How Do I Read a Blog?

How on earth do I work this blog thing? A blog is like a journal. Instead of an author writing in a journal, they post to the blog. A blog is structured differently than a web site. Here’s a general overview of how to get around.

HOW A BLOG PAGE IS ORGANIZED
Posts are listed by date, with the most recent at the top of the web page. As you read down the page you go back in time. Generally only a limited number of posts appear on each page. To read older ones, go to the bottom of any page and click our Older Posts link. Sometimes a Newer Posts link also appears, and clicking it takes you to a page of more recently written stories. You can click back and forward in time using these two links, you time traveler, you.

READ BY SUBJECT
If you want to see posts written on a specific topic, look at the right-hand column on any page and, under Topics, click a link. (Topics links are on all our blog’s pages.) For instance, clicking on Quotations takes you to a page with only stories that the author has specified are quotations. The page might have one post or it might have a bunch, but they’ll all be related to quotes.

READ BY MONTH
You could look at all stories that were written in a month by looking in the right-hand column on any page and, under Our Archives, clicking the link for, for instance, “February.” (Archives links are on all our blog’s pages.)

SEARCH THIS BLOG
You can search within our blog. In the upper left corner of all pages is a white search box. Type your keyword(s) and click the button to the right that says Search Blog.

WHAT’S A COMMENT?
A comment is something you add to a post; literally, a comment. Please make ’em! It’s a way of sharing what you think and know with others and with the author of the post. (Keep in mind that comments are public.) At the bottom of each post is a link. It reads 0 comments or 3 comments or something such. Click it. You’ll get a screen containing an empty rectangle. Type your comments into the rectangle and click Post Comment. (If you’d like to double-check what you wrote first, click the Preview button instead.) If you’re prompted to enter a password or something, follow the on-screen directions.

Have further questions? Ask Alan or Paula.

With a little practice you’ll be comfortable navigating your way around a blog. And remember, should you become misplaced, click your web browser’s Back arrow button to return to someplace safe. Happy clicking!