Slashdot Mirror
GnomeDex 3.0
HackerStickers writes "The Fellowship of the Geeks - Aka Gnomedex 3.0 is the geeks conference of the year. This weekend-long geek-a-thon has had upwards and over 500 attendees all having the common love of technology. Des Moines, Iowa is where the Geeks will tromp July 25th & 26th both in business and pleasure. The lockergnome crew will be there and the list of speakers keeps growing with great topics by Jim Louderback, your very own slashdot man - Rob Malda, Tim O'Reilly, and not-so-decided topics by both MS and Google."
is if I am looking for a place to pick up chicks this is not it?
I live in Iowa, and I haven't found it yet.
"the Geeks will tromp July 25th & 26th both in business and pleasure"
I'm going to say that the pleasure is going to be limitted to "computer related" joy, and not associated with the female gender.
Why slashdot? Why not?
I'm sure this will end up being the 30th post about this but, Des Moines? I guess the Des Moines tourist board lobbied hard to get GnomeDex. It probably came down to a choice between Des Moines, Bryan Texas, and "that little town outside of Salt Lake that no one can pronounce". I guess they are offering attendees all the corn they can eat and a free plastic pig snout? Is the conference being held in the back of a general store? Cheap rates at the Motel 6 Des Moines?
Gnomedex is not the geek conference of the year, or even close. Saying geek 6 times in your article won't change that fact. I'm not sure I know what the geek conference of the year is, but I know this isn't it.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
The best thing about this conference is it is run by small business "net geeks". The whole total amount of this is $99 and instead of being either on the West Coast or the east cost, they are smack dab in the middle of the country. What more can you ask for in a great conference?
Can someone please take this out of the GNOME section? It has utterly zip all to do with the far cooler, arse-kicking, totally Free Software GNOME Project.
:-)
Thanks.
500 attendees is very small compared to the mega shows like JavaOne and RSA. What could one learn at this show that's not covered by the bigger shows or information that's above & beyond the standard press release/documentation of the products.
Des Moines, Iowa is where the Geeks will tromp July 25th & 26th both in business and pleasure.
;-)
Bet you NEVER thought you'd ever read that sentence in a non-fictional sense, did ya?
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
Will Cmdr Taco be going for the title of Miss Gnomedex?
Why do I h8 apple?
Even if you can't make it to the mecca of excitement that is Des Moines, you can still get your Lockergnome-approved daily dose of gnomish fun here...
</span>
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
(Score: 3, Insightful)
Still earning money with Java? Still getting bankrupt with Java innovations?
Good.
Sometimes I get word about a programming language that has been there since more than 30 years now. They say it needs *SKILLS* to write code with this language. But it is also said that it has proven sufficient all the time.
I find the use of the word "Geek" derogatory. Why do such
people find it necessary to define themselves by their group?
Or even to bind themselves to a group or character in the
first place. Is it not sufficient to leave yourself undefined
and be responsive to your environment in your own right.
Calling oneself a "geek" wreaks of embracing oppression as a
means to feel liberated. This is insane.
The most talented programmers and technical people I know
don't call themselves anything at all.
It's run by a guy named Chris Pirillo (who's from Des Moines, but since moved to California), who has a web site called lockergnome.com because someone tagged him with the nickname "Locker Gnome" in high school. It's nothing to do with GNOME, and when I was at GNOMEDEX last year about all there was to do with Linux period was a good talk by Doc Searls; aside from that it was M$ all the way. I can't vouch for this year, though.
The third bullet point on the Gnomedex home page is Why Des Moines?.
"And this is my boy, Sherman. Speak, Sherman." "Hello." "Good boy."
Guess that means I won't have to pack any toilet paper, I can just use the Gnomedex itinerary sheet.
As admin of help.lockergnome.com I know that the popularity of Gnomedex increases greatly every year. And this will only be the third year. Soon, it may be too big to be held in Iowa. I do think that this is a worthy thing to attend, as it isn't so much about the speakers and lecturers. It's about the people. The people there are some the friendliest and nicest people you'll find.
You will be baked, and there will be cake.
Isnt it about time slashdot updated the GNOME section icon to the new GNOME logo?
Former Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf
...with signs that say "GIVE US BACK OUR CONFIGURABILITY" or something.
oh here is a haiku that I wrote, because this post didn't make it past the lameness filter on its own:
this is my haiku
this is now the middle part
my haiku is done
Sweet, finally I will be able to compile detailed information on all 151 different gnomes! Awesome! I love you guys!!
This is not the greatest sig in the world, no. This is just a tribute.
Is it really fair to stick all of those geeks at the end of the single 9600 baud modem feeding the 'innurnet' in Des Moins?
Beep beep.
