Since our assignment was to play with the search tools for news and bloggers I began with Topix. I searched for information I'd heard on the radio about a favorite painting in George Bush's office. I found it using topix: http://harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002237

I like the idea behind Syndic8.com, that it's user driven, but the interface was not something I'd want to see on a regular basis. I did find the feed I wanted for Livescience, though.

I can see that boingboing could be addicting and am going to try to forget I ever saw it!