In today’s CNet: The changing face of search engines

Once the primary road signs to navigating the Internet, directories have moved to the shoulder. They are being displaced by algorithmic search tools and commercial services that many people… now believe do a better job in satisfying Web surfers and advertisers. The transformation is bringing to an end an altruistic era of human editors, who once wielded significant clout in driving traffic to Web sites through recommendations made without regard for commercial considerations.

Which is why an active weblog still seems to be among the most cost-effective means for small web sites to be found via “algorithmic search tools” like Google.