All Things Beautiful Compositions: Bottom left: 'Les Muslimerables Torch A Girl' Top left: 'The Harriet Miers 'Loyalist Army' Top rigtht: 'The Incredulity of St. George Will' Bottom right: 'Blogging To Differ at Pajamas Media'
THE COMMITTEE HAVE JUST CONFIRMED 'ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL' AS A FINALIST IN THE BEST NEW BLOG CATEGORY. THE VOTING STARTS TODAY.
MY ANGEL THE ANCHORESS FEATURES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL AS BEST NEW BLOG AND SO DOES MY BLOGFATHER HUGH HEWITT, THE BIG HEARTED ED MORRISSEY @ CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS , MY LATEST SUPPORTER MICHELLE MALKIN, MY FIESTY SUPPORTER TOM MAGUIRE @ JUST ONE MINUTE, THE EVER GRACIOUS PAUL @ MEDIA LIES WHO NOMINATED ME, AND 'CIAO ITALIA' @ THE RIGHT NATION WHO WAS THE FIRST TO NOTICE, MY NEW BEST FRIEND DOUG @ BELOW THE BELTWAY, AND MY OLD BEST FRIEND KENNY @ REDNECK PERIL, MY BIG FAN PATRICK @ THE PARAGRAPH FARMER , MY NEW FAN BANAGOR @ NERRA AND MY GOOD OLD TEXAN FRIEND GEORGE @ ALAMO NATION WHO GIVES ME AN INCREDIBLE PLUG. MY GOOD BUDDY FROM THE LEFT, PATRICK BELTON @ OXBLOG WHO PROMISES TO VOTE (AHEM PATRICK) EVEN THOUGH HE THINKS A CERTAIN MEMBER OF THE TORY PARTY IS A 'SEX ACT'. THANKS GUYS.
THE LIBERAL BLOG 'YELLOW DOG' WHO IS IN THE LEAD "WE ARE GOING TO WHIP YOUR ....WELL WE ARE TRYING.... HEH."
UPDATE: The Bolsheviks are revolting and that is nothing new, but the voting frenzy induced by the possibility of winning against the right and centre right of the Blogosphere has put the supporters of 'Yellow Dog' into a new spin.
Or should I say 'Yellow Dog' has put his readers into revived spins. He takes pains to keep repeating the Mantra at every turn about how he does not care about the Awards, but in the meantime in every post reminds us that it is a Dems vs Cons fight. His daily posts go something like this:"I don't want to talk about the Awards", then he proceeds to talk about them ad nauseam, then he squeezes plenty of derogatories about the Cons. in, and then continues more Award bashing.
Because it is organized by Kevin Aylward @ Wizbang, and he is a Con. So what? Someone has to do it, Kevin organizes it brilliantly, moreover the chances are that the person will lean in one political direction or the other. Perhaps he'd like it to be organized by the Jihadists in Iran, they'll be more objective.
In any event if you don't like the way it is done do it yourself better, and stop bitching about how terrible the whole thing is whilst you should be honored to have been chosen in the first place. But anyway, just read it, it's funny. It reminds me of a joke: "Let's not talk about me. let's talk about you, what do you think about me?" Subtle 'Yellow Dog', very subtle; but alas, all too transparent ... and effective.
I am honest about the fact that I am honored to have been chosen. I'd love to win, but if I don't I am delighted to have had a good run. I remind my readers to vote because I don't want them to forget. It is like my Birthday. I love my Birthday, and I remind everyone well in advance, so I don't get hurt if they forget. But that's just me.
DEC 17TH: POLLS CLOSED - CURRENT RANKING (TOP 4 OUT OF 15):
FINAL RESULTS ON MON 19TH:
BEST CON BLOG - ACE OF SPADES HQ
TBOGG
To The Right Nation in the Best European Blog I say "Ciao Italia"....
