UPDATE - the servers are responding like molasses, but we're currently just 80 votes back of Ace, with 75 minutes left to go...
now 35 votes behind with 35 minutes...
4:32 and now only 22 votes behind...17 minutes.left...
DON'T refresh your browsers to keep track of the votes - you're eating up server resources and SDA voters are trying to get in to vote. If the page hangs, be patient - it will probably load eventually.
4:50pm Latest comments indicate we've taken the lead, but in the single digits.
And it's over! "311 - 259, yehaaaw, looks like you may have made it Kate,,,,,"
Well done, one and all - the results aren't official until the logs are reviewed for cheating, but one thing is certain: those who discount the Canadian conservative blogosphere's ability to mobilize voters do so at their peril!
Final Update: Here's what the traffic was like at the Weblog Awards site -
Kevin Aylward writes - "For the next 24 hours we will be finishing our assessments of all of the vote logs in all of the categories. To date there have been no votes subtracted, but that may well change before winners are certified. In the event vote totals are corrected for identified cheating we will leave a note on the poll page where the change is made. The certified list of winners will be published here on Thursday morning. "
Now, I'm going to have (another) drink and relax for a few hours. I suggest you all do the same!
And let slip the Richardson's Ground Squirrels of War!
Voting ends at 5pm eastern - be patient if you're trying to vote, the servers are getting slammed at the Weblog awards. To this end, please avoid refreshing your blogger to watch the vote totals. It only makes things worse.
To those who are concerned about claims of "cheating", remember that the Weblog Awards team will be auditing the logs for signs of this, and so the totals are not final until they say so.
Thanks to everyone for your efforts. No matter the final outcome, SDA has managed to exceed our wildest expectations. This has been a blast!
Sorry Kate, I have done all I can as far as voting for you goes, except that I did email Bill O'Reilly at the O'Reilly factor on FOX cable advising him about your Canadian Stubblejumper battle with the American biggies.
Yeah, now even O'Reilly is aware of the Mighty Kate McMillan's Small Dead Animals "conservative' blog!!
All the best!
Anyone else have problems accessing the Weblog's site?
It's going to be slow - they've had nearly a million votes in 8 days. Just hang in there - remember that the enemy is having the same problems!
Kate: I have done my part too! All the best to SDA!
Yes, the poll is not loading, probably from heavy traffic,just keep trying. It took me a few times to get in.
Yes, Penny. It took about 40 tries for me to connect and get the ballot to load. I couldn't bring up the Best ME Blog ballot at all, either today or yesterday.
I can not get on either. Will keep trying though!
I can not get on either. Will keep trying though!
Keep voting! SDA is 102 votes behind. Keep hitting until you get through, Kate needs every vote.
Just got in... try to connect and just 'let it sit' for a few minutes.
has anyone called Charles Adler yet this afternoon?
I guess the little guy gets nailed by the light saber, right? Otherwise he wouldn't be "dead"?
Anyway, I love it all!
Will the loser pull an Al Franken and demand a recount?
Yes, Penny. It took about 40 tries for me to connect and get the ballot to load. I couldn't bring up the Best ME Blog ballot at all, either today or yesterday.
Posted by: Charles MacDonald at January 13, 2009 2:10 PM
-------------
This is our hanging chad moment, people. To the courts!
C'mon everyone! lets get a big surge to the finish! Go Kate!
I finally got through this morning long enough to vote for Kate and Ezra, half an hour later it was time to go. Just tried to vote the balance of my choices but am running out of patience.
Keep voting SDA'rs!
I tried yesterday and today and couldn't get in to vote!
Finally got on for a last HURRA! Go Kate!!!!!!!!!
Talking about you on Adler, Kate! Get ready for the surge!
Just got in after 2-3 minutes only. First on-line poll I've ever voted in. I've been voting every day.
Just 173 behind Ace.
Whatever the outcome, a great achievement Kate!
Remember folks:
If #1, paypal to congratulate
If #2, paypal for consolate.
Yup, remember that when CTV announces "Charles Adler Live"...
Ok Kate,,,, got my last and final vote in, took 7 tries and I wasted an hour of Gummint time to do it, it was 13,999 - 14,159.
Good Luck,,, and God Speed from Mt. Olive, Louisi-Yana, Sunny and 46 Degress F.
ps. I bet you dayyam Canadians were wishing about now that AGW was real... ;-)
,
Last vote gone in.
Here's hoping...
oooooo...a nice pair of jeans just walked by.
brb
I think SDA should be voted for best blog period. Voting it as best conservative blog is selling Kate's efforts too short.
I've never considered SDA to be a conservative blog; Kate is far too smart and far to insightful to be a conservative. Kate, I see you more as a libertarian than a rightoid.
Just gave my last vote. I've never been much for participating in "popularity" contests as I've never been on the "popular" end of the stick. However, I've known Kate for at least 8 years now (both from the net and a few face-to-faces over that time) and can truly appreciate what an accomplishment this is for her.
