There will be a big announcement tomorrow on A Clown on Fire, something in the vicinity of the size of my one-ab. This announcement required a few changes to my blog, notably on my blogroll. It was radically reduced.
When I first created a blogroll, I added my friends’ blogs, even if these were not updated regularly (can you say 2009?). Step two came when I started increasing my readership. I added my favourite bloggers, and left some behind… In general, it was well received… But then, something strange happened… Some bloggers were disappointed, and I became the proud new owner of a few guilt trips. Le Clown is an arse, but his author is a rather sensitive man… So I added everyone I thought I could to my blogroll and ended up with The World’s Most Generous Blogroll Ever… Time passed, and that blogroll became less and less representative of Le Clown: a melting pot of fabulous people, but let’s face it… I only read 10% of you…
I grabbed my QWERTY, and went through a great deal of DELETE / BLINKING CURSOR / ENTER / SPACE until I was left with 21 of my favourite bloggers, the core of whom Le Clown reads. What a great feeling it was to purge… This is my gift to you, readers and drifters: my top 21. Enjoy.
Yah!! I made the cut!! I never make the cut!! You are a kind and generous soul, Le Clown.
Wait.
No you’re not.
See what the inclusion on a blogroll will do to a woman? Crazy talk.
Posted by meizac | August 26, 2012, 11:13Meizac,
You are a regular reader and contributor, you have been my personal assistant, and I read your blog. Of course you made the cut.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:17Oh, see, and I thought it was just because you liked me. (sticking my tongue out at you….)
Posted by meizac | August 26, 2012, 11:20Meizac,
Don’t push it.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:21Noted. (very serious face.)
Posted by meizac | August 26, 2012, 11:23A blogroll is a tricky thing. That’s why I put off making one for a year. Didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings if they were left off. But my new rule is that they only go on if I’ve been reading them for at least 3 months and I really look forward to their posts and make time out of my crazy baby-saturated days to read them.
Posted by The Waiting | August 26, 2012, 11:15Emily,
I got caught into not wanting to hurt anyone, and I succumbed to the guilt trips, which my own fault. I read many more blogs than the one displayed on my blogroll, but these 20 are the most regular, and some like Roller Giraffe and Madame Weebles are simply my favourite ones. I hope I don’t hurt anyone in the process, but this abbreviated version feels right.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:19I read way more than I have listed too. It kind of comes down to who do I read that I feel others will enjoy too. I checked yours out, and I read many of the blogs you have listed. You have good taste. But then again you are magnificent.
Posted by The Waiting | August 26, 2012, 12:06Roll on, Le nephew, roll on…
Posted by Sword-chinned bitch | August 26, 2012, 11:18Auntie Sandee,
I rolled and chopped and rolled and….
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:20Grats you two! ;0)
Posted by Veggiewitch | August 26, 2012, 11:27VW,
We’re comfortable and happy with this decision…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:48Good thing I’m in there, otherwise I’d send my boys up there to work you over, and not in a good way.
Posted by Madame Weebles | August 26, 2012, 11:28Madame Weebles,
You were part of that handful of bloggers (with The Ringmistress) who have a VIP access to this blog…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:47I made it! This so the opposite of middle school. This doesn’t mean i have to recap another True Blood episode, does it?
Posted by speaker7 | August 26, 2012, 11:33Speaker 7,
If I would have been a captain in Phys. Ed, I would have picked you without even blinking…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:45I read most of these regularly as well. They are all very deserving.
Posted by Fish Out of Water | August 26, 2012, 11:39Fish,
There are many deserving ones, like yours, but those are really the one I read the most, and enjoy. And this is what I want to give people who comes this way…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:44Well it is your blogroll, Le Clown. You give us what you want to give us and we will love you for it. That’s why we’re here.
Posted by Fish Out of Water | August 26, 2012, 11:47Fish,
Thanks. You’re good people.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:50I’m only trying to keep up with you.
