwolf aka caligrl, make sure YOU go to her blog — you will see the information you wanted!!!
Speaking of bloggers..
Check out Progressive AK. I don’t want to give out details or mention the bloggers name and give him more publicity or encouragement. Phil’s story mentions the ‘gravatar’ which is rather disgusting and disturbing.
Why the ADN would not remove this post is beyond me. They censor everything else.
Canadian Neighbour Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 6:27 PM
crystalwolf aka caligrl
Her (full name) at gmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks 8)
crystalwolf aka caligrl
Her (full name) at gmail dot com
KBYR doesn’t play for me using the link above, but this one always works for me.
http://radiotime.com/WebTuner.aspx?StationId=31918&
AKM, I distinctly remember you eating bowl after bowl of popcorn. Well, I remember you going off to pop it, so I assume you ate it. I was eating it right along with you.
That radio channel they don’t exactly post email addresses or phone numbers to call in ?
I hope some intrepid mudflatter will call in ! ❗
Cool. will have to check out Barnes & Noble …Closet store for me…Thx AKM for the heads up…:))
Heads exploding!!! Go Shannyn! Explode heads!!!!
“They infuriated the Republicans along the way by forcing a televised Fox News debate to be cancelled.”
Luckily, the sheer size of our ‘media market’ has been a good defense against domination by Rupert Murdoch’s News corp., which is actually losing a lot of money due to it’s failing newspaper business. However, in a smaller market like the UK, the Rupe is not so concerned by mere bloggers. Yet.
“His views are taken seriously in Westminster because the support of his four British newspapers – the Times, Sunday Times, News of the World and particularly the Sun, traditionally Conservative until it switched to backing Blair in 1997 – are regarded as critical to winning an election”.
http://www.spinwatch.org.uk/latest-news-mainmenu-10/163-british-government/3342-tea-for-two-as-brown-and-blair-woo-murdoch
Who’s gonna call in to Shannyn’s show? She asked to hear from mudflatters.
It was almost like listening to “The Mudflats Show” rather than “The Shannyn Moore Show” for the first part of Shannyn’s radio show tonight.
Both Shannyn and Eric Boehlert, author of “Bloggers on the Bus”, were singing the praises of AKM for a goodly portion of his segment. Great shout out!:)
AKM, you are in the thick of things since the future of journalism is going by the way of the blogger! Yee haa!
My son, who is an English Major at UCONN (and a member of the Student Senate), and I were discussing this very topic today. My little Democrat completely agrees that bloggers and sites like Facebook have changed everything. We all now have a voice, thanks to you and your fellow bloggers (and FB and the like), and our collective voices are loud and proud and we can do anything we set our sights upon!
Canadian Neighbour Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 5:49 PM
crystalwolf aka caligrl
Yupper!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TeeHeee!!!!!!!
Go Anonn Bloggers!!!!!!
crystalwolf aka caligrl
Yupper!
I’m AM in my PJ’s listening, eating Little Debbie’s, reading Huff article on Palin stimulus & jumped out of my skin. It’s soon to be 10 pm and someone set off fireworks outside. Holy Crappola.
It’s our Victoria Day weekend – Monday is a holiday named after Queen Victoria’s birthday and we used to call it Firecracker Day too
Canadian Neighbour Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 5:35 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you just email Shannyn about the book? 🙂
# 18
crystalwolf aka caligrl Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Are you using this one?
http://radiotime.com/station/s_31918/Smart_Radio_700.aspx
Works well for me?
—————–
Thanks for the tip… but yes, that is the same one that Shannyn had posted. And it did work thru the first two breaks. I am on a modem… so maybe it doesn’t like the buffering of something.
BTW caligirl : I am just about an hour away from you over her at the Capital. Supposed to be 100 degrees tomorrow. Had to clean up the ‘swamp cooler’ and turn it on today. Feeling ‘ koooooooollllll’ right now.
Honey Nut Cheerios. seriously.
*listenin’ to Shannyn, eatin’ a bowl of Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter cereal*….. so sue me!
Greytdog Δ – Saw and posted something on the open thread for you.
I just got it on Amazon $13. +shipping 🙂
I’m sure it will be a good read; I always enjoyed reading his blog/column at Media Matters (http://mediamatters.org), where incidentally you can pre-order the book. I haven’t been reading Media Matters much recently tho I used read it religiously. I appreciate them watching Rush, Bill, Glenn, Anne and the rest so I don’t have to, but reading about the hateful lies those guys spew defeats the purpose.
I LOVE Nature’s Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola! Excellent cereal that is….I haven’t had it in a while, now I’m craving it! I guess I’ll have to add it to my grocery list now!
Canadian Mudpups:
Just checked Amazon.ca and it is in stock & available in Canada on Tuesday too!!
WOW That’s a treat. $21.42 CDN (Sugg. $34)
Are you using this one?
http://radiotime.com/station/s_31918/Smart_Radio_700.aspx
Works well for me?
Is anybody else having problems with the radio player…?
I listened thru the first two breaks…. now it cant find the station.
Is there another link… or something?
Geeze I wondered why I was by myself on the open thread! LOL! Mudflatter’s in Alaska, Phil, Gryphen, Diva, AKM call Shannyn! 🙂 Bloggers go!!!
Another shout out to Mudflats from Geoffrey Dunn on HuffPo:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/stimulus-interruptus-pali_b_204293.html
I rather like switching between raisin bran, raisin cinnamon oatmeal, and chocolate chip cookies. . . .fiber, fruit, and fun!
OT: from HuffPo : “Stimulus Interruptus” http://tinyurl.com/qsqu4m
BTW: That’s sung to that old familiar tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”, which never ceases to thrill audiences of 2 and under. They can listen to it over and over and OVER until the Over 3 crowd starts looking for a dramatic way out of the never-ending song.
Looks more like an eye bolt than a spoon that you would screw into a deck or something.
Did AKM use this to bite down on for pain or stopping his/herself from screaming!!!
The Bloggers on the Bus go ’round and ’round!!!
(As in ’round and ’round with the same old GOP rhetoric, all the live long day.)
Will we see it in your Amazon store book list?
I will definitely order a copy for GINO and send it to her – NOT KIDDING.
Return address will be: P.J. Basment, U.S.A.
This just showing on HuffPost…enjoy!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/stimulus-interruptus-pali_b_204293.html
Thank you very much pvazwindy hadn’t heard about that, good for the bloggers.
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/10/nation/na-debate10
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& is this it? #6
I don’t remember the Faux Spews channel being forced to cancel a debate, shocking memory, can someone remind me, please – austintx, crystalwol? anyone?
Your spoon has a hole in it. Or is that the handle.
Good for the bowel.
I recommend muesli…nitey nite! 🙂
Well, be that as it may, I heard Sarah Palin graduated high school.
Is Smart Start Cereal ok ??