Gudgel and I hit Vegas about Noon… Right after we stopped at the Mad Greek. (I was told, “You Have to check it out”) Checked in and got our badges for the expo. Immediately I was thrilled at the size and the scope of the event. We checked into the room at the Hilton (which was snazzy, Thanks Dave) and then the lounge for some munchies.

The big fun happened when Blog4Tix hooked us up with some tickets to the Blue Man Group. I’ve received tickets in the past for events and it’s usually a good time. I have to say this was a whole new level of amazing because we got 4th row center! Blue Man Group has always been a great act combining elements of humor and music together is a blend that is engaging and fun to watch. I don’t want to spoil the show but the production coordination on this show is really impressive. Music cues for chomping Cap’n’ Crunch, the talent to catch gumballs and marshmallows at such a rapid pace and black lights that change the experience in the blink of an eye.

The show is really interactive and wearing a poncho or rain slicker (depending which part of the country you’re in) there was real terror at every turn that we were going to be doused with something at any moment. The music was equal parts Explosions in the Sky and The World Inside – but with a twist of Gallagher, it’s on a different level. I’d highly recommend checking it out.

After the show we went to the Mirage Hotel for the Techset After party. Great location and the music was a lot of fun. I got to meet up with Julie Smith from ShareThis – I love this plug-in!!! ShareThis gives so much integration to a site with very little (if any) configuration. I’m using it on The Drop, Meet The Casting Director (an actors workshop lead by Jerold Franks, past president of The Casting Society of America and he also cast LOST) and it’s a part of the roll out of the new Union Rescue Mission website (Sept 30th)

Also at the party a new service Tagga just launched in August and I was really impressed with the team of Amielle and Ryan. It’s a mobile messaging service using SMS and I was wrapping my head around the possibilities last night. I fully plan on integrating it with my projects in the very near future.

Last great conversation happened with gooseGrade’s CEO John Brooks Pounders. gooseGrade (lowercase is intentional) is a grammar helper for guys like me. Misspellings and bad grammar is the norm (and I’m sorry) on my sites. gooseGrade is an easy way to fix the problem and make the blogger look good in the meantime. Check out the video here.

That’s day one… day two is shaping up nicely.

First thing tomorrow morning, I’m headed to the Las Vegas to partake in the blogosphere. Mixing in mingling with “thought leaders” (some of this crew are suspect and I want to call shenanigans on them) in the fray that has become our modern digital world of communication.

I’m looking forward to relax in Vegas with hundreds and thousands of others who spend a fair amount of time staring at a screen all day. Say what you will, but this crew are artists in their own right.

This is such a different trip (in look and in feel) from the one to Vegas just a month ago for the New Media Expo. For this weekend I’m traveling with Brent Gudgel from Chronicle Project. He’s an award Winning Director (Crystal Heart Winner at Heartland Film Fest.. and the list goes on) of the film Dear, Francis. It’s a film about the Aids/HIV epidemic in Swaziland and although it was released a few years back Showtime like to air it now and again.

So what would a guy who focuses on connectivity in multi-media and an award winning film director do at BlogWorld??

Have a conversation with the world, of course!

We’re heading to the desert to learn a few things about what’s happening on the web now, how it’s moving and shaping for the future.. but we have a small agenda too. We’re looking to engage bloggers, podcasters and general digital dwellers in a conversation this weekend. That conversation involves trees, rock music, the homeless and your email inbox.

I think the best part of this is that one person can make a difference. Part of the internet to me is like a revolution of ideas – the ability to shout about what matters to you. While some use their blog voices to talk politics or tell you the undying secrets to their love (both of which I’ve been guilty of on occasion) the other thing is to sound off on issues that can change our world. I’m involved with some projects right now that are pretty high quality and I want to tell you (and the BlogWorld crowd) about them. For each of these things I’ve got special “Bloggers Only” info to release prior to the general announcement. I think it’s way cooler to be linked arm and arm with people who take action and I think they should get the inside scoop.

So here it is:

Union Rescue Mission - New website launch. I’ve been working so hard on this site and have been literally on taking breaks to get sleep for the past month. I can’t give you all the details just yet but I can tell you why I’d work so hard on a site. I’ve said it before and Im I’ll say it again – I LOVE the work they do. They are really making a difference in the lives of the tens of thousands of homeless men, women, and children in LA County – and for my money, that’s worth investing in. I’ll be posting a ton more on all the bells and whistles on the site but for now if you’d like to get a feel of the direction they are headed with media – Check out their top rated Podcast itunes.urm.org

Eden Reforestation Project – Chronicle is doing a bunch of work with these guys and you have to see the films they have made for them – they are fantastic! Eden Project is working to help plant trees throughout Africa in an effort to restore the gorgeous climate in Ethiopia.

The Drop – I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk to bloggers about music. It’s my most favorite thing. Finding a new band is like finding a diamond in a coal mine (which I’m not sure if that happens, I think they’d call it a diamond mine but I digress) I’m always interested to hear from graphic designers what’s their latest Muxtape or how they are rocking the Genius function of iTunes. Bring on the Music Mavens! The new site launches in the next week and I’m hoping for a whole new era of this sleeping giant.

