I’ll be speaking at SMX West on Using Research to Improve Results - talking about how Ask.com uses insights to improve the overall experience. I’ll primarily be speaking about the intersection of qualitative data and clickstream behavior.
Come see me next Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 1:30 in Santa CLara!
It seems that I’m cultivating a lot of little side projects and monthly events tailored around socializing.
One of these is a group of amazing women who meet up to discuss life, tough life questions and enjoy wonderful meals in our homes. This is called the Comfort Food Club, started by Tara Hunt and Rachel Weidinger. I appreciate the high quality conversation, an ability to discuss industry (and non-industry doings) and to discuss food.
The next was inspired by LUPEC, and it’s LARC – Ladies Advocating Respectable Cocktails. Many of us are fans of high quality concoctions made with premium ingredients. Everything from homemade ginger simple syrup or homemade grenadine has made it into drinks featuring everything from Creme to Violette to rum. Every month we have a featured liquor and every member is responsible for bringing a recipe to try. We report out on our successes (yes, only successes) on our group Tumblr. We had a fantastic organizational meeting, agreed on a set of ground rules and have been enjoying all sorts of deliciousness!
The final is a new book club I joined, started this year by Corey Denis. Our group name is SpaceMonkeyLit and you can follow along with what we’re reading each month on Twitter.
What’s interesting about each of these is that each one established its own ground rules for success. Each one has a unique personality and adds to my life in a different way and draws on different people to enhance the things I’m interested in learning more about on a daily basis. For example, while I’ve always been a fan of cocktails, I’ve been learning a lot about the art of mixology as well as the science and history behind the hooch. Comfort Food Club has broadened my food horizons and ways of thinking about food, as well as made me re-think a lot of life’s big questions. Finally, SpaceMonkeyLit has exposed me to new ways of thinking of books I both love and hate.
Ultimately though, these all are centered around my most important life project: people! Familiarizing myself with new friends, getting to know old friends with a new lens, and learning how everyone reacts to specific filters (food, cocktails, books) enhances my own life.
The panel picker for SXSW2010 is now up!
Please vote for my panel and let me know if you have any additional thoughts, feedback, or suggestions in the comments there or on this blog post. I’ve already been following up with folks already who have commented on the panel page itself.
The Community is Dead, Long Live the Community.
My previous post describes more about this panel.
Good grief! It’s still over 8 months away and yet the time is drawing near for the Panel Picker to launch for SXSW 2010. Since I first went three years ago, I wanted to create panels that would be interesting for people and to talk about things for which I personally feel passion. The second year, I was on the How to Rawk After SXSW panel, and the third I was on a panel with a lovely group of people talking about Developing Super Senses: Tools to Know Your Users. For 2010, I picked another subject I’m interested in: online communities.
While I work for a search engine, in my years at Ask.com I’ve also worked closely with the MindSpark group – looking at how you cultivate community for places like Zwinky. We’ve interviewed groups of friends, talked to people for one on one interviews and done quantitative fieldwork to understand the nature of social networks and how people view their interactions in these spaces. I’ve also spent a lot of time in various online communities and watched them grow in importance in my life, linking me to many people who are my dear and close friends.
However, the downside to this is that some of these communities I’ve joined and nurtured have fallen by the wayside for various reasons. So when the time came to develop a panel proposal for SXSW 2010, this was topic that sprang to mind. Below is the excerpt from what I’ve submitted to the panel picker for consideration.
Title of panel or presentation
The Community is Dead Long Live the Community
50 word description of this panel / presentation
Online communities typically thrive or decay, but sometimes the entire platform for social interaction is shut down abruptly. Look at Pownce, Dodgeball, or Yahoo!360. How do you keep the community alive when this happens? Should you do so? How do you manage this change? Case studies from the crypt.
10 questions that will be answered in this panel / presentation
Panelists
I’ve got a short list of people I’m working to be a part of this panel — some folks I’d like to appear are proposing their own panels, but I’ve approached folks who run ARGs (limited communities – destined to expire), sites who have shut down, while getting help sourcing a lawyer to speak on IP issues, among others. Would love to hear from you too – if you think there’s someone really great out there that should be a part of this discussion. My true aim here is to serve as the moderator and ask interesting questions about how we form, maintain, transition and evolve communities.
Extra Special Thanks
I’m also eternally grateful to the following folks for their input on this panel as the idea evolved: Ernie Hsiung, Dr. Keely Kolmes, Jason Schultz, Kevin Smokler, Natalie Villalobos, and Ariel Waldman. I would know none of you if it weren’t for the Internet and the community around it.
