This is what the ‘M.’ stands for, and here’s why I use it

(Update, Dec. 30, 2015: The CMS issue has been resolved, and the M. is finally gone!) 

This blog was dead for about three months while I tried to work out a DNS conflict with my host. It’s back now only after I decided to throw in the towel and park it at WordPress.

To celebrate this auspicious return, I thought I’d answer the question I’m most often asked: Why the hell is your byline M. Alex Johnson?

Until about four years ago, I thought journalists who tacked an initial in front of their name — an initial initial, so to speak — were pompous. Then two things happened:

Upgraded Android app is live

I’ve given Journalist at Large — Alex Johnson, the self-indulgent Android app I built, an upgrade. The main features are the ability to show more than 10 entries per page/tab, more feedback options and the nuking of the ad. If you like what you find here on this blog, you can find it in a handy Android version several ways:

• Online Market

• Direct apk download

• QR code. Snap a photo of the QR image at the right  in your QR-app-enabled device.

(Eventually, you should be able to find it in the Market on your device itself, in the News and Magazines category. That takes a little time to propagate.)

UPDATE: It’s now available in the Market on devices. Just search for “Alex Johnson journalist.”

Wait … I’m an app?

Just for kicks, I thought I’d turn this blog into an Android app, partly as a test and partly for sheer vanity.

The app, JournalistAtLarge, merely present the 10 most recent posts in a pretty way, with options to star and share items and to change the theme. It uses the free AppYet service, and if I like it, I’ll probably convert it to a full app.

Until then, it’s not on the Market, but you can directly download the apk file here.

Let me know what you think!

Journalists’ Quick Reference Guide

If you’ve just recently discovered this blog, you might be looking for the Journalists’ Quick Reference Guide. You can find it here.

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Follow me on Facebook

If you’re no fun and would rather keep track of just my professional writings and recommendations, you can “like” my Facebook work fan page: Alex Johnson – msnbc.com. (This is for those of you who don’t like borderline SFW weird cops stories and such.)

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Welcome to My Upgraded Blog

Effective Feb. 2, 2010, I’ve taken up blogging residence here. Previous entries are archived in the sidebar and at my Web site, alex-johnson.com.