The NATIE for reporting is for straight reporting.   That isn’t to imply that the other reporting on is somehow less heterosexual, but instead to point out the lack of opinion in the articles.  This is my “No Spin Zone” to quote the great Bill O’Reilly.   These articles attempt to give the fair and balanced coverage that a Fox News or Newsmax gives rather than Rush Limbaugh style opinion.  As a conservative blogger, I consider it my duty to provide the simple facts which show the rightness of conservative thought.    The nominees for the 2009 NATIE for reporting:

1. Texas Makes The Ultimate Sacrifice to Defend Marriage (www.thatsrightnate.com)
2. Obama Bungles H1N1 Vaccine (www.thatsrightnate.com)
3. How the Jack O’Lantern Kept Christianity Alive (www.thatsrightnate.com)
4. Arne Duncan Clears Himself in Student Death (www.thatsrightnate.com)
5. The Bristol Palin Abstinence Tour (www.thatsrightnate.com)
6. 75% of Oklahomans Can’t Name First President (www.thatsrightnate.com)

And the winner is How the Jack O’Lantern Kept Christianity Alive.

It is tremendously exciting to get back to my winning ways.   All of the stories had something I appreciated, but my faith is very important to me and the war to strip Halloween of all it’s Christian history must be fought.   I’m proud that my article earned some recognition for this cause.

”We want to congratulate Altitude Junkies for their great attitude in C1,” wrote Portuguese Daniela Teixeira from Gasherbrums BC in early August. When independent climbers thank commercial expeditions, a wind of change is blowing.

After being told to mind their own business, Altitude Junkies went inside a crack, recovered the trash bags, brought them to BC and silently emptied them right in front of the offenders mess tent.

French team member Arian Lemal later compiled such a sensible report on expedition waste that the community actually took it to heart.

In the past, the main objective of many environmental expeditions has been money rather than sanitation. Altitude Junkies showed that much can be accomplished by small means if the purpose is true.

Soon after, another commercial outfit went beyond its duties, for an independent climber.

“Deciding to help was automatic,” team member Dave Ohlson told ExplorersWeb. “We had returned previously from K2 of course, but circumstances changed when we heard of a Spanish climber trapped on the NW ridge of Latok II, a 7100 meter peak off the Biafo glacier.”

Field Touring Alpine joined the search for Oscar Perez without thinking twice. The rescue attempt was unsuccessful but its legacy remains. “I had never met Oscar, Alvaro or any of the Spanish,” Dave told ExWeb afterwards, “[but] Oscar is one of us and we all hope our brothers would help if we were in need.”

Later in fall, several commercial teams helped keep the records straight on true summits.

“I know that when I plan my Everest trip in the next 3 years I would spend an extra $10k to work with a company that has corporate compassion,” a reader wrote to ExplorersWeb in relation to commercial guide Luis Benitez speaking out on Nangpa La.

This is the first time commercial outfits receive an ExWeb award. We hope it’s the first of many.

Related story: Arian Lemal: waste management +8000 m style.

Related story: ExWeb interview with Latok II rescuer Dave Ohlson, “deciding to help was automatic”.

Related story: “I would spend an extra $10k to work with a company that has corporate compassion”

Special mentions:
- Good guys leaving too early: Tomaz, Piotr, Serguey, Martin, Oscar, Roby…
- GIII/GIV attempt and rescue.
- Nives Meroi, fame for love.
- North Pole-Greenland crossing and polar records.

* Previous story :

-   Best of ExplorersWeb 2009 Awards – Special mention.

–  ExplorersWeb Year 2009 in Review: Farewell to friends.

-   ExplorersWeb Year 2009 in Review: Polar adventures.

-   ExplorersWeb Year 2009 in Review: Significant climbs.

-   ExplorersWeb Year 2009 in Review: The Oceans.

-   ExplorersWeb Year 2009 in Review: Mount Everest.

-   ExplorersWeb Year 2009 in Review: Controversies.

-   ExplorersWeb Year 2009 in Review: Technology and Space.

-   Tragedy in the Himalaya, 2009 climbing season.

