heathervescent

Virtual Combined Geek Dinner

Tonight will be the first ever NorCal/SoCal Geek Dinner!

Bring your laptops and EVDO or other wireless broadband connections. Bring a webcam if you have one, although I will have some available.

And, you can still tune if you can't make it in person.

NorCal (South Bay) is here:
http://www.justin.tv/sbgeekdinner
RSVP: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/384133/

LA (Santa Monica) is here:
http://www.justin.tv/lageekdinner or
http://www.stickam.com/profile/lageekdinner
RSVP: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/383895/

LA Geek Dinner - Tomorrow

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the LA Geek Dinner! Click to RSVP.

Here are the deets:
El Texate

 

    316 Pico Blvd
    Santa Monica, California 90405

I've some exciting stuff to talk about as well. See ya in Santa Monica.
 

Thoughts and Harrison Owen

Good Monday Morning Blog! Well, that was quite an awesome weekend. Roadtripping with friends and playing in my old hood - Oaktown Bootieville and Berzerkely. Lots of good conversations and connections with friends.

This morning however, I want to point you to an interview with Harrison Owen - the creator of Open Space Technology. I'm actually heading back to San Francisco on Wednesday to get official training in Open Space Technology Facilitation. I first heard about OST from Mary Hodder. I was telling her about my barcamp organization experiences and she told me to check out Open Space. When she first described it, I couldn't tell the difference between what I used for Barcamp and what she described as Open Space. It was only until I experienced it, could I see the sublime difference.

I first experienced OST at the Internet Identity Workshop earlier this year and I was blown away. It was at the same time more structured and more open than "barcamp". I'm not sure how to describe the difference, perhaps by the end of the week, I will.

Thoughts and Thanks

I sent this to the barcampLA list today. If you're of the like mind. Please join us.

--------------------------------------------

Yesterday's article about the geek dinners and our LA Tech community was a validation of what all of us on this list know has been happening and growing for quite some time. That the tech community here - spawned by Barcamp is no flash in the pan. That community is _you_. Everyone on this list and everyone who has attended an event are the community - and the _real_ reason that article was written.

We have awesome community leaders and plenty of community to grow. Many of you have heard me compare the LA Tech scene as a sleeping giant. Well, in the words of one of my favorite authors, Frank Herbert - "The sleeper has awakened."

And guess what -- that means the spotlight is on us. The world has started to take notice. Let's blow them away. How do we do that?

1. We are team. We're on the same side.
We might not always agree or get along. We might have different focuses and go to different events - but ultimately - working together will help us kick ass daft punk style: harder, better, faster, stronger!

2. Just do it.
Got an idea or a dream? Don't put it off another day. Everything starts with a small step. Don't think you can, then ....

3. Ask for Help
Have a question, need some help. We have the answers in the community. Please feel free to personally ping me. I love enabling you to be successful.

4. Be supportive.
Help those you can. Offer constructive criticism. Remember, everyone is doing the best that they can. Get over yourself and put your ego aside. Everyone can kick ass in their own way. Help them do that.

Finally, I want to say kudos to _you_. Yes, you reading this message right now. This is your community. Let's take even higher. You decide where we go. I'm at your service.

-Heather

Loving the Materials

It's very important to like your materials if you want to kick ass. I talk about this in episode 2, on getting back on the wagon with GTD.

Dec Geek Dinner - El Texate

The word is out. The December Geek Dinner is on Tuesday, Dec 18th at El Texate in Santa Monica.

Location (map)
316 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Get Directions(310) 399-1115

Starts at 8pm. RSVP on Upcoming

Word to the Founders...

Last night, a few hours after I found out the LA Times article was running, the boyfriend, my pal Kaliya aka Identity Woman and I twisted our way into the Beverly Hills. The streets were dark with welcoming lights on the multi-million dollar homes, LA city twinkling behind me. As I downshifted to gain power up the hills, I was internally chucking. You see, I was on my way to a last minute Barlow get-together.

Barlow of John Perry Barlow, the Founder of EFF. My chuckling was because here I have been trying (and succeeding) in kick-starting the LA Tech scene for about 2 years, but I'm not the first one to do this, in fact Barlow's Frenzies are famous for this type of activity. And they've been going on, I don't know how long. They are old school. But there is one person in LA that has been rocking the Tech Party Scene for 20 years. Her name is Coco.

So on this day, where the LA Tech Scene is getting press due to the new explosion of geekterific events, I want to give a shout out to one of my inspirations - Coco Conn. You've been a quiet inspiration to me since I met you (back at the SRL <3 LA show). Thanks and Rock on!

I think I can say, the sleeping giant has awakened.

If you're new to the LA Tech Scene, go check out this page (I'm writing it right now), where I've outlined the various kick ass leaders in the community and where you can go to meet them and learn more.

xxx LA,

-H

I am Queen of LA Tech

The LA Times has officially recognized me as the Queen of LA Tech. Well, ok, maybe not officially the Queen of LA tech, but at least someone who likes to throw tech parties and "nerd" out.

