ROFLcon - Day One

OKay, so the day after i went to the Hospital for the flu, I was in Boston (actually, Cambridge) for ROFLcon. What is/was ROFLcon? It is/was the Internet, in real life. It was a gathering of Internet celebrities, meme makers, academics and people like me who spend too much time online. Speeches were given, discussion panels where held, shows were given, and people were met. It was a good combination of education and entertainment, about culture, technology, fame, fun and fads.

There was so much more when it comes to what ROFLcon was/is about, but I’m not going to go into that any further. There are others out there who are more articulate and more interesting and better writters then I who are discussing this. Just Google ROFLcon, and on Google News you’ll find a couple pages of articles.

Today, Im just going to write about my ROFLcon experience. What I did, what I saw and what I think. I’m not a reporter, so this is by no means a full report of the weekend, just my timeline of it.

OKay, so, Friday being a work day and all, we thought traffic going into the city would be thick in the morning, and as such, we left mighty early. Mighty early. 6am early. Well, traffic wasnt so bad, and we got to the M.I.T. campus about an hour or more before the 10 am. The worst part about the trip was that it cost me $70 to fill the gas tank. (As a side note, I have decided to start walking to work from now on!)

ROFLCON ON THE MIT CAMPUS

No problems going down, or getting there. Snacks were had, my fever wasn’t too bad, and the conversation was good. I went with my friend Roe. Roe is a talker, and normally people who talk alot bother the hell out of me. But I find Roe to be an entertaining conversationalist, so it’s like have a living talk radio next to you talking about things you are interested in, rather then being next to an annoying prick, which so many “over-talkers” can be.

Anyway, we get in line to register I think we are 10th or 15th-ish. Two guys in front of us are talking. One guy is a bit annoying (and oddly, this annoying guy will keep popping up around me all weekend, and all weekend I do my best just to ignore him. Sadly, I think he was there alone, and it appeared to me that he was trying to hard to make friends. Sad, sure, but I still found him annoying.). The other guy was a reporter. Turns out he was from Wired. After talking to the annoying guy he turns to us for our take on the weekend.

I dont really remember his questions, but I remember that in my answers I mention the long tail, the theroy of the 1000 “true fans”, and the saying that instead of everyone one being famous for 15 minutes, now we can all be famous to 15 or 15 hundred or 15 thousand people, and that is what this weekend was about. To cut forward a bit, the opening speech by David Weinberger was all about these topics, and every thing I had mentioned to the reporter, Mr. Weinberger referenced by name. This made me feel smart, and like I was in the right place for me! And I think Roe was impressed with my academic ability.

DAVID WEINBERGER GIVES THE KEY NOTE SPEACH

But back to the time line. We check in. We buy our t-shirts. I’m not cool enough to buy a lunch box. We get a goodie bag with a can of Brawndo, the official guide book for the weekend (which I have since lost. If anyone can spare a copy, please let me know!), and a crazy straw! We then go into the conference hall that will hold all 500 ticket holders, and where the opening comments will be held and the first panel discussion will be.

Now, it’s barely after 10 am. Things don’t start until after noon. We decide to leave and come back. But as we turn around to go, there he is, signing in like a mere mortal (but he is so much more then that!), there he is, the legendary Tron Guy!!! Holy Fuck, this Internet thing is real, and it is here in person!

TRON GUY CHECKS IN

Something about seeing the Tron Guy, ten feet away, well, it made us a bit giddy. Up until this point, we weren’t sure what we were in for. We didn’t know if this event would be a over hyped flop, full of faux academia and pretentious discussion, or if it would be something really cool. Well, when Jay Maynard, THE TRON GUY!, walked through the doors, then we knew it was on!

We said hello to Mr Maynard, and I had my picture taken with him. He was the only “celebrity” there I did this with. I didn’t feel comfortable walking up to other people, but there is something cool about a pot-bellied guy in a glowing spandex suit that makes you just have to go up to him and say hello and ask for a picture.

ME AND THE TRON GUY, MR. JAY MAYNARD!

After meeting Mr. Maynard, we couldn’t leave. We had to see who else was going to walk in! I saw faces I knew (Bre Pettis, Steve Garfield, Andy Ihnatko -all of who where there in the crowd, they weren’t even people on any of the panels!), and I saw people who’s sites I knew, but whose face were new to me. It was all very exciting in a geeky sort of way. Plus I got a free ‘Dead Meme’ T-shirt, for Snakes on a Plane! I love me the free t-shirts!

