The Orange Juice blog is looking for a few new bloggers! Unlike the other political blogs in town, we don’t require that you belong to a particular party. We will take Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Libertarians, DTS, etc. Even Commies!
All we ask is that you be able to write intelligently about politics in your town and about politics in general.
It was our policy before not to accept anonymous bloggers, however now that we have redesigned our blog I am open to adding anonymous bloggers with the understanding that they must have a good reason for posting in that fashion. I do know many political activists who cannot use their real names because it will get them in trouble. I will take some heat for this adjustment in our policy, but so be it. It is a new day for the Orange Juice and we need some help!
In terms of what we have to offer YOU, consider that this is the first political blog in Orange County, established in 2003. Last year we were selected as the Best Local O.C. Blog, by our friends at the OC Weekly. We hope to be in the running again this year. Our team includes some of the best political bloggers in Orange County, from cities including Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo and Newport Beach. You will be joining a team that is NOT interested in selling out. Our main mission is to let our readers know what is REALLY going on in O.C. politics, sans the spin you will be fed at the O.C. red and blue blogs.
If you are interested, please email me and let me know. If you want to blog anonymously, I need to know who you are, but NO ONE else will know. You have my promise of that. This blog does NOT reveal the identity of our anonymous readers and commenters and we won’t out our anonymous bloggers either.
A word of warning, both the local Dems and the local Reeps have it in for us. Our link has been removed from the local red blog and from the DPOC blog. So be it. We won’t kiss anyone’s derriere. We don’t need them. Our readership has already expanded by 25% since we redesigned our blog, and we continue to be ranked amongst the Top 10 political blogs in the entire State of California, by our friends at the BlogNetNews service. Understand that joining our team will give you a massive bully pulpit, but it may irk the red and blue partisans in town, so be prepared for that.
Thanks for reading the Orange Juice. I hope that the bravest amongst you will join our blog team!
I’m sorry Art, I’ve got to ask.
When did Orange Juice become the #1 blog?
I believe the comment was the #1 blog TEAM, which is an opinion by Art. I believe TV Channels 2-4-7 and others also make such opinions of their news. We take it as their opinion.
Reading further you might have noticed that the blog was rated as one of the top 10 by blognet news service. No where do I take that to mean that OJ is the #1 Blog but it’s not the worst either. Other than the fact your comprehension level is below par, what is your point?
This is a very tempting invitation, but I will reluctantly pass for the time being.
Chris,
You need to read the headline again. I said # 1 blog TEAM, as commenter #2 pointed out. And I stand by that. We may not be the #1 blog at the moment, as per the BNN ratings, but I do think we have a terrific team of bloggers.
BTW, we WERE selected the Best Local Blog by the OC Weekly last year. Even you cannot debate that.
#3,
Um, okay. Thanks for reading the Orange Juice!
Art,
Since you refer to the BNN rankings I ran the numbers since the beginning of the year (20 weeks).
Red County average ranking 2.0
LiberalOC average ranking 2.65
Orange Juice average ranking 6.5
While I would agree that you have a talented team of bloggers, to claim the status of #1 is a bit, well, disingenuous.
Your selection as # 1 blog by OC Weekly was last years news.
Chris,
Geez you are being petulant. My opinion, and that is what it is, that my blog TEAM is number one is MY OPINION. That’s all. You are free to disagree.
As for the BNN rankings, I already conceded that we are not the top ranked blog on BNN. Perhaps one day we might be, especially with our redesign, which we are still fine-tuning.
As for the OC Weekly, they have NOT yet announced the new Best Local Blog. Until they do, we are it. If you don’t like that, take it up with Gustavo.
Lastly, I personally think we are a better blog than yours and the red one because we don’t let any parties control what we do. We answer to ourselves and to our readers, not to anyone else. I think that matters and so do many of our readers. Again, you are free to disagree.
Chris Prevatt, if you come on to my blog, I am going to have to insist that you spell your name right.
