WordPress founder visits Memphis

WordPress powers over 16% of the web, including this blog.  WordPress founding developer, Matt Mullenweg is in Memphis this week for the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Contest.  He and part of his development team stopped by Launchpad at Launch Memphis on Tuesday, 5/15/2012 for some Q and A.

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Ned Ludd Lives!

Once in a while the term Luddite enters the conversation. We who presume ourselves to be on the cutting edge all things social and techie are occasionally floored by a remark or observation from a Luddite – or neo-luddite, or as I referred to them in a 2010 post, Luddite 2.0, a term coined my friend and deep thinker, Bill Wendel.  I have worked hard  since I wrote that post to avoid the Luddite mantle, and I can hold my own with most of the Gen-X, Y, Z or whatever Gen folks I encounter, because, as Brian Solis points out  Generation-C transcends age.  And that C is about being Connected.

TechCamp Memphis (5/12/2010) featured some of the area’s best minds in  social media, internet marketing and strategy, and an array of developer specialties.  I will admit that the developer stuff is way beyond me, but a big part of being Generation- C is having a good handle on just how much you want to be connected.     One attendee told me that her co-workers are not only not “connected”, but they don’t do very well un-connected either. “Most of them don’t know how to create a folder in Windows to put their files into.”  I wondered later if she was talking about electronic files or paper files.  I see that type of thing in my business a lot: “No, I don’t have a scanner; I’ll just bring you the contract.”  These are probably the same folks who fear the internet because someone might grab their private information; who find it easier to say NO to social media, Google, and in some cases email, rather than looking into how those things could possibly enhance their lives and make lots of things easier for them.  Having adopted the use of the telephone, they still carry pagers. Luddites 2.0.

Remember studying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Sociology 101?  Look at how closely the upper 2 levels (and possibly 3) of the pyramid reflect what most of us are accomplishing, in a large part, online today through being connected.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

I am not saying that’s good or bad, but think about it.  Once you are there can you go back?  Can you give up that connection?  Do you see a day when technology will evolve to the point that you will draw a line in the sand and say, “I’m a Luddite now.”?

-Images via http://en.wikipedia.org

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Subscribe to this blog via email

Sometimes you just don’t have time to go looking for the latest post from your favorite blogs.  If you are using an RSS reader, and you are like me, you probably have hundreds of posts to wade through to get to what you really want to read right then.  I haven’t been a big advocate of blog mail subscriptions in the past, but one of the features of WordPress’ Jetpack Plugin lets readers easily subscribe via email.

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So, “big deal,” you might say, “I have always been able to subscribe to blogs by email.  Yes but major handlers of  post subscriptions  like Feedburner usually only email post once a day, so by the time you get them they are old news – already made the rounds on Twitter, Facebook and the RSS readers.  A WordPress subscription (see illustration above and widget in the far right column of this page) emails you instantaneously every  time the blog posts.

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How to find out if someone is following you back on Twitter

I was trying to determine if one of my colleagues was following me back on Twitter and ran across Doesfollow.com.  Doesfollow offers a very simple interface that allows you to add Twitter handles to answer the question: Does _______ follow _____ ?

You just enter the twitter handles to get results like this:

There’s also a “funny” option for humorous and sarcastic responses.  This simple tool could be very helpful if you are looking into any Twitter user’s connections.

I have gotten over Lady Gaga not following me back.  The President, @barackobama, does.

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What is TechCamp?

TechCamp Memphis the bi-annual Memphis tech, social & online marketing conference. Spring ’12 TechCamp will be held May 12, 2012 in the Bornblum Library at Southwest Tennessee Community College (Macon Campus). Doors open at 7:30 am, with the conference running 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The Spring ’12 TechCamp has 3 tracks: Developers, Content Creators & Curators, and Online Marketing. Session topics can be found HERE. Click on titles for descriptions of sessions.

How do I register?

Registration is through Eventbrite there may still be a few discount tokens available. Use “joe” for the coupon/discount code, while it lasts.  You can also register at the door.

I will be presenting

Not that it’s any huge deal, but I will be participating on a panel with Liz Jostes and Beth Sanders on Social Media Strategy.  I will also be prepared to do a short Introduction to Google Plus.  You may have noticed that I am advocating (maybe even evangelizing) Google Plus.  I figure when prominent social media folks like Brogan, Scoble and Kawasaki are strong proponents, Google + deserves a closer look.

Networking

I have been to a lot of  ”camps”, and I can guarantee you 2 things: 1) You will learn things that will improve your business, your knowledge, or just make you a better person; and 2) You will benefit from NETWORKING with everyone who interests you.  There are no elitists at TechCamp, so feel free to approach anyone, discuss your ideas,  and get to know them better.

See you there!

