Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

The results are in from the Montana Weblog Awards. Here they are in abbreviated form.

Best Left Leaning Blog: A Chicken Is Not Pillage

Best Right Leaning Blog: MT Politics

Best Independent or Libertarian Blog: Dave Budge

Best Political Blog: Left In The West

Blog That Had The Most Impact on the Elections of 2006: Electric City Weblog

Montana Blog that best represents popular culture: Better Living Through Blogging

Best Montana History Blog: A History of Montana By Kodak

Blog That Best Represents a Montana Lifestyle: Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

Most Creative Montana Blog: Raven's Nest and Watermark (Yes, a tie)

Best Photography: Thoughts From The Middle of Nowhere

Best Written Montana Blog: A Chicken Is Not Pillage

Most Humorous Montana Blog: A Secular Franciscan Life

Best Post: You didn't think I Gave it up, Did you?, Great Falls Firefly

Best Series Of Posts: A History Lesson, Electric City Weblog

First off I would like to thank Wulfgar for doing this. He has taken the work on all himself and he deserves all our thanks for it. The nomination process was very good this year and I feel really brought in the best blogs to be voted upon. Voting was easy and the time frame for voting was great. I toyed with the idea that maybe more categories were needed but then could never decide what categories they should be. Also you then start running in to the problem of too many categories to vote for which then discourages people from voting so I guess Wulfgar has the right of it.

Second, I would like to congratulate all the winners. They might not have been the way I voted but they all deserved it. I follow all the winners, and for that fact all those nominated, on a regular basis with the exception of a couple and I now follow them all them too. This weblog award is really a valuable way to introduce yourself to new blogs you might not know and I hope you use this as a valuable resource to some really good blogs.

Third, I would like to thank all that voted for me whether I won the category or not. Your votes awe me and I don't know how to thank you enough for them. It really means a lot to me that you took the time and energy to send in votes for me. Thanks.

All action results from thought, so it is thoughts that matter. Sai Baba

Wulfgar has taken it on himself to run the Montana Weblog Awards again this year. Right off the bat I wish to praise him for taking on this effort with all the work that's involved with it. Thanks Wulfgar.

Nominations were taken for a week and now the ballot is up. I urge everybody to look the ballot over and vote if you wish. I will quote Wulfgar here.

Again, all votes must be registered as comments to this website, or to the email address wulfgar.pillages@gmail.com. ... 'Nobody gotta register for nuthin', and all votes will remain anonymous at the will of the voter. If you wish to proclaim your voting publicly, you are welcome to do that too. I likely will. You are once again invited and encouraged to vote for yourself, with the proviso that I will not. If you wish to self-promote ... then be my guest. This is, as it was last year, all about the promotion of Montana, and Montana websites.

The voting will remain open until Wednesday, December 27th. The results will be announced before the new year. You do not need to be a blogger to vote. You do not need to be a Montanan to vote. So, just vote.

So, you do not have to be a blogger or a Montanan to vote so there is no reason not to. I also believe that you can vote only in the categories you wish and don't have to vote in all of them if that's what you want. Hell, you can even vote in private or in public the choice is yours, so just email Wulfgar or comment on the appropriate post. What could be easier.

I will point out I was nominated in a number of categories and I wish to thank those that nominated me. I am humbled by your consideration that I deserve an award. My nominations are:

Montana Blog that best represents popular culture: Never thought of myself as being "popular culture" but obviously some people do. Thanks.

Blog That Best Represents a Montana Lifestyle: This one is kind of funny. In my opinion a Montana lifestyle would include hunting and fishing which I am not a fan of. It's not something that interests me. I am a rancher thought which fits in to the popular stereotype of Montana so i guess that explains it. Thanks.

Best Photography: I admit, I'm proud of this one. Last years Montana weblog awards showed me how much people enjoyed my pictures and that pushed me to take and post more pictures. I have enjoyed the creativity it has offered me and am proud of my photos. Thanks.

Best Series of Posts: This one was a true surprise to me. The nomination is for my companion site No Mandatory Animal ID which I used to post exclusively about the NAIS program and my opposition to it, making it a series of posts. I truly believe I had an effect on the national issue since exactly what I have campaigned for, no mandatory animal id, has come to pass. The USDA has made the program voluntary because of the outcry against it. Much Thanks for this nomination, it really makes the effort I made be appreciated.

I am not saying you have to vote for me. Go make your decisions and have fun looking at Montana Blogs. There is a lot out there to enjoy, just like there is a lot in Montana to enjoy. I will post my votes here and on Wulfgar's site, like the rules say, in a few days.

This post will remain sticky until the voting is final on Dec. 27th.

I think it's important to vote. Vivienne Westwood

UPDATE: Here is my ballot that I emailed to Wulfgar.

Best Left Leaning Blog: Left In The West- I've always liked Matt's intellectual honesty and for the most part high road he takes. Now that he's changes his site around to a community site I'm not so sure I like it but this year he still gets my vote.

Best Right Leaning Blog: The Hammond Report- I find this new site of interest and it always appears well written. Being a genuine right winger and living in Missoula has to be a challenge for him so he gets an extra vote in my mind for that.

Best Independent or Libertarian Blog: Dave Budge- Of those that are listed the only way to go is Dave. He doesn't do much political blogging anymore so I don't know if he would get my nod in another year but for now he gets it.

Best Political Blog: None- There is more to life than politics so I won't look for the "Best Political Blog."

Blog That Had The Most Impact on the Elections of 2006: Electric City Weblog- In a way I almost didn't vote in this category either since I don't feel blogs have that big of impact on elections but his reporting caused a Judge to resign who was up for election. Quite an effect.

Montana Blog that best represents popular culture: Better Living Through Blogging- I can't in good conscience vote for myself so BLTB gets my nod. Better candidate than me for popular culture any way. Hell, they are all better at popular culture than me.

Best Montana History Blog: A History of Montana By Kodak- I might have a lot of issues with Courtney but this site has a lot of potential and I hope to see more progress on it. OOps, wrong Courtney. I humbly apalogize to Courtney for my mistake. Good blog with a lot of potential. Keep up the good work Courtney.

Blog That Best Represents a Montana Lifestyle: Karbon Kounty Moos- Again, in good conscience I can't vote for myself so my nod goes to Karen. Hell, what more represents a Montana lifestyle than a New York girl that now runs her own ranch.

Most Creative Montana Blog: Watermark- No contest here. I've always enjoyed the creativity I see on this site so this was easy.

Best Photography: Karbon Kounty Moos- Again, in good conscience I can't vote for myself so my nod goes to Karen. She takes really nice photos that I can really relate to.

Best Written Montana Blog: City Lights- Hell, as a professional journalist I would Ed to be well written and it definitely is.

Most Humorous Montana Blog: A Secular Franciscan Life- Randy has a very nice sense of humor that I enjoy. Just wish he would post a little more often.

Best Post: In My Kitchen, Great Falls Firefly- Tough choice here. After looking all the posts over Firefly gets the nod though.

Best Series of Posts: None. I can't in good conscience vote for my own site so I will vote for none. Can't let the competition get any extra votes.

These are by no means an endorsement. Just an open admission of how I voted.

UPDATE: 12/27/2006 Today is the last day to vote. If you wish to vote, hurry over to Wulfgar's palce and submit your vote for it to count.