So hi all you LA Times readers. Want to know more about me? Then check out my bio, and then my company - The Purple Tornado. We can help your company kick ass online. (And throw a kick ass party too.) Here's my original call to arms to the LA Tech community.

Want to join? Then join this group.
Want to find about upcoming tech events? Then check out OptionLA - the site I created to catalog all the events.
Want to list your geekertific event? You can do that too.
Want to come the next geek dinner? It's December 18th in Santa Monica. Email me for details.
Jan 15 is going be with our friends Machine Project.

Please feel free to send me email. I promise that I will read all of them that flit past my spam protection. Especially since my inbox is now GTDed! blog at heathervescent dot com.

ps. Check out my last LA Times mention (reigning over LA Blogging) almost 2 years exactly. Thanks LA Times. I try to do our city good.

LA Santacon 2007 - what happened?

Folks always get antsy about Santacon before it happens, because most people like to know what is happening before they do it. But sometimes you gotta trust that something good is going to happen. Take this year's LASantacon. Highlights included:

• Santa's rolling down the hill at the TarPits and hanging with the Giant Sloths (still one of my favorite LA spots)
• Not getting kicked out of the Grove - Not sure how that didn't happen (but more than that, the looks on people's faces as we walked through the grove)
• Snowball fight
• Giant Twister (that I personally made the night before, inspired by the guy who made the SF Twister board).
• Limbo-dancing under a candy cane
• Secret Exodus and landing on Melrose
• Taking over the Top Floor @ The Formosa
• and other things Santa doesn't like to say on blogs.

Everywhere we went people's faces lit up. Children were delighted - especially the ones who joined in on the snowball fight. I only wish we had been able to walk back on Hollywood Blvd - because there were some prime interaction opportunities. The word from Santa is that 2007 was Best. Santacon. Ever. I'm so proud I could help make it happen.

I'm the one with the megaphone. ;) ps. see ya in SF next weekend.

*photo by Kmo of me and Cameron.

Santa Twister

IMG_3832
Originally uploaded by santacluck.

Here are Santas playing on the big twister board I made. Photo by SantaCluck!

2008 Thoughts

It's December and you know what that means in Heatherland? Time to map out my "goals" for 2008. The past couple years my goals have more been topics for pondering. 2007 was easy - it was the Jesus year because I turned 33. I was fretting a couple months ago that I wasn't going to make the 1 specific goal I made this year - my 40 days in the desert and was beating myself up about it, when I realized, hey - I can still do that. I'll give myself another year to do it. In fact, 2008 is 2007 Version 2.0.

The biggest thing I've gotten out of 2007 was my complete and utter success with Pimping and Promoting. Prior to this year, most of the projects I've produced, created or seriously participated in, I have under promoted. Kept secret for the most part. Hidden, underground, invited only a very select few to participate. That changed in 2007. I started pimping out my friends who kick ass, I pimped events I produced and most of all, I didn't feel like I was selling out or being a slimy marketing person with my pimping.

Prior to 2007, I never mentioned the geek stuff I did in LA on my blog, barely mentioned a geek dinner - and now I'd like to think that some of the LA geek event explosion has to do with my raising the flag of awareness of the geek things I did/do. I know I've inspired many of the tech events in LA. I can't specifically tie that back to my goal to pimp and promote this year, but I'd like to think it effected/created it. If I was more egotistical I'd say, "I created this renaissance!" but I know it's been created by all the participants, I've just been the primer iter parus.

So now, 2008, I'm taking 2007 thoughts to the next level. I'm meditating on the concept of "pimping the bellcurve" aka taking it mainstream. Taking my projects, clients, ideas, friends and most of all - myself - to horror of horrors - the mainstream.

This terrifies me. But I remember I felt terrified this same way when I decided chose to work on pimping this year. It's no big deal to talk about all the cool stuff I'm doing, the cool projects I know about and how cool my friends are that kick ass, doing awesome stuff.

Is the world ready for heathervescent, aka hbomb aka heather schlegel aka my other monikers? Hell yes. The world has been waiting, goading, pushing me, I think I'm just finally getting the balls to come on stage.

Rising to the front

I've recently become obsessed with Gwen Stefani. I've got the beat of Hollaback Girl tattoed in my brain, mostly because of DJ Schmoli and A+D's mashups and the three performances I've produced with Gwen mashups: The Original Hollaback Thriller, Hollaback Thriller Redux, and Hollaback Headhunter.

