An Annotated, Categorized Blogliography for 2008 The Illustrated Version is available by email attachment A monographic issue of Will's Texana Monthly, volume 3, August 2008 A mono-thematic issue on Contents Introduction Will's History, Literature, and Reference Blogs Architectural Preservation & Appreciation Book Agents, Editors, Publicists, Consultants, and Their Ilk Book Reading Clubs & Book Companions Book Reviews & News Classroom Experiments Commercial Expressions Culturally Convergent with Historical or Literary Interests Historical Interests & Projects Historical Museums Historical Organizations History via Newspapers Literate Writers Literate Naturalists Literary Organizations Oozing Toward Politics Blog Cousins, The Favorites, Bookmarks, and Subscriptions to Feeds Starting a Blog Will's Texana 2008 Introduction Below, please find 100 blogs "about" What is a BLOG? A blog is an internet site with one distinguishing trait, besides being fresh, interactive, and available by subscription (usually free). Its structure is usually vertical, meaning, whatever you add is stacked on top of what you last added, pancake-wise. A blog is also called an electronic diary or journal or a log – a web log. Additions (new files, called postings) to a blog are usually regarding something fresh, sort of like news. Blogs usually don't allow the opportunity to add new postings between the old postings. Readers can leave public "Comments" to the postings. CHANGE. In some cases, blogs have replaced the older "forum," "bulletin board," and "listserv" formats. Usually one person does most of the postings, but several individuals can be authorized to post directly, without prior editorial mediation. Newsletters may be replaced in some cases, as the articles can be posted individually as each is ready or most timely. In other cases a newsletter is e-mailed as usual, except there is no "content," only url links to blog postings. In a separate hybrid case, it seems that an organization can open a small, free website (a façade) and populate that website with url links to blog postings stored on that separate blog site. And in that case the website is VERY easy to change because postings are dramatically easy to change while the linked url can remain the same. ITEMS in the list. Blog search engines were used, e.g., blogsearch, technorati, blogcatalog, webcrawler, Syndic8, and bloglines. A dozen RSS formula feeds were monitored for about two months. Libraries were queried via email reference questions. Lastly, the Archives and Local History Roundtable of the Texas Library Association was queried. A few blogs were added by each method. The primary criterion was FUTURE use. Blogs may offer, beyond freshness, some serious use for searchers of historical and literary information. The value seems to rest in a blog's (1) clear definition of purpose and (2) useful or attractive information, whether narrative, graphic, or connective to other websites, and (3) adequately frequent to keep a regular clientele. Long posts are less frequently read, except by the committed. Attention to graphics grows. Audio and video may soon follow, but those may require more time and effort on the blogger's part. Rebecca Blood's 2000 history of the blog concludes "We are being pummeled by a deluge of data and unless we create time and spaces in which to reflect, we will be left with only our reactions. I strongly believe in the power of weblogs to transform both writers and readers from 'audience' to 'public' and from 'consumer' to 'creator.' Weblogs are no panacea for the crippling effects of a media-saturated culture, but I believe they are one antidote." 1 Blogs move you from passive to active. Will Howard, August 2008: willstexana { a t } yahoo.com And special thanks to Stephanie Barko, Norman Alston, Cowtown Pattie, and the reference library staffers in [1] Rebecca Blood. "Weblogs: A History and Perspective", Rebecca's Pocket. 07 September 2000. 25 October 2006. <http://www.rebeccablood.net/essays/weblog_history.html>. * * * Will's History, Literature, and Reference Bibliography http://texasbookshelf.blogspot.com/ Texana book reviews, author interviews. The Bookshelf originated from reviews in Will's Texana Monthly reviews, but is now considerably supplemented beyond the WTM. By Will Howard in http://texasparlor.blogspot.com/ Texana historical, literary, and contemporary bibliographical notes & observations, broad ranging in interest, most not duplicated in the WTM. All sorts of stuff, much useful to the general public, librarians, archivists, museum staffers, historians and writers, is filed in the Parlor. By Will Howard, his first one. http://youngtexasreader.blogspot.com/ Texana for the youngest readers through teenage - books, media, websites, news, originally based on Will's Texana Monthly