In my most recent "long dry spell" from blogging (my longest since the period from my birth until the word "blogging" was invented) I've still been out there kicking around on the ol' internet, or as Republican Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska calls them, "the tubes." Sure it may be funny that a 112 year old man can't understand the internet. I certainly find in funny that he can't seem to talk for more than about three minutes before he starts in with his rip-roaring "old coot" screaming. However none of this is funny because he's on the committee that regulates said "tubes" on behalf of the U.S. Gov't. So while you're laughing at Senator Ted howling about clogged up internet tubes, remember how a lobbyist is greasing his wheels to make him vote on things like making the internet a pay-to-play experience. See? Not funny. Not funny at all.

"Tubes!" shouts cranky fossil and techno-savvy sex symbol Theodore Stevens.

Also in my time off I've been assessing my own blog-reading habits and have pared myself down to a short list of essential RSS feeds to keep me hyper-informed on mostly meaningless minutiae during the workday. A lot of my blog-reading centers around Gawker Media sites. If you're unfamiliar I'll give you a quick review. Gawker has 14 sites in specific niches, here's the deets:

Gawker - New York gossip and entertainment news site. Cornerstone of Gawker media. Unless you are really into the New York "scenester" scene or somehow connected with the publishing industry, about 45% of the posts will interest you in no way whatsoever.

What you learn from Gawker: New York socialites are horrible people, New Yorker cartoons are hard to understand, Anderson Cooper is dreamy.

Defamer - Los Angeles counterpart to Gawker. This one is more interesting because you've heard of more of the people in the posts. L.A. scenesters, mostly entertainment industry-types and celebrities on lists "A" thru "F" are present and accounted for.

What you learn from Defamer: Spears, Lohan, Hilton. Rinse, repeat. Also, talent agencies are run by Satan, but is that really news?

Idolator - Music Industry News. Written by people who hate indie-music megasite Pitchfork, love reasonably good music and seemingly hate to see anyone succeed. Although this comes with a warning: Like any music blog, it can get a little snotty and "inside." Beware frequent references to events you've never heard about because you're too busy living your life to notice.

What you learn from Idolator: The RIAA is evil (true), T-Pain sells lots of records (sad, but true), and 50 Cent is allegedly broke (who cares?)

Jalopnik - Cars Cars Cars. All things automotive in easily digestible chunks. Like Automobile magazine before it went to hell.

What you learn from Jalopnik: Chris Bangle is a horrible, horrible douchebag. Bugatti Veyrons are expensive, and other things you already knew but like to see affirmed in print.

Fleshbot (NSFW) - Porn of all varieties. Name your flavor, there's something on there for you. If you need porn RSS fed to you because you're too lazy to look for it yourself online, then here's your answer. Unfortunately, if you're that person, you should kill yourself.

What you learn from Fleshbot: Caution! The MILF in the video does not look as good as the MILF on the box.

Kotaku - All things gaming. I don't actually read this one because I'm not a gamer (maybe I'm spending too much time on Fleshbot).

What you learn from Kotaku: Without my own World of Warcraft character, I guess I will never know.

Deadspin - Sports. Like ESPN only for the internet. So basically an all-editorial version of ESPN.com. I'm no jock, so I don't read this one either.

What you learn from Deadspin: Dogfighting is not sanctioned by the NFL

Gridskipper - Travel. This seems to be the weak link in the Gawker family. Each post is just "Place: Neat thing in place" Whoop-a-dee-doo! Who cares?

What you learn from Gridskipper: Your poor ass can't afford to travel anywhere. So don't bother, just read about it.

Consumerist - Perhaps the most useful of the Gawker sites. It tries to put power back in the hands of the people. Of course like most attempts to do such an admirable thing, it fails. But hey, at least they try.

What you learn from Consumerist: Best Buy sucks, but didn't you already know that? Also, Geek Squad is stealing your porn. But if you really thought about it, you probably knew that already, too.

Gizmodo - Gadgets, Toys, and daily breakthroughs in the world of USB-powered desk accouterments. Also super-cool cell phones that will never be sold in the U.S.

What you learn from Gizmodo: Look! The asian guy stuck a Wii down his pants! Comedy! Also, iPhone iPhone iPhone, muthafuckin iPhone!

Valleywag - Silicon valley movers & shakers (AKA People you've never fucking heard of). Goings on of the tech industry from the least interesting behind the scenes angles.

What you learn from Valleywag: Some guy who started up some terrible "e-pimentoloaf.com"-style site has been fired and the doors have been closed. Let's all have a good old fashioned Schadenfreude laugh at his misery. Also, lots of tech industry people are fat, for whatever reason.

Lifehacker - Little things you can do to be a better obedient little tech-emo worker bee. Using the web and/or free software to better organize your so-called life.

What you learn from Lifehacker: Oh look, free Windows apps. Who gives a shit?

Jezebel - Girl blogging for girls. Girl stuff, for ladies, women and girls of the feminine persuasion.

What you learn from Jezebel: Without an operable vagina of my own, I have no idea.

Wonkette - Brilliant political blog. D.C. gossip mixed with plain old political vitriol that falls hard on the centrist position. My BFF of weblogs. It handily replaces the joyless Daily Kos as my source for political goings-on.

What you learn from Wonkette: The president might just actually be a dumbass, Cheney might just actually be a complete and total douchenozzle, David Vitter might just have a diaper fetish and John McCain might just actually be WALNUTS!

So that's where I've been, mired deep in the cyberverse reading other people's rants. But now I'm back to spill forth my ranty opines upon you all. God help you. And if you have a fave blog, please send it to me at the contact me page. I may just include it in my "must read" blogroll, or at least I'll look at it and go "huh."

Huzzah, babies.