the bloggers choice awards (nonist edition)
i think by now just about everyone agrees that the bloggies are flawed. it’s not the organizer’s fault (except for the weirdly narrow categories) nor is it the voter’s fault. it’s simply the nature of the numbers at work. year after year blogs which have already nailed down a lion’s share of overall audience win bloggies. this is fine, and makes perfect sense, but from my perspective it serves little purpose. i already know that the relatively small pool of heavyweight blogs are heavyweights. everyone does. yet this group rarely reflects my greater travels, nor the sites which actually bring me the greatest enjoyment. the numbers don’t lie as they say, but they also do not quite add up.
with all this in mind i’d like to offer some small accolades to some of the sites i personally enjoy. before i do though i’d like to encourage other bloggers who come across this post to follow suite. i’m much more interested in the sites who the bloggers in my extended community love. i realize that many would say, “that’s what my blogroll is for,” but in most cases blogrolls are too unruly and are an aggregation of many years worth of surfing. i’d like to know what sites my fellow bloggers admired this year, what blogs fascinated them, what blogs inspired them, etc. it would be a great way to not only find new sites but to gain insight into one another and into the tastes of our community this year. for those of you who don’t have blogs of your own but are avid readers i encourage you to share your favorites as well in the comments section. i want to know what the real blogs of the year are!
here are my bloggers choice award picks for 2005:

the i’ll be damned! award
for the blog whose content i found consistently cool.
(tie) we make money not art / future feeder

the my head hurts award
for the blog whose content i found consistently thought provoking.
(tie) the huge entity / 3 quarks daily

the golden section award
for the blog whose content i found consistently beautiful.
giornale nuovo

the sweet fancy moses! award
for the blog whose content elicited the most w.t.f.‘s
(tie) beware of the blog / reality carnival

the exploding cigar award
for the blog which consistently made me laugh.
words for your enjoyment

the covet thy neighbors site award
for the blog which inspired my envy.
content: wood s lot
design: solipsistic
idea: post secret

the hey brother can ya spare a dime award
for the blog whose links i borrowed most.
(tie) robot wisdom / digg

the home away from home award
for the blog at which i commented most this year.
(tie) eye of the goof / orangeblog

the back in 20 minutes award
for the blog which made me want to go outside
or otherwise leave my computer.
wooster collective

the author! author! award
for the blog whose writing i found consistently enjoyable.
(tie) 2second(fuse) / wordshadows

the pleasure’s all mine award
for the blog i’m glad to have discovered this year.
(tie) orbis quintus / coudal

the have a cigar! award
for the best weblog born this year.
(tie) bibliodyssey / if: book / drawn

the were there world enough and time award
for the blog which updates sporadically and i’d really like to see more of.
(tie) empty bottle / laputan logic

the it’s not you, it’s me award
for the blog which i’ve become disenchanted with this year.
(tie) boing boing / slashdot

the pourin’ a 40 on the ground
for my brotha that ain’t around award
for the blog which folded this year that i’ll miss most.
tattered coat
you guys (and many, many others if i’m being honest) made 2005 an enjoyable year for me on the ol’ internet. thanks! i know you are all wondering what prizes you’ll be receiveing… well a pat on the back if our paths ever cross. how’s that?
if anyone else would like to offer their own bloggers choice award picks feel free to use the “checkbox” graphic above. here is a larger version for your fiddling pleasure. and keep us posted!
while i’m on the subject:

