The blog faces an existential threat on Wednesday as the Times changes, basically, its entire way of putting together the paper.

Men wearing scowls and bowties and, in one case, Bahama shirts, have been scurrying about the office for the past few days and weeks.

Under their collective breath, they mumble incomprehensible words: "Saxotech. Baseview. Taxonomy."

And, like a newborn babe, I sit there, blank-eyed, smiling, feet perched somewhere on my desk — but scared, very scared, of the change to come.

We're being told that this technological advancement is going to make us able to more easily load stories. Whiz-bang maps. SEO-friendly headlines, so as to better Google my babel.

Somewhere, there was a three-hour training session that I allegedly attended. I learned a lot about what my palms look like. Not much else.

Here's what I do know: Tomorrow will be mayhem. Pure mayhem. Worst case scenario, I'm told, is that this blog might not be functional for a bit of time, though I'm also told that it's unlikely.

If that tragedy does strike, and you have to be without your Public Interest, please know that it hurts me much more than it hurts you. And that Brian's not going away for long. I'll be right back. Still without a clue. But that blank smile will still be there. And so will I.

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