Best Blogs of 2010

June 28, 2010 6:26 PM

Time has released their list of the best blogs of 2010.

As usual, this list is sure to elicit debate among the cognoscenti.

posted by reenum (69 comments total)

Hipsters = "the "bed head" set? is that what they are?
posted by GuyZero at 6:29 PM on June 28, 2010

Time magazine releases their link-whoring list for 2010. Sure to elicit links from the listed blogs!
posted by delmoi at 6:30 PM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Post Secrets, really? Aren't they a few years late to that party?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:36 PM on June 28, 2010 [11 favorites]

GeekDad? Timely.
posted by DU at 6:39 PM on June 28, 2010

Weird how they call Kos overrated for being out of public consciousness. It's a blog to promote Democratic party political sucess and it does a good job of that. They do realistic analysis of elections and try to promote the candidates they like. They do a good job of it.

There was nothing unique about their commentary content before aside from how strongly they went against the orthodox Bush world view back when the entire mainstream media was on board with him.

The user generated diaries and such are just not that notable in the facebook era where everyone shares with everyone on a bunch of topics, but it is surprising how often you will see an elected official dropping in to write one.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 6:39 PM on June 28, 2010

It's nice to know no one will start a good blog in the next 6 months.
posted by jeather at 6:40 PM on June 28, 2010 [23 favorites]

As usual, this list is sure to elicit:

1) what delmoi said;
2) derision from blogs that missed out;
3) Quite a few "Blog X, really?" reactions from those who think they are the blognoscenti; and
4) huge, gaping yawns from the rest.
posted by vidur at 6:41 PM on June 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

Is it just me or is Time Magazine starting to look like Cracked.com? Top 10 YouTube Train Wrecks? Top 10 People Caught on Facebook!
posted by octothorpe at 6:45 PM on June 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

Can it be true that the editors of Time read, understand and love Hipster Runoff?

2k10: the year 'indie' got well and truly incorporated into the 'mainstream'. I don't even know where any of us can possibly go from here.
posted by naju at 6:48 PM on June 28, 2010

Can we turn this thread into the one where we talk about our current favorite blogs (and hell, podcats can come too)? I need new reading material. Here's one:

- heartfish for cool photography/design stuff.
posted by !Jim at 6:49 PM on June 28, 2010

Oh, here's another:

- Gamers with jobs is a site about gaming for mature people.
posted by !Jim at 6:50 PM on June 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

We didn't get picked this year? Fuck them.

My pick: Rock Paper Shotgun
posted by empath at 6:53 PM on June 28, 2010 [6 favorites]

I like sites that are very political, and there I post snarky opinions opposite of what they get from their true believers. Fun to see how long before they block me. then I have to delete cookies and use new name and address...
posted by Postroad at 6:54 PM on June 28, 2010

"S___ My Kids Ruined"

Are we really not adult enough to read the word "shit" in Time Magazine?
posted by splatta at 6:57 PM on June 28, 2010 [10 favorites]

I have seen some of these.

I don't understand why people like cakes however, and shouldn't pitchfork be in the overrated group?
posted by Max Power at 6:58 PM on June 28, 2010

Dammit. I'm trying so hard to want kids, but then I see something like Shit My Kids Ruined and I just get depressed.
posted by lizzicide at 7:04 PM on June 28, 2010

podcats can come too

Is this something one would need a cat, or a pod, to fully appreciate? I keed, I keed.
posted by davidmsc at 7:05 PM on June 28, 2010

splatta: ""S___ My Kids Ruined"

Are we really not adult enough to read the word "shit" in Time Magazine?"

Print media can't seem to get past Carlin's 7 Dirty Words. The world will apparently end if someone sees the word "fuck" in their daily newspaper.
posted by octothorpe at 7:07 PM on June 28, 2010

Even setting its dubious "blogness" aside, it's weird Time picked Pitchfork this year after choosing a more obscure music-blog (mine) last year. I expected them to continue with that curatorial edge, but at least for music, they've reverted to the mean.

Congratulations to all the winners.
posted by Marquis at 7:08 PM on June 28, 2010

Damn it, I didn't make it again. Going to write them a letter!
posted by cjorgensen at 7:14 PM on June 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

But as time goes by, what originality or distinctive voice can FAIL Blog provide to keep visitors coming? After all, stupidity wears thin after a while.

No, no it doesn't.
posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 7:30 PM on June 28, 2010 [4 favorites]

The Oatmeal? Really?
posted by JHarris at 7:30 PM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Even setting its dubious "blogness" aside, it's weird Time picked Pitchfork this year after choosing a more obscure music-blog (mine) last year. I expected them to continue with that curatorial edge, but at least for music, they've reverted to the mean.

Wait, wait, you're Said The Gramophone?

