In the beginning, I was very supportive of Podcamp West - we even added a link to it as something we suppoprt on our Web 2point2 Unconference Blog with other sponsors. While I was a bit upset that Vic Podcaster did not keep his promises to us for promoting Web 2point2 and he did not show up at the unconference to podcast as he promised and he did not bring his EVDO wifi router despite his promises to do so, I was really upset when I got an email from Eric Rice yesterday. His email was the first I had heard about being put on a panel with him and Matthew Wayne Selznick. Not only was I not invited to do this, I was never notified that it was happening until I received the urgent email from Eric - if he had not been upset with the panel description and reached out to me, I would never even have known about it. My plan was to attend for part of today (SAT) and then watch Jerry Rice have his number retired tomorrow at Candlestick Park.

I was really excited to see that Matt Mullenweng is finally moving forward with plans to host his own unconference for users of his WordPress blogging software, but bummed when I saw the date (August 5) is the same as the National Coalition for Deliberation and Dialogue's annual confeerence.  WordCamp should be a lot of fun and I hope to be able to find a couple slots in the schedule for my other conference where I can get over to WordCamp for a few sessions and will of course be able to make the party that night. 

I have been fortunate to spend some time talking with Matt recently, and despite my post raving about VOX the other day, I am and will continue to be a loyal WordPress user.  At the closing party of Gnomedex, we talked a bit about the power of unconferences to close the feedback loop between user and developer - how it was an authentic way to move product development forward in unexpected ways and how it ultimately leads to better relationships between a company and its customers.

Over the past six months we have learned a great deal about unconferences and the more general concept of bringing people together for conversations with their peers. We have experimented with different event formats and continue to innovate with events like our upcoming Rent an Expert on Wenesday July 19. We have affirmed our reasons for striking down the power of the podium and giving it to the people, but also have seen that there is a place for lectures and talks too – conferences can and have learned a lot from unconferences.

Ultimately, we have found that our original premise for BrainJams of connecting people from different communities to share experiences and insights is highly valuable and much needed – but the formats for facilitating these conversations are not the reason for people coming together. People come together to discuss, debate and work on shared passions – like Mashpits, Cyber Salons, Creative Commons Salons, Flickr Meetups, Third Thursday’s, Wiki Wednesday’s and Mobile Mondays. There is a common thread in these events – but it is not “Common Thread 2.0” – it is the intersection of people, technology and media – or social media as it has become popularly known.

I hate it when the Blogosphere blows up like this, but when it does, we all need to pick up the pieces and move on.  Seems that CMP has sued a non-profit group in Ireland over the use of the term "Web 2.0" in its conference.  Tom Rafferty tells his story and posts the Cease and Desist order on his blog.  It is one of the most active topics I have ever seen in the Web 2.0 world and reignites the debate over the use of the term in the first place.

Regardless, as a result of this (and because I am glutton for punishment) we are officially announcing "Web2point1: BrainJams on the Open Web" to be held in the beginning of November 2006 for all those people like me who can't afford the $3,295 to attend the other conference on a similar subject.  So this year, reflecting the increasing cost of getting The Open Web out to many more people and the increased cost of gas (isnt that what everyone blames for rising costs?) we have increased our Web2point1 registration fee from $2.80 to $3.29, with all of the registration fees collected going to the Creative Commons.  You may pre-register by sending $3.29 to joinus@web2point1.org via PayPal, but official registration won't open for a couple of months.

Been waiting to see this for a while now and it is just so cool to see in print.  While I probably spent over 2 hours on the phone with Kathleen Craig and the editorial fact checker, there were no quotes from me, but a very nice inclusion of BrainJams as a resource community - which is all we really need to help get the word out for both us and BarCamp.

Ryan King did get quoted for the now somewhat standard line on the purpose behind unconference - that "there was much more intelligence in the room than there possibly could be on stage."  This was echoed at the Beyond Blogging 2006 event that happened last week in Washington DC.  Now Fleishman Hillard is moving into a real thought leadership position in the communications industry with the same sort of unconference thinking, though no plans have been finalized yet for the next event for those interested in going "Beyond Blogging".  But if they can get those 400+ people who attended to come back for an unconderence, it will be one heck of an event.

I have had a few calls from friends wondering if I was going to make it to WineCamp this weekend - the simple answer is yes, but I am going to have to miss Sunday in order to prepare for my NetSquared presentation on Tuesday. If you have not yet made plans to go, there are still a few spots left so go ahead and register today. This is going to be one for the record books - Chris and Tara have done a heckuva job putting this one together, especially in light of all the logistical challenges that such an event entails.

Tara has a great post with all the relevant links, so I won't bother repeating that all here - just go and do it an