An Attempt To Win "The Golden Whine" Award
What is Hotblogs?
One would think it to be a listing of the very best sites on T-blog. I have no idea what the official criteria would be for judging the order of the blogs. But, I would think it would involve most of the following factors:
*Number of real (as opposed to the mysterious who-knows-what clicks from cyberspace) hits from fellow bloggers
*Number of comments received
*Frequency of personally-produced blogs. By this I mean self-created, not the cut-and-paste variety
*Quality of content of these blogs (Subjectively determined, of course. But, most of us know an interesting blog when we read one)
*Participation in the T-blog community by regularly leaving at least semi-thoughtful comments on the blogs of others, and periodically logging into t-blurt
I hang out here on T-blog a good bit, and while none of us will probably ever win a Pulitzer, I think we have some interesting writers. I'll name a few, although of course this is not exhaustive:
Some of My Favorites on T-blog:
Tabootenente - I often wonder “what the heck” he is saying, but he is probably the best academic blogger in our bunch.
Surrogate - my favorite 60's liberal
DrForbush - smart guy...very convincing, and he challenges well with my comments without ever resorting to personal attack
ScubaDiva - I'll make a social conservative out of her, yet!
eraserhead667 - a wild guy, fun to read, surprisingly thoughtful sometimes
Rand - always positive, always gently nudging, I'll bet this guy is a great football coach
bacardibreezer - sweet girl, nice car, sometimes embarassing
Mimi - been through some challenging times, great attitude
toztee - new to blogging, I think we have some things in common
guerillafunk - my favorite teenage blogger
There's others. Teenagers who are frank, amazingly transparent. A few artists who display their works. Some religious writers with whom I sometimes connect and sometimes disagree. So it's a great community.
Back to Hotblogs.
Currently I'm # 62. I will never be in the top 20, because my chosen subject matter is admittedly of limited appeal, and also because I would not want the pressure of trying to represent the elite of T-blog. But I'd like to see if I could move up into the top 30. I think I'll try to write a new blog, daily, for about 2 weeks and see what happens. It would be a shameless attempt at self-promotion, but most of us have done worse.
Check out the guys in the top-6.
#1 - adfunk
I was thinking that was a Jewish shophar for his avatar, but closer examination reveals a flashlight. The articles are cut-and-paste from wikipedia. Comments not allowed. I don't know adfunk personally, but I think it to be a clear effort at advertising revenue. Does this really represent the best of T-blog?
#2 - bedava
Cool picture. Is the language Russian? And I am sure all two of our Russian bloggers really like it. Again, no place for comments.
#4 - theauctionboard
News about online auctions. Surprisingly funny. No comments. As far as I know, no interaction with fellow bloggers. Is this #4 in T-blog land? I don't think so!
#6 - Danu9
My least favorite blog in all the universe. Just a pollution of T-blog of cut-and-paste arcane Jewish writing. If someone checks this out and thinks it s representative of religious blogging, then he would never give the rest of us a chance. And now, perhaps with intent, the site locks up my computer and so I have to reboot. And this blog represents the sixth most popular offering on T-blog?
How about helping me with a shameless attempt at self-promotion, to move me up the ladder on HotBlogs?
Pretend to read my daily posts. Just skim through if you would like. Leave comments. They don't have to be pertinent or make sense, or even be legible. Just say something. And tell others they could win a million dollars just by logging onto my blog. They won't but it could be good for a few rungs up the ladder. A similar approach has gotten people elected to higher office!
05.11.06 (12:26 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (7:43 am)
I'm not even sure the guys have a good idea of how they're determining hot-blog rankings right now. I do know that the fact it's been screwed up has bruised a lot of egos and cost us a bunch of good bloggers.
...and I'm certianly NOT a 60's Liberal, you lovable goof. I'm YOUR age. How old were you in 1970? I was 14 and didn't care about much more than trying to up the tip total from my paper route.... and Penny Metropanni, my first fantasy girl, whom I deamed about most nights and was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and who was three years older than me... and who I don't think I ever spoke a single word to.
Wonder what ever happend to her?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (7:47 am)
Reply to: surrogate
I know you're not from the 60's age-wise. It's just that when I read your blogs/comments, the image of LBJ enters my mind. You do look a little like him, you know?
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (7:58 am)
All I have in common with LBJ looks-wise is the hair we both have/had growing out of our ears. I don't know where his came from. Mine shifted from the top of my head.
posted by:
irishred (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (9:13 am)
You have a great blog PD!!
By the way, just for the record--one of the blogs that you list as "one of your favorites" is plagarizes on a regular basis. That's worse than cut and paste! (which I do often).
posted by:
toztee (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (9:56 am)
Pastor Dave, I'm honored to have been included in your favs. Though you did list me next to last. I'll accept that reasoning is due to my newness...and I'm finding it hard to write. I neither trust nor share easily. I keep wondering why there aren't more bloggers from your, oops I mean, "50's" generation.
