A few years ago I was very much on the bloggers side. Arguing that this was the new face of journalism. The little guy now has the outlet to have their voice heard by a wide audience. Whether using text, audio, or video the little guy could now compete with the big media guy.

I am singing a little different tune now.

Being on the other side of the blog so to speak I have now seen parts of both sides. While I do believe that blogs and bloggers should be considered journalists and web sites should be considered as important as as other media outlets (TV, newspapers, radio) NOT ALL OF THEM SHOULD ACHIEVE THIS STATUS.

Just because someone has a blog doesn't entitle them to "journalist" status. While they may know more about a subject than the "journalist" that doesn't mean they should be treated as one. Here's why:

A blogger can (and has) thrown up uncorroborated rumors as "news". They can also cite anonymous sources or "a person close to the matter" as a source without corroboration.

Now this is not different in a lot of ways from traditional media. However, if bloggers, the new kids on the journalist block, want to be treated with the same kind of respect as other media outlets then in my view they have to earn it. They have to be better than the establishment to be considered in the same class.

Now I still believe that bloggers are the "future" of journalism in a lot of ways however they should not get a free pass to the top. They should have to earn the right to be considered journalists. Most have started this process but far too many haven't and that should in itself be kept in mind when we talk about bloggers as journalists.

Alright, for those of you who still don't believe in Global Warming I want to point out something to you that I noticed last week.

And no it wasn't NBC's "Green Week".

I saw highlights of the Wisconsin @ Ohio St football game last week and all or at least most of the players were still wearing short sleeve shirts with no long sleeves underneath. It's mid November in Columbus and the punter is still not wearing long sleeves underneath his jersey?

Another point. I am watching Kansas St @ Nebraska and I see the same thing. We're almost to Thanksgiving and they're in short sleeves.

Global Warming....I think so.

The only game to this point that I've seen in some semi-bad weather was the Rutgers @ Army game this last Friday night. The game was at West Point and it was about 30 degrees with the wind chill in a driving rain mixed in with some snow flurries.

Now that's football weather.

That is what Hall of Fame coach Don Shula says should be put by the New England Patriots record if they go undefeated.

Why?

Spygate of course. After the first game of the season the NFL fined the Patriots and their head coach as well as stripped them of their number 1 draft pick next year.

Therefore Shula feels that because of that then if they go undefeated then they should have an * next to their unblemished record.

Note he didn't say they should have an asterisk by their record if they went 15-1.

Shula coached the last NFL team to go undefeated, the 1972 Miami Dolphins.What Shula aslo seems to fail to mention is that the Dolphins went 14-0 or 17-0 including the playoffs. The Patriots would have to go 19-0 to achieve the same undefeated standard. Inflation apparently is a bitch.

Personally, I think Shula should have just wished them luck and said no more. He won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins and then never won another. And by the way Shula went 2-6 in Super Bowls. Some of the NFL coaches I consider great like Hall of Famer Bill Walsh went 3-0 in in Super Bowls in half the years of coaching, Joe Gibbs went 3-1 in Super Bowls and that New England Patriots coach fined for spying Bill Belichick is 3-0 in Super Bowls.

Hey Shula, stick to the weight loss commercials.

The South Carolina Democratic party shot down Stephen Colbert's attempt to on the South Carolina Primary ballot.

According to news reports he paid his money but but top party officials shot him down with a 13-3 vote.

According to the AP story on Yahoo News a top Democrat, Waring Howe, said "He's really trying to use South Carolina Democrats as suckers so he can further a comedy routine (and) serves to detract from the serious candidates on the ballot."

I know this guy Howe, he live in Charleston. Nice guy but seriously. Colbert's taking away from "serious" candidates? Those being Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel of course.

South Carolina, from me to you and I say this with all due respect ' cause I loved living there and will always go to Charleston when the chance arises, get a sense of humor and I guess just get a life.