onfocus

Had a busy week—talked with Lisa Ede's Language, Technology, and Culture class yesterday about technology and the Web in general. I'm used to talking with fellow Web geeks so I was nervous about talking with English students. But I think I worried for no reason. There were a bunch of great questions after my presentation, and I heard some of their seminar paper topics—they're working on some very challenging topics related to technology.

Today Jennifer Winters from KVAL in Eugene stopped by to talk about weblogs. She's putting together a two-part story about blogs that will air sometime next week. We talked a little about the history of Blogger, and quite a bit about ORblogs. I know she also talked with Lisa Ede and some of the students in her class. I'm looking forward to seeing the story they put together.

And now I can go back to being a hermit for a while.

Saturday sk and I went to Portland to hear Scott Andrew drop some folkpop on the Red and Black Cafe. It was good to hear an extended set of Scott's tunes, and it was great to witness the energy he pours into performing. (Scott's take: Tour Diary: Portland, OR, and Matt's photo: Red and Black Cafe.)

The TV reduction is going very well. We moved the TV out of the living room entirely, and we've rearranged the furniture. It's amazing how peaceful a room becomes without the dark, reflective screen sucking away the energy. I watched the McLaughlin Group on Friday night, but nothing since then.

Of course the election was the biggest topic of coversation with equally-stunned friends over the weekend. My strategy is to make positive changes here at home, and then I'll think about how they can be extended to the outside world. sk's strategy is to do more volunteer work in the community, and make a difference in some areas that will be affected by the election results.

I haven't taken any photos lately, but I need to get out with the camera while the fall colors are here.