I, King Maker

Now coming to big one - the Indiblog of the Year. Admittedly, Vantage Point has its loyal followers, and I would have expressed modest surprise at the nomination had I not been so conceited. Now, I might be conceited, but I am also pragmatic. And I can smell a money-making opportunity. If there's one thing parliamentary democracy has taught us, it is that people with single-digit-percentage votebanks can make the much bigger leaders grovel, and can also make some money in the process.

So taking inspiration from the BSP, DMK, RJD, NCP, TDP and Joe Leiberman, I declare myself King-Maker. The race for the top spot is very hot. Amit Varma wants to defend his crown. Greatbong and yourfani (where i goes from 0 to infinity) would like RTDM to take the top spot. Falstaff would want to add one more footnote to his cap. Nilu would like to make sure that even the most emaciated orphans in Switzerland know that Recursive Hypocrisy is a cool name for a blog. Nilu would also like to convince all the potassium makers in Kazhakstan that he wants Krish to win. Krish himself, will not consider the honour that important since bookies have tipped him this year to be the first man ever to bag the Nobel Prizes for Physics, Economics and Peace in the same year and for the same work.

All of these contenders are invited to participate in an auction for the Sabnisian endorsement. Bidding starts at Rs. 125 crore. The bids can be sent to me by email and the bidders are requested to read the following instructions beforehand -

Amit Varma - I WILL NOT accept payment in cows. Paintings, I would not mind.
Greatbong - In addition to the money, I would also like my picture in your banner montage.
Falstaff - I WILL accept payment in Philly Cheesesteaks!
Nilu - Make sure theothernilu does not send me a separate mail on the same topic, or else your mail will seem too moronic to finish reading.
Krish - I also need a notarized promise that you WON'T thank me during your Nobel acceptance speech.

Readers, let the voting begin. Contenders, let the bidding begin. The extra votes you get over the next 2 days thanks to me could be the decisive factor.

Indibloggies '06

Rather late in the day to make a post about the Indibloggies for which voting has been on for the last few days. The polls close on the 20th, so it's not too late. You can go forth and vote at this link, but before that note this important message from the organisers - If you don’t get an email after registration or after completing the survey, please check your spam folder, many Gmail users have reported this. I am not sure why this happens coz the mails are being sent from indibloggies mail ID only.

The norm is to make some recommendations to your readers about the voting. So all those of you who worship the snow-turned-into slush that I tread on these days, here are my recommendations about some categories that I feel strongly about -

Best IndiBlog directory/service/clique/network - Desipundit. This is a redundant recommendation really. DP are the obvious favourites here, and it is very creditable that despite their being essentially a blog-filter which anyone else can set up, they are miles ahead of the competition.

Best Entertainment Indiblog - My plug here goes to Beware of the Blog by George Thomas without any equivocation. There would have been heaps of equivocation had my other favourite entertainment blog - Angst In My Pangst been nominated as well. But it hasn't. So in George we trust.

Best Group/Community IndiBlog - The Indian Economy Blog hits the nail on the head in all matters economic. In my mind, there really is no competition. And I'm not just saying that because I cross-post on it once in a blue moon. But in case you aren't sure, then check out the blog for yourself.

Best Humanities Indiblog - The Middle Stage by Chandrahas. In terms of pure writing skills, in my humble opinion, it is the best Indian blog. The content kicks ass too.

Most Humorous IndiBlog - Greatbong. Naam hi kaafi hai.

Best New IndiBlog - Shruti's Kalchakra has been like a whiff of fresh air. She deserves this award uncontested.

So those are the categories I feel strongly about. What about the big one? The Indiblog of the Year? Check out the next post for that.

Indibloggies Are Back

Go, go, nominate. I'm not saying nominate this blog, but I'm not asking you not to nominate it either.