The FireCritic-the blog site with the “unadulterated” view of the fire service is hosting a Blog Contest for 2009. You can view it here: http://firecritic.com/2010/01/contest-netcast-and-best-of-2009/.
I am not participating in the contest. For one thing, it is NOT a best blog of 2009. It is either a best blogger or best blog site for 2009. No matter; he also sells T-shirts, though I prefer Black Helmet apparel. In fact; I got a sweet long underwear Tee and a ballcap with the BH logo just before Christmas. Too cool.
Why am I not participating?
Because I don’t write for a grade.
I write for you; my faithful readers who every now and then lets me know that I have touched a chord in them with something that I wrote.
Well; that’s not entirely true.
I also write because it helps me to process some very thought-provoking, nasty, bad stuff sometimes and it helps to “talk out loud”, so to speak.
I also have many goofy moments when I find something humorous and write about it. Funny thing is…by the time I finish writing about it, it doesn’t seem as funny. I’ll have to work on picking better subjects!
So, it is rather uncomfortable for me when someone thanks ME for something that I wrote and they read. It is I who should be thanking YOU for taking the time to read some of my “stuff”. I know there are times when 20 minutes in the can isn’t enough time, so I have been trying to compress my thoughts. But please know that I truly appreciate it when you let me know in some way that what I wrote touched you in some way.
No; I will not participate in a gratuitous contest if we aren’t going to categorize them (Best Supporting Socks, etc.) and review an entire year’s body of work in selecting the best blog/blogger/blog site/whatever-in-the-hell it is that they are contesting.
Now; here is where you-the readers come in. I have listed most of my works for year 2009. You won’t have to go back and search. I would like you to tell me what you thought was the best one and WHY? Yes; that means you would have to comment, but here’s the hook. I will select the best reply and that reply could win a hard-to-find Firefighter Monopoly game. Already have one? Hey; they make great gifts.
I have always considered myself a blogger for FireFighterNation. It is true that they set me up with my own digs at www.chiefreasonart.com, but the link between the two cannot be broken. I got my start blogging during the war years at Firehouse.com, moved to the safe harbor of IACOJ.com and then was invited to join FirefighterNation. My journeys start from here.
For the statisticians in the crowd; in 2009, I wrote and posted 60 articles on a wide range of subjects, including a great interview with Paul Grimwood. In addition, I posted 11 episodes of “The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie©”. It also goes without saying that I participated in numerous discussions.
So, if you would do me the honors…click, read, comment and WIN!
Deadline for the contest will be Midnight, January 17, 2010. All decisions are final.
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/when-the-dream-turns-to
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/2010-will-we-do-it-again
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/becoming-a-trustee-was-my
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/santa-wears-an-scbac
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/take-a-moment-with-paul
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/will-tragic-history-be
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/i-want-to-but-i-cant
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/straight-to-the-point
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/giving-thanks-by-giving-back
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/be-honest-call-it-bureaucratic
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/trading-precious-resources-for
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/could-it-happen-at-your
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/your-cheatin-heart
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/your-cheatin-heartsecond-verse
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/patriotism-or-sensationalism
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/west-virginiahotbed-for-arson
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/unity-surgically-removed-and
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/are-you-nuts
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/the-art-of-blogging
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/where-is-the-outrage
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/just-enough-time-to-diethe
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/lodd-not-so-fast
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/fire-act-time-to-cut-and-run
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/what-is-learned-that-is-not
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/fire-actgovernment-bail-out
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/eol-conferencewhos-going
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/forward-progress-on-reverse
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/new-havennew-hope
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/the-abcs-of-arson
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/ricci-dont-lose-that-number
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/cultivating-a-civilized
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/who-represents-you
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/was-it-smoke-or-a
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/follow-the-yellow-safety-brick
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/so-you-dont-have-the-time
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/brothersisterhood-illusion-or
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/your-back-up-may-be-your
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/the-body-wont-do-what-the-mind
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/chief-youre-fired
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/a-defective-maintenance
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/is-it-complacency-or-lack-of
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/ordering-from-the-risk-menu
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/building-a-risk-assessment
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/can-we-put-risk-out-of
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/union-banning-members-from
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/how-did-we-get-to-this-point
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/the-safety-of-air-ambulances
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/when-a-discussion-reaches
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/what-has-happened-to-our
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/blogging-and-its-dangers
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/lead-and-get-the-lead-out
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/signal-5555-lt-kevin-kelley
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/baptism-by-fire-or-death-by
http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/interview-with-chief-mark
The article is protected by federal copyright law under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella. It is written and submitted by Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason. This article or any other article submitted under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella cannot be reproduced in ANY form without the expressed, written permission of the author. Violations are punishable by applicable laws.
