Earlier this year, my favorite group blog, 3 Quarks Daily, where I also write a monthly column, launched four annual contests for the best blog posts in Science, Philosophy, Politics, and Arts & Literature, respectively. Contests such as these can bubble up good writing to our attention, recognize merit, and encourage new talent. The already concluded Science contest was judged by Steven Pinker and the Philosophy contest was judged by Daniel Dennett. 

The Politics contest, to be judged by Tariq Ali, is currently underway. Yours truly has entered a dog in the race (despite his natural inclination to avoid dog races). It’s called America, the Cold War, and the Taliban. An audience voting round that shapes the next round is now open and will close on Dec 9. Check out the contenders and then cast your vote here. Two that I have read and liked are by Aditya Dev Sood and Justin E. H. Smith. May the best blog post win.

On a different note, the venerable New York Review of Books—the only publication to which I have continuously subscribed since 1996—has recently started a group blog. Definitely check it out.