Last call ...

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Nominations close at midnight.

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F-word blog award winners!

That would be everybody who participated. I know that doesn't fit the competitive blood-sport of many of these types of awards, but that is what I saw and how I participated. There are no losers.

Now, the ones who acquired a plurality of votes (on a one vote per IP system) are at A Creative Revolution who, with the help of 900 ft Jesus, (if there were others, let me know in comments and I'll fix it up), developed, promoted and administered everything.

We placed first in the category for which we were nominated: Best Support Bro.

I have something to say about that. My fellow nominees share that award. And if the organizers don't mind, I would like to make that point when the badge goes up on the sidebar.

I said "we". Cheryl can take full credit for my awareness of feminist issues. While I have always felt that change was necessary, I was much less aware of the kind of challenges women faced until someone actually pointed them out. I'm guessing she'll have something to add to that.

I thank everyone for your support, not just of me, but of this first-time-out-of-the-chocks awards.

Ya done good. Now hop on over and click on the video, after you read what Heather Mallick had to say.

Well done to all participants, and big WELL DONE to A Creative Revolution for all the hard work. (Even amongst the two-year olds).

Final round. The Canadian F-word Blog Awards

This is it. The final round of voting is today and tomorrow. You get one vote per IP address.

This is a chance to get a look at the best of the best and expand that list of bookmarks. So, head on over and go through the categories. (Right sidebar when you get there). A vote for any blog in any category is support for everyone.

We're nominated in The Support Bro category. I'd sit and point at ourselves and suggest you should vote for us, but I honestly can't do that. Of the three other competitors in our category, I personally would give my support to any one of them without hesitation.

In the other categories, all the blogs are top-notch. For that reason, endorsing any one of them is simply impossible. I did however, promise that I would endorse one blog in one category.

I'll do that, but to understand why is also important.

I'm not sure if Creekside found us or if we found Creekside. However it worked, Alison is a co-blogger here at TGB because she responded to my begging. She's one helluva political blogger. (As are all the others).

She's got a sharp wit. (Mind you, so do all the others).

She's a diligent researcher. (And, so are all the others).

She's passionate about her position on topics political. (Yes, and so are all the others).

She got me to travel 170 km, using nothing but public transportation and the soles of my shoes to a gathering of bloggers: Bloggerpalooza! (No one has ever done that before).

There. That's as far as I'll go with that and ask that you cast a vote for the blog you think is best in each category.

This is also your last opportunity to make a contribution to WISE. Prole explains it all and, by the way, there is one very interesting little prize-draw being offered to donors.

And lastly, because the troops at A Creative Revolution are administering these awards, they took an ethical approach - they disqualified themselves from the start. They deserve an award just for organizing it, getting it out there and then doing the work. Well done!

Now go vote!

F-word finalists!

They're right here.

Yes, we're a finalist. I'll point out that the competition in our category includes people I would vote for in a minute, so you're going to have your work cut out for you.

In fact, all of the finalists are winners in my view, so... no endorsements... yet. I have a favourite in the Best Political Blog category which I will reveal later on.

Voting is on February 22 - 23 and is restricted to one vote per IP address.

A big High Five to the troops at A Creative Revolution for putting this all together.

The F-word awards. First round voting has begun!

And... they're off! The first annual F-word Blog Awards are underway with the first round of voting beginning yesterday. OK... so I'm a day late.

This is a list of exceptional feminist blogs and bloggers. Included are categories in politics, activism, family, culture and humour which are administered exclusively by women.

You get one vote daily, so make it count and enjoy the best of the blogs. I am not going to give you a list of endorsements. Every blog listed is worth your attention and they all have great writing.

I will point out, however, that we are listed in the category The Support Bro. (Yer's truly, actually). My request to readers: Go vote.

Let's make this work and show the troops at A Creative Revolution that their work is well recognized.

Click here to get started. The categories are on the right-hand sidebar.

I'll put up a daily reminder.

This may be your last chance

No, no, not to get laid. That's bound to happen, even for Jonah Goldberg.

You have, (literally), hours left to get your nominations in for the Canadian F-word awards. Today is the final day. After that, it's history and a long wait until next year.

I could sit here and tell you these awards are important because I think so, and it would mean nothing. And believe me, if that was the reason, you'd be dead right.

No, these awards are important because they identify those who are willing to put out there what so many others feel, but are unable to do. That is not to say they wouldn't, but that, in many circumstances, they can't.

The reasons they don't are legion, but if they could, I believe they would.

Feminism is a poorly labelled , "ism". Too many people view it as a "womens'" issue. It isn't and I have been a personal benefactor from the feminist movement. I shouldn't have to explain why, but suffice to say that I would be leading a much more spartan and miserable life if feminists hadn't fought for the right to equal treatment. They, and they alone, exposed how humans were being ill-treated in various walks of life. The demand by feminists to be allowed to pursue any calling pulled the shroud off some of the poorest treatment experienced by men.

