Day 2: We'll Always Have D.C.!

A STRONG finish was had at the Blogging While Brown Conference. I had no idea that they'd provide GOOD coffee, juice, water (though, it seems, no tea; folks were looking, poor dears) in the morning and a really tasty box lunch and afternoon snacks with beverages throughout. Seriously: can I just say again how utterly professional the organization was of this conference? Great speakers, interesting topics, excitement, technology, and ENERGY! I met a couple of pals who welcomed me to their lunch table and proceeded to engage in the most enjoyable lunch chat I've enjoyed in a while (I'm looking at YOU, NeoSoul AlterEgo and CancerSlayerGyrl). LOVED this conference; I'm very excited about participating and I look forward to the bright future of "Brown bloggers." Thanks to you ALL.

Left the conference early. My next gathering beckoned! Profs of Color, hosted by power couple, Angela and Howard. This year was as good as such gatherings get (though I say that every year I attend)! My most admired and beloved colleagues across The Academy were there, hale and hearty. They are brilliant, funny, sane, do my heart good (even though they EACH represent The Cool Kids faction of The Academy and generously let my so NOT cool self hang out from time to time)! Thanks for the fab time, Angela & Howard. Glad I didn't take more of that chocolate cake home. NOT!

Happy Father's Day!

Good Morning! (Day 2, Blogging While Brown Conference)

I'm back and boy, am I no longer a city girl -- or I am so taking my Summer Break waay too seriously (BTW: THAT, trust) -- as I found myself dragging in absolutely not in time for the 8:30 start. That is sooo NOT DC (which is what I used to be)! Le sigh...

But, these folks are really so DOING the darned thing! Beautifully clean, appropriately-cooled, spacious facilities in the D.C. Convention Center, even COFFEE (as the resident Starbucks isn't open on the weekend, it seems, the guards sadly informed me when I entered the building). I am so glad I'm part of this movement, 'tho I'm bringing up the rear and sitting in the back of the room, again. Late Registration. (I've taken to inserting citations in my "lay life" -- as do I in my "law life" -- a la Drake (vs. The Blue Book).

First break. I'm taking advantage of the BWB coffee; it's smooth and strong!

Back in my Lane

The Blogging While Brown Beginner's Boot Camp was WONDERFUL. I cannot say enough about the technical and teaching skills of our "drill sergeants:" Gina, Carmen Dixon Rosenzweig (allaboutrace.com and BlackVoices.com), and Scott Hanselman (http://www.hanselman.com/; interestingly, his life seems to be VERY Af-Am laden; his intro included his foray into hair care for Black women - "I can do your individuals" - and showing his sole Caucasian self in the midst of a throng of Black fam; how's THAT for yer post-racial America, LOL!).

I'm back at home, deciding to forego the formal opening session and vowing to show up bright and early tomorrow a.m. to learn more about this world of blogging. Call me a chicken; however, I'm a little hesitant to blow my cover with the young folks. I figure if I wedge into jeans, don nerdy eyewear, and look nonchalant, MAYBE I can pass for a few years younger ... if I'm just sitting in a session/class. God help me if I, say, go bowling with the young folks and my knees give way or folks guffaw as I pull out my antiquated cellie....

Video Vixen (heh)

New skills on display: embedding video. So: I thought I'd post this interview with Laurence Fishburne in "Thurgood," as I found certain aspects of the performance riveting. In fact? I actually had a bad dream about unconstitutional searches of my car and home. What a luxury: police violence in my dreams. Justice Marshall was said never to have been able to forget the memories and sounds of Black men being beaten by White cops daily outside his office:

Getting Oriented Now...

Thank GOODNESS I so happily maintain our casebook's web page (did you know that I'm a co-author? Yep.)! Much of what I do there applies to blogging: embedding hyperlinks, photos, video, and permalinks.

This is AMAZING. Gina McCauley (founder of Blogging While Brown, What About Our Daughters, and Michelle Obama Watch) and her boot camp colleagues are AMAZING. I am so thrilled that I'm here and learning. Old dogs CAN learn new tricks. :o)

Finding My Sea Legs

One of the important bits of information these pro bloggers are teaching us is as follows:

Statistics are an important aspect of your blog or website if you want to make it a success. But statistics are useless if you do not know what to look for, how to interpret it. Statistics are meaningless if not applied correctly.

You need to keep track of your blog's statistics primarily to see what you can learn from it. Obviously you have to have some statistical collecting package installed.

Analyze your total visitors, most popular posts, referral sites, traffic sending keywords, bounce rates, visitor's avg. time on site etc. Google Analytics is the best tool for this kind of information. Hat tip The Brave Programmer.

Welcome, Me (and You)!

Greetings from Blogging While Brown 2010! I'm typing this from the "Blogging Boot Camp," live at the MLK, Jr. Library in Washington, DC. Though I arrived late (yikes!), I'm glad I didn't bail because of my ban against "late arrivals" (and shout out to the guy who showed up AFTER me; whoo-hoo)! I'll catch you up when I catch up. These folks are handling their business.