I was often surprised to find out a song I liked and heard on the radio was hers. What really made her stand out in my brain though, was when I saw/heard her song "wind it up".  I don't usually see music videos, so just seeing it was a major accomplishment for me. What I heard blew my mind. I thought it was a mash-up, but it was so obviously her song taking from various inspirations. Brazilian batucada,  musical mash-up with a club beat and a rap ripple going through the song. I was blown away - this was the most innovate music by a single artist since I heard Suba.

I've started listening to her entire discography and I continue to be impressed, inspired you might even say, so much so, that I'm making Gwen my role model for 2008. I'll add her to girl crew of Pippi, Aeon, and Ivy. I need to add some pop-bling to my image and she's the perfect polish.

Not in Charge

Not in Charge
Originally uploaded by Jenski2.

From the what I did yesterday file - It  was LA Santacon and I helped HeliSanta put the thing together. Together we really kicked some red tide ass. I think everyone had a great time. My favorite moment: the snowball fight in Pan Pacific Park and the looks on the people's faces as we walked through the grove.

The massive synapse firing is what I'm going for. Creating a memory, a story that is unforgettable and ephemeral.

Friendship Bracelets are so the next wave

This is just too freaking good. Thanks Rosie for the lots of fun.

To Remember...

"Don't forget you're going to die."
  - John Hawkes

Wise Words

"Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

~ Lao-tzu, 6th century bce Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism from Tao Te Ching
via Jordan

I'll ponder this as I pop up to Canada for a quick 24 trip.

Falling off the GTD Wagon

A few months ago, I stopped using my GTD notebook. Life got hard. I felt like I didn't accomplish much. It's time to change that. I'm doing a short series this December about getting back on the GTD Wagon. Join me and get your ass kicking on! Here's the first episode.

Membership or not membership

Some things I've learned from Cacophony - stolen straight from Rev Al's mouth.

There is a curious, almost inverse relationship between attendance and paid subscriptions. Those who are generally out and about doing events seem almost less concerned with maintaining contact as "official members." Those who keep sending in money year after year tend to be in more outlying neighborhoods/cities, and seem to be content with vicarious "membership." It's almost as if the concept of membership were antithetical to the Cacophony ideal (or maybe that's just what I want to see).

And on do-ers vs wanna-bes

You can't really tell who's full of hot air online. This calls for a meeting. Face to face. We've found that actual monthly meetings in the real world help determine who's just an online know-it-all and who's ready to roll up their sleeves and do something. If they never make it to an actual meeting to discuss the ideas they've been going on about, it's clear that they won't make those ideas happen. Then we know to just politely ignore them when they beat their chest online. Meetings are fairly loose, but we do go down an agenda, basically reviewing past events one by one, discussing ideas for the coming month bandied about online, and then opening the floor to whatever new ideas there might be.

Which leads me back to my thoughts on community vs cliques... and are people who only socalize online, just lame-rs instead of do-ers? I should just write up my thoughts on the subject sooner than later.

Innovator Paradox

The problem with being an innovator, or trendsetter, is that eventually your ideas will go mainstream - and that's exactly when the innovator/trendsetting loses interest in them. Who wants to live in the frontier-land when it starts booming. Sure, the innovator or trendsetter can set out for new innovations and trends, but the problem with that is they don't always stick around long enough to reap the benefits of the bell-curve. How to do both? Innovate and pimp the bell-curve? Birth something from the wet possibilities of infinity and shape it up to ship to the craving mainstream masses?

hmmm.

Santa is coming to town - Saturday

You'd better watch out, Santa has something up his sleeve this Saturday in mid-town LA. Just saying...

How I got my Winnie

The Winnies 2007 1673.jpg
Originally uploaded by luismi1985.

I look more terrified - like maybe instead of a trophy, there was a mouse. Hey - good thing I'm not going into acting, eh?

The Winnies 2007

The Winnies 2007 0985.jpg
Originally uploaded by luismi1985.

Yet another winnies photo.

The Winnies 2007

The Winnies 2007 1415.jpg
Originally uploaded by luismi1985.

Jennifer Fader and I pose at the Winnies. Thanks Irina - you kick ass in my book.

MatzoBall Soup, Wifi and Geeks

Andy and I dream about the LA Tech Community. I know, I know, I need to work on my diction Mom. By the way, Twiistup 3 is Jan 16. Just wait till you see the tricks I have up my sleeve for this one....

Grapples

I have three of them in the fruit bowl and the smell is absolutely driving me crazy. I don't really like apples at all, but these grapples (looks like an apple, tastes like a grape! registered trademark) are really insanely amazing.

This Patent Pending process is complex and the ingredient mix primarily includes concentrated grape flavor and pure water. All ingredients are USDA and FDA approved and the process has been licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

I suggest you check em out. I guess they're worth their $1.25 each price tag.

Bullseye

In my awake/dreaming/trancestate this morning I was mulling over the archery:bullseye concept. There are many targets - some of them require different type of arrows. Some are closer, some are farther. Some are ones I've hit before, others I haven't. One arrow can hit only one target (and only one bullseye on that target) - no matter how good the archer.

