Life On the Wicked Stage: Act 2

Three Years of Life on the Wicked Stage

This is my third year of blogging and the third year of Life on the Wicked Stage. I find it hard to believe I've been doing this for three years, and yet harder still to imagine not doing it. In many ways Life on the Wicked Stage is my refuge. In still other ways it is a platform to share some thoughts on what I find outrageous, wonderful, crazy, sublime, and just plain wacky in the world. I often find myself wishing I had more time to do that. I mean, let's get real. There's plenty of wacky to go around.

A lot has happened since I began blogging, both in the world and to me as I rotate around on it. I started out blogging mostly about Tablet PCs and mobile computing but most of that shifted last year when I joined the gang at GottaBeMobile.com. Wicked Stage struggled a bit during that transition but it seems to be doing ok these days as I still blog about mobile computing, computing in general, politics, wacky stuff, Wayside Theatre, and things that simply astound and amaze me. I find great wonder in that and hope some of that gets relayed in the words here. I also find great idiocy in the world, and I imagine I contribute to that as well.

This was indeed a crazy year. This was the year of social networking. Twitter became a part of what I do and how I share. Facebook became a part of what I do and how I share. I have to say that I find great joy and value in how that platform as allowed me to reconnect with some folks from past lives. That said, I think that while this was the year of Facebook, it may unfortunately be the year that Facebook started a death spiral because of privacy issues. Too bad they got greedy. With the way things are going now and the the reaction to the stupid advertising platform they call Beacon, it shows just how perilous this whole Internet thing is.

The Third Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards

I still can't top what I wrote at the creation of the original Ink Blot Awards two years ago, so I'll repeat and then extend those remarks as we head into the Third Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards.

I created The Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards as a celebration. Yes, it's a celebration of the 1 year anniversary of this blog. But it is more than that. It is a celebration of a community that I have come to know and admire. The Tableteers that make up the Tablet PC Community are an amazing collection of individuals who know and work with the Tablet PC platform. They are fiercely protective of it, insatiably curious about advancing it, very intelligent, often wickedly funny, at one time very forgiving and patient, and in the same breath, scathingly critical when the need arises. They are also exceedingly willing to evangelize the platform to anyone who will listen, and in my humble opinion, have helped keep the spotlight on The Tablet PC in ways that may, in the long run, prove to be responsible for keeping the platform thriving.

Most, if not all of that remains true here in Year 3. But like everything in life it is changing. The Tabletscape is now the Tablet/UMPC scape, although at times it tries unnecessarily to be two different scapes. We're about to add another scape with the advent of Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) just around the corner, and that promises to bring great changes. Touch has become king and I'm afraid Ink is drying up like an old maid in the desert. Multi-touch or Dual Touch Tablet PCs and UMPCs are now becoming the norm, but on the smaller devices the powers that be don't see the wisdom of Inking. Microsoft has more than let the ball drop. They've refused to take the field here lately, and Intel, HTC, Apple, and Nokia are defining what will be in the next phase of mobile computing. Microsoft may yet make a play, but the goal posts have shifted. Quite frankly, I'm not sure they will be able to field a response, although that could change.

But that doesn't stop Tablet PC, UMPC, and mobile computing enthusiasts one bit. Their passion keeps pumping with great vitality on the pages of blogs and forums. This year, in addition to honoring that passion for Tablet PCs and mobile computing, I'm adding some other categories to honor some other things and people that I find interesting or worth noting. As usual the rules for inclusion here are my own. Recognition here comes from things that strike my fancy or I think merit attention, praise, or ignominy. Some things are included just for the fun of it. Some are "best of breed." My good friend, Mark, "Sumocat" Sumimoto was the first to christen the Ink Blot Awards with the nickname, Blotties. I still can't afford to have a big celebration where we can all get blotto while celebrating the Blotties, but until then, have the beverage of your choice, kick back, and enjoy the Third Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards.

Cue the dancing girls. Enjoy!

