The finalists of this year's SA Blog Awards have been announced. There are a few interesting inclusions and surprising exclusions in most categories, but this is not surprising considering the nominations were left to the general public ie. the various blog's readership. It will be interesting to see how this pans out after last year's controversy.

You have until March 19th to have your say. Vote for your favourite, favourite here.

Here's the full list of finalists in each category. I will be sharing my predictions over the next 2 weeks.

South African Weblog of the Year
[The Best of the Best from South Africa]

• peakperformances.co.za
• sarocks.co.za
• shaunoakes.com
• tertia.org
• redsaid.net
• thoughtleader.co.za
• mushypeasontoast.blogspot.com
• 6000.co.za
• toomuchcoffee.co.za
• gladtobeagirl.blogspot.com

Best SA Entertainment Blog
[Weblogs about movies, television, celebrities, theatre and topical issues with entertainment value]

• chump-style.blogspot.com
• hottestgossip.co.za
• bangersandnash.blogspot.com
• peakperformances.co.za
• splattermail.org
• blog.ecr.co.za/breakfast
• 2oceansvibe.com
• themuso.co.za
• imod.co.za
• entertainmentblogs.24.com/celebratingmovies

Most Humorous South African Blog
[Witty, comical and written to induce uncontrollable laughter]

• blog.ecr.co.za/breakfast
• shaunoakes.com
• mothercityliving.co.za
• mushypeasontoast.blogspot.com
• toomuchcoffee.co.za
• redsaid.net
• kyknoord.wordpress.com
• splattermail.org
• blogs.24.com/onelargeprawn
• baglett.blogspot.com

Best Post on a South African Blog
[The one post which stood out in 2007]

• shaunoakes.com/charity-volunteers-are-evil.htm
• getaway.co.za/content/blog/singlepage.asp?id=251
• splattermail.org/splattermail-mythbusters-the-real-reason-that-cocaine-is-bad-for-you-2007-10-25
• mushypeasontoast.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-not-to-buy-condoms.html
• bandwidthblog.com/2007/12/10/the-offices-of-todays-leading-internet-companies
• mushypeasontoast.blogspot.com/2008/01/husbank-or-husburden.html
• shaunoakes.com/kurt-darren-appreciation.htm
• pinotageclub.blogspot.com/2007/03/pinotage-its-south-african-variety.html
• pinotageclub.blogspot.com/2007/03/spit-lamb-not-pinotage-talking-of-lamb.html
• 6000.co.za/2007/07/06/the-big-south-african-crime-post

Best Overseas South African Blog
[Best blog written by a South African in any foreign country]

• vanielje.com/blog
• markforrester.co.za
• twistedkoeksuster.blogspot.com
• the-granny-wrangler.blogspot.com
• charlotteotter.wordpress.com
• liechtensteinliving.blogspot.com
• greedygourmet.com
• crabmommy.blogspot.com
• lorissashepstone.com
• cooksister.typepad.com

Best Original Writing on a South African Blog
[Composition, attention to detail, advanced levels of subject investigation]

• 6000.co.za
• maxkaizen.com
• mushypeasontoast.blogspot.com
• baglett.blogspot.com
• afrodissident.wordpress.com
• jaxbischof.wordpress.com
• ivo.co.za
• redsaid.net
• africansurfer.com
• shaunoakes.com

Best SA Blog about Politics
[The best SA blog featuring mainly a political theme

• afrodissident.wordpress.com
• commentary.co.za
• politics.za.net
• insidepolitics.org.za
• ivo.co.za
• jontyfisher.blogspot.com
• smartcraft.biz
• blogs.thetimes.co.za/bullard
• thoughtleader.co.za
• toomuchcoffee.co.za

Best SA Photographic Blog
[The best SA blog featuring original photographic content]

• vanielje.com/blog
• droreyal.co.za/blog
• blogs.24.com/jamesnel
• apparentlynothing.com
• neilmccartney.blogspot.com
• gosu.co.za
• jenty-mylifeinpics.blogspot.com
• print-digital.info/photo-blogging
• capetowndailyphoto.com
• andreac1.wordpress.com

