Well barring some small miracle in the final tabulations... it looks like In Search of Utopia has come in second place in the 2006 Weblog Awards, for Best Latino, Caribbean, or South American Blog. As expected, Babalu retains it's crown as the winner in this category. Babalu is a well written, attractive site, that despite being almost singularly focused on Anti Castro themes, has a strong Right Wing following. I knew it would be an uphill battle to unseat them, but we did very, very well...

We lost by 133 votes... (about 5% of the total votes cast in this category), so forgive me if I feel like we won! This was a great moral victory for In Search of Utopia, we took on the best Right Wing Blogs in Latin America and came in a very close second. One more day of voting and who knows what could have happened. After the first day of voting, we were in ninth place...

But the rules are the rules. We went into this thing hoping to do better than last year, and we did, by several magnitudes. Much of the thanks must go to Jesus General. His strong final hour endorsement added many, many votes and I am grateful for his friendship and support.

I am also grateful to the many members of my fraternity and sister sorrority (Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta) who read my blog and took the time to vote, as well as to all my friends in progressive blogging and all the Ticos (Costa Rican's) who supported me. You are all much loved and appreciated. I especially want to thank Brother Greg Brandon of Los Angeles, the President of my Phi Beta Sigma Grad chapter, for his support and calls to arms on the part of the Brotherhood.

I am sure that if I receive the honor of reaching the finals again next year, that this years effort will be instrumental in an even better showing...

I want to take this time to congratulate the owners of Babalu on their threepeat, and offer congratulations to all the winners in all the categories in this year's awards. I also want to congratulate all the finalist. The Weblog Awards have become an important way for many blogs to get exposure. I hope that the blogs participating in this year's contest will benefit from that exposure by increased readership, AND the opportunity to find out who is in their neighborhood.

I read all of the nominated blogs in my category this year, and must say that I was impressed, even if we disagreed politically. There is some great stuff being produced out there. I take this as an opportunity to improve In Search of Utopia. I have many plans for 2007, including improving local coverage and providing some coverage in Spanish.

I also hope to reach out, as I have in the past, to people on the Left and Right, do some networking, and get back to my roots as a Centrist Progressive. The last year has seen me very busy with Life and Work, and many times I simply took the easy way out and had fun with my Nigerian Spammers, or teased some of my old time readers with pictures and stories from exotic Costa Rica. When I did delve into political dialogs, my words were mostly those of anger, based on where I saw our country going. I am hopeful that 2007 will be a year of healing for all of us, and that we can get back to working together for America. I intend to do my part, by reaching out more.

I often pick on Wizbang, probably at times unfairly. (Long History there). But I want to congratulate Kevin A. for improving the Weblog awards every year. I am honored to have once again been named as one of the Elite Blogs. I am not going to cry about not taking first, instead I am going to celebrate the progress I have made.

Can I get 200 votes before the deadline? I figure it will take at least that amount to pull ahead of Babalu?

I have some business to do in San Jose today, so I will not be around most of the day. I have a 93 vote lead in Second Place in the Weblog Awards, and am only 177 votes out of first place. This is IT. It's the fourth quarter, and the final push will be up to you.

To some people, these awards mean nothing. To some, especially some of my bretheren on the Left, they are a Right Wing joke. Whatever the case, I would like to make a statement. For three years Babalu has dominated this competition. Babalu is a great blog, one worthy of respect. So are all of the blogs in this competition. I am proud to be ranked among them.

If I lose, I will have the pleasure of knowing that Great Left Wing Bloggers like Jesus General, supported me, and that in itself is a tremendous honor.

This has been a great year, with another million page views, and some great commentary. While ISOU does not have the audience of some of the larger blogs, we have maintained a TLB ranking between 500-750, and a consistent minimum 2000+ hits a day.

Being named as Best Latin American blog, will be icing on a very big cake, but whether we win or not, next year will be another great year. I have many plans for the blog next year, including more focus on local issues, more focus on trying to make a difference with the poor here in Costa Rica, and the usual political commentary, technology stuff and scandalously beautiful women.

Thanks for all of you for your support and love...

I will now retire to my hotel suite to await the results of the vote! Hehe...

Update: December 15th - Just two days to go. ISOU has moved into second place, don't know how long it will last, but I am thrilled to be in that position against such strong competition. Thanks to all who have voted and continue to support me. We may not win, but it would be great to finish in the top TWO!, please vote!

Please remember to vote. It takes two mouse clicks and you are done!

As best Latin/Carib/South American Blog!

Update: December 15th - Just two days to go. ISOU has moved into second place, don't know how long it will last, but I am thrilled to be in that position against such strong competition. Thanks to all who have voted and continue to support me. We may not win, but it would be great to finish in the top TWO, please vote!

Yeah I know, I promised I would not politic, but what the hell, John from Blogs of war just sent me an email!