Oh yeah, and we met moot! Roe was giddy as a school girl! It was funny. moot was cool, but seemed amazed that two no-bodies like ourselves would want to talk to him. I bet he got over that by the end of the convention. Anyway, he was funny in very subtle way. (I wont tell you what he said about getting advertisers for 4Chan, but it was classic!)

Well, the standing around watching people did start to get boring, so we killed some of the the two hours buy running downstairs to Dunkin Donuts, and by counting the media. We saw press from BBC, The Guardian, USA Today, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Rueters, Boston Globe, MSNBC, G4 and others. Downstairs, we sit outside, and are right next to Andre Baron and the crew from Rocketboom! They looked busy coordinating, so I don’t say hello. But I do sneak a pict!

ROCKETBOOMERS

Outside, we listen to a live DJ from some outdoor international festival going on, I feed a bird from my hand, and we watch little kids dance.

Then the event starts. Who kicks off the event? The MC was none other then LEEEEEEEERROOOOOOOOOOOOOY JENKINS!!! Damn, I couldn’t get my camera into video mode fast enough to catch his battle cry on video.

As I mention, gave the opening speech, about fame and celebrity in the Internet age, and how the power of the people online can now “make fame” in ways that we were unable to do only 15 years ago. It was interesting, smart and fun. Then the first panel began. The topic was about if people are able to make money in there online endeavors. Andrew from Rocketboom was up there (yes, he does okay), The Million Dollar Homepage Guy (Yes, but that was the point of page, and now that he made the money, no new cash is rolling in), the One Red Paper Clip guy (yes, he traded up from a paperclip to a house, and he got a book out of it), the Chuck Norris Facts guy (no, no money. In fact, he is being sued by Chuck Norris), one of the guys from Jib Jab (yup, big time money there), and the Marmaduke Explained guy (no money going his way.)

The discussion was interesting, but it really didn’t stay on topic once the crowd was able to start asking questions. People just wanted to ask about the projects these people do. This was a problem at other panels I went to during the weekend; they didn’t always stay on target.

So, after that ended, we had some time to kill during the lunch break. We ended up at a place called Cinderellas on Mass Ave, where we GIANT sandwiches for next to nothing. I couldn’t finish mine. But then, at this time, my fever was back big timr and I was feeling oddly, but I was trudging on.

Walking around M.I.T., or any big college campus always makes me mad. I’m angry at my parents, my teachers, my guidance counselors and all the adults in my life who let me slip through the cracks as a kid and who didn’t guide me along the path towards adulthood properly, like I feel adults have the moral obligation to do with the children under their care. I could go on about how I was an abandoned child, but i wont, but I will tell you that I get so jealous/upset/regretful when I visit big schools. Sure, i should have taken more responsibility for my own education, but damn it, at age 15 I was only 15 years old, so to all the adults in my life at that time, fuck you, you all failed me.

Okay, enough of that tangent. After the lunch break, we got in line for tickets for the ROFLcon Concert that was going to be held that night. In line, we heard our first rendition of Rick Astleys “Never Going To Give Your Up”. Before this weekend, I enjoyed Rick Rolling. Now, I’m sick of it, and I think this fad has to end. Ugh! Also, in line, I saw Leslie Hall and Matt Harding, from “Where The Hell Is Matt”.

After getting our tickets, we then went to the talk by historian Jason Scott, who gave talk about memes in the pre world wide web world. Apparently, where there has been communication technology, there have been memes. Interesting stuff, and an entertaining speaker.

JASON SCOTT

MATT AND JAY

After Jason Scott was a talk by Matt Harding and Jay Maynard about surviving internet fame. Matt said it has been easy for him. He has not had to face any negativity, because he is just a goofy guy dancing with a big grin on his face. His videos are just pure joy, and it would take some one really dark to try and crap on it. The Tron Guy, well, he has it a bit harder, as you would guess. He didn’t set out for the world to find him. He just put his picture on his site to share with friends and family, and to show the creation process. But, the world did find him, and at first, there was a lot of negativity sent his way. But like I said before, he over came this, and is stronger for it. Actually, Matt did say that “wacking morning dj’s” have been rude to him, but that’s about it. Jay said he had the same problems. And he said they’re not wacky, just assholes.

When talking about places where people gave him crap, Jay mentioned Fark. And funny enough, Drew Curtis of Fark was there in the audience. There was a funny exchange between the two, but it was all in good nature!

