We're Blending again

12:00 Jan 31, 2007 27

We have a new round of Karajoz Great Blend events - and it's next week! We've had a couple of details to iron out, which has delayed the announcement but we're ready to go in both Wellington and Auckland and we'd love to see y'all there.

The details are as follows:

WELLINGTON, Thursday Feb 8
The Boatshed
http://www.theboatshedvenue.co.nz/
Rough running time: 6.30pm - 10.30pm

All the way Back of the Y: Trash video monkeys Matt Heath and Chris Stapp of Back of the Y join us for a stroll through their chequered career, accompanied by video stretching from their earliest work in Dunedin, through their British TV appearances to their forthcoming feature film debut, The Devil Dared Me To. We'll focus on production stories and how they do stuff without budgets.

Digital Democracy: A panel discussion with Chris DiBona, head of the open-source software programme at Google and a former editor at Slashdot; Rob McKinnon, the British-based Kiwi behind theyworkforyou.co.nz, and Alastair Thompson, founder of Scoop.

I'm also teeing up an interesting briefing for anyone who is interested in the establishment of a New Zealand Creative Commons.

Music: To be confirmed.

AUCKLAND, Sunday Feb 11
Events Centre, Auckland War Memorial Museum extension (south entrance)
Rough running time: 6.30pm - 10.30pm

Yes, we've scored the awesome room at the top of the new museum extension. It's very nice.

The Matt and Chris show again, but perhaps with an added surprise.

Panel discussion: Online Media: With Kristine Garcia, who recently moved here from New York to become publisher of the Herald Online, Rob McKinnon, and Ben Goodger, the lead developer on Firefox and current Google employee.

Chris and Ben are here for Kiwi Foo Camp this coming weekend, and depending what comes out of Foo I may add another panellist, an additional feature in the programme, or both. Let me surprise you.

Music: Isaac Aesili from OpenSouls doing his funky thing.

As usual, the drinks will be cheap, the coffee will be free, the company will be good and the vibe will be warm.

We're indebted to the Great Blend sponsors, Karajoz Coffee Company, Idealog magazine, Hatton Estate wines and Monteith's Brewing Company - there's a page here with links and additional information for all of them. Go have a look.

As ever, The Karajoz Great Blend is free (although there'll be a koha box and we'd be quite grateful if you chipped in on arrival). If you want to come, just click the RSVP link for Wellington or Auckland - and on past form, you'd be best to do so promptly.

NB: Okay, if you tried for Auckland and got a message saying it was full, don't fret. We figure we can fit more this time, so try again in a few minutes (ie: about 2.15) and you will be served.

27 responses to this post

First ←Older Page 1 2 Newer→ Last

Graeme Edgeler, 13:09 Jan 31, 2007

So, on at the same time as, and rather near this then.
Will you be disappointed if people go from one to the other, and arrive late to blend?
[or should I just make my mind up which to attend?]

Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report
Tom Ackroyd, 13:14 Jan 31, 2007

Go to the Blend. Download the debate on Saturday.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report
Russell Brown, 13:21 Jan 31, 2007

Yes, very near. I won't be hurt if you want to go to the debate and then stroll over to the Boatshed.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Che Tibby, 13:25 Jan 31, 2007

ouch. good clash there. might attend te papa and then bail before the more lunatic questions start up from the audience.
and yes, one of them may well be mine...

the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report
Ben Austin, 13:30 Jan 31, 2007

So how does one RSVP? (Can't see an email address)

London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report
Russell Brown, 13:39 Jan 31, 2007

So how does one RSVP? (Can't see an email address)
It's in the blog post, but here it is again:
Click here for Wellington
Click here for Auckland

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Don Christie, 14:03 Jan 31, 2007

a bit OT, are all those Cunliffe's at baa camp related?

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report
Russell Brown, 14:05 Jan 31, 2007

Okay, if you tried for Auckland and got a message saying it was full, don't fret. We figure we can fit more this time, so try again in a few minutes (ie: about 2.15) and you will be served.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Robyn Gallagher, 14:42 Jan 31, 2007

I went to the new part of the museum on its open day, and it looks like a great venue, so I'm really excited about the Auckland Great Blend.
Also: Kiwi Foo Camp?! Where's my invitation, ow?

Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report
Zippy Gonzales, 19:44 Jan 31, 2007

Jeez, what a choice. Colin James on the Treaty or the Great Blend? I'll reserve choosing until after the first gig tomorrow night. Worst comes to worst, I'll ditto with Che.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report
Morgan Nichol, 21:11 Jan 31, 2007

Also: Kiwi Foo Camp?! Where's my invitation, ow?
Yeah, really Robyn, I know some folk who are going and I just don't know what the fuck the criteria were.

Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report
Chockasunday, 23:07 Jan 31, 2007

Hi,
regarding the Wellington one, would it be OK if we had no music?
I enjoyed SJD at the last Auckland one, but found the music a bit distracting.
I was more interested in talking to people afterwards, but it was a bit hard to do that while a band was playing so loudly.

Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 62 posts Report
Robyn Gallagher, 00:19 Feb 1, 2007

I enjoyed SJD at the last Auckland one, but found the music a bit distracting.
At all the Great Blends I've been to, it seems that people either want to stick around and listen to the band, or get away to a quieter spot and talk.
And usually this works really well. The last Auckland GB - at the Grey Lynn community centre - had indoor spaces where people could talk. But at the one before that - at Hopetoun Alpha, the talkers had to go outside, which wasn't so ideal.
The bands are usually awesome and very much appreciated, but sometimes it's nice to have a good old geeky conversation, and even better when you're not cast out with the smokers.

Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report
Russell Brown, 08:04 Feb 1, 2007

We'll go a bit differently with the music this time - I don't expect Isaac to drown out conversation, and it'll be a DJ in Wellington.
It's always a bit tricky, because it's nice to have performances, but you don't want people scattering either. It worked brilliantly when we had the Phoenix Foundation play at the Maritime Museum, not so well at the Hopetoun Alpha.
Smokers might find the Auckland venue a little challenging: it's quite a long way down and out from the museum events centre, and they don't have their roof garden open yet.
BTW, the museum's New Zealand Decorative Art gallery will be open when people arrive - if you haven't seen that, it's got some really cool stuff.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Russell Brown, 10:16 Feb 1, 2007

Yeah, really Robyn, I know some folk who are going and I just don't know what the fuck the criteria were.
To some extent, luck, and the logic you'd apply in inviting a mix of party guests: if it was done on pure merit I'd never have been invited to Foo in the US last year. It's a relatively small gathering and people do miss out. I put forward some of the names, but not everyone could be accommodated.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Robyn Gallagher, 13:53 Feb 1, 2007

BTW, the museum's New Zealand Decorative Art gallery will be open when people arrive - if you haven't seen that, it's got some really cool stuff.
Including a fabric print by Public Address Great NZ Argument contributor ARD Fairburn!

Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report
Russell Brown, 16:40 Feb 1, 2007

Including a fabric print by Public Address Great NZ Argument contributor ARD Fairburn!
Heh. "Contributor" sounds like I went round to see Rex with a flagon of sherry and convinced him to giz something for my book.
I wish ...

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Hadyn Green, 09:19 Feb 2, 2007

If anyone RSVP'd for Wellington but now can't go drop me a line please. grabtharsblog[at]gmail[dot]com
I was in an all day meeting yesterday and missed out. Stupid public sector! Stupid kids needing to be educated! (note: just a joke not an official stance)

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report
Tom Ackroyd, 15:33 Feb 8, 2007

Should I have got an email confirming my RSVP? Or is it just names on the door?

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 159 posts Report
Greg Dawson, 17:10 Feb 8, 2007

You should have got a confirmation to print and take with you, according to what happened to me.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report
Dave Waugh, 14:29 Feb 9, 2007

That was an awesome event last night!
Thanks Russell & Co, you did a great job. :o)
Cheers
Dave

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report
reece palmer, 19:18 Feb 9, 2007

so what happened to you greg?

the terraces • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report
Greg Dawson, 01:24 Feb 10, 2007

Hmm? Me? I was there, lurking as ever. I even dragged along a generally unpolitical geek friend to see the smart people talk about the smart things.
Main thing to take away from it for me was a complete disagreement with the consensus reached that it was "unrealistic to think that you might change the number of people who are interested in politics in any given population". It wasn't those words, but it was there more or less. And me being the optimist, as far as people go, I'm going, well, maybe we can get there.
Far as I can see it, the problem is reaching the critical number of translation nodes. Ie, converting what is appealing to pol geeks, into what is conceptionally worthwhile to the majority of the people who live in NZ. It's a big thing, but the big web changes (tech is catching up to thought, we always need more Rob McKinnons) are really only enabling a small portion of the population at this point.
Tangential:And again, grating, for me, was the continual return to "the govt must do this" to make whatever we want happen. I'm a firm believer in, we do it. We are the public, we have to make it happen.
So yes - big challenge : make the geeks capable of being the activation points for the political conciousness of all their friends.
Major risk: the middle class gets fucked over enough that they react without being informed, and we get another revolution to put the same type of people in charge. With all the pain that goes with that sort of endeavour.
Chances are you're talking about a different Greg though, so you know, whatevers.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report
reece palmer, 11:32 Feb 10, 2007

No I was wondering about the confirmation thing, I have recieved an email from some pr saying bring money, but nothing mentioned about printing anything to gain entry.
As far as translation nodes etc are concerned, I'd say that the central focus has to be conveyance of themes and ideas in terms that are easily digestible by joe and sharon lunchbox. It has to appeal to as many as possible to be taken on board, not just by digital natives and early adopters. Now as a disclaimer before the lefty hordes tell me that I'm a heinous racist for using the word native, the term evokes people of no specific ethnic origin who are indigenous to the digital age and its inherant technologies, so there.

the terraces • Since Nov 2006 • 298 posts Report
Greg Dawson, 13:41 Feb 10, 2007

Where the major pitfall to be avoided is moving to spin doctored talking points being regurgitated by ditto heads. It's engagement, of a sort, but there's not that much difference between being disempowered through lack of knowledge, and being disempowered through lack of unfiltered knowledge.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report