(via Seb) Userland has started offering a hosting package for Manila. Not sure exactly how many Weblogs you can run, but for $499 a year, they seem to be offering a solution for schools. Interesting…
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Alan has been wondering if Weblogs “will fly with the speed and grace of a lead balloon.” Seems the adoption rate of Weblogs by teachers in his network of schools is slow, to be kind, and it’s got him a wonderin’.

“It just takes time or a miracle or some combination for things to take off. And in my position, where I am deeply immersed in this stuff almost 24-7, it is easy to forget that others are just peering over the precipice of new technology, and holding on to the safety rail of powerpoint, WebCT/Blackboard, etc.”

Alan thinks that those of us who can keep up the blogging pace have obsessive compulsive issues, and he might be right. Certainly there are other things in my life (my house and yard, for instance) that could use a bit of my attention. I’ve said before that my least favorite question goes something like “Golly, how much time do you spend on this stuff?” I seldom answer…truthfully, at least. And like Alan, there are plenty of times when I just can’t understand why other people don’t embrace these tools (toys) as fervently (manically) as I have. I mean, what’s not to like?

But even those that were among the trailblazers like Joe and Pam and Pat have either fallen silent or taken different directions in their writing. Why? Why? They may still be using Weblogs in their schools, but their voices are pretty much silent. It’s too bad, because I learned much from them.

I dunno. Those who get subjected to my blogvangelizing seem to be interested and willing and enthusiastic even. But it seems a very few actually take the plunge and start to play. Not even blog, per se, but use the tools. And like Alan, I too “fervently believe in the power of potential of weblogs, for students, teachers, and people in general, as a powerful, expressive platform.” But most people don’t…they haven’t drunk from the blog Kool Aid. And they’re settled in their practice, and they just don’t have a lot of time that they are willing to commit. And that right there probably is the biggest thing. For whatever reason, and there are many, I choose to make time for this. I find it challenging and fun and fresh and, hopefully, important.

So, I just keep throwing up examples, pick my spots, try not to be too obnoxious, and keep hoping that someday, maybe, more will see what I see.

If not, I hope the meds work…

MSNBC just launched “HardBlogging” which is a companion site to Chris Matthews “Hardball” show. Frankly, it’s a pretty weak attempt at catching the meme. I agree with Tom that just throwing up a blog and starting to collect all sorts of posts really isn’t what it’s about. Ron Reagan and Dee Dee Myers et. al. may have some interesting insights, but as far as I’m concerned, they’re still representing the corporate bosses. The best part about Winer and Marshall and Kos are that a) I’ve read them for a long time and I have this kind of weird relationship of trust built up with them, and b) as far as I can tell, they’re owned by their readers. Now, are they reporters? Nah. They’re columnists, and I’m sure their bias will come through. What I’m hoping from those three is that they wade through the party pablum and tell me what’s really going on on the convention floor. Are people REALLY jazzed about Kerry-Edwards? Are the delegates REALLY united behind the party platform? Everyone keeps saying that they’re just going to spin things for the left, but I have a pretty good feeling that these guys aren’t going to spew out press releases. And that’s what makes this so freakin’ interesting to me. It’s the first time there have been potentially independent voices with reach at a convention.
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