Y’all probably thought I had forgotten about this list. No, not this boy! I’ve just been waiting for the echo chamber to die down, and for Kiplinger’s to get a friggin’ clue and put the article online. Here we go!

I’ve had more than a few discussions about how “old media,” especially print media, just doesn’t “get it” and is probably incapable of getting it. The Kiplinger’s article on Must-Read Bloggers is a prime example of this. Traditional financial media isn’t quite dead, but the people that own it are brain-dead at the very least. For some of you that are on the list, I offer both congratulations and condolences. By the end of this article, you’ll know who you are and why I say that. Oh, by the way, an asterisk (*) by the name of the website mentioned by Kiplinger’s indicates I have them in my links page.

The first bit of evidence that Kiplinger’s doesn’t “get it” is that the print edition and brouhaha over the article was on the blogosphere, what, a month ago? It’s the October print edition, always on sale in September, and now it’s finally on the web? How’s that for timing?

The title Must-Read Bloggers implies to me that I am going to see a list of individuals, or at least, individual blogs that may have multiple authors. This is further implied by quotes such as

These pundits skewer the experts and offer great investment insights.

and

Blogs are journals shared with the world via the Internet.

Breathless with antici ……PAtion! (shoutout to the Rocky Horror crowd), I scroll down to their first pick, an aggregator? In my opinion, an aggregator is as much a “blog” as a “fund of funds” is a “hedge fund.” Seeking Alpha* may be a good read, but it isn’t a blog. Next we move on to StockBlogs.com, which doesn’t even feature content. It’s a directory of blogs, for crissake! Heck, from the title Must-Read Bloggers, I would expect to see a directory in the article and not for their second pick to be a directory. Pfblogs is the next choice, another aggregator. So far, I’d have to say that Kiplinger’s is 0 for 3 in finding “Must-Read Bloggers.”

The next two are related, well, not familially related, but content-wise. Footnoted* and 10Q Detective*, congratulations and condolences. Y’all do excellent work.

FundAlarm is an excellent site, but it’s not a blog. It’s more of a database of mutual funds with analysis and a monthly newsletter, in my opinion. Not a blog, but at least it has original content. Kiplinger’s is now 2 for 6 in finding “Must-Read Bloggers.”

The next stop is The Kirk Report, which is a blog with excellent content and a fantastic array of links. Why isn’t he asterisked? I’ve gotta add him to my links … Controlled Greed* is another excellent blog, although I haven’t been able to convince John to sell GM yet. A couple of good moves, and now Kiplinger’s is 4 for 8. Congratulations and condolences.

The Buffett Blog isn’t updated as frequently as Controlled Greed

Yeah, no shit. Check it out, the last entries were Sunday, July 23, 2006 and Sunday, May 14, 2006. If I start updating less frequently than BRK-A makes SEC filings, will Kiplinger’s consider adding me to the list next year? Actually, this post is probably wrecking that chance. Quick, someone drop by or call Kim or Henric, and let them know that Kiplinger’s wrote about them! They could, like, maybe make a post out of it. Maybe even this quarter!

The next blog mentioned is Freakonomics, based on and by the authors of the book. I’m not a fan of either, but at least it’s a blog. However, the first paragraph of the Kiplinger’s article reads

These days, anyone — and we mean anyone — can claim to be an expert. You simply launch a blog on the Internet and type away.

It’s hardly in keeping with that sensationalism when one of your “anyones” is a pair of best-selling authors capitalizing on their book with a blog of the same name. Regardless, and against my better judgment, I will now say that Kiplinger’s is 5 for 10. Congratulations and condolences.

Wait – here it comes – another “no shit” moment! Dear Economist is

less a blog than a collection of Harford’s newspaper columns

Hey, Kiplinger’s! I can get a subscription to the FT and even get it cheaper delivered and online than either/or. So why is a “blog” that repeats a (somewhat humorous in a stuffed-shirt academic kind of way) newspaper column a “Must-Read?” Score: 5 for 11.

Thoughts from the Frontline is a weekly emailed newsletter from a hedge-fund consultant and financial adviser. I wouldn’t call it a blog; I do subscribe, but I find myself deleting it unread most weeks and not really missing it, and I struggle to remember anything I read there that gave me an “aha!” or any significant enjoyment. It is a very popular newsletter, and I find several of the forums I participate in posting links or excerpts, so in the spirit of being openminded, congratulations and condolences. Score: 6 for 12.

Random Roger is another one that I need to add to my links. He deserves an asterisk and some congratulations and condolences. Score: 7 for 13.

Consumerism Commentary is a blog, and I’m not their target audience, but adding them raises Kiplinger’s score to 8 for 14 as they certainly are a regularly updated blog providing original content. Congratulations and condolences.

Of course, now that Kiplinger’s has managed to impress me mightily by pulling ahead of the 50% “old media doesn’t get it” Mendoza line, they decide to screw it up by including not one, but two Cramer blogs. First up is Cramer Watch, which asks the eternal question, “can Jim spank the Wonder Monkey?” I’m rooting for you, Jim! The second Cramer Clone is Mad Money Machine, which says it

is indeed more than just a review of Jim Cramer’s picks

Well, OK, so you are more than just a review of the TV show. Maybe a review of the TV show plus some capitalization on the fame of the TV show, plus some unique content besides? He also checks up every once in a while to see if Jim has been able to spank that Wonder Monkey on the other site. Hey, I hope it’s working for you, but I can’t call either one of these a “Must-Read,” even though – or probably because – I watch “Mad Money” several times a week. Kiplinger’s, in my opinion, you are 8 for 16.

So now maybe you understand why I gave those eight bloggers both congratulations and condolences. Congratulations because the mention by Kiplinger’s just might drive a little permanent traffic your way (after the initial spike), but I don’t know how much, because I can’t imagine that Kiplinger’s target audience is that into the web. Congratulations because you eight bloggers do a really good job of providing unique content that is entertaining, valuable, and actionable. Condolences because you have to share a list of “Must-Read Bloggers” with two aggregators, a blog directory, a mutual fund database, a delayed and abbreviated BRK-A quarterly report, a regurgitated newspaper column, two Jim Cramer wanna-bes, and a stock-picking monkey.

Congratulations and condolences to eight of the sixteen Kiplinger’s Must-Read Bloggers.