It’s time for a tradition started by Jon Swift/Al Weisel, the “Best Posts of the Year, Chosen by the Bloggers Themselves.” Jon/Al left behind some wonderful satire, but was also a nice guy and a strong supporter of small blogs. (Here’s Jon/Al’s 2007 and 2008 editions and the revivals from 2010,2011, 2012 and 2013.)
In the comments, please give your choice for best post of the year for your own blog and/or give your choice for the best post of the year on Balloon Juice.
Hillary Rettig
This one was retweeted by Steven Pinker, which I considered an honor:
Why Tough-Guy Metaphors About Creativity Don’t Work
http://www.hillaryrettig.com/2014/04/03/tough-guy-metaphors-creativity-work/
Mustang Bobby
I submitted Give Us A Reason from July 24, 2014.
It takes more than a little gall for Marco Rubio to shed crocodile tears over discrimination against gays and lesbians and then turn around and explain in detail why he does it.
PaulW
I already submitted via Vagabond Scholar… except I forgot what it was I submitted. Something to do about penguins? No, wait, CAKE.
Shakezula
I can’t submit an entire blog? Then this, from The Bobblespeak Translations.
I think this was one of the first I read, but it is hard to tell because they all make me laugh like I’m stupid.
srv
I demand DougJ answer the accusations that he’s a Digital Dexter and has used this forum to hunt down and kill commenters and then replace them online.
sharl
Jeez, I really miss having the time to peruse the small blogs, and I need to get on the road soon to return to the realm of my Heartland yoot, so cannot do the fun research for this now.
The civil/asset forfeiture horror stories come to mind, which I’m sure a number of small blogs and tumblr’s addressed before Radley Balko (WaPo) and John Oliver (Comedy Central) got to them. Something for me to think about on the drive west…
Someone on twitter brought up AIRWOLF a couple days ago, which got me all nostalgic for The Poor Man. That’s a very old post, so it doesn’t count, but it’s AIRWOLF, for Pete’s sake – NEVER FORGET!!1!
Elizabelle
From Doug Muder’s “The Weekly Sift.” Linked here a few times, and it’s excellent.
Not a Tea Party, a Confederate Party
Doug is a retired mathematician; lives in Nashua, NH. Asks some good questions about American history, then sets out to answer them. The answers are not always what he expects.
Tommy
I got nothing. I found this place. Let my personal blog go a year or two ago. One I’d had since 1995. Yes 1995. I wondered how the Internet worked and put up a site with “Idle Musings” (that was the title). Long before anybody called something a blog. In hindsight I should have made millions by promoting this concept. Alas I didn’t. But I still have all the content. I wrote and a few things I am proud of.
Looking for my post about the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Can’t find it. I think I said something like this:
srv
@Elizabelle: Dengre been there, done that:
https://balloon-juice.com/2010/09/27/gimmie-that-old-time-tactic/
Had a whole series, but he doesn’t do categories so you have to search.
sharl
Actually, here is a post by an IT security guy that was put up just last week, in response to the Sony hack. I wouldn’t call it a gripping or highly memorable post, but as a non-hacker, non infosec guy I found it educational.
Sony hack was the work of SPECTRE, by Robert Graham (on twitter, @ErrataRob). First two paragraphs:
Being rather politically conservative, Mr. Graham ain’t in the DPRK fan club. And while I know little about the world of hackers, others who do – and who do not share his politics – will occasionally link to him on IT security matters. I’ll take that as a collective vote for his technical competence.
Elizabelle
@srv:
Great find. Dengre for the win. Although this was from, er, 2010.
Also see that contenders had to be own blog or a BJ post. Which leaves Mr. Muder’s fine post out. But worth a read anyway.
Roger Moore
Axial tilt is the reason for the season.
Karen in GA
Does it have to be political? I kind of like Iggy’s stay at the vet for his heartworm treatment.
I tried to find one Balloon Juice post I like best, and I can’t do it. I’d be in moderation for the rest of my life with all the links I’d be posting.
SatanicPanic
You should give us some advance notice so we have time to think about it. BJ had some good ones
sharl
Recent posts from Black Agenda Report:
Why I Don’t Do Kwaanza (12/17)
Getting Rid of Al Sharpton and the Misleadership Class (also 12/17)
BAR is a place run by very left-wing African-American intellectuals. I’ve seen no evidence that their views are very popular even within the AA community – they’ve always been quite hostile to Obama, due to economic policy differences (in 2008 they kinda liked Kucinich but didn’t endorse him) – but they are really good at presenting history that no mainstream media will ever address. Much of that history they lived themselves, all of which makes them worth an occasional look-see, IMO (I don’t get over there enough myself).