mister snitch! has just released a mind blowing compilation which seeks to compile the very best posts of 2005.
make sure to check it out. fantastic.
until next year…
Read Less...
Mi blog es su blog, compinche.
posted by
MrBaliHai on 02/02 at 02:51 AM
the most consistent purveyor of quality web entities: plep
posted by
peacay on 02/02 at 05:27 AM
I’m honored to be on your list, JM. Thanks for that.
posted by
Pauly D on 02/02 at 05:31 AM
Ditto. The Nonist has always been a must have in expanding my knowledge of the blogsphere, today you excelled yourself. Thanks for thinking of me
posted by
mr. danieru on 02/02 at 09:10 AM
well a pat on the back if our paths ever cross. how’s that?
Is good. A beer’d be better, but it’s still good.
And thanks. I’ll try and write more. Or rant more. Or both, probably.
posted by
stavrosthewonderchicken on 02/02 at 10:09 AM
yay! I tied with the wonderchicken!
thanks for the mention. more posts in the pipeline.
posted by
John Hardy on 02/02 at 02:14 PM
I’m too lazy and too angry to make a list. I thought about made my own awards some weeks ago with weird categories, but I gave up- too much work. Consider the best blogs of the year for me those that I kept on my blogroll (I was “cleaning” my list today).
I agree with you in some of your choices, specially the “the it’s not you, it’s me award” after Boing Boing “had won” for best Sci-fi blog. What was that??? The blogosphere is getting very weird.
PS.: I liked of your post, it’s good to know that I’m not alone about what idea I had from bloggies.
posted by
Bibi on 02/03 at 01:00 AM
why thank you, mister emm, I’m flattered to be in such company: a good many of the above would be on my awards-list too.
posted by
misteraitch on 02/03 at 10:03 AM
Thanks! WE are flattered and honored to be included on a list with so many heavy hitters.
I think you have it all wrong: I owe YOU a pat on the back, or a beer, or whatever. Keep up the good work on this fantastic blog, and thanks again!
posted by
Bill @ Orbis Quintus on 02/03 at 02:37 PM
jmorrison, you obviously have exceptionally good taste… I would change your list in only one way: by adding The Nonist to the top. Toda raba!
posted by
Vlad Spears on 02/04 at 10:37 AM
I’m afraid the rumors of my consistency have been greatly exaggerated, but respectfully accept (the nonist, afterall, knows best!), happy to be sharing the podium with the most worthy, 2Second(fuse).
A Nonist Edition Blogger’s Choice! My, my. I feel like I’ve just married a trophy wife. I’m flustered and overwhelmed and not quite sure what to do next.
Thank you.
posted by
Keith on 02/05 at 04:49 PM
I guess I have to drown Mr. Bali Hal when he comes to Munich to win the award in my category next year. ;-)
Thanks!
My award to you: constant stream of deep and weird thoughts, high quality of dedication to life and exploration of art.
posted by
orangeguru on 02/06 at 02:42 AM
Actually seeing your list and the comments - I am constantly aggravated about the shitty mainstream blogs and their votes. Is there a way to promote ‘our’ corner of the blogosphere better?
posted by
orangeguru on 02/06 at 02:43 AM
Wow…you hit a lot of my old favorites in there, and introduced me to quite a few new friends. You do indeed have excellent taste!
posted by
bluewyvern on 02/06 at 04:10 AM
well guys/gals i’m glad you’re all so tickled to be “honored” with the humble checkmark. i only awarded them because you all contributed to my surfing pleasure. perhaps beers are in order when paths cross…
course’ none of you lazy bums actually picked up the ball and ran with it…
damned individualistic bloggers and your stubborn. precious, free will!!!!
anyhow, keep it up and i’ll try to do the same.
posted by
jmorrison on 02/06 at 02:27 PM
thanks, comrade. Not sure if we really belong on that list, but…
Picking up the ball? Are you mad?
posted by
badger on 02/06 at 05:38 PM
wood s lot - is a well of deep beauty of image and letter, a great inspirational place indeed,
and so is spamula (dear dear generous man, who every now and then give away Treasuries books of his)and many other places you’ve chosen
and so are you dear Nonist!!
posted by
moon on 02/08 at 08:38 PM
the pourin’ a 40 on the ground
for my brotha that ain’t around award
Thanks, jm—I can’t imagine a more fitting tribute.
My blog isn’t completely folded, though—I hope that I’ll be able to get back to it in couple of months.
posted by
Matt on 02/10 at 07:56 PM
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