You may be forgiven for thinking things had gone quiet on the Blue Monster front - on the contrary. Hugh and I were chatting with a number of folks in Redmond about using the image for Microsoft campaigns but we resisted and didn't sell it out. Kind of weird that this cartoon now feels like a startup to me where we're actively protecting it's usage to ensure it remains true to it's roots - that being a grassroots driven way to engage in a different conversation about Microsoft.

Twice this week I have done interviews with people who wanted to know the Blue Monster story. Jas has written his up on his great WebPitch blog and talks about the whole Blue Monster effect. He was kind enough to say

Having spent over an hour with Steve on Monday, I truly believe that he is a hidden gem at Microsoft UK.  In fact, in my opinion he is Microsoft UK’s answer to Robert Scoble.

Is that a good thing? For me yes as I really got started blogging thanks to Robert and Naked Conversations. Still wondering where Scoble put those two Blue Monster stickers/decals I gave him at Mix07. I heard Shel was on the lookout for one!

I also did an interview with Richard Sedley at cScape and covered the Blue Monster story and how Microsoft is changing. Last week Dennis and I talked about it over crumpets at St James's Park and it came up again yesterday in the video I shot with Skinkers. This morning at breakfast with Jason Calacanis and Paul Walsh - I sat with Judith Clegg of Second Chance Tuesday fame and we talked about it and how much Microsoft has changed. All from a small cartoon...scary.

Hugh and I have been discussing some Blue Monster dinners in London over the next few months and I'm now almost ready to make that happen. I have a good bunch of names who are keen and if it just means some cool people gathering for a few glasses of wine and beer then that'd be great. There are so many other events at the moment that I'd really like something a little more chilled and informal.