Other folks have posted their own summaries of the day’s proceedings so I will not duplicate their work. I will link to them, though, at the bottom of this post. Please, take a look at the map I’ve created, and use it as I do, as a way to make concrete the shape and structure of the day, the interrelationships and resonances, the confirmations and contradictions between the ideas presented. So many of them are so compelling, I’m sure that many of these memes have infected my brain.

Please note, the mind map linked to is very, very large. Below the map is a translation of the map into a linear outline, all courtesy of Freeplane, an open source, java based mind mapping tool. I’m mostly happy with it, though it could stand some improving. For example, I could not find the spell check feature they swear is in there.

Anyway, the map is linked below. Have fun!

TED^x Boston Mind Map

TED^x Boston Mind Map

The map is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution – Noncommercial – Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Please let me know what you think.

• Ali Powell
• Bill Ives
• Kurt Eng
• Georgy Cohen
• The Twitter Feed
• The Facebook Page
• Flickr Photos
• HashAlbum
• Georgy Cohen
• Pete Bell
• Cesar Harada

More as I come across them.

If you know me, that’s a lot of thinking.

What is TED^x Boston? For that matter, what is TED? Well, you could just follow the link, but I’ll tell you. TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. TED originally stood for Technology, Entertainment, Design, but the conference has grown in scope far beyond that.

What then is TED^x? TED^xis a new program that enables local communities such as schools, businesses, libraries, neighborhoods or just groups of friends to organize, design and host their own independent, TED-like events.

If you know me, you know that I’m a mind mapper. For me it is the fastest way for me to record notes in high density, along with recording connections amongst and between ideas. Plus, the physical act of diagramming improves my recall. Re-drawing my notes improves my recall even more, in addition to allowing me to tease out even more connections / references / reflections / refractions / contradictions in the idea space presented and represented.

That’s why I’m not going to say anything more about TED^x Boston until this coming Sunday. The mind maps I generated are so huge, that it will take that long for me to straighten them out. They’ll be an integral part of my next post.

Until then, Keep Thinking. Share those Ideas.

Others, however know, or at least they pretend they know, while quaffing down a micro-brew or 10.

There’s a proggyness in the air. The thunderclouds overhead look surprisingly like floating islands upon which caribou lackadaisically graze.  Look over there on Broadway, how did a lamb get downtown and why is it lying down in front of a theater where a passion play is being performed?

It’s time for NEARFest, the North East Art Rock Festival, and I’ll be hitting the road for Bethlehem, PA in just over 12 hours.

The line up this year, with their countries of origin:

• Eddie Jobson, The Ultimate Zero Project (ENG)
• Steve Hackett (ENG)
• Three Friends (ENG)
• The Enid (ENG)
• Iona (ENG)
• Riverside (POL)
• Forgas Band Phenomena (FRA)
• The Pineapple Thief (ENG)
• Astra (USA)
• Moraine (USA)

Damn, it will be good to hear Riverside live again after four years.  They played NEARFest 2006.  They were awesome then, I’m sure they’re even more awesome now.  Then there is Three Friends.  Who, you might ask?  Start with Gary Green (guitar, vocals) and Malcolm Mortimore (drums) of Gentle Giant, mix in generous amounts of, Roger Carey (bass and vocals, from Liane Carroll’s band), John Donaldson (piano and keyboards), Andy Williams (guitar, collaborator with Carey in the Engine Clutch And Gearbox trio) and Mick Wilson (vocals, from 10cc). The result? All kinds of Gently Giant goodness plus tons of new stuff.

Of course, I’ve been saving up to attack the CD bins at the vendors.
This years prey:

• A Perfect Circle
• Gentle Giant
• Symphony X
• Rocket Scientists
• National Health
• Opeth
• Atlantis
• Amon Duul
• Kevin Gilbert
• Royskopp
• Three Friends
• Frogg Cafe
• Ayreon – Actual Fantasy
• Aryeon – The Final Experiment
• Guilt Machine
• Ambeon – Fate of a Dreamer

As usual, yes, I know I could pick up some of these at Amazon, but:

1. What kind of fun is that?
2. Besos has enough money.
3. Oh, and… WHAT KIND OF FUN IS THAT?

I’ve gotta pack.  Talk to you all in a few days.

