PodCamp Boston 3 - Last day to register

First and foremost, please download a copy of our official PodCamp Boston 3 Guidebook, put together by Michelle Wolverton. This guide contains maps, directions, and the schedule that YOU collaboratively organized as a group. (and you did a great job!)

http://www.podcampboston.org/pcb3guide.pdf
2.2 MB PDF

Second, if you haven't watched any of the preconference sessions yet, you should - learn about BrainTorrent, tips for presenters, and much more.

http://www.podcampboston.org/preconference

If you haven't entered the Twitter contest to win an 80 GB Zune and other prizes, it's not too late! Just come up with some witty sayings in 140 characters or less - details here:

http://www.podcampboston.org/contest

If you know someone who is on the fence about attending, due to insurance regulations and a need to get a final registration list to the venue for security, PodCamp Boston 3 ticket sales will END on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at noon eastern time. If they wish to attend PodCamp Boston 3, they MUST obtain tickets before then.

Please make every effort to be on time, as stuff like giveaways, contests, free food and drinks, shirts, and other goodies will be available on a first come, first served basis.

We're looking to welcome you to Boston in just a few days! (even if you live here)

As always, a HUGE shout-out to our sponsors, who make this event possible. Please check out their services during the breaks in the Rotunda room area to see how they might be of help to your new media efforts.

Premium Sponsors

mDialog : www.mDialog.com
Blue Sky Factory : www.BlueSkyFactory.com

Plus Sponsors

Mzinga : www.Mzinga.com
Utterz : www.Utterz.com

Sponsors

Blip.tv : www.Blip.tv
Blubrry : www.Blubrry.com
ooVoo : www.ooVoo.com
MatchMine : www.MatchMine.com
MarketingProfs : www.MarketingProfs.com
MarketWire : www.MarketWire.com

Finally, for those history buffs, we're also pleased to present you a free copy of the Handbook of New England, published in 1916 by Harvard University. It's a fun read if you want to see how the area around PodCamp Boston 3 was nearly 100 years ago.

http://www.podcampboston.org/harvardbook

Thank you, and see you in Boston in just a few days!

"the willfully unimaginative see more monsters"

JK Rowling's commencement address at Harvard is making the rounds and with good reason. If you have not stopped to spend the twenty minutes viewing it, please mark this link and when time permits, do so.

My favorite quote from her talk:

"I think the willfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid. What is more, those who choose not to empathize enable real monsters. For without ever committing a outright evil act ourselves, we collude with it through our own apathy."

It is well worth your time!

Berkman@10: Lawrence Lessig

Berkman@10: Lawrence Lessig, originally uploaded by shersteve.

mosaic of the Berkman@10 event featuring Lawrence Lessig introducing his Change Congress initiative.

top left, the fireplace in the Ames Courtroom
top right, John Palfry introduced Lawrence
bottom left, Lawrence speaking
bottom right, Congressman Jim Cooper from Tennessee who was the first to pledge to Change Congress.

new Don Quixote - Lawrence Lessig

There is a new Don Quixote
Lawrence Lessig his name
Change Congress his game

I got to the Berkman Center for the presentation by Lawrence Lessig tonight. For a rainy day, 5:00 PM, on a Friday to boot, there were a couple hundred people turn out to do likewise.

He is quite a presenter. Polished, speaking paced carefully with his slides in a minimalist fashion. Some slides just one word. Most slides less than half a dozen words. Efficient. Effective. Powerful.

Hence, the sherku above. There are more coming. I was busy letting my wheels spin on the train ride home. Digesting what he said and what it would mean.

The session was broadcast live on the web so I am assuming it will be available sometime soon as an on-demand video to reply. When it is, I'll provide a link. It will be well worth watching/seeing again.

Berkman@10 - Lawrence Lessig

From the Berkman website:

-5:00 PM ET
-Location: Ames Courtroom, located on the second floor of Austin Hall. Harvard Law School Campus (A map is below)
-This event is free and open to the public - RSVP is not required
-This event will be webcast live, and available via this link on Friday, April 4th at 5 PM ET.

10 years into the Berkman Center and 5 years into Creative Commons, former Berkman Center Faculty Director and current crusader against congressional corruption Lawrence Lessig is coming back to Cambridge.

Celebrate Professor Lessig's return to the Harvard campus on Friday April 4th, where he will speak about his new effort: Building the Change Congress Movement. This talk is co-sponsored by Harvard College Free Culture.

From the Change Congress site:

Change Congress is a movement to build support for basic reform in how our government functions. Using technological and internet tools, both candidates and citizens can pledge their support for basic changes to reduce the distorting influence of money in Washington. The Change Congress community will link candidates committed to a reform with volunteers and contributors who support it.

Change Congress organizes citizens to push candidates to make four simple commitments:

1. No money from lobbyists or PACs
2. Vote to end earmarks
3. Support publicly-financed campaigns
4. Support reform to increase Congressional transparency.

reception in the rotunda of Austin West will follow the talk.