Which targets do I want to hit. Which arrows do I need to hit them. And which targets/arrows can I retire - or minimally put on the back burner for the moment. And what criteria do I use to decide which targets I'm aiming for?

As my dad always used to say, and I've taken to heart, "Aim High".

Update: and what if instead of using a bow and arrow, I want to use an AR-15? (In that case, I'll have to move out of California to begin with, or borrow a friend's.) Wait, I thought I already went through the hardware upgrade. But a machine gun would give me the possibility of hitting more targets and there for more bullets. Hey, Heather, I think this is where the metaphor breaks down. Yeah, I think you're right. I'll go back to archery now and focus on the once and future bullseye.

Goth Gwen and the Industrial Bananas

IMG_0920
Originally uploaded by Jenski2.

Wow - that was a lot of fun being goth Gwen and dancing to the Front 242/Gwen mashup with A+D. I was a little nervous because I was on stage by myself for a whole 2 minutes, and I wish I didn't have these 20 extra pounds (well, that's the cost of a good LTR). Props go to my hardcore bananas Carmen and Jenna. And to A+D and all the back stage lovelies. Hey - I kinda like this entertainment being on a stage thing.

The Return

4 hours till showtime at BootieLA and I've just gone through 4 months of mail and cleaned my desk. Why is it I get hit with the office cleaning bug Saturday night before a performance?

A performance I might add that I found out about a week ago and making last minute changes to as we speak. And yet, I am not the least bit nervous, concerned or scared. I remember when I did my first Bootie show last October. I was terrified about it. More terrified than pitching or presenting to a client or corporate VP or CEO. And now, without a second thought, I am brainstorming a major US/European tour with a troupe I have yet to form for next year. In fact, that reminds me - it's the month to wrangle all the goals for 2008. What is the theme for 2008 going to be? Well, I'm pretty sure it's going to be along the lines of Archery: Bullseye.

Points Along a Line

These things, these beginnings we think we create. These edifices we think we have invented - are not our inventions. Something came before us. Something caused, created us. And it is the us that has created this thing. It is a beginning for us, we are but a vessel for these things, these ideas, to manifest. But we are not responsible - and yet utterly responsible for making it happen.

It takes a village to raise a child.
Everything in this world is because of the way the world is.
Nothing can be taken out of this world and looked at objectively. Objective is a different point of view.

But it is still a point along a line. In a matrix of many points on many lines. Mostly you are bound to which points on which lines. Sometimes though, you can move from a point or a line to another. But you must be willing to abandon everything that has brought you to the point/line from which you wish to move.

Some (geek) events coming up

What's on my calendar? The usual mix of tech and alt events in LA and beyond.

• Kirk is hosting the Nov Community Buildrs on Thursday. I've never been able to make one, although I like the concept and encouraged Kirk to start this up when we talked during the summer. I actually think I'm gonna leave this event alone, because I'm working on creating another new community that happens on Thursdays closer to my hood, and branching away from the geek/tech scene. I'm talking about Aikido. I get tired of being only in my brain, so I've been getting back into practicing aikido and helping get the local shusekai dojo going. I've got some plans for other body/movement classes I'm gonna organize in 2008.
• Irina is throwing the Winnies this Friday at CineSpace. I love the idea behind the event, so I'm going and might give or receive an award.
• Then Saturday night A+D wrangled me into doing a last minute BootieLA performance. Me and my posse will be performing alongside my fav DJs on stage starting just after midnight!
• Then I'm off to Mountain View for the Internet Identity Workshop until the 5th. Ask a Ninja is doing their live thing for the ask a ninja day. I don't think I'll make it to that.
• And then it's December. Santarchy in LA (on the 8th) and SF on the 15th. December Geek Dinner, tbd. Machine Project's Fry. Open Space Facilitation training back up in the East Bay and I'm trying to make it to NYC to see Neilalien, Joe, Dame Darcy, Steve and some other folks I am forgetting at the moment.
• Finally, it's back to Cambria to close out the year. 2007 - opened and closed.

Wow - 2007 - lots happened. Lots changed. Lots was accomplished. I didn't get my 40 days in the desert. But I was extremely successful at pimping and promoting - my main goal of this year. I already know what my main challenges for 2008 are. To get over myself and do these three things I hate doing. If I do those things, then my face will be on a cover (again) soon and I'll have jetted off on another trajectory - or more likely I'll be following several threads all at once. But before we go off on that ride, let's get through the rest of the year.

Texas and Cormic McCarthy

I just got back from seeing the Cohen's Bro new movie - No Country for Old Men. I always think the Cohen bro movies are different from what they turn out to be. I had no idea what this one was about, what story would it tell, what was the style. I knew nothing, my mind was zen blank as the lights dimmed and the screen came to life.

