Planet Japan
English is the second most prevalent language among blog posters internationally, Sifry said. Thirty-seven percent of postings are in Japanese; 31 percent in English.
THE TRUTH ABOUT BLOGGING / Lots of us do it, and it’s not political, according to study
Also, check out the Planet Japan podcast, a favorite of mine hosted by Amy and Doug.
on July 25th, 2006 at 8:06 am
Blogs as daily diraries.
An article from Star Tribune, Minneapolis regarding personal blogs:
“Regular folks are using blogs to share their lives with the world - whether it is interested or not.”
Minnesota’s blogosphere is intensely personal
John Reinan, Star Tribune, 612-673-7402
July 24, 2006 – 1:10 AM
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/570007.html
The article made an interesting point …
– Modern Day Diary
We’ve always had an urge to record our lives, said Thomas Augst, an associate professor of English at the University of Minnesota. Augst’s specialty is the study of 19th-century diaries, and he sees similarities between today’s bloggers and those forgotten people who carefully documented their everyday activities some 200 years ago.
“These ordinary people, who had no realistic expectation of achieving fame or success — why would they record their thoughts?” Augst said. “There’s a very moving quality even in the ridiculous, mundane things people spent their time writing about, then and now.
“It can look trivial, but there’s something meaningful in it,” he said. “People think their ordinary lives have a dignity that is worth commenting on, even if no one else ever will.” –-
I particularly like the line about ordinary lives having dignity worth commenting on. I think it’s important to read and support the homeless folks who take the time and effort to record their ‘extra-ordinary’ lives via blogs; even though some don’t appreciate comments.