And there is a book also. Can you really not like this? Just makes me smile!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Gmail iOS app is live on Apple App Store
Check out this application on the App Store:
 | GmailCategory: Productivity Updated: Nov 02, 2011 |
| iTunes for Mac and Windows |
| Please note that you have not been added to any email lists. Copyright © 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved |
Sent from my iPhone 4S
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Roll On Sushi Opens In Austin
A couple months back a friend sent me a link to a YouTube video about
two brothers opening an Asian fusion restaurant in Austin. The concept
was simple. A place to enjoy sushi and sushi inspired dishes in a
social setting. Roll On Sushi could not have opened up a moment too
soon. The concept is simple. You get an order sheet and you can check off
the rolls you want. They range in price from $3.95 to $9.95. The
average order will be around three rolls for the average person. My
order was four, and it left me filled like a great Thanksgiving dinner
would. My "litmus" test for any sushi restaurant is the spicy tuna roll. It's
my go-to favorite. Roll On Sushi makes a FANTASTIC spicy tuna roll.
The tuna literally melted away. The next roll tried was the evening's
special, "The Surf 'n Turf". This roll is filled with soft shell crab,
avocado, goat cheese, cucumber, and seared New York strip! It was a
meal by itself and had so much flavor! Next was "The Beefy Texan", which more than lived up to it's name.
Stuffed with beef brisket, spicy BBQ mayo, wasabi cole slaw, and
avocado this roll would be a great way for the non-sushi lover to
start. My stomach, filled and content, cried "No more!" as my eyes locked in
on "The Elvis". The "King" was know for his love of his banana, bacon,
mayo, and peanut butter sandwiches. Put all that in an egg roll and
fry it then add a side of mayo or chocolate dipping sauce for one
experience you will not forget. What is even more fantastic than the great menu and service is the
price. Even with a carafe of sake my bill was $35. The average person
would probably be around $25. Can't wait to come back to get my "Roll
On"! Roll On Sushi is located at 5350 Burnet Road in Austin, TX. www.rollonsushi.com
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Wreck This App for the iPad - More than genius in it's simplicity.
Kerri Smith created Wreck This Journal a few years ago and now we have in digital form Wreck This App. Each page has instruction that is open to interpretation. Doodle, scribble, write, paint, or picture on it. You can even post your versions online to Facebook and more. Great for getting the creative juices flowing!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
You want awesome? Go to Uchiko's Sake Socials
Over the years I've gone from never having sushi to being a sushi
fanatic. Happy hours have always been a great time for me to get my
"fix" but no place has wowed me like the Sake Social at Uchiko. From 5-6:30pm each day you can try a variety of Uchiko's signature
flavors for under $6. Two of the hand rolls tried were HUGE and came
with a sauce pairing that was simply amazing. The "crunchy spicy tuna
hand roll" was full of flavor and texture, not to mention a little
heat, and had an amazing chili sauce. The "p-38" was just as
delicious. Not going to describe the flavor as you have to try it to
understand it. Some of the smaller snack items were equally delicious. Take the
"kakiage" which is a tempura fried sweet potato fritter served with
chili sauce. Worth getting your fingers a bit greasy grabbing a taste
of these. So much for only $3. The item that took me my surprise was the "gyutan nigiri", lightly
grilled beef tongue with yuzu kosho on white rice, with so much flavor
and so tender! For two big pieces it was $3. So good I had it twice! The staff here is amazing gracious and attentive. Try the Tamara
nigori sake also for $3 for what they call a "samurai" pour. Big and
in a box. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. See you at the bar!