2006 Ink Blots A Big Hit

Well, The Second Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards were a big hit. Lots of great comments and thank yous all around. But the thanks go to the Tableteers and bloggers who make it easy to come up with the list. I had a blast creating the list and am glad folks enjoy them as much as I do creating them. The Blotties even made Techmeme. (On a Sunday of course. :)

Here's to another year of great mobile tech, Tablet PC, and UMPC blogging!

Two Years and Counting with Life On The Wicked Stage: Act 2

Two years ago I started blogging. At times that sounds more like a statement of acknowledgement from an addict beginning some 12 step program than I’d like it to. A lot has changed since the last Wicked Stage Blog Birthday when I wrote this:

One year ago today I started blogging with the original Life On The Wicked Stage, using MSN Spaces. A lot has happened since I blogged this statment:

Well, I'm trying out this blogging concept using MSN Spaces. Who knows where this will go. It is fun, but I'm not sure if in the long term it will be of any value

Ok, I'm still not sure if it is of any value, I'm still not sure where it will go, but it is still fun.

Yes, it is still fun, and yes, I still question the value two years in. A lot has changed in my life, in the Tabletscape, and in the blogosphere in general. I turned the Big 50 back in July. I got re-awarded the distinction of being a Microsoft MVP for Tablet PCs. Life in the theatre here at Wayside Theatre was just as much fun and just as wacky as it has ever been. No, there were no new emu sightings.

I was given a wonderful opportunity by my Tablet PC colleagues and fellow MVPs, Rob Bushway and Dennis Rice, to become a part of the GottaBeMobile.com team and that certainly changed a lot of how I blogged. Working with Rob, Dennis, and Matt to continue to evangelize everything about Tablet PCs and UMPCs is a real joy and I’m thrilled and often humbled to be a part of that team. Rob and Dennis’ vision of community is a wonderful thing, and I love them for giving me the opportunity.

As most of my blogging about things Tablet has shifted to GBM, that has led to some ups and downs here. But the readers who still follow Life on the Wicked Stage seem to find some value, and I am grateful for all who stop by and take a look, leave a comment, or just take a peek. Some come for the politics. Some stay away because of that. Sorry. Some come for the wacky looks at things that strike my fancy, be they outrageous or just plain fanciful. Some come for the theatre stories. And some come to leave spam. (I’m not grateful for them.) I’ve expanded my interests a bit to include more things in the tech and Internet scapes, not only because they interest me, but because they speak to many of the core reasons I do this in the first place, which are reflected in this blog’s header. I’m often bemused, often outraged, and occasionally just slack jawed in astonishment at what happens in the world, regardless of whether it has to do with Tablet PCs, the Internet, politics, art, or whatever. Hopefully some of that awe, wonder, anger, bemusement, and astonishment gets reflected here, and hopefully it entertains someone, somewhere, beyond myself.

As I celebrate the Second Birthday (Blogiversary?) of Life on the Wicked Stage: Act 2, I will offer the same tribute to the community that got me started on this addiction in the first place. Last year, I kicked off the celebration with The First Annual Ink Blot Awards. Well, here comes the Second Annual installment of the Ink Blot Awards. Yes, it centers around the Tabletscape, mostly, but as my blogging interests have expanded, there are a few new areas of inclusion as well. As we head into year three, I hope that through some intelligently designed construct what happens here will continue to evolve as I do. In the meantime join with me as we celebrate two years of Life on The Wicked Stage: Act 2 with the Second Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards. Enjoy.

The Second Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards

In preparing for The Second Annual Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards, I realized that it would be tough to write anything better about my motivation for creating them than I did in year one. What I wrote then is still more than an appropriate chronicle of my thoughts and feelings. 

I created The Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards as a celebration. Yes, it's a celebration of the 1 year anniversary of this blog. But it is more than that. It is a celebration of a community that I have come to know and admire. The Tableteers that make up the Tablet PC Community are an amazing collection of individuals who know and work with the Tablet PC platform. They are fiercely protective of it, insatiably curious about advancing it, very intelligent, often wickedly funny, at one time very forgiving and patient, and in the same breath, scathingly critical when the need arises. They are also exceedingly willing to evangelize the platform to anyone who will listen, and in my humble opinion, have helped keep the spotlight on The Tablet PC in ways that may, in the long run, prove to be responsible for keeping the platform thriving. 