reviews, news, and notes, but now considerably supplemented beyond the WTM. For the professional and the public. By Will Howard Architectural Preservation & Appreciation Norman Alston Architects http://alstonarchitects.typepad.com/norman_alston_architects/ "Architecture / Planning / Historic Preservation / Cultural Resource Management." Alston's a decades-experienced architectural preservationist in "A Life Less Ordinary in a Tiny "Promoting development and urban living in http://historicbridgefoundation.com/ "The Historical Bridge Foundation was organized in 1998 to advocate for the preservation of our cultural and engineering landmarks - monuments to the people and communities that built them." With an unexpected "...a photo a day (or so) from deep in the heart of Saving the Past for Tomorrow http://galvestonhistory.blogspot.com/ "Saving the Past for Tomorrow" …"Showcasing the rich architectural history of Villa Finale http://villafinale.wordpress.com/ Authors, Sandra Smith, Sylvia Hohenshelt, Christopher Roddy, and Meg Nowack. The Villa is a National Historic Trust site in The Preservation Blog http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationBlogs/ArticleCategories.aspx It "serves as a collection of "mini-blogs" that present articles and news items in a wide variety of topics under the umbrella of historic and cultural resource preservation. Our aim is to build a public repository of articles/notices/releases on a wide variety of topics of value to the preservation community, including restoration techniques, the historic nomination process, museum exhibitions and news, preservation legislation, historic travel and heritage trip ideas, and endangered or threatened historic sites and homes." By Preservation.com - occasionally, some Preservation Nation http://blogs.nationaltrust.org/preservationnation/ "Historic preservation new, networking, and know-how." Searching for " Book Agents, Editors, Publicists, Consultants, etc. Not all, maybe most, below do not necessarily traffic in Texana, but they are a part of the general fabric of literary Stephanie Barko's Literary Publicist blog – "Stephanie Barko and Mindy Reed in Austin- Stephanie is a Literary Publicist specializing in nonfiction and historical fiction. A native Texan, Stephanie particularly enjoys marketing Texana and working with Western authors. Her clients include authors under contract with traditional publishers, emerging authors, independently published writers, and small presses. Mindy Reed founded The Authors' Assistant in 1995. She provides editing, ghostwriting, research, and indexing to authors and publishers. Mindy is also a librarian and an English instructor." "interviews, reading recommendations, publishing information, literacy advocacy, writer resources, news in children's and young adult literature" By Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of fiction for young readers; faculty member at the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. YA author and critic based in "Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists is a full-service literary publicity firm that specializes in serving the unique publicity needs of authors and major publishing houses. Founded in 1994, P&P has publicized nearly 30 bestsellers and has implemented successful publicity campaigns for books across every major genre." For more detailed information, please visit http://www.phenixpublicity.com . "Ideas may be heaven-sent, but these words come straight from Hel," Helen that is. Primarily for the writer, often with Primarily for writers, with some Book Reading Clubs & Book Companions The Pulpwood Queens are a delight you must enjoy. The other blogs evidence a wavelet in professional book public relations, alternative publishing, or companionable message dissemination. Pulpwood Queen Book Club Blog http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/ Not usually Texana, but, hey, "where tiaras are mandatory and reading good books is the RULE!" Just ask Kathy Patrick. If they're doing it in Jefferson, well, they're probably doing it in Courage in Patience http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com/ "a story of hope for those who have endured abuse" with characters via a composite of the author's students in Social Media Newsroom http://joeoconnell.socialmediapower.com/ "for Evacuation Plan: a novel from the hospice" By Joe O'Connell. Texas Strangers http://texasstrangers.blogspot.com/ "News, information and sneak peeks about the comic book series TEXAS STRANGERS, published by Image Comics." Apparently in abeyance since April, 2008 "Texas Pulp Writer is the online home of the fiction of Scott D. Parker." About me: "I am a technical writer living in " Tom's Fiddle http://tompsfiddle.blogspot.com/ "A True Texas Tale / The blog companion to the narrative