Go read the descriptions of Backfence’s acquisition of Bayosphere at CyberJournalist.net, Poynter’s E-Media Tidbits, and Yelvington.com.

I did, and I’m asking myself some questions these posts didn’t answer.

First, why should anyone care that one lame loser is taking over another?

Second, what's the reality of Backfence?

The reality, as I see it, after spending some time at the Bethesda site, is that this particular back fence has been spectacularly successful at keeping the neighbors out and a failure at everything else. It’s a virtual ghost town.

If you get lonely in Bethesda, head on over to McLean, VA and click Right now to see what was going on months ago that no one cared to comment on. The 4 most recent posts in Right now are dated April 3, March 15, March 13 of this year and November 7 of last year.

My third question is whether losing touch with reality is an occupational hazard of being in the media business these days, and when that hazard’s going to whack me, if it hasn't already?