Posted on 12/27/2004 4:09:31 PM PST by doug from upland
Blogging a disaster The catastrophe around the Indian Ocean• December 26, 2004 | 4:00 PM ET
Earlier this weekend, people were worrying about an asteroid that may hit the earth in 2029. But then we faced something more immediate, in the form of an earthquake and tidal wave that killed people all around the Indian Ocean basin. As I write this, the death toll is over 11,000 and is sure to grow as more reports come in.
Bloggers have been on the job here, and you can read lots of first-hand reports via Malaysian bloggers Rajan Rishyakaran, Jeff Ooi, and Peter Tan. There's also a first-hand report here, and Indian blogger Amit Varma offers historical perspective from an earlier event.
People have also been uploading photos -- you can see galleries here and here.
Many of the blogs involved have been gathering first-hand reports from the affected areas, via telephone and email. First-hand reports, interviews, historical and scientific perspectives -- blogs are acting like news services. And you're the winner, as you can learn a lot from reading these reports. Check some of them out, as this sort of thing is likely to be the wave of the future.
Meanwhile, if you're worried about killer asteroids and tsunamis, I'll have more later in the week. In the meantime, you might want to read my column from TechCentralStation today, as well as this column on a related topic from a few months back.
There is no link.
"As I write this, the death toll is over 11,000 and is sure to grow as more reports come in."
Why do they always have to revert to "As I write this?" Could they say, "Currently, the death toll is over 11,000?"
Just a pet peeve. Move on, please. :)
"Currently" is a bit more ambiguous. Is the information current as of the writing, the publication, or the viewing of the information?
lol
At 9 a.m., 11,000 were dead.
As I write this sounds like they're being too profound. Get right to the meat and bones and it'll be profound enough. It seems as if everything I've read to date has had, "As I write this" in it.
Like I said, "It's just a pet peeve." To me, it sounds as if the author is trying to be too clever. I'm certainly not implying it about this author at all. I've just seen a lot of that lately.
People are trying to churn stuff out and beat the pundits and the pundits' pundits, but it breaks up a smooth piece.
Once again, my pet peeve. Please move on. :)
as you wrote that, I was writing "as I write this", and then I had to delete it because it was no longer "as I write this" but rather, "as I wrote that"...
too confusing - I shall say "whatever..."
how about "the reports...as of now...indicate...
"too confusing - I shall say "whatever..."
How many times have you seen me say, "As I write this?" I used to have a bad habit about doing that. I didn't even know it until an instructor and editor pointed it out. I then became conscious of it. And I've seen it far too much in news stories.
It's all right for personal essays and commentary, but overuse makes the writer look like they're trying to be too introspective. So it's become one of my pet peeves. Of course I'm no expert on the matter.
Feel free to use it. Just be conscious that you're using it so it doesn't become a habit.
"how about "the reports...as of now...indicate..."
That works fine too.
As I write this, I am laughing out loud. ;-D
That works just fine. :)
Glenn is a prime example of the "first-mover advantage." He didn't get to be Mr. Popular due to his writing prowess.
OK, how about, "as I write this, the currrent total is...."
Catholic Relief Services has established a dedicated site for Indian tsunami relief information and donations. If you can't give money, please remember the victims and survivors (and those working to bring help to the region) in your prayers.
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