Imagine my amazement: when processing the numbers from the Belgian traffic accidents in 2005 (statbel), Brussels turns out to be a lot safer than one would suspect. Or let’s just say: there’s worse:
Continue reading ‘Brussels’ traffic is kinda safe’
Archive for the 'Brussel' Category
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If you were wondering why I posted so little this week: I was collecting presentations, sorting through pictures (Flickr and Lifeblogger) and movies (Google video and Dailymotion) and posting the reviews of the Barcamp topics. The collection is still not complete (let’s say that I’m at 70%), but I’m still waiting on feedback from some of the speakers/podcasters.
Here they are:
Barcamp Brussels speeches
I have video footage for a dozen presentations (thx to Maarten!), Powerpoint or PDF presentations for over 50%, and in the worst case only some pictures. At least there is proof that the speaker was really there. I’m still waiting for video’s from Bert (Netlash) and audio interviews from Alice and Irene.
And then: start preparing the next Barcamp Brussels!
And what a day it was! It went by in a rush, without any major mishaps and with lots of smiling people all around. Me, I just ran around on adrenaline and cafeine (probably equal parts), while catching only the occasional 5 minutes of a speech here and there. But at the end of the day: it was a great atmosphere with lots of interesting topics and charming people eager to learn and share. It was everything I hoped it would be, so I’m a happy man.
RESULTS
What do we have to show for it:
- around 30 topics were discussed in the Passage, Maelbeek and abundantly spacious Polak room.
- Maarten has recorded 10 speeches and published them as video podcasts. We still expect video footage from Bert, and some audio footage from the two wigged ladies. Subscribe to the Barcamp blog to be kept up-to-date!
- Tanguy handed out some Nokia N91 phones and they were used to create the Barcamp Liveblog
- lots of pictures were taken and some of them have started appearing with the right Flickr tag on Barcamp Pictures.
- the blog posts that were published about it with the right Technorati flag appear on Barcamp blog posts.
- as I’ve repeated throughout the day: when in doubt, check the Barcamp wiki.
THANK YOU
As you can see, organizing this event was tremendous fun:
I have to thank Bart VH for co-organizing and helping us get that fancy location. I have to thank Ilse J, Simon M and Jo W for sponsoring food and drinks, and Bart B/Clo W for sponsoring even more (including the must-have T-shirts). Thanks to Clo and Ine for helping me welcome the attendees and making everyone feel at home. Thanks to Alice, Irene, Annita, Kora, Thomas, Maarten, Bert, Stephanie, Bart D, Tanguy for making special efforts and to every attendee for their good mood and open spirit. Bart D already pointed out some things we can improve the next time and we welcome all remarks.
So, after all that talking, let me remind you of the words of a former CEO of mine: “Don’t just dream about it, eh, just do it!“
Saturday 20 May
Like M.A.R.R.S. said: “Countdown is progressive“. Ten days from now we’ll be frantically preparing the International Press Center for Barcamp Brussels. This is the progress report:
- We have found some very helpful sponsors (including Skynet) to help us with catering and equipment.
- Everything will be recorded and made available afterwards. Ine will be coordinating the audio/video podcast efforts.
- We have just jumped above 40 attendees on the Barcamp attendee list. Fifty would be an even nicer number. If you still know other people that could be interested to attend, just ask them! (more details on the concept here!)
Checklist
If you want to attend, this is what you should do:
- add your name to the attendee list
- add your topic/speech/demo to the topic list
- prepare your topic (Powerpoint, web demo, panel discussion)
- show up on Saturday May 20th!
Some more details on the Barcamp event of May 20th:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Barcamp Brussels is a free conference where all attendees must also contribute. Topics concern the influence of technology upon daily life. All attendees should list their names here. A (non-exhaustive) list of topics is constructed here.
SPEAKING
- speaking slots will be 30 minutes each. So a presentation should last between 20-25 minutes. We’ll probably start around 10h till 12h and again from 14h to 18h. (10 slots per room)
- speaking style can be: regular presentation (Powerpoint/Keynote style), demo (on-line or off-line), moderated discussion (topic is suggested and crowd can join in)
- everyone should do a presentation, help with someone else’s presentation, do a audio/video podcast of presentations or participate in some other way
- you do not have to be the world’s authority to speak about something. It can be an unusual hobby, an positive experience or just a crazy idea. If you don’t like to talk, do something with videos (“Computers in 20 years of Hollywood movies”), music (“Feminism in the MTV era”) or images (“Famous newspaper images you thought were real”).