I don't go any place where people still use the phrase 'them city slickers'.
Join us in Kansas this July 22-27!
STEVE WOZNIAK TO KEYNOTE KANSASFEST 2003
April 19, 2003--Ryan Suenaga, editor-in-chief of Juiced.GS magazine, announced today that Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, Inc. and inventor of the Apple II computer, will attend KansasFest 2003 and will give the keynote address. Woz will share with KansasFest attendees stories of his experiences in the computer industry. Register before May 15 and pay only $265 including a bed in a double room and most meals. Space is limited, so be sure to register soon if you would like to attend.
KansasFest started in 1989 as the A2-Central Summer Developer Conference, it has evolved over the years, known as the Resource Central Summer Conference and with the final year that Resource Central, then ICON, it was the ICONference. The year Resource Central/ICON collapsed there nearly was not a KFest but the KFest Committee was formed and has handled KFest ever since. This will be Number 15. A gathering of Apple II users from now and then, but the Apple II just does not describe it. KansasFest is not your ordinary computer conference - but rather a 24 hour experiment in sleep deprivation and a chance for attendees to showcase their knowledge with one and other in a very relaxed laid back environment that is just downright FUN and nothing less. Come to Kansas City in July and see what we mean! It's a deal that can't be beat!
The lockergnome himself, Chris Parillo grew up in De Moines. Then he went to SF and joined tech tv, then got let go last month. Now he's back in Iowa.
Go hawkeyes?
are, to put it mildly, very distubing. I am not sure which is worse, the naked guy or the wannabe pirate...
All that is necessary for the triumph of good is that evil men do nothing.
Flying into just about any major airport is cheaper than flying into Des Moines. Due to lack of competition (particularly from low price airlines like Southwest), the Des Moines airport is one of the most expensive in the country. I used to drive all the way to the KC airport to fly when I lived in Des Moines, even though it was over 2 hours further drive (and thus cost more for gas) and the parking at the KC airport is about 3x the price, it was still far cheaper to fly from KC than Des Moines. For that matter, if you want a relatively cheap, centrally located city for a conference, Kansas City beats Des Moines hands down. Cheaper airfare, hotel costs are similar and there is a whole lot more to do in KC (its like 4x the size, so no wonder).
Last year we went to this strip bar called the lumber yard -- "were you go to get wood" my wife commented on our way there. $15 cover, bring your own beer, pool tables and $7 large pizzas - not to mention all the naughty bits you can stand. It's one of the only places where a buck is still worth something. Oh yeah, the conference speakers were great too plus you got to TALK to anyone you wanted too. IMHO First year was 75% windows 25% linux. Second year was 50% windows, 25% linux, 25% Mac.
Hey hey, stop ripping on DM so badly. It's really a pretty good place to hang out...
And a few places you may want to check out while here is Java Joe's on 4th street just off Court, and the Spaghetti Works ((515) 243-2195, 310 Court Ave)
Court Ave is a great place to hang out basically.
"Shut up about my driving. You're still alive."
I am glad that us in the midwest will actually be able to have an event that we can drive to in a couple of hours. I see all the posts blasting Des Moines, but these people don't seem to complain when the events are within shooting distance of where they live -- L.A., New York...etc..
(+1 Funny) only if I laugh out loud.
Hey, I used to live in Des Moines and even used to defend it a little as being not as bad as everyone said... I mean, at least it isn't in Nebraska or something... But then I moved to a real city with a real entertainment district and actual stuff to do and things to see. I haven't been back to Iowa since I moved two years ago even though I've got a lot of friends and family there. I still keep asking myself why I didn't move sooner.
There's a lot of nice bars downtown, too. On one side of Java Joe's is a really comfy (but smokey) English pub called the Royal Mile, and on the other side is The Lift, a smoke-free bar with art on the walls and amazing martinis. Spaghetti Works is often really crowded, but the food is good, and there's often live bands, and Nolen Plaza is a great place to sit and chat with friends.
Des Moines (or Iowa, for that matter) has a totally unjustified reputation as being full of nothing but hicks and uneducated bumpkins. Come to GnomeDex, and you just might change your opinion.
Read about it on his blog here:Frankly, I'd Rather Not.
I really enjoyed his newsletter, called Penguin Shell. He's a good writer and it was helpful for a newbie. Shame he's gone now, but I'll be interested to see what his new site will be.
Scott Plumlee
Um. Because all humans do?
My answer comes in three points.
-
Though Geekdom isn't a religion for me, religion is one of the best examples of these things. My little town has a eight little churches, and not a day goes by that you can't go to some kind of church event at one of them.
