Newsletter 49 picture backstory

[J. Landman Gay]

The revUp newsletter #49 just came out, with the lead article about the 
conference. At the very bottom is a picture of me and some others. From 
left to right: Mark Waddingham, me, and Tariel. Behind me is Kevin, and 
just to the right in the background, with her back turned, is Jo. 
Everyone looks fabulous except me, which verifies that I really should 
have worn that bag over my head.

I remember this moment very well, it was at the cocktail soiree at the 
end of the first day. Naturally we were talking shop and I had a 
question about the matchText function which I was planning to address in 
my presentation the next day. I pulled out my MacBook, brought up a 
script example, and Mark offered a copious explanation. Very helpful.

Anyone who has spoken to Mark in person knows that he thinks so fast 
that his speech center can't keep up, so his delivery is rapid. I 
sometimes remind him to put spaces between his words. Coupled with his 
London accent, non-Brits sometimes find it hard to keep up. Tariel -- 
who is not native-born American -- looked at me after a moment and said, 
"Could you translate please?" I said, "What, translate English to 
English?" "Yes please".

Around that time, Jo noticed I had my Macbook out and came over. "There 
will be NO COMPUTERS at my cocktail party!" she said. Of course, being a 
bunch of clueless programmers, we ignored her.

Not pictured are the others at our table, which included several 
Europeans, all with different accents, yet all speaking as one, devoted 
to Revolution, sharing the experience. It was truly an international 
affair. I was the only American at the table and yet the bonding 
experience was profound. I remember thinking at that moment how 
uplifting it was to have this kind of camaraderie that crossed all 
political boundaries.

Buy the DVD. It won't give you the same experience as being there, but 
it will be a start. And next time, try to attend. I can't describe the 
powerful and moving experience this conference gave me. I came away 
wishing it hadn't ended so soon, and deeply appreciative.

-- 
Jacqueline Landman Gay         |     jacque at hyperactivesw.com
HyperActive Software           |     http://www.hyperactivesw.com