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Bob Dylan and the Band – Mid-South Coliseum 1-23-1974, a photo by joespake on Flickr.

Posterized due to lighting and focus on this shot. You can recognize Levon Helm by his posture, and Dylan is Dylan. Here’s the Set List. More of my photos of Dylan and the ’70s at in Flickr.

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 Tech Camp Memphis happens Saturday May 12, 8:30AM-4:30PM.

This is not your marshmallows around the campfire kind of camp, but more along the lines of  of BarCamp, an open-format, UN-conference, driven by volunteers.  TechCamp Memphis will have a little more structure with 3  pre-defined tracks running simultaneously.  There will be something for Memphis techies across the spectrum, from newbies to developers.

The Tracks

Developers – for the true geeks, topics could include  sessions like: Data encryption, Developing against SQL injection and other hacks, Mobile payment development, jQuery primer, .Net, PHP, Native mobile apps, etc.

Content Creators, Curators, and Consumers – Bloggers, podcasters, musicians, film makers, photographers – those who create and those who sift through the infinite amount of content on the web and try to make sense of it all.

Small Business Builders – Online marketing across a wide spectrum of skill and experience levels, including the most popular social media platforms; geared to small business do-it-yourselfers,  those managing online engagement for others, and  individuals wanting to learn more about social media and online marketing.

 Sponsors Needed

Does your company want to sponsor a cool even, targeted to Memphis’ tech community?  Sponsorships are available at all levels.

Presenters

Are you knowledgeable in a tech topic, advanced or basic?  Would you like to volunteer to present or facilitate, let us know. Click here to volunteer

Location

The beautiful Library at Southwest Tennessee Community College! Thanks STCC!

5983 Macon Cove
Memphis, TN 38134

Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Doors open at 7:30 am.

Stay in touch

Follow us on Twitter @techcampmemphis and our  Twitter Hashtag #TCMEM for the latest information.  On Facebook  at Facebook.com/TechCampMemphis .   Google+ or the  Website - http://techcampmemphis.com

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Earl Scruggs at WLYX - 1974 (C)Joe Spake -all rights reserved

I first heard Earl Scruggs playing on TV for Martha White Flour with long time partner Lester Flatt – The Flatt and Scruggs show came on on Saturday evenings in the 1950s and 1960s, I believe. Even though I was too young to really appreciate the music fully, I was glued to the old TV set.  All these years later, that Martha White jingle is still top of mind.

Even though Earl’s progressive Bluegrass style created a milestone in American music, He went on to do some more progressive music with his sons in the Earl Scruggs Review in the mid 1970s.  I met him, interviewed him, and he spent a lot of time with us at WLYX-FM, Southwestern College’s (now Rhodes) Radio Station (picture above).

You may know his music from 1960s movie, Bonnie and Clyde or the theme from the Beverly Hillbillies, but Earl Scruggs 3-finger style was completely unique and revolutionized banjo music and the Bluegrass genre.  Here’s an example from the old Flatt and Scruggs Show.

By the way, if my Father had lived he would have been the same age as Earl.  They were from the same home town, Shelby, North Carolina.  I wonder if they knew each other.

Oh, and you might not believe this, but that skinny kid with Earl Scruggs in this pic is me.

(c) Joe Spake - all rights reserved

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So maybe your Uptown church can’t afford fancy signage in the parking lot.  This rather abstract, freehand drawing of the handicapped parking symbol gets the job done.

I am always looking for interesting photo subjects in Memphis, especially Downtown and Midtown.  Any ideas?  Email me – Joe@spake.com or just leave a comment.

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(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am writing a new state song for Tennessee.  The title of this post is is the first line.  I have never written a song before, but somehow I am inspired.  Join me with your lines in the comments of this blog and  and let’s crowd source this thing.

This move comes in the wake of the  Tennessee senate passing a bill which, in part, would encourage teachers to present the “scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses” of “controversial” topics such as “biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning.”  The house has already passed their version. It’s being called the Monkey Bill by opponents. Full story via the National Center for Science Education.

Tennessee obviously didn’t learn much from the events and results of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925.  I wonder who will be the 2013 replacements for  William Jennings Bryan, three-time presidential candidate for the Democrats, who argued for the prosecution, and Clarence Darrow, who represented John Scopes in his defense for mentioning Evolution in a Dayton, TN school.

Here’s some lyrics from a 1931 song  by the Carolina Buddies that might help inspire your lyric contribution for our state song.

From  My Evolution Girl

…..And she says we came from monkeys
Many many years gone by
But I know she’ll need a Saviour
When her time shall come to die……

Don’t believe in false teaching
For the truth to you I’ve told
Don’t believe in evolution
For the devil will get your soul.

So get those creative juices flowing and include your lines in the comments of this post.  Oh and try to work in Inherit the Wind somewhere.

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