BLOGGING AND ME

Considering how basic my blog currently appears, it will come as no surprise to you that blogging has been rather foreign to me until now. The Australian Democrats suggested we try blogging as a way of communicating with our constituents. We’re not a rich party like the rest of them so we need to try these novel means of communication. Many have taken to it like a duck to water. There are so many to mention but in the interests of the public, I will only mention a few. In the Melbourne seat of Isaacs, the beautiful Laura Chipp has contributed some insightful comments to cyberspace. Similarly, it is hard not to be impressed by South Australian #2 Senate Candidate Max Baumann’s conviction. Finally, the young Pierce Field is displaying maturity beyond his years as he takes on Malcolm Turnbull, George Newhouse and the others in Wentworth.

I don’t know how I’ll find it. I may even continue after the election. I love to vent. It’s just that blogs are so unusual to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I do read some blogs. I must mention the House of Commons because I went to uni with two-thirds of the contributors on that blog. They speak about intellectual property in a very refreshing tone. Indeed, learning is fun when it is full of pop-culture references.

Andrew Bartlett’s blog is one of the best there is for Australian politics. I’m not just saying this because he is a Democrat. He is one of the few genuine bloggers we have in Australian politics. This is more than John Howard’s Myspace or Kevin Rudd’s Facebook, Andrew gets in there and has a go himself. He’s tapping at the keyboard and not some staffer. It certainly adds to the amazing insights he offers.

I also like to read Mike’s blog. It’s the best place to get updates on New Zealand cricket – definitely a specialist subject in Australia. For the record, I follow the Central District Stags.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a blogging column is I didn’t mention my good friend Paull Young. We were old work buddies in the kitchens of the Sydney Superdome until blogging took him all over the world – literally. His blog became so well known in industry circles that he was offered many jobs. He lives in New York now where he works in PR and Social Media. He is at the forefront of 21st Century communications. His blog can be a bit academic at times but his sense of humor shines through. His Twitter page is a wonderful diary about an Aussie in New York – it has the makings of a TV Show I tells ya. Simon Sharwood is another PR man that likes blogging. Simon also happens to write the best Newtown Jets match previews this side of the Milky Way.

So I will give blogging a go. It will be as much a journey for me as it will be for you readers (and hopefully there are a few of you out there).