From the Editors
Best in blogs: Mashable Sale Rumor, Goldman Sachs Exposed, Homeless Hotspots, and the Most Viral Video of All Time
So that "Kony 2012" video this week became the most viral video in history, hitting 100 million views in six days, Mashable says. Compared to how long it took other famous Web videos to reach that many views, Kony 2012 makes the "Laughing Baby" just look sad. There's nothing laughable about Joseph Kony, of course, Uganda's longtime horrific warlord whose violent LRA group had kidnapped kids and forced them into child soldiery. Hard to imagine there would be backlash against spreading the word on that, but hang on. Says Slate: "Some critics say that the film glossed over the context of the conflict and unfairly focuses on the LRA, while other groups in the region have used similarly atrocious tactics. Others, meanwhile, have criticized the nonprofit for spending only 30 percent of its proceeds to help Uganda's children." The Nation suggested the viral craze was getting ridiculous: "If you are looking for the precise moment when the viral campaign against Ugandan rebel Joseph Kony turned to farce, it was probably at 6:21 pm on Friday March 9. 'Have you heard of this guy Joseph Kony?,' asked the rapper-turned-reality-star Vanilla Ice, in a tweet from Dallas. 'America needs to send in the hero's that killed Bin Laden and take this killer out.'" Well, if you reach 100 million people, some won't be Winston Churchill.
Best in Blogs: Louis CK Crushes Pirates, Girls Talk Like Frogs, Protesters Get Some Love
The comedian Louis CK often shares too much with his audience - do we need so many details of his private man-habits? But he was concerned his fans would share too much when he put video of his new comedy special on his website for $5, with no copy protection. "No DRM, no regional restrictions, no crap," he wrote at louisck.net. "You can download this file, play it as much as you like, burn it to a DVD, whatever." GigaOM says Louie asked fans not to upload the video to BitTorrent or other file-sharing sites, but "within a matter of hours, there were dozens of copies of 'Live at the Beacon Theater' available for free. Share fail? No way - "the interesting thing is that this didn't stop plenty of fans from paying for the video." In more raw honesty, CK posted the financial results a few days into the experiment: more than 100,000 copies sold at $5 for a tidy profit of (subtracting production costs) at least $200,000. Fans of only moderate Internet piracy are cheering! "A win for the Web," proclaims ReadWriteWeb.
Continue Reading Story »
by Dan Riehl
Guest Top Ten List
Top 10 Must-Read Blogs for Conservatives
Instapundit
Glenn Reynolds is a libertarian, not a conservative. But he is the driving force behind the rise and increasing importance of political blogs - and not just for the Conservative Right. As an out-link blog, providing more links, than commentary, his content is eclectic, so it's a quick solid look for anyone throughout the day. His ability to drive, or influence discussion across all political blogs, Left and Right, remains unmatched and makes him a must read.
Recent Posts: ROLL CALL: John Boehner: Democrats Willing to ‘Tank Our Economy.’ Speaker John Boehner charg… • AUSTIN BAY: Strategy Lessons From The War of 1812…. • I DON’T MEAN TO SOUND UNSYMPATHETIC, but what kind of chump defects to North Korea? As Rocky Rococo…
Michelle Malkin
I'm not picking no brainers here due to their large readership numbers and success. And I'm not simply listing friends, or what have you. While Glenn was the initiator of sorts, Michelle, more than almost anyone, has taken the form in new directions and on into more established media, too. That's partly due to her existing reputation as a quality author and syndicated columnist. It's another must read, often for reports with depth on certain topics each day. And between her posts and rotating Buzzworthy space on the right side, you'll know what many political blogs are discussing on any given day.
Recent Posts: Obama now disagrees with Obama on individual mandate ‘tax’ • Almost 2 dozen reportedly faint during Obama speech • Will Harry Reid also demand the Dems burn Ralph Lauren’s campaign donations?
Ace of Spades HQ
Edgy, insightful commentary when Ace is at the helm of this sometimes slash and burn pirate ship. It now comes with a number of readers become guest bloggers, enabling you to keep up on most topics for discussion in the political blogosphere on any given day. They'll keep you informed, but make no mistake, for fiery, as well as intelligent political blog posts written with a genius for springing the unexpected belly laugh, or snark, Ace represents that fine edge of the political Right-side blogs, often pushing the limits of blog commentary to where the mainstream media dare not go. It's work-safe, so read it and enjoy it. Just don't tell your mother you're doing it and you should be fine.
Recent Posts: Overnight Open Thread (7-16-2012) • Blogger Calls Kate Upton "Fat" "Piggie;" Upton Says She's Not Fat • Democrats: Hey, in Batman? Yeah, The New Movie? There's a Villain Named Bane, So, You Know. Draw Your Own Conclusions.
