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A Chat With USENIX Community Manager Rikki Endsley (Video)
Rikki Endsley has been Community Manager for USENIX since September, 2011. She also edits their magazine, ;login:, writes for publications ranging from Linux.com to Network World, and is a long-distance runner to boot. But this interview concentrates on USENIX, a worthy organization that does a great job of helping its members (and the entire Unix/Linux community) stay up to date technically and, with its job board, keep USENIX members employed. Toward the end of the conversation, Rikki mentions some of the intangible but valuable benefits people get when they attend USENIX events. (Remember: If you don't have time to watch the video, can't see the video or just don't like video, you can click on the "Show/Hide Transcript" link and read a text version of the video.)
Rikki, don't lose that number
It's the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Don't click the link.
If you must, don't install flash.
If you must do both, install flashblock.
I went to Usenix conferences in 1981 when they were really the only conferences about this technology. These days there are many conferences covering that sort of system, and many of them have a better focus.
Bruce Perens.
This just in: the Slashdot staff is incomptent in more ways than just the editing of stories.
ummm, no.
Ummm, yes.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Is this a laptop camera on the desk? Whose idea was it to shoot up the poor woman's nose?
Why is the video such poor quality and out of focus? Decent HD cameras are not expensive - even GoPro videos shot from the head of a mountain biker look better than this. How about a little front lighting - why is the background lit better than her face?
And is it *really* neccessary to make us sit through a 30 second commercial (with no relevance at all to technology) before we can see the video?
Sure, it's fun to slag off for a few days, fly to some tourist-infested "destination" and sit around mentally masturbating with other geeks for a while, but at a Usenix event? Pfffffffft, don't make me puke.
These days any such event is merely presentation natter presentation of marketing jazz Fromm one or another of the event sponsors. Sadly almost every conference is turning out to be this way, but hey, gotta make a sheckel right?
It looks like it was recorded from a skype type video conference. She was probably using the video camera in her laptop.
Is this a laptop camera on the desk? Whose idea was it to shoot up the poor woman's nose?
I would assume it was hers as it appears to be a recording of her side of a video call with some crappy transitions sprinkled in. If she wants to look more glamorous in these things in the future (which she may be interested in if the glasses are any indication) then she should do her interviews in person or pony up for a decent USB / IP camera.
Nothing but hate comments posted so far, as far as I can tell. I'm not a big fan of the Slashdot video articles, but this was better than most. And I learned something about Usenix, which is a bit more alive and dynamic than I'd thought. It's a tough time to be trying to build a community around paid membership and printed/epub journals though. The young generation wants free blogging articles and no membership fee. I wish them luck and might try subscribing to their journal, since I see they offer epub and I no longer care to collect and manage paper magazines/journals.
If this were Usenet, I'd killfile the lot of you.
Is this a laptop camera on the desk? Whose idea was it to shoot up the poor woman's nose?
People today have the weirdest ideas, such as that (web)cams with wide-angle lenses are good for shooting people's faces etc., so I'm not surprised in the least.
Ezekiel 23:20
Does anyone in the IT field know how to speak without using "ummm" after every other word?
It's called protocol padding.
Ezekiel 23:20
I would suggest to anyone who thinks that USENIX conferences are solely for graybeards who walk around wearing suspenders, flipping nickels at people, then you should take a few minutes to read through the training program from LISA12. Not only is there the old standard Linux stuff, there are also great classes on building AWS infrastructures, cloudstack, PowerShell, and tons more. It's really pretty great.
Check out my sysadmin blog!
as UNISEX ?
Her looks are riveting. Come on guys, this is what we always do when there's a woman in a video! Stop being scared of -1 Troll.
Seriously? You need to get out more.
Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
Yeah, everyone knows the Smith and Wesson model 29 is the best for shooting people's faces
If she wants to look more glamorous in these things in the future..
The 60's called. It wants your attitudes back.
Roblimo? He sounds drunk.
I'd hit dat like the enter key on a "shutdown -h now" command.
The 60's called. It wants your attitudes back.
Holy crap! It also wants your knee jerk howls of misogyny back, too.
1. The video is clearly not flattering. 2. Her selection of eye wear certainly gives the appearance that she has at least a passing interest in being fashionable. Therefore: 3. If she wants to look more glamorous in these things in the future she should pony up for a better camera. Drop a trendy male in the situation and I'd say the same thing. Why go out of your way to make specific statement about how you present yourself and then ruin it with poor technology? This seems particularly bad for someone who's supposed to be a spokesperson for technology. Oh, I'm sorry, we can't talk about appearances anymore can we? If I just stop wearing pants any more at least I'll still get the blue participation ribbon for showing up to work.