It is that time of the year again, time for The Weblog Awards 2005. Hosted by darling Kevin Aylward @ Wizbang, one of the hardest working and most talented bloggers in the Blogosphere, it provides fun for everyone, the readers and bloggers alike, as well as a chance to sample the best of what the Blogosphere has to offer in any chosen field.
I am delighted to have been made FINALIST FOR BEST NEW BLOG having been originally nominated by the ever gracious Media Lies for Best Design, and supported by California Conservative, The Anchoress, Ed Driscoll and Redneck Peril who have all been very kind and complimentary. The voting starts today and ends December 15th. The Weblog Awards rules allow you to vote once every 24hrs, meaning you would give 11 votes, and of course it would be nice if you did. Some finalists are suggesting that you "vote once a day, like taking your vitamins". I suggest you rather make sure you take your vitamins, you will live longer and read my blog. LOL!
I designed the All Things Beautiful site, teaching myself the language of HTML only a few months ago.The universal language of the techies, and one which drove me to new dizzying heights of despair. It even made me have gooey thoughts about the Latin which I cursed when I was younger, and inspired me to dig up some well hidden anecdotes about how much fun we all had. Well it really was fun in comparison, and in any event I had a major crush on my Latin Professor, and for some years firmly believed that Latin was the language of the Gods. Well One True God anyway, My Latin Professor.
Then came the all important color choice. I immediately became passionate about finding the Asprey color. Asprey is a famous store on London's Bond Street, (flagship store recently opened on 5th Ave. New York) and the wonderfully rich maroon color is used everywhere including their shiny boxes and beautiful silk ribbons tied around them. When I was a young girl, I remember gazing starry eyed in the Asprey's glamorously decorated window, hanging on to my mother's arm, and dreaming how I would shop there one day when I became older, as my mother and grandmother frequently did.
The next probing question came when it was time to decide whether to have my photograph displayed prominently on the front. My instinct immediately shunned the idea, but then on reflection I decided that as opinionated as I am, I wanted my readers to be able to look me in the eye when they read my strong convictions, and know that I firmly stand behind them. And so the Warholesque photograph went up, just in case anyone thought that I took myself too seriously, which is practically impossible to do with the privilege of an English education, and the inherent self-mockery, which is mandatory in the curriculum.
So what do I stand for in the blogging world? I stand for the loyalty and integrity we should have as bloggers to the Truth and liberation of that Truth, and not to the Truth we assign to the political denominations we belong to. And above all to the good old fashioned family values of integrity and loyalty to that Truth which we celebrate at Thanksgiving. Respect for each other as bloggers no matter what we believe in is paramount, and no amount of self gratifying echo chamber rhetoric should come in the way of a good upbringing, and manners, above all being grateful today that we have a voice.
The decision to post an image with every article came as I realized that I express myself as much in images as in words. Telling each story visually, actually takes up even more time, than writing the article itself; and certainly as much, if not more, inspiration is required to carry it off half way successfully.
My images are a mix of photoshop compositions, depicting the characters in play such as here, here, here and here, old master paintings which best express my view on the given subject here, here here and here, photo compositions such as here here here and here which give an impression of my take on the events. Some are photo images which I simply find strong and send the message of how I feel about an issue, such as this one here and here. But most of all, every image is selected carefully as an extension of a point of view, and sometimes as here the image is composed to simply invite comments with an explosive question as an open thread.
One of my readers kindly said today:
"You have managed to achieve the highest purpose of the internet, one which I thought would remain an unattainable dream, and which I have never before seen actualized: the serious communion of minds, across all barriers of time, space, and social circumstance. It has been an extraordinary experience."
My avid reader and great friend Kenny Pierce summed up succinctly and better than I ever could:
“She thinks as much in images as in words, richly and subtly trans-forming and redirecting discussion
through
poweful images...absolutely fascinating how she shifted the tenor of
the comments and deepened the significance - without changing a single
word.”
