I finally got around to checking out the blogs mentioned in TIME magazine’s June 21, 2004 issue, in the “Meet Joe Blog” piece. The sub-headline was: “Why are more and more people getting their news from amateur websites called blogs? Because they’re fast, funny, and totally biased.” Right on! We bloggers also can bask in these words (by Lev Grossman, who wrote the article) about blogs:
“They represent—no, they are—the voice of the little guy. And the little guy is a lot smarter than big media might have you think. Blogs showcase some of the smartest, sharpest, writing being published. Bloggers are unconstrained by such journalistic conventions as good taste, accountability and objectivity—and that can be a good thing. Accusations of media bias are thick on the ground these days, and Americans are tired of it. Blogs don’t pretend to be neutral: they’re gleefully, unashamedly biased, and that makes them a lot more fun.”
Just in case you don’t already spend enough time surfing the Internet, here’s a list of many of the blogs mentioned in the article. I haven’t perused any of them in depth. But since we bloggers are supposed to be unashamedly biased, I’ll unashamedly throw out a first-impression quick take.
Fark.com Got sort of a “news of the weird” feel. I like the snap judgments about the items: weird, dumbass, sappy, sad, etc. And I have to give a thumbs-up to any blog that has a “Top Boobies” section.
Instapundit.com Politically oriented blog of a law professor who says that a top interest is the intersection between individual liberty and new technologies. Intelligent and classy, the yin of Fark.com’s yang.
Boingboing.net A little bit of everything. Billed as “a directory of wonderful things.” One of the Classic Blogs, I believe. Entertaining, but a bit unfocused for my left-brain taste.
Wonkette.com Washington (D.C.) gossip. Her home page highlights some “reviews” a blogger would die for: "Profanity-laced and sex-obsessed...[a] vain, young, trash-mouthed skank." "A foulmouthed, inaccurate, opinionated little vixen." "[H]er enthusiasm for penis jokes cannot be as great as her blog suggests"
RebeccaBlood.net Seemingly liberal take on public affairs. Clean and clear. Doesn’t look like there are any penis jokes here. I like the Wonkette better.
TalkingPointsMemo.com Looks like serious political blogging from a serious Washington D.C. writer. Good stuff, though pretty mainstream.
TheMemoryBlog.org Blogger who knows how to use the Freedom of Information Act. Brings out info The Man would rather keep hidden. I think this was the blog that first released the Iraqi war dead photos.
AndrewSullivan.com Political blog by a gay blogger with fairly conservative leanings, which makes him interesting. I like to read his articles in TIME and elsewhere. Intelligent and open-minded.
SlashDot.org A techno-blogger. Billed as “news for nerds.” I couldn’t understand the terms in most of the postings, so I guess I’m not a real nerd. If your everyday vocabulary includes “router,” “Apache” (not the Indian tribe), “wi-fi,” and such, here’s a blog for you.
ArtsandLettersDaily.com Wow! The most intellectually meaty (or tofuy) blog I’ve ever seen. You could spend your whole day working your way down the “Articles of Note, “New Books,” and “Essays and Opinion” headings. Terrific.
BookSlut.com Great name for a book-oriented blog. Seems to feature original (rather than linked) reviews.
BlogDex.net A blog about blogs. Tells you “the most contagious information currently spreading in the weblog community.” Sort of a one-stop blog, I suppose.
Technorati.com Another blog about blogs. Claims to watch over 3 million blogs. I like the “Current Events” link, where you can find out which are the most talked about issues on blogs.
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