DailyKos has a front page diary on Open Content/Open Media that's worth a look. DailyKos is primarily a political blog but it's good to see the question of Open Content getting some interest from those traditionally more concerned with U.S. domestic politics. The article takes note of how some (Open Source Media) are jumping on the Open Content bandwagon in name only.

This use of the Open Content idea as a marketing tool (or an attempt to build a particular ethos) is something that those of truly interested in Open Content need to be aware of.

Josh Marshall over at Talking Points Memo does a bit of meta-blogging today. He runs" down his hisotry of political blogging and reflects on the rise of "media consolidation" and its impact on political blogging. Josh explains why despite many offers from "old" media companies to move his blog under their banner "remaining independent allows me to continue experimenting with the medium itself." His posts, and his blog (no matter your politics) is worth a read because he spends a lot of time thinking about his blog as a blog and he's branched out in several directions with it--single writer political blog, community political blog, and now something new in the works.

Another plug, but I couldn't resist after reading Matt Barton's review of the Steven Johnson book a couple posts down. I'd like to alert Kairos readers to a thread recently begun at if:book -- the blog of the institute for the future of the book -- where we have mounted a multi-post, ongoing critique of EBIGFY, in which Johnson himself is participating. We were moved to do this after witnessing the near-universal acclaim the book has received. Already, we've come across numerous instances of it being assigned as essential reading for new media and design classes, in some cases by teachers who haven't even read it. It seemed time for a more rigorous discussion...

Ars Technica is running a story about a new Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents. Prepared by Reporters without Borders, the handbook contains a variety of articles on topics relevant to bloggers trying to get their voices heard, particularly those working and living in places with strong censorship. The articles discuss strategies for being picked up by search engines as well as means of circumventing censorship. There are also personal narratives from bloggers who have been prosecuted by their governments for their dissident blogs.