A Salon article on weblogs -- pretty much the first article about them I've read that didn't make me vaguely ill. Interesting:

... to lazy reporters, the world of blogs represents their worst nightmare: It's an endless parade of experts in every conceivable subject they might write about, all equipped with Internet-style megaphones ready to pounce on errors. Careful and thoughtful journalists will nevertheless welcome the advent of blogging: At worst, it should keep them on their toes and give them an incentive not to slip up, and at best, it should give them a chance to do their job better.

I never really thought about it that way -- and I don't think Take It Easy really has the kind of audience that's in a position to hold sloppy journalists accountable, and not that I'm an expert or anything -- but just in case, could someone please write something that's a little less biased and a little more thoughtful about the Middle East conflict? Because the media's treatment of Arafat's "announcement" has been pretty wretched. Do it, or I'll beat you over the head with my Internet-style megaphone.