I have this small problem, I want to create a portal/ezine/news site but since I'm short of money and time, I think of just doing a blog on the domain for the time being so at least I'm using the domain...rather than let it gather dust.
The URL to the blog will be like this :

http://mysitename/blog/

I am thinking of just using WordPress for the blog and I want to redirect anyone going to http://mysitename ----> to ---> http://mysitename/blog/
using the htaccess file.

Until I have the money to design a good ezine, I'll just stick with a blog and use this URL structure as the main index homepage....Is this a good idea?

Now, since I'm using WP for the blog...WP uses a permalink something like http ://sitedomain (root)/ posting date (In year & month)/post-name (without .html extension)

How do I configure the htaccess so that it will redirect to the blog for every single website request? Can someone provide an example?

Thanks. I hope this this is the right place to ask this question.

I wouldn't use .htaccess. (I'm not sure it would work with the permalink.) Instead, you can go to domains in your web hosting control panel and set that domain to point to the sub-directory. When your ready with your ezine just change it back to the root.

Another possibility, if you haven't installed Wordpress, is to install it to the root. It doesn't have to be in a sub-directory. Even if you have installed it, WP is moveable. Just move the installation up to the root. (I've done it, and if I can, anyone can.)

Thanks GrandpaD. However could you explain in more detail about the pointing a domain to a subdirectory in more detail? Are you referring to Cpanel? I'm vague as to which area on the Cpanel I should go to in order to point a domain to a subdirectory

I'm thinking of using a bigger CMS to do the ezine and WP will just be for blogging, so I think I'll stick with installing WP in a subdirectory as in http://mydomain/blog/

My host service (1 and 1) doesn't use cpanel, but I'd guess cpanel works in a similar way. I open the proprietary control panel, go to domains and select the one I'm working on. There's a option to select the domain destination, which is a sub-directory. I have 6 domains on the account and all point to sub-directories. One example is http://skyshadows.com which is actually a sub-directory of my hosting package, /skyshadows. (BTW, that's the Wordpress installation that I moved.) Cpanel should let you do the same thing. Maybe some cpanel users will chime in here with details.