Every man... should periodically be compelled to listen to opinions which are infuriating to him. To hear nothing but what is pleasing to one is to make a pillow of the mind.
St. John Ervine

Dear Vorticians,

I offer you a very brief missive this week that contains an important heads up. I also ask for your assistance (advice, actually).

In a short while, this VORTEX Digest weekly e-mail newsletter will become the VORTEX Digest blog. Through the blog, I'll be able to develop a real-time commentary on key issues and events, as well as share the ideas that come from this community more often. You'll continue to receive an e-mail from me each week that will summarize postings on the VORTEX Digest blog and direct you to the blog page. You can visit the blog as often as you like or wait for your weekly note. More to come on this transformation in the weeks ahead.

It's hard to believe that I've been writing VORTEX Digest for four-and-a-half years now and that there are now some 9,500 subscribers - up from a few hundred when my first note when out in September 2000. My goal with the newsletter was not only to stay in touch with the supporters and attendees of the VORTEX conference, but to link together any smart, savvy reader interest in the future of the enterprise IT and network fields. You've all made that quite a nice reality.

Transitions put one in a reflective mood and, thus, I would like to reflect on your interests as readers today. What are you most interested in reading about in VORTEX Digest? What do you believe to be the key issues that require deeper exploration? Conversely, what doesn't interest you? What's off your radar screen?

I would be indebted to you if you would take a couple moments to let me know by writing to mailto:jgallant@vortex.net. Your input has always driven this newsletter and I hope you will make time to share your thoughts again. Please write.

Thanks and bye for now.