Gather - a new twist on blogging and social networking

My former colleague at Participate, Dave Woodrow, recently invited me to join Gather, a new approach to combining blogging with social networking. Interesting concept.

Here is one of Dave's contributions, an interview he recently conducted with Stony Farms:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976717588

And below is the how Gather describes themselves:

How To Gather

The Gather experience begins at the site. Dig in and enjoy the writings of other Gather members. It's easy to register and create your profile so other members can get to know you. Then, create your network. Start by inviting and connecting with friends, family, and colleagues. Then share your content by publishing, adding tags to help other members easily find your articles. If your content is only for certain eyes to see, you have the option to share it with a select few. As the other members' content interests you, subscribe to their work and receive updates with each new travel summary, short story, photograph, song, or Podcast they publish. Unlike the wide world of random blogging, Gather categorizes your thoughts by topic. Other members can easily find, enjoy, comment on, and rate your contributions. By the same token, you'll find people you deem interesting with just a keyword or two as you search articles for compelling content.
Earning Rewards

Being part of such a community is reward enough. But you?ll also get Gather Points(TM) just for participating online. Inviting new users and submitting outstanding content will earn you points. The more people you invite to join and the more valuable content you submit, the more points you acquire. Gather Points(TM) are your currency to purchase goods and services from your favorite Gather partners. Top earners can even exchange their points for cash.

Will be interesting to see if this gains momentum. Still in Beta, but worth a look.