That was it for the academic side of the day. It was time for dinner, then we needed to kill some time before the show. We walked to Harvard Square and got some undercooked burgers. On the walk there, we decided we would be best served to skip the music show and drive home. If we stayed for the show, we would have left Boston until after midnight. This would have meant a long drive home only to have to turn around and drive back after only 3 or 4 hours sleep. Plus, we thought MC Frontalot was going to be at the show when we got the tickets, but it turns out he wasn’t going to perform, and he was the guy we really wanted to see. Plus, I was feeling really crappy at this time, and Roe was tired (he said only got 4 fours of sleep the night efore) So, we ate, and drove home. We missed a good show from what I understand, but, well, we just simply weren’t up for it. Ugh.

That was it. End day one. Day two, tomorrow.

The Road To The White House

I found this to be a great article (though obviously Pro-Obama, but then, so am I) about this week in presidential politics.  Give it a read  HERE

Squidbillies

I don’t have much time for television these days, but I make the time to watch Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network. Their original shows, or about 80% of them, I find to be “frickin’ awesome”. (Sorry, I am not a wordsmith, and I can think of no better phrase to use at this time.)

One of the shoes I am enjoying is “Squidbillies”, the story of a family of hillbilly, redneck, white trash squids who live in the back woods of Georgia. The show is crude, disgusting, a bit vulgar, and always makes me laugh. Today, I was clearing a few episodes off of my DVR and stumbled upon the episode that originally aired on March 10th. I had somehow missed this one.

The reason I bring this is up is because one of the characters, the local sheriff, had lost his job, and to past the time, he has started a blog. (Hey, I have a blog too!)(Hell, who doesn’t these days. That’s kinda the point of the joke, which I will get to in a moment.) Anyway, the sheriff says about his blog…

“I complain about things, I pretend I’m a critic. You know, describe my dreams and stuff. Hell, I’ve even posted art!”

Click HERE to see the clip of the show with this quote.

This made me laugh because you know, for all the hope I had of making this site unique, it’s just like every other blog out there. No wonder no one is visiting! (Accept for Rick, who has commented on my Randy Pausch entry. Thanks for stopping to say hello Rick!) But, no, I’m not bitter, it just made me step back and laugh at myself. Is this realization going to make me quit? No, I’m going to go on with this site. I have an idea for some new stuff, something different, but I’m still working on it, so you’ll have to check back in the near future. In the mean time, I’ll just keep writing as if I have a reader, and using this site as a good way to pass the time until I die. We all die, so there’s no need to get too worried about it, right?

The sheriffs comments also made me realize that while I have complained (mostly about me site), have pretended to be a critic (heck, i just gave a positive “review” of sorts about Squidbillies, didn’t I?) and have posted art (and all my pieces are still up for sale, if you want them), I have yet to post any of my dreams! Ha! So sit back and get ready!!!

Don’t you hate it when people tell you about their dreams. It’s always so fascinating to them, and they think they are giving you a pek into their inner psyche, but in actually, they are boring your to pieces! We al know it, and yet, we all have done it. And yeah know what, I’m going to do it to you now! (Ha hah ahaha hhaahah ahaha haha ha ha ha !!!)

Actually, these are the stories of three nightmare that I had as a child, that for some reason have stuck with me after all of these years. I’ll try to be brief.

The first dream I has shortly after I received my first hamster. I would dream that in my room, living in the glass aquariums and habitrail tubes I had set up, instead of having little hamsters, I had little people. The people themselves where not the scary part, but what scared me was waht I would do to them. In the dream, I would torment them by picking them up and dropping them. I would force them to remove their clothes and make them “be naked” together. I would wake up feeling so guilty. I wonder what sort of bizarre developmental sexual repression-thing this says about me and my childhood? (and no, I wasn’t abused, thank you.)

The second dream still haunts me to this day. I have it from time to time. It’s always EXACTLY the same. I am alone, and I am approached by a man. He is in shadows, I cant see features. He is dressed in the classic trench coat and fedora look. He tells me that he can make anything in the world disappear for me. Anything. I just have to name it. I don’t believe him. Instead of fearing this man, which I think I should be, instead, I am a bit snarky. “Yeah right!” I respond. I sarcastically answer. “okay, then make the southern hemisphere disappear.” He asks if I am sure, and I say yes.

Then, suddenly, i see the world, as if from space, and there is a small ball of silver light, like an illuminated marble, that is circling the globe. It starts at the north pole, goes down one side to the south pole and then up again. It takes only seconds, but at the same time, time seems to slow down, and it takes forever. And somehow, i know that when this ball gets back to the north pole, the southern hemisphere will suddenly blink of out existence, dooming everyone in the northern hemisphere to a horrible death. (No idea what happens to the people in the southern hemisphere when they disappear, though I don’t imagine it can be any good.)

