5 blogs that make me think
I’m grateful to both Khlari and Kitty (and, I have been reminded, because I’ve got a head like a sieve, Howard and Sue, with my apologies to those two for being a dumb-ass forgetter… forgiven?) for nominating me for a Thinking Bloggers Award. It’s taken me a little time to get round to producing my own list of five blogs that make me think. Here they are.
Sue Darroch and Matthew Didier’s Paranormal Blog
An amazingly diverse range of paranormal events and investigations both contemporary and historical are covered with wit, intelligence and not a trace of the credulity anyone who believes in—or is even willing to consider the existence of—ghosts or UFOs can often find themselves accused of. Sue and Matthew are thorough in their examinations, and the site is consistently informative and entertaining.
I only recently discovered the writings of Damian, unsurprising given that he only began blogging a few months back. I’m glad he did. He tells stories with a pagan spiritual dimension to them that you find yourself reading again—and considering the implications of—hours or days and even weeks afterwards.
‘An unconventional family in today’s world’ is the sub-heading for this wonderfully warm and loving blog I’ve been reading for a number of years now. I’ve found the primary focus of the content—the lives of a two-father family with an adopted daughter—inspirational, often educational and the authors themselves supportive towards other gay men going through the adoption process or dealing with day-to-day childcare issues.
From the site itself: it is a blog about what it is like to raise a family and the things in the world that affect that family. A family headed by two men, a family with adopted children, a family that is transracial, an urban family, an American family, a family that deals with the ‘mundane’ issues like health and finances, starting a business and schools.
I only wish there was such a fantastic resource for gay dads in the UK blogging community to dip into and be encouraged by. As is, many of the issues cross the water but the politics and adoption processes are very different from our own.
The sub-heading of this blog includes the phrase ‘growing old disgracefully’ but I don’t see it myself. I guess it depends where you’re coming from; if your idea of growing older is blue rinses, voting Conservative and sipping tea from China cups while moaning about immigrants and children, then yes—this lady is not for you. While I fully expect she’d offer you a cup of tea, and maybe even a biscuit, her politics are left-of-centre and her heart is huge and compassionate. Disgraceful? No. Life-long rebel and free-thinker? Absolutely!
I love the diversity of topics MsDemmie covers, the anger she displays when discussing intolerance and prejudice, the enthusiasm she has for campaigning issues ranging from the care of the elderly to gay adoption rights. I am grateful for her friendship and support this year. This is one very special lady, and she deserves a visit from you today.
‘A kid who blogs using voice recognition software’ is the odd but intriguing sub-heading for this one. The site is a comic strip blog produced by George Sfarnas. Always funny and insightful, George gets into the mind of a child in a way that fans of Cow and Boy and Calvin and Hobbes will find instantly recognisable and appealing. I’ve been a fan of cartoons and comic strips all my life, and it’s true to say this is simply one of the most consistently brilliant I’ve come across in years.
If you want to think and smile, pay George a visit and stay a while.
All the sites nominated above now have the right to carry the Thinking Bloggers Award badge and to produce their own lists of top five blogs that make them think, but only if they want to. If they do, I’d love to explore their recommendations.
Congratulations!
Currently listening to: Pet Shop Boys – Somewhere (Disc 1) – Somewhere (Forthright Vocal Mix)
13 comments on “5 blogs that make me think”
June 7th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Thank you …
June 7th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Hmmm, do you remember this post published on April 7, 2007?
June 7th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Hahaha! Howard I nominated him too on 03/03/07 but I thought I’d be cheeky and point it out on my own bloggie ..
June 7th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Okay, pass me the manacles and put me in the stocks… I’ll do my time… I’m a bad, bad man… I forgot… It shows how organised I am. Blame my Piscean DNA. I am now SO ashamed I will amend…
And Howard, it wasn’t just the post on your blog. We had a conversation about it via email. Making me double dumb, though in my defence temporarily so. At least that’s what I will use to form the basis of my plea bargain!
Oh, and Howard again, I have to say: those radio shows were, indeed, very, very, very rude. I learned new stuff just from listening!
June 7th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I think that is what radio is for. In America at least.
And you are forgiven. I just thought it was funny is all.
June 7th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
You are forgiven here too! It was funny ..
June 7th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Yeah, well, you both made me squirm with horror. But it passed. I’m usually shameless but for a few moments there I knew what it was to feel shame. I think shameless is better.
June 8th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Ohhhhhhhh thank you ……… sorry for delay in response I am still playing catch up from holiday.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I didn’t once think, where is MsDemmie? I knew you’d be around at some point! And your recognition in the above entry is well deserved. Your blog is one of my essential reads.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Thank you for the interesting sites to read, not all are new to me but most are …. so I wont be in so often as I read them a bit too
June 9th, 2007 at 9:32 am
[quote post="2065"]Thank you for the interesting sites to read, not all are new to me but most are …. so I wont be in so often as I read them[/quote]
Oh I quite understand. I do hope we remember to pack your birthday prezzie today in the car.
*snigger*
June 10th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
June 11th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Yes but that copy is temporary in so far as it is ring-bound. We did a copy for Sue but she still, I must admit, hasn’t had hers sent out to her (remember her winning poem?) because of the problem I told you about the ring-binding not proving very durable in the long run. So I’m going to get some copies bound a different way (they will be pressed together with glue binding) when D comes back from this week-long hop around the country with work. And then Sue will be the first to get the new version–she’s waited a while now–but you will get an update too!
have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment. Registration is free, and easy.