Where the hell am I supposed to link Lileks?
Does he go in with the Cover Charge group of actual paid writers with real bound books and stuff who don't need the hits?
Or, like Glenn and Steven & Co., is he Top Shelf stuff -- even though what he does isn't exactly a blog?
A Cosmopolitan, with his business trips to NYC? G&T because of the dry humor? Micro Brew for the midwestern charm? These are questions that have plagued me since I re-did the links a couple weeks ago.
So after the usual hemming and hawing, it comes down to two things. First, I'm really sick of having to scroll down so far on my own damn page, just to get to Lileks. Second, he replies to my infrequent emails as promptly as he's able, and always with more kind words than I deserve.
I'm bumping you back up, Lileks. Don't thank me -- this is me thanking you.
UPDATE: Damnit, now I feel guilty having Virginia and Brink and Jeff down there, too. Suggestions, please.
Put them all on a single line at the top of the screen nd ensure that you forcefully disable word wrap .
Presto! No scrolling down. Only scrolling right...
The always helpful,
-NZB
Though higher placement would be a worthy comment on his abilities, Brink has mentioned that his blogging is going to slow a bit due to work and summer requirements. If one of the issues for placement is your speed of access, if he's not posting much, maybe you won't need the link but once a week. Personally, I like the category for those who've published. (In the Gutenberg, printing press, sense, tht is.)
You asked what to do about Virginia et al.
Well, Virginia's easy.
She practically promised to start posting again on the 19th. That was back in the spring; here it is already summer and she still hasn't posted a word. So no top shelf for her, at least not until she delivers.
Hmm, I hope my first line isn't misunderstood.
Lileks is in a class by himself. Maybe he needs his own shelf. His Olive Garden screed is (IMHO) the greatest piece of American humorous invective since Mark Twain's "Literary Sins of Fenimore Cooper." Both can be re-read many times. Then just when I'm expecting more amusement, he'll hit me with a simple paragraph about little Gal, and I'm weeping.
Hail to "Notes from the Olive Garden", I nearly have that piece memorized now.
Quite a while back I read it out loud for a half-dozen friends, phony British accent for the 'Guardian' quotes and everything. It brought the house down.
To quote from one of my favorite movies, a quote that I've pretty much based my entire life on since hearing it, "Why don't you just give up?"
VP you're doing a great job, bud. I read you daily - my silent way of saying 'thanks.' I'm almost as crazy about your site as I am about vodka itself.
As for the links... I don't use them now that I have my favorites bookmarked in my web browser. When I first discovered the blogosphere, I found links such as yours a very helpful roadmap. Maybe you should organize them with the 'sphere virgin in mind?
All hail the Bloody Mary, and have a wunnerful weekend...
Stephen,
My suggestion is a little off subject, but you might want to consider using blogrolling.com. Has some nice features such as being able to automatically add a blog to your list and checks weblogs.com to see if they've been updated.
Robert