Posted by Fish Out of Water | August 26, 2012, 11:52Le Clown,
Yes, it feels good to clean house. And I don’t know who said it but, you can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. I think I found your site through Madame Weebles, so glad I did. And I love RollerGiraffe and LameAdventures. Will check out the others soon. I just need a few more hours in the day! I do have four blogs that I go to immediately when I get notification – yours, Madame Weebles, Roller Giraffe and Lame Adventures. I guess there a trend there…they’re always well written and entertaining. Congrats, you guys!
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Ulrich | August 26, 2012, 11:48Cathy,
Absolutely. And I need to make a choice at some point: great bloggers all around, but some are dear to me, and these are the ones I will read each morning with my cup of coffee (and a few others like yours – when you post… I shit you not).
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 11:49I know. It’s always nice to see that you’ve been by.
Posted by Cathy Ulrich | August 26, 2012, 12:24Was it Abe Lincoln who said that thing about people?
Posted by saradraws | August 27, 2012, 13:04fuck you’re funny…
Posted by Le Clown | August 27, 2012, 13:05Not surprised not to make the list – and that’s OK. I’ll still read your missives.
Posted by DeeDee | August 26, 2012, 12:09DeeDee,
It’s not so much about I have have removed, but more about who I have kept. These are the ones I interact and read and banter with the most… Simply. You are a great blogger.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 12:12Aw, thanks!
I wasn’t reading it as rejection – just prioritization – and I get that. More in keeping with the blog identity, anyway.
Posted by DeeDee | August 26, 2012, 12:14Le Clown has made me très heureuse. As a child picked last in gym class, I can now say “In Your Face!” to those kids who never picked me. Hey, they had their chance.
Blogrolls are tricky. Mine is growing exponentially. Perhaps eventually it will contain every WordPress blog out there. Thank you for including me on yours. It’s much appreciated.
Posted by Carrie Rubin | August 26, 2012, 12:14Carrie,
I hate disappointing, and that’s what happened last time, I made choices so I wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. I am comfortable with the top 21. And I had no hesitation in keeping you there.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 12:16Merci.
Posted by Carrie Rubin | August 26, 2012, 12:18My puny pigeon chest is so swollen with pride my next door neighbor is now under the impression that I had overnight breast augmentation.
Posted by lameadventures | August 26, 2012, 12:54V,
Wait till you see part II of the changes announced tomorrow… You will look as if you’d just come out of a triple K breast augmentation…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 13:00I’m overwhelmed with suspense. Is it time to buy torpedo cone bras or will I return to wearing tee shirts intended for ten-year-old boys?
Posted by lameadventures | August 26, 2012, 13:04Virginia,
I would call Vivid if I were you…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 13:10Is that a reference to strikingly bright or porn parody or “tune in tomorrow”?
Posted by lameadventures | August 26, 2012, 13:20I’ll lend you one of my bras, V.
Posted by Madame Weebles | August 26, 2012, 15:11You’re a bud Weebs! I’ll invest the shekels you’ve saved me in the fine foodstuffs & spirits we’ll share when we hang out with Natasia next month.
Posted by lameadventures | August 26, 2012, 15:27This sounds like a mighty fine plan. More goat cheese for everyone!
Posted by Madame Weebles | August 26, 2012, 15:30Yeah!
Posted by lameadventures | August 26, 2012, 15:33I really need to do this because I read some awesome folks I think others should too.. Thanks mucho for including me and even if you had not, no worries because we both like to chat and drink good coffee
Posted by free penny press | August 26, 2012, 13:07Lynne,
I had to, because I wanted to. End of discussion.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 13:11But, but I just invited you for teaaaa! What about the teaaaaa?
Posted by aliceatwonderland | August 26, 2012, 13:26Alice,
We could have tea in a park, close to the rabbit hole…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 13:30Ah, well jolly good, then. Carry on.
Honestly, I’d be just as guilty about the blog roll thing except that 1) I’ve forgotten how to add or take away from the blog roll and 2) I don’t know how to “unfollow” someone or if that’s even possible. I am so technologically savvy.
Posted by aliceatwonderland | August 26, 2012, 15:58Well, thank you so much for not getting cut. How does it feel to get thanked so many times for not doing something? Either way, it makes us feel great.
