Observer gets the blog bug

The Observer has got itself a shiny new blog. They launched it last week with this explanation:

"We are impressed by the quality and breadth of writing and reporting that is available on blogs and elsewhere on the net. We recognise serious competition when we see it. But as a bricks and mortar institution full of journalists with great contacts and a lot of experience we also like to think that we still have something unique to offer. Hence the need for civilised and honest dialogue. This is an experiment that we enter into in good faith to try to make the Observer a better newspaper."