Ron Iscoff Editor

Forgive the intrusion, but are you blogging yet? For the uninitiated, a "blog" is shorthand for "Web log," according to webopedia.com.

To continue, "A blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author."

Unfortunately, this definition is already outdated and too narrow. Blogs are on the verge of becoming wildly popular as a tool for suppliers, according to my informant Rick Short, marcom guru at Indium Corp. of America [indium.com] in upstate New York.

Indium runs three blogs right now: Rick's, a blog by Dr. N. C. Lee and another by Dr. Ron Lasky.

Rick, an early carrier of blogomania, sent me an excited e-mail this morning to advise that Speedline Technologies has become the third company in the electronics assembly business (by his count) to enter blogdom.

What Does It Mean?

He also asks me to "muse on what blogs might mean to customers, suppliers (blogging and non-blogging) and existing media."

Rick points out that blogging "offers increasingly personal insight into some of the key personalities (authors) on the supply-side of the industry (a real person 'dialogues' over time, versus auhoring an article/editorial)."

He also contends that blogging "forces a more personal and meaningful public treatment of issues. (It is hard to hide when blogging)."

The Internet, by the way, is now awash in blogs and blog definitions, so I won't belabor the point. I will, however, invite you to visit Rick's very entertaining blog at www.indium.com/rickshort.

A Revolution in Publishing

The Internet has, of course, brought about a revolution in publishing. Will the blog do the same? Depending on how you feel about this topic, I should let you know that the URL "blogsnob.com" is available for $1,995. No foolin'!

Now let's turn to the podcast, which you may know more familiarly as the "webcast." It's radio with a more sophisticated tuner. We've seen a dramatic increase in "Webinars" recently, particularly those dealing with Pb-free activities.

Do podcasts work? Do I want to spend more time seated at a warm computer listening to audio than I do now editing and writing articles? The short answer is an unqualified "no!"

Recently the very successful Web bookseller Amazon.com presented a concert with major artists via a Webcast. A major bank, one of those same banks that charges us 15-20 percent on our credit cards, paid for the privilege of sponsoring this event.

Since anyone who can make money that easily is not a dummy, it would be unwise for anyone to underestimate the power of the Web.

Rich Banks

On a Personal Note

Elsewhere in this issue, we'll talk about this year's SEMICON West, and look at some pros and cons about a single venue. One of the great things about having this show in one place is the chance to see old friends again.

Among this year's visitors was Rich Banks, whom I haven't seen in-let's just say a long time. Rich presented the first SEMICON West shows for SEMI through Golden Gate Enterprises, his show management company, almost 35 years ago next year!

Pieter Burggraaf Calls It Quits!

I would be remiss if I failed to mention an e-mail I received from Pieter Burggraaf, a colleague for many years on Semiconductor International magazine. Mr. B, who is one of the finest technical journalists in the business, later joined competitor Solid State Technology.

For the last couple of years, and until recently, he was freelancing from Arizona for a PR agency that handled several technical accounts, including Amkor Technology. The word from Mr. B via e-mail is that he's pulling the pin and retiring (even though he's younger than many of us who have no such thoughts in mind!). Good luck!