And so was born 'All Things Beautiful', images with strong written opinions, sometimes the beauty and sometimes the beast, but always:
A Blog in Motion, a Still Point in a Turning World, a Moment for Yourself, Engagement Enrichment Fulfillment....
The post 'Is The Holy Trinity A Doctrine Of Monotheism (OPEN THREAD)' is my real pride and joy, written and discussed solely by my readers. The thread has been going strong now for seven days. An explosive subject, and informed readers, what a combination. As Media Lies commented on that thread:
""Of all the remarkable things that have come from this conversation,
the most remarkable of all has been its gentle progress. I've been in
many trinitarian discussions over the years, many of them quite
contentious, but I've never been in one like this one. I've so
thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth, the musings, the many points of
view. I applaud Alexandra for having birthed the most unique of things
- a civil conversation about a controversial subject.
[...]
Life goes on, as does blogging, but I will never forget this experience. It's been incredible."
And that to me is what blogging and 'All Things Beautiful' are all about....
LATEST UPDATE MONDAY DEC.19TH : More venom from the gracious winner of The Weblog Best New Blog Award (who pignantly waited for the announcement) Bob Geiger aka The Yellow Dog HERE AND HERE. And my response I am Famous In The Liberal Blogosphere
RELATED POSTS: A Democrat Lies This Republican Doesn't Die, Blogging The Weblog Awards
Linked with Kevin Aylward @ Wizbang and a special mention to my favorite fellow nominees in all categories: Hugh Hewitt, Captain's Quarters The Anchoress LGF Powerline Michelle Malkin Instapundit Just One Minute Blogs For Bush Polipundit Steyn Online Mickey Kaus Opinion Journal Michael Yon Mudville Gazette The Corner The Huffington Post Ezra Klein Matthew Yglesias Manolo's Shoe Blog A Socialite's Blog Audible Althouse The Political Teen Winds of Change Moderate Voice Unclaimed Territory by Glenn Greenwald Basil's Blog Atlas Shrugs Wandering Jew Althouse Professor Bainbridge Patterico's Pontifications Stop The ACLU The Volokh Conspiracy Beldar Blog Confirm Them No Pasaran Iraq The Model Day By Day by Chris Muir Iowahawk Scrappleface Mark in Mexico Outside the Beltway My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy VodkaPundit Betsy's Page The American Princess Generation Why? Iowa Voice The Glittering Eye Joust The Facts
No matter what the final vote ends up being, I'll always know that Alexandra the Great is the best! :)
Posted by: jeff stiles | Monday, December 12, 2005 at 10:40 PM
Not only have I voted every day this week for All Things Beautiful, but I left a reminder to vote on another popular blog (although one that's not designed nearly as beautifully as this one) to visit and vote. Plus, over dinner tonight I told all the other people with laptops and wireless connections at the restaurant to vote for Queen Alexandra.
Spread the word, folks.
And remember, two fingers extended stands not for "peace" but for "Victory."
Go troops, and go freedom!
Posted by: jeff stiles | Thursday, December 08, 2005 at 11:56 PM
Folks, if Alexandra doesn't win this award, then it will be because we haven't voted for her or promoted her blog enough. No one deserves the design award more than she. Name one blog as stunning as hers. Vote for All Things Beautiful.
Posted by: antimedia | Thursday, December 01, 2005 at 09:24 PM
It's not over till it's over! Ask the Penn State Nittany Lions. They gave up a win in the last minute of a game.
OMG!?! What if AvM gets second or third!?! She could have a Dean-breakdown! And start throwing things!
Posted by: spiritofecstasy | Thursday, December 08, 2005 at 06:58 PM
EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A WEBLOGGER / BLOGGER IT IS FUN TO VOTE IN THE FUN 2005 WEBLOG AWARDS! JOIN A CLUB OR CLUBS BY VOTING FOR YOUR PREFERED WEBLOGGERS AND THEIR WONDERFUL BLOGS!
