The Big Contest

By Stephen Downes
June 13, 2008

OK, here's the deal: I'm going to be away for a month, including two weeks away from the keyboard while visiting the canary Islands in July. I could just go on hiatus, but I'd rather have some fun with this. So I've decided to open up OLDaily a bit.

How would you like to write OLDaily?

You'd need to keep in in pretty much the same format, providing a few links every weekday, and generally follow the format that has characterized the newsletter for these last few years. Otherwise - pick your own stories, voice your own opinions, it's all good.

But I only have room for four people - one to assume responsibility for each week I'm gone (all four, and myself as well, will be able to contribute all four weeks, but one person will be in charge each of the four weeks). This means we will have to have a selection process. And here is the process:

Write me a good 100 (or so) word post, in the style of OLDaily, explaining why you should be picked. Email it to stephen@downes.ca and I will add it to the list of entries. On Monday (yes, Monday, in the afternoon) I will post the list of responses - but without the person's name. Readers will vote, but on the paragraphs only. They will not know who they are voting for. The top four vote-getters will be picked.

A couple of conditions. First, if you want to write for OLDaily, you must already have a weblog or an established web presence. That's to protect me; I don't want total strangers writing the newsletter (I'm sure you understand). And second, if you want your vote to count, be sure to register and be logged in (Anymouse gets a vote, but only one vote, no matter how many times it is submitted). That's right - only one vote per registered reader.

OK, let's have some fun with this.
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Comments

Re: The Big Contest

mbarber, June 17, 2008

I don't think I have enough time to grow the right amount of facial hair and may be willing to have a go at it [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: The Big Contest

Anymouse, June 16, 2008

Stephen, I'm intimidated. I don't know how anyone could keep up with the volume of stuff you produce on a daily basis. That said, your absence will give us all time to catch up on your past content!!


From Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net,

Miguel Guhlin
8-> [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: The Big Contest

Stephen Downes, June 14, 2008

There are no entries yet... getting a bit nervous.
[Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: The Big Contest

Dave Ferguson, June 14, 2008

Seems to me that "in the style of OLDaily" is because this is OLDaily. And "in the style" says to me "links to a variety of sources, with brief descriptions and a side order of opinion."

I think it's enjoyably off-beat, Stephen. The anonymous paragraphs strike me as similar to the blind auditions used by orchestras, where I've read that those auditioning walk on stage (concealed by a curtain) with their shoes off, so the judges don't hear footsteps that might distinguish a woman from a man.

I'll look forward to the entries. [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: The Big Contest

Stephen Downes, June 13, 2008

The purpose of the contest is to provide continuity for readers. This means keeping the overall style the same.

As for the total strangers - let's see how this works with the risk mitigated, before we try anything more ambitious, shall we? [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: The Big Contest

Anymouse, June 13, 2008

Why in the style of OLDaily? Why should anyone want to mimic you. OL Daily is you, and if you're away, youre away.
And if you are serious about all you say with regard to the web, and networks, you ought to be prepraed to risk a total stranger writing, if the readers approve. It is not as if with all this process you are setting up, anyone is going to think it was you. So what's the problem? [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

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