BuzzMachine on BloggerCon
Jeff Jarvis (of BuzzMachine), a former TV critic for TV Guide and People, creator of Entertainment Weekly, Sunday Editor of the NY Daily News, and a columnist on the San Francisco Examiner. Wrote prolifically during BloggerCon.
I attended the "blogging in politics" session which he moderated. He joked about doing a Phil Donahue imitation, but it was not a joke. he really could do well as a talk show host.
AKMA's BloggerCon Retrospective
Dave Winer is rounding up various parties’ reflections on BloggerCon, and I had such a great time that I wanted to join the chorus of appreciation for the Berkman Center staff... [AKMA’s Random Thoughts]
Pat's notes for bloggerCon
Pat Delany created some notes for for BloggerCon, mostly talking points but my favorite passage (for obvious reasons) is:
"For support, I've had Manila server admin Erin Clerico and weblog design manager Bryan Bell from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office. I need another panel discussion to do justice to this collaborative team. It is, I think, unusual: a teacher, a programmer, and a designer able to talk to each other regularly about how to use a tech tool for the benefit of students. And to like each other while doing it! At least, most of the time. Without them, I'd still be wondering about studying a Dreamweaver manual at some never-arriving future date."
Engagement? Yes
Dave used one of my photos of the BloggerCon conference, which depicted many of the attendees seemingly focused on their laptops, to ask whether the crowd was engaged or not.
"Look at how many computers are out. Most people seem to agree it was a lively discussion, lots of back and forth, but look at all the people looking at the screen instead of looking at the room. Remember what conferences were like before WiFi. Boredom without any hope of relief. Now we have our laptops and the Net to keep our minds interested even if the presenters are droning. At this conference people could speak up at almost any time. What are they doing on their laptops? Why don't people watch the speakers and each other, why is the screen more interesting? What can we do to make conferences more captivating, or should we even try? " - Dave Winer
I agree with many of the comments. Most of them were furiously blogging, with their mind engaged on what was being said. The ones that were not, were trying to get their internet connection to work. Next BloggerCon will need a more reliable way to connect to the internet.
New logo and theme to the Shifted Librarian
Months ago Jenny Levine contacted me with a request for a new logo and theme for her Radio UserLand powered weblog. However it turned out to be a bit tough to design a new icon that did justice to Jenny's focus on the the changing rolls of librarians in a technological society. Finally after kicking Ideas around with lots of colleges, including Pat Delaney (another Librarian) I produced an icon inspired in part by "Big Daddy Roth". A book with a "Rat Fink" like shifter emanating from its spine. It's a simple play on words but I think it works.You can see the new design here.