David Churbuck with the best angry response to Associated Press' ill-conceived pay-to-quote-us policy (and follow the chain of links there for more info):

Here’s the deal: The Associated Press, a coprolite concept of a global news syndicate used by newspapers to fill their editorial holes with standard news (bus plunges, fungible coverage of the world’s events, items from outside of the local circulation foot print) and to share their original reportage back into the pool in return, has decided that bloggers must pay by the word when they quote from an AP article.

To me that’s like asking me to pay a toll to get off the superhighway and visit a dying town that time has forgotten.

For the record, Imagethief plans on continuing to quote AP articles with a link to the original when appropriate. I consider this fair use (and a fillip to the AP member newspapers who's pages I am usually linking to), and I don't anticipate writing a check. But for those who want to make a point, there is also always the Mike Arrington approach.

Also, Imagethief has talented friends who write for the AP. In no way should my criticism of their employer's silly actions be interpreted as criticism of their work. However, they can think what they want of Mr. Churbuck's rant.