Conversation about Orlando Tech Association April 7, 2008
Posted by Ryan in : Tech, Markteting, Orlando, Links, Events, Trends, floridacreatives, BarCamp, Politics , add a comment…is happening right now over on Robert Dempsey’s blog - he gave some highlights from the weekend at BarCamp and some of the many events and discussions around the idea of forming a technology association in Central/all of Florida.
I obviously had something to say, and I think this conversation is headed in a healthy direction. If you want to get involved, please check out Robert’s blog and the subsequent comments.
Here are my words:
Florida Creatives is not the tech association, but it could be one option if people get on board. I would love to be involved, and if we end up using Florida Creatives as the name for the organization so be it.
Robert and I have discussed getting a regular conference call together that is recorded so people can listen in and post responses, as well as meetings in person, but I think something like a video or audio recording of these events will help ease everyone’s minds. I think the more open this entire process is, the fewer witch hunts we will see.
Over at FloridaCreatives.com we’re going to be setting up a free tool to help folks get organized, make connections, get a centralized list of events, and have a conversation.
The tools will be similar to those you see on Meetup.com but offered for free to anyone who wants them.
The work we’ve already done starting the wiki will continue with a more user-friendly look and feel, and hopefully the information will become even easier to find, search and import/export. The point is to make the tools free and openly available with a very low barrier to entry.
I’m stoked to hear so many passionate voices. It’s a sign that we’ve arrived as a community and it’s time to take action.
I never wanted to set up Florida Creatives like that and put in all the work until we were ready and it would be easy to get some folks to help us keep the thing running smoothly. This is the sort of thing we can write grant proposals about and gather donations for. Meetup.com’s $20/month fee is exorbitant, but they do have to pay the bills.
We’ve got a volunteer who wants to help with the design, but I’m sure we could use more. I know we have a couple of Drupal nerds in town, I’m willing to train more. Drupal’s Organic Groups is really one of the most robust and easiest tools to get this job done, and it will let everyone have a level playing field here.
This is a political movement - the word politics is scary, but creating a group like this means a consolidation of power - from individuals, groups and businesses alike, they all wield some influence, some resources, and often times the larger groups are not submitting higher quality volunteers, or more passionate, or even a larger number than the smaller groups. There’s a lot of talk going around about the size of companies, but one passionate and focused person can achieve what a large group of lazy and disagreeable types can.
If we can come to a consensus, philosophically, ethically; set a good example for others to follow, we can be a large group of passionate and focused individuals all going in the same direction.
You are not your own boss, a puppet told me so February 26, 2008
Posted by Ryan in : Video, Puppets, Trends, Arts, Politics, monochrom , 1 comment so farmonochrom: Kiki and Bubu and The Shift
Maybe the first and last time I get to use the “puppets” and “politics” tags for one post…
Lessig ‘08 - Change Congress. February 20, 2008
Posted by Ryan in : Video, Politics , 1 comment so farOut of the Draft Lessig movement, we get a response from Larry himself.
Lessig ‘08 - Change Congress.
Fox News, tell me why you suck so bad? Steve Novick, the beer-drinking hook-handed politician February 11, 2008
Posted by Ryan in : Video, Reviews, TV, Politics , add a commentMy dad watches Fox News, and I am personally embarrassed for him. He says they provide a “balanced” view of things, but I feel like I understand media, and it’s my opinion that they don’t really say anything, but really everything they’re saying is just designed to keep you from changing the channel. Take this YouTube clip from Red Eye as an example.
They start with a good idea: let’s do a news show in a bar with no green room, no makeup and really short segments. Sounds good so far. Here are several problems with the show:
- Short segments? Put them on YouTube. This one was uploaded by a Novick supporter
- You had a politician on your show and said many times you had no idea what his platform was, and when he tried to tell you, he was interrupted and told to make funny jokes.
- The first line of this video claims you’ve got “too much news”, but you spent the whole time talking about the beer in the commercial and the fact that Steve Novick has a hook for a hand. Surely there are better ways to fill 3 minutes.
- I feel that by speaking in a raised tone of voice (like every commentator on the Fox News channel), you’re trying to make me feel stupid, like what you’re saying is so important that I should keep your station on in the background all day, because otherwise I might miss your half of the story.
Fox News, you make me very glad that I don’t own a television.
How Generation X Sees Election Coverage January 23, 2008
Posted by Ryan in : News, Links, Video, TV, Trends, Politics , add a commentEugene Merman wins.Thanks, Jeremy
My favorite moments:
“I’m kind of close to a Burger King”
and
“I’m doing my impression of a reporter: ‘poll poll poll poll’”