Vern,
You are right, I selected the incorrect spelling with the auto fill option.
Art.I would love to know where you get the idea that TheLiberalOC is controled by the Democratic Party. I think we have demonstrated a great deal of objectivity. The issue of the Hoa Van Tran candidacy as one prime example.
You are right though, you do have the right to your opinion. But other than in your response to my question, you never clarified that your headline “Join Orange County’s #1 blog team!” was your “opinion.” Thanks for taking the time to clarify your opinion.
Chris;
If it needed explanation then perhaps you need to take a refresher in English Lit. It was clear to everyone else.
I think everyone should take any and every opportunity to address our massive problems.
Ducking the issues is no longer allowable.
Primarily, the opposition of oil and auto companies to sell plug-in Electric cars on the free market; and the opposition of government, utilities and local building departments to rooftop solar systems to power the EVs.
There’s no need for gas prices, no need for gasoline; we make more electric than needed to drive two all-electric plug-in Toyota RAV-EV small SUV. But we don’t have to stop burning ALL oil; just let SOME of use drive plug-in cars.
But they won’t, because they’re afraid the idea will spread like wildfire, once people begin empowering themselves, and kick the oil companies out of their lives.
The money we formerly spent on gasoline, we used to pay off our solar system; now, we get electric at no additional charge, both for driving and for domestic electric.
The ONLY THING stopping you from doing so is the failure of political leadership to deal with this critical problem.
Then, there’s education, environment, health care, Bush’s insane never-ending war to “bring democracy to Islam”, or something like that, and on and on — failure of the people to keep our elected “leaders” honest.
When they’re crooks, throw them out.
So Doug, are you saying you will join our humble band of patriots? (I invited him Art.)
BNN Rankings…
I get a lot of comments about this.
If you want to talk numbers, you have to take three things into consideration:
1. We have been #1 on BNN many, MANY times. We slipped a little last week because of the redesign downtime.
2. To get the real story, check out sitemeter for both sites. The current BNN #1 blog, LiberalOC, only sees an increase in readership during election season, which can only be expected from a partisan blog. As an independent blog, our numbers have always been steady.
3. We won the OC Weekly award last year, and we intend to win it again.
SMS
Doug,
I don’t think there is a conspiracy from the oil companies to keep plug in electric vehicles off the market. I just don’t think Americans wanted to buy them.
And there are politicians out there advocating improvements to our educational and healthcare systems. But again, Americans don’t want to elect them.
For my past two attempts at the 73rd Assembly district seat, health care and education reform were my top two issues. This year I put private Social Security accounts as number one and I will be lucky if I get 10% of the vote.
I did get about 27% of the vote two years ago, but that was somewhat of a fluke.
Sara,
The last time Orange Juice was #1 in the BNN rankings was October 8, 2007. The last time before that was August 19, 2007. The LiberalOC has achieved #1 in the BNN rankings eleven times since the weekending October 8, 2007.
From May 2007 through April 2008 the Liberal OC has experienced a 240.13% increase in visits and 218.66% increase in page views; compared to an increase of 148.16% in visits and 148.71% increase in page views for Orange Juice.
“We answer to ourselves and our readers…”
The first part of that statement is obviously true. The second part is certainly not true.
#16,
Not sure what you mean by that. I think we are rather reader-friendly.
Chris,
We just moved up to #3, right behind your blog and Red County. Give us some time. We will catch up to you soon enough. As Sarah pointed out, your numbers drop quite a bit during the off-season. Ours don’t.
Chris,
Otra cosa. We are up 200 page views on you today. But honestly, that barely matters. What does matter is that I will be at the DPOC meeting on Tuesday to film what your party decides to do about Hoa. See you then!
Chris –
Look again. I specifically remember being #1 when I joined the team, and if memory serves, again around the time we added Vern. Either way it doesn’t matter. Come November both yours and ‘Jubal’s’ blogs are toast until next season.
