The Broken Telegraph Celebrates its First Birthday

So we’ve been at this for exactly one year, and to commemorate things I want to briefly take a look back at a few of the posts that stood out to me for one reason or another. I also have something to ask of you. Basically, this is me begging for a birthday present (although that usually doesn’t start until around age 3).

While I’m the kind of guy who struggles with always wanting  “better and bigger” when it comes to my own creative output and exposure, it was still a good first year for this blog. If you’re newer to the site you might enjoy taking a look at these. Here are a few highlights (including a total miss) from the past year:

The Broken Telegraph’s most viewed post, with 4,047 clicks: Failure: Learning From, or Living in It 

The most consistently searched-for/popular post: What’s Fueling Global Warming Hysteria This Week

The post(s) that were the most difficult to write: this 3-parter ended up being WAY harder than I would’ve thought. Describing how I feel internally comes a lot easier than having to describe the happenings of an event- in this case being in studio for the weekend with my friend- Dishwalla’s J.R. Richards. Here’s part 1: EXCLUSIVE: Mixing The ‘End’ With Dishwalla’s J.R. Richards

As for the posts that were the most relevant or important to me on a personal level:

The Danger of Acting Nice Instead of Being Good (parts 1 and 2)

Want Poison? Just Mix God With Nationalism

Jesus in 2009 PART I: So Many Versions (and Other Distractions)

What Ever Happened To Friendship and Adventure?

Brian joined The Broken Telegraph about 1/2 way through the year. Here’s a look at some of his work:

Brian’s most viewed post: Quiet Applause for a Mediocre Year: Movies of 2008

Brian’s best post (in my opinion): Our New National Pastime: The Long Distance Diagnosis

Even more than the readership over the last year, or particular posts that did well, I think the greatest success for The Broken Telegraph was the participation through comments. I have really enjoyed and valued the feedback, challenges and unique thinking from frequent commentators like Tiffany, Maurice, Matt, Beth, a_corn, Joey, Joshysilly, all three Heathers, Chris K, my wife (I’m biased), ADavis and more. I was going to do a list, highlighting the best comments over the last year and I quickly realized I would get stuck. There were way too many good, insightful things shared. So I just want to thank you again- if you posted several times or only once, for not only taking the time to read our content but for going a step further and sharing your thoughts. It makes doing this worthwhile. I absolutely love the idea of a community of thoughtful people expressing their convictions. Hopefully- this blog accomplished that in some small way.

I can’t end any list without poking a little fun at myself; otherwise this whole exercise starts to seem a bit too self important. So I’m proud to share with you an early post (it was my second) that earns the title for the absolute WORST thing I wrote all year. Worst meaning lame, bad, awful, pointless. I feel cheap because this stupid thing still brings in search traffic. Without further ado: A Closer Look at Batman’s New Suit. Sne-ore.

Speaking of feedback, I want to ask something of you. It would be greatly appreciated if you’d take a moment to share what you specifically like and/or don’t like about the way we do things here. It can be about content, presentation, you name it. A suggestion or compliment or criticism big or small. What was the best thing you’ve read here? The worst? Why? How can we improve? What are we doing well? Please be specific and please take a minute to let us know. I promise not to ask this of you very often Also if you are a fan of The Broken Telegraph- would you tell a friend? And join our groups on Facebook, Myspace, or register for email updates, or subscribe to our content via RSS. I have a hard time asking this one often as well, but we’d really appreciate any support that you can give to us by spreading the word to others.

Speaking of birthdays, and 1-year olds, Scott and Amy just celebrated the 1st birthday of their first child (daughter) Makenzie. I think I spelled that right. Anyway- theirs is an accomplishment far more significant and worthy of celebration than a blog’s birthday Congrats to the both of you guys!

I’ve been lagging with new posts lately- just working too much to finish up a design project for a friend. New/regular posts should resume very soon.  Lots of things worth writing about once I find a few spare minutes.

So does the birthday cake have any dairy in it?

-Ian (and Brian), for The Broken Telegraph