fanatic. Happy hours have always been a great time for me to get my
"fix" but no place has wowed me like the Sake Social at Uchiko. From 5-6:30pm each day you can try a variety of Uchiko's signature
flavors for under $6. Two of the hand rolls tried were HUGE and came
with a sauce pairing that was simply amazing. The "crunchy spicy tuna
hand roll" was full of flavor and texture, not to mention a little
heat, and had an amazing chili sauce. The "p-38" was just as
delicious. Not going to describe the flavor as you have to try it to
understand it. Some of the smaller snack items were equally delicious. Take the
"kakiage" which is a tempura fried sweet potato fritter served with
chili sauce. Worth getting your fingers a bit greasy grabbing a taste
of these. So much for only $3. The item that took me my surprise was the "gyutan nigiri", lightly
grilled beef tongue with yuzu kosho on white rice, with so much flavor
and so tender! For two big pieces it was $3. So good I had it twice! The staff here is amazing gracious and attentive. Try the Tamara
nigori sake also for $3 for what they call a "samurai" pour. Big and
in a box. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. See you at the bar!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Bcycle Bike Sharing Could Be What Austin Needs
Austin has a strong cycling community. We are also one of the fastest
growing cities in the United States. Traffic is becoming a greater
issue each year. This is why a bike sharing program makes sense.
Mellow Johnny's and GSD&M have joined forces to bring Bcycle(rentable
bicycle), a bike sharing program in cities like San Antonio and
Denver, to Austin. In a presentation at the Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop
Thursday night Bcycle made it's debut to Austinites.
bike, use, return, and then it's ready for the next rider. The
demonstration and Q&A provided an expectation of what is to come. Let's explain how it works. The Bcycles are set up in kiosks where you
can rent them at a rate set by that city. Fairly easy to use (video
demo here), the kiosks can support up to 23 Bcycles and can be
designed to fit existing area with no build-out using a modular fit
system. They can also be self-sustaining with solar power. Once you
receive your bike you just ride and go. Return to a kiosk when not in
use. Kiosks are generally less than 6 blocks apart in downtown areas. The Bcycles, built by Trek, have 3 speeds, GPS tracking, fenders, and
a basket. They are also designed to be used by someone as short as
4'10" to over 6' tall with an adjustable seat system. Throw in a
built-in, always-on lighting system and a lock that coils up to hold
your morning coffee and you have one serious, durable, commuting
machine. At around 47 pounds it is not designed for speed, however
after test riding one, it does provide a comfortable and surprisingly
easy ride. The GPS feature allows users to track where they went using mobile
apps or their website. They can even tell you how many approximate
calories were burned on the trip. The data collected from the GPS also
can let users know which kiosk have bikes available or slots to return
the bike. City planners will be able to see how the Bcycles are being
used to add or move kiosks where they are needed. The system works best when bikes are available and as an incentive
there isn't a fee for use under 30 minutes. Prices are tiered for
longer use. San Antonio started using the Bcycle program in March of this year.
Adrian Lipscombe, a planner for the Office of Environmental Policy for
SanAntonio, believes the program a great success so far. Since then
they have had over 11,000 trips made through June. Future plans there
include having more units installed at visitor centers throughout the
city. At a cost of around $2 million dollars for the initial installation
the program is not inexpensive. Funding from the private
sector($500,000) is still needed to bring the program to Austin, with
the balance coming from public transportation grants. The value of the
program does exceed the cost in providing a real solution to traffic
and parking in the downtown Austin area. One example is taking your
car to a CapMetro Rail station, and after taking the train to work or
your destination, then use the Bcycle to travel the final distance to
your destination. Some cities are now reporting after their first year
of using Bcycle that they have become self-supporting from AD space, memberships,
and rental revenues. Let's make this happen Austin.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
To Spotify or to REALLY Spotify. That is the question.
It isn't a question of not using this fantastic new music service. It is a question of using it free or buying into one of the plans (offline and mobile features). Now, if you have never heard of Spotify, here is a video explaining it.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Movie Poster Found After 22 Years
In a box of old belongings that haven't been touched in over twenty
years was this gem of a movie poster. Purchased from an auction held
by the Milwaukee PBS affiliate back in 1989 it sat in a box still with
the original manilla folder. Wonder if it has any value but I also
want to frame it. What to do....
years was this gem of a movie poster. Purchased from an auction held
by the Milwaukee PBS affiliate back in 1989 it sat in a box still with
the original manilla folder. Wonder if it has any value but I also
want to frame it. What to do....
