Trackbacks
This is blog stuff, so if you don't care, skip to the next post.
It appears as part of their site redesign, the Powerline guys have eliminated trackbacks. (For the uninitiated, a trackback sends a link to another person's post to show that you've commented on what they've written about.)
Boo! Hiss! Bah!
No comments and no trackbacks? Not very friendly.
I've noticed a lot of Blogspot blogs also don't have trackback. Harvey at Bad Example explains adding the trackback function to your site for various blog software including blogger. If you blog and don't already have trackback, go there to figure it out. You'll like it.
Update: Captain Ed has more on the trackback spam problem MT blogs are experiencing.
Update 12:35: WILLisms has been following this issue all over the blogospere and makes a great point.
For emerging blogs, trackbacks are crucial for cultivating a base of readers, then occasionally reminding those readers visiting the larger blogs to "come home."
But trackbacks have a more important purpose. They allow blogs to engage in "conversation" about ideas, letting people discover new perspectives outside the entrenched mainstream of blogs. And make no mistake, as blogs become increasingly mainstream, without interactive tools such as trackbacks, there will be a handful of mainstream blogs, much like the mainstream media, that set the agenda on their own.
In short: Save the trackbacks!
Trackbacks take me all over the place in blogland... I love WILLisms.com because his trackbacks take me places I would have never known to go to! That is how I got here. I don't have my own blog. I get most all my news from blogs because I can't stomach the main stream media!
Posted by: Zsa zsa | April 18, 2005 at 12:35 PM
Yeah, MT trackback spam is annoying, but if it gets to be a serious problem, there's always the option of shutting off MT trackbacks & using Haloscan. You lose the autodiscovery feature, but as far as I know, Haloscan isn't targeted by spammers (yet).
On the other hand, it looks like Kevin of Wizbang has found an MT hack to put trackbacks in a cue for posts more than two weeks old:
http://wizbangblog.com/archives/005697.php
Posted by: Harvey | April 18, 2005 at 06:09 PM
Hi there!
Me again! Thanks for the mail. That made me feel good! That was sweet of you! I really do use trackbacks! It is fun to get on your favorite blogs and go! WILLisms.com and Townhall.com have my favorite news! Usually WILLisms.com has interesting trackback places to take me... I really hope you all continue as long as it is not too much trouble! . . . Thanks again...
Posted by: Zsa zsa | April 18, 2005 at 07:45 PM
You guys do a wonderful job! Keep up the good work!!!e
Posted by: Hillary | June 02, 2007 at 03:42 AM
Nice site... Cool guestbook...y
Posted by: sveta | June 02, 2007 at 06:28 AM
I have been looking for sites like this for a long time. Thank you!e
Posted by: Bush | June 02, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Interesting web page is, i\'ll see you later one more timeo
Posted by: Britney | June 02, 2007 at 01:51 PM
Thanks for your project. I like this site. KEEP IT UP...
Posted by: Helga | June 30, 2007 at 04:39 PM
I browse and saw you website and I found it very interesting.Thank you for the good work, greetings
Posted by: sveta | July 01, 2007 at 06:49 PM
Excellent web site I will be visiting often!
Posted by: Bush | July 02, 2007 at 08:54 AM
i love this site.y
Posted by: Britney | July 03, 2007 at 09:44 AM
I\'m love this great website. Many thanks guyt
Posted by: Hillary | July 03, 2007 at 11:13 AM
hochu vodki!s
Posted by: Bill | July 03, 2007 at 07:24 PM
I enjoyed your page. Keep up the good work! Feel free to visit my page. It\'s cool too.b
Posted by: sveta | July 05, 2007 at 02:05 PM
A fantastic site, and brilliant effort. A great piece of work.
Posted by: Britney | July 05, 2007 at 02:10 PM
I have your site for its useful and funny content and simple design.
Posted by: sveta | July 05, 2007 at 11:05 PM
It\'s a great and valuable site!
Posted by: sveta | July 06, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Greetings!..
Posted by: Hillary | July 13, 2007 at 11:02 PM
You have an outstanding good and well structured site. I enjoyed browsing through it.o
Posted by: Bill | July 14, 2007 at 12:42 AM
I have been looking for sites like this for a long time. Thank you!
Posted by: Hillary | July 16, 2007 at 06:16 AM
Nice site! Big thanx to webmaster!h
Posted by: sveta | July 17, 2007 at 07:10 AM
Looking for information and found it at this great site...!
Posted by: Hillary | July 17, 2007 at 07:11 AM
I have your site for its useful and funny content and simple design.l
Posted by: Hillary | July 17, 2007 at 09:32 PM
Many interesting information on your site - keep up good workt
Posted by: Bill | July 18, 2007 at 09:04 AM
I consider that beside Your site there is future!t
Posted by: Bill | July 18, 2007 at 06:03 PM