Exweb Week-In-Review is sponsored by HumanEdgeTech the world’s premier supplier of expedition technology. Our team helps you find ultra light expedition tech that works globally.

e-mail or call +1 212 966 1928

* Read these stories – and more! – at ExplorersWeb.com

zapraszam do subskrypcji mego bloga

The Natie Award for Opinion Blogging replaces the previous award for News Analysis.   This award is given to the article that best captures it’s authors opinions.  These opinions need not be backed up by facts or research, much like George Will’s columns.  Articles in this category enable the blogger to communicate with his reading public without facts or threat of litigation standing in the way.   In an amazing surprise all of the nominees are from www.thatsrightnate.com.  However, one of the articles is from Congressman Jack Kimble (R-CA) and another one is from Mrs. B. Wright marking the first time that articles not written by myself were nominated.    Here are the top 6 nominees:

1. Why Republicans Voted Against Funding Our Troops (www.thatsrightnate.com/ Nate Peele – Author)
2. That’s Why They Call it the First Amendment (www.thatsrightnate.com/Mrs. B. Wright – Author)
3. Racism, They Name is America (www.thatsrightnate.com/Nate Peele – Author)
4. Congressman Kimble’s Rebuttal to Obama’s School Speech (www.thatsrightnate.com/Congressman Jack Kimble – Author)
5. Obama Merit Pay Plan a Good Start (www.thatsrightnate.com/Nate Peele – Author)
6. Republican Party Must Become Sexual Predators by 2012 (www.thatsrightnate.com/Nate Peele – Author)

And the winner is That’s Why They Call it the First Amendment by Mrs. B. Wright.

This is a groundbreaking win as she is not only the first female to win a Natie, but the first person other than myself to win won.  On her twitter account @Wingnutte, Mrs. Wright sent out the following messages, “I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the NATIE committee. Let me be clear, I do not view this as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but as an affirmation of …but as an affirmation of the teapartiers, wingnuts, and all people who understand that fear is the greatest motive force in civilization.”   Truer words have never been spoken.

FOR MY GOOD FRIEND DORAZ WITH DORAZSAYS….

A CARTOON SIGN FOR MY BIRD LOVING FRIEND DORAZ!

GARYS BABIES…WITH GARYS WORLD…

A LITTLE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR MY FRIEND GARY!

A SPECIAL GIFT FOR A VERY GOOD FRIEND….

There is no award that is more respected or more coveted than the Naties.   Each year the Natie awards are given out to the blogs that best exemplify creative use of new media technologies to advance excellence in the fields of journalism and reporting.   The 2008 Natie Award for Investigative Reporting went to The Obama Ad that the Networks Won’t Play.   This award requires original content rather than commentary about something seen on another blog.   2009 saw many worthy articles in blogs across the internets, but the following truly stood out and are our 2009 Nominees:

1. How I Started an Internet Tidalwave (www.thatsrightnate.com)
2. Congressman’s Book Shields Children from Obama (www.thatsrightnate.com)
3. Debating My Daughter on Health Care (www.thatsrightnate.com)
4. I Interview Congressman Jack Kimble About Health Care (www.thatsrightnate.com)
5. The Healthcare Chart Obama Doesn’t Want You to See (www.thatsrightnate.com)
6. My Graduation Address to Sawyer Community College (www.thatsrightnate.com)
7. Bilandic Elementary School Memorial Day Celebration Lacks Focus (www.thatsrightnate.com)
8. Chicago Tea Party a Huge Success (www.thatsrightnate.com)

And the winner is How I Started an Internet Tidalwave.

It is a true honor to be nominated for even one Natie in a given category, so imagine my surprise when I discovered I had swept all nominations for the Investigative Reporting Natie.  I was particularly proud of the winning article, but I think all 8 are very strong.   I’d like to thank Congressman Kimble, my daughter Emily, and the administration of Sawyer Community College for their help and support.

FREE BRUTUS THE DOG CARTOON…..

THIS CARTOON IS FREE TO PLACE ON YOUR BLOG!

I HOPE YOU WILL, AT LEAST ALL MY DOG LOVIN FRIENDS ANYWAY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

I HOPE THIS DAY BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR HEART IS FILLED WITH JOY!

Check it out! Apartment Therapy is hosting The Homies (awards) which nominates the best new home design blogs. There are so many fun, creative blogs out there that need a little credit. Vote for your favorite in categories like: Design, Tech, Green, Kids, Cooking. What fun!

PET PEOPLES..FREE CHRISTMAS BLOG SIGN

HERE IS A CUTE SIGN FOR CHRISTMAS FOR ALL THE KITTY AND DOGGIE BLOGS.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY AND PASTE IT INTO YOUR SITE.

“IT’S A PAWS KISMAS!”