The iPad Accessory Of The Year
As an iPad aficionado this must be in my life soon. My apartment isn't big enough for a full size one.
Friday, July 08, 2011
Calimocho - My Summer Drink Of 2011
A couple month's ago while waiting on Mellow Johnny's to assemble my
new bike I had the pleasure of a delicious lunch at Frank's. They had
introduced a new summer cocktail menu. The calimocho caught my eye. It
is a simple concoction of two ingredients, Coca-Cola and red wine that
is served over ice. Even with a lot of doubt at how it would taste one
was ordered. The doubt was replaced with surprise and contentment. It
was simply delicious. Have one at Frank's or make one for yourself.
You won't be disappointed.
group get the box variety. In the versions personally tested it did
not make a difference on the specific Pinot Noir. You will also need
an equal volume of Coca-Cola. Mexican Cokes if you can find are the
best way but a good ol' standard 2 liter will work also. It HAS to be
Coca-Cola though. (Funny that the mixer is more important than the
alcohol ingredient) For every ounce of wine it is an ounce of Coca-Cola. Serve in your
favorite glass over ice. Garnish with an orange slice if you want to
be fancy. This drink will bring a smile to anyone's face. Like mine
right now. Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
A reminder of the power of social media.
Here is the latest Socialnomics video from Eric Qualman. An interesting way to see the power of social media.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Something to watch and share with someone for the summer. Seriously.
This is great advice and one of the best ways ever presented. Will never forget this video.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Should our tax dollars help Formula One in Austin yet still cut education?
Here are some interesting facts and thoughts on using tax dollars to support Formula One in Austin. With all the cuts to basic services is this the best use of public money? Susan Moffat makes a few good points.
Do "good" by GOOD and compete in the 2 Mile Challenge
Most of us own a bike. Get in shape and get your ride ready to go to compete in the CLIF Bar 2 Mile Challenge. They have teamed up with GOOD and have set up 3 teams each with it's own supported charity. All the details are here. Sign up and come ride! No matter which team you chose (Red Team was my choice) you will help that charity, the planet, and your body!
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Monday, June 06, 2011
Android Fan "The Droid Guy" Demos iOS Features
The "Droid Guy" takes a jab via VIDEO on the iOS updates..
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Forest Trail Elementary Sends Students To Summer Break With Style
The faculty at EANES ISD's Forest Trail Elementary sends their students off to enjoy the summer with a flash-mob style dance featuring Katy Perry's song "Firework". They did a great job on this and near the end of the video you will see how much the students enjoyed it. What is really fantastic is you can tell how much fun they had making this. Teachers and staff like this are hard to find. Unfortunately some of the staff will not be returning next year due to the Texas education budget cuts.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
A story of how the show must still go on...
After watching this our thoughts are probably the same....
Nothing like a little live music...
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band in the Do512 Lounge. And a few Shiner
beers. Let the weekend begin.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Revisiting Childhood With Grover On My iPad
Remember when a parent read your favorite bedtime story? Grover, the lovable, furry, and quirky character from Sesame Street was the star of my favorite story "The Monster At The End Of This Book". Even now it is still a favorite and to see it brought to life on the iPad is beyond amazing. If you loved it as a child check it out and share it with yours (or for nostalgia). You won't be disappointed.
 | The Monster at the End of This BookSesame Street Category: Books Updated: Apr 25, 2011 |
Sent from my iPad 2
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The bike for me had something the rest didn't.
