We've come a long way, baby. I guess. The world o' blogging, I mean. At least since I was accidentally sucked into the vortex back in early 2004.
Apparently, we now even rate our own "trade show," as the very first "Blog World & New Media Expo" is scheduled for this week at the Convention Center in Las Vegas, where I've been invited to speak.
So what do we have to trade exactly? I'm not entirely sure, but I suppose I'll find out this Thursday and Friday, when I'll likely be trading barbs, at least, on several panels in the show's "Political Track," along with such exemplary wingnuts as Hugh Hewitt, John Hindraker, and oh, so many more that the cat will no doubt be dragging in.
On the other hand, I'm happily looking forward to meeting many of the fine not-wingnut bloggers out there that I've known as little more than email addresses for many years. This from BlogWorld's blog item by the expo's director, Rick Calvert...
Now I know what you are thinking. You normally wouldn't find half of these folks hanging out with the other half and that is exactly what makes it such a great line up! One thing they can all agree on is blogging beats the MSM any day of the week.
Register Now and join us for some some great discussion, some great debate and a few fireworks.
Panels I'll be participating in (if I can get there in time) and at which I hope you'll stop by if interested:
Thursday 11/8, 10:15am-11:45am
The Power of the Political Blogosphere - Professor David Perlmutter, Hugh Hewitt, Dave Nalle, Pam Spaulding, Taylor Marsh, Brad Friedman
Thursday 11/8, 2:45pm-3:45pm
Blogging to Effect Non-Partisan Grass Roots Change - Rob Neppell (N.Z. Bear), Brad Friedman
Friday 11/9, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Political Blogs and the Political Press: From Antagonists to Co-Players? - Professor David Perlmutter, John Hinderaker, Mary Katharine Ham, Brad Friedman
The Expo's homepage is here, the full conference schedule is here. Wish me luck. And please come by if you can!!!