In case anyone is still wondering about the mainstream status of blogging, President Obama yesterday launched a White House blog.

It's a pretty simple blog. There are no comments. However, it does serve the same need that many companies and other organizations have for creating blogs.

• It allows a website to have dynamic content. (Blog headlines are on the homepage.)
• It provides a new, more informal venue for news.
• It lets other websites link to your content.
• It provides subscription access -- via RSS.

Now, it seems unlikely that the president himself will be posting. But that's OK. As long as staffers don't masquerade as Obama, then all is well.