nonfiction book about actual events. Unearthed from official archives, prison records, and newspapers throughout the Southwest comes this true, frontier tale of a reluctant desperado from Worst Hard Times Book Talk http://worsthardtimes.blogspot.com/ "Egan, Timothy. The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl. Book Reviews and News Lone Star Blog http://lonestarbooks.blogspot.com/ His bio begins: "Mike Cox writes books, reads books, reviews books and sells books. He is the author of 13 non-fiction books including a study of Texana book reviews, author interviews. The Bookshelf originated from reviews in Will's Texana Monthly reviews, but is now considerably supplemented beyond the WTM. By Will Howard in Texana historical, literary, bibliographical notes & observations, broad ranging in interest, most not duplicated in the WTM. All sorts of stuff, much useful to the general public, librarians, museum staffers, archivists, historians and writers is filed in the Parlor. By Will Howard "News about "History of the American West: History of the American West, which includes the fur trade, mining, missionary, ranching, cattle, Indians, transportation and farming frontiers." Book reviews, occasional Texana. By Sue Schrems. "About Me: I am an historian who writes about the American West. I am also an adjunct professor of history at Rose State College in The WFR has included several Texana titles lately. Self description: "For years and years I've been a reader - and collector - of western fiction. Sometime ago I was persuaded to write some brief thoughts about the books I'd read, which has lead to the creation of this blog, so these reviews can have a wider audience." This is a Texana for the youngest readers through teenage - books, media, websites, news, originally based on Will's Texana Monthly reviews, news, and notes, but now considerably supplemented beyond the WTM. The YTR is for parents, the public, and the professional teacher, librarian, caretaker, and writer. By Will Howard, author of Arthur's Austin ABC. Classrooms Experiments History Fair http://historyfair.blog.com/ Fort Worth ISD offers an interesting option Miss Turbo's Mr. Ms. Fleming / Mrs. Pierce's History Blog http://weblogs.lib.uh.edu/history/ Dr. Jaime Olivares, with a Javelina Journalism http://javelinajournalism.blogspot.com/ Dr. Manuel Flores, for his journalism students at TAMU-Kingsville and the South Texan student staffers Commercial Expressions Consortium Book Blog http://bookblog.typepad.com/texas_am_university_press/ Texas A & M University Press Distribution Consortium Blog, publisher notes on some of their issues Cowtown.Com http://www.cowtown.com/ This blog was established last May. Each weekly posting is a "Western Fiction Best Sellers" list of 10 titles. So far, Culturally Convergent with Historical or Literary Aspects Barry Popik's observations on Syndic8 describes it as "Stories of interest about "Stories about things going bump in the night have been told around millions of S.P.P.D.F.T. http://texasflagsociety.blogspot.com/ Society for the Preservation and Proper Display of the Flag of "...of, for and about the
About Bob: "I'm 5th generation Texan and Webmaster of TexasBob.com. I've been around the world but Bloggers include staffers Charles Lohrmann, Jill Lawless, Lori Moffatt, Jane Wu, Kirsti Harms, Marty Lange, Nola McKey and Lois M. Rodriguez. The usual congenial TH fare focused on travel ways and occasionally sauntering more toward history than literature. " Historical Interests & Projects Antiquity About Me: "Los Texanos is pleased to welcome you to Antiquity Texas, an 1800's role playing sim in the Antiquty Community of Victorian Sims and ruled under the gracious hand of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Antiquity. Feel free to explore these new lands. In Antiquity Texas you will find relaxing parks to sit and relax, historical information on texas in the Alamo building and shopping in the http://abilenetexashistory.com/ The January 11, 2007 entry begins "What this is all about … I have been thinking about this small web site, the blog, the podcast, why anyone would care. Most importantly, why would I want to spend anytime at all working on something like this when I have so many other things going on in my life? It has been very cold here in By Wade Dillon, Victoria Reynolds, Dale in Austin, Jeffrey Dane, and Sarah the Virginian. "About The Sentry: Alamo Sentry was created back in 2003 and is dedicated to the popular culture of the Blog for Ellis County History http://blogforelliscountytexashistory.blogspot.com/ About himself: "My name is Barry Bailey. I've been living in "Here you will find postings of Goins Family Musings http://cyndiesmusings.blogspot.com/ "Historical information and stories pertaining to Goins, Goyens, and Goings