Blackboard will want me to be a BbWorld VIP blogger because

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Despite my well-known FaceBook profile pic that parodies NASCAR's endorsement strategies as applied to Higher Ed, I'm not one to lend my name, face, and social cred to just any ol' .edu startup. I will, however, probably poke under the hood of any HE app you want me to test drive, and then give you my unadulterated feedback on what works and what doesn't.  I'm at the point of feeling slightly nauseated by any blind email that starts with "Dear Greg - are you satisfied with your LMS strategy"? 

Well, yes, I am satisfied. I'm satisfied that SUNY has selected a partner (Blackboard) who has been wise enough to realize their organizational culture needed to shift, and tough enough to make those changes happen. I'm content that the customer-centric values of ANGEL have been brought to the fore.  I'm wise enough to know that I can dig my heels in on issues that matter, and that Bb will listen. 

So, honestly, would Bb want me as a blogger? And if so, why? Well, if we assume someone at the mothership reads this, and passes it up the chain, the following points will likely be well known inside the beltway:

1. I need to add more conference pins to my obsessive/compulsive collection
2. I need to validate my theory that Vegas is simply a plastic imitation of NOLA. This can only be done via an extensive field observation
3. The last time I flew to Vegas was heading into SuperBowl weekend. Do you have any idea what's it like to spend 6 hours on a plane with drunken fans of both teams on both sides of you?
4. I never collected on that "ANGEL users can come for free" comp - just sayin'. 
5. Ray follows me on Facebook - God help him
6. They already have my FB and Twitter feeds up on the Customer Support heads up displays in the NOC
7. Product Management visibly winces when they see me coming
8. I missed out on the beads, damn it
9. I enjoy snickering at Bb Learn "updates" that announce incorporating  existing ANGEL functionality
10. My loyalty can't be bought, but I have published rates for hourly rental
11. I often wonder why when talking open source, people say "free like free beer" or "free like a puppy", but they never say "free like a lasting communicable disease"
12. BbWorld is sort of like ComicCon, with the nerds, minus the cool  fanboy costumes
13. I secretly adore 70's disco
14. I really enjoy hearing Ray say "we're getting the band back together, man"
15. I will seriously debate you on the needed functionality of LTI 2.x after a few rounds
16. Some midwestern Bb users mistook me for their account rep while I was wandering down Bourbon St. No, I don't understand it either, but it got me free drinks, so it was all good
17. Someone in Bb senior leadership needs to appear in an Elvis jumpsuit, and I seriously need to see that
18. I can listen to Dave Mills and understand at least 50% of what he's talking about
19. As an ambassador for my institution, I get the chance to exclaim in my best "He-Man" voice "by the Power of SUNY!"
20. Lastly, and most importantly, Mike Buchanon will be very sad if I'm not there