BREAKING NEWS: Gandelman overthrown in pixeled coup by hot young blogger

Now that I have the first of many inflammatory, useless headlines out of the way…

My name is Greg Piper, and I run The Smoking Room at GregPiper.com.  Joe asked me to give you a little description, and since guest-blogging is a twisted form of altruism, I’ll do my best to seduce a few of you to hook up with my site occasionally.  (For a quick description by Joe, check his review of my site almost a year ago.)

Until last summer I lived in Seattle, where I graduated college in 2001.  My major was political science but my passion was the university newspaper, where I got a reputation for hard investigative pieces and colorful editorials.  The journalism bug continued to lay eggs in my brain, so I started an alternative campus paper after graduation with the intention of making up for the bland caution of the school paper.  At this point I was working full-time in media relations for the Discovery Institute, a name I’m sure a few of you recognize.  (I’ll just say that 1) its science education work is more thoughtful and nuanced than critics think; 2) it has several other programs: technology regulation, legal system, bioethics, and a regional transportation program that is broadly popular with Puget Sound leaders, including the Seattle Times editorial board.)  I did media for all but the science program, and was an early proponent of blogging at the Institute.

I moved to DC with the hope of returning to my journalism roots or continuing at a think tank such as AEI or Brookings, and just finished a Hill internship.  My biggest thrill so far is meeting Wonkette in person.  Biggest disappointment is the absence of bohemian coffeehouses and the short size (8 oz.); both are common in Seattle.  Like Joe, I’m not big into flame wars and name-calling; I have a definite point of view but I enjoy good argument and lots of pop culture fluff as a respite from this grueling world of ours.  On my site I focus on media trends, international news, domestic politics, culture, and chronicling this strange place called Washington, DC.  Hope you enjoy my contributions for the next few days!