---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Subject: Chat with Scott, Clark,
dynamicuno@gmail.com,
nicholas.diotte@gmail.com,
BushwickBK.com, Mirna
To:
barriticus@gmail.comCc:
scott.w.mintz@gmail.com,
robinsonchicago@gmail.com,
dynamicuno@gmail.com,
barriticus@gmail.com,
nicholas.diotte@gmail.com,
jeremy.sapienza@gmail.com,
barriticus@gmail.com,
robinsonchicago@gmail.com,
nicholas.diotte@gmail.com,
mirnahariz@gmail.com,
jeremy.sapienza@gmail.com,
dynamicuno@gmail.com,
scott.w.mintz@gmail.com
7:32 PM Scott: You've been invited to this chat room!
por favor
Scott: okI've added
wait
i've hit a snag
need to add to contacts
me: that's our other lawyer
Scott: is mirna online?
me: okay take your time
she's online, yes
7:34 PM Scott: ok please tell your respective people to accept my invitation
this way they
they'll become my friend and I can add them
me: okay
Mirna has joined
Scott: one down, one to go
7:35 PM dynamicuno@gmail.com: Ok, I texted Nick. He's at work and dealing with some sort of issue so he may not be immediate
me: that's fine
Okay, let me introduce Mirna Hariz to start
7:36 PM she's on our list of members but hasn't been brought on much yet. She's my entertainment lawyer and has worked with me on various projects in the past.
Mirna: hello
Scott: sounds good
hello mirna
me: I actually lived with her in New York as well as in Austin as well
Clark: hi Mirna
me: Charles Johnson may be joining us as well tonight, he was stuck in traffic when I spoke to him last
7:37 PM At any rate, he's agreed in principle to handle our coding needs
Scott: that's great news
me: As well as to help us get past this problem with compatibility that Todd Essig brought up
Scott: did you discuss with him compensation?
Mirna has left
me: Sorry, Mirna had to go
7:38 PM I'll send her the transcript
Scott: easy come easy go
me: Not yet, Scott
We need to figure out a bit more about what would be involved
Which will become our main focus in the next two weeks
Scott: That's a good point.
Let's get an idea of the scope
7:39 PM me: I've writing the science/journalism announcement piece as well for Skeptical Inquirer, had one partway written but scrapped it, should have it finished tomorrow
Scott: ok
me: As I may have told a couple of you, I'm now working with a fellow named Steve Bargo, who runs an investment banking firm and otherwise puts together a number of deals
7:40 PM Oops, I forgot, we need to bring in Jeremy Sapienza
one sec
me: Howdy, Nicholas
Clark: hello, Nick
me: Tim's given us a brief rundown on you and your skill sets, and we appreciate you taking the time to join us tonight
Scott: hey nick
dynamicuno@gmail.com: I know that Nick is dealing with an outage at work (he runs the internets) so he will be checking in as he is able
me: maybe I should figure out how to do that at some point
Anyway
7:43 PM Scott: there is a + button next to a person's head in the top left corner
me: Okay, thanks
Scott: i've just added jeremy nick and mirna to the task spreadsheet
me: Everyone, this is Jeremy Sapienza
Clark: hello Jeremy
7:44 PM Scott: hey
me: Somebody has to
Scott: ants war?
me: the locust media won't touch it
As you can tell, he is an editor
7:45 PM Anyway, so I'm going to be travelling with Bargo pretty soon
interesting
ok digress
and?
me: As I'm writing e-mails on his behalf and also helping him to set up deals
there's a japanese site with videos of bug fights that's better
anywho
7:46 PM Scott: yes, i saw that
semi-confused but go on
me: I'll be in NYC at some point in the near future and will probably meet up with Michael Hastings if he's back in the country
nicholas.diotte: Hey guys.
Sorry I'm trying to multitask while working on a major outage at work. :\
me: No problem at all
Scott: no worries
7:47 PM me: We're informal here
Anyway, we need to add a task by which we'll determine who I ought to meet with in NYC
as well as another one for California
7:48 PM I'll be in a position to raise some funds
me: and also want to sit down with anyone who might be a particular asset to us
Plus Tim has to take me to a rave
7:49 PM me: Okay, what's his background?