SMS
#1 ranking, #2 ranking, #3 ranking…who cares! you people are a bunch of immature children masquerading as people who matter.
Here’s a suggestion.
Take out the weather report, people can look outside or turn on the set.
Take out the gas report, people don’t want to reminded of the last time they filled up.
Take out the traffic report, everybody knows that with gas prices up and unemployment up the roadways are smooth sailing.
Put the OC Register link on the top right, the LA Times on the left.
Where’s the OC weekly link, it should be on the left side.
Jose –
So in other words, you want us to take away all of the features that provide information and then do what exactly? This blog is much more than the SAUSD corruption threads. Sorry, but as infomaniacs, we like to be well-informed.
The comment about where to put what link is not worth responding to.
#21 –
Are you implying that blogs have no political influence? It’s 2008. Go back under your rock.
SMS
What’s with the weird numbering? I can only see one number for each post. IE, post number 23 shows as
3.
Can that be fixed?
While my high speed COX connection is down, and I am struggling with my back up AOL dialup, perhaps we can focus on the real issues of the state not simply argue that mine is better than yours. I really don’t thing this is what our readers are looking for as we continue to raise the bar of our coverage. Let’s act like adults and stay the course. With 3 million in OC there surely is room for more than one blog for our target audience.
Larry, this is just a blog. Not for me. We are on the “cutting edge” of immediate and hopefully, well verifiable news gathering and reporting.
#23,
I’m not implying that blogs have no political influence. I’m saying that THIS ONE has no influence.
#26
If you feel that way, then why are you here? Go to a blog you feel has influence and quit trying to mess with this one..hmmmm? By the way which blog do you own or work for?
“All we ask is that you be able to write intelligently about politics in your town and about politics in general.”
You’re such a comedian sometimes Art. 😉
#27,
I come to this blog for the very reason that it gives me perspective on the other blogs that I do visit that ARE influential…truly influential.
And I don’t own or work for any blogs. But nice try on the conspiracy theory.
Doug,
Your post on the electric cars interests me. I’ve never seen where they were selling an electric car but I like the idea. All I’ve ever seen is the Toyota gas-electric engine and while it’s cool-creepy when it goes electric the savings don’t seem to be that great.
Electric cars do raise a couple of questions. What happens when you abandon the solitary passenger lifestyle on weekends and vacations and load up the kids and head out to parts unknown? Is there a vacation planner that shows trips with charging stations enroute?
Maybe with small enough components you could put the solar charging panels into the vehicles exterior? Washing the car would become a green activity to improve the solar reception!
I’m glad I went economy when I purchased my Vibe in 2005. But if the right deal came along on an electric car I’d go for it and I use that solar charging station idea of yours too. Although I really had my heart set on flying cars for the millennium but we don’t seem to be anywhere near that (we have the flying cars but there is so much more to it than that).
We really need to forge independent solutions so that we aren’t manipulated into perpetually expensive energy. I don’t think we can count on our politicians and captains of industry to look out for our best interest here.
Easily extracted oil is coming to an end but as the price goes up more oil becomes available (its not oil if you can’t take it out of the ground and sell it at a profit) and other forms of energy become viable.
So the potential for abundant ‘fuel’ will be there at some price. It’s the speculation on how high the price can go above that (greed factor?) that pushes up the price nowadays. This is reinforced by the ‘fuel’ company’s manipulation of the supply. Oil companies do it by not building new refineries and by taking them offline for service before a holiday weekend creating a shortage. They totally scammed the whole state of California, took out a pretty good governor, and hosed everyone in the name of deregulation – bastards!
So anything that will take us off the grid is a good thing and you can count me in. Just let me know where you buy electric cars, ok?
And this is why I like to say that the only outcome of any pissing contest is that everyone winds up smelling like pee.