My dear blogging friend, Heather, at Gofita’s Pages has awarded me the Circle of Friends Award. Thank you so much for thinking of me. Now, I believe I am to list 5 things I love to do and then pass this on to 5 other amazing bloggers. So, here goes!

Five Things I Love to Do
1. Reading
2. hanging out with my husband
3. watching movies
4. shopping at flea markets/thriftstores/antique shops
5. playing board games

I would like to pass this on to the following:
1. Three Wishes
2. TheVintageWife
3. Doe-C-Doe
4. Cloudbusting
5. DigsFrocksandBooks

It is wonderful meeting people and making friends through the blogging world! I am grateful for this award and for the opportunities blogging has given me.

Thanks to all of my readers who complied with my subtle hints to vote for me in the previous round. Thanks to your plentiful exertions of left-mouse button clicking, yours truly has made it into the final round of Canada’s Best Political Blog from an original list of 48 contenders. And if you look at the final list of 10, I’m up against a stiff field of leftists and feminists. So when you think about it, it would go against everything you stand for as a human being not to vote for me. You’ll also notice that our political allies at Dust my Broom are also in the top 10. Because of the unique ranking system this year, you can vote for them as well.

I don’t think I can emphasize enough how many people will turn out to vote for Daveberta and Calgary Grit, with the former being the reigning champion in this category. And because we cannot in good conscience let the Liberals win [again], it would behoove you to tell all your friends, family, and co-workers to vote for me in the final round. Once a day should suffice.

But enough talking about voting for me [although we've established how critical that is]. There are other interesting categories to go and vote in, including best overall blog which has our brothers at the Torch up for consideration. Browse all the categories at your leisure.

i got an award from Amanda

awesome sauce

and as with award etiquette you have to give off some random info about yourself and pass it onto other people you think are amazeballs so lets start with the info…10 things am most looking forward to.

the new year regular readers will understand why so won’t explain

the xmas sales hello i need a new wardrobe to return home wit…if am gonna go back a disappointment i might as well go back in style

a job i would say i want any job but i don’t i know wot job i want even if it means starting from the very bottom. i will get it.eventually.

playing in the snow i was born in Africa we don’t have snow. this weather is AWESOME.

seeing the family its been too long.

visiting Cape Town/perhaps living there again have you seen how amazingly beautiful this city is?google image it!

the uncertainty tht is my life its tough sometimes but its these things that have made me stronger and will help me become the truly awesome person i know i can be

being happy

travelling more

2010 HELLO new year=new beginnings=new experiences

and i pass this award to

LISA

PINK JELLYBABY

THE GIRL IN THE STILETTO

A CHRISTMAS WISH……FREE BLOG SIGN FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

I‘ve been missisng in action for the past two weeks, so when I checked my comments and saw I had been awarded with a blog award, I could not believe it! When I blog, I don’t think too much about it. There are moments when I think I could be doing better, or that my writing sucks, but I try not to take myself too seriously. I enjoy writing much more when I take on that mentality!

I would like to give a special thanks to fellow blogger/mom/New Yorker Linda who writes the amazing blog www.Newyorkcitysinglemom.com For me, her blog is a must read, and I respect her honesty and her openess, and as a Gemini she loves juicy celebrity gossip! Thank you to all the people who come to read my humble little blogs! I really do appreciate it! I will passing this award on to some of my favorites starting this week!

I’ve been awarded an…um, award (heh heh) by Munchesmom over at Four Blessings Academy!!

This is going to be a toughie, as I am pretty open with  you guys.  So, let me ruminate for a second and see if I can come up with some things that you don’t know….

1.  I know now that as much as I thought things at Happy Acres sucked, it was unfortunately more “normal” than I ever knew.  Having worked at another company plus having friends who have moved on from there, when we get back together, we realize that every company is pretty effed up.

2.  I am following so many blogs and websites now that a majority of my day is spent in my Google Reader.  But I can’t figure out which ones to cut out, as I love them all, so I keep it up. 

3.  I really wish that I would never hear about Tiger Woods again.

4. I wish that I were photogenic.  It takes many photos to get ONE of me looking good.

5.  I still can’t believe that I will be 40 in a little over 2 years. I still feel like the young girl just going off to college most days.

6.  I never knew how much my career defined me until I couldn’t find a job.

7.  I love that age is mellowing me, to where I don’t read as much into things, and to where I am secure in my relationships.

Okay, there you go!  Now it’s my turn to hand out the award, so here goes:

1.  Andie

2. Ron

3.  Savvy Gal

4. FB

5. Booshy

6.  Alison

7.  Well-Heeled

Thanks Munchesmom!!

