This is everything Mike and I have been talking about. New players entering the market with the ability to take their message directly to consumers, circumventing traditional networks.

Am I a target customer? No, but there are millions of them out there!

Looks like Yahoo! has hired Elizabeth Osder to head up its social media initiatives. Great move! I first met Elizabeth in 1993 when I attempted to hire her to work for me at The Gate (the online SF Chronicle and Examiner). She’s a bright, talented and creative talent and Yahoo! is lucky to have her.

The last time I saw Elizabeth, she was working for iXL, a new media consulting shop (that is no longer in business). I think it was around 2000, and the site of that meeting? It was at a conference held at Windows on the World, at the top of The World Trade Center. Chilling.