May 29, 2008
Taking the Long View-Next Stop Denver!Blog
SM began four years ago this summer after I wrote the bloggers who I read every day (who were all more accomplished bloggers than I) a hastily constructed email filled with bad grammar (some things never change). Part of it read like this:
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 21:05:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Abhi ”
Subject: My Fellow Bloggers…
To: “Vinod “, “Manish”, “Anna”Guys,
I have been thinking something over of late and would like to know your thoughts. This is me thinking out loud so don’t worry at all about saying so if the following doesn’t seem like such a good idea or you are not interested. My brain tends to think faster than I can process it all to see if I am actually making sense.
All of us are bloggers and it seems like we all enjoy it as a hobby apart from our careers. We all have different focuses or perhaps no focus at all :) This past week with the Democratic Convention in the news, and all the talk of the bloggers that have been invited and how much power they seem to have, it got me thinking how there is no widely read news/issues/discussion/politics/random musings source target for South Asian Americans on the web. Sure there are lots of magazines like India Abroad and websites like Rediff, but all of these are “old media,” and so diffuse. They all rely on editorial staffs, deadlines, etc. and are not at all dynamic or interactive. There is none of the freshness that a blog can deliver. Plus, most of them lack the perspective of people that grew up in this country. I am convinced that there exists a vacuum out there on the web just waiting to be filled…
I was thinking “what if” all the most widely read South Asian American bloggers joined forces somehow and created a superblog based on the “Menudo” model. This could be the definitive source for South Asian issues/news/opinion/culture/entertainment etc.
All of the bloggers, guest bloggers, contributors, and administrators in our “Menudo” model have worked really hard over the years. Even our readers and commenters have been quoted by major media for their thoughtful opinions. Today, with the arrival of the email below, all of us can say we have a Macaca in the tent:
Congratulations. The Democratic Convention staff has completed its review of blog credential applications and I’m writing to let you know that your blog will be credentialed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
We’re excited to welcome so many blogs to the Convention (about 3 times as many as 2004). And we know you’re eager to make travel plans for August. We’ll contact you next week with logistical information regarding housing, credential distribution, and other key details. You probably have several questions. Please be patient - as our goal is to distribute this information to all credentialed blogs at the same time.
We did it y’all.
[The full list can be found here]
abhi on May 29, 2008 10:06 PM in Blog · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post
¤ Nerve Endings Firing Away said: Macaca in Denver
¤ Ultrabrown said: Ticket punched!
I look forward to reading the sepia-tinted missives from the historic 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, where the nominee will for the first time be a hyphenated American, and a vice presidential frontrunner has Macacagate to thank for his...
Abhi,
Wah! Wah! Aysey baat!
This makes me very thoughtful...
that's very exciting. congratulations!
Very cool--that will fun (and, informative) for sure! Well-done.
no surprise, but awsim!
Macacas REPRESENT!
ps: huma won't appreciate the shady eye, abhi. stay classy.
Congratulations. :-)
That's so cool.
Woohoo!
Congratulations, that's great:)
Yes! Congratulations! (I'm writing to the DNC to ask that the attending mutineers be granted temporary superdelegate status!)
Wow, how exciting! Congratulations =)
Congrats, well deserved. Do they give you just one pass, or will several of the bloggers be going?
HELLA props guys :)
It's nice to see that skinny kids with funny names will be represented in the press box as well as on the podium.
Any chance after the event is over in Denver, you will make the drive to Minnesota for some big event the following week.
As someone who has very limited understanding of the media especially reporting, could you please explain what are the practical implications. Do you have to spin the party line ( pro democrat blah blah) coz you are accredited. What significant advantage does accredited carry over not being accredited. Does this mean that SM is now a part of MSM? On another note, will SM get invited to the Republican convention as well.
Congratulations. It's really quite an honor. I still can't believe you'll be in the same building as Bitch Ph.D. and HorsesAss.org.
(Yeah, I know. Those are great blogs too.)
I think there must be a mistake, cause I didn't see Littlegreenfootballs.com on the list.
highfiiiiiiiive, ROCKSTARS!
Congratulations on the success!
pretty damn cool. congratulations and thanks for sharing. i love this blog!
Congratulations, you guys! Way to go! That is so cool!
Congratulations, that is so COOL!!!
Alhamdulillah!
Congratulations!
Congratulations all!!
Will you be at the Republic Convention as well?
Great job with the blog and good luck!
Congrats. Send Cicatrix!!!
Congratulations! Hard work and patience eventually pay off.
M. Nam
very cool. many congrats.
I will read about the convention sitting in Mysore sipping Coorg coffee and reading my favorite blog!! Yaaay!!!
That is so fucking cool!!! CONGRATULATIONS, y'all, really. Absolutely inspiring.
5 · portmanteau said
Macacas REPRESENT!
ps: huma won't appreciate the shady eye, abhi. stay classy.
lmao!
Props!
Hard work paid off!!! Congratulations
Congratulations. Just remember your lesson from Rob Lowe in '88 Dem Convention - don't set up a video camera.
Right on! Congrats!
Congrats guys!
Congratulations!!
This is really awesome!
But I hope Sepia will not forget its roots just because it has hit the big time, and will keep its focus on keystone desi issues. Such as tonight's spelling bee final.
Shabash, mutineers!
(I, too, secretly hoped that someone would cover the Scripps Finals this week.)
Congrats! This is great!
congrats peoples :)
How can you make claims of being neutral and not selling out [per your fund raising appeal], when you are so clearly pro-Democratic Party?
No that there is anything wrong with the party's agenda, I personally subscribe to most of it.