From Lee at Hormones, Headaches and Hotflashes:

It went out to all her readers, but she went through the time and had the patience to list all our blogs with link! Gotta love her. And read her, because she’s very funny, a great writer and engaging. Her vlogs are relaly good, too. Not everyone can pull off a vlog and be so natural in it.

LoudMouth Louise wishes you all a Happy Holiday…

THIS CARTOON IS FREE TO POST TO YOUR SITE OR TO GIVE OUT AS A HOLIDAY GREETING CARD ON YOUR SITE.

It’s been some time since I’ve done this favorable blogger shout out feature, so I figured it’d make a nice change of pace to get back to it today. As most of my regular readers know, the Old Silly doesn’t do blog awards. Well, that is, I accept awards, they are kind and thoughtful gestures, and I do appreciate the consideration and thought behind them. I just don’t very often get involved in the meme tag games that so often accompany them and I refuse to comply with any rules attached to receiving and passing them on. Not my style. That’s one reason I put the “Blog Awards” page on this blog. On that page you can see the awards and in most cases you can click on them and go to the giver’s blog – my way of giving back and helping other bloggers’ traffic and readership.

But enough about me and my quirks. Today I want to call your attention to a fabulous woman, a prolific and terrific blogger, published author, and an excellent writing coach.

Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Elizabeth bestowed the award below upon the Old Silly, which was an impetus for me to revive this Friday feature thingy. I think it was just last week she gave it to me. Maybe a bit earlier. Not exactly sure, must be the Half-Heimers acting up, but it was recently, okay? Stop laughing at me.

 Here it is- 

And you know what I like about this one that’s special? Here’s the “rules” that go with it:

• You can post this image to your blog…or not.
• You may share this award with others…if you like.
• You may adapt or alter this image in any way.

See? Now that’s my style and my kinda gal! Totally Free Spirited, no strings attached, giving without expectations, and oh, here – she finished up by saying to the several bloggers she had listed to receive her award, “I want you all to know that I appreciate you.”

Well, I appreciate you too, Elizabeth. And for anyone who has not had the pleasure of reading her blog yet, the Old Silly does heartily encourage you to go over to Mystery Writing is Murder blog for daily doses of entertaining, informative, and wonderful insights into the craft of writing good prose. She has this incredible gift of making analogies out of everyday life experiences and turning them into literary tutorials. Great stuff. You’ll love it. You will want to follow this blog, trust me. 

So Elizabeth? Please accept this Old Silly Award for Excellence in Entertainment blogging, as well as the Marvaholics Anonymous Award. Both of them are exclusive, they only come from me and are not meant to be passed around.

You can have either one or both, or it won’t bother me none if you don’t take either one – totally up to you. Plaster ‘em on your main page, or stick ‘em on some back page, or just print them out and make paper planes with ‘em. Heck – have a plane throwing contest with your kids. Won’t hurt my feelings whatever ya do with ‘em. Except’n if you start one of them flippin’ play date meme tag games with them – do that and I’ll stop following you on Twitter. Okay, maybe nothing that serious, but just sayin’ …

Okay. That’s it for today, gang. Stop back in tomorrow for a Saturday Pontification, got a real whiz banger for y’all.

All right, now it’s really gotta go time. Chow. Toodles, guys – blog dismissed. 

Click on Tweety Bird and tweet this post if you liked it!

FOR MY DOGGIE FRIENDS…BLOG SIGNS FOR CHRISTMAS….

FREE FOR THE TAKING!

My blogging friend…..PURPLE HATTER… has given us all some pretty special gifts. They are awards he personally designed for me and all of you. Just take a look! I wish to say THANK YOU to my special friend. He is always thinking of us all.

So, be sure to go by and say hi to PURPLE HATTER …and see what his blog is all about. Have fun and tell hi I said HI

LOUD MOUTH LOUISE..SENIOR CHRISTMAS PARTY AWARD!

HERE IS ANOTHER SPECIAL AWARD FROM LOUD MOUTH LOUISE TO ALL OUR BLOG FRIENDS AND FAMILY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST THIS ON YOUR BLOG AND HAND OUT TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

THE UN-PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE AWARD IS AWARDED TO ALL OF MY BLOG FRIENDS AND THERE FRIENDS, AND THERE FRIENDS AND SO ON…
HAVE FUN WITH IT FOLKS.