Comments on: A fond farewell to The Spin

By: Nick McAvoy

Nick McAvoy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:20:19 +0000

Boo. Where are the new blogs?

By: Eric the old retired blogger

Eric the old retired blogger — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Yes, I thought this would be the case- the blogspot blog (though I am happy to acknowledge some sort of university affiliation with it). I am usually not wrong, and I am happy to say, I am not here, either (sort of).
The capitalisation of ‘Internet’ has really already begun to be dropped by many mainstream media outlets and more tech savvy ones (http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2004/08/64596). Wikipedia, though never really reliable, suggests that most non-American media outlets are more likely not do so (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_capitalization_conventions). Being an international phenonmenon, probably best to abide by new rules.
Penn’s own Prof. Thurow at Annenberg led a crusade against this (http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200301/msg00014.html).

In America, at least, this has become quite the discussion. Since no hard and fast rule seems to have emerged, I remain unconvinced of a need to capitalise ‘internet’. There is no earthly reason to. I wonder how it will play out over the coming years…

Back to work……

By: Evan

Evan — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:52:41 +0000

I beg to differ:
http://journ300.blogspot.com/2008/02/ap-style-tip-web-site-internet.html

By: Eric the old retired blogger

Eric the old retired blogger — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:50:47 +0000

Older Eric the old retired blogger,

‘Internet’ is not a proper noun- you do not capitalize it in English. German, yes- English, no. Do you capitalize ‘television’, or ‘newspaper’? Do you?

Best wishes from one person who exists in foggy memory to another,

Younger Eric the old retired blogger

By: Evan

Evan — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:01:22 +0000

I’m shocked, shocked to learn that the Spin is shutting down! Oh wait, I knew that. But still, it’s a sad day. I remember when the Spin was just a glint in my idealistic eyes….Walnut St was uphill both directions in those days!

Anyway, I am sad to see the Spin go. Whatever direction the DP is taking its blogs, I wish it the best! I’ll be reading…and commenting, of course.

By: Eric Obenzinger

Eric Obenzinger — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:21:59 +0000

I started The Spin with Evan Goldin in 2006, so obviously I’m sorry to see it go. But The Spin was started to try new things, and the DP is making the right move by taking things in new directions if that’s what’s needed.

I do hope that existing Spin posts are added to the annual archives of the DP, which was suggested by the commenter above me who is apparently and inexplicably trying to impersonate me (”foggy memory”? I don’t write like that. And I always capitalize Internet, harumph). I actually think the F06 posts were part of the archive CDs.

As I said when I turned over the reigns of The Spin, “our approach has been to push the boundaries of traditional…’blogs’. In particular, The Spin has featured a good deal of original reporting…we believe that print media must integrate original reporting and the internet if the industry is to continue to grow.” http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/blogs/index.php?page=post§ion=2&id=638

Best of luck to what the DP tries next, and kudos to everyone who has written or edited The Spin over the past two and a half years! — Eric

By: Lindsey Stull

Lindsey Stull — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:27:45 +0000

Alas: The idea is that an “opinion/news themed blog” is a bit broad. We’re thinking more narrowly. You’ll see what I mean soon

By: Alas

Alas — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:52:53 +0000

Several themed blogs? I thought that’s what you already had. An opinion/news themed blog, a 34th street themed blog and a sports themed blog. Sounds like someone dropped the ball. I hope in the near future I’ll be proved wrong

By: Eric the old retired blogger

Eric the old retired blogger — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:46:13 +0000

Wow- that’s quite the abrupt shutdown! I have to say I loved working on The Spin, and I’m sad that I won’t be seeing it as an alum, 20 years down the line. But online isn’t really the place for keep something for the sake of tradition- it is part of a global,collective place of constant innovation.
But it was nice to help pioneer a forbear, albeit one that within a year or two will be a foggy memory for most, and forgotten by all apart from the archives, those who worked on it, and by some sort of internet presence for years to come. Perhaps you can archive all the posts on a CD or something? Please do.

All the best to everyone- a special shout out to Lyndsay!

By: Say it ain't so!

Say it ain't so! — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:09:21 +0000

“Here’s to bigger and better things to come.”

Nothing is bigger than the spin!