Wired Magazine and A-list blogger Jason Calacanis are having a bit of a blog spat about the ground rules for an interview. Wired reporter Fred Vogelstein asked Calacanis for an interview, to which Calacanis agreed, providing that it was conducted via email. Which is when the fireworks started, because Vogelstein doesn't do email interviews, apparently.

I understand both sides of this issue: reporters prefer the freedom and spontaneity of a verbal interview because it can often lead to a more interesting story. Interviewees are often leery of a verbal interview because the freedom and spontaneity can lead to an unfortunately more interesting story. Fine. But it seems to me that casting aspersions in public as the basis for your stance – witness Calacanis' implication that reporters are hacks that quote people out of context and Wired's response that people that won't do a phone interview are cowards with something to hide – strikes me as a bit over the top. If you want an interview and the only way you'll get it is via email, then either agree or move on, don't call names. And if you want to use email to ensure that your responses are as accurate as possible, then say that and don't imply that the reporter is untrustworthy unless you want to start something. Clearly there are some big chips on these shoulders, and the ability to air this sort of spat in public does a disservice to blogging in general.

-posted by Paul

Proving that you can track and measure just about anything... I present to you America's Top 10 Bloggiest Neighborhoods. The Pearl in Portland is #6. (via Kottke)

-posted by Paul

There's a neat new product being launched by a Seattle-based startup that aims to eliminate traditional phone systems within a business. The VoIP TelePort is a phone system built into a USB stick that turns any desktop PC into a VoIP-enabled PBX-like server. For under $250, a small business can have up to five connected phones, eliminating the more expensive hardware system while taking advantage of the cost savings of VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol). The VoIP TelePort is in beta testing now, and you can sign up to get a free unit on the website; the product will ship in June.

-posted by Rachel

A new subscription-based magazine targeted at people who blog. I'm really not sure what to think of this. (via Kottke)

-posted by Paul

Tony Wright's newest project is just about ready to launch. RescueTime is being billed as a "ridiculously easy" time management product that helps users see exactly how they spend their time through a downloadable computer interface -- no data entry required. You can sign up to hear about the May launch on the website.

-posted by Rachel

You've gotta love a startup that, in the vein of American Idol, keeps it "real." Seattle-based Zoji's inventor, Dan Shen, calls himself the company's founder and CPP -- Chief Pizza Provider. And there's probably plenty of pizza nights ahead, as Zoji is up against the well-established eVite in the electronic invitation market. But it's cool how Zoji is going about it, because there's a mechanism for promoters in the area to list public events, and then members can plan an activity in conjunction with it.

-posted by Rachel

gOne of the latest entries in the social networking/entertainment/Web 2.0 scene is Seattle's goChongo, which is now in beta and is anticipating its public launch on May 1. According to a TechCrunch posting, goChongo hopes to enable consumers to interact on entertainment projects. While some folks might have ideas for an aspect of entertainment, such as a comedy routine, others might be interested in executing on the idea. The whole format is set up as a contest with monetary prizes. If this sounds a little confusing, check out the early review on BlogoWogo. Hard to say at this point whether or not this brainchild of Shawn Plaster's is viable, but we're looking forward to the launch next month.

-posted by Rachel

If you're a web designer, or just interested in design in general, be sure to check out the upcoming An Event Apart: Seattle conference. Quite the high-powerd lineup of speakers, and it's great to see them coming to our neck of the woods.

-posted by Paul

Steve Rubel is a VP with mega-agency Edelman PR. Steve has also found Twitter and been posting his goings-on. Which last Friday included throwing his unread copy of PC Magazine into the trash. Not a good thing for an exec at a tech PR agency to be posting. Jim Louderback, the editor-in-chief for PC Mag took note and called him on it. Which led to this apology from Steve. Now I have to be honest in saying that I get bombarded with tons of free subscriptions from the tech magazines. Some I read, some I toss. And what I do read is more often online than in hard copy. But this does point to the downside of Twitter... the very stream-of-consciousness metaphor that makes it so popular, and powerful, also makes it easy to type before you think. (via DF)

-posted by Paul

The popular Podcast Hotel, a conference for all things related to vlogging and podcasting that began in Seattle and Portland, is taking the show to San Francisco this weekend. Podcast Hotel 3 is being held April 20-21 at the Swedish American Hall and features folks such as tech guru Robert Scoble and Chris Pirillo, founder of the Gnomedex conference series. One of the more interesting speakers is Andrew Baron, founder of Rocketboom, who will debut Sen. John Edwards' new video podcast and talk about how this type of media will influence politics going forward.

-posted by Rachel

Check out this funny new campaign from our client Centennial Software: www.usbglue.com. "From the people who brought you the Super Security Sticker™ comes the latest in endpoint security technology. USB Glue™ is the leading endpoint security adhesive on the market today. Our formula is scientifically designed to provide the ultimate blockage of USB ports on today’s computers, giving IT administrators the ultimate endpoint security solution in a tube!"


-posted by Justin

So I discovered a quirky little website, 43 Things, a place where folks can list their goals and get inspired by others. The site was created by Seattle's The Robot Co-op, which also has a sister site up called 43 places and is funded by Seattle's Amazon.com. Even though I'm not the type to use a site such as this, I enjoyed poking around and living vicariously as I read about other people and their dreams. In the entrepreneurs section, I saw a familiar name, David Zhao, co-founder of fledgling Seattle company Versionate. I've never met him, but based on his list of things to do, which includes seeing the Northern Lights and beating the house at Blackjack, this is one interesting entrepreneur. With Versionate now in beta, maybe he'll be ticking off yet another goal: establish a company that operates at least two years. We're certainly rooting for him.

As a side note... even though they don't reference it, the number "43" has a very specific meaning to fans of David Allen's Getting Things Done as my boss Paul quickly pointed out (for example... see Merlin Mann's popular 43 Folders). Could there be a coincidence? Hmmm... Now where did I put that copy of GTD that Paul bought me?

-posted by Rachel

Our friends at Speakeasy are now employees of Best Buy. The broadband service provider (which has recently been morphing its tagline to focus on VoIP communications) was sold this week for $97 million. Speakeasy started out as a single Internet cafe and was the brainchild of Mike and Gretchen Apgar; Mike moved on to his latest venture, Ookla, last year.

-posted by Rachel