10:18 I'm at the BlogHer conference in Manhattan right now. In a sea of floral dresses. I've never lived blogged a conference before, but I'm all hooked up with my new portable keyboard for my iPad and there are plenty of tables with power strips, so why not?

I've been plenty of conferences over the years – computing conferences, publishing conferences, academic conferences. Blogging conferences are completely different. This particular blogging conference is aimed at women, particularly young moms. As I talked about in the Atlantic, the companies are hear in full force giving out everything from free yogurt to vibrators. There are sofa companies and bathtub companies. Even the Army is hear giving out water bottles and t-shirts.

Everybody is selling something. Martha Stewart is promoting her new line of stationary at Staples. Katie Couric is shillig her new TV show. Obama is looking for votes. But everybody is pretty saavy about the fact that they are being sold stuff. They smile, listen to the pitch, and then grab the free vibrator.