According to Merriam-Webster a weblog (commonly known as a blog) is "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer." This description sounds pretty humdrum but as national politicians, businessmen, journalists and even Hawaii community leaders have discovered, the power of blogging has become a very big deal.

The fact is blogging software is revolutionizing the way people communicate - whether to share pictures with family members, discuss the latest political shenanigans or chat with people around the world about the hottest new rock band. Some bloggers like political columnist Matt Drudge have become celebrities in their own right.

Blogging is a free, very democratic and perhaps the simplest way to create a personal Web site. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project 8 million Americans have created blogs and 32 million people read them. If you're reasonably tech savvy, setup is easy and once you've choosing your colors and configuration, you simply start posting comments. There are a number of companies that provide blogging software and within an hour you can have a very professional looking blog.

What's different about blogs as opposed to most web sites, is that they are set up to be interactive. Blogging software is created to engage visitors by providing the ability to rate or discuss posts or offer search functions to help you find bloggers with similar interests.

There are easy way to exchange links or join blog rings that will drive traffic to your site. Some services, like Amazon, will allow you to display thumbnail links of books or music that currently interest you. If you sign up as an Amazon.com Associate, you can even make a small commission if visitors click through to buy products you recommend.

The variety of blogs are endless. There are shoe blogs, car blogs, rugby blogs and the list goes on. What's fired the imagination of so many people is the power that some blogsters have developed and how quickly blogs can influence events. I'm not just talking about political commentators.

For example, last Sept 12 a bicycle enthusiast posted a message on a blog that Kryptonite bike locks could be easily picked with a Bic pen. The "Blogosphere" jumped on this and someone even posted an online video of how to crack the lock. As the controversy rapidly escalated, by September 17 the story was picked up by the New York Times and the Associated Press. By September 19 it was estimated that 1.8 million people had seen the Bic postings.

The manufacturer, which first had balked at doing anything about the problem, is expected to send out 100,000 new locks. The whole episode may cost the Kryptonite people $10 million - all because of the commotion stirred up by one blogger. Now that is real power!

As Tim Bajarin, a tech industry analyst from Silicon Valley said that blogs can be very effective in solving customer service issues. "Big companies are watching very closely," said Bajarin. "Blogs are here to stay and, more importantly, their influence will only increase." In short the Web has become the most powerful tool for people to speak out and get noticed.

In my next column we'll talk about how to create a blog - whether it's to provide your own bully pulpit or to keep Grandma up to date on your Mainland vacation.

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