happykatie :: katie rocks out the interwebs

Build Clean, build healthy, build green -- awesome Houston Net2 this month!

Can't wait for our Houston NetSquared meetup this month as we meet a very cool group called Build Clean to chat on the world we live in and the materials we should (and should not) be surrounding ourselves with.  The skinny:

Think that 'being Green' is everything?  Think again.  It may not mean all that you assume! 

This month Net2 is going to be visiting with the brilliant ladies behind Build Clean, an organization dedicated to helping consumers and the building industry make smart decisions about healthy and safe materials.

They do this by:

• Supporting evidence-based research to determine the benefits and/or risks associated with indoor building materials
• Identifying healthy, safe and environmentally friendly choices in indoor building products
• Communicating vigorously about safe, healthy and environmentally friendly indoor building products
• Working collaboratively to establish industry standards for measuring and communicating hazardous radon and radiation levels emanating from building products

Build Clean will be discussing the challenges they face in helping everyday folks keep their homes radon-free and looking to YOU for ideas on how to spread the word. As always, bring your laptops, your witty jokes and we'll bring the beer and AMAZING speakers. See you then!!

Definitely a Net2 not to be missed and its all going down this Tuesday, October 14th (tomorrow) from 7-9pm at Stag's Head Pub.  Free beer, great conversation and even greater people.  If you're on Facebook, be sure to join our Houston Netsquared page to stay up-to-date and in-the-know. 

SxSWi 2008 was awesome (aka: pimping)

SXSW Interactive Festival 2008 was super, as always.  While the quality of panel content wasn't as consistent as I would've hoped, the people, events and general camaraderie  were outstanding.  As were the beer, wine, Nuclear Tacos and the 400 times we ate at Iron Cactus.  Also as were (if that even makes sense), the awesome fuzzy pimp hats and bling we indulged in for Ed Schipul's 'Pimp My NonProfit' panel.

I live blogged several panels and updated them this evening with photos, better descriptions and general grammatical edits so as not to appear a complete lame-o poster.  Specifically:

1.  Weird Turn Pro panel with Derek Powazek
2.  Henry Jenkins opening remarks
3. High-Tech Craft session moderated by Natalie Zee Drieu

Feel like you missed out?  Some ideas on getting your SXSWi 2008 fix: Flickr, Technorati,  re-visit Meebo chats or check out Pulse SXSW for video clips.

To all of the friendly new faces I came in contact with, you really made this a special weekend.  Thanks for the giggles, jokes, advice and brilliant ideas - I'm constantly inspired by every single one of you.

Find the above SXSWi 2008 mosaic in my Flickr stream here - also thanks to CC loving Flickr photogs techslut and wangjy!