While I'll miss Suzie Q, I have finally gotten a new machine, one that I'm already falling in love with. Regular posting resumes today. Thanks to everyone who picked up the slack last week.
My poor Powerbook, the one I've dragged all over the planet for almost 5 years, has died. Posting will be light from me until I can find something to replace her.
(It has indeed been overrun with spammers and the like. I just haven't had the time to do much about it. I really would like it to become a useful resource for everyone, but that is just impossible in its current state. Is there any interest in a coordinated effort to clean it up and make it a useful tool for 2008? What should we do? - promoted by phillip anderson)
It may come to surprise some TAP readers but we have our own wiki or basically our own related encyclopedia.
If you notice in the top right of any page here on TAP you can see a little graphic that reads ' TAPopedia' if you were to click this image (or the text link I made) it would send you to the home-page of the site... but the site has become overwhelmed with spammers and has been overloaded with tons of advertising links.
I can't seem to locate any information about the site, who admins it or other information.
Phil Anderson is presently traveling, due back Sunday, so expect light posting from him.
In short, the other FPers own this joint for the next few days. Post away, and please use this as an open thread. What's going on in your neck of the woods?
You may notice a new box over on the right. It's called quick hits and it functions much like MyDD's "Breaking Blue". It's a space for you to drop a quick link and some brief commentary about something you think we should know about. Run across something interesting that you don't have time to do a proper diary about? Drop it to Quick Hits.
Not everyone can post to it, but many of you can. I skimmed through our registered users and promoted a number folks so that they can post there. If you click on quick hits and you see "add quick hit", you are one of the chosen. Those who find that they are able to post to Quick Hits will also find that they have the option of posting their diaries to the front page directly. They have the power to promote diaries as well. Use these Jedi powers wisely...
I think we have a pretty good base of people to start with as regards quick hits, but if you feel you should be able to post there as well and I overlooked you, let me know why and I'll probably promote you as well.
I've long considered Rochester Turning to be one of the best blogs in the state. When people outside of New York ask me about New York blogs they should read (and they ask this often, mind you) I always mention RT.
That's why I was flabbergasted when I read yesterday at the Albany Times Union's blog, Capitol Confidential, that they had never heard of RT.
Those blogs just keep coming. Maybe its Trooper/Spitzergate or 08 but the blogosphere is hosting more and more political sites, it seems each day.
Here are two new ones that I was previously unaware of until some helpful readers e-mailed me.
...
On the left is the Rochester-based Rochesterturning blog where blogger Jvriper criticizes Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno’s fundraising tactics, noting that the Senator has collected $25,000 in interest alone since January, according to the July filing.
(Also note that the folks at Cap Con didn't even provide a link.)
That the writers of what is likely the most widely read political site in New York were completely unaware of one the state's best written and most effective blogs is completely astounding. It's even worse when you consider that RT front pager Jrviper is making the rest of the statewide media look silly by completely owning them on a potentially significant story. This is citizen journalism at its finest and it should shame those in the media who have so far been completely unaware of such a great site and the great work that they do.
Jrviper is smacking the hell out of this story. He's doing the media's job because they apparently won't. They should start paying attention because this story ain't no joke. Here's a taste:
As a defense to our previous post on Joe Bruno’s apparently illegal corporate campaign contributions, an unnamed republican staffer made the following claim:
In fact I recognized at least one company listed where I know that the donation was returned because they hit their limit.
Unfortunately for the unnamed staffer, this claim compelled RT to rebut his claims and to further examine Bruno’s campaign finance records. As you will see, it appears this returned contribution may be much more than a simple mistake.
A few weeks ago, a reader emailed me to tell me that our site was listed by Blognet News as the second most influential site in New York behind Capitol Confidential. That's cool, I guess. Then the next week we weren't in their top 20 at all. This week we are number three.
Blognet News won't reveal what criteria they use to determine what sites they deem "influential", so it's hard to make much sense of the whole thing. But, check out their 19th "most influential" blog in New York, East Village GOP. (Do they meet in a closet?)
East Village GOP has had exactly one post this year (really) and that post was about Brittney Spears' shaved head.
I guess what I am trying to say is that while I guess it's cool that this site appears high on a list of "most influential" blogs in New York, that list would appear to be complete and utter rubbish.
(Bumped. Thanks to those of you have written and to those of you who haven't...please do! I'll be sending out an email to everyone soon. - promoted by phillip anderson)
Seriously. Are you blogging progressive politics in New York? I know many of you, but there are plenty of you I don't know. If you are indeed blogging progressive politics in the Empire State, drop me some mail, even if we've exchanged email before.
