IMing
Who said there are no great writers left? Ted Anthony has a terrifc article on instant messaging -- tight, colorful, personal, and it's AP (wonders never cease!). Here's a classic paragraph describing IMing: "It's like e-mail jacked on Mountain Dew: Capital letters disappear. Typos are made and instantly forgotten. New shorthand is born. Caffeinated typists can two-time, even three-time friends and family, toggling from screen to screen, continent to continent like prattling air-traffic controllers."