See, this thread just made me happy.
posted by verb at 7:33 PM on June 28, 2010 [5 favorites]

People still blog? I thought broadcasting at 140ch was the new rage.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:39 PM on June 28, 2010

PostSecret was old two years ago. That it took this long for the people who populate the company to notice it… wow. Dead media printing.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:42 PM on June 28, 2010

Perez Hilton isn't overrated, it's merely overread. Does anybody actually rate the site highly?
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:53 PM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

infinitefloatingbrains: "But as time goes by, what originality or distinctive voice can FAIL Blog provide to keep visitors coming?"

Probably its own distinctive voice.

To me, this is the same sort of argument that people use against The Simpsons. The reason The Simpsons can't be edgy anymore is that the edgy voice they pioneered 20 years ago has seeped into the culture so much that it is the culture now. It kind of amazes me with all the real shit on TV that people are upset a TV institution is being ... institutional.

Same for FAIL Blog. FAIL as a concept is part of the culture now. They're under no obligation to constantly reinvent themselves for the sake of being reinventative.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 7:54 PM on June 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

ZenHabits? Again? I started following them the last time Time thought they were a good blog, but it's actually not a very helpful blog at all.

But I'll have to say that PostSecrets still maintains pretty well after so long, and continues to inspire (even though I'm pretty sure that 98% of them are fake).

I have to agree with the ? as to The Oatmeal. Clearly, Hyperbole and a Half is the superior humor blog.
posted by jabberjaw at 8:03 PM on June 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

We didn't get picked this year? Fuck them.

I think you meant, 'Thank fucking God'.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:11 PM on June 28, 2010 [4 favorites]

Time magazine is not particularly good at understanding the Web. I think it would be nice if this did not become an annual post.
posted by theora55 at 8:26 PM on June 28, 2010

Damn it, I didn't make it again.
posted by cjorgensen

Weren't you "Person of the Year" awhle back?
posted by marxchivist at 8:31 PM on June 28, 2010 [4 favorites]

Time Magazine is and has always been for squares. Props to those of you who have been blessed with a gateway to the squares, but facts is facts. Consider the source.
posted by rhizome at 8:35 PM on June 28, 2010

Is "cognoscenti" really the word we want to use for people who have opinions about blogs?
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:39 PM on June 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

- heartfish for cool photography/design stuff.

I clicked on that and got this:

Reported Attack Site! This web site at www1.glory15.co.cc has been reported as an attack site
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:41 PM on June 28, 2010

I'm glad Time gave Shorpy a nod, even if agreeing with Time makes me a square. It makes me happy to get random historical photos in my RSS feeds every day.

(And nthing the ? about the Oatmeal. I may be old and square, but I know played out when I smell it.)
posted by immlass at 8:48 PM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Is "cognoscenti" really the word we want to use for people who have opinions about blogs?

Especially when 'blognoscenti' is, like, right there.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:51 PM on June 28, 2010 [4 favorites]

Now, I'm not one to complain about a good top ten (or whatever) list, but shouldn't we wait until at least December before we anoint the top blog of 2010?
posted by Weebot at 8:59 PM on June 28, 2010

Also: the fact that Metafilter is not on this year's list can only be counted as a failure on the part of all of you.

You've all disappointed me.
posted by Weebot at 9:24 PM on June 28, 2010

Weren't you "Person of the Year" awhle back?

No, that was me.
posted by scalefree at 9:29 PM on June 28, 2010

When Time writes you up, you know you're over. It wasn't always that way (I learned about Ziggy Stardust and Rocky Horror from Time while they were still relevant), but that's how it's been for a good 20 years, at least.

My condolences to everyone who got picked for the list.
posted by Jimmy Havok at 10:19 PM on June 28, 2010

Are we really not adult enough to read the word "shit" in Time Magazine?

Given demographics, I think they're trying to prevent strokes or 2nd heart attacks in their normal readers.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:29 PM on June 28, 2010

I've only added one blog to my must-read list in the last 12 months, but it's a doozy.

Farnam Street.

Would be #1 on my list this year.
posted by unSane at 10:36 PM on June 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

Reported Attack Site! This web site at www1.glory15.co.cc has been reported as an attack site

StickyCarpet, I got the same message too.
posted by Alnedra at 11:11 PM on June 28, 2010

My favourite blogs:

PureLandMountain
Mutant Frog Travelogue
Bastish.net
Japanprobe
Blue Lotus
No-Sword
White Peril
posted by KokuRyu at 11:26 PM on June 28, 2010

Let the obligatory whoring commence!!!


RedHeadMama: Keeping My Pants On Since 2006

(please feed my children)
posted by jimhankmom at 11:49 PM on June 28, 2010

This is great. It's the same kind of pleasure as when your granny explains the Internet.
posted by Phanx at 1:17 AM on June 29, 2010

I thought blogging was dead and everybody had moved to Twitter and Facebook. It's almost as if Time celebrating obsolescence.
posted by ardgedee at 3:32 AM on June 29, 2010

Time's first ever "Blog of the Year" award, in 2004, went to . . . Powerline.

