Sunday, February 24, 2008

2008 Blogisattva Award Winners Announced

Today's the day that the world has been waiting for, when the winners are announced -- for the Blogisattva Awards! [drumroll, please] "And the winners are ... why, Buddhism blog readers, worldwide.

While our very expert blogger jurors have labored mightily and cogitated deeply and voted faithfully to determine "winners" in the midst of plenty, there is no claim that we have found absolute bests nor that there is such a thing as "absolute bests." But it is worthy -- and fun, just fun -- to seek excellence, honor it and encourage it. It is also beneficial, and the prime directive of these awards, to get out The Good News. No, not that Jesus died for your sins, but that there are excellent Buddhism blogs out there that people like you may read for pleasure and information.

I am very sorry that this announcement is bare bones; there are storms literal and metaphorical here in Sacramento as I type this. Comprehensive information about the winners, nominees, process and significance of the Blogisattas will be forthcoming tomorrow or shortly thereafter. In the meantime, we bow to the winners, all the nominees, the excellence of Buddhism blogging and the work that buddhobloggers do to bring us information and joy.

The 2008 winners, for achievement in calendar year 2007, are:

Blog of the year, Svaha!: One foot in front of the other; Michael

* * * * *

Best Post of the Year
: "Addressing Comments From the Meditation Thread"; Tricycle Blogs - Jeff Wilson; Jeff Wilson

* * * * *

Best Achievement in Skilled Writing
(The Wordsmithing Award): Ed of Bad Buddha.

* * * * *

Best New Blog, 2007
: Progressive Buddhism, a group blog with contributions by Ordinary Extraordinary [Justin Farquar], WH [William Harrison], Nacho Cordova, Buddhist_philosopher [Justin Whitaker], odin [Paul Jahshan], Tom [Tom Armstrong], and Joe in 2007.

* * * * *

Best Achievement Blogging on Buddhist Practice or Dharma
[blog; blogger(s)]: 108 Days; Lekshe

* * * * *

Best Buddhist Practice or Dharma Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Briefest ruminations on the death of a child"; Monkey Mind; John Ishmael Ford

* * * * *

Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person [as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; offering thoughts; or by venturing out into the world, gonzo style] [blog, blogger]: One foot in front of another; Michael

* * * * *

Best "Life" Blog Post [Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person (as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; or offering personal thoughts)] ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Breaking Point"; One foot in front of the other; Michael

* * * * *

Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Philosophical or Psychological [blog, blogger]: American Buddhist [the combination of American Buddhist Perspective (1/1-9/23/07) & American Buddhist in England (9/23-12/31/07)]; Justin Whitaker

* * * * *

Best Philosophy or Psychology Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Zen Teachings and Idolatry"; Flapping Mouths; TedinAnacortes

* * * * *

Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Scientific [blog; blogger]: Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky

* * * * *

Best Science Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Perils of a Digital Life"; Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky

* * * * *

Best Achievement in Kind and Compassionate Blogging [blog, blogger]: One Foot in Front of the Other; Michael

* * * * *

Best Kind and Compassionate Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Awakening"; Budding Buddhist; EdaMommy

* * * * *

Best Achievement Blogging Opinion Pieces or about Political Issues [blog, blogger]: Zen Traveler: Eric Stewart

* * * * *

Best Opinion or Political Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Politics: toward a Buddhist immigration policy"; American Buddhist in England; Justin Whitaker

* * * * *

Best Engage-the-World Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Meat eaters are bad people"; Sentient Developments; George Dvorsky

* * * * *

Best Achievement in Clean, Straightforward, Unaffected Design [blog, blogger]: Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato

* * * * *

Best Achievement in Wonderful, Remarkable, Elegant Design [blog; blogger]: Tannishblog; Tannish

* * * * *

Best Achievement in Creation or Use of Graphics in a Blog [awarded for use within posts for overall effect] [blog, blogger]: Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato

