Joho the Blog
An Entry from the Archives

I got up from chez Sifry at 3:30AM, packed, and drove 2.5 hours from Scottsdale to Tuscon to give talk on blogging to Reed Business Information at 8 AM. It was about 30 journalists and editors. I once again over-stated the case, but I think in the discussion we came to a more reasonable outlook on the fate of journalism. If forced to predict (and they did more or less force me to predict), I think we will continue to look to professional journalists for certain types of information — although the line between blogger and journalist will blur even more — but journalism is going to become more strongly voiced,; the voiceless voice of journalism will sound archaic. That which is purely factual will be listed in table form, and will be commoditized. And once truly usable, cheap e-reader hardware is here, publishing will be faced with the same challenges the music publishing industry faces now.

By the way, you haven't had the Arizona Driving Experience until you've driven at day break as the sun snaps to full wattage at eye level over the hill you're climbing. I don't know why the entire east-bound population of the state hasn't already been killed in fiery sun-based accidents.

Then I drove back to Scottsdale — out of eye-shot of the damned sun — and re-joined PC Forum. But not before I faced a dilemma: What do you do when your luggage breaks in the middle of the trip? My suitcase's zipper blew beyond redemption. So, now I'm sending its contents on what will almost certainly be a hugely expensive UPS journey. Plus, tomorrow I have to try to get the airline to accept an empty suitcase with a flapping lid as a legitimate piece of luggage. I anticipate many happy Kafka-esque hours as they work on finding ways to construe it as a terrorist threat.

Then, at 2:30, Esther Dyson and I moderated an open session on tagging. About 100 people showed up and I think it was interesting, but what the hell do I know?

Then I had a chance to catch up with Doc for a bit. He's fine and sends you his best.

Now I will resemble the walking dead as I go to the final cocktail party and dinner.