So I think I'll try some suggestions from mefites rather than from Time.
posted by Eyebeams at 3:33 AM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Also: the fact that Metafilter is not on this year's list can only be counted as a failure on the part of all of you.

Actually, the phrase you're looking for is "a wonderful achievement" or "an unparalleled accomplishment".

This is great. It's the same kind of pleasure as when your granny explains the Internet.

Except, you know, I like my granny.
posted by WalterMitty at 3:59 AM on June 29, 2010

Fun fact: Powerline is so named because I'd rather connect my gonads with crocodile clips to the nearest powerline than actually, you know, read it.
posted by MuffinMan at 4:20 AM on June 29, 2010

Are we really not adult enough to read the word "shit" in Time Magazine?

It's not us.

It's them.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:24 AM on June 29, 2010

splatta: ""S___ My Kids Ruined"

Are we really not adult enough to read the word "shit" in Time Magazine?"

Even worse: last night I saw an ad on tv for $#*! My Dad Says, the new William Shatner vehicle on CBS based on Shit My Dad Says on Twitter. Apparently 140 characters can be stretched to 30 minutes nowadays...

The voiceover guy actually said "Bleep my dad says." Yes. Bleep. He said the word bleep. The premise and name of the show (and originating twitter feed) all involve the word shit, but CBS makes voiceover man say Bleep. How does CBS expect shit-averse parents to explain the bleep to their kids?

I prefer to add my own words in place of the bleep.
posted by This Guy at 4:54 AM on June 29, 2010

This list would have a lot more relevance if it -- well, if it didn't come out in the middle of the freakin' year, obviously, but also if it showcased blogs that debuted in 2010, instead of just being "well, it's 2010, and, uh, here are some blogs we like and/or heard were hip." Most other "Best of the year" lists are meant to spotlight interesting new material, instead of just paying annual tribute to the same sites everybody already reads.

I mean, nothing against kottke, but it's like presenting the "Best Films of 2010" and putting Citizen Kane and Sunset Boulevard on the list.
posted by Pants McCracky at 5:05 AM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Truth in advertising: Time presents its annual blogroll, a mixture of the usual suspects and the blog equivalent of 101 Uses For A Dead Cat.
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:27 AM on June 29, 2010

Time realized the best way to get page impressions is lists where they discuss one item per page...
Who would have thought that they would take their business model from Cracked.com, and then water it down even further?


And they suck because they didn't include my blog.
posted by Theta States at 6:21 AM on June 29, 2010

I retract everything I said, as it's been said 10 times or more above.
posted by Theta States at 6:22 AM on June 29, 2010

I like sites that are very political, and there I post snarky opinions opposite of what they get from their true believers. Fun to see how long before they block me. then I have to delete cookies and use new name and address...

You're bragging about being a troll?
posted by mreleganza at 7:05 AM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

octothorpe : Is it just me or is Time Magazine starting to look like Cracked.com?

Whoa there; that's a hugely unfair characterization.

Cracked is good.
posted by quin at 8:17 AM on June 29, 2010

Who is this Roger Ebert fellow?
posted by crunchland at 8:46 AM on June 29, 2010

I have said it before here on the blue and I'll say it again: If you are genuinely incredulous at the out-of-touch obviousness of Time magazine's take on anything, you do not understand the point of Time magazine.
posted by gompa at 10:18 AM on June 29, 2010

To me, this is the same sort of argument that people use against The Simpsons. The reason The Simpsons can't be edgy anymore is that the edgy voice they pioneered 20 years ago has seeped into the culture so much that it is the culture now.

See also.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:24 AM on June 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Pitchfork is a blog?
posted by Jaltcoh at 12:01 PM on June 29, 2010

immlass: "I'm glad Time gave Shorpy a nod, even if agreeing with Time makes me a square."

It doesn't make you a square for agreeing with any of their results, it's that Time finally caught up to you. Years later, and in internet time that is a dog's age indeed.
posted by rhizome at 12:45 PM on June 29, 2010

No book blogs? No knitting blogs? A disappointment.
posted by francesca too at 1:39 PM on June 29, 2010

Pitchfork is a blog?

The best kind of blog! They self-rate their own posts, so you know you can ignore any posts that isn't below 4.0 or above 7.8!
I want an RSS reader to automatically filter them like that.
posted by Theta States at 9:49 PM on June 29, 2010

What? No BoingBoing?


Good.
posted by Ratio at 10:40 PM on June 29, 2010

I think the time is overestimated ...
This rank too

Bussiere
posted by bussiere at 4:11 AM on June 30, 2010

I can't believe my derelict photoblog didn't make the cut. Damn you, Time!
posted by antifuse at 6:37 AM on July 2, 2010

What? No BoingBoing?

Actually, it's right there in the list of "Essential Blogs"
posted by antifuse at 6:40 AM on July 2, 2010