With everything close between all the models this was the feature that
separated this one from the rest. The TREK Earl. It rocks.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, May 09, 2011
FOX's Glee Has Lost Its Way
In 2009 there was a pilot episode on iTunes for this new show about
high school and fitting in. The twist was it was going to have musical
performances by the cast in conjunction with their high school's glee
club performances. The pilot was genius. Strong characters, great
dialog, and and interesting group of actors portraying both students
and teachers. After the first of many viewings the excitement grew for
me as to what I thought would be one if the best new shows to hit the
small screen in a long time. Glee was born as was my becoming a
"Gleek".
to watch the pilot again. To my surprise it made me realize that the
show has strayed so far from that initial episode that it feels the
Ryan Murphy has cheated us from some elements that were never used.
Let me give you some examples. Also, if you haven't watched the pilot
take a moment to, as then you will understand this point-of-view
better. The Cheerios. This was "the" team of the fictitious McKinley High
School. The multi-national champions were headed by the manically
driven Sue Sylvester played brilliantly by Jane Lynch. In the pilot
the opening scene was a performance by the cheerleaders. Then, they
disappeared. No awesome choreographed performances or musically
driven feats of acrobatics. They have even gone so far as to disband
the group and to make the coach "Loser Of The Year". Why deny us a
sort of competition to see who is better in front of the crowd?
Cheerios or New Directions? At this point we may never know. The football team. For being part of the ruling class in all the
episodes post-pilot they have made them the worst sports team since
The Washington Nationals. The show could have had so many
possibilities if they would have made them the championship level they
seemed to be in the pilot. Remember when Finn saved Artie from the
port-a-pottie flipping in the pilot? He said to his football teammates
"You can't win without me". This ended up being a fallacy as the later
episodes made them to be such losers they needed gimmicks to win. So
many potential story lines lost. Rachel's Parents. We know she has two gay dads. We met mom. Why not
the parents of the child they have raised to be a star? Not once at
any performance. Too bad as this could have made for some interesting
story lines. Lastly, and what I feel is one of the most important things robbed
from the story lines, is the "Landscape Guy". In the pilot he was a
major part of the character building of Finn's love of music and
singing. It was also the reason Journey was brought in because of the
inspiration and memories from Finn's childhood. Even with missing these Ryan Murphy has still made a fantastic show
and has approached many tough issues from bullying, child pregnancy,
and teenage sexuality with humor and class. Sometimes it does seem to
run more on gimmicks instead of the strong character dialogue they
began with. Each episode appears to be based on how to work in a
potential iTunes recording instead of telling the story. You've made a great show Ryan Murphy. Trust that enough to remember
how hard your team worked on the pilot. Let's get back to the story
and let the music compliment it instead of drive it.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
One of the most addicting games I've played on the iPad: Pulse
Normally the iTunes App Store game recommendations are a bit off the mark for me but Pulse: Volume One is one of the most fun, original, and addicting experiences on the iPad. The game is basically hitting spheres which represent notes before the "pulse" passes them yet not to soon before the pulse is near, therefore keeping a beat. This is one of those games that gets lost in translation so instead of trying to over-explain it let me just tell you to get it. Only $4.99 and worth it.
Check out this application on the App Store:
 | Pulse : Volume OneCipher Prime Studios Category: Games Updated: Apr 21, 2011 |
Sent from my iPad 2
Friday, May 06, 2011
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Woman Makes Facebook Lost-and-Found for Tornado Victims
via abcnews.go.com
Check out the story ABC news did on Patty Bullion who after reading her neighbor's Facebook post about how it was raining pictures created a page so people could recollect the memories lost. One of the best ways to use social media for good!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Have you used the Apple DV adapter with your iPad 2 yet?
If you haven't you should. Will be posting a video in a few days with the why you should get it. Anyone else been using theirs and loving it as much? Would love to hear your reasons too!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A sneak peek at what you can expect at La Zona Rosa tonight
If you have tickets to see Fitz and the Tantrums tonight you are in
for a treat. (still in the hunt for tickets tonight for myself so if
you know of any...)
Sometimes you end up in the best places...