I've talked to a large number of the folk that attend these gatherings. Their knowledge of the history surrounding the church and the flaws/merits of the different belief systems is rarely a match for mine. What it seems to come down to more often than not is that the congregation at their church has people whose company they enjoy and a preacher/minister/priest whose sermons speak to them at a personal level. Subsets of those same crowds gather based on enthusiasm for various sports, from the standard: football, baseball, soccer to the less so: curling, hopscotch, and rugby.
-
Geeks play or spectate on the Technology Sport. It truly is a game. It has big teams like HP, Apple, and IBM, and little ones like
/., and MandrakeSoft. It has whole teams of ear-biters [we know who they are], and heated but friendly arguments over MVPs like Bruce, Eric, and Richard.
-
Every group of fans/players need an identifying group or logo to ease the job of finding like minded folks with which to congregate. If you want to talk sports with someone they can say they are a Chargers, Red Sox, and Brumbies fan. If you want to talk religion, they can say they are a formerly Jewish, briefly Catholic, Buddist. As in any other label these don't define all there is to a human, but like modem negotiation tones, they really do help you sync up in the beginning. This leaves those who fit the geek category with the task of picking a descriptive term. Technologist sounds too religious. HP fan, doesn't quite catch it. Hollywood has stomped on the more obvious terms with such generes as Revenge of the Nerds (I-MCLXII), and movies like "Hackers." So what is left to us?
In summary, people like fellowship, technology is a sport, people who seek fellowship with fans of the Technology sport need a name. In my RandomHouse unabridged, the second definition of Geek is simply, 2. person, fellow.P.S. Iowa, in late July? How about we put the next one in scenic Barrow, AK in December?
I'll add my $.02 worth:
Hairy Mary's is a short ride from downtown and a good dingy place to catch some local bands. GT Lounge is also close to downtown and has a cool atmosphere and good tunes playing. (Punk music and motorcycle racing on the tube most nights)
For eats and drinks I prefer the Court Ave. Brewing Co. downtown -- Good home brewed beer.
Public transportation sucks in Des Moines so I suggest having a car.
The inward pressure that the Des Moines Metro exerts is lower than it used to be--the buses run until something like 11 at night now. (Before, they folded up shop around 6:30-7:00 p.m.) Still no buses on Sunday, though. (Woof.)
I used to live in Des Moines... The hicks and uneducated bumpkins rap is indeed unjustified (although you don't have to go far into rural Iowa to find that), but mostly what Des Moines is full of is a lot of really boring insurance company employees. There are exceptions, but Des Moines just really isn't a party town and the Court Avenue district is pretty lame compared to what you will find in most major metropolitan areas. About the only thing about Des Moines I really miss is the traffic... or lack thereof.
In what way Rob is involved in to Gnome project?
Go hawkeyes?
C'mon, Des Moines is a lot closer to Ames than it is to Iowa City. You meant, go Cyclones!
Hmmm. Hello people. This damned conferences has nothing to do with the GNOME you are thinking about. It's just a damn MS funded FUD campain to attract linux users to a show that is all about Windows. Worse yet, all these free software people are sending money and funding the enemy.
It's an embarrassment that slashdot would post this with the GNOME logo and not even mention that it has nothing to do with GNOME. You guys are being dupped. You might as well go out and join scientology while you are at it.
Feel free if you are a windows person, but this show is not about GNOME or free software. It's a M$ related show and has been poorly reported by slashdot.
Chris is still in SF. I'm sitting on his couch.
Say what you want about my home state, but Iowa did have the first state-wide fiber optic network in the U.S.
"A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson
Gnomedex is fun and all, but if any developer thinks it's the "conference of the year" they need to get out more.
Check out MacHack. MacHack is the conference Gnomedex desperately wishes it could be. Just ask Eric Raymond.
Ummm ... this is where Slashdot should've been noted as News for Geeks, so the appropriate Nerd title can be given to Lockergnomies.
Don't get me wrong, I rate them as geeks too, but there is a certain Nerdiness about their philosophy.
I wonder if there will be a witty little ad for something useless between each and every seat, just like their painful to read but useful newsletters.
http://www.lockergnome.com/update/mt-comments.cgi? entry_id=5404
Chris should realize that Slashdot is 'News for Nerds. Stuff that matters'. I don't understand how Gnomedex got to be mentioned on Slashdot to begin with; Gnomedex doesn't matter. Feh.....
Iowa is the holy grail of Internet connectivity. Most towns of over 10,000 people in Iowa have cheap broadband via DSL, cable-modem and fixed wireless. For Internet access, you won't much better.
It's easy to bash Iowa, but not on Internet access. But nice try at being funny. (Oh yeah, it's also ranked top 10 in education for the last decade or so and one of the only places in America with pretty much no accent so you missed there too). Sorry.
--- Don't be a player hater: I meta-mod ALL negative mods as Unfair.