In my last article, I listed the many benefits of weblogs, including the sense of community they create. In the past two days I have witnessed that community in spades.

You see, blogging has led to the prevention of two possible suicides and has set wheels in motion for studies on soldiers returning from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder. But this isn’t a story I found on CNN or the local news. This story unfolded within a blog I visit everyday—and within my own living room.

Although weblogs (or blogs) have been around for almost 10 years, the explosion of blog activity has only happened in the last few years. But what are weblogs, how are they different from any other web site and why are they so popular?