I haven’t even completely unpacked from OSCon, and I’m already packed for my next trip. I generally don’t much care for these back-to-back trips, but I’m kinda looking forward to this one. Going to catch the tail-end of Linux World. Should be interesting, anyways.
All posts by rbowen
Barefoot geeks
I read Dancing Barefoot on the flight out to OSCon, and I read Just A Geek on the flight back. Wil Wheaton is a hugely talented writer. I am really glad I got to attend his signing at last year’s OSCon, and to hear him read. I wish him huge success with his writing, and I look forward to reading his books in years to come as he develops his style.
And, for the record, if there was ever any reason that I disliked Wesley Crusher, it was simply that he was exactly the same age as me, and he got a chance to be on that show with all those amazing actors, and in Star Trek, for Bob’s sake, and I DIDN’T. But, while I do remember feeling jealous, I don’t actually remember disliking Wesley.
National security
The world is a safer place, now that the TSA has stolen my micro screwdriver set in the name of National Security. Makes me all jittery to think of the huge risk it post on the dozens of other flights on which I’ve carried it.
</sarcasm>
Attempting to catch up
Here’s a bit of an attempt to catch up. Having been offline since Friday, there’s plenty to catch up on, and I’m afraid I’ll miss something. Oh well.
Friday, after the conference was officially over, I had a liesurely lunch with Ken, after which I took a long nap. Wow was I tired. I tried to go out and read by the pool for a while, but there was a young’un out there who screamed without taking a breath for about an hour, before he was finally carted off to somewhere else.
I inquired about an Indian restaurant at the front desk, and walked down a few blocks to The India House for some very good chicken tikka and paratha. Mmmmm.
On Saturday morning, after a liesurely breakfast, I went off on my geocaching hike. I think that Saturday was about as close to a real vacation as I’m going to get any time this year. I walked about 1.25 miles to Washington Park, where I took some pictures. Also while there I visited the rose garden.
And I found 5 geocaches, most of which were actually very challenging.
I also found a wallet. I pulled a business card out of it, and attempted to return it to the address thereon, but he didn’t live there, so I took it to the police station. I think by that time I had probably walked 4 miles, but perhaps a little further.
While I was in the rose garden, my brother had called with the names and addresses of the various ethiopian restaurants in town, so after stopping by my hotel, I headed out for Mudai (45d32.0964,-122d39.44436). That was another 1.5 mile walk. Very enjoyable little hike.
On the way there I observed Flugtag, which was very odd. Strange people built flying machines (for a rather casual usage of the word flying) and drove them off of a 30-foot pier into the river. Very amusing. You should read about it on their website. I saw the Santa’s Sleigh team, among others. I even got a few pictures, although it’s a little hard to make out what’s going on.
Dinner at Mudai was fantastic. Just amazing. And well worth the hike. I was planning to get a taxi back, but the day was still so beautiful that I just walked back. Along they way I saw this Amazon.com advertisement on the side of a HUGE warehouse. Kinda funny. And that’s about it for Saturday. I have a remark to make about Sunday, but I’ll probably make that as another post.
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
(Via keynote at OSCon)
It’s rather hard to express how amazingly cool this talk was. And the greatest part is that you can go see for yourself.
Robert Lefkowitz
While it’s not at all the same as being there, I encourage you to listen to Robert Lefkowitz’s presentation on the mutation of words and meanings.
You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Less exhausted
Last night I actually got to bed before 11. I went to James Duncan Davidson’s birthday party – Ken gave me a ride – and then left after just a little while. It was painfully loud, and I was really tired. So Ken and Ted and I left. When I got back to the Marriott, the Sams people were gathering out front, presumably to go out somewhere. I thought about it briefly, but then had Ken take me to my hotel, where I immediately went to sleep. I imagine that I’d have been out until 12 or 1 if I had joined the Sams folks.
So now I feel moderately human, and can think coherently. Today there are some very interesting sounding talks, including Milton Ngan’s talk about LOTR and LOTR-induced technology (he’s sitting across from me right now working on his talk) and Schuyler’s talk about GRASS.
Then, after the closing talk, I guess there will be more geocaching. 🙂
Freeman Dyson quotes
Audience member: What are you current thoughts on the end of the universe?
Freeman Dyson: Well, it’s not looking good.
The question is, do you really want to live a risk-free life. If you do, you might as well take the pill now and get it over with,
Every generation needs to lose a lot of things in order to think new thoughts.
More signings
Yesterday, when the flood of fans slowed down (I think he had a meeting or something), I wandered around to the other authors there who were signing, and got them to sign bookplates for various books that are on my shelf.
It would seem that no matter how long I am immersed in this community, when I’m in the presence of Larry Wall, Tom Christiansen, and various other folks, I’m still always reduced to what Wil Wheaton refers to as Drooling Fan Boy. Jars of clay notwithstanding, these guys are still heroes in my eyes, and I’m reduced to incoherency when I have the opportunity to speak to them.
I remember the first time I met Brian Behlendorf. It was actually at an OSCon, although I forget which one. I had some grand sentiment planned to tell him, but I babbled something about being honored to meet him, and then fled. It is rather amusing, in retrospect. And, given that someone just did something like that to me yesterday, I’m sure it was vaguely unsettling for him, too.
Ok, I need to go down and secure a seat near power outlets.
Ringside
Last evening, various of the Sams authors went to Ringside Steakhouse. Apparently it was voted the 6th best steakhouse in the country. It was, without question, the best steak that I have ever had. And I was sitting at the fun table. Entirely too much serious technical conversation appeared to be going on at the other tables. 😉
But, let me back up a moment, and recount the taxi ride, before I forget some of the details.
Taxi driver: What are you guys in town for?
Us: Software conference.
Td: Oh. Software is the way to go. You know why?
Us: Why?
Td: Because God uses software to run the entire universe.
Us: *stunned silence*
Td: And God’s wife is Mona Lisa.
Us: *boggle*
Td: And taxes are from Satan. God gave us life for free, and Satan is trying to take it away. On April 15th, we pay Satan.
This actually went on for quite a while longer, and I know I’m forgetting something. Perhaps one of the other guys can fill in some of the details. It was very surreal.
Discussion at dinner also involved a brilliant new idea for a book series that we’re going to do. I can’t reveal the highly confidential details, but let’s just say that it features soft, absorbent paper. Possibly perforated. I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in many moons.
The Stonehenge party was last night, too. However, by the time we left Ringside, it was already 11pm, and I’ve been up late every night so far. We agreed to meet back at VQ for a somewhat quieter evening than would be had at the Stonehenge party, but apparently various folks changed their minds in transit, so some of us were there for a while waiting for the rest. Around 12, I just could not stay awake any longer.