The Web Standards Project returns with a new look, new focus, and some new members.

Finally, some truth in advertising.

Got a website but no real content to speak of? Just add blog.

Understandably the fine folks (matt, meg, pb) at Blogroots want to promote their book. And understandably, a website about the book can’t simply give away the information contained in the book. So what’s a content producer to do? Just add blog.

Now don’t get me wrong. There’s plenty of ‘just add blog’ sites whose raison d’être is questionable. My own included. But while seemingly innocent enough on the face of it, isn’t this simply Metafilter redux? Even more inextricable, isn’t this just wheels within wheels. A weblog writing about weblogs writing about weblogs? And with this post, aren’t I gazing at them gazing at me gazing at them? This is uroborous blogging. It’s counter-sublimation. I can see the cycle continuing with a blog devoted solely to discussing Blogroots.

It approaches the ridiculous, because only in the world of blogging could you get away with this (actually the world of literature, but blogging takes it to the n^th). It’s as if a painter released a book about painting, and then painted a painting about the book. Or a musician releasing an album of songs about music and then writing a song about the album. “I’m a musician. It’s what I do.”

Why don’t we back away from the blog as VAR concept just long enough to think about what exactly the value will be?

In a story that I’m sure no one is going to pay much attention to at first (hell, who’s paying attention to it now?), Evel Knievel is back and wants to jump again.

I’m sure many of you are asking, “Who is he?” Well, he’s an aged 70’s motorcycle daredevil who crashed as often as he completed jumps. But that’s not important right now. What is important is that Evel has something to hype and feels it’s time to come out of retirement to do it. The jump would mark the grand opening of his Evel Knievel Xperience Cafe.

It’s the decade of reality television and Jerry Springer, and nothing is more real and Jerry Springerish than an aging American hero scratching at faded glory in order to promote his new restaurant.

It’s not enough that he made a bad movie and a bad album, but he’s gonna come out of retirement (again! as if anyone cares) and use his non-celebrity to attract attention to some witless endeavour.

The funny thing? It’s probably going to work. I’m sure there’ll be a 2-hour special surrounding the 10 second jump. Complete with big money and big advertising being bandied about. The special alone could generate $12 million.

“I’m not really doing it for that reason,” Evel quickly adds. “I’m just doing it to do the jump.”

Yeah, me too Evel. Me too.

Tumbleweeds.

“The call for help came from one of the two homes in the 4700 block of Granby Way, whose entrance was blocked by tumbleweeds piled up to 16 feet high.”

If only there were pictures.

“We probably moved 200 tumbleweeds, and there were thousands there,” said Cook. “We barely made a dent.”

Stop. My sides. It hurts.

Here’s another book on blogging no one will be needing.

“Aimed at a technology-literate O’Reilly audience,…”

If that’s who it’s aimed at, why would they need it? Why does a technology-literate audience need a manual on blogging?

“Picture your coworkers who haven’t discovered blogging yet–they know how to work their computer, they’ve seen a couple of blogs and figure they want to run one themselves. You should be able to give them this book and it’ll educate them about choices of software and hosting, walk them through installing and using their chosen software.”

This seems somewhat contradictory. They “…haven’t discovered blogging…”, but they have “seen a couple of blogs and figure they want to run one themselves.” They’ve either discovered it, or they haven’t. Which is it? And I know plenty of people that know how to work a computer. That doesn’t mean they’re technology-literate, and it certainly doesn’t mean they’re web-savvy. Technology-literate and web-savvy seem worlds apart to the average computer user. This should be How To Set Up A Website 101, the basics of which aren’t that difficult to explain. I should also be able to completely explain the essentials of blogging to someone in about 30 minutes or less. Getting a blog started is not so difficult that it requires a Blogging For Dummies type of book.

While claiming its goal to be one of giving enough helpful information to the beginning blogger to make him productive, it comes across as nothing but hype. There’s nothing wrong with hype, but lets call a spade a spade. The first chapter of the book covers the fundamentals of what blogging is, why it exists, and why you might want to do it, as well as the skeletal framework of elements that make up a blog. It then goes on for another 7 chapters talking about nothing but how to set up a few select tools (the usual suspects) used for blogging. Oh they mention some of the other ones, but this book isn’t out to be “comprehensive”.

This book also sucks the communal aspect right out of the community. No longer is it necessary to email your fellow blogger to seek their advice, or ask them how they did this or that. This is Plug and Play™ blogging. Just add water. You can set up your blog, hook into all the community resources, and have your blog linked in every blogroll (hate that word) from here to Timbuktu all before you’ve written your first post. You don’t need the community, the community needs you. Never mind those people over there, get out there and blog!

I can see the future of books now.

Essential Television: Cable, Satellite and Beyond
Essential Tivo: How To Make The Most Of Your Television Experience
etc. etc.

Today is Reagin and Gary’s wedding day. May you enjoy Peace, Love and a long and happy marriage.

Yesterday marked the start of zeldman.com’s eighth year online. As he might say, “We are pleased as punch.”

Coming to a subway near you—nyc bloggers is all the rage with the hip kids. Those of us outside the city are just not as hip.

Things are still settling in around here. Trends fade and pink is no longer in fashion. If you’re really nice to me, maybe I’ll give you some style choices.