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Virtual Library
Local Blogs and Websites
Since I launched my own Web log, or “blog,” at Tube City Online, I’ve become more and more intrigued by this unique form of writing made possible only by the Internet. Mainly, I just love to say “blog.” “Blog, blog, blog.” I could say it all day long.
Recently I tried to pick up a girl by using the line, “Hey, darling, would you like to look at my blog?”
My trial comes up next week.
Anyway, here are some Pittsburgh-area webdiaries, web-only publications, and other new media sites worth checking out.
The Ardmore
Forest Hills-themed weblog maintained by Mike Shafer, a computer consultant.
http://www.theardmore.com
Bedside Manner
Dedicated to the music of Bare Naked Ladies. Get it? Ha ha! No? Eh, well. No, it isn't, really. Author Suzie describes it as the "musings of a girl" who "feels strongly that age is unimportant" in determining one's self worth.
http://www.surreally.net/bedsidemanner/
Bob's "Funk-O-Rama" and "Blog O'Love"
Monroeville native Bob Braughler's "Funk-O-Rama" is a big mish-mash of Pittsburgh photos, daily musings, and assorted other oddness. Regular updates are at Subdivided We Stand.
http://www.braughler.net or http://subdivided_we_stand.typepad.com
The Conversation
Freelance writer Jonathan Potts muses on local and national politics from his base in Pittsburgh’s South Hills.
http://jonathanpotts.blogspot.com/
Dave Copeland
Regular op-eds and commentaries from a freelance writer and former columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
http://www.davecopeland.com
Exit Stage Left
Don't know much about this blogger, except that the topics are fairly eclectic — local politics (from a leftist slant), entertainment, and media criticism.
http://www.djhlights.blogspot.com
Fester’s Place
Dedicated to the legacy of Jackie Coogan, who played the wacky, bald uncle on The Addams' Family TV show. OK, I made that up. Actually, it’s dedicated to free-flowing opinions about politics from a moderate-to-left perspective.
http://festersplace.blogspot.com/
Grainbag
A blog by the curator of the Grainbag online art gallery, focusing on Pittsburgh-area artists and cultural events.
http://www.grainbag.com/blog/weblog.htm
Honest Wagner
Blogging about Pittsburgh sports these days would seem to be a frustrating task: How many different ways can you say, "The Pirates (Penguins, Steelers) suck (blow, stink, reek, fail to perform adequately)?" Honest Wagner makes it interesting by mixing in some media criticism, and by prowling many, many sources for sports news.
http://www.honestwagner.blogspot.com
Iron City Weblog
Opinions and ideas from the Engel-Bannan family of Pittsburgh.
http://www230.pair.com/engelr/
Jill Matrix
Pointed opinions on life, and related matters.
http://www.jillmatrix.com/
Jilly!
An East End woman’s take on news and events in Our Fair City.
http://www.jilly.org/weblog
The New Yinzer
Online literary and cultural magazine featuring local writers and artists. Also sponsors a monthly reading series at Modern Formations Gallery.
http://www.newyinzer.com
Observer-Reporter “Off the Record”
Maintained by the staff of the Washington, Pa.-based newspaper, it’s a potpourri of funny and off-beat items and other links of interest. Currently down for "technical reasons," which is a pity.
http://www.observer-reporter.com/weblog/
Photosuperstar
"Superstar"? Modest son-of-a-gun, ain't he? Actually, this is good stuff, including lots of solid photography of Pittsburgh and vicinity, and tips and gossip for photographers. It's maintained by Dean M. Beattie, chief digital photo imaging specialist at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
http://photosuperstar.typepad.com
Picking My Brain ...
Turns out that Tube City Almanac isn’t the only regularly-updated Web publication on the Dementia server ... Alycia Bencloski-Brashear, aka Stunt Violist, is writing about politics and culture at her site.
http://www.dementia.org/~alycia/blog/
Pittsblog
Michael Madison, an assistant professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, turns a critical eye on media, technology and the Pittsburgh region.
http://pittsblog.blogspot.com
Pittsburghese
Larn how ta speak lahk a native of Picksburg n'at.
http://www.pittsburghese.com
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review blog directory
Pretty self-explanatory. Also a pretty good idea, and another reason why the Trib's Web site is one of the best online news services in the city.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tools/guides/blogs/
The Raitt Stuff
Boy, was I disappointed to find absolutely nothing here about red-haired country songstress Bonnie Raitt! I did, however, find lots of stimulating commentary by David Raitt about national and local politics, including the cesspool that is Pittsburgh's crumbling financial situation.
http://dirkov.blogspot.com/
The Science of Non-Compos Menticism
Local and national current events and some media criticism with a decidedly irreverent bent.
http://www.mcardle.blogspot.com
Brian Trammel Photography
Formerly the Shadyside Image Archive, it’s a regularly updated gallery of photos taken (mostly) in and around Western Pennsylvania.
http://www.shadyside.net or http://www.tramphoto.com/
True Pittsburgh
I don’t know who’s writing this, but it’s tough, unflinching commentary on the side of Pittsburgh life and politics that the Chamber of Commerce doesn’t want you to see. I don’t always agree, but it’s thought provoking, and it’s accurate more often than it isn’t.
http://www.truepittsburgh.com/pittsburgh/
Yinzer Mullet
The name alone would make it worthy. But there’s great commentary, too, and a regular supply of interesting photos snapped around the Pittsburgh area. (Currently on hiatus.)
http://www.yinzermullet.com
David Watson
Thoughts on the news from a software engineer and musician based in Butler County.
http://www.davidwatson.org
What would Vannevar Bush blog?
Well, how should I know? Get off my back! I didn't even know who he was until I looked him up. It turns out he was an electrical engineering professor at MIT whose ideas were credited with the invention of "hypertext" — the interlinking of words and information that form the basis for the World Wide Web. This blog focuses on Web design and technology, with some Pittsburgh and Beaver County politics and culture thrown in for good measure.
http://www.vannevar.blogspot.com
World’s Slowest Blog
Oh, I doubt that. I’m sure there are blogs that are much slower. Show me some evidence! Laurie Mann of Mt. Lebanon writes about politics, both local and national, from a fairly liberal perspective.
http://www.dpsinfo.com/blog/blogger.html
(updated 9 July 2004)
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