I have come to a conclusion or realization that perhaps many developers I know including myself have a fanatical fascination with reading as many programming and technology blogs or listening to podcasts as humanly possible.

I sometimes wonder if this time would be much better spent in actual coding and doing, rather than the incessant thinking and perhaps wondering what the "other guy" is doing?

With a very large signal to noise ratio in most blogs and podcasts, is there real benefit in maintaining a huge and constant blog role.. or is this some primal fear or instinct to keep up the pace unless being left behind?

Can they simply be relegated to Google search and just-in-time learning?

Edit: (There are some amazing answers here and touch a philosophical nerve with me, if you are reading this for the first time, I recommend taking the time reading through the answers below)