For me, it’s still up in the air. Blogs do allow access into the minds of others, but obviously in a limited way. At the same time, a certain camaraderie can develop as you tune into thoughts of friends and famous people alike. Hands down, I prefer the blogs of people I could totally know as next-door-neighbors. Personally, I’ve been part of a couple blogging communities, and nothing is better than having a group of people who keep up with what you’re typing. Even better if they send comments your way. The downside of keeping up with blogs is that they are usually not kept on a regular or predictable basis. You can end up checking quite often only to be disappointed. Instead, I have accumulated a few favorites that way I usually have something to mix in with the news and Facebook checks during my daily online routine. Blogs are so appealing because they are typically casual and almost feel like you’re participating in a conversation with the allure of peeking into people’s private thoughts.
Below, I’ve included the personal blogs that I frequently visit. They are all public; feel free to show these blogs some love too.
If you want to get a quick, straightforward fashion fix J’s blog about fashion and life is simple, but helpful. Check for sporadic contests and beauty&style advice that is easy to apply:
http://www.hollow-star.net/blog
Show and Tell Gallery Productions keeps a beautiful blog complete with podcasts and pictures covering the free public events it hosts in the community and the independent artists involved! Show and Tell is all about encouraging creativity and collaboration in Portland:
http://www.showandtellgallery.org
Talented Angelo Geter’s blog “Life and Times of a Poor Dreamer” showcases his personal life with a spin toward some of his passions–music, spoken-word poetry and political issues:
http://penniesandsimiles.wordpress.com/
Kyle’s psychology and career-oriented blog offers personal insights into a young 20-something’s search for self and attempt to navigate the professional mental health world with all its quirks:
Kevin Nelson’s creative writing blog. Here, you can read some poetry with rich images, and incredibly ridiculous dating stories whose hilarity told through Kevin’s unique perspective are truly something to appreciate:
http://ideologicalthunder.wordpress.com/
Take a look at Ray McDonald’s recently started blog about ordinary life and its inherent wisdom:
http://www.protagonist1.wordpress.org
There is so much conflicting information out there. Laura Kirby’s food and nutrition blog highlights foods and restaurants that are particularly noteworthy for working on your health and fitness:
http://pseudohealthnut.blogspot.com/
In a clear, witty style much like face-to-face interactions with her, Kashia blogs about traveling in and around Argentina:
http://kashiathenomad.blogspot.com/
If you’re considering starting a blog, I recommend the following easy-to-operate hosts (in order of preference):
Journal Archive:
“Hey
11/18/01
Hi today is so pretty outside. It’s beautiful. It looks like a spring morning–HA! but it’s not. Faking it. Okay so anyways today is Sunday. I haven’t done anything really this weekend. Even though I have homework. I talked to David on Friday. Not much there. He said that he was going to his grandma’s yesterday. I asked if he was going to come say hi and he said yeah. But he didn’t come last night maybe he was planning on coming today–or maybe he was planning on coming today–or maybe he forgot about it. Oh well he’s human right? Yeah I guess so. hehe. I’m listening to music right now. That’d be awesome if he would come say hi–but I need to go to the mall to get his present today so he probably wouldn’t come until I was gone. Knowing my luck. I’m really tired–last night I talked to this really sweet 8th grader named Justin. I’ve never seen him before but I read him this whole journal and he’s like so awesome. He listens to me and I listen to him. We talk about each other’s problems. Well anyways I miss Arusiag, Rebecah, Cindi, Sha-kana, Violet, Ana and Brian. I needed those people (revolved my life around) them for so long. I hope that they are all okay, happy & healthy. I wish so much that I could see them again. *Sigh* I hope everything works out. I really need to take a shower and get ready to go to the mall. lol I have this really, really small hope that we’ll see him there. Obviously I won’t but you know how that goes. Last night I was reading this to Justin and I came to a letter I wrote in here to Justin and it made me start crying. Grrr. I don’t know why. Justin (my ex) is coming down for Thanksgiving–hmmm…. Okay bye bye.
<3Me.”
Reader Prompt:
What is your favorite blog? And, if you have your own, what is it?
August 11, 2009 at 2:39 am |
I’m more design-oriented, and I find that most free hosting sites have crap layouts. Yours could use a facelift! It’s hard to get a vibe from a blog without a custom design in my opinion. Obviously your writing should speak for itself, but the Internet has so much out there that I making a first impression is important.
That said, many people use Google Reader and other feed readers, which are great for convenience and for avoiding extra flashy slow-loading sites.
As far as writing goes, I like long novels, but prefer brevity in blogs. Brevity in photos as well. Imagism almost.
August 24, 2009 at 4:31 pm |
Jesus. You are such an amazing writer Nikia…I’m blown away every time. Hearing you read me your journal vs reading your blog where you thought out what you wrote showed me that you are even more talented than I thought. Fuck. If you don’t do something with your writing than I refuse to go for anything in my life either. HAH. How’s that for motivation?