Berkman@10 - Lisa Stone collection

My collected posts from Lisa Stone's talk as part of the Berkman@10 series.

Advance notice

Lisa Stone speaks (audio)

Lisa Stone Q&A (audio)

Lisa Stone is a gem

http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2008/03/berkman10-doc-searles.html (photo)

http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2008/03/berkman10-lisa-stone.html (photo)

http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2008/03/berkman-study-alcove.html (photo)

Berkman: Study Alcove

Berkman: Study Alcove, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The alcove was empty.
Quiet.
It was a little after 5:00 PM.
Lisa Stone is due to speak at 6:00 PM in the West Lecture Hall just around the corner.

I settle onto the bench and begin reading one of my magazines. A gentleman comes along lookng about, not sure where he is or if he is finding what he wants. He asks if Lisa will be speaking here. I confirm yes, and that nothing is set up yet. As we talk I think I recognize him but am not positive. If it is who I think it is, why is he asking these questions? He goes into the room. I confirm later that it was who I thought it was: Doc Searles introduces Lisa.

A few minutes go by. A lady comes by, similarly looking for the Lisa's talk. We chat and confirm she is in the proper place. She sits and we continue talking finding much in common.

Other than being in the same place to hear the same person. She also blogs. She also knows Beth Kantor. She comes from a small town in Western MA. We talk about prop 2 1/2, building community, and discovering common ground. We exchange cards and go into the hall to get our seats for Lisa's talk.

The alcove and bench is not so empty after all.

Berkman@10: Lisa Stone

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/2349093010/, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Lisa Stone delivering her prepared remarks.

The full text of her remarks are available on Lisa's blog.

The audio of her remarks and the Q&A that followed are also available here (remarks) and here (Q&A).

Steve Garfield video streamed her remarks and that piece is available here.

Updated: 4/5/08 here is the Berkman video of this presentation

Berkman@10 - Lisa Stone Q&A

Berkman@10 - The Q&A session following Lisa Stone's prepared remarks on Thursday 3/20/08.

Time: 39 minutes, 33 seconds



MP3 File

Berkman@10 - Lisa Stone speaks

Doc Searles introduces Lisa Stone. Lisa takes about 20 minutes to deliver her prepared remarks in this section. Part 2 covers the approx 40 minutes of Q&A that followed.

Time: 22 minutes, 12 seconds



MP3 File

Berkman: Clay Shirky 2

Berkman: Clay Shirky 2, originally uploaded by shersteve.

This slide summarizes the steps up the ladder that Clay goes into detail about in his new book "Here Comes Everybody".

He identifies the internet as the 5th major technical advance. The first was the printing press; the second, radio; the third, the telephone; and the fourth, TV.

The internet enables sharing (email), conversation (blogs, et al), collaboration (wikis, Flickr, et al) and he thinks is just getting into collective action (flash mobs).

An interesting premise with lots of food for thought. I will have more on this as time permits.

Berkman: Clay Shirky

Berkman: Clay Shirky, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Clay Shirky spoke at the Berkman Center at Harvard Law School last night as part of their Berkman @10 series of events open to the public. Berkman is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year.

The photo depicts Clay at the podium queuing a slide for his presentation. Multiple attendees have their laptops open and operating. The one directly in front is open to the site just referenced by Clay as an example from his new book "Here Comes Everybody".

Meghan and family

Meghan and family
Originally uploaded by shersteve

My brother Bob, his wife Lisa, their daughter Meghan and son William.

Meghan, Papa

Meghan, Papa
Originally uploaded by shersteve

My father, Gerald Sherlock, posing proudly with his granddaughter Meghan.

Five for Friday

I am taking a vacation day today so I have some extra time to catch up on what's been happening in the online world this week. To help you catch up as well, I'll give you five to read in case they missed appearing on your RSS radar this week.

1 - 37Days has a license plate to show off. Patti Digh is always a good read!

2 - Ben interviews Phil in a new feature at the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog.

3 - The collection of photos from Meghan's graduation day can be found in this group at Flickr. Meghan for those who may not be aware is my brother's daughter, the oldest of our "next generation" (my father has 13 grandchildren). the first to graduate, and from Harvard to boot!

4 - via Rhea at the Boomer Chronicles, comes this link to a behind the scenes video on the preparations for the Harvard commencement.

5 - Why do we blog? We are all part of the First Amendment Machine. Read the full posting at Ronni Bennett's Time Goes By.

Enjoy!

It's official

It's official
Originally uploaded by shersteve

Meghan has completed her college degree at Harvard. Yes, that Harvard.

The same one where Bill Gates returned yesterday to obtain an honorary degree with his former classmates who were celebrating their 30th reunion.

Adam Sandler was also amongst the crowd in the proceedings at Winthrop House as one of his relatives was in Meghan's class. While his presence created something of a stir, he was quite gracious about posing for pictures.

Note: Meghan is the oldest amongst the 13 grandchildren in Gerald's clan.