family." An excellent family history blog with particular attention to William Goyens of Historia de "Esta es una bitácora dedicada a la Historia de Texas. Sus comentarios son bienvenidos." Apparently dormant for the last year, but Rafael Serrano is still contactable expresses interest in continuing his work. http://houstonradiohistory.blogspot.com/ "A History of broadcasting in Houston Voices http://houstonhistory.com/blog1/ By anonymous. Short historical glances, usually with a photograph. Houstorian http://houstorian.wordpress.com/ "Houstorian is a collection of interesting tidbits about the history of Houston-related places, people, and events." Lost "Lost "The UNofficial Blog of the Mexia (Texas) High School Graduating Class of 1959" - By Bill Crider, aka Sheriff Dan Rhodes.. Historical notes, "Explorations in "My site will discuss my findings of the Whitfield - Ross Texas Cavalry Brigade and address reader needs as to family." Dedicated to the Texan actress, "Born on 12 January 1884 in " Historical Museums, Libraries, & Archives "About Us... Border Heritage Center http://bhcenter.blogspot.com/ A part of the El Paso Public Library, a tentative beginning. To be encouraged, could lead other public libraries. Contact Priscilla Pineda. WH recommends the occasional posting of new acquisitions, images, and preservation efforts. DRT Library Weblog http://drtlibrary.wordpress.com/ A new blog comes with experimental first steps from the Daughters of the Dr Pepper Museum http://www.myspace.com/drpeppermuseum (select "View all blog entries") Will's Texana doesn't really understand Myspacers, but I guess they're enjoying themselves, in a pep-like fashion. Museum of North Texas History and Wichita County Archives http://northtexashistory.texomacountry.com/ Museum: "Mission Statement: "To Collect, Preserve, exhibit and interpret the history of the North Texas area "Mission Statement: The Historical Organizations 5th By Brent Harty. This is a crew out of "This blog is about the cultural arts programs of the Brownsville Historical Association. The BHA manages the Brownsville Heritage Complex, which consists of: the by Dallas Historical Society "MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of the Dallas Historical Society is to institute and encourage historical inquiry; to collect, preserve, and exhibit the material of history; and to spread historical information, especially concerning the city and county of Dallas and North Texas." "If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten." Rudyard Kipling "Preserving Rural "Documenting the home of Mrs. Ninia Lilla (Ninnie) Baird (of Mrs. Baird's Bread) and her family from 1910 to 1918" The Purpose statement begins: "These pages will be used to collect and document information about the home of Mrs. Ninnie Baird and her family from 1910 until 1918. The documentation may be verbal, official documents, or photographs of the home. Because the Baird family rented and lived in the home between 1910, two years after Mrs. Baird's Bread was founded and 1918, when her first large bread factory opened on Sixth and Terrell, facts about the home are tough to locate. No tax or property records are to be found because the Bairds rented the home. / For the people that know Ninnie Baird lived in the little house at the corner of Cactus and Mission statement begins "Permian Historical Society is devoted to preserving the history of the Weekly postings are by Texas United Methodist Historical Society on "This Week in History" and photographs from the archives. "It is the mission of the Commission on Archives and History: 1. to preserve the official records of the Texas Annual Conference. 2. to assist local churches preserve their own historical records 3. to provide a ministry of education and interpretation about the history of the Texas Annual Conference." William C. Hardt, Chair History via Newspaper Blogs Historical Pop Culture, Rick Campbell with the By J.R. Gonzales. "A blog about http://blogs.lubbockonline.com/centennial/ "Looking back at " "A newspaper morgue is where old story clippings are filed away. Trish will highlight some of the articles and photos she comes across." Literate Writers Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine http://billcrider.blogspot.com/ "I'm the author of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, among many other things. Check out my webpage at www.billcrider.com for all the scoop." WH – I detect that this guy's a mystery, writer that is, with awards to prove it. His blog ranges as does the author's mind – governed generally by the well being of his cat. Dac Crossley's Weblog http://daccrossley.typepad.com/my_weblog/ East Texan Moore works a good pen. "Lad Grackle Stew Stories http://www.gracklestew.blogspot.com/ "Dispatches from a Texas-Southern Native