Whether it is a friend or diary, everyone needs a way to express their emotions and experiences. A blog is an Internet diary that mixes the two by allowing others to read your journal.

Whether it be a college student bunkered in his dorm room for a whole semester or a soldier away at war, blogs have become a popular way to keep up with what friends or even strangers are doing during the day.

“I like to find out what people did with out actually talking to them,” senior Natasha Tosirisuk said.

Most blog sites allow the user to create the look and content of their own web pages for free. This allows people with the limited financial resources equivalent to an average high school student a cheap source of entertainment and therapy.

“It’s an effective way to express my emotions. Because after a long hard day, I want to get my thoughts out in a tangible way,” said junior Adam King.

For less than $5 a month, many sites offer an upgrade that makes the web page easier to use. Without the upgrade, some sites such as xanga.com, require a basic understanding of hypertext mark-up language, HTML, a computer programming language to do something as straightforward as changing font size.

“They will always have something better, like premium plus or premium gold,” said senior Carrie Mercer.

The only requirement to start a blog is a username and a password; the rest is up to you. However, continuing to update the site with information takes more time and creativity and may not be for everyone.

“I felt like I was writing to myself. I didn’t think anybody else was reading it,” said senior James Warren.

Though some may share this negative outlook that does not hinder others from using blogs to record their experiences.

“Life is full of events that need to be reserved for future posterity,” said junior Zach Gresham.