BurningbirdAbbas Raza at 3 Quarks posts a pointer to a bio of Laura Claridge, former professor and author. Ms. Claridge is currently writing a book on Emily Post titled, Emily Post and the American Dream: Red Shoes, White Gloves, and the Little Blue Book, a book I look forward to reading.
Recovered from the Wayback Machine.
I read in comments this week about how a recent attendee at Tim O’Reilly’s FOO camp was the originator of all the discussion about there not being enough women in tech conferences such as Tim’s camp. I was surprised, and yes, hurt to find out that it only takes about 6 months and 100 weblog posts or so to wipe out all I’ve written on this issue. It’s humbling to realize how easily you can be forgotten; humbling and clarifying because you realize that history in weblogging is fluid, and always being re-written; usually by the same proponents of how honest and decent this all is.
There’s been criticism of Wikipedia because the ‘facts’ can be rewritten so easily. True, but the history remains. Weblogging has no such way to track history. Either you have to join the race to continually push yourself to the top of the heap; or you have to just accept that this is the way it is, and move on to something else.
I also had to face this week the fact that my views are unwelcome in several weblogs and by several webloggers. It bothers me less to not be linked than to not be part of a discussion. To feel like I’m only one step above weblog spam to these people. Why am I no longer part of the discussions? Because I’m critical, sometimes strongly so. I use satire, I pick, I push, and yes, I don’t stop. Being a woman doesn’t always hurt, but it doesn’t always help, either.
I feel sad to be shut out from some (not all) of the discussions, because I really do like a good debate. But I’d feel stupid to continue trying to engage these folk, or to send any attention their way only to be disregarded as so much carpet lint.
I said in my Just Shelley weblog that if any of my new efforts stop being fun, I was going to abandon the effort. I’m not closing Bb Gun down, because there are still debates to be had with folks who aren’t afraid of such. But I can guarantee that I’m going to be spending one hell of a lot less of my time throwing words where they won’t stick.
Update
As I wrote in comments, I realized that I sounded like a certain someone with my “po’me, no one remembers my greatness” talk. I have since slapped myself in the face, and feel much better.
There’s truth in what I’m writing here, but the truth extends beyond my own personal trials and tribulations.
Now: go look at my zoo photos in Just Shelley. There’s a baby elephant. A hairy baby elephant.
Recovered from the Wayback Machine.
Flickr has introduced a new geo mapping service where you can drag your photos to a map (or provide longitude and latitude) and it will geotag the photos for you. The site has also added new search facilities that incorporates this capability. Millions have geotagged their photo, including 1.1 million photos of his cat from Danny Ayers (who, we think, we hope, was joking).
I had some questions out at the blog and the developer group and Stewart B. from Flickr was kind enough to respond in detail. I’m on deadline with the book (past really), but as soon as I get caught up, I want to try out a few things and then I’ll have a long writeup over at ScriptTeaser. Or maybe the new photo site.
Just a reminder, you can subscribe to all my stuff through Planet Powers.
Recovered from the Wayback Machine.
John Dvorak writes on the possibility of a Sun/Apple merger now that Google’s CEO, Eric Schmidt, has joined the Apple Board. I must admit to scratching my head, and going ‘huh’ on that one. Apple + Google = Sun?
If this does occur, I wouldn’t expect the customers to benefit. All three companies are SillyValley-based (a strike against in my book), indifferent to freedom of speech and protection against censorship if it impacts their bottom line, and arrogant to boot. Three wrongs won’t make a right.
Recovered from the Wayback Machine.
Geez, ValleyWag has been good lately.
Six Effects of Eric Schmidt Joining Apple’s Board, including Cloud of Smug.
The pointer to the great story about half.com, Oregon.
Pointing to a disappointing but telling photo from the Women 2.0 pool party. It’s nice to have a visual to go with my words when I write about the new Web 2.0 and women.
The best FOOCamp Poll ever.