"Linkage of all sorts is unavoidable," writes Forbes' Tom Post, in an introduction to the special issue, "and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Connections are a fundamental condition of being human--from our neural and immune systems to families and friendships."

The magazine connects pieces about the Internet and politics (by Howard Dean), the humanitarian benefits of MySpace (by MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe), the wonders of Second Life (by Philip Rosedale, a chief exec of the company that produces Second Life) and, of course, the revolutionary power of user-generated entertainment (by YouTube's Chad Hurley).

While this collection of high-powered new-tech pioneers is striking, assigning these folks to write stories about their own achievements gets a little old and self-promoting. What happened to journalism in the new network universe?

For instance, Hurley touts the possibilities of the new media world that has leveled the playing field, allowing independent creators from LisaNova to BaratsAndBereta to be able to compete with (and be co-opted by) old media. But nowhere does he address the big, specific questions about copyright infringement, or the ability of YouTube to create significant revenue for its indie creators and corporate partners.

The most incisive reading in the package comes from Google's Vinton G. Cerf, who writes about "The Disruptive Power of Networks" -- which thank god doesn't read like a press release -- and the only true journalist among the crowd, P.J. O'Rourke on economist Adam Smith:

"I wonder if the know-it-alls at Wikipedia realize that the Internet was fully described and completely understood more than 200 years ago by Adam Smith, founder of free market economics," writes O'Rourke. "The Internet is an advance for voluntary association. It adds freedom to markets, decreases the force of coercion and gives persuasion greater sway over power."

Someone should tell this to Forbes' editorial team.