TOPICS
- I suggest the following ‘tracks’: Geeky / CMS / Blogosphere / Photography / Audio / Video / Marketing track. You can already list the topic of your presentation(s) on the wiki page.
- Just at the risk of repeating myself: not all topics are technical. No one will validate your CSS when you come in, or ask you to explain Einstein’s relativity theory. If, however, you have no experience with email and have never heard of ‘Google’, this day might be of little interest to you.
- You will be able to indicate your presentation on a whiteboard when you arrive. If you want to have a good spot, come early.
- Topics I would like to see presented: making music with Ableton Live/Garageband – blind surfing: accessibility check-up encoding video for the iPod/PSP – original viral campaigns – statistics/history of Belgian blogosphere – Photoshop demo – theory and practice of the RAW image format – the 20 memes you should know about – psychology of the blogger – remake Cinebel/IMDB site with RubyOnRails in 15 minutes – podcast legislation in Belgium and Europe …
There’s plenty of interesting stuff we all know too little about. Join in, show us what stuff is going on in your mind and surprise us!
A friend of mine, Kurt Deruyter, has just spent most of last year travelling around Europe taking pictures of the most idyllic golf courses. How’s that for a job? The result is not just any photobook, but the biggest coffee-table book on golf ever published. Funny detail: when you buy a copy, you actually get a coffee table with it. The book, when opened, measures 60 cm by 140 cm (22.6 inch by 55.1 inch).
Continue reading ‘Golf, a tribute’
So there it is: after some feedback on my Barcamp announcement post, we fixed the date and location for Barcamp Brussels!
DETAILS
- Saturday May 20th 2006 (breakfast at 9am, presentations start at 10h and end around 18h)
- International Presscenter (Résidence Palace)
(although: dress code casual – no suits
) - All presentations can be put on the presentation board upon arrival. There will be 3 to 4 presentation rooms for simultaneous topics.
- there will be free Wifi, food, drinks and lots of hi-tech around.
One remark: although this might seem to be a geek-event par excellence, this is not for-geeks-only. There will be technical presentations, granted, but we also expect interesting talks about social, psychological and esthetic topics. You do not need programming skills or an engineering degree, just a vivid interest in modern society. You’re interested in the etymology of smilies, the effect of gaming on ADHD, the psychological implications of serif and sans-serif fonts? There’s a topic for your presentation!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
- All attendees must give a demo, a session, or help out in some way.
- Add your name to the list on barcamp.org/BarCampBrusselsForTheImpatient
- you can add the following badge to your blog/site/emails:
everyone is invited to participate and the more the merrier.
- subscribe to the Barcamp Brussels Yahoo group to keep posted on developments and connect with other Barcampers (to prepare a joint presentation/demo or to arrange for car pooling)
Everyone who wants to help out for the practical organisation (mostly the week before) can drop me a line or tell me through the Yahoo group. I already want to thank Bart for helping us out with the venue and hope we can welcome a whole bunch of you on May 20th!
Anyone who often works at home is probably familiar with this: sometimes you would like to work somewhere else to finish something undisturbed, to see some people while you work instead of just the PC and the refrigerator, to have a meeting in a pleasant location, to be in another environment. I often do some work at the Recyclart or the AB Café, and almost always I’m the only nomadic worker there. Both places are cosy and have free Wifi, but they’re not real offices: there is no printer, no meeting room, no water cooler. And since I don’t pay for the accommodation, I feel obliged to order stuff. When I’m hungry, that’s OK, when I’m not, drinking 3 coffees in a row transforms my ADD into ADHD .
I would be glad to pay something between €50 to 100 per month to have a place in Brussels where I can drop by anytime, get some work done (wifi, printer, fax, meeting room, beamer) and maybe have some stimulating conversation with other people present. So when I read about “BEING SPACES”, it really struck home:
(…) urban dwellers are trading their lonely, cramped living rooms for the real-life buzz of BEING SPACES: commercial living-room-like settings, where catering and entertainment aren’t just the main attraction, but are there to facilitate small office/living room activities like watching a movie, reading a book, meeting friends and colleagues, or doing your admin.
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