Blogroll Penalty Box

I've been trying to figure out a way that I can deal with some of the members of my blogroll.

First, let me say that everyone on the blogroll is there for a reason. The most common reason is that they've interacted with me in some way: by commenting here, by responding to my comments on their own blog, by posting an unsolicited link on their own blogroll (thanks!), or simply by knowing me personally (I'm looking at you, Addy). The other reason that I add someone to the blogroll is if I visit their blog semi-regularly to see what they're up to. That being said, I've still got a few people to add (Sorry, Owen!).

Now, I'm thinking that I need to segregate my blogroll. I'm not interested in splitting it up by political party lines. On the blogs I read, it's sometimes hard to judge politics anyway. I certainly wouldn't label this a "Red blog" on most days. I think that my blogroll needs a naughty list. I'm going to call it the penalty box. If you want to know why a blog is in the penalty box, click the question mark next to the blog.

Two bloggers are joining the penalty box right away: Fraley and Sykes.

Sykes is going to the penalty box as the opening salvo in my "War on Sykes." I put Sykes on the blogroll to suck up, as all of the good little badgers do. But, then when I live blogged his TV show, he failed to notice. Since I was mentioned as one of the live bloggers in two of the blogs he did recognize, I'm SURE that he saw me. How else can interpret that, except to say that I think the blogfather wants me whacked? I'm up to the challenge: this blog will be successful with or without Charlie Sykes!

Brian Fraley (political analyst for the WISN Early Spin and former Milwaukee Talkstar contestant, among other things) is going to the penalty box for a handful of reasons. First, I emailed him to congratulate him on the new blog and there was no response. I've also visited his blog (which is not yet officially open) and left a comment. It was moderated out of existence, but comments by other visitors were not. The largest offense is that I can see from my side bar that he's been searching the web for links to himself, and he still doesn't recognize this blog. That's just plain blog snobbery, isn't it?

I'm a nice guy. I'm not likely to delete someone once they make the blogroll. They're up there for a reason, after all. These two will remain in the penalty box until I'm convinced that my reasons for putting them there are all in my imagination.