A story unfurled. Wide beautiful shots of desert scrubland. A desert I didn't recognize. It was Texas. Some scenes reminded me of my desert trips, minus the dead bloated bodies and drug deals gone awry. (I did once dream of that life, in a country on a border far far from North America.) As the story continued, wide shots, spare dialog, characters that were not Hollywood beautiful, perfect, but interesting and a delight to look at, to watch unfold. Who was this like? What was this like? Fellini came to mind.

Scenes took place. Guns and mayhem, and surprise and ingenuity. And then there were post action come across the scenes, which reminded me of the Bashar and the last 4 chapters in Book 5 of the Dune Series. (I remember you Bashar. I remember you from that summer in Des Moines, when I was 19 and had not yet read Hyperion and learned of the Shrike. You are not just the Bashar Teg, but inspiration for other characters in stories, myths that I love.)

Until the final credits this was just another movie, until, until, I saw it was based on a Cormac McCarthy novel. Then everything fell into place. I should have know. The movie perfectly caught the difficulty, challenge and utter sensual delight of a Cormac McC novel. They are hard, rough, bitter fruits - nuanced and faceted. I went home and picked pages to read aloud from Blood Meridian. I remembered the story. I remembered who gave it to me. (Alfonso, your other name.) And I remember what I learned from that time. The love of the desert and compete and utter ruthlessness.

Hawt! An n9593 on Ice

Andrew Maskin put an n93 on ice for the NYC mobile barcamp.

If you missed the MobileBarcampLA, check out the recap here. There's also a google group you can join. My favorite items were:

• One World. No Borders. 3 Billion Connected People. Claim Your Piece. - David Harper
  Dave Harper, CEO of Winksite, a suite of tools to immediately create and support mobile communities, gave an hour-long session sharing his experience on what it takes to scale mobile applications to 189+ countries and over 5 million hits per month. After providing tips and tricks on mobile advertising and mobile SEO, Dave showed and explained QR Codes and their real-world applications using a plethora of examples. People got really excited about this and again, ideas were bounced back and forth and were discussed far beyond the session.

• halfbaked.com - Entrepreneurial Improv - Alexis Rondeau
  Each team selected 2 random words and got 20 minutes to come up with - and pitch - the next mobile killer application! Besides having the very nice side-effect of making people play and interact, the resulting mobile startup ideas ranged from outrageous ("Zombie Hook-up") to VC-fundable ("Car Watch"). After every team presented their startups' product, revenue model, marketing plan, tagline and logo the most promising one was selected. The winning team was completely speechless when we gave each of them either an N95 or an N800. The unpacking of the boxes ensued immediately and everyone was flocking around the devices. In total we gave away 10 devices in this session (including the very cool panel of judges).

• MegaPhone Demo and discussion - Dan Albritton
  Dan Albritton from playmegaphone.com gave the first workshop in the morning showcasing their mobile real-time multiplayer game engine. MegaPhone is an interactive installation where any cellphone becomes a game-controller by placing a phonecall. Within 1 Minute Dan had the crowd punching their phone-keypads ("Peow-peow!P-p-p-eow!") to score and shouting into their mics ("Grabgrab! Grabgrabgrab! Grab!") to reach the Top 10 of the game. After an overview of the underlying technology and showcases, the group went into a long conversation on creating new applications of the project.
• (recap bullets written by Andy Maskin, Source)

And the In N Out Burger truck in the parking lot. And I don't even like In n Out. ;) I also enjoyed the 1-2am drive around Hollywood to Santa Monica, where we QR tagged In n Out on Sunset, saw a car go over the cliff on Mulholland, looked at the lights of the Valley and Basin from the hills and drove like a race car driver taking the freeway curves at an increasing speed utilizing centrifugal force with the top down.

Now that's a day in the life of LA.

Home Again, Home Again

Whew, it's good to be home. This past 10 day exile from the city of Angels was a hard one. Hard not because of the people and traveling (although those had their moments), but hard because I have turned into a hard-core SoCal Angelino. You know how you can recognize New Yorkers anywhere by their accent and NYC attitude? (I don't mean that in a negative way, you often know a NYer when you see em.) And the most hard core can't imagine living anywhere else? Well, if you apply it to heathervescent you'll need to swap out NYC for LA. I used to love traveling the world, seeing other cultures, play being a native when I was a tourist. I studied 5 languages because I wanted to communicate with anyone and understand culture from the insides. Now I don't care if I ever leave California. There is no other place in the world I would rather be (except maybe Brazil - actually naaahh.)

