"A smorgasbord of information and ideas"

"Why do good people turn bad? What does evil really mean? Why is the world so crazy? These are questions I seek to answer with this series," says writer James D. Hudnall of his graphic-novel series Shut Up and Die! (Illustration is by Robert Ortaleza, emails Hudnall).

"It's like a smorgasbord of information and ideas," says professional graphic-novel writer James D. Hudnall of Hud's Blog-o-Rama, subject of the latest Pajamas Media Profile:

I think this particular venue is a great idea because it consolidates a lot of the better blogs together in one place where people can go. You can pick from a wide range of things, and it's like a smorgasbord of information and ideas.

Hudnall's words recalled one of our earliest -- among many -- posts about why we blog and why we read blogs:

Before the internet, Robert Bartley's editorial page of the Journal -- snail version -- was the cream in our coffee, but now our cup runneth over. At a click of our wireless mouse, we have not only the Journal (online subscription costs about half the regular) and just about any other newspaper we could want (mostly free of charge), but, even more importantly -- to stretch our breakfast metaphor to the breaking point -- the "pastry shop" of the blogosphere, with opinions of every stripe, grassroots filters for every taste and just plain delicious reading -- and viewing (lots of clever and beautiful graphics out there) -- to chew on between sips of coffee.

And, of course, cat blogging.

Between sips of coffee this morning, we checked out Hud's Blog-o-Rama and found this tasty tidbit:

The media is always lying to you. Either by intent or by default. Because the truth is a very slippery subject and often what the are selling you are cheap shots and simplistic versions of reality designed to sell whatever point they are trying to make.

Normally, the ludicrous protestors we saw last weekend would be ignored like the extremeists who haunt bus stations talking about the end of the world or the next Soviet Invasion. But the press gave credence to the incredible.

You almost have to turn on the Sci-Fi channel to get accurate news these days.

Or turn to the blogs of Pajamas Media and beyond.

Update:  "The internet and the blogosphere have created a much wider field of competion against which to judge the work of those who make their living writing and reporting. And a very good thing it is," notes Goomp in the comments.

Comments

[goomp]

Journalists, reporters, editors come in all stripes just like other skills or professions. The average is average. The talented and knowledgable are few and far between. It appears to me, however, that the professions generate more hubris than, say, plumbing, where the fruits of one's labors are more obviously easier to judge for quality. The internet and the blogosphere have created a much wider field of competion against which to judge the work of those who make their living writing and reporting. And a very good thing it is.

[hud]

The biggest problem I have with the bulk of mainstream journalism is that bad information can cause serious problems. And often, the press provides tainted goods. The Katrina disaster being a classic example of hearsay and rumor being passed off as fact.

What I find especially appalling is when destructive forces, terrorists, repressive regimes are often allowed to advance their agenda because some journalists have an almost adolescent issue with their own country, so they prefer the propaganda of places that are far, far worse.

[mary barbara]

Interesting that the questions of "Why do good people turn bad...why is the world so crazy?" captioned under the graphic novel picture should come after your post about Cindy Sheehan. I don't know if she has gone from good to bad, but it seems outside influences (media, peer pressure) might make one person crazy and then another, and another...it takes a village..lol...which might be how we got village idiots.

BTW, we held our golf outing to raise money for the Terry Willis Memorial Art Scholarship - we made our goal of $3,000 to be awarded to a member of Michael's (Terry's son) graduating class of 2006.

love you all