We were tired of waiting in line for the Google party at SXSW. So, what did we do? We went to Twitter, just like CNET said.
Who throws the best “unofficial” SXSW parties? The same guy who throws the best “official” ones, of course!
What did he do last night after getting tired of waiting in the Google line?
He found a bar that was empty. Sat down in the back. And Twittered “Alta Vista Party at Ginger Man.” In the video I shot of the Google Line, you see Francine Hardaway as she found out about Scott’s party and follow us as we walk down to Scott’s party. At the end of the video you see Scott Beale explaining the whole thing.
We were among the first eight there. Soon there was 50 or so. Gotta love Twitter!
Why “Alta Vista?” Well, Alta Vista is the search engine that Google basically relegated to a footnote in history (it was #1 back when Google was born).
Of course Scott got revenge. The line for his party later in the evening was even longer than the one to get into the Google Party. Which, of course, he apologized for on Twitter.
Scobleizer 
A sad moment indeed. The need to explain “Alta Vista”.
LikeLike
A sad moment indeed. The need to explain “Alta Vista”.
LikeLike
I love the hand written Alta Vista Party sign on this photo:
LikeLike
I love the hand written Alta Vista Party sign on this photo:
LikeLike
Parties initiated by a Twitter invitation should be the new norm.
LikeLike
Parties initiated by a Twitter invitation should be the new norm.
LikeLike
Ha is that Johannes in that picture?
sigh for snowy Toronto. sxsw sounds like a blast this year.
LikeLike
Ha is that Johannes in that picture?
sigh for snowy Toronto. sxsw sounds like a blast this year.
LikeLike
Very funny!
I love how this sort of proves that social media competes with search engines!
When people are looking for something to DO – social media connects trusted sources of information (a Tweet from a friend/follows) that tromps any monolithic algorhythm of Page Ranking (the party list).
The social aspect of Twitter (friends tweeting friends) meant probably that the coolest people arrived earliest — which is an in real life example of the social filter beating out Google’s policies (represented by the bouncer/list keeprr).
Best,
Gib
PS: AltaVista is always on my list for Babelfish, which seems slightly better at translation than Google’s tools.
PS2: relegate is a great word.
LikeLike
Very funny!
I love how this sort of proves that social media competes with search engines!
When people are looking for something to DO – social media connects trusted sources of information (a Tweet from a friend/follows) that tromps any monolithic algorhythm of Page Ranking (the party list).
The social aspect of Twitter (friends tweeting friends) meant probably that the coolest people arrived earliest — which is an in real life example of the social filter beating out Google’s policies (represented by the bouncer/list keeprr).
Best,
Gib
PS: AltaVista is always on my list for Babelfish, which seems slightly better at translation than Google’s tools.
PS2: relegate is a great word.
LikeLike
sounds like SXSW is overexposed and tired…
LikeLike
sounds like SXSW is overexposed and tired…
LikeLike
The Austin Zealots brewclub was also at GM that night. But they went in the front because of all the bird droppings. When locals tell you not to sit under a tree, it’s a sign…
(The tweets convinced me to go to GM but I hung out with the brewcrowd. Still got a chance to chat with Merlin Mann.)
LikeLike
The Austin Zealots brewclub was also at GM that night. But they went in the front because of all the bird droppings. When locals tell you not to sit under a tree, it’s a sign…
(The tweets convinced me to go to GM but I hung out with the brewcrowd. Still got a chance to chat with Merlin Mann.)
LikeLike
A “footnote in history”? Robert, that’s a bit harsh. Couldn’t you have gone with something like “a now largely forgotten *chapter* in history”?
How soon we forget even the roots of Altavista — which grew out of DEC (“Digital Equipment Corporation”) once the second largest computer company in the world but now also largely forgotten.
bob wyman
LikeLike
A “footnote in history”? Robert, that’s a bit harsh. Couldn’t you have gone with something like “a now largely forgotten *chapter* in history”?
How soon we forget even the roots of Altavista — which grew out of DEC (“Digital Equipment Corporation”) once the second largest computer company in the world but now also largely forgotten.
bob wyman
LikeLike
The sad tale of AltaVista is one that every startup should study.
Great technology for its day – but short sighted people who never saw the potential of search.
Wonder how much politics and egos had to do with their decline.
Ironically, brin and page were encouraged to invent Google because they discovered that one could use the LINK: operator in Altavista.
It was bizarre when the man who oversaw AltaVista’s decline was hired by Yahoo – who also declined in search share
LikeLike
The sad tale of AltaVista is one that every startup should study.
Great technology for its day – but short sighted people who never saw the potential of search.
Wonder how much politics and egos had to do with their decline.
Ironically, brin and page were encouraged to invent Google because they discovered that one could use the LINK: operator in Altavista.
It was bizarre when the man who oversaw AltaVista’s decline was hired by Yahoo – who also declined in search share
LikeLike
Well I still use Altavista for their translation tools.
LikeLike
Well I still use Altavista for their translation tools.
LikeLike
quick wit + t wit ter = win!
LikeLike
quick wit + t wit ter = win!
LikeLike
twitter as a invite tool.
very ingenious.
LikeLike
twitter as a invite tool.
very ingenious.
LikeLike
This post is very hoting, and this blog is high ranked in
the top blogs report . You can
earn some money with a good blog like this.
LikeLike
This post is very hoting, and this blog is high ranked in
the top blogs report . You can
earn some money with a good blog like this.
LikeLike
That altavista party was the best one I went to. Free beer was good too of course! See, it does pay to stalk people on twitter (thanks laughingsquid!)
LikeLike
That altavista party was the best one I went to. Free beer was good too of course! See, it does pay to stalk people on twitter (thanks laughingsquid!)
LikeLike