archive now

jpeace points out this article about LiveJournal laying off the majority of its employees without warning.
http://valleywag.gawker.com/5124184/the-russian-bear-slashes-a-social-network

Here is the FAQ entry for exporting information.
http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=8

I was going to try the LJ.NET downloadable client, but it requires .NET 1.1 which apparently won't install on Vista.  (I tried, but Vista complained.)  Anybody have other suggestions for programs that they've used successfully?

So.... what's the next blog service that the Bear crowd will be moving to, assuming that LiveJournal plans on closing its doors and servers? I've long been impressed by the writing I could find at blogspot, but a spammer took over my name there before I could get to it, so I won't be finding a home there. *sigh*

edit1: recommended archive programs so far...
http://fawx.com/software/ljarchive/ (Windows)
http://www.mp3vcr.com/ljsec/ (Windows)
http://antennapedia.livejournal.com/266462.html (requires Python)
http://ljbackup.yamnet.co.uk/ (Windows)
http://www.ljbook.com/frontpage.php ("LiveJournal and this service are currently under heavy load.")

edit2: ogam mentions that there is a user buyout effort underway at ljuser_buyout .

edit3: theamazingjosh reveals a page with confirmed information about the layoffs.

edit4: artfldarknbuzzd points out the official Livejournal announcement.  They say that they are planning for the "long-term success" of the site.