#29
No kidding. I would be curious as to what perspective you gain from an uninfluential blog when you could be spending your time with the influential blogs where opinions count and make a difference. I don’t see the logic in wasting the time. If you are just gaining perspective, why the negative comments and attacks on the blog? Why not just laugh and go back to blogs you believe to be influential? Taking the time to post attacks on the blog provides motive and intent for something else. Conspiracy theory? You bet.
#26 is Sarah.
She’s always rooting out evil meanies. Everyone and everything has some hidden meaning and hidden agenda. Some people would call it just plain old fashioned paranoia. 😉
Chris is right; per the BNN archieves, OJ has not been in the top spot all year. In fact, there was only one week in 2008 where OJ finished ahead of the LiberalOC. Its easy to dig up in the archives.
#33 –
It’s only paranoia if they’re not all out to get you. This is my first comment on this post today so the others are not me. I just woke up (I love Sundays)!
In fact, the paranoia seems to be coming from you in that you’ve succumbed to that tired old line that I’m anonymously manipulating the blogosphere. Just because someone can do something, it doesn’t mean they are.
Dan –
I guess I was mistaken on our being #1 on BNN. However, the week I joined OJ, your blog fell from #1 TO #11, so you guys are hardly untouchable.
SMS
So I guess “many, many” means twice in 9 months. No blog is untouchable. Consistency sure is nice and so is accuracy.
Dan –
Sorry. I was in error. It happens. Consistency is on our side, accuracy on yours, so let’s call it a draw. Nice to see you being civil towards me again anyway. 😛
SMS
Dan
So you win the numbers count. I’ll take quality over quantity every time.
In terms of consistency, I was refering to TheLiberalOC. What is it, 4 weeks in a row at number 1? Not that rankings matter. I’d blog if we didn’t show up at all. I don’t recall being not civil to you Sarah
Jesus Christ, can we put this stupid thread out of its misery? At long last, gentlemen, have you no decency?
Dan –
You don’t think I know about your phone calls to Art when he asked me to join this blog?
Just because your attacks were behind the scenes doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to them.
Back-dooring people is not civil, even if you, Gila, Aaruni, Rebecca and Chris, among others, would argue the point.
Many people have asked me to leave you guys alone, but you really do make it difficult. In fact, I emailed Aaruni last week asking for nothing more than an apology and I still haven’t received one.
Considering my unpopular but accurate foresight, I think it’s the least some bloggers and activists can do at this point.
SMS
I agree with Vern. Lets shoot this thread and move on. All it was to start with was a request for bloggers.
So much for public with praise and private with criticism. The emails to Art dealt with your self-admitted lifting of Gila’s work without attribution and your post on Joe Dunn and Commie Girl with the use of the word canoodle. Its called legitimate criticism Sarah. And since Art credited our blog for Gila’s work and you changed your post on Dunn, there must have been something to it.
Dan,
Have you lost all perspective? Seriously? Canoodle-gate is THE most important crisis we have ever faced? Get a grip. Sarah has been a terrific member of our blog team. She must have spent over 100 hours redesigning our blog! I sure appreciate her contributions.
As our editor there are times when I make corrections to everyone’s posts. That’s just part of the job.
The overreaction you and Chris have shown to this post tell me that you are afraid of this blog – because you can’t control it. Deal with your fears on your own time.
As another commenter pointed out, this post was a very simple announcement that we are looking for more bloggers. Maybe you and Chris need some Prozac?
I do know many political activists who cannot use their real names because it will get them in trouble.
That’s quite a 180 degree turn. Until now, you’ve harshly condemned pseudonymous blogging — probably because we’ve always had a lot of it at RC.
But then again, the situational standard by which you judge something to be good or bad is whether it is good or bad for OJ.
Art — if you’re OK with libel and plagiarism on your blog, who I am to admonish you. Afraid of your blog? Hardly. But to correct you, theLiberalOC is not beholden to the party no matter how much you think otherwise. But congratulations on a strong that generated more than 10 comments.
Aw, this was an extremely good post. Taking the time and actual effort to create a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.