Comments on: I Nominate Glenn Reynolds

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:13:01 +0000

I have to agree with Karl. I love Instapundit and visit just about every day but Glenn’s slavish pimping for Amazon is sickening. I don’t know how much they’re paying him to push Amazon but it must be 6 figures.

By: Phil Bowermaster

Phil Bowermaster — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:14:05 +0000

Karl,

Well, Glenn would probably be the first to admit that he’s not everybody’s cup of tea. His “quip” approach to blogging is something either you like or you don’t. Based on the traffic figures, it looks like quite a few folks like it fine.

There’s no question that Glenn uses his blog to advance commercial interests, as do we here at The Spec with our Google ad bars. What can I say…it’s hard out here for a pimp. You could take away the rewards associated with that and the Amazon ads I’ve posted and I’d still keep doing this; I do it because it’s fun.

Although he’s in a substantially higher pay grade, I’m sure the same is true for Glenn. He didn’t get into blogging for the money (there wasn’t any when he started), and I doubt that’s what primarily motivates him now. Not that I think there would be anything wrong with doing it for the money.

As for his qualifications: he’s a respected law professor; he’s the author of a bestselling book about societal / technological change; he’s also written extensively about space policy and other areas of concern to the Foundation; and, yes, he publishes a very popular blog and podcast, both of which he has used to generate interest in a wide variety of topics related to the future, including the Lifeboat Foundation itself.

Plus he has a good sense of humor about being compared to Super Dave Osborne and Larry the Cable Guy. Moreover, he stops by this site from time to time. All told, I think I’ll stand by my nomination.

By: Karl Hallowell

Karl Hallowell — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:31:32 +0000

Eh, while Mr. Reynolds might be a good choice, I think he’s oversold. He might have some Kurzweil in him (after all, if you can master Kurzweil curve-talk, you pretty much have replicated his functionality. But Warren Buffet and Bill Joy have significant skills and knowledge that Glenn Reynolds doesn’t appear to have. I’m reluctant to endorse Glenn Reynolds for responsibility because I see his blog primarily as a tool for Mr. Reynolds to pimp his readership to Amazon and other commercial interests. And he has a vapid blogging style “indeed”.

BTW I just glanced through Instapundit. Still has the Amazon linkage and the one line quip style that I dislike intensely.

By: theevilmidnightposter

theevilmidnightposter — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 14:26:36 +0000

Chris Noth, I think not.
Glenn is a dead ringer for Meat Loaf.

By: Deep Thought

Deep Thought — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 10:25:12 +0000

The resemblance with Macdowell is uncanny. But, for Glenn, I think a more rounded visage. Brendan Fraser, I think, fits better, though the 10 year age difference with Andie presents a challenge for the makeup department.

By: Jim,MtnViewCA,USA

Jim,MtnViewCA,USA — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 01:45:09 +0000

Agree with the other commenters. Forget this “Glenn” dude. As we say in NorCal, Dr. Helen is “hella cool”.

By: Chap

Chap — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:21:33 +0000

Absolutely. I hear Dr. Helen Smith accidentally kicked Chuck Norris into a coma while sparring last week, while writing two chapters of her new book. That heart operation? That was a cover story--they installed magamps and servos and stuff. She's like Captain America, but with a blender in her torso that has a special setting for hobos or something. Andie McDowell and Angelina Jolie are rumored to have had a catfight over the role. There's a YouTube to prove it!

By: MisterSnitch

MisterSnitch — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 20:55:31 +0000

"Plus, in the movie, Angelina Jolie could play Dr. Helen." To hell with that. I want to see Dr. Helen play Angelina Jolie.