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| Our thanks to Jeremy Hawkins at Hollywood Nuts! for this utterly groovy Arlee's Ambassadors badge. |
Time to Say Hello
To start things off in this post I'd like to introduce you to some people you will probably be seeing around in the months to come. In fact you may have noticed an increase from them in tweets and mentions about the A to Z Challenge in the past few weeks. Why the interest in the #AtoZChallenge? They are the 2015 Team of Arlee's A to Z Challenge Ambassadors!
You might know some or all of them from previous April Challenges as they are all veterans. Know them or not, I'm going to introduce you to them. Be sure to visit their blogs to say hello and follow them. Also I'll be giving you their Twitter handles so you can follow them there as well.
They will be joining the other co-host assistance teams in patrolling the Linky list to make sure all the links lead to participating blogs and to spread general A to Z goodwill and encouragement to all of the hard-working bloggers joining us for the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.
Here's my extraordinary 2015 team:
Tim Brannan has been working with me for the past couple of years since we first started the co-host assistance teams. He's been a great asset to A to Z with his blogging experience and keen organizational skills. You can find his main blog at The Other Side. His Twitter handle is @timsbrannan .
Rob Z Tobor first teamed up with me last year when he actually visited every single blog on the 2014 Linky list. If you've never visited Rob at his blog then you've got to see it to believe it--he lives up to the name of the Slightly Eccentric Diary of Rob Z Tobor. Follow Rob on Twitter at @Rob_Z_Tobor .
J Lenni Dorner is signed up for a 4th A to Z Challenge and this time will be joining my assistance team for the first year in that role. J is already been very active in promoting the Challenge. I'm expecting big things from "J" who can be found at What Are They? or on Twitter at @JLenniDorner.
Jenny Pearson is not only a long time blogging friend of mine, but a veteran of the A to Z Challenge. She was a very capable co-host during the 2012 Challenge and now returns with her experience to give my Ambassador Team a hand. Find Jenny at Pearson Report as well as on Twitter at @PearsonReport.
Jeffrey Bushman with two previous A to Z's behind him is joining my team to help keep an eye on things. Please visit his blog The High Cost of This Low Living and give him a follow as well as on Twitter at @jwb81074
This 2015 Team shows a lot of promise as they've already been diving right into the action. We will be doing our very best to keep the A to Z Linky list cleaned up to make things easier for all participants as well as stopping in to visit as many of you as we can.
Thanks to a great team of bloggers!
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Battle of the Bands Results: "Bye Bye Love"
In my latest Battle the the Bands I pitted a pairing of versions of the Everly Brothers hit song "Bye Bye Love" with a bonus clip thrown in the mix to stir things up even more. As I mentioned in the post, that last clip from the film All That Jazz was going to be my choice, but it was optional for any one else who didn't want to take time viewing that ten minute video. A few did watch that long clip so as it turns out that one did get some votes--after all it was the best version!
All the versions were very good as far as I'm concerned and voting was fairly close under the circumstances. If I hadn't tossed in the monkey wrench of the third video I have a feeling that the winner of this round would not have won. But I guess we won't know for sure.
Congratulations to the Ray Charles version for edging out the competition.
Final Tally
All That Jazz 8 votes
Madeleine Peyroux 10 votes
Ray Charles 12 votes
Next Battle of the Bands post will appear on Sunday February 15th. I promise there will only be two choices and I'll keep them relatively short. Please join me for this upcoming Battle. It will be a unique song that is a cult classic originally released in 1967 by a legendary and highly influential band that many of you may not have even heard of. A real favorite of mine, but what else would you expect from me--it's a rather weird song. Anyone for some jug band music?
Do you already follow any of my Ambassador Team members? Have you been seeing tweets and retweets about the A to Z Challenge? Sorry, but I can't resist asking this, but do you have any idea what the song or original artist of my next Battle of the Bands is?
I don't do twitter, except to occasionally check the tweets of an actor who I love that closed down his FB account. Sounds like you have a great team again! I sure miss Tina though. I would have minioned for her in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteTina is missed many of us. Such a shock to have lost her at such a young age.
DeleteLee
I know most of your team. Rob visited everyone on the list? That's impressive.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Rob did an amazing job last year and is already headlong into the thing this year.
