Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
Dearest Portland startups, As much as I understand and sympathize with the rampant aggressive humility around here, I also recognize that you’re working on some incredibly cool stuff. And like it or not, you’re going to have find the wherewithal to tell other people about the amazing stuff you’re doing.
Now, the Portland AIGA is working to bring the graphic design and Web design community together to discuss the whole PortlandOnline contest, spec work, and potential next steps for the community.
[HTML1]When the City of Portland decided to launch a design contest this week for the redesign of PortlandOnline, they tried to avoid some RFP entanglements. Unfortunately, that decision had them offering a link from the site to the winning designer—instead of a cash prize or contract.
Well, members of the Portland graphic design and Web design community responded. And it wasn’t favorable. Because the contest carried with it the strong stench of spec work.
Now, the Portland AIGA is working to bring the graphic design and Web design community together to discuss the whole PortlandOnline issue and potential next steps for the community. Read More
We’re getting awfully close to WebVisions, the premier Web conference that has graced Portland, Oregon, for nearly a decade by bringing incredible Web thinkers, designers, and developers to discuss their craft. It’s such an amazing show, I can’t imagine not paying for it.
But that’s me. I’m not lucky like these folks: the winners of the Silicon Florist WebVisions raffle. Read More
Interested in placing a penguin on your posterior? Or maybe the Debian swirl? Or the Ubuntu circle thingee? Or maybe—just maybe—putting your OpenID somewhere you’re sure to never, ever forget it?
Well, next week at OSCON here in Portland, you may be able to make that dream come true. Because it seems that the nice—or is that sadistic?—folks at Sourceforge are offering to ink you up with your favorite open source icon—for free.
That’s right. Ten lucky winners will get the opportunity to go under the needle to make their ass officially open source. Well, or their arm or leg or what have you:
We are looking for people that are willing to sign up for a tattoo and show it off at the CCA party later on in the week. Only requirements – participants have to be able to meet with Ross Turk, Sourceforge’s Community Manager, at the beginning of the week to get the gift certificate, they have to sign a couple waivers (one for the tattoo parlor and one for Sourceforge), the tattoo has to be open source themed or techy in nature, and they have to show up at the CCA party Thursday night.
I’m not sure exactly which tattoo studio is going to be doing the work, but given that it’s going to be one near the Jupiter Hotel, I’m going to assume that it’s Colorbomb Tattoo with the drawing honors.
Is your interest piqued? You willing to take the pain all for love of open source? Maybe you should contact Ross at Sourceforge and let him know: rturk at corp.sourceforge.com.
And please, oh please, if you’re crazy enough to do this—and (and!) you happen to get picked—do let me know.
What’s that? Tats not your pot of ink? That’s okay, kiddo. There are still plenty of cool things to do in Portland while you’re at OSCON.
Photo credit vonguard used under Creative Commons