An Internet without blogs. It’s hard to imagine these days. The blog has become a staple item for regular Internet users, and in many situations has replaced more formal news outlets, or at least supplemented them.

There still seems to be a stigma attached to the term “blog”, as though reading or writing one downgrades your social status to the level of “nerd” or “loner” – when really we blog readers and writers can affectionately refer to ourselves as “geeks” (because geeks are cool) or “advanced Internet users”. The “others” don’t know what they’re missing out on.

If you can think of something to write about, there is probably a blog about it – a soldier’s view from the frontline in Iraq, sustainable gardening, Polish ping pong – you can find a blog about anything!

Blogs aren’t just text based either – they can be composed of photography and creative artwork too.

• This Is Indexed – very clever diagrams about life
• Flickr Blog – some breathtaking photography