Sifting through the blogosphere

11/03/2010

Anyone can blog about their lives, but unfortunately, most of us don’t have lives fascinating enough for anyone else to care about, so in search of lives less ordinary here are some blogs that really are interesting…

From celebs to people with secret insights into the world’s coolest industries to alternative lifestyles and quirky musings, there’s something for everyone in the brilliant blogosphere – it’s not all teen angst and diets you know!

Gossip girls and boys

jezebel.com, satirises mainstream girl media for a read that doesn’t take fashion, politics and the usual relationship advice too seriously- they even produce a regular ‘C**p email from a dude’ feature to keep you up-to-date. The blog reveals  the five big lies of girls mags from female forgeries of airbrushed front covers, equally manufactured celeb profiles, creating insecurities you never even knew you had, the denial women are affected by celebrity media and the great ‘must have’ deception.  All news is peppered with hilarious and witty perceptions with lots of tabloid pictures to scratch the celeb itch.

A Brit-pack version of Perez Hilton, hecklerspray.com, is yet another gossip website spewing scandalous rumours of who’s with who but with one key difference.  It’s sharply written and downright funny with an emphasis on style and has been dubbed gossip for grown-ups.

Techno-tastic

From Lego videos to iPod cakes, boingboing.net, covers the quirky geeky gadgets and projects in a self-proclaimed ‘directory of wonderful things’ for cool time diversions.  As well as giant dolls heads, type face cookies and blinged-up gold cameras, the blog champions freedom of technological expression and is defiantly anti-censorship and corporate control.  A truly fun way of keeping up to date with cutting-edge tech, having a laugh and being politically aware- power to the geeks!

Pretty retro TVs, e-reader innovations, Twitter terminology and how ‘my iPhone got me pregnant’ are just some of the news stories gracing shinyshiny.tv.  For all those with a love of the shiniest, newest gadgets this is the place to stay ahead of your mates.  Previewing the latest apps, accessories, phones and useful technology in an easily-digestible way, Shiny Shiny takes the jargon out of technology for an easy lunchtime read.

Green yet grounded

Some eco-warriors can be a bit holier than thou, but not the Treehuggers.  Aiming to bring sustainable living to everyone, treehugger.com seeks to prove an eco-friendly life doesn’t mean ugly jumpers, sacrifice and a diet of tofu.  With a dedicated team of staff and contributors from all over the planet, readers can enjoy travel tips, beauty blogs and the latest, greenest gadgets. 

Ever wondered what it’s like to live the ‘good life’?  Well, you can gain an insight by following bean-sprouts, documenting Melanie Rimmer’s family’s quest to be sustainable in a small ex-council house in Cheshire.

Share in the joys of allotment keeping plus looking after chickens and bees without the toil.  With posts as diverse from what to do with a load of apples to home crafts from old clothes, it might even inspire you to give you own life a green-over.

Fanatical foodies

Chez Pim gives you some real food for thought.  Pim Techamuanvivit has tried tasty titbits from street vendors to Michelin-starred restaurants and shares pics and details of the culinary creations on her blog.  As well as cookery tips, essential kitchen buys there are some great ideas of secret haunts serving the tastiest treats for you to mple net time you’re in the neighbourhood.

Feast your eyes on ramblingspoon.com which claims to travel the world mouth by mouth.  A rich travelogue-meets food-a-logue  mixes mouth-watering images with beautifully written ramblings on people, places and local dishes, but the secret ingredient is ex journo and gourmet Karen.  Rambling Spoon is a great insight into the people that make and appreciate food all from the comfort of you armchair.  Be warned, this blog will make you hungry for more.

Fashionable and stylish slickers

There are thousands of well-documented fashion blogs but for a real insight into what the kids are wearing, try dirtydirtydancing.com and prepare to party hard.  Documenting the most impossibly cool nights out and movers and shakers in the edgier parts of London and beyond, hordes of hip and hot youngsters can see if they’ve been papped getting their party on.

A lesson to boyfriends everywhere.  whatkatiewore.com is written by Katie’s fashion-forward partner to catalogue her eclectic clothes choices on a daily basis.  Peppered with praise, we defy any fashionable ice queen not to melt.  Aww.

Remember daytime TV triumph Through the Keyhole?  Unlike the morning marvel where washed-up Z-list celebs showed us their houses, theselby.com gives you an insider’s tour of hip homes around the world.  Nose through models’ wardrobes in sparse Manhattan lofts or the hottest bands’ cosy London bunker basements with the help of pro photographer Todd Selby.  Delicious decorating tips or a narrative on how the other half live; you decide.

The sublimely mundane

You know how it pays to be nice to waiters? waiterrant.net is the proof you’ve been waiting for.  The anonymous author writes from the sharp-end of New York restaurants with cutting stories of cruel customers and tragic tippers for a surprisingly entertaining read.  Try on other people’s careers with other job blogs from an ambulance driver’s random reality to policeman’s coppersblog – for an arresting read..geddit?

One for the more whimsical, escape reality with whatiftheydid.  Just what if phones had breathalysers and Persil made paint?  From the zaniest creative minds share what if’s for ad campaigns and making the world a better…or more interesting place.

Think you can do better?  Tell us about your blog.