In the past year, as the LA geek scene has exploded, several different people have asked  me why I don't extend my event/activities to other cities. I certainly believe there are opportunities in other locals - tech scenes are exploding in "second" and "third" tier tech cities all over the world. I considered building a world empire for about 5 minutes and then I realized that was a boy-ego-mustkeepupwithNerd2point0geekscene thought. I don't care about building an empire across the world (at least not in the geek scene). And when I think about what I am passionate about - it's technology and Los Angeles. So although I pause and wonder if I am passing up a huge opportunity for some kind of "domination", I stay true to myself, my passions and my authenticity and stay focused on the city I love. The city that inspires me. The city that drives me crazy and fills me with possibilities. A city that only rivals NYC and Mexico City in the Northern Hemisphere and with world peers of Shanghai, Sao Paolo, Mumbai, Tokyo and Seoul. A city close enough to nature that I can disappear off the grid, deep into hardcore desert in 4 hours. Or if I have only 1 hour, I can drive to the top of a mountain and look out across the basin, shivering in snow depending on the month. I don't need to leave LA, because I have the whole world right here - and I'm living smack in the middle of it.

Who are you? Online?

If you're the least bit interested about how integrated identity is going to pan out online - I suggest you head to the Internet Identity Workshop - B in Mountain View the first week of December. Most of the conversation is about making identity platforms work with each other (like OpenID, Higgens, CardSpace, SAML, Liberty Alliance, etc, etc), but there are lots of other fascinating topics. I'm specifically interested on how people use identities online (well, I know how people use identities online) but how the technology facilitates or makes it difficult for people to have single or multiple identities online.

Unlike the real world (meatspace) there is no corporeal body to anchor you online (unless you create one). This online anchor is most often a website,sometimes a blog, and rarely incorporates the various personalities one has. So I'm going to watch, learn and think about this online anchor for your (and mine) online identities.

Reviewing the technology, gives me lots of ideas for fleshing out, using and extending your/mine/my clients online brands. I believe we are at the tip of the iceberg on this. And of course, I expect to find methods of enlightenment and self-actualization buried in the technology.

The Best of all Possible Worlds

I've taken a bit of a blogging hiatus. It wasn't planned, I just wasn't inspired to write much. I've been working on some things, reviewing others, trying out personas, roles, possibilities. And I've been traveling. I'm sitting in the Houston airport right now. It's been a rainy several days. I'm here celebrating the boyfriend's grandparents 65th wedding anniversary. The party was last night, and I have to say, I was excited to come and see his family again.

His grandmother, Fanny, told me a story from when they were first married, and Louie was an Army officer. She would follow him around in an old Packard. This was quite a feat because of the war gas rationing and she had to travel long distances. She didn't often have gas stamps for the gas. So she'd roll up, tell em she was the wife of an Army officer and she didn't have any gas stamps and they'd have to give the gas to her. She told me she was never refused. What really caught me about this story was her attitude when she started out - "I didn't think about how I would have to do it or how I couldn't do it. I just did it."

I found this attitude so refreshing. Especially in an 80+ year old great-grandmother.

It's an attitude that's important - that makes us alive. It's doing what we must, to have the life, to do the things, we most desire to do. It's living as if there is no other choice. A good friend of mine reminds me of a quote along this path:

"Aut viam inveniam aut faciam" (I will either find a way or make one.)

Which path do you make your way?

Nov G33k D1nner

Geek Dinner - Tomorrow night - (Tuesday)
8pm
El Coyote on Beverly
Special Guests
RSVP

Inspiration

Brian Johnson who started Zaadz a couple years ago is again working on his own site: ThinkArete. It's got some good stuff and big ideas.

1 Hour, a million miles away

One hour from Long Beach is a completely different world. Shrouded in fog, the city of Avalon. (Begin Brian Ferry soundtrack now.) I had heard about Catalina from friends, family and full of mystery from the map. The boyfriend and I were looking for an overnight trip different from our desert excursions - and he surprised me with Catalina.

We packed our bags, drove to Long Beach and caught the 1 hour ferry. It was a cool foggy day, and as we left port the Queen Mary was a ghostly reflection. Huge container transport trucks appeared from the fog. Flocks of black birds skimmed the oceantop in modified V formation. Two seats back a reality TV "star" and his camera crew attempted to wax poetic and failed. I was jacked up on surprise and Donald Trump.

As the island became visible I kept calling it Mysterious Island after one of my favorite childhood movies. S wondered if they had a movie theatre that only showed King Kong.

The place was practically empty. I guess that's what you get when you go off season during the week. I actually love going off-season. I hate being a tourist. I don't like crowds and I want to feel like what it is for the locals. :)

Avalon reminded me of a cross between the Caribbean Island towns and Ouro Preto, in Belo Horizonte Brazil. Little Golf carts everywhere. A completely walkable town. We stopped by the old time photo shop and had our photos taken. We wandered around the waterfront. We hung out on the balcony of our Victorian Hotel. We toured around the island. We went underwater. We learned about the history of Catalina. I breathed deeply the cool ocean air. I wore my sneakers and ski jacket.