That men aren't recognizing that, in droves, is reprehensible.

Perhaps the greatest womens' issue is her right to choose how to deal with her own body in the way she determines is best for her. The FSM knows, that if men at this point in our history were faced with the same thing, there would be blood running in the gutters. If men were told they had to accept, as a condition for having sex, that they would endure 18 to 20 years of unplanned poverty, anguish and heartache, they would not do it. Particularly so, if they had an option not to.

Believe me, if men can get out of something, they will. That's not a knock, but it is reality. Strange then, that men will not provide the same option for women. There seems to be this artificial constant that women are the tools men use to reproduce themselves, despite the will of the other equal contributor to that effort. And then the wholly unequal physical impact assumed by women.

So, those who can speak out, do. And they deserve recognition for having done so. If I could give every one an award, I would. They are unique and unfortunately, under-represented.

I have my favourties because I have had the opportunity, through this particular medium, to get to know them in a minimal but important sense. They stand for something and they don't waver.
When the anti-abortionists parade their pet victim, JJ takes a shot back, unafraid to make clear that she is no victim but somebody who exercised her rights. She could have kept her experience private, and should have been able to, but the fact that she had to do it highlights the point that those rights are still under attack from some of the worst people on earth. Notwithstanding, she has to put up with killer parrots.

Birth Pangs is one of the most unique, interesting and active blogs in their field... anywhere. In the one year history of their existence they have challenged everything that came into their sights, including the activity of an NHL hockey team... and won.

There are others who simply pull out the blade and hack at the bamboo forest, so thick that the end is not in sight. You can find many of them at Bread 'n' Roses. Others prefer to hoe their own row. Impolitical, 900 ft Jesus and Red Jenny and Antonia do it their way and they do it extraordinarily well. And the standard by which I make that judgment is not based on how well they perform against male dominated blogs but simply how well they get their message across. LuLu is indeed irresistible, and she's made it so clear to all of us that she is fully capable of speaking for herself in terms we can all appreciate.

Politics and Poetry is hard-nosed, into the dirt, dig out information. Skdadl at POGGE is like a stone wheel which will not stop spinning. Hope & Onions can eviscerate the powerful with one stroke.

They're all great writers. And they all deserve recognition in these awards. Our own Alison is (with my own bias tossed in) one of the most brilliant commentators on government and corporate malfeasance you will ever read. Cathie has the ability to give you a topic and then show you an angle you couldn't have thought of. Cheryl can find corners that most people would never look in.

They all deserve to be recognized for their work and their dedication to something too many dismiss: Their right to be heard.

I know I have missed many who should have been mentioned here. That makes it up to you. Nominate them. If you read them and believe in what they say, nominate them. Show them that they count to you.

I am going to add two more to that list. Two women who endured death threats and lived in fear because they took a position and a single political entity decided that, because they were women, could not allow them to continue in their work. I will be nominating them under the "international" category.

Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon and Melissa McEwan of Shakesville are two women who deserve to be recognized for the diligence, strength of mind and just plain guts it took to stick with their fight, despite overwhelming odds.

Now get busy. Nominations close tonight.

The F-word Awards. Nominations are now open!

Today is the day! The Canadian F-word Blog Awards are accepting nominations from now until February 8th.

When you get there, look to the right sidebar for the categories. Make sure you read the rules.

I'll be getting in there with some nominations later today.

I have a question from the back of the room. Are we allowed to nominate more than one blog/blogger in the same category? (That would suggest I am horribly torn between two or more exceptionally good blogs in the same category and am looking for a really easy way out.)

Think you're a feminist? Prove it!

Honestly Prole, I look really bad in a red dress, so I'll pass on the apparel requirement.

However, everyone get on over to A Creative Revolution and take in the vibes. And remember that this Friday is your chance to give your favourite feminist blog a kick - up.

Into the light.

And don't think it's just your neighbourhood writer who's eligible. There are categories, because nothing says feminism like diversity.

Maybe, just finally, when the question is asked, "Where are all the women bloggers?", this will answer the question.

Heat up those qwerty keyboards.

The F-word.... awards, that is.

When you hear the word Feminist, does an ugly chill go down your spine?

Yes? You might want to move on then. No sense aggravating your angina.

No? Then this is for you!



This first-ever Canadian F-word Blog Awards is hosted by the good folks at A Creative Revolution.

Nominations are being graciously accepted from January 25th to February 8th. The categories and nomination rules are right, F-word, here.

Go!

Slow death by ARPA

There is some stuff I actually wanted to post about today, but it's going to have to wait. That array of video you see in the picture is occupying most of my time.

By the end of the day my eyes should be square and I will have a radar sweep indicator burned into my mind.

So, once I have this out of the way, I'll do a better job of telling you about the F-Word awards.

ARPA: Automated Radar Plotting Aid