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2012 In Review

220px-New_Year_Ball_Drop_Event_for_2012_at_Times_SquareWe have had a great year on the blog and passed the 14 million view mark as well as the 10,000th blog and 300,000 comment. We continue to experience remarkable growth both domestically and internationally. That success is due entirely to our growing ranks of regular bloggers and commentators, including but not limited to our weekend guest bloggers David Drumm, Mark Esposito, Gene Howington, Michael Spindell, Eliane Magliaro, Mike Appleton, and Larry Rafferty.


The most viewed blog entries in 2012 were:

1 10 Reasons The U.S. Is No Longer The Land Of The Free (January 2012)
2 Pennsylvania Judge Throws Out Charge For Harassing Atheist While Calling The Victim A Doofus (February 2012)
3 THE DEATH OF FREE SPEECH (October 2012)
4 Florida Boy Attacked, Stripped Naked in Public, and Videotaped By Three Girls — Resulting In No Charges (June 2011)
5 Oklahoma Couple Arrested in Massive Bestiality Case (July 2008)

We continue to have growing viewer numbers among 220 countries. The most visitors came from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The most prolific commentators in 2012 were

1 idealist707 5267 COMMENTS
2 Elaine M. 3606 COMMENTS
3 Gene H. 3346 COMMENTS
4 Swarthmore mom 3267
5 Malisha 3257

Thanks again everyone. I am very proud of the level discourse and civility that continues to distinguish this blog. As you know, I view my role during the week as merely starting a conversation and then step back to watch the dialogue unfold. While we sometimes stray from our civility rule (there is a good New Year’s resolution subject), the dialogue has remained passionate but respectful. It gives me great pride to be associated with this blog and your discussions.

Now on to 2013!

19 thoughts on “2012 In Review”

  1. Thank you, Prof. Turley, for permitting me to voice my views here from time to time. And to each and all, best wishes for a happy, healthy and productive new year.

  2. Sounds like a good sampling, judging from here.

    We had one guy at JTs, forgot his name. He spoke out for a while but I did not catch he was afroamerican (if not other black source) until he was leaving us. I felt that he was not comfortable here, based on what I remember from his last comment.

    I can dig that they want the whole body and face to judge by.
    Most black folks, actors and pols excepted, are open to show what they feels but like us try to hide it when it suits them. But guess a black cannot fool a black. Would we be able to do the same to our whitey relatives and friends, enemies etc.

    I think that Obama is one of the best pols we have for shucking people.
    Maybe he is a method actor. 🙂

  3. Well ID, In case the King of Pompous Mountain is reading I will give a disclaimer:

    This in no way covers black culture and is limited to the black men w/ whom I have discussed this. In discussing this w/ them they did have general observations about their brothers. The views they represent are solely theirs and I am reporting them as they told me. Good enough, MikeS??

    One guy is a sports nut. He is not a fan of the computer and when he does use it he mostly emails and reads sports or fantasy sports stuff. Plus, he’s not a good typist. The other guy is very private and although I assure him of anonymity he is suspicious. Both agree that the majority of black folk look upon the internet as a way to get info but don’t see it as a way to interact. They believe it’s important for them to see the person w/ whom they’re communicating. While facial and verbal expressions are important to all, they say it’s much more important to black folk. There is another black guy I know who does comment on blogs. But he’s pretty out there and would give a few folks here strokes! You’ll have to trust me he would be incendiary. I disagree w/ him on a lot but we have a trust. He knows I’m cool w/ black folk, not just some condescending liberal like a few are here. I would bet over 50% of his comments would be “awaiting moderation.” Women here would find him mostly offensive. As I said, my son..probably one of the few Colombian hockey players in the world, is a very physically active young man and not one to sit in front of a computer. I know some other Hispanics but their English is decent to poor. And, I’ll work on the Chippewa. He’ll fit in well politically, he’s a UW enviromental grad and works hard for peanuts in the enviromental lobbying biz.

  4. NickS,

    It is easily solved: Take one portion pleasure in commenting and solving equations. Time is limited as is energy, so eliminate other areas which consume the both.

    Wider viewpoints, yes. Particularly from the minorities and even the formerly economic majorities (50 percent poor) would be a welcome broadenening and deepening too. Perhaps in providing as yet unsued solutions. The take of your black contacts as to why not blog would be nice to know.

    I have often good color and culture contacts. But their knowledge of real USA is null.

    Maybe could recruit a very smart jewish lady former diplomat with several years in NYC consulate. She seems cognizant on what was what then.

  5. I appreciate this blog for the variety of topics and the comments and the opportunity to add my two cents on occasion. Except for the occasional elevated testosterone, the discourse is civil and very much appreciated. Keep up the good work.

  6. Congrats to ID. And you lamented your dimunition in energy! Much more needed than women are people of color. I have tried to recruit a couple black dudes I know but blogs simply aren’t their cup o’ tea. My son is my project for this year, but it’s pond hockey season right now! I have a former student who is Chippewa. However, he is an enviromental activist and he has a missionary zeal 24/7. I’ll work on him. If folks here associate w/ folks other than Caucasian how about some recruiting?

  7. What UG said.

    The weekend guest bloggers make a great contribution to this site. Thanks!

  8. Thanks Professor Turley, I hope that you and others realize that leading in numbers was not my intention; it grew out of passion and the discussions which are worth completing.

    It is the best place for mental gymnastics (for me) and for confronting new challenges of all types.

    I support ElaineM’s interesting idea of more women guest bloggers.

    Auld Lang Syne (sp?)

  10. Like Gene and rafflaw–I consider it an honor to be one of the guest bloggers…and the only one among us without a Y chromosome!

    😉

    Happy New Year to all!

  11. We went off the cliff. It looks more like a real physical cliff than some Fiscal Cliff. So, those guys in Congress who could not pronounce fiscal, had it right.
    Then, some guy planted roses along the beach. No one is smelling them although it is 8 am Eastern and everyone is awake. Blind guy and I went to the ATM and it would not work.

  14. What Gene said. I consider it an honor to be a blogger and a guest blogger on this site. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

  15. I couldn’t find anything in the archives here.

    Maybe in the new year (it’s not 12:00 here yet) this blog will take up the issue of IRC 107.

    If not resolved at the district court level by summary judgment or some other means, trial is set for January 2014 in the case filed by the FFRF challenging its constitutional merits.

    See also:

    http://wh.gov/QQOh

  16. As a commentator, I must thank you Jonathan for providing what I find to be one of the most unique and interesting forums on the Web. From highest quality regular and semi-regular contributors to the basest of drive-by propaganda trolls, it is always a fun show to watch.

    As a guest blogger, I must say it is an honor to be associated with such a group of fine minds and fine characters who share many common interests in civil rights and Constitutional law that are not deterred from airing their differences. It is indeed a point of pride to be part of a growing enterprise engaged in fighting the good fight. I congratulate you and my guest blogger brethren on a job well done and impart wishes for an even better new year. As ever, one lives to be of service but that is a task most pleasurable when one enjoys the company one keeps.

    Bhliain nua sásta!

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