Please visit: www.chiefreasonart.com
Also on Chief Reason …
- Your Cheatin’ Heart…Second Verse – October 28, 2009
- YOU Matter! – April 5, 2010
- The First Due Blog Carnival – March 11, 2010
- The Art of Blogging – September 30, 2009
Art- your posts have always been at the top of the heap.
Like it or not, you have always been getting graded, usually with well-deserved high marks.
With that said, please allow me the honesty, candor, and bravery to publicly disagree with your assessment of the “contest” of which you speak. Quite frankly, when I read your term “gratuitous” I found myself quite surprised.
Rather than pigeon-holing this as some type of competition in which the end result would anoint a “King” of the Planet Bloggington, perhaps you might share my perspective of the whole thing: publicizing other bloggers out there that have something unique to offer (just like you) that readers may not otherwise have heard about.
I hope that the wise-minded regulars at FireFighter Nation don’t stop at the border of their website and refuse to consider there are others -many others- who have something to offer beyond their horizon.
Whether it be agreeable, disagreeable, pro-career, anti red trucks- pro-blue lights- whatever. There are many more people than you or I that have great things to offer, and we are all better for having them.
To have an endeavor shining the light on bloggers some may never had heard of is not an gratuitous act at all. In my own humble opinion, people should open their minds and explore that which they may never have seen.
This “contest” is not the big deal some are making out to be. If it were, why would my blog be in the running? Talk about being uncomfortable……
Is there a prize for the Fire Critic’s project? Nope.
Is the “winner” the best blogger? Hardly.
Will the results affect who I read and who I cast aside? Umm, no….
Should we share great blogsites with those who enjoy them? Absolutely.
Don’t worry, Art.
Your readers (myself included) will not leave you in the dust in a mad stampede for something new. Let the contest run it’s course, let your voters make their selections on the vast multitude of ChiefArtReason postings, and let’s all just enjoy each other for who we are and what we have to offer.
So Fire Critic’s contest assigns a grade, which you don’t seem to approve of, but then you want me to go through all your recent posts and grade them, choosing my favorite and comment so I can win a prize?
Can you explain again which contest assigns a grade?
Awww, come on Chief. It’s all about bringing new people to the cause and exposing good ideas, good content, and great discussion to a wider breadth of readers. It’s also a way for readers to give an ‘attaboy to their favorite bloggers.
This isn’t about aiming for a pat on our own backs, it’s about yelling out there in the crowd and saying “Hey!! We all have something to offer! Come join in the group therapy session!”
I have accomplished what I set out to do with my blog.
Your replies attest to that.
HM: I thought you had it figured out until you put it in the form of a question.
John: already knows the answer.
Ckemtp: blogging IS my therapy. Court ordered, in fact.
Sheesh.
You know; this just goes to show me that I’m the only one who “gets” me!
In an effort to amuse myself and stir up some interest in the blog contest, I have an unhappy medic, whom I adore and Ckemtp has me feeling verklempt.
Someone; please hand me a tissue…
And some hand lotion.
Tissue: OK
Hand lotion; Eeeeeew.
I thought I was the only one with a strange sense of sarcasm. The wife tells me it doesn’t come through on the keyboard and now I see what she meant.
Not unhappy, just very confused. It still reads the same every time.
Hilariously disturbing on more than one level.
HM:
Yes; that I am disturbed is hilarious.
Did you notice how easy I made it for the judges to view my work in 2009?
Did you ever think that evil was so cute? See profile photo on FFN.
Huge in Virginia: sarcastic humor is one of my trademarks. That is what this is.
Don’t feel bad. Others got it wrong also. But, with my coaching, they now understand.
Get to know me a little better before you jump the gun.
But, thanks for playing.