September 3, 2003

MY FAVOURITE CANADIAN BLOGS Gary Lawrence Murphy recently cited (somewhat disparagingly) a weblog cataloguer's list of the 'best' Canadian blogs. Blogger Colby Cosh recently listed the most popular Canadian blogs. This blog didn't make the former list and just made the latter. Since I love lists, here's my own list of favourite (notice I didn't say best) Canadian blogs. This list is highly subjective, of course, and excludes some very popular but very conservative Canadian blogs (including those by people I know and like). Their very popularity and their relentlessly reactionary tone fills me with despair (their owners probably feel the same way about mine). My list also excludes Liberal party pundit Warren Kinsella's blog. Athough I usually agree with him, he's too self-serving and short on new ideas for my tastes. The list also excludes top-notch technology-focused blogs that are way beyond my understanding, including Roland Tanglao's Weblog (he's been kind enough to send me lots of traffic, but his readers must find my lack of tech knowledge bewildering), and Tomalak's Realm by the ever-helpful Lawrence Lee who has solved a whack of Salon users' problems over at Radio Userland. It excludes some parochial blogs about specific cities and towns (like M-J Milloy's Montreal-focused TheNewForum) that are undoubtedly wonderful for those that live there. And it excludes some exceptional weblogs like the lovely ecoblog Iocrian Rhapsody and Jon Husband's intriguing Wirearchy that are either on hiatus or are not frequently updated. Anyway, with those caveats, here are my favourites, a Canadian baker's dozen (14), in alphabetical order: Abuddhas Memes -- The surreal, dense, provocative ramblings of a guy named Tony [Whitehorse, YT] As We Know It -- Paul Kelly's challenging essays on 'the evolution of culture, technology and knowledge'. [Toronto, ON] Caterina.net -- Caterina Fake's wonderfully chatty and comprehensive review of the world of literature and poetry, with articulate forays into other subjects as well (she writes excellent travelogues). [Vancouver, BC] Creative Generalist -- Steve's potpourri of interesting stuff from all different disciplines; check out this imagination test he found, for example. [Montreal, QC] Cyrenity -- Wendy Tomlinson's startlingly brief and far-ranging news summaries somehow need no further elaboration. Blame Wendy for telling me about The Interview Game (see below*). [Edmonton, AB] The Dynamic Driveler -- Dynamic Doug Alder has a social conscience, a great sense of humour, and a superb ability to root out stuff from history (recent and ancient) that bears on today's issues. [Rossland, BC] Parking Lot -- Chris Corrigan's consolidated blog incorporates his former Open Space blog and includes poetry, art, stuff on community, and some interesting business consulting ideas. [Bowen Island, BC] Rob Patterson's Radio Weblog -- Rob writes about the same things I do -- politics, philosophy, environment, business, economics, arts and science -- and is always articulate and thought provoking. [PEI] Revolutionary Moderation -- Don MacFarlane, one of a rare breed -- a liberal in Alberta. A concise, clever blend of Canadian, US and international political stories and insights. [Calgary, AB] Seb's Open Research -- Sébastien Paquet's mostly technical blog, but written with non-techies in mind and full of useful tips. [Fredricton, NB] Stephen's Web -- Stephen Downes' published papers, articles, and daily commentary on learning and technology. [Moncton, NB] Teledyn -- Gary Lawrence Murphy's beautifully illustrated and erudite blog covers emerging technology, philosophy, and community. Gary probably reads more than I do, which is no mean feat. [Sauble Beach, ON] WIFLBlog -- My fellow Salon blogger Ted Ritzer has the definitive 'linker' blog, and his dozens of daily news links include everything noteworthy about the environment, technology, and things Canadian, all filterable and subscribable by category. [Alberta] Wood's Lot -- Mark Woods' prolific review of everything happening in the arts world and on the political scene. Mark reads everything, and is an excellent judge of quality. When my stuff shows up on Mark's blog, I know it's good. On days I only have time to read a couple of blogs, Mark's is always one of them. [Perth, ON] I apologize in advance for inevitably missing something that should be on this list, either because I didn't know or forgot that the author is Canadian. Someone told me languagehat is Canadian, in which case it should belong on this list. I'll add others as my fellow Canadians point out my oversights. In compiling this list I discovered Purse Lip Square Jaw, Circadian Shift, Negative Velocity, Scribbler, and Stupid Angry Canajun, five Canadian blogs that I'll need to read more thoroughly. Whether or not you're Canadian, take a look at these -- you're sure to find at least a couple to add to your blogroll. *Meanwhile, I invite the authors of these blogs (and any other readers so inclined, whether Canadian or not) to participate in The Interview Game. Here's how it works: THE RULES 1. Leave me an email, saying you want to be interviewed. 2. I will respond; I’ll ask you five questions. 3. You’ll update your website with my five questions, and your five answers. 4. You’ll include this explanation, and acknowledge me as the interviewer. 5. You’ll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed. Kinds like a combination Friday Five and chain letter. But it could help increase the visibility and popularity of Canadian blogs, and help us understand each other a little better. And that's gotta be a good thing, eh? 12:54:41 PM  trackback []  comment []

© Copyright 2003 Dave Pollard. Last update: 01/10/2003; 4:12:46 PM.