* * * * *

Best Single Photograph, taken by blogger or an associate, used in a post [Photo link; description; "post"; blog; blogger]: Photo link; "A Western pilgrim sitting among the small stupas and votives at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara."; "India Post #23"; Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher

* * * * *

Best Achievement with Use of Quotations in a Blog [blog; blogger]: lotusinthemud; sujatin

* * * * *

Best Achievement in Wide Range of Topic Interests Blogging [blog, blogger]: Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman

* * * * *

Best Niche Blog, Unusual-Function Blog, Blog Service, or a Serial within a Blog[blog, blogger(s)]: Buddhist Military Sangha; Lt. Jeanette Shin et al

* * * * *

Best Multi-Part Blog Post [post series; blog; blogger]: Dharma from the sky "I: legends and history", "II: Indian or Chinese dharma?"; earlyTibet.com; Sam Van Schaik

* * * * *

Best Achievement with Humor in a Blog Post ["post"; blog; blogger]: "Vegetarian Christmas"; This Is This; Cliff Jones

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

2008 Blogisattva Awards Nominees Announced

Written by Tom Armstrong, awards administrator

The Blogisattva Organization is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2008 Blogisattva Awards honoring English-language Buddhism blogging during calendar year 2007. This is the third annual iteration of the awards which are given wholly for merit, and not as a measure of blogs’ popularity.

This year, ten accomplished buddhobloggers participated in the gathering of candidates and the voting that determined this year’s nominations and/or will participate in the voting that determines the winners, to be announced on February 24.

There are 26 categories of awards with an aggregate 132 nominations, making for a bounty of worthy honorees.

The prime purpose of the awards is to introduce Buddhists -- and others with a nascent interest in Buddhism -- to some of the great many excellent, varied Buddhism blogs that are out there, as close as a click away.

The 2008 nominees are:

Justin Whitaker's American Buddhist in England, with his American Buddhist Perspective, is nominated for Blog of the Year, Best Philosopy or Psychology Blog and four post awards. Also, Justin is a contributor to Progressive Buddhism which is up for two nominations.


Danny Fisher's Danny Fisher is a nominee for Blog of the Year, Best Kind and Compassionate Blog, Best Single Photo and three blog post awards. Danny, himself, is up for The Wordsmithing Award.


Konchog Norbu's Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa is nominated for Blog of the Year, Svaha! It is also up for Best Kind and Compassionate Blog, three post awards and Best Photo.


William Harryman's Integral Options Cafe is up for ten awards this year, including Blog of the Year, Svaha! Bill's blog was a big winner last year.



One foot in front of the other, blogged by Michael, is a nominee for Blog of the Year, and in eight other categories. Michael is also nominated for The Wordsmithing Prize.

