It's the story that's got bloggers fuming, spewing or simply scratching their heads in disbelief.
The phrase "jumping the shark" gets aired a little too regularly in technology circles, but perhaps this is one time it could be worth it.
Reporteth today's Guardian:
Arianna Huffington, commentator, one-time Republican and candidate for governor of California, has recruited a bevy of close friends to create an über-blog that will offer a round-the-clock commentary on our life and times.
Norman Mailer, David Mamet, Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Walter Cronkite, Gwyneth Paltrow, Harold Evans and Tina Brown are just a few of the 250-plus names recruited.
While blogs were born to give a voice to the disenfranchised, huffingtonpost.com is somewhat different. Jay Rosen, who runs a blog called Pressthink, told the New York Times: "These aren't exactly people who lack voice or visibility in our culture. Gwyneth Paltrow has no incentive to speak candidly and alienate future ticket buyers."
Huffington Post currently consists of a sign-up screen.
I can't really see the revolutionary nature of a bunch of media-friendly blowhards getting yet another way to air their voice ("hello pot, I have a black kettle on line one"), but it's going to be one to watch. This could either be the moment blogs go really big, or the moment they wither and die under the embarrassment of Harold Evans saying "all your blog are belong to us".
What famous person would you rather start a weblog?
