Webopedia describes a blog simply as a "Web log". I agree and point out also that it can be thought of as a public diary or sounding board for anyone's thoughts and observations. Blogs have been around since the late 90's but were thrown into the spot light during the 2004 election. Anyone can start and maintain a 'Blog' without having any other technical information than knowing how to send email and type.

Starting a Blog

The first step to start your own blog is to sign up for your own blog account. It is free and can be completed in less than 5 minutes. Come up with a title for your blog and then head over to the home page of the popular Blogger.com or other service and sign up. Here are the easiest of the popular blogging sites...all are free except the last one:

• Blogger (now owned by Google)

• MSN Spaces

• BlogMaker

• TypePad (not free, but considered the best of the subscription services)

Once you set up an account, simply start posting any information you want to share with world. This can be done through a web form on the Blog's site, or through email or even your cell phone in some cases.

If you are looking for other people's blogs, use these sites to search the millions of blog sites world-wide:

1. Technorati

2. Bloogz

3. Daypop