Blogathon 2003

July 26, 2003 7:52 AM

Blogathon 2003 is upon us. What sites, if any, are you guys and girls watching? Personally I'm pretty interested in Pet Rock Star^S, wherein musicians Scott Andrew and Shannon Campbell write music together, documenting the entire process along the way.
posted by frenetic (25 comments total)

Also I'm interested to see if this year's Blogathon gets a better MeFi reception than last year's.
posted by frenetic at 7:53 AM on July 26, 2003

Yeah, last year's response was brutal. A bunch of people work their asses off to try and do something nice and are met with derision.

Frenetic, if you're into music, you might want to check out my own entry this year. Some amazing artists have provided me with great tunes that aren't available anywhere else. A few will come down immediately after the blogathon so now's the only opportunity people will have to hear them. [self links, obviously.]
posted by dobbs at 8:41 AM on July 26, 2003

I thought last year's response was interesting. Not really so bad. I don't expect everyone to be roses and candy over this, and neither of the naysayers were really cynical.

I have to go surf the ring now.
posted by frykitty at 8:54 AM on July 26, 2003

I rooting for the El Dudetterina aka KateMonkey.
posted by riffola at 8:58 AM on July 26, 2003

Awesome, dobbs! I'll be watching.

I was a bit shocked when I went back and read last year's. But perhaps blogging is a little more commonplace now and people realize that there are bound to be a ton of boring blogathon attempts for each interesting one.
posted by frenetic at 9:01 AM on July 26, 2003

Speaking of music bloggers, I gotta put a word in for the Blogathon's own PR guy, Peter at Crushing Krisis. He's been doing 24 songs in 24 hours for all three years, and he takes requests.

He's also a mefite, and I believe his stuff is available on musicfilter.
posted by frykitty at 9:20 AM on July 26, 2003

This year, I will be posting my crap in two languages. I hope and expect to be met with twice the derision!
posted by ceiriog at 9:51 AM on July 26, 2003

I considered participating in Blogathon, but ultimately opted not to primarily because my wife (who normally enjoys my weblog) would have come unglued.

My question for those who participate (or for frykitty, who Knows All): is there a requirement that the Blogathon entries be written in real-time, or is it permissable to pre-write them and then just post them every half hour?

From the various weblogs I've seen this morning, it seems that people are doing both.

If one is allowed to pre-write weblog entries and then just post every half hour, I might participate next year.
posted by jdroth at 10:00 AM on July 26, 2003

is there a requirement that the Blogathon entries be written in real-time, or is it permissable to pre-write them

Prewriting is absolutely permissible, though many write on the fly.

I, personally, found writing as I went more challenging in years past. This year I have a theme, because I'm a 'thon monitor, so I had to plan my content.
posted by JettSuperior at 10:32 AM on July 26, 2003

Jdroth, yes, you can pre-write. I actually pre-recorded a slew of songs this year so that i could have more actual fun during the blogathon itself -- recording 20 songs in 12 hours last year was just a touch stressful.

Personal favorites of mine include: Parts of the Whole featuring anonymous weblogger body parts all day; Incoherent Babblings of Me blogging from a graveyard; There is Nothing Not To Be Amazed At forcing 49 of his favorite cds on one of his friends; The Book of FSCK travelling around to visit the less fortunate in his city...

Wow, i could really go on and on. Not only have people raised a slew of money this year, but they're doing some really cool stuff.
posted by krisis at 10:32 AM on July 26, 2003

I'm watching two.

http://www.chicky.net

and

http://www.digital-ed.net
posted by edmcbride at 10:39 AM on July 26, 2003

Huh, no, I'm seriously not against the idea, but I was definitely taken aback when I first read about it last year...

And now, it's time for me to go lurk in the shadows for another good year or so!
posted by jimmy at 10:39 AM on July 26, 2003

I'll be watching CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on TV.

It was a tough choice. I agonised over it for days.
posted by madman at 11:08 AM on July 26, 2003

I am watching an old favorite site of my twodolla cause like last year her theme is toilet pictures. Its rather funny what people send in for toilet pictures.
posted by thebwit at 11:50 AM on July 26, 2003

I twice tried to sign up their web site to sponsor a local blogger. I eventually gave up and just told her to let me know when and where to mail the check.
posted by chipr at 11:53 AM on July 26, 2003

I had every intention of pre-writing a lot of my stuff for greyhoundathon since I am also working as a monitor, but I only got two written ahead of time.

I've seen a lot of the projects people are doing and it's pretty amazing what people come up with. I'm also thrilled that we've surpassed the $75k mark.
posted by illusionaire at 12:35 PM on July 26, 2003

Not to contradict my comrades, but pre-writing is only allowed for those with heavy-duty themes (like Peter), or admins. We won't axe a person for a little pre-writing, but it's not so cool.

Pre-writing and posting with a script is verboten. You at least have to be there to post.

And that's all I can say, because I pre-wrote all of four posts, and now I have to spend a lot of time researching...
posted by frykitty at 2:38 PM on July 26, 2003

I pre-wrote all of four posts, and now I have to spend a lot of time researching...

Who has to spend time researching? Hmph!
posted by sennoma at 5:16 PM on July 26, 2003

Oh, all right, I confess, I did bring it on myself. I was supposed to help with finding links, but I flaked. (I'm frykitty's husband, btw.)

Oh, and the total raised is almost $80000 as I post this!
posted by sennoma at 5:28 PM on July 26, 2003

Oh, and the total raised is almost $80000 as I post this!

Oustanding! I'm impressed with what you have been able to accomplish. Though a "blogathon" generally wouldn't be my kind of thing, I still admire what you've done.

Congratulations.
posted by jdroth at 5:46 PM on July 26, 2003

so...tired...
posted by Katemonkey at 6:42 PM on July 26, 2003

Let's not forget the Dating Haiku at The Search for Love in Manhattan.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:41 PM on July 26, 2003

I'm sorry to see this only after the fact. Nice work.
posted by dong_resin at 8:34 PM on July 26, 2003

after the fact...

Jesus, resin, if only it were after the fact. I last another 8 hours and 25 minutes and I'll be amazed.
posted by dobbs at 9:36 PM on July 26, 2003

At least you're not having a forced hourly Vanilla Coke enema.
Odai and Qusai weren't that insidious.
posted by dong_resin at 12:54 AM on July 27, 2003