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We're into the Monday doldrums at SXSW. Three straight days of walking and talking and drinking, yet somehow people still feel compelled to go outside and keep talking and walking and drinking. On a weekday! The nerve of this town.
Meanwhile, Skype has paid this "town crier" to read Tweets out loud on the street, making the concept of shouting into the void all too literal. It's almost enough to make us think these SXSWi Power Rankings are being treated like a serious analytical breakdown of cultural as it stands. Your loss....
MONDAY'S UNDISPUTED POWER RANKINGS
1. Ray Kurzweil: There was hardly an empty seat available to watch Ray Kurzweil's keynote talk today. Not pictured: Ray Kurzweil. Because he was in a totally different room that was also filed to the brim with his adoring fans. This was taken in the room to watch him on TV. I have not read The Singularity Is Near, but I assume this is what it's about.
2. Homeless Hotspots: Ok, let's talk about this for a minute. We know it seems like a ridiculous prank meant to embarass gullible techies who might defend the idea of turning homeless people in hardware for the rich kids, but it appears they really are out there, they really are homeless, and you really can PayPal them money so that you can go online and Tweet about how some homeless guy just sold you internet access. Of course, it's still the brainchild of one those savvy "marketing" genius companies so it still feels like someone is getting played. Or maybe not! It's a sensitive subject, you guys!