Today thanks to the wonderful people at Do512 and Shiner Beer forty of
us got to see one. Of the hottest bands in one of the best settings.
Fitz and the Tantrums. Words can't describe...
Friday, April 01, 2011
GoDaddy's Bob Parsons And Mashable Must Take Us For Fools
In Mashable's posted story of Bob Parson's elephant killing and response to the internet's displeasure he is quoted as saying “In Zimbabwe, the people there are incredibly impoverished,” said Parsons. “They treasure an empty plastic water bottle. It’s heart-wrenching to watch … These people are all subsistence farmers, and if they don’t have a good harvest, they starve. That’s it — there’s no support, there’s no welfare, and if they starve, they will die.” What really gets me is that he must take us for fools. Watch the trailer from "The Gods Must Be Crazy" and make your own conclusion.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
"Play Me I'm Yours" Street Pianos In Austin Drawing Interest
This piano was just setup and is already drawing a crowd. Information
on the project here: http://www.streetpianos.com/
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Amy's Ice Cream & Google Hotpot Team Up For FREE ICE CREAM DAY!
Amy’s Ice Creams and Google Hotpot are proud to announce that on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 from 3 - 7pm you can get a free cup of Amy’s Ice Creams* at all our Austin locations! Yes you read correctly! Amy’s & Google have teamed up to promote their new tool that helps you find and review local business. Come celebrate local businesses with a cup of ice cream for FREE!Free Ice Cream Day is good for a tiny ice cream size, tiny + topping, small ice cream or small + crush’n of your favorite ice cream, fruit ice or yogurt flavor!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Apple Pop-Up Store At SXSW & Me
After seeing Steve Jobs speak online of the new iPad 2 and the launch
date of March 11th it was a concern of mine of how I was going to
"upgrade" and still be around for the conference. But thanks to Apple
and a leak spilled by The Austin-American Statesman fate intervened.
Apple was installing their first pop-up store at this year's SXSW in
downtown Austin. Score.
check out the supposed spot and make sure it was for real. With
blacked out windows and workers running in and out from side entrances
with flooring I knew it was true. 6th and Congress, Scarborough
Building, was the store. Decided to hit up a few of the evening
pre-party events for SXSW and decide if I was going to be up in time
to hit up the store in the AM. 5AM on March 11th. Stared at the alarm for a good minute as it chimed
and figured why not. On the bus by 5:30, armed with batteries, phone,
portable wifi, chair, and a cooler full of Big Red. Upon arriving at
what I assumed was the entrance two Austin Police officers turned to
me and said, "You're the first one!" So began the over ten hour wait
for the 5PM launch. People were milling about giving me the once over. Apple employees
showed up in a group, blue shirts not worn but in hand, and was
quickly rushed inside. For the next two hours it was cold (38degrees)
and a bit lonely. A reporter from Venture Beat who was working out in
the gym below Apple's store came by and asked a couple questions. Only
during a quick resting of the eyes a group of SXSW registrants from
South Africa came by to check it out. Now there were four.
Introductions and conversations began that didn't end for awhile. But
now that I wasn't alone I could take a break. After hitting up a local
grocer downtown, the return had a little drama. The Fed-Ex truck of
iPad 2's arrived and was being unloaded. A lot of them. Apple had a
crew filming or taking pictures of it. The group from South Africa
decided to also take pictures much to the dislike of Apple's group.
This was the only acknowledgement anyone from Apple had given us up to
this point. They had even asked one of the officers to ask them not to
take pictures. (The officer said it was a public street and told Apple
they had to just deal with it) But what it did for us is got us
excited. Our future iPads were being delivered and to the group from
South Africa, myself, and the others just joining us it was like
peeking into Santa's workshop. High fives were exchanged several
times. The sun got higher, the day got warmer and the line began to take
shape. New York. San Francisco, Denmark, and many other cities and
countries stood in line. An Apple employee from their Austin offices
was in line with his wife and brought lunch for everyone around! He
had never done a launch and decided he wanted to join in on the fun.
