Declaration of independents: The Magazine Publishers of America’s Independent Magazine Advisory Group (MPA-IMAG) will host the first Magazine Leadership Forum for Independent Publishers. The conference will address the specific business issues of independent publishers with a program conceived and created by members of the MPA-IMAG Advisory Board, all independent publishers themselves. It will take place June 21-23 at Northwestern University in Chicago, and is open to MPA members and non-members. Registration info here.

Smooth as freshly Zambonied ice: For the past three hours I’ve been juggling a press check (it’s been way too long since I’ve done this) and watching the President’s press conference and the Nashville vs. Detroit NHL playoff game. I guess from my standpoint, all has gone smoothly: perfect printing, the President said exactly what I thought he should and the Nashville (or, as their marketers say, “Smashville”) Predators tied up this, their first-ever playoff series, by dominating the powerful Redwings in a 3-0 shut-out. It’s great to be watching the Nashville fans go crazy from my hotel room in Minnesota. Just saw a crowd shot that included Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher standing and screaming just like I do when he’s leading his team in the playoffs.

Blog-lite: If the other message I tried to e-mail to this weblog actually worked, then the computer I am posting this message from is even more problematic that I thought…as I can’t view it. Anyway, I’m traveling for 24 or so hours. Later.