Playing with Dr. Google
Our colleague, Caleb McDaniel, hasn't been playing with Google Trends. He's been playing with his statcounter. It tells him that both Dr. Google and Professor Yahoo rank Mode for Caleb as the internet's leading point of reference for"transnational history." As he says, they obviously need reference to books and articles on the subject, but our students could do worse than begin with Caleb's posts and it's a remarkable tribute to the power of internet searches that they so readily identify really thoughtful work like Caleb's. While you're over there, have a look at his"The Cult of Information" that's prompted by the revelation of the National Security Administration's telephone number database. He helps us to understand the unstated assumptions of our own era – the point of appeal that too readily calls a halt to our conversations and our questions.
Finally, I'd recommend that you have a look at three other posts: Brett Holman's"The Post Not Posted," Airminded, 11 May, on professional reasons not to post something on your blog, particularly if you've put considerable effort into it; Derek Catsam's"Diminishing Returns," dcat, 11 May, on being betrayed by our leaders; and Chris Bray's"Chutes and Ladders," Historiblogography, 12 May, in which we learn that he's asked the Air Force command to open an inquiry into whether the Bush administration's nominee to head the CIA, Lt. General Michael Hayden, violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice during his tenure at the National Security Administration. Thanks to Jonathan Dresner for the tips.