Oughtas

I’ve been making some changes to the blogroll at the right, letting some places I was just never going back to quietly slip away, adding some others who I’ve gone to via links from others a couple of times and found of ongoing interest.

So why not share the wealth? Why not tell you who those faceless names are, and why I read them?

Well, maybe because you aren’t interested. But, hell, it’s my weblog, and I’ll bore you if I want to.

I’ll start with the Oughta list, which are sites that I get to every three or four days — sometimes more often, if I’ve slack time, or less often if things get busy. The list is in no particular order (rather, it’s in the order they were sorted out this a.m., most-recently-updated-via-weblogs.com-ping).

I recommend them all, but I’ve noted with an asterisk (*) ones that have been added tp my list within the last few weeks.

• Random Ravings: Brian’s weblog reminds me a lot of my own, especially a while back — lots of personality tests, links to funny stuff, bits of personal information. In fact, he’s self-identified as a “child” blog of mine. A usually entertaining read.
  Last three posts: a Dork Towers cartoon, a rant about things girlfriends say, a list of tribute pages to Mr. Rogers.

• Real Live Preacher: The personal blog of just the sort of person it says. Inspirational without being cloying, educational without being pedantic.
  Last three posts: how he’s like the guy at Popeye’s Chicken, a new child in the congregation, a glimpse into his prayer life.

• Xkot: Xkot (“Scott”) is one of the first blogs I ever linked to, and he’s still an intersting read. It’s mostly about things in his life, media commentary, and so forth. Xkot sounds like a guy I’d like to meet some day.
  Last three posts: a bulleted potpourri list, another one that talks about a medical condition he has, what life is like in Florida.

• ScriptyGoddess: This is a group blog of cool little scripts and code widgets for weblogs, especially PHP-based ones. I occasionally grab one of these to make my life more complicated.
  Last three posts: multiple link styles, turning a picture on and off with a checkbox, tracking clicks on your page.

• Crazy Tracy: Tracy is a wild woman, a psychiatric nurse, a mother, and a damned interesting personality. Her journal tends to be a very personal one about things going on in her too-often-painfully-stormy life.
  Last three posts: a motivational list she’s set up for weight loss, the anniversary of quitting smoking, bedlam on the unit.

• Brad Choate: Brad combines personal notes and anecdotes with various bits of tech news and some of the best MT plug-ins being generated out there.
  Last three posts: a very cool MP3 player, a Daypop listing, an MT 2.63 announcement.

• Words Mean Things: Adam’s blog is much like Xkot’s, and I’ve linked to it just about as long. He’s also maintained the same layout on this blog over the past few years, which is fine, because it’s a nice one.
  Last three posts: loving our country vs our government, some comments by/about Marc Andreessen, favorite names.

• Pop Culture Gadabout: Bill Sherman does pretty much nothing but reviews, but that includes some good commentary on comics.
  Last three posts: comments on Angel, gastric bypass on Ed, observations re 24.

• Ad Orientem: The focus is on the Catholic church and traditions in the modern world, which is a lot more interesting than it sounds. Lots of links, lots of images. I always find something thought-provoking here.
  Last three posts: why we fight, English Catholics and literaturary tradition, Ash Wednesday links.

• XBlog: A company (XPlane) weblog, focusing on visual thinking — maps, information graphics, usability, art, etc. I usually find a link or two worth visiting here.
  Last three posts: the London Underground map, successful user experiences, collaboration and information design.

• Random Encounters: Doyce‘s sub-blog for gaming-related topics, logs, links, etc. Sometimes moribund, sometimes jam-packed with stuff.
  Last post: a D&D game log from January.

• Eventually Clever*: Personal life, media commentaries, and this-n-that.
  Last three posts: buying a notebook, visiting YULblog, baby flutters.

• Six Log*: The official company blog for Ben & Mena Trott, of Movable Type fame. Occasionally interesting, but infrequent, info on the blogoverse.
  Last three posts: a book and a tutorial, panel announcement for SXSW, a goofy patent.

• DefenseTech*: A news blog of info on military technology developments.
  Last three posts: Bush looking at mini-nukes, a mobile command center for the Iraq campaign, how to knock out Iraq’s Internet access.

• Daimnation!*: Well, heck, Blogspot is having problems (again), so the site won’t load. More later.

(The other lists to follow in the next few days, as I get time and/or inspiration.)