First Blogger, now LiveJournal

Users of the Internet, especially those of the Blogosphere know all too well how fast things can change but this just about beats them all. LiveJournal has been sold off to the Russions:

The owner of LiveJournal, a blogging and social-networking site, agreed yesterday to sell the company to SUP, a Russian online media company, in the latest example of deal-making in the social-networking sector.

Source: Russian Firm Buys LiveJournal – New York Times

And barely a day later no less. Okay, I do realize Blogger got rid of their back links to all non-Blogger sites a bit more than than a day ago but the word of this rather idiotic decision has really picked up steam in the last 48 hours or so.

Of course anyone who knows me at all would realize that I simply can’t resist the ironic twist in any situation because that’s just the way my mind works. So I had to chuckle at the fact that LiveJournal’s original founder, who will remain active in LiveJournal’s future doings, now works for…guess who?

As part of the deal, SUP will create an American management company, LiveJournal Inc., to manage the social networks operations. SUP will also form an advisory board that includes Brad Fitzpatrick, LiveJournals founder who now works for Google.

Source: Russian Firm Buys LiveJournal – New York Times

Now isn’t that just too funny?

This "Advisory Board" will be big hearted enough to allow a whole two LiveJournal users in as board members on a rotating basis. Here’s an excerpt from a rather long email I received from LiveJournal explaining this sell off.

SUP and Six Apart will work together in the coming months to transfer operations to LiveJournal, Inc. The existing team that worked exclusively on LiveJournal at Six Apart has moved to LiveJournal, Inc., and new general manager, marketing and sales teams will be recruited.

LiveJournal, Inc has announced the formation of the LiveJournal Advisory Board, which will be comprised of both industry experts and members of the LiveJournal community. One of the key members of the Advisory Board will be LiveJournal’s founder, Brad Fitzpatrick, who recently left Six Apart for Google. Positions will also be reserved for two members of the LiveJournal community on a rotating basis via an open online election process.

Now isn’t that just so good of them? Two out of over fourteen million LiveJournal users. Now that’s one hell of an effective representation I think. Ought to get a lot done for the users, I can tell.

Alright, all sarcasm aside, I set out to do some quick research before the snowstorm that’s currently plastering the Northeast Kingdom (and me as well) knocks out the power. And I came across something that made my eyebrows waggle a bit. It’s an in depth, 3-page article at Wired News that describes the beginnings of this deal with the Russians. Now that may not be too exceptional in  itself although it’s a very interesting read, but the real interesting thing about it is that the date of said article is over a year ago. Looks like the American users of LiveJournal are not the only ones who were unhappy about this. I strongly suggest you read the article for yourself.

That’s enough from me I believe. I don’t wish to delve too deep into this since I haven’t had anything to do with LiveJournal except for the stretch of time I had a "test" journal going when I was beta testing Windows Live Writer, so my experience and knowledge is a tad limited. Still, since a good portion of the Blogoshpere has suddenly been turned on it’s head, it bears watching. The turmoil stemming from the recent changes at Blogger and Now LiveJournal are definitely going to have an ripple effect on the other types of blogging platform’s both custom and hosted.

I’d be interested in what some others might think about this.