jbrotherlove

Icon

experiments in wordpressionisms

Horoscopes from last week

Last week my Piscean, mini-horoscopes (sent to my phone daily via Verizon) were inspirational or in some other way, on point:

03/25/08: Attending to your needs should be your first order of business. Your primary impulse is always to help others.

This is especially true regarding relationships which is why my desire to be in one is tempered. I have a habit of giving everything I have: money, emotion, time, etc. I suppose with the right partner, this would be balanced. But my experience has been that others quickly get used to always having me available (reliable) and I get taken me for granted (advantaged of). At least that’s how I see it.

03/26/08: You may be given a chance to study with someone who is renowned for their expertise.

I’m not sure what this means. But I’m excited about it!

03/27/08: Somebody may not be keeping their promises. This is disappointing and inconvenient.

Hmm… This could apply to clients or friends. Maybe both. The added bonus to this horoscope is its worded in the same manner I speak. I describe situations as “disappointing” or “inconvenient” often when stronger adjectives would probably be more appropriate. My emotional scale doesn’t fluctuate much.

03/28/08: Pursuing a lifestyle that affords more freedom should be your first order of business.

Hells yeah! I’m tweaking a plan on the daily of making this a reality. My life isn’t terrible by any means. But it’s still not the life I want to be living (which is sort of the point, right?) Adding some financial stability has increased my options. Now, to leverage it.

03/29/08: Everybody wants you in their corner, and with good reason. You’ve never looked better.

I don’t know about looking better. But I certainly feel better than I have in awhile. Which probably means it shows on my face. Which probably means I do look better. Who knew?

03/30/08: You’re ahead of your time in so many ways. Maybe that’s why so many people seek out your company.

This is what I have been trying to convince certain knuckleheads. I have an inside track on the future. Stick with me, you’ll go places!

SXSW 08 WrapUp

Wow! SXSWi 08 was incredible! I had a great time attending panels, hanging with old friends, making new ones, meeting internet famous folk, eating, and drinking. Did I mention drinking?

There was an awful lot of walking involved too. Yikes! The Interactive portion of SXSW took over the entire Austin Conference Center. Oh well, it’s not like I don’t need the exercise.

Most of the panels I attended were good. Some of the technical ones were below my expectations. I found myself thinking: “I already know that” too many times. This probably means I need to go to conventions or meetups that are more focused on a singular aspect of the web.

The Core Conversations concept got a bad rep early on. So I didn’t attend any of them. Something about not being able to sit or hear well if you didn’t get there early. Also, another friend of mine didn’t like the idea of sitting in a circle talking when we get better info using that format over lunch and dinner.

Two Suggestions for SXSWi 2009
I think it’s time to start rotating people on the panels. We can almost predict the presenters at this point. If a panel calls for more than three people, then at least one of those people should be on a SXSW panel for the first time. Pass the torch.

Also, regarding tech panels, can we get a rating on them (e.g., newbies, intermediate, guru). I understand presenters are aiming for a skill-set sweet spot. But it’s aggravating to attend a panel thinking I will learn something when I know the material just as well (if not better).

The List
I wish I had the time and energy to detail each day of the conference. But I barely had time to make it to 10:00am sessions! So, here’s my official SXSW List (subject to changes and additions as I remember them):

Favorite Things About SXSWi 08

  • Meeting a bunch of great people
  • Eating good food
  • Feeling like part of a community

Least Favorite Things About SXSWi 08

  • The weather in Austin was cold, windy and sometimes wet. Fail.
  • The hiccuping wi-fi (well, after Sunday anyway)

Favorite Panels

Least Favorite Panels

Most Heartwarming Experience
Blacks in Technology Meetup with Jeffrey Bowman

Most Bizzare Experience
Riding in Irina Slutsky’s TechCab Confessions with Jason Toney (1:08:38 thru 00:57:30)

Most Annoying Experience
Watching Ms. Budget Fashionista lose her shit with George Kelly in front of folks ready to clock her train.

Most Overated Beverage (tie)

Most Overated Event

Favorite Food

Favorite Dinner Conversation

Favorite Parties
As a rule I don’t stand in long lines to attend “big name” parties. Therefore, the frog design / SXSW Interactive Opening Party and Frrvrr Launch Party rocked because I walked right in (with a little VIP help).

Least Favorite Parties
I heard the Laptop Battle at AMODA was disappointing. My crew opted for pancakes at Magnolia instead.

Most Used Gadgets/Accessories

  • Power Supply
  • Clarence’s iPhone
  • (Everyone else’s) Digital Camera (I have serious camera envy now)

Favorite Reveal

Things I Missed But Wished I Didn’t

Most Referenced Song In My Circle
“Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey

Most Overheard/twittered Phrases

  • “______ rocked!”
  • “Ballroom A?!”
  • “Do you have a car?”
  • “He’s drunk as hell.”
  • “I gotta pee.”
  • “I’m blowing off panels for the rest of the day.”
  • “I’m drunk as hell.”
  • “Free food at _____.”
  • “Free liquor at _____.”
  • “Long line at ______.”
  • “My feet hurt.”
  • “My back hurts.”
  • “She’s drunk as hell.”
  • “That sucked!”
  • “What’s your twitter name?”
  • “Where are we eating?”
  • “Where is the _______ party?”

Most Referenced Non-Web Celebrities

  • Amy Winehouse
  • Britney Spears
  • Justin Timberlake

Blissfully Reconnected
Baratunde, Cecily, Denise, George, Jason, Lanie, Lynne

ATL Crew Members
EJ & Tiffany

Met For The First Time

Hype Machine

See me speak at SXSW 2010 (http://sxsw.com)