Daughter - Bits 'n bobs from native Texan author, poet, storyteller and artist. I like writing about nature, sense of place and interesting characters I meet." By Bobbi Chukran who teaches at the About Jim: "Jim Lee was born in "Film, fiction and flailing about somewhere in Judy's Stew http://judys-stew.blogspot.com/ After six decades, and sixty books, Judy Alter's stew is substantially filling and flavored with experienced overtones. About Me: "I am almost seventy, the grandmother of seven children, the mother of four. I'm also the author of about 60 books, the majority were written for 3rd- and 4th-graders. I've written fiction for adults and young adults, articles, essays, book reviews. I do a monthly column on Texas Writers for the Dallas Morning News. In 2005 Western Writers of America gave me their Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement. I'm the director of TCU Press in Molcie's Literary Corner http://molcielou.blogspot.com/ "A blog created by Charles Rodenberger to update Lou's progress with her ovarian cancer and for a place to discuss her literary contributions and my comments on books." About Me: "I am a retired engineering professor and still teach Sunday School at the Cross Plains FUMC." Myth & Mystery http://rickriordan.blogspot.com/ By Rick Riordan. About Rick: "Rick Riordan is the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels. His adult mystery novels feature Tres Scott D Parker http://scottdparker.blogspot.com/ "Parker is the author of TREASON AT HANFORD: A Harry Truman Mystery and JUSTICE IN H-TOWN, both award-winning manuscripts. In this blog, he discusses his writings, crime and mystery fiction, the writing process, the business of writing, books, films, music, and works in progress." Literate Naturalists "a journal of the Journals of an Amateur Naturalist http://naturejournals.blogspot.com/ By Jace Stansbury. As an amateur Jace's pretty good. (In comparison, Will's naturalist skills include digging in the creek bed sand with his big toe and chasing crawdads under the railroad bridge.) Nature Writers of "The best nature writing from the newspaper, magazine, blog and book authors of the Passport to "A blog focusing on the ecology and history of the Literary Organizations Cimmerian http://www.thecimmerian.com/ An e-journal presented via blog format on Texan Robert E. Howard, Conan the Barbarian. Will says, that if you don't know Conan, then you must be an Arnoldian philistine. Is Conan the prototype super-Texan? SAWG Blog: http://www.sawgblog.blogspot.com/ Official blog of the San Antonio Writers Guild SHLW Literary Notes http://slhwnotes.blogspot.com/ "SLHW Literary Notes is published by the Society of Latino and Hispanic Writers of San Antonio. The purpose of the Society is to inspire the professional interests of career-focused Latino/Hispanic writers through networking and support." Oozing Toward Politics Slowly the compiler oozed toward politics. This small collection (out of about a million political blogs) includes blogs that flicker between politics and intelligence and the literate frame of mind. They're less rant and cant, more discipline and occasional grace. They're not adverse to connecting modern life to the past. It's a pleasant collection to read. And easy on the side-wise neck muscles. Readers may recognize that across the blogsphere there are about twice as many Democratic blogs as Republican. Hey, I'm just reporting this stuff. Between Ribbed Elephants and Yellow Dog Donkeys, I often choose the Obdurant Oxen. B and B http://pmbryant.typepad.com/ "From the Texas Hill Country: Science, Politics, Birds, and more." "Politics remains a prominent focus of this blog--in particular, environmental and public lands issues. It is also now a forum for my science and birding writings, as well as occasional posts on random subjects." A nice mixture of interests, she must have a real life. Burnt The Report is fully political, unlike most of this category's other entries. But, the Report ranges broadly with attempts of honest contextualizing. More conversation, less spew. Millard Fillmore's Bathtub http://timpanogos.wordpress.com/ "Striving of accuracy in history, economics, geography, education and a little science." By Ed Darrell. Ed's not shy and is generous in sharing his edged opinions, often enough laced with history or allusions there unto. He just splashes around in the tub of current thought. Chris McClure's interesting combination of poetics and polemics. Chris rides the range, ranges the tide. He also blogs "Common Sense Agriculture," "Conservation and Energy" and "Panhandle's Perspective." The "The Latest on "Thus and sundry from a retired, at home Dad." By Dick Stanley – although primarily political, the Scribbler gets into By Cowtown Pattie. About CP: "Now that is the way to write--peppery and