We're Zaftig:
TaxProf gives Blog Juice Ratings for various lawprof blogs, calculated using a mix of "Number of Bloglines subscribers (40%)[,] Alexa rank (15%)[,] Technorati ranking (30%)[,] Number of inbound links via Technorati (15%)." InstaPundit is of course #1 (8.7), but we're at our usual #2 (8.1) — woohoo! — followed by the divine Mme. Prof. Althouse (7.2). Visit the TaxProf link for the whole list.
[Substance-free insult referring to InstaPundit deleted -EV] is training wheels for chickenhawks, though he does have a good-looking wife.
And where is Balkinization?
Whup some more Yiddish on us; I can get it translated. :-;
Trying not to get zaftig, I remain,
Your fan even without a respectful place in the blogroll :P
The ranking wasn't for law blogs, just blogs that are run by law professors. Any such ranking that doesn't rank Instapundit.com first would be obviously in error.
Reynolds isn't blogging about the sort of harder law issues and academic disputes that you find more often here. He's more interested in traditional politics and lighter topics. That's just what he wants to write about, it's not like he's some sort of dumb guy though. If you doubt me, look up his CV and read some of his law review articles.
Anyone who cares about civility and progress in the blogosphere should respect instapundit quite a bit. Even if, like me, you don't really agree with some of his political views. He's very nice. Something you don't see everywhere else. That sort of power worn lightly approach has lent credibility to the blogosphere in general (because most just aren't attracted to site like volokh).
I do think it's quite nice that this site is so popular as well because it focuses on many issues I find intellectually challenging. But no need to defend it against instapundit. Colombia lw review doesn't freak out when the notice that Time magazine sells more copy!
HA! So Ilya is female after all!
According to an update at the original TaxProf post,
"Steve Bainbridge notes that his blog should have a juice rating of 6.8, not the 0.8 I reported in the chart above. My 0.8 came from the url http://professorbainbridge.typepad.com; Steve is right that the correct figure is 6.8 if you delete "typepad" from the url. My apologies."
That 6.8 puts Professor Bainbridge's blog at fourth in the rankings.
One wonders if other blogs had their rankings affected by a similar situation.
I started out as a casual blog user, just recreationally dabbling in national politics and global security links. But after Reynolds got me hooked, I moved on to the harder stuff and started following the law links as well. Now I have to check out Volokh Conspiracy several times a week whether Glenn links or not.
My point? Reynolds may not be a serious law blogger, but I think he generates a lot of the business that the rest of you get.