Building on the success of its two last iterations the Web 2.0 Expo is back again, this year featuring a much-enlarged program. If you've never heard about this major event, the Web 2.0 Expo is a "global annual gathering of technical, design, marketing, and business professionals who are building the next generation web", as they put it themselves. Worldwide interest in emergent media and communications being at its peak, I'd say this year's edition should feature record attendance, so better book your tickets quickly.

This year's program features four main conversational themes: education, networking, startups and a tradeshow presenting the latest tools and technologies available. The event will feature a host of keynotes, workshops and conferences covering different aspects of these themes, in addition to the expo hall itself. For those of you who can't attend physically the Web2Open "unconference" might be a semi-satisfying option, as some of the on-site conferences will be "hybrid" and allow online users to participate in the discussion. My two cents is they might throw in some webinars as well.

 Web 2.0 Expo will be held at the Moscone Center in SF from March 31st 'til April 3rd. Check out their blog here. You may also join the W2E Facebook Fanpage, or follow its tweets by adding @w2e to your list.

Mitch Joel, president at Twist Image here in Montreal and author of the Six Degrees of Separation blog, wrote an interesting piece on how the current state of the economy forces businesses and marketers to "look inwards" towards rethinking their marketing strategies in favor of simplicity and alternative media.

(From the Six Pixels of separation blog): "There has never been a more important time to understand the myriad of digital channels and free publishing tools that are right here in front of you - at your fingertips - and are relatively cheap, free and easy to use. If things don't work out and you're forced to figure out your next move, having a solid digital footprint - a network of people who are connected to you and a place (or two) where you have been sharing how you think, create and grow - is going to make you better, sharper, faster. More importantly, by using these tools, you are going to learn how to do more with less."

Read the entire post here.

What if instead of posting good ol' Facebook status updates or Twitter tweets, you began giving the world your 12 cents on video (why not call it twelving)? 12seconds.tv ..."is the best place online for video status updates. It's a super easy way to share what you're doing with your friends and family using short video clips. You can use your web cam or mobile phone. Show your friends where you are, share your thoughts, or tell them how you're doing." (excerpt from the 12seconds.tv website).

If you haven't checked it out yet, give it a ride. The 12-second format is fantastic for a quick glance at what's going on in your contact community (or rest of the world) -- and of course, for posting your own personal ramblings. The 12-seconds community is rapidly growing, and contributing to the content with a multitude of "Twelves" -- one member even pushing the exercize by reviewing some of the London Film Festival movies in 12 seconds. The site features user channels much like YouTube, features a Facebook application where you can post updates, and you can even get those updates directly on your mobile by logging in at http://m.12seconds.tv.

Alpha was launched in July 2008 and was invitation only, and since then the site has been made available for public access. You can follow the site's updates on the 12 seconds blog.

Check out 12 seconds here, especially if you don't have a lot of time. This will be a venture to watch in 2009.