Send Pam's House Blend to Denver!

Our bags are almost fully packed!

Bloggers going to Denver have faced quite a few logistical hurdles as well as the obvious financial ones, since we have to take time off from our day jobs and put our citizen journalist hats on to blog the convention.

Since the credentialed blogs are breaking new media ground this year, there has been interest in the ups and downs of planning for such a big adventure.

I was interviewed last week by the New York Times' Amanda Millner-Fairbanks for a piece that will appear in this Sunday's edition (in the Style Section). Even more disconcerting -- as a recovering introvert -- the paper sent out a photographer to my house to do a shoot over the weekend, so goodness knows how that will come out!

The focus of the article will beon the logistical and financial hurdles faced by bloggers -- as wellas the DNCC's struggle -- to coordinate the inclusion of citizen journalists as members of the credentialed media. Other bloggers are interviewed, including folks from The Albany Project, and Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis. A photographer for the Times came to my house over the weekend to do a shoot. This is the second large outlet to discuss the Blend's trip to the convention.

And last but not least - thanks to all of the people who graciously and generously donated to our ChipIn -- one in particular who hasn't confirmed that I can thank him publicly yet -- who went way beyond generous. He's responsible for several donations that represent nearly 2/3 of the donation total.

In the July 7, 2008 edition Raleigh News & Observer, there's a long profile on the Blend by Sadia Latifi, "Blogger gets respect: Durham resident writes on progressive issues." It's a good look at the blog, with quite a bit of personal background included.

The article was a great opportunity give people a peek at how the mainstream media covers blogs, and to help those less familiar with new media to learn about what we do out here on the Web. It's also good timing because: 1) The blog just turned 4 years old, and 2) The Blend is one of only two NC-based credentialed blogs that will cover the Democratic National Convention, and one of only two-LGBT focused blogs credentialed.

As I've said before to our regular readers, we don't hold regular fundraisers for day-to-day Blend content; so I hope it's not asking too much to put something in the tip jar to help us cover the travel and lodging expenses, since we don't have a corporate sponsor, or big media conglomerate behind us with a fat expense account. We're just citizen bloggers out here trying to make a difference at this historic event.

You can click over in the righthand column to contribute you can also place the widget on your blog, Facebook page and other places to help out!

We appreciate it, and look forward to bringing you a tasty Blend from Denver.

Pam's House Blend is credentialed to cover the 2008 Democratic National Convention. It will be a huge honor to represent all of the Blenders back at the coffeehouse.

All bloggers have to foot the entire cost of travel and lodging for this event; we'd appreciate your help in supporting our work in Denver.

About the Blend

The Blend was launched back in July 2004, and I created it to let off steam about the upcoming election and the state of issues that affect my life as an out lesbian -- the right not to lose my job because I am gay, the right to marry -- issues that were front and center as we were flogged endlessly by the right wing.

I was shouting into the electronic void, not really expecting anyone to drop by and leave comments (a way to open discussion with the blog host and others who read a particular post). But somehow, eventually, folks dropped by, from near and far, to share what they thought about a particular rant I had for the day.

It became clear that blogging about news stories involving LGBT concerns could give those who visited the Blend an insight into the progress (or lack thereof) of gay rights in Red State/Blue State America. The power of blogging is that you not only reach the readers of the blog, but the venue can serve as its own form of activism, a tool to spur action on issues that matter to us -- current political events, LGBT and women's rights, the influence of the far Right, and race relations.

Contributors/guest baristas to the Blend: 'Radical' Russ Belville, Autumn Sandeen, Daimeon Pilcher, Julien Sharp, and Terrance Heath -- they add a level of diversity to the progressive perspective here that we all cherish.

About Us

You can read our bios here:


-- Pam | Email


-- Autumn | Email


-- Daimeon | Email


-- Julien | Email


-- Terrance | Email


-- Russ | Email

The Blend is one of only two LGBT-focused blogs that will be credentialed to cover the Democratic National Convention (Towleroad is the other).

Our baristas featured in the post below represent a great deal of diversity and perspectives. I blog out of North Carolina, the other Blend contributors have home bases in San Diego, New York, DC, Oregon, and Miami. We have former military service members behind the counter in the coffeehouse, as well as the only transgender blogger credentialed to cover the convention, Autumn Sandeen.

So it's a big responsibility to do a great job representing all of the diverse facets of the Blend at this historic convention.

Please consider adding to the ChipIn to help us fund this trip, as we have to cover all expenses to get to Denver.

Here is the list of blogs selected to cover the convention.