Wednesday 13 August 2008

Some of the best blogs out there

Everybody has a blog these days. Even the Pope has a blog, in which he posts his favourite cheesecake recipes and discusses which Bond Girls he likes the most (for the record, his favourite is Jane Seymour and his least favourite is Tanya Roberts). Also, the entire nation of Slovakia has a blog, at Slovakia.blogspot.com. Everyone in the country posts their thoughts, their feelings, and how much they’re looking forward to watching Batman: The Dark Knight.

Personally, I don’t care too much for many blogs (unless you, the reader, have one, in which case I’m sure it’s wonderful). I’ve spent a lot of time exploring the Blogosphere, and I’ve found several that really stand out. Here they are, for your delectation and delight.



First of all, satirical blog The Wensley Family (wensleyfamily.blogspot.com) is hilarious. It’s a scathing parody of all those terrible blogs written by nonentities with dull lives, with “news” of the children’s activities, family outings, that sort of thing. They’ve really captured the inanities of modern life, with such outrageous posts like “Johnny got a B in Math today” and “Visiting Grandma”. The attention to detail on the site is tremendous; they even have a regular group of actors who pose as the “Wensley Family” in their photos. It’s brilliant, biting satire, and anyone with a family blog should watch out.

Everything I’ve Ever Eaten (everythingiveevereaten.blogspot.com) is the story of one woman’s love affair with food. One suspects that the site’s creator just wanted to be one of Blogger’s ‘Blogs of Note’ (Because they’re all bloody food blogs. Sites in which people review things that don’t exist never feature), but it’s still great reading. And the pictures! Such wonderfully composed, lovingly taken photos! If I had any complaints about the site, it’s that I’d prefer the blog’s owner to write about and photograph the food before she’s eaten it, rather than once it’s been digested and pooped out. But still, she gives some great insights into the world of already-digested cuisine.


A blog that’s close to my heart is The Fictitious Critique. The premise of the site is groundbreakingly original. The writer makes things up, and writes a critique of them. It’s a simple idea, but the things he comes up with are hilarious. Recent critiques include the book The Physics of ‘Brothers and Sisters’, the film The View: The Movie (in which Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters have to save the World from a giant, out of control Rosie O’Donnell) and the new album of children’s songs by Radiohead, Sleepy Android Dream of Creativity’s Demise. It’s a thought provoking and funny blog, and it’s not at all copied from the work of Jorge Luis Borges, Stanislaw Lem and the tvgohome website.
NOTE: A blog is not a toy. Blogging while drunk or operating large machinery (or both) can have negative repercussions, come harvest. Always get an adult, or someone who works in the adult industry, to help you with your blog. Never end a blog with a series of medicine-package-like warnings, as this is both cheap and unfunny.

8 comments:

Falwless said...

Dear god. Oh dear god. Too funny. I love you. Welcome back indeed. I've missed you.

Bitterly Indifferent said...

I can't believe I clicked the links.

Actually, I can (because I'm gullible), but I admire your dedication to setting up a joke with supporting documentation.

Jillian said...

Love it. So glad you're back! Now let's take bets on whether or not Falwless keeps checking back at those links to see if you've made any updates....

Feisty Democrat said...

I didn't fall for the fake link trick like Falwless did...oops, wait, then how did I know she fell for them? Damn. Um...good job as usual.

Dr Zibbs said...

I'm stealing that first idea and making the 2nd best blog on the web. The first being mine.

The Imaginary Reviewer said...

Falwless: Many thanks! I only do this blog for you, you know...

PMJG: Enjoy it while you can; once I get a job I may not have enough time to do stuff like that!

Jillian: I'll wager a fiver on "every day".

Mathdude: Your secret is safe with me. What secret? Exactly.

Dr Zibbs: Wait, isn't Falwless's blog lots better then yours?

Suzel: I wouldn't call it trickery, more 'playful jesting'.

Could I just add, to everyone who clicked the links, the last one (tvgohome.com) is real and is probably my biggest influence in The Imaginary Review. It was written by Charlie Brooker, probably the funniest writer/journalist in Britain (check out his columns on Guardian.co.uk for laugh-out-loud funniness). He stopped writing new ones several years ago, but it's second only to The Onion in terms of pant-wetting gaggery.

katrocket said...

I'm really glad I clicked on the fake links, if only for the "It takes a Nathan of Fillions" joke.

brilliant again sir!

The Imaginary Reviewer said...

Kat - Nathan Fillion: His name alone conjures up a wealth of humorous possibilities!