various endorsements

Because I know you're all just waiting intently for me to tell you what writers I like.

1. I frequently disagree with him, but man, Wesley Morris can write. I know it sounds obvious, but if you want to find work as a critic or commentator, get your prose right.

2. I though Sam Biddle was kind of a jerk when he wrote for Gizmodo, but his sensibility and writing style are perfect for covering the absurdity and arrogance of Silicon Valley at the new Valleywag.

3. A couple of years ago, I would have told you that the last thing the internet needed was another tech site. (I often wonder: is there such a thing as Peak Commentary? As of right now, it looks like the answer is no. We seem to have an infinite appetite.) But The Wirecutter, to me, shows that there's still room for new sites if they have a clear editorial philosophy and really invest effort in what they produce. The Wirecutter runs reviews of products, but it avoids the twin poles of bad contemporary criticism, fanboy fawning and snarky dismissal. Instead, they carefully and soberly explore the landscape of available devices for particular needs, compare prior reviews, and recommend options based on budget and need, in accessible and enthusiastic prose. Check out founder Brian Lam's piece on the iPhone. It advocates without engaging in the typical aggressive condescension that's typical of pro-Apple reviews. (Then get depressed when many of the commenters engage in that exact shitty behavior.) As an Apple skeptic, it's nice to see someone who can articulate a case for an Apple product that is based on the actual product, not on weird personality cult bullshit. Great site all around.

4. You should really subscribe to the Slurve, if you're a baseball fan, or interested in new media models. It's surprising to me how different the experience of reading an email newsletter is from reading, say, a paywalled website. An email, for me, has a different sense of obligation than a new post on a site. That might not sound like a good thing for something that's intended to be enjoyed, but for me, it actually is: it forces me to sit down and read the thing and have that mental space devoted for awhile. This summer is hugely important for me, academically and professionally, and it's important to take a regular break where I focus on something completely different. So in the morning, I have my coffee-and-Slurve time. One of the best parts of my day.

5. I like Devin Faraci's writing about movies, Catie Weaver on celebrity weirdness, Steve Randy Waldman on economics and politics, Moe Tkacik on anything, and Charles Pierce yelling at people, when the people getting yelled at are deserving. I also like you.