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«   Thoughts from July 2006   »

The Etiquette of Modern Communication
Just a thought from 29 July 2006 about , , .

The other day I found myself needing to contact a friend. This friend and I, we're both bleeding edge technology nerds, so it got me thinking about how many ways there are for people like us to contact each other, and what the unspoken rules of etiquette are for each one.

Here were the options, in order of most immediate to least.

Phone

These days, I answer the phone with, "Is everything okay?" The phone is so pressing, so overt, so immediate, the only socially appropriate reason to use it is if you're trapped in a fiery building or someone's in the hospital. The phone insists itself upon the user, annoying everyone within earshot, and has to be answered immediately to make the noise stop. A hateful experience for everyone involved.

Continue reading “The Etiquette of Modern Communication” »

Two Conferences, Two Weeks
Just a thought from 25 July 2006 about , , .

A small collection of thoughts after attending two conferences in two weeks.

  • The US government is full of people who are really passionate about what they're doing. In other jobs, you "work." But when you work for the government, you "serve."
  • Those of us who have been making webstuff since before the word "weblog" came around, myself included, have a built-in irreverence about the blogosphere, like an older brother who rolls his eyes when his kid brother shows off and everybody goes, "awww." But I couldn't help but notice how, at both conferences, blogging was accepted as just part of the web world. Now that the specialness has worn off, maybe we can have a real conversation about what they're good for, and what they're not.
  • I could totally live in Portland. The trains are quiet (and free downtown), the coffee is great (thanks to Chris for bringing me by Stumptown), and the geeks are nice (reminds me of the geek scene in San Francisco 10 years ago, but without the polyamory).

Continue reading “Two Conferences, Two Weeks” »

JPG Issue 6 is here!
Just a thought from 17 July 2006 about .

issue6big.jpg

Whether it was faulty settings, old film, the random photo on the last frame of film, or the last photo a camera ever took, issue 6 features some of the finest slip-ups, freak-outs, and happy accidents ever captured on film or pixels. We're also joined by featured photographer Rion Nakaya, who shares some of her favorite serendipitous moments, and Ryan Gallagher, to talk about camera tossing. Check it!

The Powazek World Tour
Just a thought from 12 July 2006 about , , , , .

Today I embark on the very exciting 2006 Powazek World Tour. (Well, if you consider Portland and DC the world and two stops to be a tour, anyway.)

This Thursday and Friday I'll be participating in a private conference sponsored by - I swear I'm not making this up - the State Department. It's called the "Conference on Blogs and Democracy" and I'll be on a panel about "The Influence of the Blogosphere" and if I told you any more, I'd probably have to kill you.

But if I see Condoleezza, I promise to say hi for you.

webvisionsThen, next Thursday and Friday, July 20 and 21, I'll be in Portland to participate in Webvisions 2006. It looks to be a great lineup this year and, unlike the first stop on the Powazek World Tour, this one you can actually attend. And you should!

I'll be speaking on a panel about Business Blogging (free preview: "Don't start a conversation if you're not prepared to have one.") and I'll be reprising my New Community talk (free preview: "You need your community more than they need you.")

Looks to be a good couple of weeks for nerddom.

Colbert Jumps the Shark
Just a thought from 10 July 2006 about .

I just wanted to be the first to make a post with these phrases:

Colbert Report.
Amy Sedaris.
Tumble.
Jump the shark.

That is all.

Wha?
This section is called Just a Thought. It's a blog where I post little pieces of what I'm thinking about at the moment. This page shows thoughts from July 2006, including:

The Etiquette of Modern Communication
29 July 2006

Two Conferences, Two Weeks
25 July 2006

JPG Issue 6 is here!
17 July 2006

The Powazek World Tour
12 July 2006

Colbert Jumps the Shark
10 July 2006

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The Fine Print

Working the web since 1995, Derek Powazek is the creator of many award-winning websites, a couple of which still exist. Derek is the cofounder of JPG Magazine and the CCO of 8020 Publishing. Derek lives in San Francisco with his wife, two nutty Chihuahuas, a grumpy cat, and a house full of plants named Fred. More »

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