There’s a guy on twitter – a very contrarian guy who self-describes as an African-American (he probably is, though I remain a bit skeptical) – who could be a regular writer at National Review, given his wingnuttish, crotchety views. He shares a last name with the subject of this May 2014 BAR post, so I’ll have to ask some day if they’re related. I foresee a twitter block in my future…
ETA: Oops, I see a broke the rules of the game with this and the previous one too (though unintentionally/ignorantly these last two times). Eh, I’m done now anyway.
Villago Delenda Est
@srv: I am DougJ!
srv
@Elizabelle: You can still suggest on his blog. I simply think POTY should not be derivative.
@John: This generation of commenters don’t know the intertube traditions. Back in my day, we would add POTD, POTW in the comments to aid in searching.
You just haven’t been angry enough this year except for that one time. Someone find one of his rants on trying to get into rehab.
I for one would like to nominate the Richard Mayhew series. Make it a category thing.
@Villago Delenda Est: What season were you killed in?
@sharl: And here I was thinking I’d gotten over the hole in my heart for the Poorman.
Villago Delenda Est
@Roger Moore: Yes.
And the Johnny-come-lately minions of the Roman Patrician Church and its successor/offshoot incarnations need to be reminded of it, constantly.
Batocchio
Thanks very much for posting this thread, Doug! I’ll be checking it later on for “best own post” submissions by BJ readers and “best Balloon Juice post” nominations.
(As for good posts on other blogs, if folks can get the authors to submit them here or via e-mail, great! It just needs to be voluntary.)
raven
My garden picture posts!
MomSense
If anyone deserves an award it is our very own Richard Mayhew for–pick a post, any post. I really think he is doing the most informative writing on the PPACA–anywhere.
Villago Delenda Est
Best post of the year?
This one. RIght here.
For no other reason that I was asked to submit one.
raven
@MomSense: True dat.
sharl
@MomSense:
+1
NeutronFlux
Just for raw emotion and telling the hard truths of warfare, I nominate: Soonergrunt
https://balloon-juice.com/2014/11/26/on-darren-wilson/
Villago Delenda Est
@MomSense: Absolutely agreed. Richard Mayhew is a treasure…not only for his PPACA posts, but his thoughtful soccer reffing posts as well.
Splendid, clear writer. Huzzahs and hosannas to him.
The Ancient Randonneur
@MomSense:
Thumbs up
YellowJournalism
@NeutronFlux: Link isn’t working but if it’s the one where Sooner discusses remorse and the Mike Brown killing, I strongly agree.
Elizabelle
Ninth(??) seconding Richard Mayhew.
A treasure. And it’s probably good he’s not in “mainstream journalism” cuz then he’d have to tone it down not to upset advertisers and the rest of the paid staff. Who are careerists.
But he is a truthteller and gifted analyst.
NeutronFlux
@YellowJournalism: I added the link after I saw that my first attempt did not work. Yes, you are correct, that is the one.
Dallas Taylor
Wrote this at the height of the #notallmen silliness. It got more hits than anything else I’ve ever written.
http://dallas-taylor.com/2014/05/26/a-suggestion-for-heterosexual-men/
? Martin
@sharl: That’s a good piece and I suspect is not far from the truth. The beauty of acts like hacking is that they are easily outsourced. You don’t need national/geographic loyalties – it can be done from anywhere in any language for any reason.
And what NK wants to do here (shut down evil corporation A) is little different than what they did last year (shut down evil corporation B) etc. We’re not talking about blowing up schools, were talking about pwning a large visible corporation for lulz and a paycheck. That’s easy enough to find that NK should have no problem finding groups willing to do it out of China, Russia, even the US and SK. That doesn’t mean that NK isn’t behind it, but it also means they don’t need to build the expertise to do it, and because it’s likely pretty cheap to do the marginal cost of butthurt goes down. They don’t need to be highly offended if they can act at a low enough cost – they can take you out for only being moderately offended. With a good enough rootkit and a sufficiently inept IT infrastructure, they can probably drive that cost down to go after people for even the slightest offense.
satby
@YellowJournalism: Hard to choose between Richard and Sooner, but I have to go with Sooner’s post too!
https://balloon-juice.com/2014/11/26/on-darren-wilson/
? Martin
We’ve got a lot – and Sooner certainly deserves to be on that list, but Mayhew stands above for consistently delivering the education. It’s a tremendous and too-rare service.
raven
Joe Cocker RIP.
raven
Many Rivers to Cross, Cocker.