Voting has for the 2006 Weblog Awards has started. Blogs of War is a
finalist. Voting will run the next 7 days and you can vote once per
day at the following URL:

Vote for Blogs of War

Thanks for reading and voting! Feel free to forward this email.

John
(This is the only cheesy notice I'll send - promise)

And I figure since I love John, I will join him in Cheesyness! HEHE!

Now here's the thing, every year one of the Conservative Darling Blogs win in this category, help a brother out! Let's put ISOU on the map this year! Oh yeah, and go vote for John!

Update: Well I am assured of ONE VOTE at least! Thanks John!

Update: You have GOT to go vote for my girl Agent Bedhead, This is the Variety of the 21sr Century. Go vote for Agent Bedhead NOW!

And while I am in reccomendation mode, make sure to vote for Jesus General as best Liberal Blog

For best Conservative Blog, I have got to go with my man Rusty.

For Best Military Blog, Blackfive.

For best of the top 250 Blogs, it has to be Feministe. We go WAY back together.

And I have to vote for Cobb, he is my Bro, and one of the best writers in the Blogsphere!

Crooks and Liars, is hands down the best video Blog!

Best Asian Blog, China Law Blog.

Well now I know who I will be voting for in the coveted Best Culture Blog category... That is... If I can get back into the page, the Weblog Awards Site is timing out here in Costa Rica, anyone in the States having the same problem?

I don't have any opinion on the other categories. Just remember to vote, whoever you vote for!

Hello Mrs. America and All the Ships at Sea!

Salma Hayek, when she is not drinking, and does not have her hands full... Votes for In Search of Utopia, for best blog in Latin America!

Picture and gossip, courtesy of Agent Bedhead!

Libby is a soulmate. She is competing against a bunch of big Rightie blogs in her category for the Weblog awards.

My little personal poliblog, The Impolitic, is a finalist for a Wizbang weblog award in the Best of the 2501-3500 blogs - a category that I'm sure has as much interest for bloggers of your caliber as Best Use of Animal Actors in a Documentary has at the Oscars. But I'm the only real Lefty blog on the list.

Wizbang as you know, is a conservative site so I'm not going to get any drive-by votes there and two of my conservative competitors, http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/ and http://massbackwards.blogspot.com/ are currently kicking my butt in the voting.

Through shameless blegging, I've managed to move into a solid third place and I'd really like to win this one for Leftopia. But the two conservative guys have much bigger readerships than I do. They're way ahead and I need an 11th hour miracle to pull this off. Thus I'm blegging for endorsements in a last ditch effort to win this thing. If you could see your way to asking your readers to vote for me, I would greatly appreciate it on a personal level and on a greater level, I think it would demonstrate the power of Leftopia.

I say, give her some love.

I have taken a relatively comfortable lead in the fight for third place in the Weblog Awards. And I have to thank the great Patriot Jesus' General for his kind endorsement! Please go check out the General's other endorsements, and make sure you vote for him.

To get this kind of support from Jesus' General...

It's a terrible shame that In Search of Utopia has passed the "let's bomb Venezuela blogs" in the Weblog Awards voting, but at lease he's still behind the "let's bomb Oaxaca and Cuba blogs." If you haven't voted yet today, please do so now. Update: Come on people. I know there are at least 9000 people reading this right now who haven't voted yet. Just two click is all it takes. Do you want me to drum you out of the Red Guard of the Glorious Conservative Christian Cultural Revolution!)

IS the Award! General, Sir... you Rock!

I am just 86 votes out of second place... A few days ago I would have considered that insurmountable, but with this kind of support, I may make up the 340 to beat Ricky Ricardo's Blog!

Vote today, but more importantly, get out to the virtual precincts and spread the word, get everyone you know to vote.

Ask yourself the question...

Do you want the best Blog in Latin America to be run by someone who thinks THIS is sexy? (I don't think any Cuban would, but then again they are conservatives... ya know what I mean (wink)?

Or do you want to vote for someone who knows what sexy is?

Now please don't allow yourself to be swayed by the fact that 99% of Tia Zelmira models polled, revealed a strong preference for progressive politics and ISOU!

Don't allow your sacred vote to be swayed by that, or the fact that In Search of Utopia is just a much more happenin' place! Nah!

Don't be shamed into voting for me, because of the Hit Contracts, that The Nigerian Princes and other suddenly wealthy but need someone to share our wealth with Association, has on my life.

Don't be swayed by the rumors of me being a Playuh... I can assure you that they are JUST rumors!

No, I will NOT get you a walk on Part in Anthony Anderson's next movie.

There is SOME truth to the rumor that an In Search of Utopia victory will be the most painful thing to hit the majority of Wizbang Bloggers since... well...

THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS!

But don't let any of those things be the deciding factor.