American Thinker
A combination of longer more substantive items on a daily basis - almost more columns, than blog posts. The site also now hosts its own pure blog to enjoy. The longer items are usually more sophisticated, or thoughtful, yet accessible for lay readers. They don't rely on one blogger to generate post after post on any given day, which provides time for deeper analysis. They have a rotating list of solid authors, enabling them to tackle an in-depth, as well as informed, view of most every important political news item, or political issue upon which they choose to focus. I do write an item for them occasionally, but not often. What pure blogger with his own blog has the time?
Recent Posts: My White Girlfriend Inspired Obama's Big, Dark Regina in Dreams from My Father • Is Obama Ripping Off the Mask? • TWA Flight 800: 16 Years and Still No Questions
The Jawa Report
Yes, there are Hawks on the Right. But they aren't the protected kind. They're interested in the stories and news our noble young men and women at arms are living everyday in Afghanistan and Iraq. And if you want to get your jihad on, or simply keep track of what America's enemies committed to jihad around the world are up to on any given day, Rusty's place is the place on the Right to get the news.
Recent Posts: Fatwa Worthy Post • P0rn Star EMT • Oregon County Extorts Taxpayers By Releasing Accused Murderers
RedState
More a conservative blog, as opposed to just a Right-leaning, or Republican blog. The special significance of RedState is that it's the blog that Republicans in Washington, D.C. want to be featured on in a positive manner. They occasionally enjoy having their own content posted, as well. Not for everyone, read squishy liberals and softer moderates. It represents the solid Right grassroots conservative movement more than many in some ways. That shouldn't be read that there aren't debates, or even major disagreements among the Right blogs. Most of us are free thinkers and individualists first, with everything else flowing from that. And, yes, I have posting privileges I use occasionally thanks to Editor, Eric Erickson.
Recent Posts: Agriculture Committee Voting Report on Farm Bill • Ted Cruz Outraises David Dewhurst. Dewhurst Reponds By Accusing Cruz of Supporting Pedophiles. • Karen Handel Will Be At the RedState Gathering. Will You?
Agent Bedhead
She's conservative, but don't tell anyone, she may lose her Hollywood cred. That's right, a now non-political blog making a political blogger's Top Ten. Why? Well, when you're O-bottomed out, Bushed with politics, or feeling like the Gingrinch at Christmas, you need a break. What better way to take it than with a funny, extremely well written and always snarky, sometimes off the wall and flat-out outlandish blog featuring items like beefcake for the ladies, or the latest Hollywood, or sometimes British Rock Star car wreck for clicks and giggles. Or maybe the latest LA face-lift, or implants gone terribly wrong, and more you'll enjoy reading about just for the fun. All politics makes Dan a dull boy and Agent Bed Head has the skillz to lighten the load. (wink) Trust me, I've read her for several years. I know!
Recent Posts: Cars 2 Review • Who Asked For Cars 2 Again? • Another failed 12-Step Program
Memeorandum
It isn't a "blog," it is a meme tracker across different general topic areas. Obviously I follow politics almost exclusively. If you want to know the news headlines tomorrow, or what will make the 6 o'clock news in politics, along with what the largest number of popular political blogs are discussing on any given day, there isn't a better place to start. Many political blogs use this as a must read source these days. From there, you just click a blog, or headline to read. An easy and important add here for me, before I start making more enemies than friends, due to all the terrific political blogs. I'd encourage everyone to surf around. The field has grown tremendously over the years.
Recent Posts: Drought in U.S. reaching levels not seen in 50 years, pushing up crop prices (Washington Post) • Romney appears in final stages of running-mate decision (Steve Holland/Reuters) • Guantanamo hearing delayed for 9/11 suspects due to Ramadan (Jane Sutton/Reuters)
Real Clear Politics
RCP is a sharp looking, easily navigated polished site that allows you to catch up on all of today's important political news - from big media to the blogs. It never fails to offer up something to think, talk, or blog about. And it even lists some top political blog posts of every day. Just surf around. Also, when it's election time, there is currently no comparison between RCP and any other poll aggregation and analysis site. That alone makes it an indispensable site. And it now offers a great deal more.
Recent Posts: Napolitano Won't Run for Senate in Arizona • Jeff Bingaman to Retire • Exit of Key Aides Reveals Strife in Palin World
Daily Kos
Okay, why would a conservative blogger suggest one of the largest, most unhinged Lefty blogs out here as one of his Top Ten? Am I really that dedicated to presenting a balanced, or otherwise important point of view? Nah. But there are good reasons for it. There are so many fine, well worth reading conservative blogs out there today, as opposed to 2004 when I started, I've been hard pressed to list only ten, let alone in any order. I've already left out too many good ones and good people to count. But if you want to understand conservative blogs, which I do hope you will consider reading - you must understand the utterly vapid nature and stupidity of the liberals against whom we fight. I would have linked the White House blog. But there's so little honesty coming from that message machine today, it's simply not worth your time.
Recent Posts: Open thread for night owls: Drought forces designation of 1,000 counties as federal disaster zones • Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage says the IRS is going to kill a lot of people—seriously • The Chronicles of Mitt: July 12, 2012
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