Karen in GA
@raven: Well, that sucks.
(And I millionth the Mayhew sentiment.)
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@raven: RIP indeed.
Iden Hill
Are the checks in the mail, yet?
MomSense
@? Martin:
I completely agree that Sooner deserves to be on the list but Mayhew has a body of work that is just not provided anywhere else. It’s such an important topic in terms of significance, complexity, etc. I just think Mayhew has to be at the top of the list.
Villago Delenda Est
@YellowJournalism: And it’s an excellent post.
The old sarge speaks truth.
raven
Delta Lady
MomSense
@raven:
Damn.
Ruckus
@NeutronFlux:
I’d actually vote for that one to go in the All Time Hall of Fame.
GregB
@raven:
Was introduced to Joe Cocker in the ’70’s by first seeing a John Belushi impersonation on SNL.
RIP.
CONGRATULATIONS!
@MomSense: Seconded. You can tell when a pro who knows the business he’s in inside and out is at work. Best guy on the blog right now by a mile.
Bobby Thomson
@Villago Delenda Est: I’m DougJ and so’s my wife!
raven
@GregB: I was lucky enough to see all of his band except him when the Mad Dogs (Shelter People) toured with Leon after Joe went on his own. Claudia Lennear and Kathy McDonald were incredible! Here they are doing “Honky Tonk Women”
NeutronFlux
@Ruckus: Me too.
Ruckus
Richard does deserve hardy accolades for his clear, concise and informative posts, as an entire body of work.
Sooner deserves post of the year for his. Chilling, poignant, raw, devastatingly open. There are probably many other descriptive words that would apply but those come right to mind.
NeutronFlux
@Villago Delenda Est: Not everyone can hear his truth. They just don’t know.
C.V. Danes
From my own blog this year:
To shoot a boy and Why I’m still here
From the superstitious naked ape: A christian nation
And just about anything by Jim Wright
GregB
@raven:
Nice.
LAC
@satby: I am joining the chorus on the Sooner/ Mayhew high-fives. I enjoy reading their posts. But I am going to put a plug in for Elon’s postings and team blackness as well.
Suzanne
@MomSense: SERIOUSLY. I have learned so much from Richard Mayhew this year. Invaluable.
Tommy
So totally off topic. I am a fan of boy choirs. This happens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IH8A86FLs0
If that is not awesome I don’t know what the word means.
Ruckus
@LAC:
As I hinted at we need an annual awards deal with more than just one top honor spot.
Body of work, Richard and Elon for sure
Post of the year, Sooner, in my mind no question at all.
Comment of the year, and there are probably a number of possibles.
I’m choosing from BJ alone but there are many others out there that are probably deserving. I’d limit them to those that don’t make a living at it, like Mr. C. Pearce would be out of the running, even though he deserves notice for sure.
Paul in KY
@Shakezula: That is pretty damn funny!
Paul in KY
@raven: His music will live on through his daughter, Lorde…
raven
@Paul in KY: Um, say what?
haha
“If Joe Cocker and Elaine from Seinfeld Had a Daughter, She Would Be Lorde’
schrodinger's cat
I have two posts from my own blog.
A take down David Brooks and his half baked but scholarly sounding ideas on the economy
Time to move on, time to get going
A comic strip about the conservative love for Putin
And I will Always Love You
Hawes
Non political but:
http://zombieland-nowbrainfree.blogspot.com/2014/01/too-hard.html
raven
@Paul in KY: Did you see Puddles the Pity Party’s cover of Royals when I posted it?
japa21
@Ruckus: I was definitely in agreement with all those backing Richard’s posts. Then I went back and read Sonnergrunt’s, which I had for some reason missed at the time.
I agree with you:
Mayhew for “series” and Soonergrunt for “Stand alone post”.
Callisto
Delurking to put in my 2 cents – Best post(s) of the year was the short story version of Cole’s car-getting adventure a few months back. Can’t find it right now.
