The Consumerist -- champion of the little guy, tormenter of shoddy businesses everywhere -- has long been one of my favorite Web sites. They fight the good fight with wit and style, witness their long-running series on the Grocery Shrink Ray, which NBC News is scheduled to lean on in a report Thursday night.
Given my concern for its future, this cryptic Twitter tweet yesterday from Consumerist editor Ben Popken piqued my interest: "The deal closes in ..." That was it, four words.
I sent Popken an ordinary e-mail (call me old school; I'm new to Twitter):
"Just saw your tweet. By 'the deal' do you mean 'The Deal?' Have you been sold? Are you close to being sold? Hope you find a nice home."
Popken's reply:
"Yep, The Deal. Preliminary negotiations, but things look good. The prospect is a good name everyone will be happy with."
I didn't expect him to spill the details.
Preliminary negotiations can fall apart, of course, but we can presume this would-be buyer isn't offering doodle dollars ... and breathe a tentative sigh of relief for Popken and his crew.
(By the way, if you're interested in following me on Twitter, here's the place.)
Welcome regulars and passersby. Here are a few more recent Buzzblog items. And, if you'd like to receive Buzzblog via e-mail newsletter, here's where to sign up.This Year's 25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries.
YouTube takes a page from xkcd.
Airport "X-ray art" isn't likely to amuse TSA screeners.
Almost half of Google's products -- including 4-year-old Gmail -- remain in beta. Why?
Doing the Laptop Drive of Shame.
Bank of America to support Firefox, finally.
Top 10 Buzzblog posts for '07: Verizon's there, of course, along with Gates, Wikipedia and the guy who lost a girlfriend to Blackberry's blackout.