Nathan Bierma hits the streets (again)

Neal Whitman has weighed in on Nathan Bierma's new collection of material culled from the "On Language" column of the Chicago Tribune. Yes, the column is no longer a regular feature in the paper, but Neal points out that like the great DVD box set, The Eclectic Encyclopedia of English lets the series live on.

Neal takes exception with the logic of calling the book an "encyclopedia" and the alphabetical arrangement, but such is the challenge of the anthologizing such material. There is no perfect configuration; every solution has built-in compromises. In the end, Neal does come through with an understanding of what the book really does: "It’s fast, easy, entertaining reading, and would be a good gift for people who like reading about language . . . not so much a reference book as a language lover’s bathroom reader."

But Neal, "encyclopedia" sounds so much loftier than "bathroom reader"; we couldn't resist.

The Revolutionary Paul Brians-

I had a chance to Interview Paul Brians on camera for Writer's Dojo at Wordstock a few days ago, but here's the real deal from an actual professional: Paul Brians is interviewed by Elizabeth O'Brien of English Grammar Revolution. The video is not yet available, so this will have to do in the meantime.

William Safire Remembered, but Best Remembranced Elsewhere

Ben Zimmer, contributor to Language Log and to Far from the Madding Gerund (and occasional sub at the NYT "On Language" desk), writes two remembrances of William Safire and points to a column where the late, great gray eminence references the work of Language Log in defining the phenomenon known as "snowclones," a term actually coined by Glen Whitman rather than a staffer at Language Log.

Look everywhere else for remembrances of Safire (I'll ignore much of his political opinion except as it relates to civil liberties and media conglomeration), and also look around for discussions of what a snowclone is. As far as I know, Safire never plugged that other phenomenon noted and popularized at Language Log, the eggcorn.

As far as I know, Safire never gave mention to Paul Brians' Common Errors in English Usage, which would have seemed a natural for him, but once upon a time he did give mention to Brad Hansen's Dictionary of Computing and Digital Media, published by our own selves. To him the book was "catnip for netties."

A Midsummer Hint

I hate to bring up school at a time like this, but it looks like the Parenting Press E-zine is dropping a back-to-school hint: Get those kids in the Common Errors in English Web site habit, or perhaps a get a copy for the backpack.

Someone is Wrong on the Internet AGAIN--and this time it's ERIC BOEHLERT!

Here's a great one: Glenn Greenwald talks to Erich Boehlert about Eric's new book, Bloggers on the Bus: How the Internet Changed Politics and the Press. Boehlert has, for about the million-zillionth time, his finger on the pulse, and I'm sure to be taking a look at this book. His Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush is about as close to a tearjerker as any extremely detailed account of press coverage can be.

But! Right there in the middle of the conversation, Boehlert claims that until a couple of weeks ago, the Washington Post had never written a feature on a liberal blogger. Now, I would normally trust Eric to have it right, but in this case I've got to say it: Eric, Eric, Eric . . . where were you in the summer of 2005? How did you miss our own Barbara O'Brien, the Mahablogist and author of our own Blogging America: Political Discourse in a Digital Nation, right there on the cover of the Washington Post Magazine of July 17, 2005, in a feature written by David von Drehle? By my count, that means the Post actually featured a liberal blogger about four years ago.

Oh well, I assume we can trust Glenn Greenwald, anyway, when he signs off saying, "Well, Eric, you've written obviously one of the first books, and I think one of the best books on what political blogs are and what they do." Except Eric's book comes out five years after Barbara's (and Dan Gillmor's, for that matter). Perhaps, though, Glenn's half right. I certainly wouldn't put it past Mr. Boehlert to write one of the best books on just about anything.

UPDATE: You can find the comic featured here, and lots and lots of other good ones, at XKCD.

How blogging ended the newspaper industry

Or not, as explained perfectly by Allison Hantschel.

Also on this topic, please refer to John Nichols and Robert McChesney, two of this country's greatest media know-it-alls.