If John Steinbeck were writing Travels With Charley today — not 50 years ago — he’d have a Honda Acura, not a camper; 2 dogs, not 1. And instead of waiting a couple of years to publish his observations, he’d blog them daily.
The result would be “Fred and Hank Mark America,” an addictive daily chronicle of Jim and Joan Brady’s cross-country journey with their beagles (Fred and Hank). Jim is the former editor of Washingtonpost.com; Joan is a very talented photographer and foster care activist who serves as a perfect complement to her husband.
The Bradys’ blog is required reading in the media world. It’s even been mentioned by uber-blogger Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic.
The tip about “Frank and Hank” came from Mark Potts — co-founder of Washingtonpost.com, a talented blogger himself (“Recovering Journalist” tracks the travails of the industry), and a former Westporter.
In the blogosphere — as the rest of life — Westporters are separated by far fewer than 6 degrees. More like 2.