OTB Turns 10

It has just occurred to me that today marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of OTB.

I started the site with an “I’m here” posting at 9:37 am on the old blogspot service. About a quarter of the posts the first few weeks were bitching about the old blogspot service. I finally launched at this domain on April 4th.

Since then, we’ve published 38,723 posts—23,388 by yours truly—and 884,905 reader comments.

FILED UNDER: OTB History,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. mantis says:

    Happy Birthday.

  2. Vast Variety says:

    Grats

  3. john personna says:

    I can give a qualified congratulations. Qualified because OTB could work harder at being “smart of the day.”

  4. Moosebreath says:

    Are we all invited for cake? Happy birthday.

  5. Larry, Moe and Curly says:
  6. Neil Hudelson says:

    First! 884,911!

  7. Babies.

  8. KariQ says:

    I don’t know if this is a birthday or an anniversary, but in either case: Congratulations!

  9. rudderpedals says:

    Many more happy returns!

  10. gVOR08 says:

    Way cool. Many happy returns. And thanks.

  11. michael reynolds says:

    This should go on the main page. You know the percentage of blogs that survive 10 years? Not 1%. Not one tenth of one percent. (I’ve failed four times.)

    This is still the most interesting overall politics blog around. You cover a wide swath of material, you and the other writers continue to be interesting and engaged, and unlike most blogs you have the balls to tolerate an often critical comments section.

    Hell yes. 10 years. Enjoy a celebratory beverage.

  12. Time flies, yes?

  13. CB says:

    @Moosebreath:

    The cake is a lie.

    Happy Birthday, gents.

  14. wr says:

    Pretty impressive…

  15. Jeremy says:

    Impressive…most impressive.

  16. Franklin says:

    A decade of political insight, thank you! Although I’ve only been reading this site for about half that time.

  17. James Joyner says:

    @michael reynolds: Thanks. I meant to actually have a substantive post ready to go on this but didn’t have one in me.

  18. Drew says:

    I have to congratulate you, James. Its a bona fide accomplishment. I have to also sincerely congratulate Doug M, Dr Taylor, and Dave S (on foreign policy), especially, for their very significant (prolific, really) contributions. (Oh, and I miss Alex Knapp and Dodd) And hey, now the important stuff, maybe someday I’ll win Rodney’s Caption Contest!!

    I still read most of the essays – agree or disagree – but just can’t stomach the commentariat anymore, which seems to have an IQ these days closer to your anniversary number than any other whole number.

    Its a shame. Best of luck for another 10, you have a very fine site going here.

  19. Rick Almeida says:

    Happy anniversary!

  20. Peacewood says:

    Happy birthday!

    The first ten years are the hardest.

  21. al-Ameda says:

    Congratulations and best wishes going forward.

    You guys do a good job of posting and opining on the issues, and … to be honest, it seems to me that there is very little flame-throwing and “mouth-breathing” that goes on here icompared with other blog spots.

  22. David says:

    A mighty fine accomplishment.

  23. Tony W says:

    Love the site, the people and the heated discussions! Thanks for 10 great years, looking forward to the next 50

  24. Scott O says:

    OTB turns 10, Drew turns 15. Congratulations to both.

  25. Andre Kenji says:

    @michael reynolds:

    This is still the most interesting overall politics blog around.

    It also has the most intelligent and sexiest team of blog commenters.

  26. michael reynolds says:

    @Andre Kenji:

    When I think of us collectively “sexy” is absolutely the first word that comes to mind.

  27. Neil Hudelson says:

    @michael reynolds:

    Especially with that avatar. Yowza! *does that weird wolf thumping thing that cartoons used to do. You know, like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbUpGoOjFWw *

  28. rodney dill says:

    There is no cake, there is no ice cream.
    Happy Anniversary!

  29. Fiona says:

    Congratulations! Ten years is forever in Internet time.

    Fiona :catblink:

  30. markm says:

    Congrats Dr. J.
    It certainly doesn’t seem like 10 years but it’s been a fun ride.

  31. lankyloo says:

    Congratulations! This is one of my favorite political blogs, and provides an awesome forum for a diverse and engaged group of bloggers and commentators. Can’t wait to celebrate your 20th anniversary!

  32. grumpy realist says:

    Congrats and keep up the good work. I’m happy, you’re happy, and most of the commentators are happy except for people like Drew–probably because we in the peanut gallery are very good at demolishing his arguments.

  33. al-Ameda says:

    @Drew:

    I still read most of the essays – agree or disagree – but just can’t stomach the commentariat anymore, which seems to have an IQ these days closer to your anniversary number than any other whole number.

    So, you’re that guy who shows up at a party unannounced, then throws up on the kitchen floor, urinates on the lawn, then leaves while complaining that the place smells?

  34. Eric the OTB Lurker says:

    Wow. 10 years. That seems like an eternity in Internet time–kind of like “doggie years”: every year is actually, like, 7 years in human time.

    Anway, congratulations, James. Here’s to another 10 Internet years (= seemingly 70 years human years)!