Live Blogging ROFLcon 2008
Before I start, big big big thank you to Scott Beale and everyone who put together last night’s Laughing Squid Pre-ROFLcon drink up. It was nothing short of amazing!
Check out some of Scott’s and Steve Garfield’s pictures from last night on Flickr.
Now onto the live blogging…
12:03 PM
Made my way over to MIT in 10 minutes (finally a tech event where I don’t have to travel out to San Francisco!). After wondering around for a few minutes I managed to find my way to registration. Already have seen some familiar faces - Kenyatta, Jamie, and Andrew from Rocketboom, Tron Guy, and Scott Beale from Laughing Squid. My boy MSG just arrived.
12:34 PM
Just met Alexis Ohanian from Reddit. Alexis was going around grabbing signatures from ROFLcon speakers for a one laptop per child laptop, all proceeds are going towards charity, what a great cause! I will be uploading a video of Alexis showing off the laptop from MSG’s flip in a few minutes. UPDATE: Watch the Video Here
12:49 PM
David Weinberger is setting the tone for a great ROFLcon. Internet meme after Internet meme.
1:00 PM
The first panel is starting up:
YOU CAN GET PAID FOR THIS?: MAKING SOME BUCKS
Moderator: David Weinberger
Panelists: Kyle Macdonald (One Red Paperclip), Joe Mathelete (Joe Mathelete Explains Marmaduke), Ian Spector (Chuck Norris Facts), Andy Ochiltree (JibJab.com), Andrew Baron (Rocketboom), Alex Tew (The Million Dollar Homepage)
David Weinberger: “So are you still making continuous revenue from One Red Paper Clip?”
Kyle Macdonald: “Yeah, yeah, I wrote a book, I actually have a few in my backpack, want to buy one?”
1:17 PM
The panel started off slow, but now we are getting deeper into the background stories of the panelists. Interesting fact that MSG just pointed out: All the panelists are mentioning Boing Boing as a launching pad towards popularity.
1:21 PM
Ian Spector: “So it basically started as, it’s a Saturday night and I don’t know where my friends are.”
1:28pm
Alex Tew: “The Million Dollar Homepage was a 4 month story. I think that’s why people responded to it.”
1:37 PM
Joe Mathelete: “People will really pay you if the idea is clever, it’s amazing.”
1:38 PM
Ian Spector: “I try not to hype up what I’ve done, I mean, I’m still in college and may do important things in my life.”
1:50 PM
Sexism playing a role in a major conversation here on this panel. Lot of interesting points being brought up.
1:58 PM
The panel is coming to a close. Thanks to all the panelists and David Weinberger. Time for lunch!
2:48 PM
Still on lunch, but here is a link to a bunch of ROFLcon pictures on Flickr
3:36 PM
My good friend Patrick Ewing is in the house.
3:39 PM
PANEL: LOLCATS: I CAN HAZ CASE STUDY?
Moderator: Alexis Ohanian
Panelists: “Cheez” aka Ben Huh (I Can Has Cheezburger), Martin Grondin (LOLCat Bible), Ryan and Arija (LOLSecretz), Stephen Granades (LOLTrek), Adam Lindsay (LOLCode)
3:44 PM
Ben Huh: My parents think I am a doctor.
3:57 PM
Alexis Ohanian: How do you feel about the effect this will have on the English language?
4:04 PM
Ben Huh: You need to declare war on sleep.
4:07 PM
Ben Huh: Lolspeak is the only language created in written form first. The voice you hear is in your head.
4:18 PM
Audience Member: “You guys have made me LOL LOL LOL many of times.”
4:32 PM
Fun Fact: For the LOLcats book, the founders are skimming through 850,000 or so pictures. The estimate for pictures even worth considering? 2,000.
4:38 PM
If you are going to do something that you think will be successful, buy the mispelt domains
4:42 PM
The next panel coming up at 5:00 PM -
PWNING FOR GOOD OF MANKIND
Moderator: Lana Swartz, Comparative Media Studies, MIT
Panelists: Dino Ignacio (Bert Is Evil), Leslie Hall (Gem Sweater), Justine Ezarik (iJustine), Ji Lee (Bubble Project), Eric Schoenborn (ACLU)
5:13 PM
Getting tired, nothing worthy to note. After today I must say, I don’t think I am in love with panels.
