Dan Patterson

I did not attend this year's SXSW Interactive festival [my reasoning].  Instead I did a few things in line with the ideas espoused by evangelists of the social web.  I spent this weekend fostering social connection, working on a few creative projects, spent some personal time reading and thinking about recent life changes,  and building a few tools for work.

Again, my decision to not attend was a personal decision.  I post this in the spirit of accomplishment, not a snide "well actually..."

So here's what I did this past weekend:

1.) Organized a nice gathering of friends and techies in Brooklyn at the Henry Street Ale House.  We had a great time talking tech, ideas, and the future of publishing.

2.) Worked on code for the ABC News Radio web platform.  We're getting closer and closer to launch.  This weekend was spent replicating code and design between the Affiliate and Public sites.

3.) Worked with @Andrlik on #ZombieDoom.  Our game has some very, very cool elements surrounding geo-location and will have a pretty bad ass story.  We're going to relaunch the site some time soon - this should give everyone a much more clear picture as to what we're building.  It's been a few months since inception, and it'll be another few months until launch.  But when we do we'll be able to give you a fun and innovative game.  Needless to say, we're stoked!

4.) Worked with a few friends (thanks @ElanaRoth, @JoshuaJWolff, and @JTamboli) to optimize and relaunch a Twitter account.  I do some of this stuff pro bono because my colleagues are - like everyone - suffering from the tough economy - and because I love the challenge of popping something like this Twitter account up quickly.

6.) Read a bunch of comic books from the PanelFly iPhone/iPad application.

7.) Talked with an old friend on the phone.  I've recently left a fairly serious relationship and the act of talking with a friend about it helped me express my feelings, analyze my own flaws, identify the things I'm not responsible for, and feel a bit better about future relationships. 

8.) Planned a trip to Washington, D.C. for the White House correspondents dinner.  This isn't about, "oh hey lookit me go eat with POTUS."  It's about travel (if even to a city I've visited countless times), and expanding outside of my comfort zone with intent. I intend to spend time with @JackRice, @DavidPopp, @EllenRatner, @MeredithMac, and @JTamboli - all old friends.

9.) Worked on a speech for the upcoming Talkers Magazine New Media Seminar.

10.) Geeked out on my own website.  I made (and will continue to make) a few modifications to the Microblog - this weekend I set the Microblog as the front page.

I strongly believe that each of the above items are expressions of the values of the social web and SXSW-attendees.  It's my hope that these small things, done with intent, have helped me in small ways to become a better person by practicing what I preach.

I'd love your thoughts and comments.

- DHP

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