The first is that the good folks at BlogPac are moving forward with the formation of the 50 State Blog Network. This has been long overdue and the time is certainly ripe for networking all the new state level sites. We talk all the time about building a progressive infrastructure. Well, this what that looks like.
The second announcement is that BlogPac today announced grants for a dozen state level sites to pay for their server/hosting fees. The grants are modest ($180 bucks) but the money isn't what is significant to me. The very fact that an organization like BlogPac exists and is willing to put their money where their mouths are and support the emerging state blog movement is.
I am beyond happy to announce that TAP has been chosen to receive one of these grants. We're in pretty amazing company, too.
BlogPac has made some big announcements recently. This past weekend, we brought on Mike Stark as our new director of activism. Last week, Lane Hudson was the recipient of our first Citizen's Hero award, and quite a few more of those are to come. Over the past three weeks, we have told you that BlogPac is working on a project to bring community blogging to every state in the country (see here, here and here). Specifically, one of the things that meant was paying for the website hosting costs of 50 local, community blogs, which would help alleviate the burden on some of most our essential, local, progressive activists. Today, I am happy to announce that you have put together the resources to make it happen, and we can announce the first group of bloggers who about to receive your support:
That is a pretty impressive list of some of the best local blogs in the country. They all are a vital part of the emerging progressive media landscape, and help to build local activist scenes. Thanks to you, all of them will now find it a little easier to keep operating in the future.
It is truly humbling to be included with such company. I mean, this little endeavor of ours is barely two months old, after all. I want to thank all the folks at BlogPac for thinking of us and I also wish to thank everyone here in this amazing community that is coalescing here at TAP. We've got something truly special happening here and this grant is a recognition of everyone's efforts.
It seems everyone is doing this today. I guess we'll join in the fun as well and talk about other people's blogs.
Last night I met Josh at the dKos meetup here in NYC. Josh publishes Joshing Politics. JP is smart, well written and definitely worth adding to your list of daily reads.
Also new to the list is Nassau GOP Watch, a much needed site about, well, the GOP in Nassau County.
For coverage of the biggest freakin' a**hole in NY politics, one can't beat Peter King Watch. For coverage of the runner up in the NY a**hole sweepstakes, check out NY-13.
It seems that every day, I find more reasons to love onNYTurf.
Last, but certainly not least, we shall no longer be leaving behind Simply Left Behind, a great site we should have added long ago.
Are we missing anyone? Is there a site we have overlooked?
Enough of this "reform" nonsense. It's time to turn our attentions to stuff that really matters.
FOOTBALL, baby.
The Jets and the Giants both play wildcard games this afternoon. The Jets travel to Foxboro to take on the Patriots while the Giants are in Philly to face the Eagles.
They are both underdogs, IMHO, but, hey, it's the playoffs. Stranger things have happened.
It's time for a little housekeeping here at TAP. Here are few things you need to know:
Spotlight: You may have noticed the blue "Spotlight" link at the end of every post. "What the heck is that?", you ask. Well, Spotlight is a really great tool that we are now using. Spotlight allows readers to "spotlight" a worthy post to members of the media. It lets you share newsworthy posts through a huge database of media contacts. When you click the link, it will take you to the Spotlight Project site where you will find a form that allows you to send that post to media contacts that you select from the list. You can send the link to up to 10 folks at a time. The database is pretty nimble and there are a number of ways to find exactly the folks you want to send it to. You will have to enter a personal message as to thy you are sending it, but it is very easy to use and it's a potentially very powerful tool for driving the media narrative about the issues we are concerned with.
Now, what Spotlight isn't. It's not a toy. It's a tool and judicious use will make it more effective. Overuse will make it less so. Me referring to Joe Bruno as "kind of a dick" isn't particularly newsworthy. Pontificator writing about the odd adoption of the senate rules just might be. Think before you link.
Also, please be respectful when writing your (mandatory) personal message. Reporters and editors are people too. Being an ass only alienates them and that doesn't help anyone or anything. Be factual and polite. It will make the tool that much more effective that way.
Really cool Book Club update and request for blogroll submissions on the flip...
So, we're a week old today and, man, what a week it has been! I thought it might be interesting and perhaps fun to take a look back at the past 7 days as well as take a snapshot of where we are as of today.
Monday: We go live and spend most of the day tracking down bugs.
Tuesday: We get our first big link...from the New York Times' blog, Empire Zone. Not bad for day two, eh?
Thursday: The Politicker links to us and refers to us as a site "whose muckraking energy is directed at decoding the way certain appropriations are obtained by members".
Then Capitol Confidential cites the Politicker and links to us and, specifically, to the work of our very own wycats, rockstar extraordinaire. This was day four.
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