I’ve noticed that plenty of scientists and engineers do not like science fiction, even when they grew up on the genre and it was a major contributing factor to their chosen profession?  Why?  All too often, they find themselves unable to excuse the scientific and/or engineering inaccuracies in a text whose genre presupposes a basis in scientific fact.  They end up reading fantasy instead, which is unhindered by claims of ties to the real.

Are there authors currently producing science fiction where the science is as rigorous as the prose in beautiful?  I suggest the following and welcome suggestions for additions and subtractions, comments and criticisms.

• Rudy Rucker
• Ken MacLeod
• Charlie Stross

Who else would you suggest?

So, I’ll be headed down to Sprout for the h+ beer meetup sponsored by DIYBio.

When?  6pm until 8ish.

Where? 339 Summer St, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144

I had given up on ever seeing Ford vs. Ferrari, but, perhaps good things to come to those who wait.

There will be a little bit more magic than usual on the Circuit de la Sarthe tomorrow morning.

This was a six hour long version of the 1 hour class I took part in at Arisia [http://www.arisia.org].  Whereas at the Arisia class we were quickly introduced to basic stances and footwork, this seminar proceeded as follows:

• 12:00 -12:25 Introduction to the Longsword
• 12:25 – 12:35 Warm-ups – Be prepared to sweat
• 12:35 – 12:50 The Basic attack – Oberhau
• 12:50 – 1:30 Footwork
• 1:40 – 2:30 Moulinet & Zornhau with Zorn-ort and Abnemen
• 2:30 – 3:00 Snack break
• 3:00 – 3:50 Unterhau and Combining it all
• 4:00 – 4:30 Absetzen – parry-riposte
• 4:30 – 5:00 Ringen am schwert – Wrestling at the sword
• 5:00 – 5:40 Coached free play
• 5:40 – 6:00 How to practice what you’ve learned
• 6:00- Dinner!

There were 6 students in attendance, including Marc Bernier [http://www.hickoryarmsonline.com], the swordsman and craftsman who created my brand new hickory waster, seen above and on the right.

By the end of the day, I was sweaty, tired, famished, and totally happy.  Afterwards, we shared a well deserved beer and some much needed calories.  Check these guys out.  They’re great teachers.  I’m definitely looking forwards to many, many, more lessons.

Thanks guys!

It occurs to me that you might not know what a PodCamp is. Well, PodCamps are a type of unconference. But What’s An UnConference? An unconference is a facilitated, participant-driven conference centered around a theme or purpose. PodCamp is NOT just about podcasting, but about all social media/networking, and its relevance and usefulness to community, business and otherwise. This PodCamp was all about blogging, content management systems like WordPress and Drupal, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, podcasting, videocasting/YouTube, and many other online community tools.

What is also is, is a ton of fun!

What happens at PodCamp definitely doesn’t stay at PodCamp, as evidenced here.

So, what did I do?  Well, I attended quite a few panels, but the ones I found most useful and memorable were:

Video Podcasting

This panel, presented by Jeff Cutler (@jeffcutler) and Mike Langford (@mikelangford) of NomX3 (yes, they do care what you had for lunch), was chock a block full of tips and tricks to getting a video podcast up and running.

As is usual for this sort of panel, there was that never gets old reminder that, on the web, content is king.  What you have to say almost totally trumps how stylishly you say it.  But then, what kind of content will you have?  A free-flowing conversation? A fully scripted show? Talking heads? Footage with voice-over (the format of Fantastic Dimensions)?  Even if you choose to have the content of a particular episode dictate the format, your show (that’s what it is, a show) should have a home format, to which it always returns.

Well, a show needs an audience.  Funny thing about the web.  Most content is posted with an “if you post it, they will come” attitude.  It’s self expression, it’s a long tail play.  But still, it would be nice if someone was watching, and if you knew who was watching.  Google Analytics to the rescue.  You’ll have more information about your traffic (or lack thereof) than what you’ll know what to do with.  There’s another way of looking at audience for your show.  Consider having a live audience as you record.  It will add a whole new feel and dimension to your show.  This is not an option, however, for the terminally shy, unless you use it as a crash course in getting over being shy. As far as being shy goes, well, consider a co-host.  Chemistry is good for popularity.

As far as promoting your video podcast, set up a FaceBook fan page for it and cross post between blogs.

