Duffbert's Random Musings

1 - Agreed. I'm more of an optimist and I don't get the negative attitude.
Awards and lists have seem to have this effect on people.
Now tell me, how did Eddie Van Halen rank 70th on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Greatest Guitarists? { Link }
There's injustice and then there's complete 'Huh?".
I've taken lists and awards with a grain of salt ever since 1976 when the Starland Vocal Band beat out Boston for best new artist. 'Skyrockets In Flight' vs. 'More Than a Feeling' (and the rest of that album)? Boston's first album is still selling copies and is featured in Guitar Hero. It's criminal.

2 - You could have used my name in your "Edit" Tom.

3 - @2: I gave you the choice to "out" yourself. :)

4 - I'm cynical and bitter. What more can I say ;o)

5 - @Duffbert,
If anyone reads your blog or has met you, they know your an honest person with a good attitude. Your comments are real and legitimate.
In my company, they do a nice job with awards. They have a thank-you card program, special acheivement and now I see an IT specific award announced yesterday. The cynics will grype when some people win and they don't. I'm just glad the company makes the effort because I've worked in places where there were no awards.
As I grow older, life tries to make me more synical. It can beat you down. A good resolution is to be as positive as possible for the new year.

6 - I'll preface this by saying that I think every person on the finalist list deserves an award.

Personally, I didn't find it surprising that there's 2.5 IBMers on the list. (Blatnick's only 1/2 an IBMer so far.... he didn't even start that job until, what, October?) However, I did find it surprising that 3 of the 7 were speakers at The View conferences.

Not that it makes any difference. If it were in my power, I'd just give awards to every blogger on who's site I've ever posted a comment! Ed's right that the real value of this process is to raise awareness across blogs about other great contributors to the community. Frankly, we just don't cross-link enough!

By the way, voting processes are inevitably going to lead to results that SOMEONE will complain about. It turns out that this is a logical necessity: { Link }

7 - @6: "3 of the 7"... Given that everyone on the list blogs, speaks at conferences, and is generally an ASW <tongue-in-cheek there>, it doesn't surprise me that nominated bloggers also speak at conferences (View, Advisor, ILUG, Lotusphere, etc). If the list were "View Only" speakers, maybe... But the speakers are pretty "promiscuous" when it comes to conferences.

And if we want to talk about conspiracies... How come there are no non-English blogs on there? If I were MaryBeth or Jess, I'd be pi$$ed that there were no women on the list. I'm sure *that* was on the minds of the voters and selectors.

How far do we want to take this?

8 - LOL. Like I said Tom, I don't think it's important. And yeah, I noticed the all-English bent. Didn't occur to me about the all-male bent.

I'll reiterate... it's literally a logical impossibility to select a single "winner" via a voting process that doesn't have SOME sort of problem. All those finalists deserve the award in one form or another.

9 - And what about TALL bloggers? Ed? Alan? Bill? I want full disclosure on the average height of these bloggers, because I sense some institutional shortcomings.

10 - and I'm sure "naked capitalists" aren't fully represented either, Ben... :)

11 - Yes, I am offended at the term ASW (Attention Seeking Whore). I hereby think it should ALSO be referred as an ASMW (Attention Seeking ManWhore), or ASG (Attention Seeking Gigolo).

12 - Duly noted, dear co-editor and writer... :)

13 - @Jess,
Thanks for the definition of ASW. I Googled and did Wikipedia and couldn't get the definition. You learn so much here. Who said blogging is a waste of time.
@Ben,
A lot of bloggers are short. The odds were against you. Must be that Napoleon complex again. They come a downloading when they need they're Lotusphere schedule, don't they. (or Rich Text help)