Mandalay
@MomSense:
You beat me to it. He is head and shoulders above everyone on the ACA.
It wasn’t a category offered in the OP, but he gets my vote for blogger of the year for 2014. BJ is lucky to have him.
chopper
@sharl:
+another
SatanicPanic
@NeutronFlux: that was a great one
Tommy
I got this client, Cuban American. We talk a lot about Cuba. I am not sure things are so bleak in Cuba. I heard this story the other day about a women coming here to the US. For her first hours here she drank from the toilet. Took the toilet paper because she was confused somebody would leave paper with flowers on it. I have no clue this is true, I think it is not, but my gosh. Has to be true someplace in this world.
Jacel
The Soonergrunt post cited earlier is an excellent nomination.
I also think Richard Mayhew deserves recognition. I’ve scanned back a few months and this one stands out as causing me to feel I understood something important about how the improvements in ACA worked from the insurance companies’ point of view. Gnarly nuanced subject matter, made clear at just enough length to get the job of informing done.
https://balloon-juice.com/2014/09/15/risk-adjustment-and-the-red-queen-race/
I haven’t found an earlier focused post I think is out there where Richard nailed down the “stop the stupid” principle of health care improvement. That post, if it exists, would be another good nomination. But Richard returned to that point recently.
https://balloon-juice.com/2014/12/19/stopping-the-stupid/
Paul in KY
@raven: She sorta makes the same mannerisms. Sorry to hear about Mr. Cocker’s death.
Keith G
@raven: The summer of 1971. We (as always) had a cabin at a fishing resort in the U.P. There was a ramshackle “club house” which had a ping pong table and a record player. The only LP that was every played (Who brought an LP to a fishing camp?) was Mad Dogs & Englishmen.
My introduction to Joe Cocker.
Comrade Dread
I think this was my favorite post that I wrote this year on my blog.
I realize I’m rather new to this game, but since I slid away from fundamentalism, I’ve been going back and re-examining some of the stories I was taught growing up and I’ve been finding that if they really are read as the ‘literal word of God’ then God is rather monstrous.
Tommy
@Keith G: I had a good friend of mine. Parents had a place in Ocean City/Rehoboth Beach. Went there often. Joe was often on repeat. But CD and not LP :). Oh and if crabs have any chance for me getting into heaven I am going to hell. We ate a ton of crabs.
Keith G
@Tommy: Luckily, I never came in contact with whatever crabs were native to the Upper Peninsula.
Richard Mayhew
@Jacel: https://balloon-juice.com/2014/12/03/not-being-stupid-is-smart/ this one?
And thank you to everyone for the amazingly kind words — writing here has kept me from breaking at least two or three televisions
yopd1
Not that I’ve been here a lot this year; but, here’s mine. I didn’t say a lot, except in the title. Parkinson’s since 2006, Brain Surgery & Stroke 8/13, Heart Attack 2/14, Triathlete Yesterday
Steeplejack (tablet)
@Hillary Rettig:
If I order your e-book from your Web site, what format is it—Kindle only or something that can be read on Nooks and other devices?
Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)
From my blog: a look at flaming jackass (and now, sadly, Senator-elect) Tillishttp://myreadyroom.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/whatchu-talking-bout-tillis/.
Will submit one from BJ a little later, much to choose from.
Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)
@Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant): Dammit WordPress http://myreadyroom.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/whatchu-talking-bout-tillis/
Steeplejack
@srv:
Most, if not all, of Dengre’s posts from “Confederate History Month” are collected here.
Mike E
@Tommy: Our Nutcracker finally employed a boys choir, after years of substituting a synthesizer for their traditional part in the suite, thank gawd. Makes the whole thing 10x better.
lamh36
I’m horrible at best of list…I can’t wait to see what others post
Jacel
@Richard Mayhew: Yes, that’s the post I was trying to remember. I hope you keep returning to that theme as examples come up over time.
Ruckus
@yopd1:
One of the great things I liked about owning a triathlon/bike shop was the stories like yours. An athletic event that people with less than perfect lives can participate in. I had a 70+ yr old customer who said he couldn’t do longer than a sprint as his knees were bone on bone but he had a room full of trophies because many times he was the only one in his age group. This seemed to be a pretty high point of his life.
Anyway, congrats on just competing and finishing.
Paul in KY
@raven: I have now, Raven. He does a pretty good job with the song.