Bears hibernate in the winter, bloggers hibernate in the spring?

I wrote a short and yet still rambling post about why we haven't updated in awhile (we haven't actually been hibernating), and then I didn't post it. Two reasons: first, nobody wants to read my rambling---what is this, a blog or something? and second, none of them were especially good excuses. Or rather, they were, but they were still excuses. So instead, I'm just going to take responsibility, like a mature adult! We've fallen a tad short of that post-a-day goal we set for ourselves, and we recognize that. I'll be honest, this will almost certainly happen again in the future. Probably the very near future. So: sorry.

However, do not fret! If our blog is the only thing that sustains you through the monotony of your day-to-day life, then...well, I'm very sorry. That must be rough for you. BUT there is yet hope! Ours is not the only blog out there. It certainly isn't the best. So as a favor to you, dearest readers, I will henceforth compile a list of blogs that you can turn to when we have let you down. Just don't leave us for them. We don't have to be your favorite blog. Just let us be one of your blogs!

Is it time for another list post? Why, yes it is! Here's a list of...er. Some number of blogs you can read while you wait for us to brighten your monochromatic existance.

...Apparently I think that all of our friends and families live in a Dilbert cartoon. I sincerely hope that this is not the case. If it is: don't trust the talking dog. He's definitely up to something.

Blogs that are far better as good as this one
1.) Hyperbole and a Half
So, Allie Brosh is far worse at updating than we are.  If you are looking for a blog that updates regularly, this is not it. In fact, after many hiatuses, I think that it may finally be defunct. That said, it is without a doubt one of the funniest blogs that I have ever read. Possibly the funniest. Allie Brosh has strongly influenced my own blogging style, though I try to downplay it somewhat on here as it is not a style that is sustainable on a day-to-day basis. Also she is far more clever than I. Hyperbole and a Half, unsurprisingly, exercises a dramatic style of writing to tell generally mundane stories from Allie's life, often reflecting back on her childhood with a delightfully exaggerated voice. With simplistic, MS Paint art and posts varying in length from a few words to long essays, there is nothing quite like Hyperbole and a Half, and I encourage you to go through her archives.

2.) The Oatmeal
Disclaimer: The Oatmeal is not for everybody. Matthew Inman has a very unique sense of humor that relies heavily on self-deprecation, cynicism, a sort of childish sense of excitement, and, like Allie Brosh, gross exaggeration. The Oatmeal is both a blog and a comic, with a few stops in between for quizzes, infographics, and shenanigans. His posts range from actually informative to humorously informative to insightful to just plain silly. Also, he really likes cats.

Incidentally, both Inman and Brosh have published books of their work! You can find them online, or in your local bookstore, like the Barnes and Noble in which I am writing this. They make delightful gifts for the blogger in your life, especially those who have birthdays in a few months and definitely, totally need more books and are not in any way out of shelf space.

3.) Lifehacker
I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some odd looks for putting this on here, but that's okay. For those of you who  may be unfamiliar with the term "lifehacking", it's much more benign than it sounds. Simply put, a lifehack is a tip or a trick to streamline day to day activities. The word has gotten a bad rap, as it is associated with silly, trivial, and occasionally misleading advice. Amanda Mannen at Cracked.com has an entertaining post on how lifehacks can be pretty dumb sometimes, and she makes some good points. That said, if you do happen to be the type of person who has a favorite type of pen, spends time considering how best to organize your purse/backpack/messenger bag, and enjoys optimizing daily routines, then Lifehacker is a great resource. I am absolutely that type of person, and I enjoy much of the content on Lifehacker immensely.

Even if you're not that type of person, however, Lifehacker still has some helpful resources. For instance, the site has regular career spotlights, like one of today's posts, a spotlight on a game designer at Phosphor Games. Lifehacker also features daily roundups of the best deals on the Internet,, although these roundups are actually from Kinja, an aggregator that hosts Lifehacker, as well as other popular blogs like Deadspin, Kotaku, Gizmodo, and Gawker.

4.) Literary Starbucks

Ever wonder how your favorite author would order a drink at Starbucks? No? Are you now? Then do I have the blog for you. This Tumblr blog features a sleek design, a wonderfully dry sense of humor, and a range of genres and styles. Every book nerd should check this out.


This list was going to be longer, but I took a break after entry four because of a curious encounter at the Barnes and Noble Starbucks. I'd tell you more about this curious encounter, but I'll save it for another post!

For  now, I will leave you with these four blogs. Perhaps I'll dole out suggestions in installments. I'm sure I'll need to apologize again soon for missing so many posts. Meanwhile, what other blogs do you read? Any suggestions?

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your patience as we muddle through this blog-a-day concept.

-Raven