It was full of SXSW Interactive registrants and we all made the best
of missing the panels by making our own discussions on the conference.
Japan was also a topic as a lot of us had just found out about the
tsunami upon waking. Friendships were started. As the line grew longer and longer press began to show. CNN, Mashable,
TechCrunch, The Guardian, and more. For some reason none of them knew
the location had been leaked the day before and wondered how we all
found out. More press. More photographers. More bonding between our section of
the line which I named the "dirty dozen". Soon plain clothes
individuals began carrying water out to the line. Later, these would
be discovered to be the Apple employees who would be helping us soon. Finally in the last hour before launch unveilings began. The black
film covering the windows were removed and it was revealed to be an
exact duplicate of what most Apple stores look like. Pretty impressive
in that short time. The "blue shirts" came out with more water. We
were pumped. The line was going around the block now. A lot of people. We were
excited. Apple sent employees out to take orders for the first group
to reserve the models we wanted. Press was swarming the entrance.
There was no countdown. They let us in. I was waved in to a sea of excitement. High fives and loud cheers from
the crew from Apple. One iPad for me and one purchased for someone who
couldn't be there. This was my first actual purchase of something from
an Apple store that wasn't an accessory. It was great unboxing it and
getting it activ....(insert frantic person interrupting) At this point
someone from Apple runs to the employee helping me turn it on and
wants me outside. Since I had been waiting all day the Press had
wanted to see me come out first. She instructs the person helping me
to make sure I get out there quickly. So we finish activating it
quickly and I head out front. After a blurry moment of questions, pictures, demos, and interviews
(including a semi-awkward moment of arguing between Mashable and
TechCrunch of who talked first) I was allowed to return to the store
to make sure everything worked. My new friends from South Africa
waited and we left with the spoils of our victory in hand. The rest of the day was spent catching up with the SXSW conference and
of course having fun with my new iPad 2. The biggest questions were
not about the iPad 2 but of how long I waited and what Apple gave me
for being first. The first question is easy. 10.5 hours. Let me dive
into the second question a bit. The reason I wanted to be first in line was to be able to jump right
back to SXSW as soon after 5PM as possible and of course to get the
32GB Black WiFi iPad 2 with a green cover. What Apple did for me is
had a store close to the conference. They also gave me the best
greeting. It really was like walking into Christmas, Halloween, and
St. Patrick's Day at once. Their efforts to be secret kept them from
talking to us until the hour before open. (and brown Apple sweatshirt
guy confirming I was at the entrance in the AM) However, in the excitement and the rush, they took something away from
me. Never been a huge Apple fan and when I purchased my iPad classic
from Best Buy last April that turned it around. This time I wanted to
get it right from an Apple Store, on launch day. Being first was icing
on the cake of excitement to have the next installment of a device
I've come to depend on. Apple promising on the website to have my
device working out the door was perfect for me to jump right back into
SXSW. But in the ways of companies promoting excitement my experience
was interrupted to do PR for the opening of the pop-up store by Apple.
Sure, it's fun and definitely great story-telling, but it was not
asked, it was expected of me. At the time you could have told me to
run naked and I would have due to the energy of it all. What would have been nice is if Apple would have talked to me a few
moments before, had my purchase ready and paid(by me of course),
activated, and asked me. Do I think I deserved a free iPad or a
discount? No. Not one bit. But thinking back on how it all happened it
tarnished the memory slightly in the fact it made me feel manipulated.
