Stephen Downes

Many people are linking to this today. I haven't had the chance to read it but it is worth passing along. "New social computing approaches are inviting people to share in the creation and edification of information on the Internet. Empowerment of the individual -- or consumerization -- is reducing the individual's reliance on traditional brick-and-mortar institutions in favor of new and emerging virtual ones." A book-length publication available as a free PDF download.