After a pseudo 2-week blog hiatus (well, I did moderate comments in the queue every day), one very strange entry after The Absence and another 5 days of being unplugged after that last entry, my blog would've looked like a ghost town without all your lovely comments and repeat hits from several regulars dropping by. (Dudes... subscribe to my full RSS feed.) What's really surprising and flattering is one particular comment from C5, a first-time commenter (delurking is a good thing and highly encouraged in my ghost town) who nominated fruityoaty as one of The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2007. C5, gimme some of that stuff you're SMOKING!
Janette Toral has a contest beginning on May 19 and ending on July 28. You write a blog post and pick 10 (or less) emerging influential blogs in the world. Blogs must have started from August 1, 2006 to the present. She'll compile a list of the Top 10 blogs based on all the posts and pick 10 posts in random that will get USD $100 each. For full contest details, go here.
C5, many thanks for inspiring me to blog again, but fruityoaty... influential? What? Eh, can you actually prove that there's a rising suicide rate in the Philippines after repeated exposure to reading my blog? 
Like C5's reasons, my Top 10 picks are based on sites that elicited connections, laughter and knowledge. I listed the 10 blogs in order of inaugural post date (from oldest to latest):
- Blogbastic! (Jim Caro)
- Unwritten (Ann)
- Jun.anteola (Jun)
- Culture Shiok! (formerly of www.cultureshiok.com)
- Cheese to go with my whine* (Lei)
- Jhed (formerly of jhed.asteeg.net)
- City Love (Yoopean)
- yummeh.net (Juice)
- I Am Lexie (Lexie)
- LongCountdown.com (Nick Ramsay)
Did I consider Technorati rank, Google PageRank, blah blah? Nope. I also considered 24 other blogs I frequent, but unfortunately 23 of them (with the exception of two) didn't qualify because of inaugural post date.
I was scratching my head to come up with a few reasons why someone might think fruityoaty is influential (HAHAHA)... because I don't get that much traffic, really, despite decent Ratified.org and Technorati ranks:
- Misteryosa (Shari) wrote in a blog meme that fruityoaty "revels in the fact that she always makes her visitors drool with hunger".
- Spilling my own thunder (Alma) offered to show me around Australia and feed me Tim Tams (mmm chocolate biscuits). Tim Tamming!
- Midori-X (Marni) wrote that she smiles at "pineapples that look like rock stars". Yessir, I'm a legend in my own fruity oaty mind. As if.
- Blogbastic! (Jim Caro) was inspired to blog about his business idea for chocolate drinks after reading one of my entries. CHOCOLATE.
- Blog award nominations and wins. Ze Biggest Whiner. S-s-super Zeroic.
- I am totally way fruityer (that's a word... it is now) than yo' momma.
Well, I wrote... a few reasons... I didn't say they'd be "good reasons".
FRUITYOATY MANIFESTO:
I am standing on a craggy mountaintop, lightning bolts playing above me, fist thrust upward and head held high as the furious wind hurls rain in my face. I laugh scornfully at the elements that doubt my greatness. I shout lustily into the tempest, "I am ze fruityest in all ze universe, hear me roar!" Neaaah, on second thought, I'm going back to my cozy warm bed.
Oh brother. Oh sister. Yo' momma. Zzz. Ego? Pish! Self-love, baby. 
Adieu until 2 weeks and 5 days from now (harhar, well...)
Ze fruityest 
P.S. I apologize for the previous entry. I myself couldn't read it. Gawd.
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Hi fruity… Congratulations times 2! First you made it to the Top Ten; second, you got $100!!!
I wasn't able to go… was so busy. Actually, it was just now that I was able to check the results…
Again, congratulations double!
Thank you again for joining this writing project. Will include your entry in our raffle this Wednesday.
I loved that manifesto! Hahaha!
Your blog IS influential. And not just that, you're funny, entertaining and creative. You deserve the attention you're getting now.
Savor it and bask in the praises, no need to be humble…
By the way, I loved how you picked your blog name. My blog is due for a complete overhaul. Let me know what you think about that.
It's nice to see that I wasn't mistaken to vote your blog after all.
Your blog is definitely influential. It's a joy to visit. With each visit I either learn something new, laugh like crazy, or I am compelled to think about something sincerely and honestly. It's hard to do a blog that does one of those things let alone all three.
Keep it up.
And YEAH! I made your top 25 list. XD
Have a nice day and if you would like a link exchange, please let me know because I like your site.
Oh wow, my host is number nine! Wow, you gotta love Lexie.
Of course your blog is influential.
The offer still stands.
Possibly, those blogs have an inaugural post date before 20 August 2006… because August was so last year. *Paris Hilton snob noise*
GO FRUITYOATY! Winwinwin!
Hello. Please don't forget to post a comment in the contest page to make this entry official (and have the link love votes counted).
Week 2 report will be posted this Saturday 6 pm.
Cheers!
Oh my… I haven't thanked you yet for including me in your list. It feels so good that people appreciate you for the things you have done.
