Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Thinking Bloggers

Just before I had my weekend away, it came to my attention that _z. over at urban_memories [the unfinished polaroids] had nominated me as a recipient of the Thinking Blogger Award.


This is what he wrote about me:

"English sarcasm at its best! Not that I am claiming to be the expert, but I can tell you that this sharp blogger is always dead on. His posts are always straight to the point and honest. And between his stories, and the stories of lovely Red, they give you the best topics of discussion in the blogosphere."


I was very touched, and I told him so.

Now, for my end of the bargain, I must do the same and nominate five blogs that make me think, bestowing upon them the gift of the Thinking Blogger Award.

But thinking is a funny thing. The idea of a Thinking Blogger Award says to me something about profundity, intelligence, sobriety. And these, truth be told, are not qualities I particularly look for in blogs. Rather, I tend to frequent the sort of places where I can have fun and get away from depressing stuff.

That said, I know I have written my fair share of depressing stuff from time to time, not least last summer with my rants about the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. And my fair share of family woes. And a few lengthy essays on cinema and music. And God knows how many film reviews.

I think, therefore I am. And I most certainly am.

Anyways, bloggers that I nominate now should (if they want to, y'know) comply with the following rules:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the "Thinking Blogger Award" banner with a link to your own post.

So my nominations are:

1. Red. Is it wrong to nominate my wife's own Red-Letter Day blog? Maybe. But she is the person who makes me think the most in the world. And she has a blog that I think is pretty damn good, covering a wide range of subjects that interest me.

2. Candy Minx. The Gnostic World of Candy Minx was one of the first dozen blogs on my blogroll. What I love about Candy is that she covers such broad ground with her blog. Whether it's a thesis on why American Idol is like Fight Club (I shit you not!) or an appraisal of one of her favourite artists or just a list of search terms that have brought people to her blog, she always writes riveting, intelligent posts.

3. Milla. Milla's Wheel is another one of those blogs that covers all sorts of stuff -- from song lyrics, to the state of Russian politics. There are posts that make you shake your head at the absurdity of the world, and there are posts that make you laugh out loud. Like Red-Letter Day, this blog contains the views of an Italian woman roughly my age living in the UK, and the two blogs are great companion pieces to one another. And those posts in Milla's dialect... Phew, if those don't make you think, nothing will!

4. The Anti Crapitalist. One can go a long time without a new post from AC, as he is affectionately known, but when they do come they are well-informed rivers of bile, often aimed at politicians, but also focusing to a lesser degree on celebrities, crazed shooters, and even concepts.

5. Pendullum. Dribblingwitt???? is a fairly new addition to my blogroll, and in some ways it's perhaps not the sort of place people would expect to find me lurking. I'm not good with long posts, I'll be honest with you, but Pendullum has a habit of fully absorbing me with her poignant personal tales, and before you know where you are you're wearing a wry smile or sporting a lump in the throat. (I know she's been nominated for this before, but what can ya do?)

So, folks, that's my list. And, befitting this post, I really had to put on my thinking cap. I've tried to be fair and honest, and I've gone over and above the call of duty by explaining my choices.

What has surprised me here is the domination by the women. Not because I'm a misogynist, but because I assumed that I might have more in common with white British men of about my age. Somehow it seems I'm more attuned to foreign chicks. Is that such a bad thing?

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12 Comments:

Blogger Red said...

Me? With my posts about man-meat and Synnie Poos?

My blog? Nominated alongside formidable writers such as Candy and Milla?

Wow, dude... you flatter me.

I am far more "thinking" in real life than I am in my blog. But that's why blogging is fun for me -- it allows me to get away from my serious side.

And finally, I'd like to thank my family for all their support, all the cats I've had and loved, Elliott Smith, DeFonseca for the loan of the slippers, the people of Sevilla (swelling music drowns my speech; Jared Leto comes and escorts me off the stage. No, wait, he hates bloggers! Abort! Abort!)

02 May, 2007 09:50  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

AH what good choices. Well done and congratulations.

02 May, 2007 11:49  
Blogger me said...

can't fault those choices! and voting for the wife? i'd do the same.
i for one thank you for not nominating me, as there is no thinking going on this end!

best of luck, hope you win, and if not, i hope you get an honourable mention!

02 May, 2007 12:32  
Blogger Sheamus the... said...

congrats on the nod...and yes I think you could be right. The flip flops might have been the cause.HA!

02 May, 2007 15:46  
Blogger * (asterisk) said...

Red: And on your blogiversary, too. Awwww.

Pool: Thanks. They're not bad reads, are they?

Cappy: Cheers, buddy, though I don't think there's any grand prize. All we get is these honourable mentions!

Shea: Thanks. Are the flipflops stinky, then?

02 May, 2007 16:38  
Blogger The Anti Crapitalist said...

God. I have to say yours is one I make a point of reading a lot. I think its very difficult to post often and make things intelligent, though provoking and interesting. Anyone who can consistently keep their blogs interesting and fresh deserves an award. I'm just soooo lucky that its easy to resort to bile and vulgarity for cheap kicks!

02 May, 2007 20:18  
Blogger ldbug said...

congratulations on your nomination!

02 May, 2007 20:50  
Blogger FOUR DINNERS said...

Congrats on your nomi n The AC is a spot on choice. Visit him every day in the hope there's some'at there. Eventually there is n it's always worth the wait.

02 May, 2007 23:27  
Blogger Candy Minx said...

Okay, I'm like so embarassed right now. Seriously, last night I kept waking up and feeling like I sucked. Now I see you give me a shout out. This is crazy, so did Wylie!

All right, give me a few hours and I'll post a list of five bloggers who make me think!

sheesh, *, thanks a million!

02 May, 2007 23:37  
Blogger Milla said...

First of all congratulations for your nomination!! You well deserve it and as I said many times before, I am SO GLAD that I found you (and Red) in blogland.

Now, for my own nomination: hold on a minute that I think I'm gonna faint... seriously, I almost fainted here at work :-) Thank you *A! I never even think that people might come to my blog, never mind reading it.
Gawd, I am even embarassed, just like candy minx!

Let me go and do some thinking now.

Thank you again *A!

03 May, 2007 08:53  
Blogger Milla said...

Oh, sorry *A, what does rule 1 mean? Being nominated by you, is that like getting a tag? I really don't know (no rally, I really don't know).

03 May, 2007 13:23  
Blogger Martha Elaine Belden said...

congratulations!!! *blows little kazoo toy*

i totally agree with that description of you and your blog.

04 May, 2007 03:16  

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