We interrupt our look at 100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About for a different list today.

When I started this blog almost 5 years ago (5/24/05) I knew little to nothing about blogs, bloggers, or anything to do with this strange avocation. I didn’t realize how much time it could involve, or how addicting it could become. I didn’t know about the thrill of having someone link to what you wrote (or about having your sitemeter code on single pages so when someone comes to an individual post you don’t miss counting their visit).

But the biggest surprise, considering all the talk about bloggers being lonely recluses hiding in their parents basement, is the great camaraderie among the blogging community. I’ve exchanged hundreds of emails, IM’s, and phone calls with other bloggers. I’ve received help and support from them, and have tried to support them where I can.

Today’s list is Bloggers I’d Like to Meet In Person.

• Michelle Malkin — She was the first big blogger to link to a post of mine (the one where I discovered the need for sitemeter code on individual posts). She is also incredibly hard working and prolific, extremely kind, and undeniably talented.
• Ed Morrissey — Captain’s Quarters was one of my very first daily reads. In the years since I’ve discovered what most people in the blogosphere know, that Ed is one of the nicest people around. I would think that even those who disagree with him the most like him.
• John Hawkins — The man is tireless. He is also engaging and an example of someone who make blogging work.
• William Teach — The King of cross-posting. Not to mention smart and friendly.
• Sister Toldjah — Sharp, kind, and witty.
• Steveegg and Shoebox — I get to blog with Steve at Blogs.4Bauer.com and make a point to read what both of them write at No Runny Eggs. They are good, smart, and a lot of fun.
• There are many, many more, but this list can’t include all of them. It can’t even include most of them since I have to go get ready for work. I’ll have to add to this list when I have more time.
• Still, I have to include one more, Wyatt Earp — Another B4B blogger and very good blog friend. He is also today’s birthday boy. The Lass of the day is in his honor.

Today’s Lass — Christina Hendricks.

Happy Birthday Wyatt.

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Happy 5th Blogiversary to Sister Toldjah.

Today would also have been the 5th Blogiversary for Captain’s Quarters if Ed hadn’t pulled up anchor and moved over to Hot Air.

Take time to wish them both a great day!

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Captain’s Quarters has been a daily reading destination for as long as I’ve been reading blogs. I have always appreciated the insight and the classy style that “Captain Ed”, Ed Morrissey, has brought to what can be a sometimes undisciplined media. I am very thankful for the traffic he has sent my way and for the invitation to be a part of the crew at Heading Right. In every instance where I’ve communicated with Ed, by email, phone, or calling in to his numerous radio shows, it has been a great pleasure.

Ed announced this morning that he is sailing on to new waters.

Beginning on March 1, I will begin working for Michelle Malkin, a friend, mentor, and writer I have long admired. She has offered me a position as writer at Hot Air, and my blogging will appear exclusively there.

That means that I will close out Captain’s Quarters sometime in March. This saddens me, as it has become my ever-ready home and because of the terrific community it has generated. I hope that the CapQ community comes with me to Hot Air, and Hot Air will have open registration today for 12 hours in order to allow CapQ commenters to join me at my new digs.

In the announcement at Hot Air Michelle writes:

Ed began blogging at Captain’s Quarters in 2003. During the past five years, his work has been published in the Washington Post, New York Post, New York Times, Weekly Standard, and other national publications. In 2007, Ed made the leap to full-time employment in New Media when he became political director for Blog Talk Radio.

[...]

Ed has been a friend and kindred spirit since I entered the blogosphere. He brings keen political insights, boundless energy and optimism, and invaluable investigative skills/enterprise reporting to the team.

Congratulations Ed. I wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas.

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Who could have ever imagined that Ed Morrissey of Captain’s Quarters would be guilty of kicking up a ruckus? Well, that’s what he will be doing.

Newsweek has launched a new feature at its website called The Ruckus, in conjunction with the Media Bloggers Association. The Ruckus will track the postings of nine bloggers on the presidential race from now until Election Day in November — including Captain’s Quarters:

Should be interesting. I’ve already added the RSS Feed to my reader.

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A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems. ~ Alfred Renyi

Happy 2nd Blogiversary to:
Uh, ME!

As I mentioned yesterday, today marks the two year blogiversary of bRight&Early. It was my great pleasure to start off the day with a special edition of First Cup Radio with my guest Ed Morrissey. I would also like to thank Fausta and The Florida Masochist for stopping by.

I had a great time talking with Ed about blogs, blogging, and the state of the conservative blogosphere. You can listen to the show by starting the radio bar under today’s Day by Day strip, or by following this link.

Thanks also to Brian at Iowa Voice, Steveegg at No Runny Eggs, and The Florida Masochist for their kind good wishes.

Now on with year three!

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I listened in to Ed Morrissey’s latest edition of CQ Radio on BlogTalkRadio.com tonight as he talked with Debra Burlingame of 9/11 Families for America. They had a very interesting discussion on the John Doe controversy in the Flying Imams case.

