For quite some time, we've had bloggers sharing the Skype story in a number of countries -- if you're fluent in Portuguese or, say, Japanese, make your choice among the links on the right-side column on this page. But there's been a certain gap in our otherwise toothsome blogging smile.

Today, we're plugging it.

Please join me in welcoming Howard Wolinsky, who made his Oprah-themed debut on our oven-fresh U.S. blog today. Howard is a Pulitzer-nominated 27-year veteran of the Chicago Sun-Times who recently left the paper and now covers high tech, medicine, nanotech and business as a freelancer.

Not only is he a great writer with a keen nose for a good story, but has spun a darn good yarn about his own early moments at the Sun-Times. If you think you know what happened in the States on March 30, 1981, you're off to a good start. If this date doesn't ring a bell, get up to speed by reading about it in Howard's own words at GapersBlock. Trust me, it's worth your time.

So let's welcome Howard, his quirky sense of humor and the unique prism that this life-long reporter brings, to the Skype blogging fraternity!