Scott: thanks jeremy!
me: just visiting, going there to set up real estate deals with some financier but should have time for a few meetings for our stuff
dynamicuno@gmail.com: NewMindSpace is the lead organization for reclaiming urban space for people instead of crap
me: interesting, I like that
me: Do you have a link?
Scott: I can't believe I missed bubble battle
dynamicuno@gmail.com: He's consequently good at fundraising and well connected with the sort of people who like that sort of thing, who also are the sort of people who would support our kind of thing
me: lol @ "spoiler alert"
7:51 PM yeah, I like him already
me: that's him?
that's him
7:52 PM me: he's perfect for our purposes. Go ahead and reach out to him when you get a moment, Tim.
have him get in touch with me if he'd like, etc.
It's right up his alley, I'm sure he'll come on board
me: and yes, I'd like to see whom he could bring in as well
7:53 PM On the same point, I'd like to set up another group with Tim as its head
which will concern itself with the staging of viral events intended to embarrass major media figures and outlets by way of creative methods
7:54 PM that's the general outline, anyway, and we'll figure out the particulars soon
Scott: Shouldn't project pm be up and running before we start doing those things?
7:55 PM me: This has to be done in such a way as to be compatible with our general goals and the image we need to get across
dynamicuno@gmail.com: The trick will be to embarass them because THEY are unethical, not because I am </O'Keefe>
If I ever suggest luring somebody onto a boat for sexual innuendos, don't let me do it til I've sobered up.
7:56 PM me: Scott, these would be part of the process of getting us up and running by achieving a portion of our general objective of bringing attention to the structural deficiencies of the media, and would serve other purposes as well
and I'd like to set it up in a way such that we ourselves will proceed with the other tasks
7:57 PM Scott: Barrett, I 100% see your point. We're proposing the problem, but I'd rather we have the solution ready instead of a coming soon sign.
me: while Tim spearheads that end of our work
Scott: i.e. I just added to task list (for tim): lead a group of people to come up with ways of pointing out mass media's inadequacies using viral events
me: Part of the solution is injecting the issue of media failures into the national dialogue
that's a huge part
The media's job is to point out the failures, but obviously they won't point out their own
me: it's basically along the lines of what I try to do with my work, except the format is different
Scott: that is true that part of the solution is to raise awareness, and I'm sure it will still help, but I would think it would be more effective if we're ready to accept the increased awareness
7:59 PM me: Let's not have another conversation about Latin
Scott: I guess I view the analogy to a advertisement in a newspaper to only have the store be out of stock
8:00 PM if the viral events raise awareness and people check out the project pm website, my preference is for them to be capable of downloading the widget
me: It certainly would, but I think the net effect would still be positive in terms of our goals, and at any rate I see these as not being done in such a way as to give the message, "Hey, we're Project PM and we're ready to do all of these things," but rather, "Hey, here's a big fucking problem that needs to be addressed and we're working on it"
Scott: in any case, we can discuss this at a later time since at this point, the goal is simply to come up with a drawing board of ideas
me: Right
8:01 PM Scott: ok
it's on the task list
me: And some of your concerns, I think, might be rectified depending on what we come up with
Scott: agreed
me: Tim, I also have some other people I'll bring in on this and put in touch with you
8:02 PM me: I'll try to think up a name for your sub-organization but let me know if you have any ideas
Okay, moving along
This Bargo fellow I mentioned
has a son
Brenndan Bargo
not a typo, spelled that way
I don't know why
Scott: ha
me: anywho
8:03 PM this son of his is an avid mountain climber
climbs Kilimanjaro every year for some reason
he's also been heavily involved in African charities
Scott: i'd make it 1/10th the way before passing out but moving on
sounds like a great person to include
8:04 PM me: as in, he has very very strong connections to lots of things
8:05 PM this whole Bargo family is sort of among the super-rich set that does shit like that and is forever running around Europe meeting with their wealthy friends to raise money for deals simply because they think it's fun
which it's not
but they don't know that
anywho
I've just sent him an e-mail
Scott: hey man, different strokes for different folks
me: and based on my conversations with Steve Bargo, this guy will definitely be willing to assist us
Scott: that's great news!
