] Web logs -- hence the geekish contraction "blogs" --
] began as cyberspatial diaries on which writers posted
] snippets of whatever came to mind or to their attention.
] Narcissism and tedious anarchy were the order of the day.
] Over time, the blogs began to take on many of the
] characteristics of privately printed 19th century
] pamphlets -- places where overlooked or simply eccentric
] preoccupations could be aired.
]
] But as the form's potential to reach a global readership
] almost instantaneously became clearer, it has become a
] favored medium for political commentators and opinion
] journalists with a desire to make their case with more
] urgency and timeliness than print -- or even television
] -- will permit.
]
] The run-up to this second Gulf War has been an
] exhilarating period for the latter class of bloggers. In
] fact, the uncertain character of these past few months
] has seemed tailor-made for a medium that puts a premium
] on opinion, debate and the digestion of provocative
] information from more sources than anyone with a day job
] has waking moments to handle.