Advanced LinkedIn

This session I had a keen interest in, as I had been involuntarily thrust into the job market almost exactly two months before.  I thought I had a pretty good idea how to use LinkedIn, but, Christine Pilch (@christinepilch) exposed me to quite a few tips and tricks.

For example, I already knew that personalizing your profile URL made your profile more easy to find and remember, like so – http://www.linkedin.com/in/marlinmay – but it hadn’t occurred to me to change my picture to one which looked more business-like.  Which presents a bit of a quandary.  I don’t want to represent myself as like I’m an accountant or banker (in a jacket, shirt & tie), at the same time, I don’t want to look like a flake.  I still have to think this out & put my creativity to work. In the mean time, it’s a fairly innocuous and (I hope) generic picture.

You have to remember that it’s called social networking for a reason.  Participate in the groups, in particular those associated with your chosen profession, the profession you want to get into, and your areas of expertise / fascination.  Ask questions of your fellow group members.  If you can, answer at least one question per week.

Use the Events module to announce events you’ll be attending.

By the way, keep your profile updated.  Make changes regularly so that it is always near the top of the list of newly updated profiles.

Promoting Your Video Podcast

Steve Garfield (@stevegarfield), he of Get Seen fame, blew me away with his session on promoting your video podcast, not just with the ideas he had for promotion, but the tips he had regarding distribution.  For example, I was flabbergasted to learn that I could stream video from my iPhone 3G (Not 3GS, but 3G) using Qik.com.  Really!  I’ve done it, it really works.  I still think it’s really cool.

If you’re going to be streaming your show live, he suggested either Livestream (no hyphen) or Ustream.  For distributing pre-recorded video, TubeMogul seems to be the way to go, because of its upload once, view everywhere features.  However, he also mentioned that if you upload to Blip.tv, when your video is accessed by an iPhone, it is automatically transcoded for the iPhone.   By the way, it seems that Blip is also now offering upload once view everywhere.

If you need to create a quick slide show, you can use Flickr and Animoto to create cool, free presentations, like this one I made in about 5 minutes using photos taken by my friend Alex Kinnan at Jan Bender and Gary Echternacht’s “Holiday at Hogwart’s” party a couple of years ago.

All in All

Yes, I learned all sorts of techie things at PodCamp WesternMass II. I am now a dedicated unconferencer, and my next will be Barcamp Boston, to be held on the MIT Campus at the wacky Stata Center on April 17 & 18.  Truth be to tell, of equal, no, greater value are all of the acquaintances I made at PodCamp.  Who?  Why these folks. These are all folks good to know, eager to share information with you.

Thank you, Morriss Partee, for an excellent experience.

See you at PodCamp.

This past Tuesday, with head spinning abruptness, I and my long time employer, Comcast, parted ways.

Rumors were rampant for a few days beforehand that Dec. 8th would be the day, and the day before our little group of programmers were warned that we might be impacted.

By the end of the day, our number had been reduced by almost 1/2, including me. Throughout our division, it is believe that headcount was reduced from approx. 7,000 to approx. 5,000. Because I was IT, and could actually do damage with a few keystrokes (hey, let’s give a different random .1% of customers free cable each month!), I was not allowed back to my desk, and after the hour long meeting with HR, I was escorted from the building. The acting director of IT packed up my personal belongings so I could pick them up at a later date, which I did yesterday.

The severance package is generous. Very much so. So I’m ok. The shock is wearing off. Bouts of depression and/or sadness have been mild and short lived. I’ve been reaching out to my fellow former co-workers so we can encourage and support each other.

I’m determined to use this time to re-assess my working life. I hope to figure out some way of combining my vocation with my avocations. I’d like for this next phase of my working life to be a joy. I believe I’m done with work being a daily grind, and I believe I have the skills and background to make this a reality.

The organism called Comcast did not mean to, but, it gave me a rather rough hewn birthday present, which I intend to carve and polish into a thing of beauty.

I’m actually feeling pretty empowered, even optimistic. I do, however, have my work cut out for me.

If you’d like an idea of what skills I bring to the table, please see my LinkedIn profile – http://www.linkedin.com/in/marlinmay

If you happen to hear of any career opportunities, I would greatly appreciate you passing them on to me.

I wish you Happy Holidays, peace, prosperity and happiness in the coming year.