Best New Blog
[Best blog which was started during the year of 2007]

• elledeco.blogspot.com
• ivo.co.za
• capetowndailyphoto.com
• gfsouthafrica.blogspot.com
• greedygourmet.com
• jaxbischof.wordpress.com
• blog.ecr.co.za/newswatch
• vanielje.com/blog
• baglett.blogspot.com
• blog.bridgetmcnulty.com

Best SA Blog about Food and Wine
[The best blog written primarily about food or drink

• cooksister.com
• vanielje.com/blog
• capetable.typepad.com
• stormhoek.co.za
• greedygourmet.com
• pinotageclub.blogspot.com
• mothercityliving.co.za
• gfsouthafrica.blogspot.com
• blog.winecountry.co.za
• warwickwine.blogspot.com

Best SA Blog about Technology / Computers / Web Development
[Best South African technology focused weblog]

• noboxmedia.com
• imod.co.za
• bandwidthblog.com
• stii.za.net
• nudjit.com
• vincentmaher.com/mit
• tectonic.co.za
• adii.co.za
• andyhadfield.com
• mikestopforth.com

Best SA Music Blog
[Best weblog about news of a musical nature]

• pioneerunit.com
• 3am.co.za
• overtone.co.za
• isolation.tv/default.aspx
• stevehofmeyr.co.za
• peakperformances.co.za
• blogs.24.com/audiophile
• dewaldlouw.iblog.co.za
• monkeysfist.co.za
• themuso.co.za

Best SA Blog about Design
[Best overall design and layout of a weblog page]

• brandnewmedia.wordpress.com
• skinnylaminx.com
• adii.co.za
• elledeco.blogspot.com
• nomad-one.com
• markforrester.co.za
• noboxmedia.com
• apartmentstudios.net
• coda.co.za
• yellow-llama.com

Best SA Podcast
[Best independently produced video or audio podcast in SA]

• derekthebandit.wordpress.com
• ctru.co.za/podcast
• podcasts.thetimes.co.za
• 123listen2me.com
• blog.earth-touch.com
• blog.ecr.co.za/justplain
• 2oceansvibe.com
• oldmutual.co.za/success
• thezashow.com
• mg.co.za/podcast

Best SA Business Blog
[Best blog about business]

• blog.bizcommunity.com
• wiredgecko.net
• matthewbuckland.net
• gottaquirk.com
• narrativelab.co.za
• ericedelstein.com
• mikestopforth.com
• tycoon.co.za
• thebigchange.com
• adriansaville.blogspot.com

Best Group Blog
[Best blog with more than one contributor]

• stormhoek.com
• blog.earth-touch.com
• blog.ecr.co.za/breakfast
• splattermail.org
• narrativelab.co.za
• mahendras-ties.blogspot.com
• africansurfer.com
• batchfoobadmommy.blogspot.com
• sarocks.co.za
• thoughtleader.co.za

Best Website Promoting Blogging
[Best South African blog content promotion service or blogging platform]

• onlinehealth.co.za
• withtank.com/blog
• buzzfuse.com
• blogs.24.com
• bundublog.com
• muti.co.za
• chalkischeap.co.za
• amatomu.co.za
• withtank.com
• afrigator.com

Best Sports Blog
[A weblog written exclusively about any recognised sport]

• africansurfer.com
• sportblogs.24.com/ghana2008
• sportblogs.24.com/frg
• compleatgolfer.co.za
• keo.co.za
• sarugbyblog.com
• pakiscorner.com
• blog.ecr.co.za/justplain
• rugbydump.blogspot.com
• iamastormer.com

Best Green blog
[Weblog covering mainly environmental, organic or enviro-friendly related content]

• cane.org.za
• ivo.co.za
• flenix.com/blog
• urbansprout.co.za
• synaptoman.com
• carbonsmart.com
• mothercityliving.co.za
• environment.co.za
• greenerhouse.co.za
• blog.earth-touch.com

Best Travel Blog
[The best South African blog featuring travel related content.]

