Genii Weblog

My abject apologies to Andrew and Gab

Thu 25 Jan 2007, 07:14 AM



by Ben Langhinrichs
Apparently, my post yesterday about Rocky loading too much on Andrew and Gabriella was ill-received.  While we wandered about in the rain at the Animal Kingdom, both assured me that they were fully prepared to do twice as many sessions.  I think Gabriella said something along the lines of:
Bring 'em on, baby!
with muttered implications that there were no other admin presenters worth a %$@# (edited for family reading).  Andrew looked a bit shocked by the foul language, but did say
I really think it would be OK to give other admin speakers some of the regular sessions, but I do hope they give me more hands on sessions. Only the hands on sessions give me true scope to demonstrate my expertise and talent.
Or at least I think that is what they said.  They both seemed fairly reticent about bringing it up, and it was raining pretty hard by then, and I suppose I could have misheard.

Copyright © 2007 Genii Software Ltd.

What has been said:


551.1. Gabriella Davis (25/01/2007 07:15)

You are a cruel and mean man

I should have gone with Andrew's plan to push you out of the car about a mile from the hotel on the way back but I'm not sure our combined pushing power could have done it.


551.2. Andrew Pollack (01/25/2007 11:11 AM)

So Ben, Gab and I have been talking and we think that you should start finding other friends to hang around with. You see, we are concerned that you'll get so used to hanging around with us that if if we weren't there you'd be lost. To prevent that, we think you should find some others.

:0)

As far as hands-on sessions -- FYC! or better yet, GFYS! Hands-On sessions should be minimum 4 hours and should be done by LAEC (Lotus Authorized Education Center) partners. IBM should put the laptops and such in place and turn the rooms over to the selected LAEC the day before and let them do what they're good at.

For the 99% of you who read Ben's blog but not mine (the smarter ones no doubt), it is my belief that the hands-on format isn't one that can ever be all that successful in its present format. I did not enjoy creating the one I gave, and though presenting it to an appreciative audience is always rewarding I did not feel I produced a session of the quality standard I seek.


551.3. Ben Langhinrichs (01/25/2007 11:27 AM)

Well, gosh! I guess I must have misheard after all.


551.4. Chris Miller (01/26/2007 12:06 AM)

Yet neither denied saying there were no other admin speakers worth a &^%&$& HAHAHAHA


551.5. Andrew Pollack (01/26/2007 06:52 AM)

Let me say right here, that Gab carries me when we speak together on a topic. She's also told me that presenting with you, Chris, is a pleasure as you are polite and considerate. So there. As far as others on the admin side, I can't tell you as I have the HD-ADHD thing and don't have the attention span to sit through 'speed geeking' let alone a whole session.


551.6. Ben Langhinrichs (01/26/2007 08:43 AM)

I should set the record straight on that point. Neither Gab not Andrew had anything negative to say about any other speaker. Neither did I for that matter. I was being slightly satirical in my post since Gab and Andrew were giving me a hard time at Animal Kingdom for my well meaning but ill considered remarks in an earlier post. I thought the satire would be more obvious if I described each in a completely unbelievable way. Gab would never say anything negative about anyone, and Andrew would hardly be shocked by any foul language I can imagine. As for me, I don't have HD-ADHD, but I couldn't sit through any admin session except perhaps Gab's. Even Andrew's sessionm on Linux that I really, really wanted to see induced a coughing fit that left me conveniently unable to do so. Sigh!


551.7. Craig Wiseman (01/26/2007 11:08 AM)

First rule when in a hole:

Stop digging.....

(note: I'm saying this from deep within my own well-dug hole. I had to put the shovel down to type it....)


551.8. Nathan T. Freeman (01/26/2007 01:44 PM)

Only having seen Andrew & Gab in the Gurupalooza session, I was TOTALLY convinced that Ben was serious. ;-)

Seriously, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to so much as say hello to either Andrew or Gab. As my 2nd Lotusphere in 10 years, I cannot believe what a whirlwind the event was this year!


551.9. Roberto Boccadoro (01/29/2007 09:57 AM)

@2

Andrew I have to disagree with you on this

"As far as hands-on sessions -- FYC! or better yet, GFYS! Hands-On sessions should be minimum 4 hours and should be done by LAEC (Lotus Authorized Education Center) partners. IBM should put the laptops and such in place and turn the rooms over to the selected LAEC the day before and let them do what they're good at."

Leave a bit of space for us IBMers, I believe we also can deliver good HND sessions.

I somewhat agree with you about session lenght, but if I put myself in the attendees shoes.... 4 hrs is way too much. It will also prevent you from attending other sessions.

RoB