The audience at Gnomedex was gracious and warm as they sat and listened to what’s happening with WKRN-TV in Nashville. I was surrounded by people with business cards after the presentation, and I assume that means it went over well. Hey, they applauded. I’ll write a summary of the pioneering efforts of WKRN after I get back to Nashville, but for now I want to post a few thoughts about the conference itself.

The best presentation was from Julie Leung, who writes “images and insight from an island in the Pacific Northwest.” Her blog is a wonderful and creative look at her life, one that is humorous, wondrous and often profound. She wrote and delivered a 40-minute slide-show about how her own blogging has lifted her sense of belonging in many ways and how that impacts society. It was compelling, emotional and beyond anything I can put into words. Gnomedex will be making audio and video segments, and I hope you get the chance to hear this. The real joy of working with the blogosphere for me is the discovery of the vast talent that exists in the homes and neighborhoods around us. Thank you, Julie.

Adam Curry had the line of the conference: “We’re taking back our media.” This is what the personal media revolution is all about. Curry told the stories of a band and a piano player, whose careers have been jump-started, because he played their tunes on his podcast show. He spoke of returning music to the people and yanking it away from the machine that determines what’s good and what’s not.

All throughout this event, I felt the winds of change and had the distinct feeling that something enormous is brewing. I felt it once before, during the 60s, and I thought I’d never feel that again. Some compared this Gnomedex to Woodstock. I smiled and then got serious as they spoke of the global impact of what’s happening on the cutting edge (aka: the lunatic fringe). This is bigger than the 60s.

I’m forever grateful to Harry Hayes of Sausage Software for being my gracious host and for introducing me to Chris Pirillo, the “image” of Gnomedex.

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