Thanks again!
Wow, congrats! *confetti* And thanks for the mention! My blog has actually been around for waaay longer (January 2002!), but those archives are currently MIA.
Haha. Congratulations.
Hopefully, you'll win. After reading some of your other blog posts, I think you deserve it. Entertaining! 
-m
Sweeeet! Thanks heaps Massa P! I feel flattered and feel like I was tagged that I'm so blogging about this, the $100 dollars is very enticing not to let go!
I swear I already posted a "thank you" note here yesterday. Why is it not posted?
Anyway, I just wanna thank you for all the love! 
I really don't think my blog is that influential compared to yours. I'd try to put up something that would try to change the world or something that would make the Philippines a better place for everyone then you could probably call my blog influential. 
Is "self-love" code-speak for iBuzz "masturbation"? Lol.
Ah, well you know your hordes of gay men fans love YOU. As "Fendi" aptly put it, you are indeed "sensefluential". Sensual influential, I love that, lol. Congrats on your nommy, fruity!
Kisses, sweetie.
Bwaaaaat? Jhed is influential? Waaah! I can't believe it! That verbal exhibitionist Jhed! Waaah! Lol.
Hey, thank you for visiting my blog! I'm looking forward to your sensible 'fruityness'. Lolzies again!
Your blog is awe-inspiring… I would never get through the work day without your fruityness!
Great list of blogs! That contest sounds great! US $100 would be more than awesome! Mmmm Tim Tams are great! I suggest you take up that offer!
Hope you'll win!!! Tc! And BTW, I'll link you soon…
Nice choices! Ahihi.
Of course you deserve it when C5 chose you as one of the top 10 emerging INFLUENTIAL blogs… 
Ok… so pretty much the place where I've heard "ze" being used as "the" was in IN TRANSIT by The Strokes. AND in your latest comment you said you liked Linkin Park and The Killers. Seeing you post this: "I am ze fruityest in all ze universe, hear me roar!" instantly The Strokes popped into my head. Strokes fan?
fruity, I don't really know why you are so sensefluential…
Almost everyone in the blogosphere is rioting your entry with replies.
Please share that magic-magic blog sensuality you've got!
Kiss
Fendi
Wa wa wee wa!! I'm here!! I love you to bits Fruity! Hahaha. ;D
Your comment… Your comment woke me from the dead.
Thank you.
x
Wow! Congrats on being nominated!
Isn't being influential the goal in blogging?? (J/k j/k… I think the goal is procrastinating.) Either way though, that's awesome and I'm jealous! 
Thank you for the layout compliment! And I'm glad that you are joining forces with me against the fact that Grey's Anatomy is just… not that good.
Yay, 'grats on the nomination!
You're always kind to me.
Congrats on your own nomination!
I might just jump on this if my own blogging mojo would last. There seems to be an invisible mojo sucking creature prowling out there.
Ohh.. she loves me! She REALLY LOVES ME!
Thanks for the comment. As far as flip flops go, you need to quit walking in the city! Get out to the country or the beach and chill! LOL.
Haha wow 5 domain names?
Ahh I've been considering switching back to WordPress, but it was so hard to understand… I'm gonna have to do it when I have a hell of a lot of time on my hands.
Fruity Oaty… Hmm, well, you could alway patent your own breakfast cereal if the blog doesn't work out.
Hwaw! Thanks for the mention. I'm honored that I ended up on your list. I wish you had an icon with a sheepishly wider grin.
Yey! Me new post!
Whoohoo! I made the Top 10, thanks fruity!
Wow, I'm flattered.
And wow, $100?! I only got to read the details of the contest now. Lemme post an entry soon.
Deeply honoured to be on your list…
Doesn't Jude Your Blog Muse get at least an Honourable Mention for hijacking your blog? Oops, oh yeah, I'm blogless by design. Puh-lease… that Paulie will never replace my #1 Muse Status!
FRUITYOATY ManiacFESTO is really:
I'm standing on the precipice of… insanity. I will fling my Glosette raisins at the goats down below and the goats will eat my raisins! "I wear the cheese, the cheese does not wear me."
Regards,
Just Like Honey
Fruity! Wonder no more!
I like to do what you do but I can't do.
Thanks for considering me! I can see you digged well back in time.
Back to where blogging happened manually and where dolls where t3h shit!
I hope - as usual - that you win!
Thanks for the plug dear. I feel so honoured to be a part of your list! Kisses from moi!
Haven't submitted my own entry to that contest yet, but I will… soonish, I hope. My gawd, $100. Haha.
Missing your posts.
Are you on drugs? Me, influential? LOL anyway, thanks! I hope somebody out there will also think that way. *wink* *hint, hint*
But you, yes! You are influential! You had me at spaghetti! ^_^ *remembers my first comment*
Congratulations on your nomination! This is a great list of blogs worth noting. Please don't forget to post a comment in the contest page to make this entry official (and have the link love votes counted). Cheers!
P.S. I should check those Tim Tams out.
Wow… thanks for the mention!