Journalism now fits in your pocket. With a new iPhone app coming this week, hyperlocal startup Fwix is ready to get in on the journalism-as-it-happens game. The app allows regular people to file news reports (which can include photos and videos) onto the company’s Web site, allowing for a kind of journalism that Twitter kind of allows already, but pushed even further. Are we replacing professional journalists with iPhone apps? Good question. Maybe a necessary one to ask. source
I want to urge everyone living near any of the fires, please, listen and follow evacuation orders from local officials. They will not tell you to evacuate if it’s not necessary.
California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger • Discussing the threat that the wildfires are causing to people in Southern California – a threat that should be taken seriously. Three people were hurt today because they specifically didn’t listen to evacuation orders. 35,200 acres have burned thus far. • source
Hi guys! I'm Chunk. (Unless your browser doesn't support font-face. Then I'm Helvetica Neue.) I'm SFB's new logo font. I'm coming soon. But thanks to Kernest, I'm making an early appearance. Whoo!
A week and a half ago, we tried out this new service called TypeKit, and noted a few things about it: It costs money, it’s currently invite only, and it uses a tiered font system. It seemed pretty cool nonetheless. Then we tried Kernest. And we have to say, Kernest simply does it better.
Why’s that, ShortFormBlog? There’s fewer, less confusing barriers to entry, it doesn’t use Javascript (very key), it costs less (even more key) and (best of all) the DRM is less complicated.
A la carte, not subscription. Right now, Kernest’s selections are largely open-source, freeware or donationware. Most of TypeKit’s selections are big commercial fonts. We think this is mostly an exposure/hype thing rather than a quality thing, because TypeKit’s been a Twitter trending topic a few times. We’re convinced that they simply need attention from the media.
It’s not perfect yet, though. Our biggest complaints about the service at the moment all relate to the interface: Simply put, this list needs to be more like this list, and it needs to be more intuitive overall. In our opinion, TypeKit’s interface is a little cleaner from the backend. (But on the other hand, Kernest doesn’t hide its assets from the user for trial viewing, as we found with TypeKit’s list with no links.) But what Kernest is offering seems to be just a little better on the frontend. What do your users care about? Seriously? source
In a few comments, some are criticizing these Navy guys for actually daring to have a little fun when they’re stuck in the middle of the ocean working. We don’t see that problem at all. In fact, we hope that they’re doing this instead of working, because they look so hard in this video that you can’t imagine any pirates would dare come up to their boat. (Props to The Lonely Island for the original, of course.)source
It is essential for the future of independent digital journalism that a fair price can be charged for news to people who value it.
News Corp. European chairman James Murdoch • Making an argument critical of the BBC, a state-sponsored news source which he says is damaging the business models of free-market journalism. Beyond the fact that the news organization is “dominant,” he specifically has an issue with the fact that they won’t be charging for their content online. Our response to Rupert’s son? Stop whining and improve your content. While remaining independent editorially, the BBC’s news is often of a higher quality than yours, which makes it easier for us to decide what to read online. • source
OK, we know, we know. We forgot yesterday’s poll. It wasn’t anything intentional. Julius was trying to drag us out to a party, and we didn’t really want to go, but he talked us into it. And it wasn’t even that much fun, either. His friends are so robotic! Anyway, this poll is about the most obvious breakup ever – the row between Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis. The band may go on without him but they haven’t decided. Think he’s bluffing? Think he’s not? Vote. source
The 911 caller: Arrested The crime scene in yesterday’s mobile home attack – for which details have been scarce until now – finally had some movement. 22-year-old Guy Heinze Jr., who called 911 in the attack, was arrested today on tampering and obstruction of justice charges. He is not currently a suspect. source
The 911 caller: Arrested The crime scene in yesterday’s mobile home attack – for which details have been scarce until now – finally had some movement. 22-year-old Guy Heinze Jr., who called 911 in the attack, was arrested today on tampering and obstruction of justice charges. He is not currently a suspect.
Other details While no suspects have been named in the case, described as the area’s most gruesome ever, here’s what we do know: The victims of the attack – 7 dead, two injured – all lived in the trailer, and a tenth person – who was not in the trailer and may or may not be dead – was likely involved. source