Posted by Brother Jon | August 26, 2012, 13:52Brother Jon,
That is just the first changes to the blogroll. More will be announced tomorrow? Good ones, methinks.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 13:53Good call, now I can try to visit everyone on your blog roll
some of them I already know and are pure awesomeness, so sounds like I might find a few new favourites! Thanks for taking the time.
Posted by workspousestory | August 26, 2012, 18:4520 good people up there and me! Best day ever! I am going to do something crazy to celebrate tonight, like shave my head or become a scientologist or something.
I sympathize with the hard decisions; I am still tripping my way around the blogosphere and find there are too many good ones to choose from.
Posted by rollergiraffe | August 26, 2012, 19:11Roller Giraffe,
Wait until tomorrow and realize you also did the top 10…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 20:28Top 10? This is like the most bizarre (and awesome) pageant ever. I feel like Honey Boo Boo.
Posted by rollergiraffe | August 26, 2012, 20:34There is nothing like a good scything
of the blogroll Le Clown and you are
right, they do get rather lengthy over
time… Actually I might have a frenzy
oover on mine too, ghoulishly simple
and yet whom will be the first to go?
Have a zappingly good evening now…
Androgoth
Posted by Androgoth | August 26, 2012, 19:20Androgoth,
I haven’t had the chance yet to visit your blog. I’m looking forward to getting lost in your neck of the woods.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 20:29Hey no rush, just call in whenever you have the opportunity…
Have a Good Hump Day Le Clown…
Androgoth
Posted by Androgoth | August 29, 2012, 06:02My blogroll is ridiculously long to me . . . that’s tricky, but these days I use it mostly for me. When I get on WordPress, the first blogs I check out are those on my blogroll, and I have them listed there so I can have a convenient place to read from rather than scrolling around my reader. Of course, I go to my reader, too, but it is kind of hard to keep up with everything sometimes, and I do have *some* semblance of a life, ha.
So I think my point is I think our blogrolls should satisfy ourselves first and foremost.
Posted by Angel Fractured | August 26, 2012, 20:26Angel,
It has to satisfy ourselves indeed, and I like to share the wealth with others too.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 26, 2012, 20:30I was having a crapple day, and this managed to put a HUGE smile on my face. I’m not happy because I made A blogroll. I’m happy I made YOUR blogroll.
I just pumped my fist in the air.
Posted by Jen and Tonic | August 26, 2012, 23:39Purging is good, unless you have an eating disorder.
Posted by draconianstylist | August 27, 2012, 00:30Ouch.
Posted by drawandshoot | August 27, 2012, 09:27I haven’t written much as of late. Are you sure you’re not biased towards me? I mean, this might be an authentic case of sleeping to the top. xo
Posted by saradraws | August 27, 2012, 13:07I’m the king of my castle, and in my kingdom, you sleep on the top bunk bed.
Posted by Le Clown | August 27, 2012, 13:08I can’t tell you how relieved I am. The pressure to perform was really getting to me. I was beginning to feel like some sort of failing porn star. It was awful. Don’t ever let anyone ever guilt trip you down… unless it is your wife… and sometimes your children (but only sometimes). Merci.
Posted by asoulwalker | August 27, 2012, 16:52A Soul Walker,
Too bad you will be back on a different blogroll…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 27, 2012, 17:24Good for you. I don’t even remember who is on my blog roll. Or the last time I updated it. That is a shame.
Posted by nevercontrary | August 27, 2012, 19:49You got some great taste!
Posted by daddyranman | August 28, 2012, 08:25Although I’m not familiar with French numbering, is “21″ the amphibious equivalent of “12?” Or is it just to mess with our heads?
Posted by Smaktakula | August 28, 2012, 22:51Smak,
Read today’s post. And you’re on Le Clow’s blog… I know, you’re behind…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | August 28, 2012, 22:53Yeah, I’m working a big-boy job this week (meaning, I have to wear clothes), and also trying to get my work-work done, so I’m playing serious catch-up.
Posted by Smaktakula | August 28, 2012, 22:56