Go Metric

Top 10 Longform Journalism Stories of 2012

by Brett Essler

Despite shrinking ad revenue and declining readership, there was some good news in the world of journalism in 2012. Thirty-three percent of American’s now own a tablet or e-reader^[1], which has led to a bit of a renaissance for “longform” or narrative journalism — well-reported, character-driven pieces that read like novellas. It’s not a new form, but the ways readers are consuming this journalism — which is often peppered with multimedia and interactive features — is spawning websites and apps that connect readers with content and potentially create revenue streams for struggling publications.

Below are 10 stories I enjoyed in 2012, in no particular order.

Zisk Update: Josh Wilker to write Fan Interference introduction

Josh Wilker has agreed to write the introduction for the forthcoming Fan Interference. This is amazing news.

Josh is such a good writer he could write a truly compelling book about The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training. Yes, that's the second Bad News Bears movie.

In fact, he did write such a book. It's part of Soft Skull's Deep Focus series.

Josh also a book and website called Cardboard Gods, aka "Voice of the Mathematically Eliminated."

Mr. Rove, It’s Time for Your Pill Now

The day after the election we received the following rant from a reader in Maine. (By the way, nice job on Question 1, Maine!) It’s funny and insightful and too good to remain private. Enjoy. Then watch that Rove footage again.

By Steve Faloon

What little understanding I have of presidential politics begins with FDR. Since then I can't remember a time when the American people have gotten a presidential election wrong.  They've certainly elected people I dislike and disagree with…but if you're looking to predict a future presidential winner you only have to find the strongest message and the most effective messenger.  The person who not only connects…but projects the greatest strength and sense of conviction. In terms of last night's election…I've only been able to confidently talk liberals off the ledge for the past few years from my strategic perch in Bangor, Maine because I was certain that once Obama finally put out his cigarette and started fighting for his life he would crush the empty suit that is Mitt Romney. The fact that the white-bread man with no discernible accent…from no discernible place…ended up standing for so little that he felt it necessary to describe himself to the base as a "severe" conservative…shows he not only lacked a sense of conviction…but common sense as well.

Pre-order Kung Fu Monkeys' "The Incredibly Strange Case of the Mysterious Mystery" 7"

The Kung Fu Monkeys, long assumed to be deceased, rise again with their 13th (!) 7". Two new songs, "Persephone Please" b/w "A Nudie Suit Made of Bees." It's a split release between Surfin'Ki Records (Italy) and Waterslide Records (Japan). With KFM frontman James Cahill now residing in Toronto (Canada) this sizzling platter is truly an international affair.

Pre-order today, friends!

Word Up: Washington Heights’ Pop-up Bookstore Seeks a Permanent Home

By Brett Essler

New York City is the literary capital of the world, but many of its neighborhoods are still without a community bookstore.

As the big box book retailers shutter (Borders) or contract (Barnes and Noble), the health of community bookshops is more important than ever. They provide access to harder-to-find small press material and, perhaps more crucially, a meeting place for neighborhood residents and artists.

The Washington Heights neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, despite its population and geographic size, has long been without an independent bookstore that provides a venue for author readings and performance.

Mid-Atlantic 49ers

By Hope Coppinger

In the wake of the closure of New Jersey’s only public television station, lawmakers have put forth a plan to divide New Jersey into two parts and offer the  sections to their respective neighbors, Pennsylvania and New York.

The move has been met with a mixed response. State agencies in both New York and Pennsylvania will scramble to revise vital statistics records for the nation’s most densely populated state, which will now show births, deaths and marriages to have taken place in their new states. While the project will create hundreds of long-term temporary jobs in both states, it will require tax hikes that will wipe out any savings New Jersey residents may have hoped to see as they join the tax rolls of their new home states. Residents of New York and Pennsylvania are also not happy to gain New Jersey’s financial troubles.

New Print Issue Underway! Sort of.

Friends, family, insomniacs who've stumbled across us for the first time,

Thanks for checking out the Go Metric website.  We dig our web presence.  Hope you do, too.  All of its strengths are due to two factors: 1) Brett Essler,  handler of all things technical and 2) our most excellent contributors.

However, we're going on hiatus.  Brett is going back to school and I, Mike, am pleasantly swamped with writing projects.  One of these is the next print issue of Go Metric.  The first contributions are starting to roll in, including a comic from Sanden Totten and interviews with Todd Cong (Toys That Kill, Recess Records), Isaac Thotz, (The Arrivals), and Mark Ryan (Marked Men, Mind Spiders).  

Have an idea to pitch?  Yes, please. Send them to: [email protected].  Please put "Next issue" in the subject line.

Longtime readers know that when I say it'll be out "any time now" I mean roughly 6-8 months.  Hang tight.  Read Out of Sheer Rage by Geoff Dyer, check out a minor league ballgame, enjoy a tasty beverage.  We'll be back soon.

Mike

Are You Receiving Me? – Black Wine: Round #3

by Mike Faloon

Black Wine
Dark Energy 7” EP
Don Giovanni

“The train won’t stop going/No way to slow down” — “Locomotive Breath” Jethro Tull

Black Wine close their latest EP with a cover of “Locomotive Breath.” It’s a Jethro Tull song but Black Wine drag the sucker to a near-halt, creeping along at a sub-Flipper tempo, openly defying the lyrics, at least that part about not being able to slow down. The tune is asking, pleading, to go faster but Black Wine say, Nay!

Ronnie James Dio (1942-2010)

This Charming Man

Glance over the ranks of Go Metric contributors past and present and you'll find few tattoos. Our idea of permanence doesn't go much beyond the initials we Sharpie on our undershirts. But when we do get some ink, we do it right. GM contributor Chris Gethard. Morrissey.

Great Moments in Morrissey Fandom: The Tattoo