Semi Truths A highly irregular weblog dedicated to Truth, Justice, and American Cheese…!

I have been reviewing the Sorenson VA Bloggers Summit all week and I’m still not done, but it is also my honor to host the Blog Carnival this week. I am pleased to have this opportunity to highlight the great writing of all these really marvelous people. I apologize if I missed anybody that I like…

• For a serious journalistic review of the Sorenson Institute’s 2006 Blogging Summit, read Bob Gibson’s terrific article in the Daily Progress followed by Rick Sincere‘s thoughtful analysis. When you’re done, read Not Chuck Robb‘s hilarious post.
• Honesty Counts is a blog that focuses on Virgina politics specifically and is another one of those that I learned about at the conference. Lisa is apparently a morning person and wrote a thoughtful Day One essay on Saturday morning before breakfast…!
• Of course, Waldo had us all beat, posting his thoughts before going to bed Friday night (and commenting again in the morning), then another trenchant summary of Day Two. Waldo also generously created a Flickr group with plenty of pictures.
• Blue Dog (who, despite his moniker, is clearly not a Democrat) posts a Day One take on “the Liberal Democratic BlogFest … in the People’s Republic of Charlottesville“, then caps Day Two with a Sorensen Blog Conference quiz.
• Shaun Kenney is an engaging speaker and carried his interesting talk over to his blog. I generally disagree with his politics, but I like him personally.
• Panelist Danny Glover (no, not that one) was also kind enough to post his talk on his blog.
• F.T. Rea was another panelist on the Blogging and Journalism session. He posts both on that session and his post-summit thoughts.
• During the session on Ethics and Blogging, many respondents mentioned the absent Jaded JD, enough so that, even though he was not present, he responded with a well-written piece about why he wishes to remain a pseudonymous blogger. I like his explanation so much that I am listing it here, even though he does not particularly care to be included in Carnivals.
• Commonwealth Commonsense offers his own take on pseudonymous blogging and hosts an interesting discussion. It was good to meet you, Bob.
• Mark Brooks is a disarmingly smart guy who is completely hilarious when he’s trying not to be.
• One Man’s Trash sadly had to skip Friday, but posts decent reviews of the Saturday workshops. I was not previously familiar with this blog, but I like it. The format of the site is a little crunched (as Wado has pointed out to me, however, nobody visits websites anymore, they just read the RSS feed), but I like his writing. Norm is a sensible conservative who is perfectly willing to take on “don’t-tax-but-do-spend” Republicans and who doesn’t devote his time to just bashing liberals. I hope we get another chance to speak.
• Jefferson Mammoth is another pseudonymous blogger. Did we meet? Neither one of us may know. Reading his blog, he is clearly another rational conservative.
• Josh Chernila is the first person I met at the conference. He is well-spoken and informed and immediately made me feel at ease. He is also a prolific blogger and a political force to be reckoned with.
• Brian Patton, who blogs on BrianPatton.org under the pseudonym “Brian Patton”, was too tired to post a full review. Brian also bears a startling resemblance to Creigh Deeds.
• Virginia Progressive — who, despite the name, is male — is also too tired to write much. These young guys were just up too late…
• Kenton Ngo, also one of the youngest bloggers there, wrote a long a thoughtful piece that brought together all the disparate threads of the summit into a comprehensive analysis full of witty prognostications … or, he might have, but as of this writing, his site is hosed.
• Dels. Kris Amundson and Bob Brink marvelled at the relative youth of everyone at the summit (clearly, not me) but despite their self-proclaimed dotage, they were full of energy and exuberance.
• Jennifer has been too busy to post her thoughts on the summit, but writes that she is enjoying mine. Fair enough! She’s a charming woman and writes a smart blog.
• ChangeServant posts a very thoughtful review of the summit and addresses a concern that I shared: why does there need to be a conservative counter-summit? That, as it turns out, is a mischaracterization, and I’m Not Emeril clears the air and provides more information about the August “C’Ville, Too” in Martinsville.
• Bacon’s Rebellion was unable to attend, but provided more details on the supposed rift between “liberal” and “conservative” bloggers.
• Extreme Mortman likened the conference to YearlyKos, and noted that ” the presence of Bolling and McDonnell at UVA sends the clear message that bloggers will play an increasingly important role in the Commonwealth as the next campaign unfolds.” Hear hear!
• CatHouse Chat, a conservative blogger, really enjoyed “meeting some gracious and very charming people from the other side of the aisle“. We enjoyed meeting you too, Romeocat…
• Conaway Haskins is impressive in person, and reviews the conference in a thoughtful essay on South of the James. However, my favorite line is not in the original posting, but in a response to a comment when he adds “I see myself as a writer who blogs, not a blogger who writes“. Conaway cross-posted the same article on Bacon’s Rebellion and spurred some additional interesting discussions on blogging and ethics. This week, the Sorenson Institute profiles Conaway . Excellent choice.
• I’m saving the best for last. Vivian Paige is my new best friend. She is smart, funny, outspoken, and was the brightest light in a room full of shining people. She wrote her impressions of the conference and followed up a few days later with a discourse on ethics and journalism. In the middle of all this trenchant analysis, she also wrote a Father’s Day tribute to her own Dad that had me blubbering like a baby. If you ever get a chance to spend time with Vivian, do it!

• UPDATE: Sorenson has posted a page with links to this and other Blog Summit recaps, including links to audio files of the guest speakers.