just not changing much at this particular moment.

as the exhaustion fades, the memories return. or gel for the first time. so we're at the soopersecret post-sterling sxsw after-party at ben's house on the last night of interactive, and the alcohol supply is on the dwindle. people are a little desperate, on their way out the door. the crowd has thinned enough that can i see alex steffen, editor of worldchanging and an admirable and articulate human being whose keynote conversation with bruce was a highlight of the conference, walk out of the kitchen towards me holding a blue ikea cereal bowl in both hands.

"what's that?" i ask.

"i went looking for a drink, and someone in there handed me this bowl, then filled it up with wine. from a box."

there's a meaningful pause, during which alex gazes down into his wine, then calmly back up at me.

"when they ask me what the low point was during my six-week conference tour, i'll tell them: it was this moment."

then he brings the bowl up to his mouth and takes a sip.