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I've been fortunate to have gained the attention of "the big blogs" over the past
year. I've thanked them in a previous post, and in a way this one is related, because their links (for the most part) made these entries what they were: those that were viewed by the most people. Perhaps not my personal favorites, but I'd be lying to deny pride in these entries, which I present here in chronological order.
Sacred Words
This post began as a comment in another blog, on the eve of the Iraq war. The follow up was added in May, and made a nice Memorial Day tribute. I note that the best part of this was not written by me. I still can't read this impassively. To me it requires a response. Tears.
Saving Hollywood
This David vs. Goliath story was my entry in the first ever New Weblog Showcase at TTLB. At that time there were 2,500 blogs in the ecosystem. Not that much time has passed, but now there are 6000+.
A long gap between "hits" as I worked on a long-term project. As it neared completion I thought the slight boost in readership it would bring my blog would provide a great opportunity to publish another project that was important to me, the story of Rick Rescorla. Ha! Within a few hours of posting 911 Remembered: Rick Rescorla was a Soldier my site was overwhelmed, my bandwidth exceeded, and only an effort by Mr. and Mrs. Du Toit kept the story up for a brief period until I was able to extend my bandwidth. (Thanks again to both, and we miss you Mrs. D.) I think the Gazette touched a lot of people this past 911, and that really surprised and pleased me.
The other project? Delayed. More on that a bit later.
I had to take October off, but I did manage to post a link to Chief Wiggles Toy Drive that month. I've always cheered when blogs accomplish good things.
I resumed blogging in November, and shortly before Veterans Day (holidays always inspire me, now that I think about it) while trying to keep my blogroll updated with all the other military blogs I was finding on the web, I gave up. Okay, actually I returned to an idea I'd had a couple months prior, had gone so far as discussing via e-mail with Sgt Hook, in fact. MilBlogs was born. I started sending e-mail on Veterans Day morning my time, people joined during the day, and by Veterans Day evening Instapundit time we were launched big time. From spark to fire in less then 24 hours. Less than 2 months later there are nearly 50 members and two dozen "friends". My sincerest thanks to all.
The Warrior Caste would not have existed without MilBlogs. The inspiration was another post (linked in the story) and later other MilBloggers joined the discussion. I appreciate the way elements of the hero story and personal reflection on how close to home it struck combined with an immediate interaction only possible in the blogosphere and created a compelling final product.
December was a "good month" for Mudville. Early in the month Bias created a bit of a murmur in the blog world. I really enjoy using pure quotes to display and expose media ineptitude and prejudice. Reading printed transcripts of television broadcasts is especially effective, as it demonstrates that such previously careless or thoughtless utterances are now subject to scrutiny. Expect more of this from Mudville '04.
In a previous post I mentioned Buck Fush! My protest sign-inspired lampoon of an imaginary left-wing talk radio program. When John F Kerry made his infamous career torching statement I couldn't help but remember it when the time came to fan the fires of his self-immolation. By strange coincidence, I had a filed picture I'd saved, thinking at some point I'd find some use for it. Voila! As the French say. Kerry: BUCK FUSH!
The Little Red seemed obvious to me. Google did the rest.
Saddam Captured. I was on this one early. My off-hand reference to the American Left was originally not meant to include a lot of folks who thought they were included. I almost said so, then realized they doth protest too much. Know what I mean? This post was huge due to the sheer number of Blogs that linked. Fun, though spoiled a little by some who wanted everyone to join hands and sing kum ba ya. My response to anything is to immediately asses the next threat. That's a built in by years of military service aspect of my personality, I suppose. I blogged the Saddam story around the same time it broke officially. I predicted a response. Within a few minutes my forecast was verified.
Dear Time Warner More reads in two days than any other post on this site. Five words, 25 trackbacks (countless other links), 75 comments on this site, lots more on others. (My posts often generate more comments on blogs that link them! Such is life, folks comment in their comfort zones.)
Operation Bob Hope Idea born on Dec 24th, grew out of the "Post Exchange" project we're developing for MilBlogs. I wish I'd thought of it sooner. Will redo this one next year.
The Grinch II Like most entries on this list, this one could only exist in the blogosphere. Let the Grinch hide in his bomb shelter, the rest of us will live our lives.
Again, obviously none of these would be on the list without being linked by other folks. They clearly get the credit. Further, the biggest were actually not linked by the biggest blogs, just lots of blogs. A lesson for those who yearn for such attention: keep doing what you're doing.
If you build it, they will come.
