Matthew Wayne Selznick

Every now and then we make some just-for-fun pages at my day job, Mahalo.com. This time around, we created a page on the best fictional cops from movies and television.

Fast Facts
1. Often go above and beyond the call of duty
2. May use extreme methods and excessive force
3. Do what it takes to get their man
4. Difficult to corrupt
5. Many have been suspended at least once
6. May have rookie partner or dead partner, or often both

There are lots of video samples of everyone from John McClane (from the “Die Hard” movies) to Commissioner Jim Gordon (Batman’s pal on the Gotham City police force, of course) to my own contribution, Springfield Chief of Police Clancy Wiggum!

Check it out, suggest your own best fictional cops, and while you’re there, check out some of our past “best of” lists, like Best Evil Robots and Best Historical Mysteries!

This summer, we saw four podcast novels become in-print sensations in a period notable for having the most podcast - to - print events in such a short time.  Four books were not just released, they had successful rushes up the Amazon.com charts… four books in forty four days!

In order, they were:

“Brave Men Run”
“Digital Magic”
“The Case of the Pitcher's Pendant”
“Playing for Keeps”

I'd like to get the community's opinion:

To get an idea, did you buy all four books on the day of their respective Amazon rush?  No shame if you didn't, I just want to understand your perspective.  If you didn't, why not?

Were the releases too close together?  Was three events and four books in less than a month and a half too much hype, and too much of a drain on you bank account to fully participate in all three?

Was the fact that the summer was so packed actually beneficial?  Did it contribute to each author's success?

If you listen to a lot of podcasts, did you tire of hearing Tee, Pip, Mur and myself interviewed on so many shows in such a short time, or did you enjoy it?  Did you buy any of the books because you heard the author on so many podcasts, or one podcast in particular?  Did you discover a new podcast you subsequently subscribed to because you heard one of the authors on it?

Which event (Sovereign Summer Sunday, Double Trouble, Heroes of the 25th) had the best author / audience connection, and why?  Which one had the worst, and why?

As authors, what can we do better to connect with and mobilize the audience the next time we need the audience's support and help with something?  Did any of the four authors do anything this summer that had a negative effect on you as a fan?

Is there anything else you can add to the discussion, whether positive or negative, regarding this summer's podcast-to-print efforts by each of the four authors?

Please note: I'm not trying to create a pissing contest or drag the pond for compliments for myself or for Tee, Mur, or Pip.  You can help us by being absolutely honest.  It's constructive criticism and legitimate praise that does the most good.

If you like, in addition to the discussion here, consider recording you feedback and either sending it as an mp3 file to mwselznick at gmail dot com or leaving a voicemail at 1-505-349-0386.  I'll play the responses on a future episode of Sonitotum.

Thanks for taking part!

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I don’t have the slightest clout, influence, or power in this matter… and it probably comes as no surprise to folks who know me or read this blog. I’m endorsing Barak Obama for President of the United States in the November 2008 election.

Never mind that I’ve been a registered Democrat since my first presidential election in 1988. Never mind that I don’t want to see any one party in the executive branch for twelve years straight. I think Obama is the better choice for the country at this time in our history.

Most people look at the choices in an election through the lens of the issues that matter most to them as individuals. Obama’s position on the future of the Internet and intellectual property laws cinched the deal for me:

• Open Internet: “Barack Obama strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet. Users must be free to access content, to use applications, and to attach personal devices. They have a right to receive accurate and honest information about service plans. Obama will protect the Internet’s traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it remains a platform for free speech and innovation that will benefit consumers and our democracy.”

  Compare this to John McCain’s stated position: “John McCain does not believe in prescriptive regulation like “net-neutrality,” but rather he believes that an open marketplace with a variety of consumer choices is the best deterrent against unfair practices.” Personally, I don’t trust the providers to keep the consumer’s best interest in mind.

