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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2006 > September > 18 > Entry
Uncorking the perfect birthday celebration: Uncorked turns 1!
Uncorked was born a year ago today. Any such milestone represents a time to pause and reflect — right after I do this:
It’s my birthday … gonna party … it’s my birthday …. gonna party … Woo Hoo!
Ahem, okay, now then.
First of all, this is about you — yes, you, individually, you who is reading these words right now — because blogs such as this one depend upon readers as their lifeblood. This little venture has flourished because you keep coming back to see what’s happening on this page, to comment on the issue or the foible or the accomplishment or the irritant of the day. Many many times, your comments are far more worth reading than my original posts. My thanks to each of you.
Thanks also to Jeff Bruce, the editor of the Dayton Daily News, a fine blogger himself who persuaded me to launch Uncorked, and to Scott Elliott, my education reporting colleague (until I left the beat a month ago, anyway) whose incredibly successful education blog entitled Get On The Bus has taught me a great deal. And to the many other folks at the Dayton Daily News who make Uncorked work — because when it comes to the technical end of this, well, let’s just say my ignorance knows no bounds.
It’s been an eventful first year. Early on, I discovered the power and the international reach this Internet blogging medium can have (and I suspect a certain national grocery chain did too) with the December 2005 entries entitled A Trader Joe’s wine-buying experience and Trader Joe’s pulls Italian white wine from shelves nationwide. An amazing experience that evolved from the innocent act of buying a bottle of wine.
We’ve had fun with photo caption contests once or twice. We’ve tweaked the powerful, including Wine Spectator a time or two. Even the Spectator’s publisher, Marvin Shanken, weighed in when we raised questions about the magazine’s restaurant awards.
We’ve shared emotional memories of a wine retailer poised to retire and allowed another retailer to unleash a rant.
We’ve caught up with old friends. We’ve stooped to new lows of shameless titillation by inventing ways to get such terms as “sex and seduction” and “Marilyn Monroe naked” and “porn star” into headlines — all in proper context, of course.
And we’ve even helped shame folks — from one individual to one high-profile winery — into doing the right thing.
It’s been a fun ride so far, thanks to you. Care to join me for another year?
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Comments
By maria
September 23, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this
Mark, Keep up the good work. Your articles are not only informative but fun to read. There are so many wines and so little time. Please continue to keep us posted in years to come so we don’t waste time on the wrong wines.
By Gordo
September 21, 2006 4:39 PM | Link to this
Mark: Thanks for a great first year. Please keep “poking the big guys in the eye”, and never lose the conversational tone or the humorous undertone that always makes reading your blog quite a bit more refreshing than those in which the tone is more somber. Approaching serious topics using humor always informs and entertains at the same time. Now, we await the next rounds of information and humor.
By donniella winchell
September 20, 2006 6:26 AM | Link to this
Mark et al: i am sad to say i do not read your blog as frequently as i should and/or would like to — there is just sooooooo much out there and not enough hours in the day — but when i get a few minutes free, i always try and log on — and enjoy your comments immensely — your material is timely, fun and informative — so kudos on your first anniversary — keep up the good work donniella winchell executive director ohio wines
By Cathy
September 19, 2006 12:25 AM | Link to this
Mark - it has been a fun ride indeed, and educational too. And I sense this next year will also be tons of fun. A Great Big CONGRATS, and keep writing the snarky fun stuff. Oh and BTW, happy International Talk Like A Pirate Day. talklikeapirate.com Arrr!
By STEPHEN HILL
September 18, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this
Sounds like all the above comments are positive, and I couldn’t agree more. I know you’ve changed my appreciation of wine. Here’s to year 2! Big Bro.
By Megan H
September 18, 2006 2:37 PM | Link to this
Most congratulations Mark! You deserve to be very proud of Uncorked. While many journalists are shying away from the ditigal era of news you are a frontrunner, and your readers thank you. Celebrate!
By Burt
September 18, 2006 2:26 PM | Link to this
My entry into the wine world started about the same time as your blog. I hope we can grow old together. Happy Birthday!!!
By MJ
September 18, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
Hope you made a good wish! One candle is pretty easy to blow out. Now, wipe the cake off your face - there’s work to be done here! Congratulations.
By Lisa Grigsby
September 18, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this milestone by uncorking a bottle and toasting you! Salut!
By Lenn
September 18, 2006 9:48 AM | Link to this
Mark, Congratulations on Uncork’s blog birthday. You’ve built a fine blog here and a fine reputation. I feel like I should writing something sarcastic (would be more in line with my style) but seriously, you have a lot to be proud of and I’m sure all of your readers will back me when I say that I hope Uncorked lasts for many years to come.
By Tom
September 18, 2006 9:15 AM | Link to this
Congrats, Mark. Uncorked sure has made the wine blogosphere a much more interesting place to be and observe. Now get going on year 2!