Blog Report

I have been involved in the blogging experience for approximately four weeks. As a novice, it took a while to learn proper utilization of the technology associated with this genre. I continue to learn. The topic of my blog is the drum and bugle corps activity.
Over a four week period I posted 26 original comments, received four comment responses, and four votes on a poll I created. Additionally, I made numerous comments in response to posts on other sites. I created links to other blogs and specific comments within those blogs, and also provided links to mass media artifacts within the Drum Corps International website.
With regularity, I read blogs on twelve different sites: BEANTOWN Caffe, Gazing Into The Abyss, Drum Corps International, BRUCE REYES-CHOW, STICKY DOORKNOBS, On The 50, Point Two-Five, StickyFigure, Drumline Blog, La Vie 101, Historical Drum Corps Publications, and Drum Along The Mohawk Blog.
La Vie 101 was the most "hip" site that I visited, as well as the only international (Canadian) blog I watched. I felt like I was getting to know someone who didn't take themselves too seriously. Topics included graphic design, fashion, family, food, drum and bugle corps (Syracuse Brigadiers), and the exchange rate. Many observers added short comments. As I will soon be 46 years old, something about this site made me feel as if I were bridging a generation gap. Because the writer is involved in the summer drum and bugle corps season, she couldn't post very frequently. Even so, her site seemed very alive.
BEANTOWN Caffe is a very attractive and well constructed blog from Boston. Generally, this blog reveals a strong sense of community, appreciation of the natural, and desire to find personal meaning in life. There are ads and links to friends on this site. There are links to musical performers: Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps and others. Pictures displayed on the blog are beautiful and of high quality. The writer posts frequently. I'd like my blog to be more like this one.
Gazing Into The Abyss is a most intriguing blog and originates from Myrtle Beach, SC. It is very much a daily diary that addresses life issues. The writer addresses perspective by strategically intermingling song lyrics throughout his comments. The writer posts lengthy commentary daily and I'm amazed and appreciate the commitment and effort shown by this writer.
StickyFigure is another interesting and attractive blog and a site that I will continue to watch as I am keenly interested in the topics it addresses, i.e., the sociology of work ethic, marketing, consumerism, and business ethics. This blog has dense interconnection with other blogs and also advertising links.
STICKY DOORKNOBS, originating from Denver, caught my attention not only because of its connection to the drum and bugle corps activity, but also the 24 hour "blogathon" that was conducted to raise cash for charities. Other topics covered were baseball and the writer's personal health. Also, I discovered the technical term "meme" on this site and I still need to find its meaning.
On The 50 is a blog that addresses issues associated with the drum and bugle corps activity. This site has a link to a "Wiki" about drum corps. Also, rather than covering numerous interests on a single blog, this writer has created three separate blogs each dealing with different topics. The writer posts on the drum corps blog every few days.
Bruce Reyes-Chow conducts a blog that is geared toward, "Pastors and church geeks." This is a very good blog originating from San Francisco and the writer posts daily. My original attraction to this blog was the writer's connection to Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps. However, after watching this post for a while, I found a very interesting exchange of comments regarding the kidnapping and murder of Korean Christians in Afghanistan and the lack of coverage of these events by mass media. I desire that great cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity exist in the U.S. and on this site I was exposed to backgrounds different than my own. This blog is highly interconnected to other blogs. There are also ads displayed on this blog.
Point Two-Five caught my attention not only because it is a blog dealing with the drum and bugle corps activity, but also has three authors rather than one. This site provides links to marching activity blogs. The writers post every few days.
I have been disappointed with the response to my blog, but realize my technical incompetence may have been a cause. Additionally, the name I chose is too long, bland, and associated too closely with a single, obscure topic; the drum and bugle corps activity. As I became more comfortable with blogging, I tried to expand the content of my blog by pulling in comments and links regarding topics connected both with the drum and bugle corps activity and society at large. Topics included: work ethic, marching band, life changing experiences, music education, terrorism, Indianapolis, media coverage, travel, commitment, and youth. Additionally, I added a poll in order to attract more interest.
Overall, the blogs I observed were updated at least every few days, were heavily interlinked, displayed advertising, covered a variety of topics as well as my primary interest (the drum and bugle corps activity), and exhibited great freedom of speech with little censorship. Generally, writing and comments were very personal.
Mass media utilized within these blogs included videos, news articles, songs, and advertisements. Specific comments regarding media artifacts included: regret that a certain drum and bugle corps wasn't receiving the enthusiastic coverage it deserved by writers on the Drum Corps International website, unbelief that American news media were not intensely covering the Korean hostage situation, and dispute as to the accuracy of the date a certain event was being claimed to have been videoed.
I have greatly enjoyed my introductory experience with "blogging" and plan to continue to participate by creating a different site. Importantly, even though I didn't observe great controversies displayed among bloggers, it is obvious to me that this genre provides a non-threatening way to express dissent and provide alternative views alongside mainstream practices, concepts, and ideology.