Vote for ISOU because a vote for ISOU is a vote for CHANGE! A vote to shatter three years of dominance by the Cubans. Because a vote for ISOU will be a vote for FUN! Because a vote for ISOU will rub the noses of both the Conservasphere and some of our more elitist Progressive Brethren! Vote! Pass the word! And focus tomorrow on getting all of our progressive brethren who are in similar situations to victory!

In the words of the General, "BOMB them to hell!"

The only thing sexier than a Tia Zelmira Model, is being in the Top Three for "Best Blog in Latin America!"

In Search of Utopia is up for Best Blog in Latin America, would you take 2 seconds to vote?

Please remember to vote. It takes two mouse clicks and you are done!

As best Latin/Carib/South American Blog!

With less than two days to go, In Search of Utopia has broken 200 votes, and taken over third place. We have a tough two days to go, if we are going to win it all, but anything is possible with your help. Join lovers of Costa Rica, Tia Zelmira, Coffee, and the most beautiful women in Latin America, by voting for the hottest, hippest, coolest damned blog south of the border!

With your help, we can bring the coveted 2006 Weblog award home!

We face stiff competition. The two blogs currently ahead of ISOU are great Right Wing blogs, well written, well designed and popular. But this could be our year.

After three years of being a bridesmaid, In Search of Utopia is ready to move to the head of the pack, so give a Brother some love and vote tonight, tomorrow and Friday. Get your friends to vote. Get your neighbors to vote. Hell start a get out the vote drive! Let's do what NO ONE thought we could do, and thats beat Babalu! Hehe... Most of all, lets just have fun!

One thing I promise. If ISOU wins, there will be a party that will be legendary. They will write songs and legends about it. Much alchohol will be consumed. Much lechery will occur, hell civilization may fall as a result! And it will ALL be documented right here!

One Love to All of you, thanks for your support, and remember, it is your vote that can win this thing!

So VOTE, and tell your friends to VOTE!

I'm David Anderson, and I and the Tia Zelmira Models, approve of this message!

It's all about the Blue Family!

Much love to my Zeta Sisters and Sigma Brothers for supporting ISOU as Best blog in Latin America! And welcome the Phi Beta Sigma Blog to my Blogroll!

But Agent Bedhead DESERVES to win!

Movin' on Up!

Up to fifth place in the Weblog Awards, thanks for all the support.

Keep the Love comin folks!

Hehe... And I do feel pretty! Well... Except for the Gay part! LOL!

Voting for the Weblog Awards starts on December 7th. Please remember to drop by and vote. ISOU has achieved finalist status for the third straight year. While I have no illusions about winning, considering the outstanding competition I am facing, I would appreciate your vote. However you decide to vote, enjoy the many outstanding blogs in all the categories.

Looks like ISOU made it again for the third year straight! Thanks to all of you who nominated ISOU as Best Latino, Caribbean, or South American Blog! We are once again a finalist, and I am honored!

While ISOU has never won the coveted award, it is a great honor to be nominated and to reach the finalist stage, out of the hundreds of thousands of blogs around the world.

To be acknowledged by your peers as one of the best is indeed an honor.

If the award is the nomination, then surely being a finalist is TRULY an honor, as so many good blogs did not make it.

I am not going to politic for the award, other than to say, I hope all that read my blogs will vote for who they think is best, in ALL the categories. One of the great benefits to the Weblog awards is that we are introduced to so many outstanding blogs. Take time to read as many as you can. You may be surprised at the quality out there.

Well it's quite clear that Dean's World isn't going to even come close to winning the Weblog Awards this year. It's nice to be honored, but I didn't expect to do well; we're not overtly partisan enough for some people, and are openly despised by others (that's okay, it's mutual). Besides, I'm frankly not up to relentless self-promotion and strategic voting, which is what this kind of competition encourages when it allows people to vote every day.

Dean

Like Angel says, I guess this is kind of a wakeup call for me. I have let my blog stagnate somewhat. Part of it is just overwhelming business responsibilities these days (Thank God for that), the other is that frankly since the loss of most of my archives back in April, I have just not been very much into it.... And lastly, I have just grown tired of the same political bullshit... I used to have fun with people like The Commissar and Boyd. Boyd has been dealing with some issues lately and The Commissar seems to have lost his sense of fun, just about the time that Bush's popularity ratings started going south. Dean is cool, and I have gained a lot of respect for him in recent months, but the atmosphere in political blogging has just gone to shit... So like Dean, I did not hold much hope in winning this award. But as they say at Oscar time, the Nomination IS the Award.

The Weblog Awards are fully functional, so

Go Vote For Dave!!!!!

Voting is open for ten days.

(You *could* also vote for me, (Armies of Liberation). Please?

Why? Because I've recently been called a mass murder. And you never know, it could be true....)