If you will post new blogs, more often...I'll be glad to help elevate your standing by visiting.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (10:16 am)
Reply to: irishred
You have a valid point. To cut-and-paste yet cite your source is perhaps boring and lazy, but not unethical. But, to steal the work of another without due credit, is bad.
I don't have a problem with cut-and-paste if it is but a part of a larger body of work, perhaps as you give comment on what some else has written.
I appreciate your reading and comment.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (10:18 am)
Reply to: toztee
I am not from the 50's generation. Nor 60's. Barely 70's. I'll bet I am younger than you. And, best of all, I am not from Fyffe, Alabama.
By the way, how do you pronounce that moniker, "toasty"?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (11:53 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Penny Metropanty - now that's an interesting name, and I can just imagine what her vocation in life may be!
posted by:
Misguided (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (12:03 pm)
*crys*i was not on your list lol...oh well i blog 2 express how i feel not 2 make a list or anything...i read others 2 see if anyone else feels the way i do..have a nice day
posted by:
mimi (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (12:32 pm)
excellent observation and excellent post...thank you for including me (with endearment) i will help you to see if we can up your ratings! now, my sister, she is the 60's liberal you are looking for...and should you find her, beware...she is dangerous : )
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (12:33 pm)
Reply to: Misguided
The listed blogs are not, necessarily, my ten favorite. And they are not listed in order of preference. They are just ten that I like. You've got some quite interesting posts- worth a read, I'd say.
I think your reason to blog is the best.
I've been somewhat low on inspiration to blog lately, and so here's some self-motivation. Just a kid with ADD playing around. And I do appreciate my fellow T-bloggers for being my playmates.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (12:37 pm)
Reply to: mimi
So, does your sister look like Lyndon Johnson?
Most remaining 60's liberals are now confined to professorships on College campuses, government jobs, and retirement condos in Florida. They are a dangerous but apparently disappearing breed.
Have you heard again from your sis?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (12:40 pm)
Reply to: mimi
So, does your sister look like Lyndon Johnson?
Most remaining 60's liberals are now confined to professorships on College campuses, government jobs, and retirement condos in Florida. They are a dangerous but apparently disappearing breed.
Have you heard again from your sis?
posted by:
toztee (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (2:27 pm)
Hey bud...Don't ye' be makin fun of FEE-Fee, Alabama.
ET might have to come visit you next time.
And I am of the same generation as you, watch
those eggshells you are on preacher man. And it's just like toasty. You know, dry, brittle, and crusty like my humor.
posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (2:46 pm)
I don't know why I'm in the top 10. I was #1 for most of last year. I don't typically get a lot of comments, but I do get a lot of more personal tmails.
And I do admit to cutting and pasting some articles or stories that I think are damn hysterical, but I take them down after a day or two.
And I am a libertarian. I think our gov't be it Repub or Demo are running it into the ground. There are days when I think the country would be better off if aliens came to earth and vaporized the Capitol while the State of the Union was being delivered. We would be rid of all the politicians and perhaps could start anew.
Or we could just form our own nation. Sort of like the Conch Republic.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (5:21 pm)
Reply to: scubadiva
I know why you are in the top 10. You deserve it. You offer interesting blogs, and thoughtful comments. You can be serious, and also you have a sense of humor and don't take yourself too seriously. But there is quite a tragic thread running through your stories/life, and it keeps people tuned in. I think yours is an excellent example of what a blog can and should be like.
I can go with Libertarian, especially if it truly were a viable alternative in our politics. Unfortunately, to vote Libertarian in almost all races is to waste your vote. I can't afford to do that.
I'm still disturbed over that last blog of yours. Man, but it was intense!
posted by:
Dorcas (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (6:37 pm)
Hi, you could say your blog was an eye open to say the least, great reading though, made me realize what I had been doing, was simply at that time reporting news etc. Already gave that up for what I am not doing, jokes or maybe this one memories too.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.11.06 (6:47 pm)
Reply to: Dorcas
No, don't take what I have to say too seriously. If your comfortable way of blogging is to simply report the news, then keep with it. My irritation is not with someone like yourself. It is with these people who decide to make about half a dozen posts per day of nothing but cut-and-paste drivel. And it is not because they have found something that they think is of true interest, but in some strange way they are trying to make money through supported advertising. So they flood t-blog with such junk, which gets in the way of genuine bloggers like yourself. I just wish T-blog had a way of flagging these "spammers" and keeping them away.
But, no, no, no- I am not intending to be negative toward an honest blogger just trying to have some fun, like yourself. Keep it up!
posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
05.12.06 (1:21 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
So I'm like "The Young and the Restless" of Tblog?
Or maybe "Melrose Place"?
Just don't say "Saved by the Bell"
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.12.06 (7:26 am)
Reply to: scubadiva
Maybe Sex And The City?
posted by:
scubadiva (
reply)
post date:
05.12.06 (12:49 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
More like
"I can't afford Manolos, I have no Mr. Big, I have no job, I live in the suburbs and sex? What's that?"