AND LET'S PLUG OUR FAVORITES EVERYWHERE AND OFTEN!
THE BEST NEW BLOG: *ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL"
REMEMBER; IT IS A *FUN* THING!
Posted by: spiritofecstasy | Wednesday, December 07, 2005 at 11:36 AM
Yes Kenny,
They are; Obnoxious, childish, foolish.
Yesterday I visited the Website of an American Soldier stationed in Iraq. She gets emails about killing children from LeftWing peasants. Her Website gets hacked and shut down. This is what the "Cowards" of the Left do while claiming they have ...wait for it.... intellectual superiority.
http://www.afemalesoldier2.com/
This is an excerpt of my email to Grey Eagle in Iraq:
"My purpose for writing today is empathy. I immediately noticed that You are getting plenty of joyful and sophisticated Leftwing comments. It's everywhere. They live for it.
As a Soldier; You represent Authority, the Power Structure. Leftists reject Authority. Then they spend millions of words trying to understand what they h*ll they are doing with their lives. Then they dump those words on the rest of the World.
My pov: They (leftist/contrarians) got suckered into the wrong ideals and then live with a general inferiority complex. I actually pity them BUT I never trust them. Even on a good day they'll still take Ya to the bottom of the ocean. LOL. Really."
THE LEFT is predictable ...
Posted by: spiritofecstasy@hotmail.com | Tuesday, December 06, 2005 at 12:12 PM
Having the devil's own time getting a trackback to work...anyway, Alexandra, I imagine you've already seen my own take on the awards (and presumably blushed with becoming modesty), but you might have missed the most recent...
That update's actually out of date as Ace of Spades has swept into the lead...oh, well, there's still hope. Her Anchorship's problem, I suspect, is that her blog isn't pure politics, and so many of the posts that make her unmissable don't help win "Best Conservative Blog" votes. You're going to have something of the same problem next year, in that your blog is not easily classfied -- being almost as much of a virtual Parisian salon as it is a blog...
Posted by: Kenny Pierce | Tuesday, December 06, 2005 at 11:33 AM
Conlige suspectos semper habitos. Truly you have a beautiful blog here, a visual delight of the first order.
The decision to post an image with every article came as I realized that I express myself as much in images as in words. Telling each story visually, actually takes up even more time, than writing the article itself; and certainly as much, if not more, inspiration is required to carry it off half way successfully. How true that is. I come away from here impressed. Good luck.
Posted by: The Heretik | Monday, December 05, 2005 at 07:40 PM
Congratulations!!! Seems the lefties have united to have Yellow Dog steal the prize. Why can't we have that kinda support over on the right. Oh well, gotta let a dog have his bone. Meanwhile get in there and keep voting for All Things Beautiful. Well done indeed!!!
Posted by: North by Northwest | Monday, December 05, 2005 at 06:10 PM
Well done, Alexandra- you're in very good company!
Posted by: sigmund, carl and alfred | Monday, December 05, 2005 at 05:26 PM
ALLOW ME TO CORRECT MYSELF:
Voting begins "Monday" December 5th through Thursday December 15th.
Posted by: spiritofecstasy | Saturday, December 03, 2005 at 11:10 PM
FOLLOW the links above to understand the voting.
Nomination is only allowed with a TypeKey registration. It seems a weblog only need be nominated once though.
BUT
VOTING "this-very-weekend" is open and "does not" require Typekey.
IF ANY OF THE ABOVE IS INCORRECT PLEASE POST A CORRECTION.
ALSO: I believe a Weblog/Blog can be Nominated in "more than one category."
Posted by: spiritofecstasy | Friday, December 02, 2005 at 08:00 PM
Folks, if Alexandra doesn't win this award, then it will be because we haven't voted for her or promoted her blog enough. No one deserves the design award more than she. Name one blog as stunning as hers. Vote for All Things Beautiful.
Posted by: antimedia | Thursday, December 01, 2005 at 09:24 PM