Re: I shall join you
Subject: Re: I shall join you
From: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
Date: 1/24/10, 03:22
To: Norman Rogers <normandrogers@gmail.com>

Mr. Rogers-

Thanks for getting in touch. Thankfully, there's been a lot more interest in the project than I'd expected at this point, which makes it all the more viable. 

I'll provide more details on everything soon, but essentially, what I'm planning will require (a) a decentralized network of folks who agree that the media has to be turned inside out and soon, and (b) software that my friend Andrew Stein is creating which will facilitate the transfer of info around the internet. Things will launch in earnest this April. In the meantime, there's lots of preparation to be done, as well as plenty of thinking regarding the specifics. I know I haven't given you much information to work with, but please give some thought to what sort of features you would find useful in software designed to, say, feed raw information to your blog, as well as to allow you to "characterize" that information and transfer it to others. Stein of course has a plan regarding those elements, but he's not a blogger or commentator and thus you and I and others who deal in research and output and such things might have more insight into how blogs can be improved. Also, I'll be making a more formal announcement of the project through True/Slant and Huffington Post next week; this will include a bit of additional info for you. If you would, link your readers to that piece. Also, I can't tell if you collaborate much with other bloggers, but if you know any, please let them know about the project and have them e-mail me if they have any suggestions. There have been some interesting thoughts in the comments section of Balloon Juice, for instance:

http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=33149

I've also attached a couple of papers that have informed my thinking regarding the viability of this project. Long story short: orality to literacy is akin to literacy to the internet. I'll make this case further very soon.

Regards,

Barrett Brown
Brooklyn, NY

On Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 9:01 PM, Norman Rogers <normandrogers@gmail.com> wrote:
Mr. Brown,
 
I have just read your post, http://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2010/01/ex-conservative-charles-johnsons-next-crusade.html , and I would like to join you.
 
What I do is feed the content beast. I post, I analyze, I have fun, but, mostly, I celebrate the American experience. I cut it down the middle and I give holy hell to both sides. I really do not tolerate foolishness or incompetence. I tear into the news, the events of the day, the foolhardy opinions of others, and I tell people what they need to know.
 
Granted, I'm weird. But, people seem to want to read my blog. It must be the hotties.
 
Anyway, please consider adding me to your venture. I own my own domain, I kick ass on a daily basis, and I can give as good as I can take. I have fifteen or sixteen other blogs that are pretty neat as well. You don't even have to pay me. I'm rich. Otherwise, why would I have a blog on Squarespace?
 
Very respectfully,
 
Norman Rogers
 
http://www.anamericanlion.com/
 
You can find some of my greatest hits by looking at the category of "The Best of the Blog."
 
http://www.anamericanlion.com/aal/category/the-best-of-the-blog