Weblogs What, How and Why?

I keep a weblog at http://weblog.philroche.net (the one you are reading). I always get abuse from my mates for posting my weblog but they read it. I know they do, as I have seen the access log. But they still ask me, what's a weblog and why do you post one?, who would want to read a weblog that you write? (knowing full well that they themselves read it). So to answer these questions I'm going to write an essay. Another reason for writin the essay, is that I am very interested to find out the origin of weblog and how/why does it flourish despite it's many critics. I supppose the most pressing reason for writing the essay is that it is a project that is due on Friday of this week….