8:06 PM me: for one thing, he'll be a great source of info on proven methods of Africa developmentr
as well as development
and probably devldpafeapfip as well
Scott: huh?>
8:07 PM me: you have ten seconds to get the gag before you are electrocuted to death by the Project PM Chat Death Application
Scott: not going to happen
me: just type "lol" and we'll move on
Scott: the getting part at least
me: I was joking about my typo
I mean, ZAAAPPPPPPP
Scott: got it
me: good, I feel that we've really accomplished something here today
8:08 PM Johnson's gonna charge a lot for that
Scott: if it's a consolation, i said got it aloud despite no one being here
me: yes, that makes me happy
So anyway, Bargo Jr. will be of great help and I expect to talk to him in person later this week
Scott: good stuff
moving to website
me: ok
Scott: tim, did you get a chance to look at that website your friends use?
me: Nathalie has the info she needs to get started
8:09 PM Scott: I just shared a doc with everyone with WIP blurbs for africa and science projects
me: and I see that you've prepared some blurbs, thanks
Scott: i will work on a project pm and barrett blurb soon
feel free to comment/adjust
me: Great, and add a task for me
Clark: Scott I'll read them and give you some feedback later in the week
8:10 PM Scott: ok, thanks clark
what task am I adding for Barrett?
me: I have like a dozen Google Docs with notes on various aspects of PM that I need to go through and pull blurbs out of
Scott: no tim, I was talking about a website registration site
I suggested godaddy with coupons but you mentioned another
me: as well as create a new document with all of the raw material in one place and share it with you guys
Yes I did
Scott: barrett, what I am supposed to call that task? major clean up?
8:11 PM me: Call it "Notes Extraction"
Scott: ok barrett then use godaddy, plus if you google godaddy coupons there are tons of shit that pop up
retailmenot is generally the best coupon site
nicholas.diotte: Oh hey I saw my name...
me: Okay, I'll have the funds for that soon
me: Getting $1,500 from D Magazine upon publication, I believe, in November
nicholas.diotte: It's a free software which is open source and has a bunch of plug ins.
8:12 PM me: may possibly have the money sooner
nicholas.diotte: For hosting, I recommend dreamhost.com if you want your own dedicated account.
me: at any rate we'll have our website up by the end of November at the very latest, probably sooner
nicholas.diotte: It's about $119 USD a year for unlimited transfers and webspaces.
me: Oh, then we'll have it sooner
nicholas.diotte: I use it the host for about 20 webpages myself and it's been working flawless for over 2 years with 0 downtime.
8:13 PM Scott: nick, what's the difference dedicated account and something like godaddy?
nicholas.diotte: Godaddy is a registrar first.
They add hosting 2nd.
me: Nathalie's got everything she needs for graphics and I imagine she'll have it ready to put up in a couple of weeks
Scott: ok, let's get it out there. I know nothing about this stuff.
nicholas.diotte: Dreamhost is a dedicated host.
They also do registration.
If you sign up for dreamhost you get a free domain registration.
dynamicuno@gmail.com: Ok, that's logical to go with then; the hosting is for sure the more important part
8:14 PM and 119 is very reasonable
Scott: ahhh, didn't realize you need registering AND hosting
ok, i'll going to add the name to the task list, barrett this one for you?
nicholas.diotte: Why I like dreamhost as well because you get unlimited email hosting, though I recommend using gmail.
me: which part, registering it?
Scott: yes
me: That might be better delegated to someone who knows what they're doing
8:15 PM nicholas.diotte: Registering a domain costs from $9.95 - $40.00 USD a year.
Scott: nick, can you use a domain name's email but have it forward to gmail?
me: Okay, great, send me an e-mail when you've decided and I'll either pay for it online or paypal you funds or whatever is best
8:16 PM or something else?
nicholas.diotte: Well I'm not sure how technical you guys are, but there are things call MX records on DNS.
You can tell your domain name to talk to any mail server.
Gmail was free, it still might be for business.
nicholas.diotte: Tim and I run a gmail acccount for our website and works great.
Tim you can chime in..
But you can also use all google docs, etc... if you host with gmail.
nicholas.diotte: Yes coupons are great!
nicholas.diotte: So with Dreamhost you can use a coupon for the 1st year.
