Anything that you add to the Internet is, by nature, not completely private. Something is either logging your activity and/or is open to hacking (whether that’s easy or extremely difficult). Note that "blog" is short for "web log" – meaning that it’s meant to have an online component. A blog is a type of web site. If entries are only stored on your computer or CD, it’s basically a digitized diary.
You could use a blog service, but choose not to publish the entries. However, there may be some limitations. Sometimes what you see online is not totally functional offline. Some online features require scripts that may only be "previewed" offline or there’s other functions that are simply Internet-dependent.
Blogs can be created by people through blogging software, a web host, and/or domain name purchase – thus, the display and other aspects of the blog can be more controlled by the blog owner. Another way to create a blog is to use a developer-hosted blog service. Money and some coding skills are usually involved with the first option. See http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/15/choosing-a-blog-platform/ for more details.
Otherwise, the developer-hosted blogging services are usually free. Most of the blogging functions are automated and provided by the blogging service. Rules regarding content may be more restrictive. Less web page coding skills are required. Also, visitors may need to be a member of the service and/or a connected "friend" in order to comment on content. Most of these blogging services have "privacy/permission" controls which can limit what can be seen — even down to only yourself. Although, social-networking services that feature blogs may have automatically public areas. So, it’s probably best if you avoid social-networking sites, in that case (such as MySpace, Facebook, Multiply, and etc.). Developer-hosted blog sites require registration, so you would have to provide some type of identifier which will likely be linked to your blog (hence, that’s one strike against total privacy unless you use fake information).
You also may want to check out http://blog-services-review.toptenreviews.com/ , which provides a listing of top blogging services and features. You can disregard the Y!360 entry on that list. References :
Anything that you add to the Internet is, by nature, not completely private. Something is either logging your activity and/or is open to hacking (whether that’s easy or extremely difficult). Note that "blog" is short for "web log" – meaning that it’s meant to have an online component. A blog is a type of web site. If entries are only stored on your computer or CD, it’s basically a digitized diary.
You could use a blog service, but choose not to publish the entries. However, there may be some limitations. Sometimes what you see online is not totally functional offline. Some online features require scripts that may only be "previewed" offline or there’s other functions that are simply Internet-dependent.
Blogs can be created by people through blogging software, a web host, and/or domain name purchase – thus, the display and other aspects of the blog can be more controlled by the blog owner. Another way to create a blog is to use a developer-hosted blog service. Money and some coding skills are usually involved with the first option. See http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/02/15/choosing-a-blog-platform/ for more details.
Otherwise, the developer-hosted blogging services are usually free. Most of the blogging functions are automated and provided by the blogging service. Rules regarding content may be more restrictive. Less web page coding skills are required. Also, visitors may need to be a member of the service and/or a connected "friend" in order to comment on content. Most of these blogging services have "privacy/permission" controls which can limit what can be seen — even down to only yourself. Although, social-networking services that feature blogs may have automatically public areas. So, it’s probably best if you avoid social-networking sites, in that case (such as MySpace, Facebook, Multiply, and etc.). Developer-hosted blog sites require registration, so you would have to provide some type of identifier which will likely be linked to your blog (hence, that’s one strike against total privacy unless you use fake information).
Read "How to Blog Safely (About Work or Anything Else)", as it goes into detail on how to blog anonymously: http://www.eff.org/wp/blog-safely . Also, see "The Choice of Associating Your Name with Your Blog" at http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/04/16/the-choice-of-associating-your-name-with-your-blog/ .
Here are some developer-hosted blog services that you may want to look into: Blogspot/Blogger (http://blogger.com ), WordPress (http://wordpress.com – also can be a platform), Livejournal (http://livejournal.com ), Vox (http://vox.com ), Typepad (http://typepad.com – also can be a platform), Travelpod (http://www.travelpod.com/ ), Tumblr (http://www.tumblr.com/ ).
You also may want to check out http://blog-services-review.toptenreviews.com/ , which provides a listing of top blogging services and features. You can disregard the Y!360 entry on that list.
References :