It's 12:30am and I just ate an excellent tasting bagel pizza and perhaps have just snacked my way past the point of no return.

So I might as well write a blog entry.

The big news...

I am changing my thesis topic from an exploration through practice of social software applications for non-profits and the volunteer sector. To a study through narrative, interviews and yes, theory, of labour, economics and gender in NEW New media. (ie; Web 2.0)

This stems from a conversation I had with Barb in NYC about Passion Dollars. The idea that in new media or technology one works for ones passion and the "money will follow" or so goes the theory. It's a little different than say, working for a good cause and taking a loss because you are doing the right thing.

It is also a follow-up the the Myspace paper which I really enjoyed writing and has given me a desire to learn more about political economy and it's utility in examining the lawless terrain of tech-development and venture capital.

So passion dollars are a little more libertarian than working for your conscious. I do both, that's why I am rolling in cash and feel good about what I do - oh wait but sometimes that isn't the case. Because passion is in short supply, or the dollars, often mysteriously at the same time.

That's what this thesis is about, not being poor as a churchmouse despite working many many hours of the day. But the space between the ideal and the reality of working in the New Economy, especially in creative technology industries. I want to look at the different reasons women have chosen to work in this sector and how they are faring.

Oh yeah - did I mention I think I will focus on a specific gender (the whys about that are for a different post).

And yes I do consider myself to be among the demographic that I am researching. That will probably lead to some weird researcher as subject moments (again a different post another time).

Here's an example of researcher as subject:

Tonight I spent the evening trying to repair a site that I had made and somehow managed not to get even close to right in IE at 800px screen width.

Now that I have to go and renovate the layout I am flat out of passion dollars and into straight passion.

Once I had run out of workarounds and come to the realization that I just had to start from scratch (at midnight). I hung up my web design hat, made bagel pizza and settled down on the couch to read "From Holloway to Hollywood: happiness at work in the new cultural economy?" By Angela McRobbie. Upon reaching the second page I was touched to discover;

"What I want to flag as integral to this current debate are three key features: youth; 'permanently transitional' work; and creativity understood as a sovereign space for finding 'pleasure in work'(Donzelet 1991)." (McRobbie)

There's an element of no shit sherlock to my mien as I write this. At the same time I am pleased that the between-ness of this type of working existence is recognized as somewhat illusory, because very often it feels somewhat farcical or at least difficult to maintain on a personal/emotional level, let alone as a profession.

Good night.

Did that sound whiny it probably was.