Hard News: Play Time
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A great Great Blend last night. Scintillating conversations and the time just flew by..but I wonder if anyone else thought that Bruce Sterling came across as just a touch arrogant, scoring cheap points off Andrew Dubber.
One thought for the next event--it may be a touch geeky (and a bit Rotarian) but could we have name badges (worn voluntarily, of course), so PA posters can spot others in the room? I had a conversation with Paul Litterick but I reckon there would have been others I could have shaken hands with.
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One more thing: will the Great Blend talks be posted here eventually?. I would like to refer back to them this year, for teaching.
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Geoff, I agree it would have been good to connect given we were in the same room. Saw Keith and the jetlagged Tze Ming briefly, and met Mikaere and his lovely partner who I know from other places. Not sure if the name badge thing would have worked, but alternatives not coming to mind right now. Did you talk with any obviously Orcon-sourced attendees?
I also thought Sterling did not come across as a person I'd like to know at all, despite admiring his work. Plain rude at times - although Dubber probably asked for it the first time by dissing futurism in general. I bristled empathetically, as a strategist, although Andrew's presentation was great and I am likewise hoping it will become shareable somewhere given that he seemed to be recording it.
I never thought to ask Mr Dubber afterwards quite how people are meant to fill in that right hand side of his big piece of paper if they're designing for future audiences not just the ones in front of their noses.
I get the imperative for quick prototyping, but it doesn't seem like a substitute for a long view if you're designing an industry, economy, society, city or nation. Sebastian Moffat was compelling last year on 100-year urban planning horizions, for instance.
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I also thought Sterling did not come across as a person I'd like to know at all, despite admiring his work. Plain rude at times - although Dubber probably asked for it the first time by dissing futurism in general.
Well, Sacha, if you think that was rude you should be thankful I didn't jump on that last call for questions and ask what he really thinks about the state of publishing and popular science fiction. He really puts the punk in cyberpunk -- and may he never, ever change.
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A great Great Blend last night. Scintillating conversations and the time just flew by..but I wonder if anyone else thought that Bruce Sterling came across as just a touch arrogant, scoring cheap points off Andrew Dubber.
And no I didn't -- come one, wasn't it a wee bit of a cheap shot on Dubber's part. And anyone with the slightest familiarity with his non-fiction or literary polemics/criticsm should be perfectly well aware that you don't piss in his direction without getting a waterblaster full of urine right back at you. (I was faintly disappointed that Kim Hill didn't decide to patronise him as only she can. Would have been the best display of fireworks since she tried to out-snark Christopher Hitchens.)
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Gosh, you mean you were hiding there too, Craig?
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Not sure if the name badge thing would have worked, but alternatives not coming to mind right now
We could all wear t-shirts ;-)
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Gosh, you mean you were hiding there too, Craig?
Yes, and I had a wonderful time (the free coffee and pretzels didn't hurt). I just don't do the 'networking' thing, where you bounce up to total strangers and introduce yourself, with any conviction. Probably should, but there you go and here we are.
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anyone with the slightest familiarity with his non-fiction or literary polemics/criticsm should be perfectly well aware that you don't piss in his direction without getting a waterblaster full of urine right back at you
Heh - I think Andrew Dubber may have started it, but not being at all previously familiar wth Mr Sterling's work, I can certainly see (as per introduction from RB) why he can tend to polarise people.
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Yes, and I had a wonderful time (the free coffee and pretzels didn't hurt). I just don't do the 'networking' thing, where you bounce up to total strangers and introduce yourself, with any conviction.
It's true, one has to bounce up to Craig oneself.
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in my head Knowledge Bro is big and quite butch. Possibly a Leatherman.
No, Knowledge bro is definitely Gerber, not Leatherman.
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I note that the link for the fine Cassette song seems to have all been used up. Cassette are very worth checking out.
Some of us were very happy to see Cassette live the same weekend as Foo over at Bethells Beach with Steve Abel where some very fine photos were also taken.
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Did you talk with any obviously Orcon-sourced attendees?
