Then More Good Things Happened

This was the first BAGnews edition to grace a middle school lunch bag.  Originally, the goal was to interest the kids in news and civics.  (And somewhere over the next thousand editions or so, it worked.)  But then, The BAG has come a long way from a few strokes with the Sharpee.

Last month, it was a great honor to receive the Koufax Award for 2005’s best post in the liberal blogosphere.  Apparently though, the run is not over.  A few days ago, I learned that BAGnewsNotes had been named one of the three 2006 Webby Award finalists for Best Political Blog.

From humble origins, I am proud that my interest in politics and its
visual representation has gained such recognition.  I am also pleased
— in spite of the horribly contentious times we live in — that The BAG has generally retained its sense of fun.

If, after the 500 member Webby Academy final vote on May 9th, The BAG does not take home all the marbles, I’ll still feel honored for the recognition (and proud, as well, that I also blog for The Huffington Post, a competing finalist).  If The BAG does win, it will be great to go to New York, receive the award from Rob Corddry and deliver that infamous five word speech.  But the greatest thrill would be to attend with my boys, who were sustained intellectually and gastronomically by this project, and without whom there would have been no BAG.

I urge all BAGnewsNotes readers to vote in the Webby’s People’s Voice Award.  (The Webby actually gives two awards.  One is chosen by The Webby academy;  the other is determined by popular vote.)  Last I checked, The BAG was trailing by a good percentage, but we have two weeks, and with such a loyal community, it might not take much for us to catch up.

To cast your vote, register at the People’s Voice Awards page; sign in with the password they email you; then find BAGnewsNotes in to the section labeled: Society/Blog-Political.

Again, I owe deep gratitude to all of you who have been one with The (first physical, then virtual) BAG.  It’s only going to get better, I promise.