Czajkowski

So back in April Skynet won  Best Society of the year award within Clubs and Socs. Which was great! All the work that was put in by so many people and for people to finally sit up and see a computer society win this award within UL, was a great feeling.

Skynet also runs its own internal award system set up by Grainne Daly/Wrinkles for Admins and a Skynet Person of the year award set up by Daniel Nagle/Sith. The awards are designed so that the members nominate a short list is arrived at and put to the members to vote upon.  So it seems this year I won the Skynet Person of the year award, 2nd time for me   Yay   Kinda nice to know people actually liked the stuff I did. Even if it did involved large chunks of my sanity being lost when having to deal with Anal retentive cunts on legs! Sometimes dealing with some people it’s more than one can handle to bite ones tongue and not want to take a swing at them, but I did in fact.

I should point out before I came to college and while I was in college I organised promotions all over Munster.(Hired politely let go of staff who had no manner of time keeping or able to take direction for events) There were different types of promotions Drinks, alcoholic (yay) non alcoholic, sweets, gadgets, large company info days like for Dell or Eircom in  Limerick.

So I do have a fair bit of experience in running large scale events, which did stand to me when running SkyCon. Unfortunately little anal cunts don’t always see it that way.

Saying that, I’ve left the running of Skynet now to others. Which is weird but good at the same time. I’m looking at the stuff that is being done and it’s different. While different is good. I hope it works out well as so far it has even if some things were done that really shouldn’t have been. I’ve told Daniel and Olivia, the new President and Treasurer that I’m but a pm away for questions and answers, and to make use of that. I did help them do the budget and I think from what they learned that weekend I should be getting a few more questions in future. Which I’m really glad to get.

So the lads from LUGradio came over to SkyCon and recorded a show from here in UL. Well 3/4 came, Jono, Matt, and Stuart came over for 4 days of events. It was great to have them over here, and I hope to maybe try and get over to LUGradio Live in July

It’s a week later and I’m only just about recovered from SkyCon I had a great weekend, one of the best I’ve had in a long time.

Though it ran more or less smoothly, there were a few issues a few days before hand with room bookings. To be fair the majority of staff were more than helpful and accomodating, others were to say the least a tad rude. Then poor Robert Chassell was unable to make it over due to the weather conditions over in Albany NY. Giving more than a heart attack I must say! But it worked out in the end, as Kevin Lyda went and fed his cats and got delayed so he took his slot as he missed his, making my life easier

We had a meet and greet of speakers and skynet folks who were around on the Thursday night in the Kilmurry. Kinda handy seeing as I hadn’t a clue who was who Few drinks later it was all good and everyone knew everyone.

Friday was a damn bloody early start for me and with a slightly sore head made moving around sore Down to UL for 8:30am start and run around getting posters set up. All going well with everyone arriving. My only major complaint was not having the opening/founding members talk recorded due to the designated person not being there, so for future refernce all recordings should be done by a professional company, that way they are not there and screw up you can tell them where to go! I still dont know why the person never showed up as I never got an appology. But suffice to say not only was I and others disappointed as they missed it but it kinda sucks for reference and memories.

There were more nights of drinking and memories swapped and great talks to attend during the 3 days. Dinner in the White House sponsored by RedHat, I got to meet mor of the founding membes and listen to the stories that are not on the history page and now I know why………. bloody hell!

I made the majority of of the talks, once again I got to listen to Alan Cox, he’s a great speaker and a really nice chap! I was however shitless when Microsfot did their talk as everyone went to that talk clothed in OS gear ready to attack, it was amusing but all were well behaved, and fair duce to Bill, as it was a very tough audience to speak to.

Looking back on it now a week later, I can’t believe what started off as a drunken idea actually happened and I’m damn chuffed with it.

People have asked will it be a regular thing, I dont know, I do know I won’t be running it. I’ve done my time with skynet now. I came up with SkyCon up to celebrate Skynet 15th Birthday, and with that in mind I secured lot of funding for it. I don’t see the SU doing this every year. Who knows..someone else can have fun though.

Ever notice the smallest jobs take the most of your time up. Would you believe to order a cake for SkyCon would take up nearly 4 hours.  Going to a few bakers, asking them will they do a cake in the shape of a shark did indeed get me a few strange looks! But I’m not one to be beaten! I shall indeed have a sharky shaped cake!

I also had a mini bus organsied to bring folks to and from the Hotel to UL, that way if people end up in the stables they don’d drive, but circumstances changed and now a week later I still don’t have that sorted, so that’s been added to next weeks to do list!

My housemate seems to have given up taking down our xmas decorations, it’s the end of January and I’m still looking at snowman, think it thinks it can outstare me, if it keeps this up I’m gonna fire it under the staris and see how it likes it then (see I always win)

I went to my first barcamp this weekend held in Waterford at Arch Labs in WIT. I must say I knew only one other person attedning this event so it was rather daunting to say the least. But to be fair everyone was very friendly and some of the talks were extreamly interesting and thought provoking, especially Elly’s topic on Dirvorce and Seperation in the Digital World. Made you sit back and think what if you were in that position of a loved one passing away and you had to gain access to their accounts to finalise things for them.

My main reason for going was to see how it was done as I’m holding Skynet’s first ever confernece SkyCon in Febraury. It’s amazing the small little things I noticed that I need to think of, like having the timetable up and in view for all to see at all times, maps of “you are here” and need to get here

While I did find it enjoyable, it was difficult to know which talk to go to seeing as I did not know who was who and who “blogged what” as everyone seemed to know one and other, and went off in little groups, it wasn’t until we went for dinner and sat down, did real discussions take place. Maybe it’s because we are Irish and need to be in a pub for waffling to start, but that’s when I finally got to talk to more and more people. Don’t get me wrong, I still chatted to folks during barcamp, it was just easier at dinner, when you could sit down and chat and not have to run off to another talk, or figure out where you were going.

Kudos to the organisers Keith and Tom (maybe others sorry not sure) It was a great day out and a very worth while experience and I would encourage others to attend.

I also found the best quote/comment that is so apt! from Damien “Nit pickers are great, just not for making decisions” not sure what the accurate quote was, but it is so true!
I have some pics here