• Intellectual Property: “Intellectual property is to the digital age what physical goods were to the industrial age. Barack Obama believes we need to update and reform our copyright and patent systems to promote civic discourse, innovation and investment while ensuring that intellectual property owners are fairly treated.” And on the patent system: “A system that produces timely, high-quality patents is essential for global competitiveness in the 21st century. By improving predictability and clarity in our patent system, we will help foster an environment that encourages innovation. Giving the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) the resources to improve patent quality and opening up the patent process to citizen review will reduce the uncertainty and wasteful litigation that is currently a significant drag on innovation.”

  McCain seems to have a similar position on patents, but his position on copyright never mentions a need for reform and instead presents a blanket assurance to the major media conglomerates which have traditionally lobbied for tighter restrictions and shoring up of the status quo: “The entertainment industry is both a vital sector of the domestic economy and among the largest U.S. exporters. While the Internet has provided tremendous opportunity for the creators of copyrighted works, including music and movies, to distribute their works around the world at low cost, it has also given rise to a global epidemic of piracy. John McCain supports efforts to crack down on piracy, both on the Internet and off.”

Yes, of course, time will tell if the next president is truly effective in bringing reform and innovation to IP. We will, as before and now, need to actively participate in the process. Based on the information available on both candidates’ web sites, it appears Obama has a better grasp on what is needed to keep innovation and creativity moving forward while providing reasonable protection for the creators and innovators.

So there you have it, for what it’s worth. Slings, arrows, and rose petals may be thrown in the comments…

As you know, Bob, I work for Mahalo.com, the Santa Monica, California Internet start-up backed by Sequoia Capital (and others) and run by Jason Calacanis. Mahalo.com is a human-curated search site that strives to provide high-quality results for the terms most people search for the most often. Examples are all over this paragraph. Here are some more.

Part of my job involves screening and helping train the freelancers that make up part of our editorial team. Right now, I’m looking for about a dozen freelance writers who can commit twenty to forty eight hours per week.

This gig is not for every writer, and there is a learning curve. The right freelancer has excellent writing skills, including the ability to write fast and concise copy from a neutral point of view. In addition, they are experienced Internet researchers who can tell high quality sites from spam, advertorials and scraped content harvesters. Familiarity with AP style and mediawiki markup is a plus.

It occurs to me… I know some writers. Those writers know writers. It also strikes me that most writers are looking for ways to make money with words. If that’s you, freelancing for Mahalo.com is something you should look into.

Questions? Contact matt @ mahalo dot com after you read this.

Pass it on, share it, re-blog it, microblog it, and so on. Thanks!

To rev folks up prior to the August 25th release of the paperback edition of Mur Lafferty’s novel “Playing for Keeps,” she’s got a special podcast running, “Stories of the Third Wave.” Each episode carries the conceit that you’re listening to a radio program or podcast from Seventh City, the setting of the novel, where super-heroes are a common, everyday element of society.

I was very pleased to be invited to create one of these little pieces of audio, and I knew immediately the radio program / podcast I wanted to pay tribute to: Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” specifically “The News from Lake Wobegon” segment. I love these vignettes of a slightly repressed, slightly isolated little town “out there on the edge of the prairie,” and I think Keillor’s abilities as a storyteller are sublime. If you’ve never heard it, check your public radio listings, or subscribe to the podcast edition.

First, though, fly over to the “Playing for Keeps” website and listen to “The News from Bewilder Pond.” Comment on the episode if you liked it. Consider subscribing to get the rest of the Stories of the Third Wave podcasts — they’re a fun introduction to this particular author’s take on the super-hero genre, and written and performed by an all-star line-up of podcasting talent. If I do say so myself, of course.

Lastly, I urge you to purchase “Playing For Keeps” from Amazon.com on August 25th, 2008, when Mur Lafferty makes her very own rush on the Amazon bestseller charts. If you enjoyed “Brave Men Run,” I guarantee you will love this book.