An alert and loyal reader (thanks DC) tipped me off to a very gratifying honor for this not quite four-month-old blog: Mystery Pollster has been nominated for a Koufax Award as the "Best Expert Blogger" of 2004.
From the blogger Wampum, who runs the award, I learn that:
The Koufax Awards are named for Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest left handed pitchers of all time. They are intended to honor the best of the left of blogtopia (ysitp). At its core, the Koufax Awards are meant to be an opportunity to say nice things about your favorite bloggers and to provide a bit of recognition for the folks who provide us with information, insight, and entertainment usually for little or no renumeration.
Also, on the category, best expert blog:
This category seeks to honor those who bring particular expertise, by way of knowledge, experience, or academic achievement, to a particular topic. "Expertise" is obviously rather subjective, but as I sifted through the nominations, I tried to use some general criteria: Education, professional experience or publication in the area of expertise.
Finally, Wampum adds:
Please try not to take the idea of winning and losing too seriously. We hope to help build and promote a feeling of community among lefty bloggers. The primary rules of the contest are be nice and have fun.
So noted. To be serious: The nomination honor alone is very gratifying — many thanks to those that who put my MP’s name in the hat. Of course, if any of you choose to vote for me here, I certainly wouldn’t complain.
Have a great weekend!
UPDATE: As the commenter mentions below, we have also been nominated for Best New Blog and Best Single Issue Blog. We are duly honored. Congratulations to all nominees.
You’re also in two other categories. One is “best new blog”, and I gave you a vote for that. Another is “best single issue”.
In terms of “best expert”, IMHO you provide an unique service, in that there is no where else on the web to get the info you provide. You are well-written, thoughtful, and provide detailed research. Another blog which meets those criteria is Juan Cole’s Informed Comment. I gave Juan the vote only because his window into the Arab language world is extremely compelling right now.
Congrats Mark! Perhaps the Koufax Awards and the Whizbang awards could merge at some point in the future? Anyways, I’ll nominate you for a Whizbang Award next year. I got nominated for the Whizbang award for Best New Blog of 2004, but got crushed by Kerryspot. At least I won the Median New Blog of 2004 award; 7 finished better, 7 finished worse. Again, congrats on your well deserved honor!