That's what I did... my 1st year was only 19.95.
me: maybe org is better? Scott, what do you think?
Clark: Is Nathalie just designing the website free or is her business providing free hosting also?
nicholas.diotte: info costs a bit more to registers... .net .com .org are basics.
me: just the website, I think
Scott: I would do org unless there are some stupid rules against it?
8:18 PM dynamicuno@gmail.com: Yes I think org might be better, although really we could register both
if it's just an extra 20 or 30 dollars to get that
nicholas.diotte: What is Nathalie using to design the website? ASP or PHP based do you guys know? or just using a Joomla or Wordpress build?
me: I'm not sure, but you can ask her about any aspect of it, I'll forward you the e-mail exchange
Scott: there's such a thing?
Scott: tim or nick, is it possible to have ONE email address for all of us? specifically we each get the emails to our personal accounts but people we communicate with need only to send to this one email?
nicholas.diotte: Yes you can have a blase email which auto cced everyone.
8:20 PM Scott: ok putting that on task list
I'll make that my own task.
nicholas.diotte: I though you guys wanted a wikipedia based website, so thought you wanted someone the public could update, etc...
Scott: Nick, do you mind though if I email you about it this week?
nick, two separate things
Clark: conventional website for public, wiki for internal use , was my understanding
8:21 PM Scott: one is a website for internal usage the other is going to be public consumption (basic info)
clark and I concur
nicholas.diotte: Yup this is very possible.
Scott: ok I just added to task list "investigate and email Barrett decision on website hosting"
8:22 PM tim and nick, you guys can handle this?
nicholas.diotte: Just remember that if your web designer is using open source code such as Joomla, or Wordpress, that you need to upgrade it for security reasons about every 2-3 months or you will get hacked and website defaced.
dynamicuno@gmail.com: Yes I can handle this with Nick's help, if you have the time Nick? I know you're uber busy.
I can do most of the legwork if you can point me in the right direction
8:23 PM Scott: Barrett, if it's not overly expensive (i.e. an additional $20), would you want to register both .info and .org?
nicholas.diotte: If your web designer is doing it all from scratch, then you are secure more, but then it's normally harder to update as you have to get them to update it.
me: sure, Scott, that makes sense
nicholas.diotte: Tim: yes just keep nagging me you have 100% of my time just need to be patient with me.
Scott: nick, i believe the goal is to make as minimal updates as possible
8:24 PM I'll keep on it then
8:29 PM Scott: my dentist is in
me: yeah, the announcement article should be up in a week or so
nicholas.diotte: Hey guys, I have to run very soon. Anything else I can help answer before I run, sorry I can't stay much longer.
Scott: whatever he's worth
i think we're good nick.
me: good, that's wonderful
Scott: nice to meet you and thanks for helping/participating
nicholas.diotte: No problem guys.
me: I like the story idea you mentioned
8:30 PM from her/him
Scott: Barrett, I'll email you his contact info.
me: about gingivities or whatever
great, do that
Scott: also, i had a follow-up with the sleep specialist
me: have a good evening, thanks for everything, Scott
apnea?
oh, about the project
Scott: thankfully no
me: that's good
Scott: well about sleeping insomnia, apnea
8:31 PM but she mentioned to me wihtout me saying anything that she's sorry she's never gotten back to you
she said the email was lengthy and she didn't feel like she could do it justice with her little available time at hte moment
me: health topics will be a cornerstone of this as editors like them and this will help get our writers to establish a beachhead at various publications
8:32 PM after which they can provide articles of greater import
me: like getting into a hot water
Scott: on that note, something I discuss with her is that we're currently trying to peg down the extent of scientists obligations. In terms of deadlines she did mention that academics are used to deadlines but they're also used to constant extensions
Sorry to interrupt Scott, go on
me: Scott- Absolutely, Mano asked about that recently as well
8:33 PM Tim - e-mail me her site when you get a chance and Ill take a lookk
Scott: no worries that was about it. we both agreed that if instead of pushing topics on people, people can write about what they're passionate about, then the articles would flow sooner rather than later.
oh
8:34 PM me: absolutely, you're right
Scott: and that the level of the journalist involvement should be dependent upon the person's willingness/ability to write
me: yeah, we need a flexible set of terms that will appeal to the scientists
I've got Erik Cain, who's the one reasonable fellow who writes for National Review, onboard for this one
plus some other people
8:35 PM Clark found him
Erik is a great choice
me: he wrote for True/Slant as well, right Clark?
