In the Company of Strangers

posted at 3:51 pm
on Feb. 7, 2006

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Sore butt.  That’s what I have, because I got to this session too late to get a chair, so I’m sitting on the floor.

This session that I’m at is “Archiving: ensuring long-term accessibility and usability of CMS content”—hey you in the back, quit nodding off, it’s interesting stuff!—at the Open Source Content Management Systems Summit, OSCMS (it should really be OSCMSS, guys!).

It’s been organized by Boris Mann and the folks at Bryght, and it’s being held at UBC in downtown Vancouver.  Mostly it’s focused on drupal, but there are sessions about plone and various wikis and maybe even some zope and wordpress.

I know, I know, it’s gibberish.  But it’s the gibberish that pays for my fancy watch collection, so I’m going to be at this conference for the next few days.  It’s a meeting of a lot of people who build the software that powers a lot of the sites we’ve built.  I feel kind of like a race car driver going to a conference of engine makers.

Then on Friday, there’s another conference, this one called Northern Voice.  This is the second annual blogging conference, and last year was really excellent, so this year I’ve got high hopes.  Also, I think there’ll be a lot of familiar people at that conference.

My favorite moment of the conference so far happened at the first coffee break.  I saw two guys read each other’s name tag, say each other’s name, hug, and then one said, “Chris, it’s so good to finally meet you!”  That’s what open source is all about.

I’m a little delayed in posting this because the wireless network has gone sour on me.  This morning it was great, but this afternoon, I can connect to the network but I’m not getting assigned an IP.  Perhaps having 200 coders with laptops has put a little pressure on the network here.  Or maybe my Powerbook is showing its age and being cranky.  Perhaps I need a new Powerbook.  Something shiny and fast.  Mmm, yes, that’s the solution.

OK, I’m out of the session and now sitting in the very comfy chair at the check-in desk.  Ahhhh.  My bum bones are thanking me, and I in turn am thanking them.

Oh.  Suddenly I see the catch.  Sitting at this desk, people are walking up and asking me questions as though I know what’s going on.  Now I’m handing out name tags.  I’ve become ... a volunteer!  Ack!  I’m going to go find a wire so I can post this.

Keywords: bryght  •  cms  •  conference  •  drupal  •  open source  •  oscms  •  plone  •  ubc  •  vancouver

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