Abhi: Congratulations to you and your SM Team. Keep up the good work. Next, I am waiting for the other good news !! God Speed and Sweet Moon here I come ! Good Luck.
finally!!! REAL reporting from a convention.
congrats everyone. and abhi, i dont want to see you on cnn balking about michigan and the democratic process.
for real-you guys rock. call me if you get put in detention... ;)
How can you make claims of being neutral and not selling out [per your fund raising appeal], when you are so clearly pro-Democratic Party? No that there is anything wrong with the party's agenda, I personally subscribe to most of it.
What makes you think that we've only applied for permission to blog the DNC? The DNC was mentioned in the email 4 years ago in part because it was more blogger friendly than the RNC, and was in the news as such. We go out of our way to be non-partisan.
Congratulations! I'm excited to hear y'alls perspectives on the convention (one of the few I care about!).
But this begs the question...as Yogi and Melbourne Desi asked...does the Republican Convention even allow blogs? Do you plan on appyling?
*I don't mean to imply that Republicans are anti-blog, just that they seem less interested in embracing web 2.0.
What makes you think that we've only applied for permission to blog the DNC? The DNC was mentioned in the email 4 years ago in part because it was more blogger friendly than the RNC, and was in the news as such. We go out of our way to be non-partisan.
Whoops. Didn't see that. Question answered.
Congrats!!!
How can you make claims of being neutral and not selling out [per your fund raising appeal], when you are so clearly pro-Democratic Party? No that there is anything wrong with the party's agenda, I personally subscribe to most of it.
What makes you think that we've only applied for permission to blog the DNC? The DNC was mentioned in the email 4 years ago in part because it was more blogger friendly than the RNC, and was in the news as such. We go out of our way to be non-partisan.
"We go out of our way to be non-partisan." It would be better if SM went out of its way to be honest. SM's treatment of Indian american republican candidates compared to indian american democratic candidates reveals just how non-partisan SM is. Compare SM's treatment of Raj Bhakta or Amit Singh to Ashwin Madia.
Compare SM's treatment of Raj Bhakta or Amit Singh to Ashwin Madia.
Huh? We interviewed them extensively, letting them speak in their own words, and inviting them to respond to questions from readers. What was unfair in the treatment of the Republican Candidates?
Vadeeia! Mubaraka! Congrats!
Compare SM's treatment of Raj Bhakta or Amit Singh to Ashwin Madia.
Huh? We interviewed them extensively, letting them speak in their own words, and inviting them to respond to questions from readers. What was unfair in the treatment of the Republican Candidates?
Are you honestly saying there is no difference in tone in SM's profile of Amit Singh to that of Ashwin Madia?
Are you honestly saying there is no difference in tone in SM's profile of Amit Singh to that of Ashwin Madia?
I second Ennis. Huh?? If anything Singh got the better treatment and even got to pre-screen his questions from the readers, unlike Madia who answered them live.
I'll be paying for Denver out of my own pocket. If readers want to help out by paying for Minnesota I'll see if I can go there as well. But Ennis is right, the DNCC is a lot more vocal in courting bloggers than the RNC which is the primary reason that we applied to the DNC. Plus, let's face it, the DNC will be more exciting than the RNC this year.
Plus, let's face it, the DNC will be more exciting than the RNC this year.
Why do you say that? Because McCain is willing overwhelmingly in the primaries? I mean only 20-25% of republicans vote against him in primaries even after he's the nominee. If that's not success, I don't know what is.
I'll be paying for Denver out of my own pocket.
You don't want us to fund your rocky mountain high? And your "interview" with Huma?
Well done guys.
And totally respect the long play.
It's pretty obvious the DNC will be more exciting than the RNC this year. The RNC, if its anything like the atmosphere around most repubs. in Washington, will be kinda depressing.. losing strong-republicans house seats in the south, supposedly safe senate seats no longer so, and well all that gwb fatigue
oh, and awesome job guys!
That's Great! Congratulations.
Its been four years eh? Wow... seems justl like yesterday that you all began this venture. :)
Rockstars! Congratulations!!
Congrats!! 4 more years!!
Congratulations!
Rock it! Really looking forward to reading the updates - congratulations!
Are you honestly saying there is no difference in tone in SM's profile of Amit Singh to that of Ashwin Madia?
Maybe what you're picking up on is the difference in style between Vinod's posts and Abhi's.
Yay!! Nice to see small cities (in terms of Desi population), like Denver, getting some love on one of my favorite blogs. I'll be volunteering at the Democratic National Convention, perhaps we can have a SM meetup?
I have friends in the Denver area who read SM daily, so I dont think getting people is an issue (the Desi scene in Denver/Colorado is pretty weak). I think my friends in Denver/Boulder start classes around August 25th: University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Denver, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Colorado Health Science Center. I'm sure you can get college-age Desi in Colorado to check out a SM meetup (not sure about young professionals or others).
Anyway, if you want Desi food in Denver, I recommend my friend's restaurant Little India (north Indian Denver) and Masala (south Indian; Aurora - suburb of Denver). Masala has the best dosa I've had in the US (compared to south Indian restaurants in NY,DC, Chicago, etc). If you want quality dosa/uttampam, hit up Masala.
....oh, congratulations! Well done :).
Guys.... this is awesome.
Congrats Mutineers! The little piece of the blogosphere I write for, DCist was also credentialled under the DNC's State Blogger Program. Woo Hoo!
Paging the Intern! Could you please delete "Jessica"@69, who is on a spamming spree through multiple threads for her website?
Congratulations. Although, clearly it must be due to the fact that the presumptive nominee is a 'caca himself (reference curious george obama shirts being sold at local restaurant/bar in Atlanta).