Email A to Z – NY Times Bestselling author and like-ability expert, Tim Sanders, launched the Dirty Dozen of Email Etiquette a few months ago. I got to work with him on the Blog portion of the site that is being populated with your stories about email triumphs and tragedies. Also, his latest book came out the week, Saving the World at Work, this book is bringing home the change that’s been happening in the business world for some time, the idea of business plus and he’s got the research to prove it. Plus, check out his new site – this one is a barn burner of innovation

If you’re a blogger and you’d like the inside scoop on some really great multi media content to use as you’d like, leave me a comment, or email me and I’d be happy to send all the info your way. (also, this makes you the envy of your friends, you rescue the maiden from the tower and live a long and happy life – all were same with sugar pill)

Call it social justice, call it tree hugging, call it activism, call it whatever you want – just talk about it.

PS. I’m stopping the “Twitter Sum Up” posts to the site (or at least slowing them down) sorry for the inconvenience.

So the rumors are flying about what Apple will be releasing this September. Alleged phone calls of insiders saying that financially they would be having an explosive quarter. And then it’s reported that Apple stores aren’t renewing iPod stock. Plus, subscription based iTunes and Leopard for PC’s!!!

Is it true and what does it mean?

iTunes Unlimited – The subscription thing sounds totally on the level, Apple is changing before it has to and that is always a good thing. It’s going to hurt current monthly music subscriptions like eMusic, Rhapsody, Amazon and other providers. If the reports of $129.95 for a year of the service are on the level I don’t think that’s too bad – but I may be on the far side of the pendulum swing. I haven’t bought a CD in years and my download dollars are in the thousands. Depending on how the service would work, users could see some real value. The ramifications would launch AppleTV well ahead of the pack. Even to the point that there wouldn’t be a need for regular cable, satellite, etc. It has potential to usher in the full TV On Demand model. If you gain access to all the shows listed on iTunes by paying for your subscription why wouldn’t the masses flock to get the HD Appliance. I tend to think there will be another shoe to drop on that. That’s too much to my benefit for what I think Apple normally does, but then again it would really do some hurt to Comcast and Cox and if they could do the same thing in the TV market as what they’ve done over the last year to the phone market – I’m in.

The 2nd quarter results – With the new iPhone 3G and over a million phones sold in 3 days kind of seals the deal, don’t you think?

New iPods – Pretty standard for September in Apple’s history. My guess would be that a newer larger iPod touch would only accentuate the iTunes Unlimited service. The larger size would accommodate for HD movies easier and allow for more music storage. Plus with touch, it allows all the 3G goodies of maps, GPS, and widgets.

Leopard on a PC – Why wouldn’t Apple make it’s move against Mojave, ahem, Vista? Microsoft got ginormous on software and with out the platform architecture limitation I think it’s a golden opportunity.

As with any kind of rumor there’s a good possibility that it’s all a house of cards and Apple is notorious for doing the “end around” drill. What do you think about Apple TV? What are the implications?

I got a delivery of some goods in the mail yesterday and I’m looking forward to digging in. I get a fair amount of music for The Drop and that really makes my heart smile but yesterday I got some books. I’d been watching the mailbox for about a week waiting for Mark Batterson’s Wild Goose Chase . I know it sounds a little out of place for a guy like me but here’s the deal.

6 months ago when I debated making the move across the country and Mark Batterson’s first book (In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day) was recommended to me not just once but 3 or 4 times in the course of a couple of weeks. I read it on the plane out here and I’ve come back to it a few times during my time in L.A.

Now on a personal note, Mark is the pastor and friend of my brother Joe and he’s got nothing but nice things to say about Mark, I like that. In addition I’ve been hearing about the process from some of the other crew in the office at National Community Church in my travels over the last 6 months and it’s all been good. So I got the book and I’m looking forward to reading it but here’s the best part – I’ve got one for you too

The Books title is Wild Goose Chase, Why? I’m glad you asked, “Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’” I think this calls into question the whole “Old wives tale” thing – maybe there was more to that. You can pick up the book at Amazon.com or check out the site for the book here

The publishers sent me two and sharing is a good thing.. interested in a free book? OK.. then leave in the comments -here on or facebook- why you want the book, what’s your wild goose chase? It doesn’t have to be spiritual or even super deep, just honest. Give it a shot.

Here’s a list of all the things that the Chinese don’t want us to remember about the opening ceremonies. It had to be the most amazing visual spectacle I’ve ever witnessed and in a perfect world it’ll put some serious pressure on the Superbowl Halftime show. It doesn’t matter to me how well Paul McCartney’s going to play or how amazing Mick Jagger’s strut is.. I don’t think it compares to 20,000 performers and the worlds largest LED screen.

I was also thinking. (A first to be sure) I can’t wait for the reporters to get back and then report on all the things that they were afraid to talk about because they didn’t want to be kidnapped in the night (Black helicopters et al.) We’re just a week away from getting the Paul Harvey on the Olympics and that should prove to be better than a Wham reunion. (you love careless whisper.. admit it)