Blog of the year, Svaha!; 5 nominees; [blog; blogger]:
Best Post of the Year; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement in Skilled Writing (The Wordsmithing Award); 5 nominees; [blogger, blog(s)]:
Best New Blog, 2007; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:
Best Achievement Blogging on Buddhist Practice or Dharma; 5 nominees; [blog; blogger(s)]:Best Buddhist Practice or Dharma Post; 10 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person [as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; offering thoughts; or by venturing out into the world, gonzo style]; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:
Best "Life" Blog Post [Best Achievement Blogging in the First Person (as a diarist; writing of events in one's life; or offering personal thoughts)]; 10 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Philosophical or Psychological; 3 nominees; [blog, blogger]:
Best Philosophy or Psychology Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement Blogging on Matters Scientific; 3 nominees; [blog; blogger]:
Best Science Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement in Kind and Compassionate Blogging; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:
Best Kind and Compassionate Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement Blogging Opinion Pieces or about Political Issues; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:
Best Opinion or Political Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Engage-the-World Blog Post; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement in Clean, Straightforward, Unaffected Design; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:Best Achievement in Wonderful, Remarkable, Elegant Design; 5 nominees; [blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement in Creation or Use of Graphics in a Blog [awarded for use within posts for overall effect] ; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:
Best Single Photograph, taken by blogger or an associate, used in a post; 5 nominees; [Photo link; description; "post"; blog; blogger]:
  • Photo link; "A Western pilgrim sitting among the small stupas and votives at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara."; "India Post #23"; Danny Fisher; Danny Fisher
  • Photo link; "One of the things you learn from meditating is how your own mind is like a meadow."; "Foggy meadow";Hoarded Ordinaries; Lorianne DiSabato
  • Photo link; "...the proceedings marking the first anniversary of the consecration of Khamariin Khiid’s sacred Shambhala site..."; "Special Delivery"; Dreaming of Danzan Ravjaa; Konchog Norbu
  • Photo link; "Tompkins Square / East Village / Manhattan"; "Untitled [Jan 15, 07]"; One foot in front of the other; Michael
  • Photo link; "Peg attains perfect stillness and silence..." From the post "The teaching of emptiness by Zen master Peg"; Ordinary Mind Zen - Austin; Peg Syversen
Best Achievement with Use of Quotations in a Blog; 3 nominees; [blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement in Wide Range of Topic Interests Blogging; 5 nominees; [blog, blogger]:
Best Niche Blog, Unusual-Function Blog, Blog Service, or a Serial within a Blog; 3 nominees; [blog, blogger(s)]:
  • Buddhist Military Sangha; Lt. Jeanette Shin et al
  • Dharma-Burgers [2 & 2a]; Rod Meade Sperry; [Dharma-Burgers was moved rather recently, its blogging programming taken out from under it. But the posts can still be seen at the links given [2 & 2a] as part of theworsthorse.net ezine where Dharma-Burgers resides.]
  • Gratitude; Serial within a blog; Integral Options Cafe; William Harryman
Best Multi-Part Blog Post ; 5 nominees; [post series; blog; blogger]:
Best Achievement with Humor in a Blog Post ; 5 nominees; ["post"; blog; blogger]:

Monday, February 11, 2008

The UU Blog Awards

The fourth annual UU Blog Awards, honoring Unitarian Universalist blogging in 2007, is past its nomination stage and is now in an open voting stage that determines winners in fifteen categories.

I learned about this from a post today in the UU blog Philocrites written by Chris Walton, who blogs using the pseudonym Philocrites. His post tells his readers of the voting, but it is also, unmistakably, a not-terribly-subtle suggestion that these readers link over to the awards site and cast votes for his blog. Anyone can vote. The nominee that gets the most votes in each of the UU Awards's 15 categories is a declared winner. Polls close a minute before midnight, Central Time, on February 15.

The UU Blog Awards are admirable. I wish I had the tech moxie and means to pull together some of the things I see at the UU Blog Awards site for this Blogisattva Awards site.

Still, I am very glad the Blogisattvas have taken the road less travelled, making a determined attempt to honor blogs for merit only -- and decidedly not by a means of open voting that becomes significantly, if not almost wholly, a measure of popularity rather than excellence.

The Blogisattva Awards are determined by a small pool of voters -- excellent buddhobloggers, all -- committed to objectivity and a task of seeking excellence. There's no campaigning.

Campaigning is now brisk for the UU Blog Awards. Ms. Kitty of Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show writes in a post today, "Please consider voting for Ms. Kitty in a few categories! Thanks." The anonymous minister of the blog Peacebang wrote today, "go vote for me as Best Something this year. I put a lot of heart and soul into my blogs and I ain’t gonna lie to ya: it would be nice to be honored with your vote." She then lists her seven nominations. In a post titled "Vote for ... ME!", Minister Debra W. Haffner, in her blog Sexuality and Religion, tells us, "I feel a little silly asking, but if you like what you read here, I hope you'll take a minute to go [to the webpage where votes are cast] and vote!"