Not only is sda a smashing success with all the time and effort that entails, but Kate also is a fabulous artist, works extremely hard to keep afloat as an artist, breeds and raises some of the finest examples of Miniature Schnauzers in the world, devotes countless hours and dollars in furthering scientific research into problems plaguing her beloved dog breed, still takes time to enjoy her family and have a life, all the while exhibiting the sharpest wit I have ever encountered and being just an all-around terrific person to count as a friend. I'm not trying so much to inflate Kate's ego as I am trying to figure out how in the hell she manages to get it all done!
Bravo, Kate. You inspire me.
OK done my bit as an Englishman presently in Denmark for the smartest girl in Saskatchewan. we might despair but lets not go down without a fight. Going to put in the final vote for Ezra now. Will have to wait for tomorrow to see how it all turned out. God Bless you.
I've done what I can do...if it's close, might I suggest a coaltion with you (26.2% presently), Atlas (12.8%) and LGF (11.1% total 50.1%) to claim your rightful place at the top of the conservative pantheon.
(Other blogs selected only due to their coincidental adding up to just over 50% not as any endorsement thereof)
I can't vote until around 4 pm, and I don't want to overload the server, so it would be nice if those who manage to vote would provide a quick update on the results.
I can't vote no mo, I am all voted up.
Can Small Live Animals vote? If yes, then Buster the cat would probably vote for you too, even if you are a dog breeder!
And yes Buster brings us Small Dead Animals like mice and occasionally a big rat. But for voting purposes I think they are roadkill.
Cheers and much success,
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group "True North"
Grrr.I couldn't get in from work today, but just got in now for the last vote (from home)
This has been way too much fun Kate.
I mentioned last night AOS is boring.
The last count was 26.4% for Ace of Spades and 26.3% SDA. If Kate's right and they disallow multiple votes from the same address in 24 hours, then SDA has this one.
I'd love it if we got enough people in for the surge to push Kate over the top in popular vote even with their cheating ways.
59 votes behind, I have voted on every computer that I own.
Just voted for the last time 2:07 MST.
AOS 14,220
SDA 14,168
Rodent hordes, go!
This grim rodent just voted now for the last time. Everyone, let's get the remaining rodent vote out.
Good luck, Kate and you're right, win or lose, this has got to be great for SDA and SDAers.
I am leaving work right now, my Buddy downtown has 2 more PC's and more than likely a cold beer.
,
just submitted my last possible vote!
AoS: 14,229
SDA: 14,194
31 Votes behind.....VOTE!
Call you friends, call your kids, get out a few more votes in the last 1/2 hour.
Lemmings don't jump off cliffs, that was a myth.
In general rodents are very good at organization and mobilization.
Ha! My 24 hour cycle expired for one more vote for Kate, the 'web-mistress', and now designated the honorary title of:
Countess Kate McMillan, Her Majesty's Royal Uber- Blogger
Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief
Frankenstein Battalion
2nd Squadron: Ulanen-(Lancers) Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von
Baden(Rheinisches) Nr.7(Saarbrucken)
Knecht Rupprecht Division
Hans Corps
1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group "True North"
Cry havoc...
Damn, I love a good Star Trek quote ;-)
Khaaaannnnnnnn!
LMAO.This is a hoot.
Call my kid at home to vote. She's just laughing at me.
Called my parents at their home to vote. They're confused and can't figure out how to get to the poll.
20 minutes to go, 20 votes behind!!
So much for that...finally got into the voting site - it says 0 votes cast in the Best Conservative Blog category...and that I have already voted in the last 24 hours (not true).
If these folks want to make their awards meaningful, they might want to program a website that actually works. And feed the (obviously) starving hamsters/gerbils that are powering their servers.
There are twenty minutes left to enlarge Kate's SDA territory to cover all of North America as the Best Conservative Blog in ALL of North America!!
It's not LUCK Kate it's your Karma!!!
You go Girl!!
Too close to call right now. Nevertheless, to be this close against an American blog, and considering that America has roughly ten times the population of Canada... certainly not a result to sneeze at!
But I'll call for my own... it appears that I'm solidly in sixth place out of ten finalists in 'Best Canadian Blog'.
An improvement of two places over 2007. Not bad, and I beat four Leftist blogs.
Well, it's been fun, this election-like thingy...
It's 3:45 and SDA has 14247 votes wile Ace of Spades has 14249. It's as close as it can ever get. If you have not voted today then vote now.
Only 6 behind! VOTE!
Wow, this is close. Kate's up by 5 with 11 minutes to go.
Yehaaaaw,,, I just put you over with 2 votes Kate,,,
14,257 - 14,254
Voted. Kate is in the lead: 14,264 to 14,254. 54,179 votes cast.
For note, I still think Ace and Kate should team up for a Ameri-Canuck bashing of all things left-leaning.
For note, I voted at 1:15, to put you over the top.
Voters only look up the tally - but do post here !!