Links for Tuesday's class

Keeping up with blogs (feed accumulators):

• Google Reader
• Bloglines

Different blog platforms with examples

• Blogger
• Ikea Hacker
• BibliOdyssey
• WordPress
• The Simple Dollar
• JimSeven
• TypePad
• Making Memories
• Social Media for Nonprofits
• LiveJournal
• Susan Writes
• WriterJenn

Twitter Some specialized blog platforms:

• Fotolog (photos; Flickr is similar but not really a blog)
• GetJealous (travel)

Notes from the first class

I've uploaded the first Powerpoint to Scribd--click here to view. Class participants will receive the syllabus/handout in an email--not something to post on the Internet at large since it has phone numbers in it! Here's some further reading if you're interested:

Definitions of "blog":
• Jill Rettberg, definition of "weblog" for the Routledge Encyclopedia of Narrative Theory (2003)
• Danah Boyd, "A Blogger's Blog: Exploring the Definition of a Medium" (2006)
• Shane Richmond, "What is a blog? How the technology shapes the medium" (2009)
The history of blogs:
• Rebecca Blood: "Weblogs: A History and Perspective"(2000)
• Wikipedia article on blogs (continually updated)
Blog statistics:
• State of the Blogosphere, April 2008
Finding popular blogs:
• Technorati Top 100
• The Webbys (use the drop-down to find the blogs sections)
Blogs that became books (blooks):
• The Julie/Julia Project
• Baghdad Burning
• The Hipster Handbook sprang from FREEwilliamsburg
• I Can Has Cheezburger (source of the LOLcats) -- a picture/humor blog
• Stuff White People Like
• I'm Not the New Me

Welcome!

Our first blogging class will be held tomorrow. During the eight weeks we'll explore the ever-growing and changing world of blogs, with lots of hands-on experimentation. See you at the Montrose High School at 5pm!