I think all of us in tech blogging have been have been through the experience of breaking the news and then not receiving credit or links for doing so. Whether or not that's what Mashable did is beside the point. (Though, I personally think that since you didn't have a exclusive deal, they probably just got the email too.)

The point is, in an industry dominated by blogs like TechCrunch and Mashable, both of whom can push out posts left and right, getting credit for breaking news is going to be an uphill battle for the rest of us. Instead, what we should focus on as tech bloggers is adding our insight and our analysis to the topic. That's what RWW does well, I think. And it's what you do well.

Another thing you should be aware of is that it didn't matter whether or not Mashable linked to you because your readers already knew that if there's a new FF app in town, you would have an opinion on it. And they would want to hear it. For your readers, you did break the news – and that's more important than credit.

Finally, what I think I find most interesting about all this is the perspective you bring as a relatively new blogger on the scene. I think it's great that you research every post before you publish so you can link to people – but it's not a requirement. It's just good karma. However, there's no big official list of rules in some blogging handbook. Sometimes you get links, sometimes you don't. Sometimes you get credit, sometime you don't. None of that matters.

All that matters is quality writing, insightful analysis, and a distinctive voice. And that's what you deliver time and time again. Which is why I'm proud to have you in the Grand Effect family.

And I'm sure one day you'll be as old and jaded as the rest of us and look back on this and laugh. :)