How to use this Page

It is 1939 and Lee, who is on vacation, has been given a mysterious comic book that contains a secret that could change the world. Full of science and intrigue, it all happens in a place called Tomorrowland, and the novel contains the secret comic. Books mentioned in this post Before Tomorrowland Jeff Jensen Sale [...]

To the left is the header for Will Richardson's amazing blog, weblogg-ed.  I've been reading it pretty regularly for about a year.  Richardson writes about things I wish I could write about, forward-thinking, pedagogical musings and contemplations about the meaning of teaching and technology and where things should be going in education.  I enjoy reading his blog because his ability to create what's next and not just follow what's next is amazing to me.

Here's a link to his latest post.  What's so terrific about it?  I find it, and so many of his posts, thoughtful, thought-provoking, readable, humorous, honest, and most of all, it teaches me something.  I cannot read blog posts about what adorable thing someone's four year-old did that day or how scrapbooking has changed someone's life.  I can't read something that wastes my time.  Will Richardson doesn't waste my time.  He engages me and sends me down a thinking path.

You may find it ridiculous, but I used to love Jeff Jensen's weekly posts about the TV show Lost.  I was a major Lost fan, and every week I looked forward to Doc Jensen's recap of that week's episode.  Why?  Again, he made me think, and he taught me something every time I read one of his posts. He offered not just a "here's what happened this week" recap but a brilliant piece of discourse on the show's religious underpinings, its philosophical roots, and its symbolism. 

So, what is a great blog post?

1. A post with the capacity to shake me from an existence of mindless consumption and get my brain jostling with activity.

2. A post that treats me like I'm smart, too, just like the post's author.

3. A post that leaves me a bit awestruck at the ability of the author to see what I cannot.  I guess that's why I love TED talks, too.  These people are visionary!  Hey, I want to be visionary! When am I gonna be visionary? Is there a blog I can read that'll make me visionary?

Oh, and I also like blog posts with lists.  Everyone loves a good list, right?