Tomorrow I start an exciting new position with CNET where I'll take the lead on social coverage. 

I couldn't be more thrilled to start 2013 off with a new post at such a renowned media organization, and to work with people I consider great talents. It's the type of dramatic change that seems scripted: working for CNET will define the new year and alter my life as I know it. 

The job is also a year in the making. It all started last January at DLD, where I met Jim Lanzone, president of CBS Interactive. We had a conversation, at a lounge in the Bayerischer Hof hotel in Munich, that turned into an hours-long discussion on everything from web topics to life matters. The chat stuck with me and eventually led me to CNET.

Saying goodbye to VentureBeat is bittersweet. I've enjoyed working alongside executive editor Dylan Tweney who has taught me many valuable lessons in the past 13 months. Under his tutelage, I learned to love the nut graph. I'm also extremely fond of many of my VentureBeat coworkers, several of whom I consider friends and important voices on the Internet. 

But 2013 is my fresh start. It's a completely new beginning, in part because of personal matters best discussed over cocktails. And there will be plenty of time for cocktails. I'm closing my first week with CNET at CES in Las Vegas, for instance. 

Plus, it's only a partial coincidence that I'll once again get to call my dear friend Ben Parr a colleague. Hooray for coincidences and life-altering moments.

So here's to my next chapter, one that I hope you'll write with me.

Psst: I'm collecting some of my best stories and saving them to this Pinterest board.

As seen live from row 3 at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 5. Unforgettable.

Wow this actually looks pretty badass. Premiers Feb. 6. Can't wait!

Between this and new episodes of Arrested Development, I may soon start to forgive Netflix for its crappy collection of streaming movie titles.

Thanks for sharing @thepegisin!

Here's the release I just got via email:

Qualcomm Incorporated Unveils Temporary Renaming of Qualcomm Stadium to Promote Snapdragon Processors

SAN DIEGO — December 16, 2011 — Today, Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) unveiled plans to temporarily rename Qualcomm Stadium®, “Snapdragon Stadium™” – an initiative designed to drive consumer awareness and brand impact for its Snapdragon® mobile processors. With consumers becoming increasingly more tech savvy, the desire to understand how their smartphones and tablets work continues to increase. Renaming Qualcomm Stadium to Snapdragon Stadium is an important step in increasing consumer awareness of Snapdragon processors, which serve as the “heart” of mobile devices and currently power more than 300 smartphones and tablets worldwide.

The stadium renaming, a collaboration between the City of San Diego, the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Bowl Game Association, represents a first in the area of stadium naming sponsorships and capitalizes on a ten-day span when the stadium plays host to three nationally televised football games: the San Diego Chargers Dec. 18 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens; and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, taking place on Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, respectively.

 With this stadium transformation Qualcomm aims to inform consumers about how Snapdragon processors help consumers do more on their mobile devices—such as watch HD video, play console-quality games and surf the Web—while maintaining the life of their battery for longer periods of time. Qualcomm will utilize a unique opportunity to promote its Snapdragon processors and reach millions of consumers in a high-impact and cost-effective manner. The combined three games are expected to have over 30 million TV viewers and 150,000 fans in attendance.

 “Mobile is the biggest technology platform in human history, having a transformative impact on billions of people around the world,” said Dr. Paul Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. “Naming Snapdragon Stadium will help us drive consumer awareness for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon mobile processors and how they enhance the user experience on hundreds of millions of smartphones worldwide.”

 The first football game in Snapdragon Stadium will take place this Sunday night, December 18, featuring the San Diego Chargers vs. the Baltimore Ravens. Snapdragon Stadium will also play host to two bowl games. The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday, December 21 will feature Louisiana Tech vs. TCU. The Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl on Wednesday, December 28 will pit the University of California, Berkeley against the University of Texas. The NFL Sunday Night Football game will be broadcast on NBC, while both bowl games will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

 “This is a first-of-its-kind effort to completely rename a stadium without changing naming rights,” said Dean Spanos, Chairman of the Board and President of the San Diego Chargers. “We look forward to playing in Snapdragon Stadium and helping Qualcomm bring awareness to the technologies Snapdragon processors enable.” 

 “The San Diego Bowl Game Association is excited to be on the leading edge of what could become a new trend in stadium and arena naming rights programs,” said Bruce Binkowski, Executive Director, San Diego Bowl Game Association. “Both the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl are proud to provide considerable national visibility for Snapdragon processors.”

 “For more than 25 years, Qualcomm has served as a leader both within the mobile industry and the San Diego community, particularly with its sponsorship of Qualcomm Stadium – home of the Chargers,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “The Snapdragon Stadium transformation will raise awareness for Qualcomm, Snapdragon processors and the City of San Diego at a time of year where the American sports community has its attention turned towards ‘America’s Finest City.’”

In addition to a full overhaul of the stadium’s Qualcomm signage – to be temporarily replaced with red Snapdragon signs and banners – the ten day campaign will include device giveaways and an advertising campaign. Tune in this Sunday to catch the first game in Snapdragon Stadium at 5:00 p.m. PT on NBC. For more information about Snapdragon processors or to find a device powered by Snapdragon mobile processors visit www.qualcomm.com/snapdragon.

Loves it. :)

My time with Mashable has come to an end, and tomorrow I embark on an exciting new adventure.

Change is inevitable, but it's also hard. I have an exciting future ahead of me, this I know, but right now I'm completely absorbed in the memories of the past three years of my life. 

You see, from the end of November 2008 until this evening, my life has been defined by one thing: Mashable. 

Boyfriends and romances have come and gone, childhood pets have passed away, countless startups have launched only to be subsequently acquired, and even my location has been ever-changing. Mashable has been the one constant during this defining period of my life, and it's allowed me to do what I love -- tell stories that matter -- day in and day out, and find myself in the process.

When I was much younger, I used to think about the future and fantasize about the possibilities. Today, I live in the present tense, grateful for every moment. Much of this self-awareness can be attributed to Mashable and the invaluable things I've learned about myself while growing up with the organization. And 2,262 posts later, I know that I'm doing what I was born to do.

Mashable has great things on horizon. So too do I. It's hard to say goodbye, but I take strange comfort in pushing myself outside of what's comfortable. I'm ready to take a leap in the direction of the unknown. It's an act of bravery (did I mention that I'm terrified of change?) that I believe will help me grow as a writer and person.

I hope you'll stay tuned.

LOL

New super pressing dilemma: what Cover photo to use?

Interesting tweet (from Sept 09) in hindsight.

... on a postcard San Diego day.

Crunch ma-me is about to release a new vegan snack that is a mix of crunchy dried edamame and veggies.