Searching for "Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008"

As a blogger still finding my social media voice, I spend a good deal of my online time learning from the veteran bloggers. My Google Reader "favorites" folder includes A VC, PR 2.0, Mashable, BL Ochman, and Chris Brogan.

When Janette Toral -- a twitter friend @digitalfilipino and fellow Filipino (yes, I am) -- asked for my input in her search for The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008 I assumed I would have at least 10 suggestions. Wrong.

As it turns out, I don't spend as much time as I once did surfing and reading new blogs. It's probably just a time issue, partly due to Twitter's increasing dominance of my online time, but it disappoints me. Gaining multiple perspectives from all walks of life is what I once loved about reading blogs. So, I plan to review as many of the submissions as possible to find some new blogs to add to my favorites.

But, this is all a digression -- or maybe a half-baked explanation -- so I'll get to my preliminary entry, which includes the only three blogs I read regularly that meet the criteria:

1. Gary Vaynerchuk's 2 minute take on life. Yes, I know Gary is a very well known guy around the social media space and beyond, but I'm entering his video blog since it's only been around since late 2007, is certainly influential... and personally inspires me to do more, be more, and, most importantly, think more.
2. Bridget's fact and fiction. Bridget is a real life friend first, and an online friend second. But she's witty, funny, and contributes a great deal in both... did I mention she's a great writer, too? Sure, she's experimenting right now, and also trying to find her social media voice, but I know this girl is going places.
3. Stuff White People Like. Not sure if I totally agree with what they're doing here, but I do know that (1) it's funny (2) people are definitely reading it and (3) it brings up some interesting race issues that will be relevant in the election this year. I might not share the stereotypical undertones, but that's all the more reason to read it.

I hope to build on this list as I get back to reading a greater variety of online commentary. Only time will tell if I actually see this through, but I plan to update as I go! Please, please share new blogs you think I would enjoy or learn from... I'm open to any and all suggestions :)