Tuesday, March 12, 2002

March 12, 2002

SXSW, Day Five: Has anyone seen my pants?

This day is too sunny and nice to be stuck inside, so I'm ditching the conference to sit on a warm terrace, mooch off the wireless broadband from the lobby bar at the Four Seasons and marinate in my own fabulousness.

Each year, SXSW has had a different character for me. This year, it is predominantly social. I'm content to take in a few official panels and events, but mainly to avail myself of the entertainment possibilities presented by the presence of so many smart, funny and good-looking geeks in one place at one time. So, rather than haunt the Convention Center, crowding into panel discussions where I feel like a poseur who understands only one acronym out of three, I've passed the time downing Shiner, playing pool, walking Austin, flirting with straight boys, and soaking in the irresistable, heavy cloud of creativity that has settled on the city.

I am not in or of the industry which this conference and festival serves and celebrates. I'm just a guy with a website, warmed and inspired by the potential of the personal web, the web that exists both online and off. This conference, this city, these people -- it all conspires to give lie to the concept of an A-list, a web elite, a culture based on popularity or prosperity. If you believe that there's a rarified cabal at the heart of the personal publishing world, you haven't come to Austin in March and friend, you should. You really should.

THIS JUST IN: Among the native fauna, Kevin Newsum may just be the cutest, sweetest thing on two legs. I'm just sayin'.