Waiting to Vote?
Voting won’t be live for a few more weeks, will post a reminder then.
I’ll be speaking at Search Engine Strategies on August 11th, on the topic of Search: Where to Next? with a panel of esteemed colleagues. It’s always a pleasure in these situations to finally get a chance to meet other industry folks whose blogs you read, or whose analysis filters into your inbox on a regular basis. There’s been a lot of chatter about this, and I had the privilege of listening to an interview Charlene Li conducted with Scott Garell, President of Ask Networks in preparation for this event- and it sounds like a lot of us industry folks are on the same wavelength. Stay tuned for the actual event!
My lovely 75 year old father was asked to join Twitter by one of his oldest and dearest friends.
This was his response:
Some folks just love to sit and twitter…
It makes their hearts go patter-pitter…
It makes their eyes go all aglitter,
But I will hope you won’t be bitter
If I am not a big committer.
And ’cause I’m choosing to forgit ‘er.
Please don’t think that I’m a quitter
Or a low repulsive critter.
There are lots of folks much fitter…
You could get a baby sitter
Or a famous home run hitter…
Those are folks you might consider.
How about a counterfeiter
Or a German Messerschmitter?
But for me and all that twitter,
For now I say I will omit ‘er.
There’s more musing to be done on SXSWi, so be on the lookout for this.
As in years past (2007, 2008), here’s a complete list of all the shows I saw last week, and the top 10 shows of the week. I had the pleasure of spending the week seeing bands I’ve wanted to see for a long time (hello, The Hold Steady and The Thermals) while also checking out new-to-me bands and artists. Some of which were fantastic, and some of which were just okay. With the exception of one weird show, everything was pretty darned good.
Note: I did lose some of the notes from Wed, so I’m missing a band or two.
Star means I’d suggest checking ‘em out if you’ve got the chance.
Top 10 2009 SXSW Shows
WEDNESDAY
Sad to say! I can’t remember the first band we saw 
Drink Up Buttercup* at Beauty Bar
This band rocked it hard – playing garbage can lids, an energetic show on a Wednesday afternoon. Would highly recommend seeing them live if possible.
Maus Haus at Emo’s Annex (IODA Day Party)
OK.
Blind Pilot* at Emo’s Annex (IODA Day Party)
Nice band I had no knowledge of beforehand — enjoyed their mellow tunes and the combo of male & female vocals. Can’t stop listening to them now.
We Were Promised Jetpacks* at Emo’s Annex (IODA Day Party)
These guys kicked ass and evidently blew the socks off quite a few people during the week.
Future Clouds and Radar at The Dog & Duck
Unfortunately, this set turned into a bit of background music as we were near the back. Enjoyable none-the-less.
Arms & Legs at Pangea
Arms & Legs had the distinction of being the only band we saw all week to play compressed air into a microphone. Not sure it added much, but was interesting. Mellow, but a bit disappointing to see two drummers playing click tracks and not creating the potential dynamic.
Other Lives at Buffalo Billiards
Super mellow, but disappointeing in the end. Left the show to go check out other stuff.
Vetiver* at Emo’s Jr.
Something I want to check out later, but wasn’t a rocking show.
The Black Jacks at Paradise Lounge
Angus & Julius Stone* at Buffalo Billiards
Walked into this show after the Black Jacks and was stoked by the loveliness of the music. Definitely want to check out this band some more.
School of Seven Bells* at Buffalo Billiards
Amazing.
Mother Mother at Habana Calle 6 Patio
Meh. Couldn’t get into the vocals, which were so distinctive they drove the music.
THURSDAY
The Bones Royal at Peckerheads
Energetic, basic rock.
Great Lakes Myth Society at Red 7
Another show, like Other Lives, where I was disappointed. Evidently it picked up after we left, but didn’t inspire me to listen to them again.
The Hard Lessons* at Red 7 Patio
We walked outside after Great Lakes Myth Society and found ourselves totally rocking out to these guys. Just what we needed. Plus, they did a Neil Young cover.
Trail of Dead at the Mohawk
Black and White Years* at Elysium
The Arkells* at Cedar Street Courtyard
Really want to listen to them some more.
Sam Roberts* at Cedar Street Courtyard
This Canadian brought his own crowd, but we really liked him too.