I'm sure it was not intentional on the PR person from Apple (assuming
PR) as they were probably just as excited as I was. The first time I
opened an APP was when TechCrunch filmed me. Still nervous to watch
the footage. (and haven't watched it all yet..) I returned to the store the next day in one of the quiet times to
thank the blue shirts for their awesome greeting and help. I even
stumped one of the "geniuses" on a question dealing with iMovie and my
Canon 1400. Apple has great people, and their commitment to their
products is making me consider more of them. But for now, this iPad 2
is fantastic. The best memory of the day was made in the line with the
"dirty dozen" and our excitement of getting our hands on it first and
the stories we told. That IS what it's all about at SXSW and I didn't
miss a thing. We created a great moment in that line to last a
lifetime. My name is Sweet John, and I love my iPad 2.
Has anyone else have this happen to their iPhone 4?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
SXSW: It Is As You Make It
One of the earlier jobs in my life was working for Disney. Part of the
training was a class called TRADITIONS which went into the history and
values the company at that time held near and dear. At the end of the
week a story was told during "graduation" about a Native American
tribe leader who was getting old and needed to find his replacement.
When the final two were selected he went before each with a bird
covered in his hand with the question of whether it was alive or dead.
The wiser of the two after consideration spoke with the answer "It is
as you make it. For if I say it is alive you will surely crush it, and
if I say it is dead you will release it to the air.." He was made the
new leader.
amount of things to do can be overwhelming as can the amount of people
at one event. You can let disappointment ruin your time or move on to
something fantastic. That was a crossroad that came to more than one
individual and there has been plenty of criticism. Several times events were so packed no one was getting in.
Disorganization in the lines or safety checks by the City of Austin
can make some events tedious for the crowd. How you feel about it and
how it effects your time is up to you. A lot of us have felt entitled
to attending all of the big events SXSW has to offer (myself
included). The reality is that we cannot. This doesn't apply only to the evening events. Sitting in a few of the
lounges during the conference were attendees who had travelled across
the globe to be here. Interactive panels were stretched all over the
city. Most said that even though the content of the conference was
great, it was about the people you can talk to. The laid back
atmosphere of SXSW allows conversations that can't take place at other
conferences in New York or Los Angeles. They come here to meet peers
that they only know through emails and conference calls. Those
relationship building moments is what makes this conference and
festival priceless. We all have our moments of wins, fails, and also-rans. SXSW has grown
so much over the years and with growth comes growing pains. A lot of
people will have a lot to say about this year's event. My statement is
this. It is less than a year away to SXSW 2012. Bring it.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
First to be in the Apple Store at SXSW
Why do people love Apple? The employees. How can you not be blown away
when you are greeted like this. Sent from my iPad 2
when you are greeted like this. Sent from my iPad 2
Monday, March 07, 2011
Predictions For SXSW Hastags
Since Twitter and the hashtag(#comment) have become standard issue during the SXSW Conference here are some predictions for what we could see during the film, interactive, and music portions. Be curious to see if some of these really do make it on to Twitter. Feel free to add more in the comments section.
#awesomepanel #boringpanel #thisguytalkslikeEVwilliams #lostmybadge #lostmyhotelkey #thehyattandhiltonarereallyfarapart #karaokeintheRV #sawleslie #purevolumeline #notacosthisyear #batterydying #needaplug #didntrsvp #TitosFTW #waytoomanypepsis #whereistherestroom #noparking #sxswinning #getmein #needwristband #helpimlost #sxswfail #isthatjustinbeiber #thislinesucks #sodrunk #freebeer #freevodka #noideawhatimdrinkingbutitsfree #faderfort #faderfortline #faderfortbathroomline #igottagopee #perezhitmeonhisbicycle #cantgetintoC3party #toomanyredbulls #needredbull #intheER #myfriendsrule #myfriendssuck #gottamovehere #needacab #pedicabsrock #foofightersareplayingsecretshow #justintimberlakeOMG #lostmyphone #lostmyfriends #lostmywallet #lostselfrespect #needsaridehome #sorryfriendsigotinandyoudidnt #wherethehellisballroomA #stuckinportapotty
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
How To Survive The Ides Of March: SXSW Tips From A Veteran
1. Be Nice.
This is the most important thing to remember. Almost all of the support staff for SXSW is volunteer driven. Most of these hard working individuals use vacation time to help make this festival and conference what it is. Yelling at them because you had to wait in line or needed to see a band because you are that important will get you nowhere. Just ask singer Duffy how that worked out for her.
