Recently, I got involved in an idea I found so irresistible that I pretty much threw everything I could at it -- maybe even the kitchen sink first. With two of my colleagues at work (JR and Lisa), a writer (Jessica Zafra), and another a born saleswoman (Claudine Baron), we founded Mad Crowd Media.

The idea was simple enough: Mad Crowd Media's mission is to support its growing network of independent publishers by bringing them closer to marketers who want to take part in their ongoing conversations. We help marketers find the right contexts and audiences for their brands amongst a sea of incredibly loyal readership and high doses of quality, sticky content.

I had a chance to speak with Connie and Abe about what we were trying to do; and, amidst feeling a bit starstruck (after all, this is Connie and Abe), I felt that the idea had impressed them enough to have us consider their fine publications as part of the network.

While both, among others in the Mad Crowd Media network of publishers, have reached a strata in the blogosphere few have attained, I think it's an outstanding measure of their quality that they recognize the need -- and our mission -- for the entire medium to come together and champion itself to marketers and advertisers as one.

I am delighted, excited and anxious about what we're doing. And while JR, Lisa and I are busy working on consulting projects at our firm, it's Mad Crowd Media that's been keeping us up late at night and plugging away at plans and tactics until morning. I'll be blogging there more often, and I hope my handful of readers will drop by and visit.