Scott: nice clark!
And League of Ordinary Gentlemen and lately Balloon Juice
me: at any rate he writes for League of Extraordinary Gentlemean
Clark: we have mentioned several new names tonight, be sure to add them and relevant ifnormation to the PM spreadsheet when it is appropriate, so it doesn't get out of date again, also add them to the mailing list, just type their e mail address separated by a comma at the end of it
Yeah Erik Kain is is definitetly not a liberal, but he is very good
Scott: this is why we need a secretary :)
8:36 PM me: he's a rare find, really
yeah, we need to get on that secretary thing
dynamicuno@gmail.com: Wow, Clark, I'm sorry; I JUST found your email about the newsletter from back in July
me: Clark, would you be willing to choose someone from the list to serve as a sort of secretary by a different name for us?
8:37 PM and be in charge of that person?
Clark: no prob, it has gone in another direction since then anyway
Scott: before clark finds a secretary, if everyone emails me the names and info. of the new people mentioned, then I will add to spreadsheet
Clark: yeah i will try and find one and make up a dignified PC title
me: I'd like to have a couple of good people under you soon, so that when we've grown a bit more you can tackle various things without having to do any grunt work
8:38 PM Scott, you as well
Scott: tim, you've been added to PM spreadsheet
me: Would you be interested in choosing someone or should I ask someone to work under you?
Scott: I don't know anyone.
8:39 PM we can wait on me, i can handle the tasks in front of me so far
i just think it would be great to have someone update shared stuff, etc.
Clark: people normally respond much better to you, which is understandable
8:40 PM Or I can add it myself if the spreadsheet is a google doc that's open
whichever is easiest
me: yeah, you're currently doing a lot of that, Scott, and obviously we need you for more big picture stuff, so let me know when/if you want an assistant
Scott: tim, if you're already there then makes sense to add directly
Scott: i hate to do this, but if I don't run now, I'm going to have some pissed off friends.
8:41 PM it's been great all!
me: word, have fun
Scott: night
On the spreadsheet, "sys" refers to computer programming, yes?
Scott: fyi, you may have to add Nick as well
yes
Got it
Scott has left
Clark: yes sys = sysdtems skills
I shot Kevin a message so we'll talk soon, he's coming to get horribly drunk with me next weekend anyway
me: good, you're a credit to the movement
me: I'll see what I can do on my end
me: I play Morrowind
Gently though, so as not to damage our nerdy hands
me: mine have callouses from pressing the "w" key
8:44 PM and holding it down
I've got it all modded out and whatnot, Morrowind
have like 50 mods
me: Then my work here is done
8:46 PM anywho, do we have anything else that needs to be discussed this evening, other than my Argonian rogue and his limited alteration spell skills and dagger given unto him by none less than Dagoth Ur, chief of the dormant Sixth House?
Clark, anything that ought to be addressed?
8:48 PM Clark has left
me: his connection cuts out frequently
what's Nick's e-mail address?
I added him to the PM spreadsheet
me: thanks
He'll be a big help
He's kind of a big pothead but he's good if I remind him frequently
me: good, I'm pretty deficient in that regard
It's frustrating too. I used to rock BASIC and DOS like none other
... when I was 6
Clark has joined
me: Clark, anything else that we should address tonight?
In terms of general direction or anything?
8:52 PM Clark: IP here went down, regarding the wiki, ask Nick when you get a chance what is a better template than the wiki in Google sites
the one in google sites is difficult to use
Clark: thanks
8:55 PM thats all i have
He is exceptionally busy so he won't always get abck to you right awya but if you have questions feel free to send them his way
8:58 PM Alright, if we're all set, now that I've got spear envy from Barrett I'm off to go console myself with some video games.
me: good decision
my Argonian does indeed use a spear
8:59 PM dynamicuno@gmail.com: Long sword for me. But it's not the size that counts, it's how you use it.
Clark: ok, goodnight
Clark has left
9:00 PM me: I'll have some people get in touch with you soon, Tim, regarding your squad