The glitz, the glamour, the gift bags ...

We flew a little too close to the sun.

We apologize: We handled the 2006 Weblog Awards all wrong. Encouraging you guys to vote for us, then asking again, then undoing another button and leaning forward to ask yet again -- we tainted this blog, a well-tended quad of pristine sarcasm, with the stench of earnestness.

And frankly, we're ashamed. It's a little like waking up after a bender to realize what you've wrought. (Suffice it to say that we once got up and sleep-peed in our sock drawer at like 8 in the morning, in full view of two stunned friends visiting from high school -- and this post-Bloggies nausea feels even worse.)

To quote a role model: I was wack. Today we leave those posts behind as The Sincerity That Shall Not Be Named, and fully endorse Prof. Michael Berube for Best Educational Blog 2006. He's neck-and-neck with SpunkyHomeSchool -- a blog that's actually defunct but has rabid acolytes with adept at getting out the vote. Berube seems like a funny guy (and half of us are alums of the same hockey team), but mainly we just want to see the tension play out between the academy and the homeschooling army.

Despite being nerdy enough to have a blog, we've never really known what the word "p3wn" means. Regardless, we're pretty sure that's exactly what Michael Berube is doing to us now. If you don't know what we mean, take a look at the latest numbers coming out of the Weblog Awards vote tally. Berube's lead has become so unspeakably huge, we're embarrassed to even link to the poll. Come on, people. Where's the overcompetitive spirit that earned you that fat envelope?

Truth be told, this Berube guy is starting to grow on us. He plays hockey. His list of sworn enemies includes David Horowitz (read some choice parry-thrust here). And he tells off insane commenters on our own blog. Who knows what he's like in the classroom, but online, he seems like a stand-up guy.

Which is by no means to suggest he deserves to win. Given his numbers, Berube must have armies hitting up every computer lab, wireless hub, and Apple Store in the state of Pennsylvania. No doubt his American lit students are hacking the Weblog Awards mainframe as we speak. Meanwhile, our silence has cost us: about the only difference we can detect between voting on Sunday (when we were down 50) and Monday (500) is that we haven't written a GOTV update. So damn propriety, screw bloggish indifference, and to hell with this Penn State charmer!

Vote! And don't stop voting until you see Michael Berube's willowy concession speech atop his blog! Although: Whatever happens with Berube, we'll bite the suicide capsule before we let the homeschoolers take the trophy.

All right everyone. We don't usually ask much of you. But desperate times call for desperate blog posts. See the man/force of nature to the right? This is your enemy. Know his face. For if we don't act soon, that face will haunt your dreams and ours night after night, at least through winter break.

He is Michael Berube, our urgently new archnemesis. His blog, michaelberube.com, is currently leading IvyGate in the campaign for Best Educational Blog at the 2006 Weblog Awards by 80-odd votes. Clearly this cannot stand.

So here's the plan: Vote! Then make all your friends vote! Then vote again! Seriously, make voting part of your daily routine. The rules allow for a new ballot every 24 hours, and we fully expect your sedentary finals lifestyle to whisk us across the finish line in first place, nine days from now.

But as a precaution, our rapid response team is standing by, ready to loose Berube attack ads upon the electorate in the event that his lead surges into the triple digits. As such, Berube-related rumors, allegations and blackmail fodder of the flimsiest kind should be sent immediately to ivygate@gmail.com. Oh and did we mention, vote?

The 2006 Weblog Awards -- Best Education Blog [Click here to vote]

Finally -- some recognition for the Ivy League.

We found out yesterday that IvyGate, for reasons that are not quite clear, is up for "Best Educational Blog" in the 2006 Weblog Awards. Aw shucks, false modesty, etc: Honestly, we're pretty happy, and we have to give all credit to you guys (specifically, your keeping the inbox chin-deep in gossip).

The other finalists actually, um, appear interested in pedagogy and helping people, but nevertheless we intend to mop the floor with them. May God save Eduwonk.com if he tries to get in our way.

And that's where you come in. Voting just started at the Weblog Awards homepage and stays open for the next 10 days. If you're one of the four readers who doesn't hate us, please help us Diebold the shit out of this thing -- it's weird, but they let you vote once a day. So expect us to issue a reminder or six. Together, between our relentless self-promotion and your need to do anything besides study for finals, we can win this thing, and finally bring the Ivy League some long-overdue attention after so many years of obscurity.

Seriously, though: Thanks. Now go vote! Early, often, and from multiple computers!

The 2006 Weblog Awards -- Best Education Blog [Click here to vote]