As we came back to the mainland yesterday I felt like we had been gone for more than 24 hours. I felt completely refreshed, relaxed and reset. I felt like my adventurous, nothing can get in the way between me and my dream life. And I felt inspired and passionate to do the things I love doing.

Thanks magical isle, La Catalina - Avalon. 

On Making Experiences

I love to make experiences. Experiences for myself, and for other people. On Saturday I had a fine opportunity. After holding sessions on "how to kick ass" at barcamp, I ran off to meet friends at the Palms Thai in Hollywood and to catch Thai Elvis.

Now I have heard about this Thai Elvis dude for-ever, but after 3.5 years in LA (and living less than 10 min from) I still had not seen him. I expected a dark, velvet covered, smoky, dive bar vibe - and was totally confused when I entered and it was a cross between college cafe seating and midwest kitsch (wooden cats hanging from the recessed lighting). I was a deer in the headlights, but I found my crew. It was refreshing catching up with old friends.Then it was out to my favorite dance party with awesome DJs A+D. It was a friend's birthday and I was able to get us a VIP table. The whole evening was an awesome experience.

That reminded me how much I love being in a position to make awesome experiences for people. Experiences like the "failed" pillowfight, streetwars, barcamps2 & 3, zombies in LA and SF, material boys, birthday parties. That's one of the things I do. I know what will delight and excite people and then I work to make those experiences a reality.

Why should they only exist in the mind of movies? Especially here in Los Angeles.

Bonus credit participation: What experience will you create today?

Misc Links to check out

• Cliff Allen wrote a great recap of the Networking Session from StartupLA.
• This looks like an interesting site I want to check out more.
• And this is something I want to do.

Also I want to give Kudos to Joel Ordesky at Exectec. I've been lurking on his meetup for months and finally came out to meet the crew last night and had a great time. Lots of great feedback and conversation and I'm left with new ideas for re-positioning myself. Thanks everyone.

BarcampLA4 Preso

Here's the preso I gave at BarcampLA 4. It spans online branding, blowing shit up, doing things and how to get your heart's desire. As in all things, be authentic, manage risks strategically and be safe KICK ASS.

xxx

-Heather

ps. I'm a kick-ass integrator.

 

| View | Upload your own

ps. photo credits in the preso go to Kmo and Jenna.

My Golden Ticket

Sometimes I think back to my golden ticket. The life I sacrificed to have, to be the person I am today. I do not look back at that possibility wishing I could return to it. Or to relive it. I knew what I was doing when I cashed it in, took my golden ticket and got on this path. I knew in the future the full implications of the golden ticket would be revealed. In the present unfolding my golden ticket becomes stronger and the sacrifice to create the golden ticket more powerful.

Sometimes I get caught though. I'm human. I forget about the bigger picture, my bigger goals, my dreams I dare not tell anyone. The secret thoughts, solutions I remind myself in cypher through my writing, my metaphors often forgotten, lost to myself, until a specific moment. I get caught in the ebb and flow of this world. And then I remember my golden ticket: gold flecked with dreams of a lifetime and love forever.

When I remember it I am filled with joy and lightness. The radiance has not dampened. It reminds me that each day matters more than the previous and with this time, it's my duty, my responsibility to be the best I can and make the best that I think best.

Technology and conscious evolution

I've been having a conversation about technology and consciousness evolution on a mailing list I'm on. Someone had said that technology has not improved our lives. I had to categorically disagree with them, based on the concepts of the Progress Paradox. But then I started thinking about it. Beyond the day to day survival - has technology really improved our energy? As in, the energy we have to use at our disposal everyday? And the added energy we have, how are we using it? Technology uses a lot of energy today to participate in and maintain. And technology hasn't made us more efficient with our energy either. Sure it pretends to give us all this free time, by doing things for us, but many people spend the same or more time managing what's supposed to help them free up their time.

Anyway, I digress. The point in bringing up this topic on the blog is that I found an interesting book about technology and expanding consciousness in the infosphere called Digital Dharma. I'm intrigued and yet repelled. WTF? Matching up yoga chakras with levels of internet activity? I don't know. I like the concept, but from the excerpts, it's a bit out there - even for me.

Add a listing of LA Tech events to your blog or site

Want to keep in touch with the events happening in the LA tech scene? Then check out Option:LA - an online event calendar. If you're into Facebook Apps, here's the Option:LA facebook app. You can also add a widget display the upcoming events on your own blog or web site (grab the code here). It's easy, and free and you'll help build and participate in the LA Tech Community. It looks something like this:

Voting Day

San Francisco votes for a new mayor today. Like I have said before, following Chicken in this race has been inspiring. He's audaciously plucked his cubic centimeter of chance and run run run with it.

Today, the people of San Francisco will vote. I don’t know how many. I don’t know who they are gonna vote for, but something is gonna happen. When I decided to run it was because nothing was happening. And something has to happen. I hope that the something that happened was as fun for you as it was for me.

