You know, it’s amazing how little actual blog reading i do. I mean, i could argue that i just don’t have the time, especially since i hardly get around to visiting the folks on my sidebar on a daily basis. But, two years ago i recognized the names of blogs, any blogs, even if it was only vaguely. It was like hearing the names of players from other city’s football teams, or teachers from another department. There was recognition, though, a vague flash of comprehension.

I definitely have lost that sense now, and reading through the Bloggie nominations i realize just how out of touch i have become with this community that i used to be involved with daily. It’s a little sad — if they are irrelevant to me than surely i am irrelevant to them. And, well, i deserve it, because i slacked off like a sorry ass all last year. I can still not like it though.

What is truely gratifying is this: usually i come to this realization and then surf around for about ten minutes before proclaiming that i don’t surf for a reason: all blogs are shit. This year… not so. In a fit of surfing, so far i’ve found a lot of gems, and i’m posting them as much for my sake as for yours (whoever you might be). You could spend the time sifting through all the nominations yourself, but since i am obsessed with only voting for things i have something to say about, i’ve got to do it anyway. Though, after reading a well-reasoned post from nominee A Small Victory, an editorial at Centrs.com, and seeing the full nominee list, i can say that i honestly don’t know if i care to vote one way or another. Still, some of these people are blogalicious…

UltraMicroscopic (well designed, professional, funny), Loobylu (an actual graphic arts professional sharing wonderful illustrations; up for best merch, best australian, & best designed), Bazima Chronicles (really masterful writing, hilarious, nominated for best merch & best american), Whedonesque (tasty news catchall for Buffy fans, best topical & best new), Picture Yourself (user submitted self-portraits, best non-blog content), How to learn Swedish in 1000 difficult lessons (who uses the word “heterosexualists” and teaches you how to speak swedish (and who i would gladly save from being hosted on blogspot), up for best european blog), 30 Days to a More Accessible Weblog (incredibly thought provoking and impeccably well written, up for best essay), longtime fav Torrez (most humourous), Kuroshin (not my favorite group-weblog, but check out the amazing recount of natural child-birth currently adorning the main page!), the mindbending design elements of Acerbia & Empty Bottle (best european and best asian, respectively) as well as SnazzyKat (best design, which is quite dazzling), blogging all-star and really nice lady JillMatrix (best GBLT), not to mention, of course, old standbys Kevin (best programming, MinJung (best GBLT & best tagline), and Erndawg (Best). Also, if you’re looking for fuller coverage, hit up EastWest Magazine for the E-Channel-style send-up!