Two singer-songwriters whose names I didn’t catch at Dirty Bill’s (Yes, I wrote down EVERYTHING we heard.)
Sybris* at Prague
Caught the tail end of the set and wish we’d seen more.
+/-{Plus/Minus}* at Prague
A great way to end the second night of music. I’d been listening to their stuff non-stop before I hit Austin and it was great to see them live.
FRIDAY
Friday we agreed to take it easy, and still managed to see 12 bands!
Obits* at Club de Ville for Insound’s 10th Anniversary SXSW Birthday Party Presented by Saucony Originals and Hot Freaks!
These guys were a great way to start the day.
Horse Feathers* at Club de Ville for Insound’s 10th Anniversary SXSW Birthday Party Presented by Saucony Originals and Hot Freaks!
Also, really enjoyable.
American Analog Set* at Club de Ville for Insound’s 10th Anniversary SXSW Birthday Party Presented by Saucony Originals and Hot Freaks!
I love this group. They are super chill and perhaps not best fit for an outdoor show offering $2 all you can drink beer. Still, I adore them and would love to see them again.
The Thermals* at Club de Ville for Insound’s 10th Anniversary SXSW Birthday Party Presented by Saucony Originals and Hot Freaks!
OMS! OMS! I have been DYING to see this group and they did not disappoint. I love them. Really, better live than recorded. The best type of show. Professional, polished in terms of performance, but still rock’n'roll.
The Hold Steady* at Club de Ville for Insound’s 10th Anniversary SXSW Birthday Party Presented by Saucony Originals and Hot Freaks!
You know, I don’t know why I haven’t been in love with this band forever. Being the end of a day show, they played almost 90 minutes, like seeing a full show. Blew away everything we’d seen (including the Thermals!), by executing tightly, and just fueling the end of the day. If you’re not a fan now, you need to go buy everything and go see a show!
Pete & the Pirates* at Cedar Street Courtyard for Blackberry Party
Radio friendly pop, these guys have the potential to be huge.
Beach House* at Cedar Street Courtyard for Blackberry Party
I love the sweet sound of Beach House, but after the rousing set by Pete & the Pirates, this was a little too mellow for my mood.
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down* at MoMo’s
We walked in near the end and were immediately wanting to tap our toes and get grooving.
The Rosebuds* at MoMo’s
Love this band, but their live show, after all the preceeding ones in the day paled slightly. Still, worth checking out.
The Japanese Motors* at Emo’s
Enjoyed their sound but wasn’t willing to brave the crowd right away. Would have loved to have seen more of their live show.
Black Lips (featuring GZA) at Emo’s
I don’t even know where to begin with this. Basically, it seems that some members of the Black Lips ran into GZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame, smoked out, and decided to do a show together last minute. Not a good idea. I can’t dignify this with further commentary, but I will tell the story complete with hand signs, confusion and crowd responses if I see you in person.
King Khan & The Shrines* at Emo’s
They have a pom pom player. ‘Nuff said.
SATURDAY
Diego’s Umbrella* at Yard Dog
How can a band that does a highly stylized violin version of the Final Countdown be bad?
Ponderosa Stomp featuring Roy Head & Barbara Lynn at Perdenales Lofts Pavilion for the Shiny Objects & Butler Bros BYOC Vol. 4
Fun all around.
The Emeralds* at Perdenales Lofts Pavilion for the Shiny Objects & Butler Bros BYOC Vol. 4
They were definitely on my list to be seen, if possible, having found them on a Japan Nite Sampler last year. Performing in leather on a warm Texas day, they wanted to get the crowd riled.
The Peekers* at Perdenales Lofts Pavilion for the Shiny Objects & Butler Bros BYOC Vol. 4
This band had a sound I’d been seeking all week – sweet female vocals, and a lovely pop sound.
Asteroid Galaxy Tour at Maggie Mae’s
The Little Ones* at Maggie Mae’s
I’d been dying to see this band, so got right up in front and watched them rock out. Fun fun fun.
Immaculate Machine* at Habana Calle 6
A good follow-up to the Little Ones. Not as frenetic.
Alessi’s Ark* at Stephen F
What a lovely and gorgeous end to the week. Turned on to her by one of my oldest friends, Sandy, and just loved her melodious voice and sweet stage presence.
Thanks also to the awesome folks I got to share my musical adventures with: Cloudwrangler, Kmeelyon, Weegee, Chim Chim, Tornado Magnet, Sandy, and the RVIP Lounge!
