Best of Media
For those who enjoy reading, writing, and ribald rhetoric
Conservative Blogs
When the shouting-head format of Fox News grows tiresome, thinking conservatives can find plenty of rational debate at two local blogs, Red County and Flashreport. Red County bills itself as a forum for “grassroots politics from the center-right,” and has a “blogpen” that includes conservative pontificators Adam D. Probolsky, Chip Hanlon, Chuck DeVore, and David Bahnsen. Check them out for the latest Log Cabin Club endorsements, Carona trial updates, and general lamentations about liberals. Flashreport, where bloggers Jon Fleischman, James Lacy, and Brandon Powers hold sway, is a bit more combative, featuring not only their commentary but links to stories such as “Hollywood Elite Actress Daryl Hannah goes after Oxy.” www.redcounty.com/orange-county; www.flashreport.org.
Liberal Blog
First-time visitors to The Liberal OC site should understand that the blog, run by 10 local libs, is not a joke, and the blogged-about stories are, in fact, real. But that doesn’t stop founder Michael Lawson, Chris Prevatt, Gila, Sean Mill, Heather Pritchard, and others from having fun. Who can forget their April Fools’ joke back in ’07, when they distributed a press release about the blogs’ “acquisition” by righty-run Red County Magazine? Check ’em out for their opines on all things news. www.theliberaloc.com.
Literary Blog
As Rebel Girl, Irvine Valley College English professor Lisa Alvarez tirelessly tracks down Orange County literary events to create a one-stop shop for book-minded cyber-crawlers at her regularly updated blog. In addition to getting the word out about local readings, she also highlights local authors and venues, directs readers to publication opportunities, and links to local literary journals. http://themarkonthewall.blogspot.com.
Indie Bookstore
In an age when independent bookstores are increasingly rare, Book Carnival in Orange gets our nod because of its sustained high quality, friendly service, and sheer tenacity. Owners Ed and Pat Thomas specialize in mystery and dark fantasy, and are favorites of local bestseller Dean Koontz, who dedicated his 1989 book “Midnight” to them: “To Ed and Pat of Book Carnival who are such nice people that sometimes I suspect they’re not really human but aliens from another better world.” 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange. 714-538-3210. http://home.earthlink.net/~bookcarnival.
Literary magnet No. 1
Two local shows have helped keep the county’s literary scene alive, especially since the untimely passing of the Round Table West book and author
luncheons last year. For the past decade, Corona del Mar’s Barbara DeMarco-Barrett has been hosting “Writers on Writing” on KUCI-FM 88.9. During that time, nearly 400 writers, editors, and agents have passed through her studio to talk about their craft. The show airs each Wednesday at 9 a.m. www.barbarademarcobarrett.com/writersonwriting.
Literary Magnet No. 2
Since 1998, KOCE-TV’s Maria Hall-Brown has interviewed more than 700 authors after launching short book segments between other programming. In 2002, those experimental segments became “Bookmark,” a regular half-hour show, which airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 11:30 p.m. Thursdays. Along with Barrett, she has helped make Orange County an important media stop for touring authors who might otherwise alight only in L.A. www.koce.org/bookmark/index.htm.
Local Online TV Show
Reporting on everything from robberies, to freeway accidents, to holiday celebrations, “OC in Two” delivers the county’s news in (roughly) a deuce. It’s the nitty gritty at your fingertips. www.ocregister.com/video.