Update: Blogs And Directories

Blogs

Snippets and Blabbery has moved to a new site. Thanks to 'Blabby' for letting me know.

Directories

I added some new blog directories to the Blog Finding Resources page and removed some dead links. I will be adding some more in the near future.

I removed my sidebar link to Globe Of Blogs. I submitted a listing for BBD in February and it still hasn't been posted! A five month wait is outrageous even for big sites. It is still listed with the other directories because it's a good place to browse for blogs.

I listed BBD with Blog Catalog in April and will write up a review this month. Recently I listed my personal blog (Firemind) with Blog Catalog and Photarium too. One of the things I am interested in is comparing the referrals each blog gets from the sites.

BBD Is Changing

There are currently 102 blogs listed in Big Blog Directory. I just received two more submissions tonight that look promising.

BBD began as an experiment and is doing quite well. Sometimes little things make me pause and consider how I am doing but overall I am pleased.

Some of the oldest blogs listed (25?) don't link to BBD because it wasn't required at the time. These blogs are not included in the roundups or featured feeds. I have contacted people at various times and have gotten mixed feedback. I should have made links mandatory from the very beginning.

I have been thinking about the "60 day" rule (ie: any blog that is not updated for 60 days is delisted from BBD). After delisting some blogs awhile ago I wondered whether 60 days was too short of a period. As a blog reader, however, I don't have much time for dormant blogs. I want to read a blog that I know will be around when/if I finish the archives. I want a blogger who is around to interact with me when I comment.

With blogs being added and delisted BBD is always changing. That may be it's strength because there will always be something new for visitors.

Music For Blogs

Fandalism is a great place to find music for your blogs. The selection is a bit sparse yet but there is a lot of variety. (via)

I heard it from Adele by Trevor Jackson

Share and vote on music Fandalism Music Community

I added another song to the sidebar at Braindance. Check that out for layout ideas.

Information Links For Bloggers

Bloggers can always use interesting ideas to blog about. The following links are presented to inspire my readers to write and promote learning. They first appeared in UpdateLinks a linkblog dedicated to mental health and education.

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Africa Writing Systems

allmusic - information on classical and popular music.

AncientScripts.com - an interesting site about writing systems and linguistics. There are also some games.

Astrobiology Magazine - Search for Life in the Universe. The link leads to the extensive glossary.

Astronomy Picture of the Day - refresh your browser to bring up the latest picture.

BBC - Prehistoric Life - interactive games and information about prehistory.

CIA World Factbook

Earth and Moon Viewer - Look at the earth from satellites or look at specific cities from space.

Encyclopedia Mythica - an encyclopedia of Mythology, Folklore, and Legends.

Encyclopaedia of the Orient

Educational Web Adventures - interactive educational websites featuring some interesting material.

Education Resources - Subject Index

Ethnologue - Languages of the World.

Lyrics On Demand

MapQuest - online maps.

Omniglot - a guide to writing systems.

Religious Tolerance.org - a site promoting religious understanding, tolerance and freedom.

Religious Worlds - information and links for study and interpretation of religions.

Shamanism - Working With Animal Spirits- this site has many beautiful animal pictures and some audio files.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Timeline of Art History

Sidebar Links

I have added some sidebar links to useful websites and blogs. Some of the links are specific to Blogger (Blogger Buzz for example) but most of them are not.

Most of the sites are listed because they provide useful information for bloggers. For news stories one can check Google News and this may lead to a post. If you need information on a movie or a band check IMdb or allmusic. I have found all of the sites listed useful in the past.

The Canadian Blog Exchange "is a linker... with a twist - everyone participates in filing useful posts in relevant categories, and in this way a history is built up."*. It is a good place to list a Canadian blog or to find interesting blogs to read. I have gotten some blog traffic from the site.

The Blog Herald offers news related to blogs and blogging. The information can be both interesting and inspiring.

Blog Search is a useful tool for finding blogs to read. The advanced features can allow very specific searches.

Resources

I have added a separate link list for blog resources. I will list websites or blogs that provide tools specific to blogging. Visitor counters, games, and several other types of gadgets may be listed.

Google Gadgets has a number of gagets you can add to websites or blogs. I tested Google Fight and posted about it at Firemind. I added a game to my template at Braindance.