How do we think about the influence within the context of age, gender and race? How often should we think about it? How do we put the conversation in the proper context? How do we avoid being caught in a trap of only celebrating the same individuals when trying to call attention to a larger, systemic issue?
These are all big questions, and were sparked by the Ada Lovelace Day Celebration, taking place on March 24th. The concept behind the day is to celebrate women in technology and their achievements, to provide both inspiration and to call attention to the fact that while women have embraced all career fields, including technology, it still appears there’s issues in getting women seen in the forefront of the field, including as matter of course. You’ll have articles calling attention to women in the industry, but it seems to me that it’d be a lot more fulfilling if were considered without having to push extra or create special articles about them. As well, the same women seem to get lauded over and over again, understandably so, but it’d be nice to see people dig into the guts of businesses and determine who is actually building things and making useful technology for the rest of us.
This problem has been especially well commented on with regards to tech conferences, where it’s easier for a woman to use the bathroom (due to less women in attendance) than it is to get on the speaker roster. It does seem that conference organizers do try and reach out, but it doesn’t always come to fruition. Many times, the same faces show up again and again, often because they are the ones that get asked, or that know organizers, or perhaps because they actually say yes.
However, none of these bigger questions answer the request from the Ada Lovelace organizers, which is to celebrate a woman in technology. Rather than pick a woman specifically running a company, or building something (although I will admit to being completely tongue-tied when introduced to Kim Polese a few years ago), I thought it would be useful to look for someone who contributed to something behind the scenes.
In order to pick someone like this, it was necessary for me to think about the things that help run business, the analysis that can be performed to best do various jobs, and a skill that runs across many disciplines. One discipline that fits the bill is statistics. Researching female statisticians led me to Florence Nightingale David, who wrote a classic treatise on game theory – Games, Gods & Gambling. (Never heard of game theory? It’s definitely an under-pinning of an algorithm or two.) She also worked as the Chair of the Biostatistics department as UC-Riverside. Every reference to Florence talks about how she ended up in her field, when someone explained they wouldn’t hire her since she was a she. Thankfully, undaunted, she went on to publish multiple books, academic papers and monographs.
Women, including myself, need to learn from the example of creating tools for ourselves and to find other paths when one way is blocked. It does mean that we need to look for opportunities to promote and integrate ourselves into the overall consciousness so that we are not seen as separate, or requiring extra effort. Truthfully, the same could be said for any group not in the mainstream, when it can be hard to pull ourselves out of the fast-moving river where it’s easier to float along without thinking.
Personally, I’m hopeful that Ada Lovelace day shows a diversity of women to emulate, admire and celebrate, and that we don’t get caught in looking only at the top of the field, at the moment, without reflecting on who laid down the road.
More information can be found about Florence here. For the statistically inclined, there is also an award established in her name given to a female statistician of merit.
I’m getting super excited about South by Southwest, which starts next week. There’s a ton of great panels, interesting speakers, and excellent opportunities to socialize and be entertained.
The panel I’m on, Developing Super Senses: Tools to Know Your Users, will be on Monday, March 16th, at 5pm in Hilton Room C. It’s been delightful to work with Julie Melton, Mark Trammell, Nate Bolt & Andy Budd. It’s been boiled down to a structured conversation so that those who attend can listen to us argue, debate and discuss the merits of different types of user testing. We’ll also talk about how you use those results and get people excited about it. Andy rightfully pointed out that too many times you attend a panel and the groups says “We had this awesome conversation over breakfast” and proceeds to bore you by agreeing on everything. We’ve decided to let it all hang out for you and play civilly but to let our disagreements manifest themselves in passionate discussion.
There’s so much great stuff to see and participate in — and I’ll be in Austin for all of the festival – interactive, music and film. If you’re attending check out the schedule I’m putting together over at Sched.org. They’ve also created a sweet widget to allow you to listen to the music I’m interested in seeing.
Check it out and let me if you’ll be there too.
Normally, an email chain letter will arrive, only to be mercilessly hit by the delete button. Often the same happens with certain memes. However, sometimes one comes along which gives one time to reflect and to share. Recently, the lovely Juliette Melton tagged me recently and her twist on the meme allowed me time to think about things I can do longer that were once like breathing, or things I do now that may actually be interesting to you (then again, maybe not;).
Here’s the rules of this meme — as you might suspect, similar to all:
And per the rules, I’m yelling “Tag, you’re it!” to these fine folks (in alpha order):