SM began four years ago this summer after I wrote the bloggers who I read every day (who were all more accomplished bloggers than I) a hastily constructed email filled with bad grammar (some things never change). Part of it read like this:
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 21:05:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Abhi ”
Subject: My Fellow Bloggers…
To: “Vinod “, “Manish”, “Anna”Guys,
I have been thinking something over of late and would like to know your thoughts. This is me thinking out loud so don’t worry at all about saying so if the following doesn’t seem like such a good idea or you are not interested. My brain tends to think faster than I can process it all to see if I am actually making sense.
All of us are bloggers and it seems like we all enjoy it as a hobby apart from our careers. We all have different focuses or perhaps no focus at all 🙂 This past week with the Democratic Convention in the news, and all the talk of the bloggers that have been invited and how much power they seem to have, it got me thinking how there is no widely read news/issues/discussion/politics/random musings source target for South Asian Americans on the web. Sure there are lots of magazines like India Abroad and websites like Rediff, but all of these are “old media,” and so diffuse. They all rely on editorial staffs, deadlines, etc. and are not at all dynamic or interactive. There is none of the freshness that a blog can deliver. Plus, most of them lack the perspective of people that grew up in this country. I am convinced that there exists a vacuum out there on the web just waiting to be filled…
I was thinking “what if” all the most widely read South Asian American bloggers joined forces somehow and created a superblog based on the “Menudo” model. This could be the definitive source for South Asian issues/news/opinion/culture/entertainment etc.
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p>All of the bloggers, guest bloggers, contributors, and administrators in our “Menudo” model have worked really hard over the years. Even our readers and commenters have been quoted by major media for their thoughtful opinions. Today, with the arrival of the email below, all of us can say we have a Macaca in the tent:
Congratulations. The Democratic Convention staff has completed its review of blog credential applications and I’m writing to let you know that your blog will be credentialed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
We’re excited to welcome so many blogs to the Convention (about 3 times as many as 2004). And we know you’re eager to make travel plans for August. We’ll contact you next week with logistical information regarding housing, credential distribution, and other key details. You probably have several questions. Please be patient – as our goal is to distribute this information to all credentialed blogs at the same time.
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p>We did it y’all.
[The full list can be found here]
Huh? We interviewed them extensively, letting them speak in their own words, and inviting them to respond to questions from readers. What was unfair in the treatment of the Republican Candidates?
Vadeeia! Mubaraka! Congrats!
51 · Ennis said
Are you honestly saying there is no difference in tone in SM’s profile of Amit Singh to that of Ashwin Madia?
I second Ennis. Huh?? If anything Singh got the better treatment and even got to pre-screen his questions from the readers, unlike Madia who answered them live.
I’ll be paying for Denver out of my own pocket. If readers want to help out by paying for Minnesota I’ll see if I can go there as well. But Ennis is right, the DNCC is a lot more vocal in courting bloggers than the RNC which is the primary reason that we applied to the DNC. Plus, let’s face it, the DNC will be more exciting than the RNC this year.
Why do you say that? Because McCain is willing overwhelmingly in the primaries? I mean only 20-25% of republicans vote against him in primaries even after he’s the nominee. If that’s not success, I don’t know what is.
You don’t want us to fund your rocky mountain high? And your “interview” with Huma?
Well done guys. And totally respect the long play.
It’s pretty obvious the DNC will be more exciting than the RNC this year. The RNC, if its anything like the atmosphere around most repubs. in Washington, will be kinda depressing.. losing strong-republicans house seats in the south, supposedly safe senate seats no longer so, and well all that gwb fatigue
oh, and awesome job guys!
That’s Great! Congratulations.
Its been four years eh? Wow… seems justl like yesterday that you all began this venture. 🙂
Rockstars! Congratulations!!
Congrats!! 4 more years!!
Congratulations!
Rock it! Really looking forward to reading the updates – congratulations!
Maybe what you’re picking up on is the difference in style between Vinod’s posts and Abhi’s.
Yay!! Nice to see small cities (in terms of Desi population), like Denver, getting some love on one of my favorite blogs. I’ll be volunteering at the Democratic National Convention, perhaps we can have a SM meetup?
I have friends in the Denver area who read SM daily, so I dont think getting people is an issue (the Desi scene in Denver/Colorado is pretty weak). I think my friends in Denver/Boulder start classes around August 25th: University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Denver, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Colorado Health Science Center. I’m sure you can get college-age Desi in Colorado to check out a SM meetup (not sure about young professionals or others).
Anyway, if you want Desi food in Denver, I recommend my friend’s restaurant Little India (north Indian Denver) and Masala (south Indian; Aurora – suburb of Denver). Masala has the best dosa I’ve had in the US (compared to south Indian restaurants in NY,DC, Chicago, etc). If you want quality dosa/uttampam, hit up Masala.
….oh, congratulations! Well done :).
Guys…. this is awesome.
Congrats Mutineers! The little piece of the blogosphere I write for, DCist was also credentialled under the DNC’s State Blogger Program. Woo Hoo!
Paging the Intern! Could you please delete “Jessica”@69, who is on a spamming spree through multiple threads for her website?
Congratulations. Although, clearly it must be due to the fact that the presumptive nominee is a ‘caca himself (reference curious george obama shirts being sold at local restaurant/bar in Atlanta).