Thinking more about events.

Watching what’s going on in Austin right now and coming to the conclusion that once again the focus is on the partying and hookups rather than the actual conference. This is the first time I’ve recognised so many friends having fun out there. Some of them are doing some really creative stuff and others just seem to be drunk

I mentioned this morning on Twitter that I’d like to see some new Brit events that focussed on the outcome rather than the actual presentations/drinks. We have Hack Day of course and a lot of cool stuff comes out of that, but I’m thinking more about Christian’s Geek Retreat (but with maybe less of a retreat because there’s no fucking way I’m going to Wales) with an emphasis on creation by people with a host of different skill sets. Put a bunch of madly creative bastards in a room and see what gets shoved out the door. It’s kinda how Google foster stuff…

Speaking of events, Mike mentioned on Twitter that tonight’s Mobile Monday is being held at the Transport Museum. I recently did an event with them (old friends WebJam are now hosting a follow up site for that) and the museum is a good example of a perceived dusty old institution understanding what we’re trying to do with 2.0. More venues like this and the Coach & Horses and we may yet find a nice balance between the very old and established city we live in and the mad fuck crazy ideas some of us want to get off the ground here.

That said I had a very frustrating week on my return from San Francisco. Moving from sunshine to storms became a spot on metaphor as my email replies switched from Let’s Do It to Why Do It. The upshot of that is that I cut loose a bunch of finks that I no longer want to work with. Life’s too short to try and lead a dinosaur to water.

But on a lighter note let’s loop back to the beginning and watch Christian and Jo do some karaoke 2.0:

Photo credit: Scott Beale / Laughing Squid (CC license)

I’m a lucky dog because of a lot of things, but mostly because of Jess. Hanging with her each day is a constant surprise and that she puts up with my nonsense is frankly a miracle. Those of you that have met me know I’m a bit of a dick at times and those that haven’t can probably guess as much. Those of you that also know Jess know that she must have the patience of a fucking saint.

She’s smarter than me, prettier than me and a hell of a lot more interesting than me. She has a masters degree in journalism, works a beat that actually matters to her and still has time to edit The F Word and do the occasional freelance piece. Not only am I incredibly proud, but also generally in awe that she fits this all in.

She also makes a kick ass mac ‘n’ cheese.

Here’s her latest piece for The Guardian (more here).

Right now she’s marching in the shitty London weather for International Women’s Day while I sit at home thinking about monster movies.

And speaking of The Guardian, my friend Christian popped up in there today. He and Phil are off doing experiments in Austin as part of SXSW (and with a little bit of luck being picked up at some point by Irina).

If Christian isn’t on your radar yet then he soon will be. The guy just has something.