DeleteLee
I bet my husband would know your song; he's the musician here who also is good with music trivia. I'm not familiar with some of your team so I'm going to head over to their blogs after I leave this comment. I think Twitter is a great thing, but between Facebook, blogging, working 40 hours a week, and trying to spend some time with hubby, I had to say "no" to it years ago when it called out to me (that and Pinterest :)
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed Rob visited everyone on the list! That is a remarkable feat!
betty
I spend not much more than 15 minutes per say on Twitter unless I'm participating in a Twitter Chat. Small investment but I'm not sure what its value is so far.
DeleteThanks for visiting my other team mates. Mutual support is what this is all about.
Lee
Looking forward to the Challenge,(hope I have a home sorted by then),Will look some of the team up as some I am not familiar with.
ReplyDeleteLove the song Bye Bye Love
Gosh is it really the 6th A to Z Challenge? I well remember signing up.that first year.
Yes, 6 years is almost hard to believe! Looking forward to your participation again.
DeleteLee
Hi, Arlee! Thanks for dropping by my blog on Blitz Day! I feel like Cinderella and it's going to take some doing to get to all the beautiful blitzers' blogs. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThose Blitzes can be a be overwhelming, but they are encouraging as well.
DeleteLee
That was a pretty good battle. I always wonder if I should throw that third song in there, too. I don't know how it would have played without it, but... the fact that the super-long All That Jazz version got 8 votes... impressive.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was pleased that so many people actually viewed the clip from All That Jazz. And actually though the clip seemed super long, it was just a tad longer than some of the 7 to 8 minute clips offered by others. My next Battle should be a bit shorter.
DeleteLee
I do not recommend visiting every blog on the A to Z during the A to Z for many reasons. But I set myself a goal last year and was keen too achieve it. Part of my reason was that I got slightly frustrated by bad links the previous year and I was always told . . . dont moan do something about it. . . so I did my bit so that I can be grumpy and moan with a clear conscience . . I like to be grumpy.
ReplyDeleteI am much busier this year and know I will not be as effective as I was last year but I will do my best Mr B to be a good Ambassador. I am even a little worried about making it to the end of the A to Z. Plenty of time to get prepared yet so if I can get ahead on writing posts I might just make it.
And good luck to everyone taking part I hope to turn up and say hello . . . . .Maybe not today, Maybe not tomorrow, but SOON at a blog post near you.
Well, whether you get around to all the list or not, you still do an excellent job on all accounts. You'll finish the A to Z--I've got faith that you will. I wouldn't even be surprised if you made it through the entire list again!
DeleteLee
"Bye, Bye, Love" is a great song. And yay for A to Z teams!!!
ReplyDeleteThere are some excellent bloggers lending a hand to this year's Challenge.
DeleteLee
Hey, the version I voted for actually won this time!
ReplyDeleteI followed your Ambassadors via twitter. I'll have to check out their blogs later. Woot for getting a team!
Thanks for giving support to my team members!
DeleteLee
I unfortunately amn't on Twitter as often as I used to be, since for some bizarre reason, my new computer keeps logging me off every time I shut down, and forces me to reset my password every time I go to log on. It's just not worth that annoyance every single day, even after I've tried everything suggested to stay signed in.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to see if I've heard of the band featured in your next Battle post. I'm familiar with a lot of bands from that era many people have never heard of, since I listened to so much of the oldies stations and Dick Bartley's radio shows before both jumped the shark and moved far away from their roots.
That's kind of weird about your computer--must be something in the settings? I go on spells with Twitter.
DeleteYou might be familiar with the band since they are credited by some to have started or at least pioneered a rock genre. You'll know a lot more this coming Friday February 13th.
Lee
Thanks for this amazing introduction, Lee. I'm looking forward to having fun with you, this great team, and the A to Z Challenge itself.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Jenny
2015 A to Z Ambassador
Twitter @PearsonReport
Blog PearsonReport
My thanks to you! You've provided valuable information so far and I know you have so much more to add.
DeleteLee
Yes! Ray won the battle!
ReplyDeleteI've already been poking around on the blogs that signed up for the challenge. I figure I can see what people do with their blogs before April and find out the ones I want to keep a closer eye on.
Maybe you'll even get inspired to join in with your own blog! There are always interesting new blogs to discover during A to Z.
