FiTC 2008 Toronto has wrapped up. As I write this, I am on a plane somewhere over the square states. My dinner of slightly burned vegetarian ravioli is meeting up with the bloody mary appetizer already happily resting in my gut. Now that we are entering turbulent air, I am writing this post to distract me from the unfortunate swaying.
The flight from Toronto to Detroit, where I changed planes, was a bit sucky. As we were coming in for a landing, one got the distinct impression the pilot was drunk. Given the stereotype of pilot’s proclivities towards alcohol, this wasn’t a difficult thing to imagine. He even gunned the twin engines on the DC-9 a couple times while banking. Not reassuring at all.
We slammed into the runway. This was not a bumpy landing. This was a shocking BANG that caused overhead compartment doors to swing open. Gasps filled the compartment. As we pulled up to the jetway, the pilot got on the speaker and informed us that we should congratulate the co-pilot for not killing us on his very first landing. Should they, I thought angrily, please not test their skills with a plane filled with people who payed way too much for their tickets? Man, I hate flying.
And then there was the second leg from Detroit to San Francisco. The pilot warned us of some possible bumpy air. No biggie. But two hours in, a very exasperated sounding pilot came on the PA and said that ‘two cells have formed ahead of us and we are going to try to go around it. Please fasten your seat belts. I repeat, please fasten your seat belts’. Two things you never want to hear a pilot say. ‘Try’ and ‘I repeat’. Sigh.
But back to the point: FiTC was an entertaining romp. I had the good fortune of being the final speaker on the final day. As a fellow co-worker Andrew put it, ‘dude, you are the grand finale.’ It was really good to see my conference buddies again. Many thanks to Pucknell and his very capable staff for organizing another great conference.
“god I hate flying” ??? what has become of the Robt. I knoew and loved?
Jimmy!!!! Did I ever love flying? i liked the idea of it, but the reality is far worse. Plus, I always have to sit near someone that cant stop coughing and sneezing. That should be illegal!!! Kick em out the cabin door!!
I’m so glad i caught your presentation on Tuesday – i’m ashamed to say i hadn’t heard of you or your work until about 5 minutes before your presentation started and the whole of the Red5Server crew were telling me “dude, dude, you must go see this guy, he does these crazy visuals.” So, i thought, what the hell… and it was breathtaking.
The content, the delivery (self-deprecating but without a hint of false-modesty).
My transatlantic jetlag, my lack of sleep and all that FITC drinking played their part but it was the story you told of your processing process, building up to the radiohead piece, and then reminding us all that you started with that one simple dot… that was what brought a tear to my eye… I had such a great time at FITC Toronto, i met some of my heroes and i made some new friends but your presentation really made my week. Thank you, i look forward to seeing where you take your work and where your work takes you.
T