Weblogs (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weblog)

A Weblog (or blog) is a Web site that tracks headlines and articles from other Web sites. They are frequently maintained by volunteers and are typically devoted to a specific audience or topic. Weblogs are often-updated sites that point to articles elsewhere on the Web, often with comments, and to on-site articles. A Weblog is kind of a continual tour, with a human guide who you get to know. There are many guides to choose from, each develops an audience, and there's also comraderie and politics between the people who run Weblogs, and they point to each other. The format of Weblogs varies, from simple bullet lists of hyperlinks, to article summaries with user-provided comments and ratings. Often an individual will link to articles from news Web sites and post their own comments as well. Many of these blogs comment on whatever interests the author. While blogging characteristically contains the work of a single individual, there are also professional blogs, Blogging communities (Xanga), and academic courses that use blogging to accomplish various instructional goals.

At the simplest level, a variety of Weblog services exist that allow people to create and edit their own Weblog online for free, and there are paid subscription services that offer more features/support. Server software for Blog hosting also exists (see Weblog Tools below).

The popularity of blogs has increased dramatically. Some wonder if blogging is a passing trend, akin to ham radio operation, and destined to follow a similar fate. Blogger was recently purchased by Google and the Oxford English Dictionary has considered including the verb – to blog (meaning to edit one's Weblog.) - in their dictionary (see the editorial).


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