That all remains true, certainly, but the Tabletscape, like everything else, has evolved in a year. It actually has a name, The Tabletscape coined by James Kendrick. It now includes not only Ultra-Mobile PCs, but more things mobile. Ink is now side by side with touch. Those changes will continue and I hope we will continue to see growth. 

In the last year, we’ve witnessed the invasion of the Down Under Tableteers. Marc Orchant, while still occasionally blogging about Tablet PCs, now is an exec at Foldera and a blogger on ZDNet blogging about all sorts of productivity categories. Kevin Tofel has joined up with James Kendrick, the All Father of Tablet PCs, and they have formed a formidable team on jkOnTheRun. Tablet PC Buzz has had its ups and downs (it is down again at present, sadly) and we’ve seen a rash of new sites and new folks covering the UMPC market. (Is there a site anywhere that CTitanic is not writing for?) Podcasts (should we use that word?) and video reviews are a part of the scene in a big way, and I have to say, I really enjoy doing and watching the Inkshows we provide at GottaBeMobile.com, which has become a real and invaluable resource for the community and a new home for me. 

At launch last year, multiple Ink Blot Award winner, Mark Sumocat Sumimoto quickly nicknamed them The Blotties, which seems more than appropriate. So whether you call them the Blotties, or Ink Blot Awards, it makes no difference as to the fun I hope you have with the list. As before, there are no rules for inclusion, save my own. Recognition here comes simply from things that struck my fancy, or I think merit attention for one reason or the other. Yes, there are some "Best of Breed" awards here, and yes, there are some that are included just for the pure fun of it. Perhaps there are one or two included for ignominy as well. Who knows? Whatever the reason, I congratulate those who received a Blottie, (or is that those who were blotted) and look forward to the day that we can perhaps have this little celebration while getting blotto over the Blotties. 

So, sound the trumpets, cue the drum roll and the dancing girls. Take the jump and enjoy The Second Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards.

More On The Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards

The First Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards seem to have been quite a hit. A number of those recognized commented here and in emails about how much they enjoyed the whole affair. Mark “Sumocat” Sumimoto gave them a handy nickname: The Blotties. Eric Mack chimed in with a fun blog post recently and Those Tablet PC Podcaster Guys, James Kendrick(Guy#1) and Marc Orchant(Guy#2) had some fun things to say on their podcast. A number of folks have emailed asking if this will continue (after all I did call them the first annual.)

The answer is yes, the Ink Blot Awards will continue next year. I’m looking forwad to a fun year of reading about Tablet PCs from the many wonderful Tablet PC bloggers out there in the Tabletscape. Someone asked what they needed to do to possibly be included. Besides blogging about Tablet PCs there’s only one thing. Send cash.

The 1st Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards

I created The Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards as a celebration. Yes, it's a celebration of the 1 year anniversary of this blog. But it is more than that. It is a celebration of a community that I have come to know and admire. The Tableteers that make up the Tablet PC Community are an amazing collection of individuals who know and work with the Tablet PC platform. They are fiercely protective of it, insatiably curious about advancing it, very intelligent, often wickedly funny, at one time very forgiving and patient, and in the same breath, scathingly critical when the need arises. They are also exceedingly willing to evangelize the platform to anyone who will listen, and in my humble opinion, have helped keep the spotlight on The Tablet PC in ways that may, in the long run, prove to be responsible for keeping the platform thriving.

There are no rules for inclusion on the list other than mine own and basically they boil down to what has struck my fancy throughout the last year. Some of the entries are for true "best of breed" entries. Some are just for fun. Some may say that this "best of" list has too many categories and far too many winners. My answer? Go make your own list. There's much to celebrate here.

So without any further delay take the jump and enjoy the 1st Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards.