Open Internet Explorer and go to MSN Spaces.

Click Sign Up, as shown in the figure below.

Creating your own blog takes only a few clicks.

If prompted, log in with your Microsoft Passport. If you don't have a Microsoft Passport, click Get one now.

On the Create your space page, type a title for your space (I used "Tony's Blog") and create a unique URL (I used http://spaces.msn.com/members/northrup/), choose your time zone, and select the I accept the Spaces Service Agreement check box. Then click Create your space.

On the Congratulations page, you can choose to protect your blog so only people you select can see your space by clicking Change Permissions. If you want your space to be publicly available (that's the most fun way), click Go to Your Space.

Click Add entry.

Fill in the Title box. This is just like adding a subject to an e-mail message.

Optionally, click the Categories list and then click a category. This helps organize your blog entries, which is very helpful after you've added dozens of entries. If no categories fit, click Add a category, type a name for your new category, and click OK.

In the main box, type the text of your blog entry. This can be a paragraph about something interesting you've done recently, a rant about a product you didn't like, or anything else you want to say. As shown in the figure below, I recently wrote a blog entry about seeing a raccoon in my backyard.

Express your thoughts about anything with a blog.

Optionally, add one or more pictures. First, click Add photos. Then, select your pictures, and click Upload Now, as shown in the figure below. The best blogs have pictures for almost every entry, but finding pictures to suit your entry isn't always easy.

Adding pictures to your blog entries takes only a few seconds.

If another blogger inspired you to add your blog post, it's good etiquette to link to that blogger using a trackback. To do this, click Trackbacks (Optional), and then add the URL to the blogger's page in the box that appears.

Click Publish Entry. Your new entry appears in your blog for anyone who visits your site to see. Don't worry if it's not perfect, because you can always go back and edit it later.

Push the camera button on the phone.

Line up a shot and press OK to take a picture, as shown below.

Adding pictures to your blog entries takes only a second.

When prompted, press OK to send the picture in a message.

Using your phone's keypad, type your e-mail address in the To field.

Press OK to send the message.

On your blog page, click Settings (near the top, right-hand corner of the page).

Click E-mail Publishing.

Select the Turn on e-mail publishing check box.

In the E-mail address box, type your phone's e-mail address, which you noted earlier.

In the Secret word box, make up a secret word. It can be anything, so long as it's not easily guessed.

Click Publish entries immediately so that your pictures appear instantly.

In the Update your address book area, note the e-mail address listed. This is the e-mail address to which you need to send picture messages from your phone. Click Save.