Back when I first started blogging, it was common practice for all Progressive blogs to link to each other. If there was a story to be told then the blogs that shared the story also shared where there got the story. But most importantly the Big Guys1 would welcome new blogs into blogtopia (Yes, skippy coined that phrase!) by putting them on their blogrolls. This was back in the good ol’ days when it was common practice to find new writers and new blogs by surfing the blogrolls.
Then one day, the Big Guys decided they were going to purge their blogrolls and the little bloggers be damned. Most smaller, but very well-written, blogs were thrown away by the A-listers. And then B.A.D. was born. At one point there was even an entire blog dedicated to it. Back then, before the great purge, we were a lively and close(r) knit bunch. Jon Swift, aka Al Weisel, loved to link to blogs of all sorts. His blogroll scrolled for pages and pages. And we continue the tradition in his memory.
Here is the tradition of Blogroll Amnesty Day (I’ve helped myself to Skippy’s explanation):
once again, it’s time for our yearly celebration of blogroll amnesty day!
readers of this space know that b.a.d. is the holiday wherein we ask everyone in blogtopia (and yes, we coined that phrase) to link to 5 smaller blogs w/less traffic than theirs (no bad jokes about no blogs having less traffic than yours, please).
of course, the impetus for this whole ordeal originated w/our dearly departed friend, the legendary jon swift, aka al weisel, who was quite upset by the original blogroll bloodbath and self-amnesty declaration by those big box blogs who shall not be named.
al, in his guise as conservative blogger jon swift, wondered why so-called liberal blogs would have the least liberal blogrolling policies. we here at skippy international joined al/jon in his mock self-righteousness, and thus, four years ago b.a.d. was born.
this way we all can introduce our readers to new voices in blogtopia (and yes, we coined that phrase)’ as well as giving greater exposure to blogs which may otherwise go unnoticed.
to begin this year’s festivities, we’ll let our other partner in this endeavor, blue gal, introduce some ground rules:
small and newbie bloggers please be aware of the ironclad rule that you are not allowed to make “hey no blog is as small as mine” jokes regarding blogroll amnesty day. the rule is, straight from the queen of the indy blogs herself (ahem), that you are not allowed to complain or mention your blog’s low traffic until you have been posting daily for a year. if you’re little, link other blogs that are new or still growing their audience, and encourage them to practice their craft daily. then, show them how
And now my own contribution.
The following are folks I also follow on Twitter and I don’t know if they have smaller traffic than me. If you’re over there do follow them too.
**Links from here on down open in a new window**
Post Tenebras Lux by Lars Olson
I Should’ve Been a Blogger by Anibundel
Big Blue Dot Y’all by KC Gibbons
Cogito Ergo Doom (Tumblr) by Hubbit Ducreux
Waving, Not Drowning. Usually. (Tumblr) by Kate Uí Mhaoileoin
If you’d like to be added just let me know in the comments or over at teh twittah.
You can find Skippy on Twitter here.
- Who I and others refer to as A-listers. [↩]
2 Comments
actually i wanted to comment on the prior posting about the 2nd amendment. the video that was in the news was shamefully editted to make it look like people were hecklers, when in reality the father stopped and engaged the audience. he actually asked them for input. they were quite at first, then responded. they did not interrupt him or heckle him.
i ask this, why does the left support all the amendments except the 2nd? why does the ACLU attack all challenges to every amendment except the 2nd? the argument about selective defense of the constitution goes both ways.
q
Welcome back, q. I’m sorry about the comments on the previous post. They close automatically after a particular number of days- to keep the spammers at bay.
Before I begin, let me thank you for keeping it civil. I appreciate that.
I think that you missed the meat of my post. The point was that there are many more abuses of liberty that are happening right now that, in my mind, are more important than saying that someone shouldn’t be hoarding 5,000 rounds of ammo (I’m aware that hyperbole) or that the existing laws regulating gun ownership should be enforced.
As far as the 2d is concerned there is a big portion of the wording that is ignored- “well-regulated militia”. I personally don’t see the point in banning all guns and neither do most of the liberals with whom I’ve discussed this issue. In fact I know for a fact that you’ll not be able to find any such instance in anything I’ve written here or on Twitter.
I’ve spoken with conservatives and libertarians about this issue too. The issue I address in my post, that is. The hypocrisy comes in the form of the “constitutionalists” who have no idea what NDAA and FISA are. They have no problem with limiting someone’s ability to case a vote. I haven’t even mentioned the Supremacy Clause or the role of the Supreme Court (which are under constant attack by the same folks who claim to love the Constitution).
Regarding the ACLU’s stance on protecting the Second: Have you tried to find out where they do stand?
Let me help you- it’s right here.
I’d also like to note that some so-called “liberals” aren’t really liberals. They fancy themselves as such, but their real ideology is with keeping a party in power as opposed to a set, concrete belief system.
Finally, regarding the testimony that spurred my post:
Neil Helsin was giving testimony to the legislature. He was stressing his feelings about his terrible loss. He wasn’t asking the gallery their opinion. Not only that, but the gallery was admonished to settle down or everyone would be cleared. There were perfectly good times to shout out support for military style weaponry- including when the pro-gun folks were testifying. When the parents were speaking they should have just bit their tongues. Neil Helsin is against regulation, by the way, and was respectful of their right to shout out whatever the hell they wanted. I probably wouldn’t have been so nice about personally.