The serialization of my Web 2.0 memoir: "Bubble Blog: From Outsider to Insider in Silicon Valley's Web 2.0 Revolution". View the roadmap.
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030. A Deal Is Done; Trippy Web 2.0 Party at Temple
In late April 2008, I sign a Letter of Intent to sell ReadWriteWeb. Also, I attend a Web 2.0 party in San Francisco where everyone seems high but me.
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029. Dinner at TWO, But With Which Acquirer?
I continue negotiations with two potential acquirers of ReadWriteWeb: CMP and Ziff Davis Enterprise. One invites me to dinner, but it turns out three's a crowd.
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028. 2008 Web 2.0 Expo, Where M&A Talks Continue
At the Web 2.0 Expo in April 2008, I meet my ReadWriteWeb colleagues Marshall and Josh for the first time. Also, I sit down with CMP to discuss a possible acquisition.
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027. Acquisition Talks: Two Suitors For ReadWriteWeb
In early 2008, I find myself with two media company wooers: CMP and Ziff Davis Enterprise. The deals look good, but the earn-out targets concern me.
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026. ReadWriteWeb's Big Redesign & The Inaugural Crunchies
At the end of 2007, ReadWriteWeb unveils our new design — featuring a slash of vibrant red in the header! Also, we co-host the first Crunchies and I meet Mashable’s founder.
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025. Stress 2.0: Health Problems & Web Server Issues
In November 2007, I get a shock diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. Meanwhile, the Read/WriteWeb server struggles to cope with our rapid page view growth.
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024. Read/WriteWeb Makes Key Hire & I Meet Hustle Culture
Marshall Kirkpatrick joins Read/WriteWeb in September 2007. The following month, I attend the Web 2.0 Summit and experience the start of hustle culture.
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023. Las Vegas and the MIX Conference 2007
I travel to Vegas for a Microsoft web conference. Meanwhile, Read/WriteWeb doubles traffic and breaks into the Technorati top 30.
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022. Web 2.0 Expo 2007
My trip to Silicon Valley for the inaugural Web 2.0 Expo in April 2007, where I meet several Read/WriteWeb colleagues for the first time and enjoy the expanding tech bubble.
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021. Read/WriteWeb Network Launches Amid iPhone Debut
Soon after Steve Jobs announces the iPhone in January 2007, I hire my first paid writer for Read/WriteWeb and launch a blog network.
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020. Betting on Web 2.0: High Stakes Blogging
My trip to Silicon Valley for the Web 2.0 Summit in November 2006 ends with a poker game in Atherton. Meanwhile, Time Magazine names us all 'Person of the Year.'
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019. Lou Reed and the Web 2.0 Summit
At the Web 2.0 Summit in November 2006, I get advice about my growing blog business, miss a breakfast meeting with a VC, and get my ears blown out by Lou Reed.
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018. The Birth of Cloud Computing and Team Read/WriteWeb
In 2006, Read/WriteWeb gets a redesign and I begin to grow the team, starting with a couple of engineers who help me explain Amazon Web Services and GoogleOS.
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017. Gnomedex 2006 and My Corporate Blogging Adventure
I visit Seattle for the second time in 2006, for Gnomedex; also, I co-found another workgroup and company, this time based on the term 'Media 2.0'.
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016. The Core Values of Blogging
In June 2006, I interview Yahoo at Supernova about its so-called open platform and then struggle to get a word in edgeways at BloggerCon.
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015. Digg and the Power Laws of Silicon Valley
It's 2006 and there is a lot of controversy about the power wielded at 'user generated content' aggregators like Digg, Reddit and Netscape 2.0.
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014. Reluctant Salesman: The Sponsor Ads Era
Over 2006, I ramp up Read/WriteWeb's advertising business, by first partnering with John Battelle's FM Publishing and then copying TechCrunch's sidebar ad format.
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013. Visiting the Microsoft Campus in Redmond
It's January 2006 and I attend Microsoft Search Champs to discuss Live.com, the company's start page. I also catch up with a fellow Web 2.0 Workgroup member.
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What the Web Was Like in 2005
I look back on web technology in 2005 — a world before social media, smartphones and the cloud!
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012. The Gift Basket; Seattle, January 2006
I fly to Seattle for Microsoft Search Champs and to meet up again with my blog buddies. But there's a problem: no gift basket...
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011. The Web 2.0 Illuminati
My cover as leader of the Web 2.0 Illuminati is blown by Supr.c.ilio.us at the end of 2005; also: I contemplate expanding ReadWriteWeb's business model.
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010. Spicy Noodles
The Web 2.0 Workgroup forms, and I meet one of my web heroes: Dave Winer. Also, Techmeme's Gabe Rivera and I talk about our nascent web businesses.
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009. Richard Goes to Yahoo!
On a sunny, cloudless day in October 2005, I visit the gleaming yellow and purple Yahoo! campus to talk RSS and blogging with the company's resident bloggers.
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008. The Colors of Web 2.0 Party
I attend a hyped Web 2.0 party; later in the night, I desparately try to catch the last train back to Silicon Valley.
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007. Day 2 of the 2005 Web 2.0 Conference
I watch Jason Calacanis celebrate selling his Web 2.0 blog business; later I have a drink by myself at the House of Shields, and think about pre-internet days.
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006. Revving Up at the Web 2.0 Conference
Day one of the 2005 Web 2.0 Conference, held at the Argent Hotel in San Francisco; including a meeting with the man himself, Tim O'Reilly.
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Growth of Web 2.0 & RWW in 2005, Before My US Trip
I first visited the US in late September 2005. But what happened in Web 2.0 and for Read/WriteWeb in the 9 months prior?
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005. Arriving at the TechCrunch Ranch
My first trip to America in 2005, where I get to know the founder of a new blog called TechCrunch and the founder of a new aggregator called Techmeme.
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004. A Call With Tim O'Reilly
I interview the man who coined Web 2.0 and wonder if he thinks my questions suck; also, I begin experimenting with earning money from blogging.
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Why Marc Andreessen is a Key Character in My Book
I explain how Marc Andreessen was a much bigger part of my original outline, and show you an 'outtake' I wrote about his 2004 activities.
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003. The First Web 2.0 Conference
I tune into the 2004 Web 2.0 Conference and learn about network effects and data sharecroppers. Meanwhile, I conduct my first major interview as a tech blogger.
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002. The Early Years of ReadWriteWeb
A naive young man from New Zealand explores the blogosphere with a weblog called 'Read/Write Web'.
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Roadmap (Table of Contents)
A chronological table of contents for my book, Bubble Blog: From Outsider to Insider in Silicon Valley's Web 2.0 Revolution.
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001. Introduction to Bubble Blog
The introductory chapter of my serialized Web 2.0 memoir, Bubble Blog: From Outsider to Insider in Silicon Valley's Web 2.0 Revolution.
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Welcome to Bubble Blog, My Web 2.0 Memoir
Announcing my latest book, a memoir and internet history to be serialized on Cybercultural.