DeleteLee
I'm excited this year to be on C. Lee's team. We even got ourselves a mascot. I have to write a post about it soon. =)
ReplyDeleteA mascot is cool. We're so happy to have C.Lee as a part of this year's A to Z Team. And glad you're on her team.
DeleteLee
All That Jazz with 8 votes is great! I'll be back with a guess on the next battle band(smile).
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting word to see if my volunteering to be a Minion is accepted. I don't know that I could handle the A-Z Challenge itself... so much on the plate. I will definitely check out the blogs of your ambassadors!
I know you could handle the A to Z Challenge if you really set your mind to doing so. Think about it!
DeleteI think I made the clue for the next song's original artist very clear to anyone in the know. And I'm sure you will know with my post on this Friday February 13th. Then you'll probably guess the song because I'll be using covers of what is probably that groups most covered song and one of their best.
Lee
Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band?
DeleteNo, but that does seem like the obvious choice for that era. The group I'm talking about has a far greater influence even with some recent groups.
DeleteLee
Lovin' Spoonful - Nashville Cats or Money...
DeleteNope--you're on the right track with a jug as an instrument but the wrong concept of the jug band. The band I'm talking about is not in such a traditional vein. Nice try though--I like Lovin' Spooful a lot.
DeleteLee
Congrats on putting together a great team for A to Z. Still working on mine.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great one as well soon. I think John just about has his after his campaign today.
DeleteLee
Yes, congrats on a great team! I might just join in and have been mentioning it to a few newbies. I love what Jeremy has created-he is so talented~ I have missed you Lee and hope you are doing well~
ReplyDeleteI'm doing well and, yes, It's been a while. Hope you do join in the Challenge.
DeleteLee
Looking forward to making this year rock!
ReplyDeleteYou're off to a good start! Keep those tweets and retweets going, etc.
DeleteLee
Thanks for all the hard work you guys do! I wonder if you could incorporate a box where we could report a bad link when we see one? I'll be reading a lot of the blogs and, remembering last year, about a week into the challenge I would start noticing blog after blog that had either never participated at all or stopped participating and I'd be happy to enter those links into a box if one were on there. Others might, too--it would make your work easier!
ReplyDeleteIn the past many bad links and other problems have been reported in the comments of the A to Z blog, on the FB page, or by direct email to one of the co-hosts. Those methods work fairly well. And that's what our individual co-host teams are supposed to be doing.
DeleteThe method of doing this all through a blog is not the best as I have often stated in past years' Reflections posts. Ideally we'd have sign-ups done on a website through a method other than Linky where there would be a better screening process that actually catches and corrects the errors before they happen and automatically monitor daily posting in order to remove or isolate the non-participants and drop-outs. I know it can be done, but I don't have the knowledge to do this and it would probably be expensive to pay someone to set this all up and maintain it.
This is my dream for someday and who knows?
Thanks for taking an interest in making A to Z better. Ideas like yours keep us thinking and improving!
Lee
I'm sure the AtoZ will be HUGE this year. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteHopefully we'll stay at least as it's been.
DeleteLee
You have a great team and so much vigor! This is how it should be-very exciting. Glad Ray won and will be watching All That Jazz soon.
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think of the movie.
DeleteLee
I'm glad some of your old team members are back, and I'm looking forward to meeting the new ones. I really enjoyed Bye Bye Life, and last month's Busby Berkeley musical extravaganza! Your appreciation of musicals would make a great A to Z theme, Lee!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Musicals might be a fun theme for an A to Z. I'll keep that in mind for the future--though I am far from expert at musicals. Now maybe I'll start planning for next year.
DeleteLee
I am looking forward to perusing the list this year as I plan on having all my posts pre-written. For now I have a few things to mop up and finish so I can concentrate on the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'll be sure to check out your battle next week.
I've started mine--barely. I try to get to it as I can and will hopefully have posts done soon. I want to do better visiting than I did last year.
DeleteLee
I know I'm really late here but I'm trying to catch up on the BOTB Results posts. I'm not really surprised at the outcome, but I am glad to see that the 'All That Jazz' version make a very respectable showing.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was also pleasantly surprised under the circumstances. I'm not surprised about the over all outcome however.
DeleteLee
A little slow on my reading this week!
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to the A to Z this year.
I completely understand. I'm always in catch up mode.
DeleteLee