2003 was a banner year for Banterist, primarily because it didn't exist in 2002.

Indeed, Banterist is still a youngin' ' which is what you'd call it if you're inclined to use the vernacular of the Old West, or if you weren't properly schooled. It is yet another weblog in a vast universe of weblogs, many of which suck so incredibly bad they're like little black holes.

[Stephen Hawking laugh here]

But in the vast expanse of cyberspace there are the occasional gems to be found. Planets with life, as it were. It was the intention from the very beginning that this one try and be amongst them; a friendly planet that entertains its visitors. Much like that planet in Star Trek: The Next Generation where everyone was gorgeous and running around having fun and screwing. Banterist wants to be like that planet, up until the part where the little weasel kid steps on the flowers and the natives want to execute him.

The original intent of Banterist was to consolidate writing in one place, rather than many, and to have the motivation to keep writing - in the form of people who were looking for something to read. Now that there are a significant number of said people, it feels like employment. Worrying about deadlines. Proofreading. Evaluating everything for its potential as a topic. It has forced me to get up two hours earlier every day and required I never leave the house without my tiny digital camera, notepad and a pen. It has made my day job as an TV & radio commercial actor and copywriter much more interesting.

We left the year 2003 with over 7100 unique visits in December alone. Not bad for a weblog that didn't even exist in August. For that, I owe thanks to folks like Choire Sicha at Gawker, and the various and sundry who've liked the banter enough to link to it, quote from it or come back to it. There is great reward in finding that folks like what you're doing. It makes the fact that you're not getting rich off of it much more palatable.

In 2004, I resolve to follow up with the magazines that have contacted me as a result of seeing something they liked on Banterist. It would be great to make something come of that. And I hope that Banterist will offer you many more reasons to quote from, link to and come back.

Happy New Year.