I listened to Rex Murphy on the drive home from town today. Rex is a genuine Canadian treasure, but sometimes you do want to reach into the radio and just slap a hand over his mouth. He is to brevity what, well … what Stephen Den Beste is to brevity. Rex cannot – cannot – ask a question without meandering, eloquently and descriptively, for a full paragraph or two.
“We have up next, Mrs. Pincuttle, from the cozy background of Peggy’s Cove. Mrs. Pincuttle – you’ll be our last caller, as we have only a few seconds left – what do you think of the question being asked today – do you believe that, like the previous guest Mr. Ilperwash believes, that the addition of a sperm whale now being considered on Newfoundland’s coat of arms is a honourable manner in which to note that rocky province’s unique history, or do you think, as do the People To Save The Whales, that such a representation is, to use their words “highly inappropriate” in a time when this magnificant marine species may be in its death throes? Do be brief as we have only a few seconds.”
So in contrast, who comes up on the interview list on Cross Country Checkup (on the topic of the legality of music downloads) but the linkmeister of brevity himself, University of Tennesee Law Professor and “Emperor” of the blogosphere – Glenn Reynolds. Glenn has a link to the interview.
It’s obvious that he reads blogs. But this was the part I noticed – Rex Murphy – he of lengthy and detailed explanations, who never met an adjective he did not like or a metaphor he will not molest – didn’t bother explaining what the blogosphere is.
That’s noteworthy – he assumed his Canadian audience knew what he was talking about. It’s not something I would have taken for granted, quite frankly. Secondly, it may help to explain something else. Rex Murphy’s Cross Country Checkup has remained a “fair and balanced” voice in the wilderness on matters American, including the Iraq war – a phenomenon nearly unheard of at the CBC.
Score another for the “new media”? I wonder.
Identity Theft
Kate McMillan (a/k/a the “Other” Kate) reports a seeming bank scam that wasn’t actually a bank scam. When I moved to Northern Virginia, I opened…
Could well be. It may simply be that CBC listeners, like their NPR counterparts, are presumed to be somewhat more up on these things.
Congrats on the InstaLink, by the way.
As someone who grew up in Canada and now lives in both countries (but more in the US because of work), let me add a few notes.
I listen to Rex Murphy whenever I can and he represents that class of Canadian broadcaster that has long since disappeared from the waves. Smart, balanced, a sense of the unique relationship that has defined the history of the US and Canada.
Nowadays, most of them are young, slick and seem to reflect that shrill, anti-americanism so omnipresent on CBC. Long on chomsky and kneejerk and short on understanding.
Canadians tend to use the national broadcaster (CBC) as a source of “Truth”. Ans so, they trust the viewpoint of the world it portrays. As to blogs, I know a number of friends (who still live in Canada) who I would term canny that do not “do the blog thing”.
I know a number of friends (who still live in Canada) who I would term canny that do not “do the blog thing”.
I am always explaining what blogs are to my friends – even those who are heavy internet users. Even the local talk radio station host who has mentioned SDA on the air a couple of times, calls it a “website”. So, that’s why I was a little surprised that Rex was heavy on the “this is the Instapundit guy” without offering any further background.
Kate,
“Mrs. Pincuttle”!!! LOL! Great job at explaining Rex to the uninitiated. In spite of his “wordiness” Rex is a breath of fresh air on CBC. Sorry I missed this CCC as I would loved to have heard Glen. I’ve been following the Instaman and his blog since 9/11 and enjoy his links and his viewpoints. Being a Wet Coaster there are several other Canadian blogs I check regularly, Damian Penny being one, and I’ll be back to yours as well.
“Nowadays, most of them are young, slick and seem to reflect that shrill, anti-americanism so omnipresent on CBC. Long on chomsky and kneejerk and short on understanding.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Could it be that he doesn’t know himself?
Which is why we should keep CBC radio and sell the ugly television bits. And the buildings.
No question blogging is hitting the fact challenged big media hard. So hard that by Andrew Coyne’s last count no fewer than 15 of the (firewalled) National Post’s writers are jumping the reservation and blogging.
You can just hear the air hissing out of the tires.
I recently switched my ISP to Sympatico, I think it’s Canada’s largest provider. I was having some firewall issues and phoned Sympatico tech support to find out why, since the switch, I couldn’t post to my blog. The techie on the other end asked what a blog was.
Another one: I saw a comment on Jay Currie’s blog where the commenter was asking what a blog was. The same guy sent me a message later using the BlogsCanada contact form asking the same question. Jeopardy has a category devoted to that sort of thing…
Sheltered workshops have a category devoted to that short of thing.
Well, hey…
So I link over here from the Instapundit, look at the URL, and it’s *that* Kate McMillan. I didn’t know you blogged.
Haven’t been on the RD list recently. I dunno if my web mail host doesn’t like maillists, or bikes, or ???
Cheers,
Glenn
I consider CBC radio a national treasure, overall a highly enlightened venture. Some of the programming on CBC television qualifies for the same accolade, in my view. But, CBC TV seems a little more inclined to pander to baser instincts.
Is every division of CBC carrying this Greatest Canadian thing? At first look, I question the value of the exercise. Why are we picking one winner? Again, we are making it into a race. I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but that doesn’t seem right. Does picking one winner diminish the accomplishments of a whole lot of great Canadians?
Hi Glenn – the rd list is pretty slow, though picking up a little now the snow is gone. The usual – parts, how to fix stuff…
Don’t forget about security. Secureroot.org