Later in the broadcast Ed talked about the recent Rudy Giuliani interview where he stated that there should be federal funds made available for abortions. The focus of that segment was more on the impact to Giuliani’s presidential campaign than on the statements themselves.

Never one to keep my mouth shut (I have dozens of witnesses who will verify that) I called in and had a brief exchange with Ed about the possible consequences. In my opinion this has opened the field on the Republican side. While many conservatives were willing to at least consider supporting the former NYC Mayor, I think that many were only doing so under the “half a loaf is better than none” clause of party politics. However, I think that this stand will send many social conservatives looking for another choice.

In the last minutes of the show Ed asked who I thought benefited the most from this. My answer is that I see this helping the second tier candidates the most.

You’ll be able to listen to the entire hour very shortly. If possible I’ll embed the broadcast here when it becomes available.

UPDATE: If my new plugin works the file should appear below:

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Or maybe it’s not that new. Few, if any, of you know that my first post-college career was in broadcasting. Not talk radio to be sure, but I was a broadcast major and worked at several stations in the first few years after college. Inspired by Captain Ed, I’m going to give Blog Talk Radio a shot.

NEWS ITEM: When I clicked over to Captain’s Quarters to find the link to Ed’s BTR page I found this exciting news: When The Hobby Becomes The Profession

Just a little over three and a half years ago, I began this blog as a creative writing outlet and a chance to hone my skills. When I launched Captain’s Quarters, I had no idea how it would grow, that it would attract this wonderful community of readers and commenters across the political spectrum, or that it would change my life.

Today, with the support of family and friends, I made the transition from hobbyist to full-time worker in the New Media. I have accepted a position as Political Director of Blog Talk Radio, an exciting new venture known to the CQ community but one which I hope to help expand exponentially. It’s a chance to work full time in the field which I have grown to love, and an opportunity to help others literally discover their voices.

That is some exciting news! Captain’s Quarters was one of my very first daily reads, as it continues to be. I’ve always been impressed by his fairness, his grasp of the issues, his determination, and his volume of output. Congratulations Ed!

I seem to have drifted from the topic at hand just a bit.

My foray into blog radio takes place tomorrow morning at 7:00 am. It is mostly a test run, but you’re welcome to listen in and to call. The number to reach the show is (718) 664-9725. I’ll still be getting familiar with the controls, so some interesting moments are anticipated.

I plan on talking about the plans I have for the show, and (if anyone else is up that early on a Saturday morning) take some calls. Tune in, join the conversation. HELP ME OUT!

Click on the button to find the live broadcast. And now I’m off to bed. I’ve gotta get up bRight & Early to finish up some show prep.

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Our prayers and best wishes are with you and the First Mate, Captain.

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Let me play bird dog this morning and point out some really good stuff.

Jay Tea — Wizbang Speaking truth to pinheads

With the anniversary of the war in Iraq (or, as I like to call it when I’m feeling formal, the Iraq Campaign of the War on Terror), I think it’s long overdue time to actually LOOK at some of the anti-war crowd’s charges and give them the slightest shred of credence, for at least long enough to rip them to pieces.

Which he does.

Mark Noonan — Blogs for Bush The Anti-Liberation Demonstrations Really Did Fizzle

One of the biggest protests was only 6,000 strong? In San Francisco!?!?! Geesh! And by the report it seems just a bunch of ageing hippies…people who showed up for the Summer of Love back in ’67 and never grew up and got jobs.

Ed Morrissey — Captain’s Quarters American Death Rate In Iraq Lowest In Two Years

Handwringers in the press have turned Iraq into Viet Nam, calling it a quagmire so often that the repetition has become numbing. However, according to a study done by USA Today of military data, the casualty rate for US troops has dropped to its lowest level in two years, while the Iraqi forces show increasing engagement against the terrorists:

And

More Connections Between Saddam And Al-Qaeda

At the same time that leftists would have us believe that Saddam was safely in a “box” and contained by UN sanctions, he had corrupted the UN’s aid program and plundered his own nation for billions of dollars.

Howie — The Jawa Report Christian Man on Trial, Facing Death for Converting from Islam.

I thought Islam teaches Jesus is cool? They are always talking up how much they respect Jesus Christ. Yeah right, they respect him so much they execute Christians!

John Hawkins — Right Wing News Does The GOP Deserve To Retain Control In The Senate?

For — I don’t know — at least, a good, solid three years now, conservatives have been yapping, complaining, and kvetching non-stop about two issues on the domestic front: out-of-control spending and our government’s refusal to take a tough stand against illegal immigration.

Yet, here we are, in an election year and what are we seeing from Republicans in the Senate on these two crucial issues?

Well, that should be enough to get you started on this first day of spring. Go get another cup of coffee and jump in.

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