Live blogging means posting in bursts, so pardon if this is “chunky.” And I do know not to use abbreviations, but live blogging makes for creative style. Also, I can’t check the spelling of everyone’s name, apologies in advance to those whose names I mess up. The session is starting. Welcome by Sam Groggin from Univ of Miami notes that “the future is here” on the campus. He refers to our “multilogue” and shows us how to make a “U” symbol.

Dale Peshkin: The room is presented and the format is to be conversational, not like listening to talking heads. “Lot of people who are live blogging and there are people curating [the live blogs.] There is a live chat, and lots of ways to contribute, so if you are tuned in, please add your voice.

Introduces the “We J’s” a Greek chorus who will be a couple of voices from previous conferences who follow the current conference and create a continuity thread from WeMedia conference to conference. Intro’d Andrea, Beth, and thanked them.

Designed to small with discussions taking place in this room and then to move from the big room to smaller rooms to facilitate diverse conversations. There are more conversations, “different worlds” this year than in the past.

Andrew intros Chad, the media guy in the booth. Slideshow acknowledges the “cascading blackout” that hit Miami, shut down nuke power plants and power for a million people. Web routers down. Kinko’s locks them out. Gridlock around UM. Yeah, Andrew and Dale and company were “really screwed.” Cool touch to add “What’s your solution” and kick off discussion of how to deal with power grid failure.