Miles Files: Blogging time: You can join the conversation Miles Files: Blogging time: You can join the conversation (March 16, 2005)

By Miles McMullin

Eighth Grade, St. Joseph's School

Blog. A few years ago people would think you were choking on something if you said this word. But today, it's all the rage as a way to communicate over the Internet.

A blog is a Web log or frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links.

It's often a mixture of what's happening in a person's life and what's happening on the Web, a kind of diary/guide. However, there are many variations.

People did blogs long before the term was made up, but the trend gained momentum with the introduction of automated publishing systems, most notably Blogger at www.blogger.com, that simplify and accelerate the process. On Blogger.com, getting your own blog setup is free and you can do it in three easy steps.

A key feature of the blog is that anyone on the Internet can comment on someone's post. People can post stories of their vacation, or how to pick a lock with a ballpoint pen.

Many of my friends have their own blogs, with pictures of kids from my school and information about what other kids are doing over the weekend. None of these kids wanted me to mention his or her blog address for this article.

I set up my own blog just for fun, because trying out new technologies and writing is fun for me. My blog, with some of my past articles from Miles Files, is at milesmcmullin.blogspot.com.

Now that you know what blogging is about, go set up your own blog and blog away!

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