Thanks to everyone for reading the VC this year. I thought I would end 2005 with some verse, with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore:

'Twas the night before New Year's, and through the blog whole,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a troll;
The posts of '05 had been written with care,
In hopes that our readers would enjoy seeing them there.

The commenting crowd was taking a break,
From reactions to posts using names that are fake;
And Eugene in Cali, and we in DC,
Were grading exams, giving A, B, and C.

When out in the blogosphere there arose such a clatter,
I checked Google News to see what was the matter.
When, what I did I see within my monitor's borders,
But the whole MSM, and its eager reporters,
Get ready, young bloggers, so lively and quick,
For the Big Blogging Stories of 2006.

Ready or not, the RSS feeds they came,
And the MSM whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Snoopgate! Now, Fitzmas! Now, mid-term elections!
On, Hilary! On, Cheney! On, judicial selections!
To the top of the blog! You must answer the call!
Now blog away! Blog away! Blog away all!"

Some bloggers felt joy, some bloggers felt sorrow,
But all had to work on their posts for tomorrow;
They wrote and redrafted, adding links to the most,
And when they were done pressed the button to Post.

Away the posts flew, going all round the Earth,
Giving some great annoyance and others great mirth.
So in my pajamas, I feel blessed to write,
"Happy New Year's to the blogosphere, and to all a good-night."