Thursday, February 26, 2004

Jim Moore's vision for blogging software.  

A couple of announcements this evening. A new Berkman fellow starting in July -- the honorable and accomplished thinker of the Web, David Weinberger. A great deal for Berkman and an honor for David. Mazel tov. And we finally have our webcast act moderately together. A new omni-directional microphone makes all the difference. You can tune in the usual place., Tonight's meeting starts at 7PM EST, but the webcast and IRC are already going. The show kicked off with Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan. "Don't follow leaders, watch the parking meters." 

Dru Oja Jay: "Haiti is in crisis, and an entire society stands on the brink of economic and humanitarian disaster. This disaster is not the product of some unfortunate circumstance, but the direct result of policies carried out by our governments." 

Dowbrigade: Where are the Haitian blogs? 

How Jesse Ventura used the Internet. 

Howard Dean is speaking in New Haven tonight. 

Some announcements about BloggerCon II. We will have several sessions on journalism, politics and the campaign of 2004. We've scheduled the conference between the first part of the campaign, the primaries; and the next -- the conventions. The goal is to coalesce what we've learned in time to apply that knowledge in the second cycle. We will also have a session on weblogs and libraries, which is new. And if there's sufficient interest, we will repeat the sessions on medicine and law, and possibly add sessions for art, education, science and literature. Let me know. Based on the very strong response re visions for web writing tools, we will certainly have a session about that. We're also going to do a session on RSS. Technical people are welcome, but remember this is a user's conference.  

Re discussion moderators, I have a few confirmations, and still have to send out offers. In general they are people who were at the first BloggerCon, but did not present. I want to rotate the faces every time to emphasize that the people who are in front of the room are just facilitators. There is some small prestige in being one of them, but it's also hard work (but rewarding, I hope). We pack each room with experts and leaders, and the job of the moderator is to assemble a story by calling on the people at his or her disposal. They're like a reporter putting together a story, but you get to hear, first hand what the experts are saying, in their own voices. Think of Dan Gillmor's adage that the people who read his blog are much smarter than he is -- that's the philosophy of BloggerCon. Don't be distracted by the face in the front of the room (as you would be in most conferences), it's the people to your left and right who know the most. And if you want to talk with them later, we'll be sure you get a chance to do that too.  

To give you an idea of how this works, at the first BC, the moderators were great, for sure, but for me the two most memorable contributors were both in the "audience" -- Esther Dyson and Jay Rosen. I think there's something relaxing about not having to prepare, and in that relaxation, if you have a powerful and curious mind, can come brilliant ideas. That's what I want. That's why I love this conference, because brilliant people come to it, and share what they know. 

The first invitations will go out by email in a day or so. Remember the cost to attend is $0. If you want to make a contribution so we can have refreshments or help fund the party, or contribute labor, we will welcome that. We're doing this by the seat of our pants, which is cool, it seems to be The Weblog Way to do things. Onward! 

NY Times endorses John Kerry. 

Hotel choices for BloggerCon.  

Lisa Williams talks up a "chick blogs" discuss at the Con in April.  

Why no comments about the weather lately? Because it's been so great. Highs near 40. Over the weekend they say it might reach 50. And it's still February. What's going on? 

Don Park theorizes that Osama bin Laden will be killed or captured shortly before the US election in the fall. 

A list of 34 senators who will vote against a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Via Joshua Marshall.