Coversation Videos

Joseph Matheny in coversation with Klint and Jillian from Esozone, talking about the new open source and unconference model being used this year. ========= After EsoZone Portland 2009, we will release the EsoZone Protocol, a set of guidelines similar to an open source software license that will enable organizers to host an EsoZone in their own city as long as they are free and follow the unconference model. Portland s weirdest event just got weirder This year EsoZone an annual Portland conference dedicated to the occult, fringe science, and other offbeat topics is forgoing a pre-planned schedule in favor of letting attendees create their own agenda. On October 9th, participants will arrive at Watershed PDX and collaboratively create the schedule. The event will be free and open to the public, and anyone will be able to propose a session, lead a workshop, or suggest a group activity. The approach is called unconferencing, a technique pioneered by tech-industry events. Portland has played host to a number of unconferences in the past few years, including BarCamp, WordCamp, and CyborgCamp. Event organizers Klint Finley and Jillian Ordes-Finley were inspired to transform EsoZone into an unconference after attending CyborgCamp in December of 2008. I was amazed at how quickly the schedule was put together at CyborgCamp, and how smoothly the event ran. We d agonized over the EsoZone schedule for months and were still changing things at the last minute. I was really impressed by how the whole unconference model worked, Finley says. The pair hope this new approach will help EsoZone better reach is goal: fostering connections between its eclectic and oftentimes outsider audience. Finley says This should be a better platform for getting people to interact each other, and making sure the event centers around the subject matter the attendees really want to discuss. EsoZone will use the same scheduling system used by CyborgCamp and BarCamp. Participants will propose sessions on 8.5 x 11 pieces of sticky paper and place them on a large schedule grid on the wall. The sessions can then be rearranged as necessary as attendees negotiate times and spaces for each session. New sessions can be added to empty slots at any time during the event. In order to give people an idea of what to expect, the organizers are encouraging likely participants to propose subjects on their online forum in advance of the event. However, nothing will be decided until the actual event. EsoZone will also be exhibiting esoteric art by a variety of artists. Watershed is such a cavernous space, we have room for a staggering amount of artwork, Ordes-Finley says. Although artists will be allowed to hang art the day of the event, they are encouraged to check in ahead of time if they have questions or could have any logistical issues. More information, and contact details, are available at esozone.com

Joseph Matheny in conversation with Eric Young of HipGnosis, talking about life as an independent musician and more. Also, an episode of In Your Ear, Reviewing The Leviathan Chronicles - an Audio Adventure (http://www.leviathanchronicles.com/rss/podcasts.xml or http://www.theleviathanchronicles.com/ for high bandwidth - lots of animation, etc. Includes cast of characters, episode summaries, blog and all that kind of stuff). Also, a blurb from FoolishPeople about The Abattoir Pages. Music in this episode provided by HipGnosis : Glitch 303 Rendered, Underground Loom High to Fly, DOC Links: http://glitch.fm http://thereisnotwo.tk http://hipgnosis.us Coming up next week: A special GSpot edition, talking to the organizers of Esozone! (more ) Download The GSpot: HipGnosis- Eric Young

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