2. You Can't Do It All.
There are panels, happy hours, meetups, tweetups, free food & liquor, and great music to be had. It is everywhere at all hours. Have fun, but take care of yourself. Just because there is free vodka at 3AM does not mean slam it down like it's 1999. You have many nights of this AND many days. Most of my favorite moments have happened during the day at panels or a day party. Sleeping until 3PM in the afternoon will keep you up for the late night, but some of the greatest surprises have happened before then. Pace yourself. Have fun. Drink water. Party on.
3. Go With The Flow
People will recommend creating a spreadsheet. My advice is this; Have some sort of a game plan, but be prepared to let it change. There was one Saturday a couple years ago that the day's lineup was EPIC. Then a friend told me of a party at the Mean Eyed Cat with a band called Hot Leg. Going to this event would mean missing a ton of acts at all the other venues. It was worth it. The lead singer was Justin Hawkins of The Darkness. It was a fantastic hour of hair metal greatness. The group was small but electrified! Absolutely one of my favorite memories!
This also goes for panels and the "work" part of the conference. Sure, you could wait to get into a panel that is packed, but you never know who you can see in the time you spent standing in that line. There was a last minute change for me last year during Interactive and I went to Peter Shankman's panel. Hands down the best speaker in my history of going to the panels.
The rule of thumb is this... Don't get to caught up in having to see EVERYTHING because you will not enjoy it. If you are having fun stay there. If not move on. But this is supposed to be fun (and work for some of us) so just breathe and take it all in.
4. Share.
The most fun of this is telling someone of a great panel or showcase to check out. Spread the love. If you have extra passes GIVE THEM OUT! This holds true if you are not going to use it also. Why hoard them? Can help someone with some insider info? TELL THEM! Give to others and you shall receive. Plus, if you can make someone else's day even better isn't that a great reward?
5. Be Mobile.
This is the hardest part for a lot of people. Don't get stuck in "committee" of what to do or where to go next. Do or do not, as Yoda would say. Having friends and peers with you is great but when it comes down to it if you want to see or do something being unencumbered is key. This is one of the most important things to remember as it can be the difference between seeing something amazing or standing in the street hearing it.
6. Get Credentialed.
If you really want to have the best experience, you need to attend the festival and conference. Best way is to have a badge or a wristband. Do not buy these from anyone else other than SXSW. Sure, you can possibly find someone who is selling one super cheap, but more often than not its fake.
Why spend the money? If you are here to network there is no better way to do that. The badge is the best way to meet everyone. Panels, conference, meetings. Priceless opportunities. Wristbands are what you need to see most of the festival showcases. A lot of people don't go to these because they think they can see everything at the free parties. Not true. The best part of this is seeing music before the masses have discovered it. Make a plan to pick at least 5 bands at random to watch; You never know what you might see. (Brian Jonestown Massacre, White Stripes, etc.. were all unknowns coming to SXSW)
The other half of this is RSVP to the rest. Fader Fort, Pure Volume, Paste Magazine and more throw some fantastic events; You need to be on the list. A great resource for this is Do512 as they are great at collating all the events into one easy to find place.
7. Talk To Everyone.
SXSW brings great minds, talent, and energy to Austin. You never know who you could be standing next to. Conversations with those standing next to me or at a bus stop have lead to great relationships built over a beer and a song. Meeting people from New York, New Zealand, London, or even South Austin can be some of the best memories and have lead to great opportunities.
8. Say Thank You.
Say it with me. "Thank You." Repeat. Free drinks and free shows deserve some free thanks. Do it and do it often. Also a lot of these fine folks work hard. Tip when appropriate. Thank you.
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