I never see the globe actually splint in to two and the southern half of the world disappear, in the dream. But, as soon as I see that small ball of silver light start to roll like a polished ball-bearing, well, i am suddenly filled with horror, fear, anxiety, and guilt. And then I wake up, usually breathing hard. I’ve had this dream for 30 years now. Still don’t know what causes it, or what it means. But, it has stuck with me, and now I am sharing it with you.

As for hte third dream, well, you’ve read this far. I’ve decided to spare you. It’s worse then the first two, and honestly, I’m not sure if it was a nightmare, or some repressed memory that will haunt my subconscious for the rest of my days. I wont put you through the misery of this last story… unless you ask nicely!

Tired, and worried

I have been too tired to write today, and yet, all day, I have had the urge to post.  Sadly, I’ve had nothing worth saying.  But then, that’s nothing new!

So, in my haze of sleep deprivation, I came up with this…

Two stories about the economy.  Scary stories!  First, an abbreviated version of a Dutch documentary about the inevitable collapse of the dollar, something I fear, and believe, will happen in my lifetime.

And apparently, I’m not the only one worried about it.  The Taipei Times reported a USA Today poll that stated…

Not since September 1992, two months before former president George Bush lost his re-election bid, have so many Americans said the economy was in such bad shape, USA Today reported.

Seventy-six percent of those polled said the economy is in recession, compared to 22 percent who said it is not, USA Today said. Asked if the US could slip into a depression lasting several years, 59 percent said it was likely and 79 percent said they were worried about it, the paper said.

So, it’s not a post full of happy post, but it’s a big subject that has been on my mind a lot.  Maybe because my own financial situation is so crappy, and this is reflected on the national level.  Or maybe my problems reflect the national situation.  Anyway, sadly, I don’t think the next administration will be able to turn things around, no matter who is elected.  It’s just too much, and it seems too late.  Ugh.  But enough stressing, I’m going to go get some sleep now.  Maybe I wont be so depressing tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

The Great Fire Wall Of China

I was reading an article about the Great Fire Wall of China and the unrest in Tibet on Boing Boing. I found these two paragraph interesting, the second one more so. This was a reply to the article by a western professor who teaches in China…

“…you wrote about Native Chinese antipathy to those “ungrateful” Tibetans. This seems to be the consensus of my students as well. I had them read an article from the NY Times that I had printed that showed the difference in quotes between Chinese authorities ( 8 people dead, no soldiers, no guns) and what Tibetans and reports have confirmed (80 confirmed dead, soldiers, tanks, gunfire throughout the day). My students’ response to this was, “well of course they say that. They are foreign. They do not know.” (paraphrase). Put it simply– even when confronted with such blatant contradiction, the students still believed their government.

This is nothing unusual for the multitude of students I’ve talked to about censorship. They honestly believe that governmental censorship protects them from foreign lies and “The Bad Things” (as one class a year ago referred to it. When I asked what “the bad things” were, they really had no answer. Finally one student piped up, “we don’t know because our government protects us from it!”). I know this is not a universal attitude here in China, but I think it is an interesting anecdote, and important to keep in mind when contemplating the average Chinese Netizen and her response to blatant censorship.”

I feel like I should have some sort of comment about this, but I think the words speak for themselves.

China

I have a fascination with the growing power of China.  From their space program, to their international investment, to the fact that they could bankrupt the US in an instant by calling in all our I.O.U.’s, I try to pay attention to what goes on behind the Great Wall.

Reuters has this article about the recent concert in Shanghai, where Bjork mentioned freedom for Tibet, which is a big “no no” over their.  The part about his short article that stuck out to me was the blurb “The performance “not only broke Chinese laws and regulations and hurt the feelings of Chinese people, but also went against the professional code of an artist,” the ministry said in a statement quoted by the official Xinhua news agency.”

The phrase “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people” stuck out at me and made me laugh.  I wonder if something was lost in translation, because this choice of words just seems… wrong.  Is this how nations speak?  It’s as if the little Icelandic kid picked on the big Chinese bully on the playground and made him cry!  Ya know, i really cant feel sorry for the Chinese people and their hurt feelings.  Sometimes it’s okay to hurt the bullys feelings and bring him down a peg.  Not that I actually think Bjorks comments actually made a difference.

I can’t wait for the Olympics.  I hope some athletes have the balls to mention Tibet and other such human rights violations that occur in China.  An international incident is always more exciting then a decathlon!