• mothercityliving.co.za
• getaway.co.za/content/blog/categories.asp?category=Jazz%20Kuschke
• southafricablog.co.za
• capetowndailyphoto.com
• africansurfer.com
• getaway.co.za/content/blog/singlepage.asp?id=380
• blog.travelstart.co.za
• getaway.co.za/content/blog/categories.asp?category=Rob%20House
• getaway.co.za/content/kingsley/blogs/kingsley.asp
• getaway.co.za/content/blog/categories.asp?category=Alison%20Westwood

Best Undiscovered Blog
[Due to these blogs being 'undiscovered' with limited readership, last year's winners will make a selection from the unknown blogs nominated for this category. The selected top ten with then go through to the final voting stage as per normal.]

• vanoodle.blogspot.com
• jaxbischof.wordpress.com
• amandasaunders.blog.com
• how-to-become-a-serial-dater.blogspot.com
• baglett.blogspot.com
• neilmccartney.blogspot.com
• mamameea.blogspot.com
• livinglifebreathlessly.blogspot.com
• cynicman.za.net/wordpress
• slxs.co.za

Best South African Personal Blog
[Covers diary type blogs of a personal lifestory nature]

• 6000.co.za
• imod.co.za
• jaxbischof.wordpress.com
• blogs.24.com/emma30
• gladtobeagirl.blogspot.com
• mushypeasontoast.blogspot.com
• tertia.org
• batchfoo.blogspot.com
• mamameea.blogspot.com
• kabintsimbi.blogspot.com

Labels: 2008, sablog awards, vote

Posted by roygbiv at 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments

This is just a friendly reminder to register and vote for the Mother City to get on the board in Hasbro's new World Monopoly game.
I have no doubt that Cape Town's rise to #8 in the World Monopoly competition is due to the push made by the South African bloggers. But it's important to remember that once you have registered you are able to vote once a day for you city of choice. The higher the vote, the more I city will be 'worth' on the final board.
I like the suggestion to include our African brothers Cairo in your voting pool. They are just outside of the top 20 so could do with a little help.
Finally you can also nominate Johannesburg to be included in the wildcard vote. they are currently #11 in this pool.
SA's corporates are even getting into the spirit of things and opening their firewalls to the voting site, good on you guys.

For a step-by-step guide how to register and vote, click over to SA Rocks.

Labels: cape town, hasbro, vote, world monopoly

Posted by eishman at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments

Hasbro is creating a World Edition of it's ever popular Monopoly game and have decided to open up the list of cities that coulld make it onto the board to a worldwide vote.

Labels: cape town, eish, hasbro, vote, world monopoly

Posted by roygbiv at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Last week I posted a musing about what 'My Perfect City' would look and feel like.
This has, along with a few others, been entered in the 'My Perfect City Challenge' initiated by Your Group of WebAddiCTs.

Voting opens today, which means you are able to read the submissions and give your rating/vote. As tempting as it may be to link directly to the Eish!! submission I have decided rather to link to the Challenge page. Click here and scroll down to the list of submissions. All the entries are very different in style and content and make for interesting reading. So read them all and the vote for Eishman's entry ;-)

Update : [It seems as if the links are a bit screwy on the page, if you would prefer to go directly to the Eish!! vote page click here.]

Labels: eish, My perfect city, vote, Webaddicts

Posted by eishman at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

My good friend, Arthur from 'Online Trek' has begun an interesting project. He is trying to find the 50 best South African websites. This must not to be confused with a Top 50 list where the result would be purely related to the number of hits and/or page views [for this check out www.satopsites.com : although looking at the top sites listed here you can see why there is a need to Arthur's type of list]. The 50 best is collated by the number of votes received for the websites.

What I like about the concept is it allows those smaller websites and their creators and designers to get some exposure. Just because a banking or news site gets a huge amount of visits doesn't mean the visitors are getting a pleasurable experience when doing so. They need to get a certain job done, or get the information they need, so will put up with an archaic looking site or a dog slow experience to do so.

The project is still new so click here and leave a comment or go to the Facebook group that has been created and do the same, you could influence those voting after you with your choice.

The Rules :

1) The site must be based in South Africa
2) The site must be a current site - regularly updated

Labels: eish, online trek, top sa websites, vote

Posted by eishman at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments