Journal of a Journalist

Oh, The Greenpoint Winos Are Out Tonight

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:34:39 -0400

Pro tip: Anyone who misses the golden days of walking to St. Marks from CBGBs in the mid-1990s amid a sea of hipsters, punk rockers, Eastern European immigrants and belligerent heroin addicts.. Manhattan Avenue has your demographic mix on display *right now*.

Brooklyn jukeboxes. (at Commonwealth)

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:18:30 -0400

Brooklyn jukeboxes. (at Commonwealth)

Spot the street fair typos. (at Park Slope, Brooklyn)

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:16:39 -0400

Spot the street fair typos. (at Park Slope, Brooklyn)

So Tumblr Just (Allegedly) Sold For A Billion Dollars

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:44:48 -0400

Well done, David Karp, Mark Coatney, John Maloney, and all the other Tumblr board members and employees past and present who contributed to a massive sale of a blogging platform for more than a billion dollars.

The blog I write, Journal of a Journalist, has more than sixty thousand followers on Tumblr. This, in itself, is testament to Tumblr’s success as a social networking platform—not as a blogging platform. I started using Tumblr in 2007, primarily because it was easier to use than Wordpress and because my own social community (NYC media people) were plugged in to the initial demographic the site was trying to attract. There were other worthy blogging software launches during that time, but Tumblr succeeded. Vox and Posterous, despite their very strong functionality, didn’t.

This is because David Karp’s peculiar brand of genius created the first mass market mobile-oriented social media platform; it only masquerades as a blogging platform. Looking at Tumblr, I see a crowded, frenzied social media platform organized around visual images and short bursts of text—perfect for use on your phone. But the traditional accompaniments of blogs? The replies back and forth, for instance? Or longform content? Not so much.

Looking around Tumblr now, I see a vibrant and amazing site. All sorts of subcultures - fandom, activism, art, ethnicities,.. Any subculture you think of, it’s here. But it’s here as a social networking platform.

In short, Yahoo just (allegedly) spent a shit ton of money on the biggest social networking platform that isn’t Facebook or Twitter. If Yahoo’s new order is filled with smarties who won’t pull a Flickr or Delicious and ruin a vibrant social network, we’re in for a fascinating, fascinating year.

French Burger with raw onion, shallots, herbs, mustard mixed...

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:15:22 -0400

French Burger with raw onion, shallots, herbs, mustard mixed into the beef. Crispy sear and insanely delicious. (at A.O.C. Bistro)

Beer garden Saturday. (at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden)

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:09:38 -0400

Beer garden Saturday. (at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden)

Overpacked subway. Just like being in London (at Astoria Ave...

Sat, 18 May 2013 16:52:18 -0400

Overpacked subway. Just like being in London (at Astoria Ave & 31st Street)

Dancing parade in Union Square. .. just another NYC day! (at...

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:48:00 -0400

Dancing parade in Union Square. .. just another NYC day! (at Union Square Greenmarket)

Flaming Lips get the best mike stands. (at Great GoogaMooga)

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:27:53 -0400

Flaming Lips get the best mike stands. (at Great GoogaMooga)

Hamegeddon in Brooklyn. (at Great GoogaMooga)

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:10:39 -0400

Hamegeddon in Brooklyn. (at Great GoogaMooga)

Umami Burger comes to NY. Truffle burger FTW.

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:14:14 -0400

Umami Burger comes to NY. Truffle burger FTW.

Why Tech Journalism Is Like Food Journalism — Tech Journalism Thoughts — Medium

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:24:14 -0400

Why Tech Journalism Is Like Food Journalism — Tech Journalism Thoughts — Medium:

My newest @medium post is up.

Multilingual New York at an East Village yakitori restaurant.

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:45:27 -0400

Multilingual New York at an East Village yakitori restaurant.

“I’m stuck because…”

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:21:02 -0400

“I’m stuck because…”

"Esta conversación con novelistas Junot Díaz y Francisco Goldman se realizó en el Instituto Cervantes..."

Mon, 13 May 2013 23:52:59 -0400

“Esta conversación con novelistas Junot Díaz y Francisco Goldman se realizó en el Instituto Cervantes de Nueva York y se trata del arte de la traducción, de escribir historias sobre latinos en Inglés y sobre la relación que cada autor tiene con América Latina.”

- via. (via evanfleischer)

And here, people, is some prime podcast listening. Francisco Goldman & Junot Diaz talk English, Espanol, translation, and novel writing. En ingles (principalemente) pero sobre espanol.

Hey Canada, Thank You For Chris Hadfield

Mon, 13 May 2013 23:38:09 -0400

That is all.

Manhattan, Bay Ridge, Staten Island. (at Verrazano-Narrows...

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:22:25 -0400

Manhattan, Bay Ridge, Staten Island. (at Verrazano-Narrows Bridge)

Hard to believe Staten Island is part of NYC sometimes. (at New...

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:16:26 -0400

Hard to believe Staten Island is part of NYC sometimes. (at New Springville)

Hello, Staten Island. Remember that scene in Saturday Night...

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:58:14 -0400

Hello, Staten Island. Remember that scene in Saturday Night Fever? (at Verrazano-Narrows Bridge)

NYPD guarding the new World Trade Center.

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:44:53 -0400

NYPD guarding the new World Trade Center.