Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Blogroll Auditions


Way back in my early days of blogging (at least a year ago) I had a post where I explained the purpose of a blogroll. I don't think any outside visitors ever really use another person's blogroll. It's more like a public bookmark list. I use my blogroll as a convenient checklist for blogs I want to read frequently. Over time I have added and subtracted from it as I see fit. The two most recent additions were Blogography and Jenine who were both hilariously funny bloggers. Unfortunately, Jennine left full-time blogging for something called a life. I had one of those once. They are way over-rated.

Lately, the turnover on my blogroll has been frightful. Right now there are at least three dead links on it as bloggers have gone AWOL. Some fold up shop and leave a departing message. Some make empty hollow threats. Some even merge with other bloggers. Others just vanish. These can be annoying, because it seems there is an army of bots out there that pounce on abandoned blog domains and fill them with all sorts of nefarious sites that have pop-ups and other scary HTML thingies that make me fear for my hard drive.

Between these lost bloggers and the folks that just aren't that entertaining anymore (I'm looking at you, Dad Gone Mad), the twice weekly run through my blogroll is just not as rewarding as it used to be. I need to refresh my list and inject some new blood.

So, I am announcing open auditions, American Idol style, for coveted positions on my blogroll. A place on this valued real estate means that you will be visited by me about three times a week and probably get a comment on every other post. To enter, just leave a comment that I can trace to your Blogger profile or leave a link. I will visit all entrants at least a few times in the next week and make some updates to my blogroll.

If you are already on my blogroll, help me out and nominate somebody on yours that you think I would enjoy reading. You probably know my tastes better than me by now. I won't let the other people on your blogroll know that you are playing favorites. Even blurkers with no blog of their own are welcome to make recommendations, as long as they don't mention Dooce.

If you are a Boodler (and you know who you are), you qualify for the special Achenblog section of the blogroll. I don't check these as often unless you plug it in the boodle, but a spot on the Achenblog list is also immune to my random whims.

And unlike American Idol, there are no losers, just fellow bloggers enjoying some fine Web 2.0 fellowship.

Blatant Comment Whoring™: Basically this whole post.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to vote for Dependable Renegade at

http://www.dependablerenegade.com/

She's often funny, often obscene, and somtimes a trifle disturbing, but it's worth a look every day.

Jamy said...

Pick me! Well, only if you actually like to read my blog. I think you've left a comment or two so you've visited before.

I promise to never up and disappear, but as to quality...that's not for me to say.

As to recommendations, I don't know if my blogroll is to your taste, but I try and keep it up to date so please click around. It's far too long, but you're on it! Go figure.

Anonymous said...

Try http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
Seriously - she writes a lot about knitting and yarn, but is very funny and a good writer. And she's had the blog for years.

mostlylurking

Dave2 said...

Interestingly enough, I pump out quite a bit of traffic from my blogroll. It really is surprising because, like you, I figured nobody would care what I read.

2fs said...

Hi there. I write words. Elsewhere, I preen moles.

Sue T. said...

I'm a big fan of San Francisco Chronicle TV writer Tim Goodman's blog, The Bastard Machine. It's funny and snarky, which are the two main qualities I look for in a blog. His entry about the diaper wearing astronaut is priceless.

Mooselet said...

Jennine is back - I guess those Minnesota types like to make empty threats. Find her at ovariesmademedoit.blogspot.com

I'm required by the Big Sister Code, Section 47, Subsection 13 to nominate my brother Gabe. He can go for long periods without posting but perhaps if the Peanut Gallery was more crowded he'd post more -
paddyhago.blogspot.com

Finally one of my newest additions is Mitch McDad, someone I found via Harmonica Man. A very funny read so far - mitchmcdad.com

Anonymous said...

I'm a fan of Ironic Sans and Rangelife. The latter is a friend of a friend of mine (though I've never met him); the former I couldn't even tell you how I stumbled upon his blog, but it's consistently clever. It's more along the lines of "Hey, I had this neat idea" than anything personal, but it's always interesting.

HRH Courtney, Queen of Everything said...

I'd like to stay on the roll, please. Here's a link you may enjoy:

Wedding Cake and Toothache. Janniechan is funny, in culinary school, and a daily read of mine. She also sent me the most amazing lip gloss at Christmas time.

Anonymous said...

Hello Yellowjkt! Long time no *see* I think you might like Psychotoddler, he's a Jewish doctor, his blogs are good. http://psychotoddler.blogspot.com/

Bonvallet said...

Hey the aforementioned is me Wickwire, not anonymous.

Jeff and Charli Lee said...

My threat wasn't completely empty and hollow. I mean I DID depart for like a whole week - so technically...

Anonymous said...

I am in no way affiliated with this blog, but Indexed should be right up your alley. Graphs and Venn diagrams used to make pithy social observations. Way cool.

Anonymous said...

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/

How about Debbie Schlussel? Sounds like it would be right up your pig trough. You both like to pick on people whom you don't know. She wrote a lot about Brandy Britton, too.

You don't need a blog roll. Just stick your head in your ass where it usually is located and I'm sure you'll find plenty of action.

I read your posts re Ms. Britton, and I definitely think you played a role in her demise, fucko.

yellojkt said...

These are all great blogs. There is so much talent out there. And don't worry, Madame Courtney Whiny Complainy Pants, Esq. You're one of my favorites which is why I save you for last.

Mitch McDad said...

check out the hygien chronicles.. http://hchrons.blogspot.com/

and don't worry, I won't totally piss out MRS's friends.
:)