 

And who knows… maybe this is just the beginning…

Another dot on the line of life. Of possibilities explored. I wish I could join the party tonight at 12 Galaxies. But another me, a different heather, one who never left San Francisco is there playing her part, possibly not  even named heather - but she - or he - is being the me, who would be, there.

And there is another universe, where I am there, celebrating the win, and the end of the beginning and the beginning of something else. A Calixeco Muni. I have been there, have been that person, for others.

Please live it well. Savor the moment - it only happens once - but the taste can last eternity.

Heathervescent w/ can of whupass

Heather Vescent
Originally photographed by eecue.

Dave Bullock/eecue took an awesome shot of me with my favorite flammable. I had a good time at BarcampLA - I stayed a lot longer than I had planned, good sessions, saw lots of people. It was packed! I did a session on How to Kick Ass.

Teslacoil orchestra

This is really cool!

On another note, S brought a book for me to read called "Think Big and Kick Ass in business and life" by Donald Trump and Bill Zanker. I laughed, but I'll read it.

BarcampLA Calls

Another weekend of tech craziness. LA is smack in the middle of it's geek event explosion. I've got mixed feelings about all the events.

On one hand, it is awesome to see the popularity, the success, the desire and thirsting for this tech connectivity. On the other hand, my biggest concern, my biggest fear is too many tech events are happening with participants spread thin. Back on the other hand, I'm excited and delighted that so many leaders are taking the torch. On the other hand, how do I know they are looking out for the community? On the other hand why is it up to me to decide what's good for the community? It's not. I just had the vision last year and have been carrying the torch. The diversity and different methods, attitudes, goals and people make for a diverse vibrant community that serves the community. That's all good.

But I've worked so hard, for what feels like often nothing, to get here. To this place where these events are even happening - I'm not the only one carrying the torch. I don't want them to be flash in the pans. I want them to be successful, sustainable - for each organizer/leader and the community. But for them to be sustainable, they must each hold on their own, and within the community. And I'd like to hope that all events contribute the building and visibility of the LA tech community.

Why do I even care? A couple years ago I only wanted to blow shit up, express myself and make my life the most awesome thing in the world. What's the difference now? (Maybe I've blown enough stuff up, expressed myself enough and have a dream life - and teach you too how to have a dream life.)

Because I see the need, and I have a bigger vision.

But let's get beyond the big vision and talk about today. I'm thinking about chucking my online branding with bonus enlightenment preso, for a guide on blowing things up in a fire or do-ocracy or how to get your heart's desire. Which is more interesting? Or should I cram all 4 into 1 sessions called the heathervescent show?

Edges

"An edge means there is something beyond it"
"A end means there is something beyond it."

A beginning and an end are container points.  Differentiating, clarity, probing creates the dividing lines. What's in the container?

Ruthless with a Baby

The morning began early, with a dream of snakes. In my dream they were attacking me. Biting my hands over and over, not getting a grip, yet not going away. I was irritated at the terror, yet stayed calm as the biting continued. Was it a metaphor for aikido class last night?

I was practicing with a new student that was like a pillar of stone. Such strength, no fluidity. Practically impossible to move him. We were practicing an entering/irimi that made my stomach turn. Honestly, I wanted to puke, and that with the pillar of stone made for a very trying practice. However, I persevered in my fluidity. In my probing. In practicing the technique poorly. I laughed at the iron grip (which I easily flicked out of) and found how to take his balance away. I kept calm and relaxed, even in my irritation. In the end, it was a joy.

At the end of class we practiced koku-dosa. It's one of my favorite techniques. You kneel with you hand outstreached. One person offers their hands/arms and the other receives holding/pushing back on the offer. On the surface it looks like you are pushing the other person over. But it's more subtle than that. A feeling you cultivate is one of groundedness, the other person is trying to find your tension points. As my partner offered, I placed my hands on his arms. I could feel the tensions in his arms, I could feel him probing my tension spots, finding them, but  I hid them with my grounded thoughts. Becoming more aware of them as he found them and then relaxing them. And over everything, I kept the feeling of hugging him. Of having abstract affection for this being in front of me.

After class we talked about ruthlessness. My sensai last knew me when I was extremely ruthless. Since then, I have gone on to explore other terms. It's time now to return to ruthlessness, with a slight tweak: Ruthless with a baby.

And here's another hint from last night:
When you're about to give in, is exactly when you are about to break through.

I've seen that happen with others and me many times. It gives me hope when I feel like giving in/up (which has been much recently). But that's ruthlessness for you. Give up, giving up.

And to bring it back full circle, when I checked on the snakes this morning after I woke from the dream, they needed water. As much as I fear them, and wish they would go away (they are big and have been trouble to take care of recently) I want them to have the best life possible. I will take care of them. I filled their water bowl and turned up the heat. I want them to have a good life.