PIAJ Recently The One True B!x (from the Portland Communique) had some trouble getting into a Portland Police press conference because he wasn't recognized as a member of the press. This started some discussion among him, Michael Hall (from Pudding Time) and I about press credentials, independent media and access to important events. The main idea that came out of this discussion was the need for a organization to help independent journalists gain recognition and access in Portland.

Therefore, it is my pleasure to announce the formation of the Portland Association of Independent Journalists (PAIJ). I invite all those interested to join the association's mailing list and help us achieve our goals. Below is the mission statement and proposed goals of the association:

The Portland Association of Independent Journalists (PAIJ) is meant to serve local independent reporters by raising awareness of the issues and concerns they face as they exercise their right to maintain a free and open press. We seek to do this in the following ways:

• Establish a set of ethical guidelines endorsed by all of our associates.


• Issue press credentials to serve as an indication that their bearers agree to comport themselves in a manner consistent with the guidelines.


• Work with local independent reporters to resolve issues of access or any conflicts that arise as a result of the use of PAIJ credentials.


• Educate members of the local independent press and interested members of the public through sponsorship of talks and discussions.

  ¶ 8:50 AM

  Duped A few days ago someone called me up to tell me about an amazing story a coworker had read at Yahoo! News. Aparently the SEC had arrested a man for suspected insider trading after he profited on many high risk investments over a short period of time. The amazing part was that the man claimed to be from the future.

Now when I first heard this story I remember saying, "Wow, that is almost weird enought to be believable." So I went to Yahoo! News and looked at the story. I read a couple times and then I noticed a little line above the story. It said "Weekly World News". You know the Weekly World News. Their the super cheep supermarket tabloid with the completely outragious headlines like "Alligator Boy found in Florida".

I thought this might be a limited incident, just a few people not seeing the Weekly World News credit. But apparently it is a wide spread dupe. I have seen it on Slashdot, This Modern World, and apparently a lot of other people were duped as well.

So what is it about this story that caused so many people to be duped by it. Is it a fascination with time travel, our fascination with get rich quick schemes, or was it just a slow news week.   ¶ 8:54 AM

  New Blogging just joined a new blog called Satellite Misters. Head over and read my first entry.  ¶ 9:11 AM

  Techno Lust So a guy just brought in a new 17" Apple Powerbook G4 into the library and asked me for help setting it up on the wireless network. I know that when Apple announced this computer, people said it was big, and I believed them, but now that I have been lucky enough to see one in person I have to say that it is really, really, really HUGE! I, of course, want one, but at nearly $3,300 I won't be able to afford one unless I win the lottery or get a job that pays really well.

All of this gets me thinking about consumerism. I often deride our consumeristic society and the way that we are driven to buy, buy, buy! I try my best to limit my own spending and try to buy local and/or generic when ever possible. Then I see a 17" Powerbook, I get weak at the knees, and start to pull out my credit card. Do I just have a soft spot for technology or am I fatally infected by the consumer disease?  ¶ 11:29 AM

  Sick and tired of being sick and tired So over a week now I have had this damned cold and have missed 2 days of work (non-consecutive). It started in my thoat, then moved to my sinuses, then down to my nose and now it firmly resides in my chest. I caugh every few minutes. Consequently, I am not sleeping well, not updating this blog or AllianceWatch.

Enough bitching, on with the show.  ¶ 4:23 PM

  War Porn When the war started my girlfriend and I decided that we wouldn't watch any coverage of the war and would simply pick up what news we happened upon. During the conversation I called the coverage "War Porn". I have mentioned it to a few friends and they all seem to think it is pretty funny and a good description of the coverage. Luckily I have had little trouble avoiding the coverage since I don't get any 24 hour cable news stations and I don't watch much in the way of news.  ¶ 10:39 AM