to the point. Mush-and-milk journalism gives me the fan-tods." - Mark Twain in "Journalism in Blog Cousins The Western Water in I noticed that the Amon Carter has a blog. I noticed that several other FW museums might be using an adapted blog template. Please, Pattie, check the water there, and let me know the deal, okay? Amon Carter Museum Blog http://www.cartermuseum.org/blog Most of the entries are not Texana, but the imagery, often Western, is a pleasant visit. The Podcasts are lagniappe. The captions for the images may seem like short and may seem like little throw-away lines, but actually they carry quiet essences. And sometimes they talk and talk they way folks talk about their kids. They're that way in http://www.thegracemuseum.org/artifacts_newsletter/artifacts.html Presentation of periodical Artifacts, as whole issue and as separate pages, appears to be blog-like https://www.kimbellart.org/News/Kimbell-News.aspx Several pages may be an adapted blog. http://www.sidrichardsonmuseum.org/nu_site/sid_richardson_museum.php/museum/highlights/ May be an adapted blog format. SUBSCRIBING OR PICKING FAVORITES FAVORITES or BOOKMARKS On most computer home or start pages connected to the internet, you have the option of making a list of "Favorite" websites, also called "Bookmarks," for quick access. To make a selection, first I simply open a blog I like, and click the Favorites button. On my computer, the Favorites option opens, and you have a question "Do you want to add a Favorite?" I click that one. That box disappears and another appears asking if I wish to add the specific website of interest; I click yes. That box disappears and my selection has been added to my list of Favorites. At that point the website's url address is in my Favorites or Bookmarks list. SYNDICATION FEEDS RSS is an internet method of asking that something (updates) be sent to you on a regular basis – daily or weekly – not usually though email, although that is possible in some cases. RSS stands for "really simple syndication," like newspapers form a syndicate to gather and share information. It's like your Bookmarked websites, but different. It's mostly for blogs and news services. One day I noticed an RSS or Atom feed line symbol, I forget which (there are actually several syndication providers) on a blog of interest. I clicked the RSS symbol and drew back in wonder. A screen appeared with a query asking if I wanted to subscribe. I froze; what did that imply? Being a Texan raised on Pecos Bill, I was brave and clicked "yes." Nothing happened. I inspected my internet homepage and saw nothing new. A couple of weeks later, I noticed two little, golden stars on my homepage. I really do not recall if they'd been there before or if they were new. (As it turns out one of the stars opened my Favorites list and another opened my RSS subscription list). Anyway, I clicked one, and low and behold, there appeared the name of the blog to which I'd requested RSS subscription a fortnight earlier. I clicked on it and there appeared the blog postings made in the days since I'd subscribed. How neat! It's like getting a newspaper on the lawn by subscription, except it's free. STARTING A BLOG Do you have a personal interest in Texas history, literature, and contemporary life? Could your museum use a little umphing? Wouldn't your historic architectural structure's public image and appreciation be enhanced by a blog? Do you want for your organization, institution, or governmental unit a FREE, SIMPLE, and EASY TO UPDATE web presence? Select a provider, start a practice blog on a topic unrelated to your intentions. Compare providers for a week or so. Some are Blogger, Word Press, and Typepad. I prefer Blogger at https://www.blogger.com/start . Blogger is free and widely used (it's a Google offering). Blogger has a search box for whatever you wish to search within the blog, allows you to assign labels as subjects or keywords (like in a library catalog), permits multiple authorship, permits you to post by email, and has multiple side panel options. Oh, and if you decide to kill your blog, during the experimental stage maybe, Blogger makes it very easy. To start a blog, as my mother. All you need is an email address, a password, and a display name (this becomes your name in your About Me box), a title name for your blog, the title can also serve as part of your url address, e.g., http://KitchenGingham.blogspot.com . Most providers enable you to set up your blog in about 5 minutes. At that point you can begin posting. You'll probably wish to customize your blog a bit, taking about 15 minutes. If you'd like to start a blog using Blogger, ask my mother for a few tips at http://KitchenGingham.blogspot.com . -END- |
8/27/08
Texas Historical and Literary Blogs
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