SOTU: Ratings down - focus on real time reactions up

Which SOTU did you tune into to?

Source: Pew Research Center

This year's coverage of President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address had its moments. Yet, as Marshall Mcluhan famously said, "the medium is the message."

It seems that many viewers abandoned the more traditional TV medium for the fragmented digital world, where watching the SOTU meant simultaneously gauging and expressing one's own opinion on various social media platforms and websites (which were then amalgamated and regurgitated en masse by traditional news outlets seeking to easily package the largely vauge beast that is "public opinion").

Although SOTU TV ratings were down 11% from last year's address, social media sites were abuzz, and as 10,000 words points out, many of the websites of major news outlets featured partnerships or sponsors to create an interactive and engaging experience.

The common theme: audience reactions.

(See more comparisons of how different news organizations and social  media covered the SOTU here).

End of the Month Blog Roundup!

More on this here via TPM.

The NRA's Political Spending infographic by JLMC. 

First up, The Atlantic's been serving up some excellent and relevant analysis this month:

James Fallows breaks down Obama's Inauguration rhetoric.
Senior Editor, Richard Florida, looks at the geography of gun-related deaths as well as what role gun regulations and factors including the economic, social and political characteristics play in contributing to gun violence.

Tomdispatch gets deep into the Obama cabinet shakeup as well as Defense Secretary nominee, Chuck Hagel and Vietnam via Nick Turse.

A new year,  a new war. Mali: Another country that (probably) most of us have had to wikipedia in recent weeks. Chris Hayes hosts a very comprehensive panel about why Mali matters:

Infographic of the Day: how have tax rates changed over time?

Blog roundup!: DNC coverage

Not only has North Carolina had the nation's attention, its also had corporate attention. The race for Governor is expected to be the most expensive in the state's history.
The Center for Public Integrity has more.

Truthdig recaps day two of the DNC.

The late Senator Ted Kennedy still pisses Bill O'Reilly off.

Shakesville has three concerns about the DNC.

Livestream and open thread on DailyKos of tonight's final DNC speeches.

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Infographic of the day: 10 Irish Inventions

Happy St. Patty's! Today's infographic is Irish themed. Full size image at the link. :)

Infographic of the day

Is the dictatorship your democratic state props up a government or a regime? Parapolitical breaks down the Reuters style guide.

Infographic of the Day

Infographic of the day: The Impact of High Oil Prices on the US Economy

High gas prices are surging again in the US, putting pressure on our Congressmen and Secretary of State to calm fears of further increases in the summer when tough new International sanctions on Iran kick in. That happens on July 01, when the European Union will ban Iranian oil. The US also plans to put sanctions on those who purchase Iranian oil. To make up for the lost Iranian oil, Senator Chuck Schumer wrote a letter to Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, urging her to put pressure on Saudi Arabia to increase it's production. Gas prices are projected to exceed $4 a gallon over the summer peak driving season.

It has also been speculated that the Obama Administration might tap into the US strategic petroleum reserves to relieve prices. President Obama is facing pressure from members of his own party as well as members of his cabinet. In positive news, Obama stated at an appearance at the University of Miami that "we have to keep developing new sources of energy." According to Reuters:

President Barack Obama said on Thursday the federal government would fight high oil prices by easing bottlenecks and problems with permitting, but that the country would not be able to drill its way to lower oil prices. Obama said the government would look for ways to run vehicles on fuels beyond gasoline, such as advanced biofuels and natural gas. "

We can't just allow ourselves to be held hostage by the ups and downs of the world oil market." While the solution might not be 'drill baby drill,' US oil production is up this year and US imports of both crude and refined products have been falling since 2005. Another interesting tidbit: for the first time since 1949, the US is actually a net exporter of refined petroleum products: (US Energy Information Administration report)