How do I use blogs?

Getting information on blogging from Wikipedia was interesting – I wasn’t aware of the huge list of blog types.  There truly is something for everyone, no matter what media, style, or communication paradigm you like. 

Even though I browse through blogs every month or so, I rarely post on them and am not an author of one (well, until now).  I’m by nature a private person, and prefer not to have a large electronic footprint.  If I do post, it’s to praise or comment.  Unfortunately, comments can have a lack of clarity, a prevalence of miscommunication, and can even be argumentative and nasty.  Not helpful.

Despite the fact that (for me) electronic communication lacks the amplitude and accountability one gets with verbal communication, it does open up the world as we sit in our comfy chairs in our pajamas.  Kids for the last couple of generations have grown up with electronic media, and blog and vlog routinely with their eFriends around the world.  The world is indeed becoming very small.

Having blogs as part of an educational program would be as natural to most kids as talking.  It might serve as collaboration space for discussions or other informal communication.  However, one problem using blogs to teach reading and writing is that chatting, texting, blogging, emailing, tweeting, or any type of electronic writing uses its own vernacular and is usually extremely concise, and as such, would probably not increase reading comprehension of textbooks or expand writing skills in the classroom.


Now, for a quick visit to my favorite blogs (and why they're my favorites):

I subscribe to several blogs, and visit them on a monthly basis.  The subject matter of most of them are tied to my hobbies.  The blogs I like the most seamlessly integrate text (often in two languages), photos, and embedded widgets like video and Snapguide.  To me, it’s a quick and easy way to get the latest and greatest techniques from artists and crafters that I admire.  Several blogs that I frequent are bilingual.  In some cases, like the blog, Scrapstuff and more, there are paragraphs in two languages.

In some, embedded widgets ask if I want the page translated, like this Russian site, C облаками в голове..Nadya Tana Lifa.  Having options to put blogs into our native language is a powerful tool helping to keep the world a smaller place.

My absolute favorite blog belongs to Graphic 45®, a commercial papercrafting company. To me, their design is elegant, combining tabs, menus, links, search, photos, tutorials, and videos, and is aesthetically pleasing.  I can find what I’m looking for in seconds and don’t have to scroll through posts unless I want to.

That for me is key, and the sign of a well designed blog - to be able to do as I choose.  I can find quality information quickly or browse at a more leisurely pace.