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December 17, 2005
Koufax?
2005 Koufax Awards are up. You can nominate me or, I guess, other people. But then you'd be traitors. Which is actually fine. Truth of it is, I don't deserve any of the awards. I think Tapped is the best Pro and Group blog, but that's something of a different issue. And, to be honest, I thought my Health of Nations series was pretty good, but I don't think it's the sort of set that really attracts statuettes.
I'm never sure how to feel about these award thingies. They're fun for the community, I guess. Deep down, though, I think the whole concept a bit poor. The blogs that'll come out on top are not, I feel, the ones that deserve the widest recognition. If you ever want to understand how blogs work, read some network theory, nodes and all that. The largest grow almost despite themselves, and the smaller ones basically can't. At the beginning, there was something of a meritocratic element to it, but I don't think the cream rises any longer, and I think the blogosphere as a whole rewards a sort of site that's not necessarily a positive contribution to the polity. It's taken on an automatic, structural trajectory, and the few exceptions tend to worry rather than hearten me.
There are, however, a spectacular number of good blogs out there. Many go all too unread. Tons of them I've never seen. It's a pity. So use this thread, not for Koufax awards (use Wampum's threads for that), but for hidden gems. Actually, fuck hidden, just gems. For me, I'd have to go with Brad Plumer's wonkery, Kate's health care coverage, LGM's general awesomeness and perfect tone, Laura's casual brilliance, Lance Mannion's fireworks of eloquence, Shakespeare's Sister's passion, The Carpetbagger's political thoroughness, Graham's wonderful chronicle of his residency, Intueri's literary account of psychiatric wards, Fortuna's idiosyncratic musings, and a bunch more I'm ashamed and guilty to have forgotten.
While suggesting yours, keep in mind that I want to bring more folks on for the weekends. Ideally, I'd like a large stable of guestbloggers who could really make for a different experience on Saturdays and Sundays. So if you've folks you think would add to the site, make sure to point 'em out.
December 17, 2005 | Permalink
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Comments
As a foreign national, I'm out of the Koufax loop. But since we're having an election and all, I'd like to make some Canadian recommendations -- like me, most Canadian bloggers love yapping smugly about US politics too. A really great new blog I totally recommend is The Galloping Beaver. I also get my Liberal partisan fix at Cerberus. A really awesome blog for NDP partisans is Accidental Deliberations. And two blogs that are always good for Canadian content are Tilting at Windmills and Crawl Across the Ocean (Declan is on vacation though).
There are tons more, but those are a few people might be interested in checking if they're worried about creeping wingnuttery up north.
Posted by: Laura | Dec 17, 2005 4:51:13 AM
yo EK, have you ever read Flogging the Simian? Soj, the proprietor calls it a paxblog aka a blog for peace and she has done some really good investigative style work on international matters. check her out
this is a dilligent young woman whose work definitely needs a wider audience.
Posted by: almostinfamous | Dec 17, 2005 5:50:15 AM
Ezra, Laura - Thanks for those lists - I keep learning new blogs, seeing new things. As Bush might say, "Canada is almost like a foreign nation." Though I hear the gruesome right has been saying worse.
Posted by: Gotham Image | Dec 17, 2005 5:52:29 AM
"At the beginning, there was something of a meritocratic element to it,"
When Drudge, Instapundit and Andy ruled the roost? How are you defining beginning?
Bah, you just lost a place on my Bookmarks. Your gain, my gain.
Posted by: Bruce Webb | Dec 17, 2005 7:24:15 AM
Well, it's a popularity contest. Is the most popular show on television the best show on television? I rest my case.
Posted by: Roxanne | Dec 17, 2005 9:33:51 AM
Thanks, Ezra.
Here are a few gems from my blog roll, which contains nothing but gems, of course, but these are particularly gem-like and since they're not particularly political they probably won't get much attention from the Koufax Awards:
The Self-Styled Siren---classy dame goes to the movies.
Printculture---a group of thoughtful, articulate, smarter than smart know it alls, but humble know it alls, writing about books, movies, education, and the like.
Byzantium's Shores---only man on the web who can make you think kindly of George Lucas and the three Star Wars "prequels."
SF Mike's Civic Center---spectacular photoblogging from San Francisco.
And Gotham Image, commenting above, just called my attention to his/her blog and I'm intrigued, very intrigued. I shall be watching his/her careeer with great interest.
Posted by: Lance Mannion | Dec 17, 2005 10:08:19 AM
I don't think the cream rises any longer, and I think the blogosphere as a whole rewards a sort of site that's not necessarily a positive contribution to the polity.
"Bastards and Cream", Ezra.
The boards that get the most recognition are those who pander to the frustrated far left. The most outrageous and confrontation you are, the better you are ranked. You don't always do that so I don't think you have a rats chance.
Posted by: Fred Jones | Dec 17, 2005 10:40:16 AM
This post is rather ungracious.
Besides the solution is obvious - exclude past winners for 3 years from the date of their win.
That way the good part of the Koufaxes is strengthened, giving recognition to new voices that deserve it.
Posted by: Armando | Dec 17, 2005 10:43:27 AM
I don't really see what's ungracious about it, but I do think your idea is a good one. And I should clarify that I'm not, in any way, talking about myself. I've risen far beyond where I've any right to be, blogging's gotten me a dream job, I have a perch at Tapped, and so on and so forth. It's been phenomenal.
Posted by: Ezra | Dec 17, 2005 12:20:48 PM
Contributing to the community is why the support is there. That and unselfishly promoting others. Questioning the way things are is a civil service : trying to provide analysis goes the extra step.
Posted by: opit | Dec 17, 2005 5:18:44 PM
I see Koufax as having two phases.
In the latter one, the actual voting, it is as you said, all the same biggies all over again to be voted for, and I agree that winnders should be uneligible for a while.
But the first phase, the current one, of nominations, is the one I relish the most, nominating and getting introduced to lots of excellent blogs that are not well known though they deserve to be so. That is why I nominated so many last year and this year - to point out some excellent smaller, newer blogs to the community in hope those folks will get some new readers they deserve.
Posted by: coturnix | Dec 17, 2005 8:24:36 PM
I was blogging before Chris Matthews began talking endlessly about him having a blog. Aka "the before time in the long long ago".
Posted by: Oliver Willis | Dec 17, 2005 9:54:37 PM
My idiosyncratic musings and I appreciated this, by the way. (Days ago.)
Posted by: ac | Dec 20, 2005 6:53:27 PM
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