I did have an interesting long chat with a fellow from Deloittes, and his teacher partner, who were sitting in front of us. But we were a bit trapped by the seating and I would have like to have introduced my wife Josephine Maplesden to folk, so she could get some sense of why I spend so much time on PA. There are so many connections which could be made--Josephine heads up the secondary teacher's professional/lobby group National Assn of Media Educators (NAME) and knows more than I ever will about new technology.
I am not the sort of person to go bounce up to people (more sort of hanging back and waiting for approaches) but I was just thinking of ways of making a great night even better.
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A great Great Blend last night. Scintillating conversations and the time just flew by..but I wonder if anyone else thought that Bruce Sterling came across as just a touch arrogant, scoring cheap points off Andrew Dubber.
I didn't really see it as cheap point scoring - more putting things in a context that the audience has had a chance to digest a bit already.
I've already posted this in another thread, but the last question in the Q&A struck me as really quite odd. If whoever asked that is reading this, I would really appreciate knowing a bit more about what you were thinking when you asked that. and if Tze Ming was there, and she's reading this, I'd also appreciate her point of view, too.
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No, Knowledge bro is definitely Gerber, not Leatherman.
He makes baby food?
I'm mildly curious about how long we can keep this up...
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He makes baby food?
No, he backstops for the Ottawa Senators. Or *did*, rather: he sucked so comprehensively they had to send him to the minors.
I'm mildly curious about how long we can keep this up...
There should be enough material for a couple more rounds I would think.
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It's true, one has to bounce up to Craig oneself.
Though when you're on a boat, it's more like (sober) ducking and weaving. That was a fun night, but I don't know if messing around in boats is half as much fun as Kenneth Grahame would have you believe. It was nice to meet you too, Emma, though not the most friendly environment for an intimate chat. Perhaps this Christmas.
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It was nice to meet you too, Emma, though not the most friendly environment for an intimate chat.
Indeed it was, though I should point out that when Craig says 'soberly', he's speaking for himself. I was elegantly trashed.
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He makes baby food?
No, he backstops for the Ottawa Senators. Or *did*, rather: he sucked so comprehensively they had to send him to the minors.
Actually, I think you'll find he works in printed circuitry - hence the technical bent of his name.
IKB - QED.
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Indeed it was, though I should point out that when Craig says 'soberly', he's speaking for himself. I was elegantly trashed.
You also displayed an admirable sense of duty in taking over the bar.
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You also displayed an admirable sense of duty in taking over the bar.
Duty, yes. Not convenience...
Next time I shall endeavour to wear something more serving wenchly.
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AWESOME blend. I was so inspired by everything Dubber said in particular - although he started off talking about music (something close to my heart anyway) his point was relevant pretty much across the board - the way our technology reshapes the way we do things, and how valuable it is to thereby reshape how we do things to capitalise on the technology. I found it incredibly liberating couching the internet in terms that didn't force me into getting out my crystal ball to predict & adopt the Next Big Thing, but to get creative & experiment with exactly what it is that I can, and want to, get out of it.
Most significantly, it was cool to get away from the copyright conflict in favour of someone saying "sure, but check out this over here!". Also, FREE WIFI! Why aren't we marching already???
and if Tze Ming was there, and she's reading this, I'd also appreciate her point of view, too.
I was sitting right behind Keith & Tze Ming & they were whispering & cackling like schoolkids (in a cool way).
I LOVED Bruce Sterling's wholly perplexed, matter-of-fact response, & was just about to lean over to my SO & whisper "I, for one.." when Russell beat me to it. To be blunt, I'm astounded that someone at a Great Blend would voice the kind of brainfart I'd expect in the Herald's Your Views column.Also confirmed Craig really is the guy I remember from school. :) Good to (re-)meet you!
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Also confirmed Craig really is the guy I remember from school.
Craig "Highlander" Ranapia - There can be only one.
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Craig "Highlander" Ranapia - There can be only one.
God made Craig and broke the mould... & fired the mould-maker..
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At last. Suffering PAS withdrawal for most of day.
Want to clarify that my assessment of Bruce Sterling was not about the Dubber stuff - I kind of enjoyed that, and they both had valid points.
Next time I shall endeavour to wear something more serving wenchly
I believe suggestions of a green nature have already been tendered and declined.. :)
Craig "Highlander" Ranapia
Please reassure me that he didn't wear a kilt.
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