I got to a slow start for the last day of SXSW due in no small part to the Great British Booze-up and SXNW I missed the early morning panels, but caught some of Peas in a Pod: Advertising, Monetization and Social Media. After lunch we caught the keynote with game designer Jane McGonigal, speaking on the future and unique engagement benefits of ARG s. It was a really good keynote that caused me to rethink my attitude toward gaming. (I’m glad a female attendee asked Ms. McGonigal on her thoughts about ARG participation versus stereotypes about gamers and general gender differences in gaming habits and styles.)

Currently I’m in Considerations for Scalabale Web Ventures, which is still (thankfully) mostly above my head. I’m simply not the type of developer to want to get into server loads, scalability hardware issues, I/O issues or the like, but it is good to know where the conversation and technologies are headed. The panel is casual but extremely competent with the best scalability advice from flickr, StumbleUpon, Digg, WordPress and Media Temple. For those looking at scalability issues and the best open-source way to put together a hardware framework for web apps, the podcast might be very helpful.

Last Day of SXSW (sad face)

CBC Radio | World Reporton CBC Radio . Broadcast time: Weekdays at 6, 7 & 8 a.m. (6:30, 7:30, 8:30 NT) on CBC Radio One

WHO | The world health reportThe World Health Report, first published in 1995, is WHO’s leading publication. Each year the report combines an expert assessment of global health, including statistics relating .

Are you creating the best and most innovative online experiences? Is your website reshaping the look and feel of the Internet? Did you design and launch a website within the last year? Then make sure to enter your most recent online work in the 11th Annual SXSW Web Awards , Presented by Adobe, for a chance to win industry exposure and tech-related prize packages. Hurry, the final deadline for submissions is midnight on December 14th!

SXSW Web Awards Call For Entries

Digital Web is happy to present our last issue of 2007 for you, full of new contributors. First, Matthew Smith explains his tips and tools for curating a collection of inspiring design work. In Collecting for Design , Matthew shows the discipline and methodology behind his own design collection.

We also have a treat from the entity known as AWS here to explain the basics of creating Scalable Media Hosting with Amazon S3. Two Amazonians explain S3 and Amazon’s web service collection in terms of advantages for applications and websites large and small. For those yet to understand the possibilities of AWS and S3 , have a read!

Lastly, this is our last issue for the winter. Stay tuned in January 2008 for a revamped, rested Digital Web! 2007 has been a great year, but we’re looking forward to starting January off in top style.

Last 2007 Issue: Amazon’s S3 and Design Collections

TONIGHT: NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY. Click here (The Hill)Trade lobbyists expect the White House to try to force a vote on a controversial trade pact with Colombia, a risky election-year strategy that holds potential political ramifications for both parties.

UMaine Students Have Until Monday To Get Their Mumps Shots (WCSH 6 Portland)ORONO (NEWS CENTER) — When classes start again at the University of Maine next Monday, every student has to be able to prove they’ve had their mumps vaccine.

Via Molly comes word of one particular milestone that has previously eluded the Internet Explorer team — they have finally passed the Web Standards Project’s Acid2 test!

Hopefully someone will be getting a nice Christmas bonus…

IE8 To Put A Smile On Your Face

Regular readers will have noticed a few staff changes in recent weeks at Digital Web, and as a result of those departures we are now looking to bring some new blood on board for 2008 to help out on the editorial side.

If you love the web — and the people who work on it — and are reliable, have an eye for detail and a love of language, and can spare a few hours a week to work with some of the smartest people around, we want to hear from you .

See our volunteer page for more details.

Editors Wanted at Digital Web Magazine