Flunking the smell test: When you read something that defies logic, like, say, AOL can use your IM conversations anyway its wants to, don’t jump to conclusions.
Anna Marie Cox said something relevant to this at that sxsw session I
didn’t blog. I’ll paraphrase her observation: “Having an editor doesn’t
always suck.”

State of the blogosphere: At least, the state of the blogosphere according to David Sifry.

I’m not blogging sxsw, #9: I’m not blogging the session, “the future of podcasting,” but Eric Rice is.

(Technorati tag: sxsw)

I’m not blogging sxsw, #8:  I’m in the Wonkette session and not blogging it, and neither is the other Rex, who is sitting next to me.

Update: If I were blogging this session, I would blog that Wonkette prefers Glenn Reynolds to Jeff Jarvis.
The exact quote (or, at least my version of her exact quote) is,
“Jeff’s site can be a little much. There’s not much of a filter on
Jeff. I prefer filtered thought. Then, you have someone like Glenn
Reynolds who doesn’t write much (but just links). It’s easier to skim
Reynolds than to skim Jarvis.”

(Technorati tag: sxsw)

Steve gets some major blegoboo: He’s been named one of the top 100 media people to know.  I actually know Steve and I agree. (What is blegoboo?)

Im not blogging sxsw, #7: I’m attending a
session on humor
on the net
which is typically not a funny topic to talk about. But they’re doing a
decent job showing what they’ve done — and some is funny and some is,
well, it ain’t no Virtual Stan.

I’m not
blogging the session, but Will
Pate, who is sitting next to me is. Scott Kidder is also sitting
next to me and he’s an intern at Gawker.

(Technorati tag: sxsw)

I’m not blogging sxsw, #6: I’m in a session called, “Does Design Matter?”
with a panel of some famous web designers and a room full of web
designers (I’m purposefully sitting in the corner.) I’m not blogging
the session, but Joe Clark likes the redesign of Ryan Gantz’s sixfoot6.com. Jeffry Zeldman likes this the theshowlive.com website. (Clark says the type of design seen on the theshowlive.com has become a “trope” which I’m must admit, I have no clue what he means.)

Zeldman
says that typically, a website which has a design sucks is the result
of a designer is reporter to 12 people who are all telling you to do
stuff that is awful. Everyone wants a link to their thing on the front
page.

Goto: I don’t like the “b” word (branding), but the brand is a contract of trust. A successful design conveys a brand promise.

A question about design for design sake leads whoever’s in charge of the projector to link to Virtual Stan.

Sorry, now that I’ve seen Virtual Stan, I can’t seem to concentrate on what they’re talking about.

Big news, however: Robert Scoble was in the same session and I finally got to meet him.

(Technorati tag: sxsw)

my son & Vassar 4.20.03

Buddy Spicher, my son & Vassar 7.30.02

Get well, Vassar: One of Nashville’s (and the nation’s) treasures, fiddler Vassar Clements, is battling lung cancer according to a note on his website. For those who aren’t familiar with the bluegrass-honkey tonk
jazz-old time genre, Vassar was the fiddler on the Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band’s classic, Will the Circle be Unbroken.
Vassar is also one of those great legendary Nashville musicians who is willing to take time to jam
with kids like mine, passing on the tradition so the circle will
continue to be unbroken. Here’s a link to an Amazon.com page featuring several Vassar CDs. (via: cybergrass.com)

I’m not blogging sxsw, #5: If I were blogging, I’d be pointing to Dan Gillmor’s very kind mention
of me on his blog. It’s great to meet someone I’ve read and admired so
long.  If I were blogging sxsw, I’d be saying how Malcolm Gladwell
is not only a great writer, he’s a great performer. I’d also be saying
how I can’t believe I missed Robert Scoble’s session but I was so
intent on hearing Craig (craigslist) Newmark, I completely missed the
fact that the two sessions were going on at the same time (but I did discover this page that recaps the presentation).
I hope Robert’s around today so we can officially meet. If I were
blogging, I would tell how much I enjoyed talking with Taylor McKnight
about how he started his incredible “Steal these Buttons,”
one of those hidden treasures of the web that I find fascinating. But
even though I’m not blogging sxsw, I still had to post this photo of
Rex Sorgatz and me. That’s right, I finally got to meet offline “the other
Rex,” the one with the really cool blog, fimocous. I’ll probably be
posting some more “I’m not blogging sxsw” posts today, but unfortunately,
this is my last day here. (Technorati tag: sxsw)