o Taking the train.

I arrived by train on Saturday night.
There were no HP e3000 seminars on Saturday so there was
no interest for me.

I took the train because the only round trip ticket
by aircraft was over $600 for just a few hundred
miles.  The train was only $59 each way.  This as
I was told by the bartender on the train, was a
wise decision.  Extricating oneself from the train
depot is a lot easier than the airport.  The bartender's
portents turned out to be true, you carry all your own
baggage off a train, so there are no baggage turntables
to wait for as well as no metal detectors.)  After
a mere 200 foot walk, including the escalator, I
was through the train depot lobby hailing a cab.
Since this wasn't the airport, the entire cab trip,
(which was along the lines of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.")
was only $5, including tip.

o Registration.

On Sunday morning, I went off to register.  It was a lot
smoother than last year.  Either it was because 1) I
received my badge previously in the mail, or 2) I beat
the Monday morning rush.

o Food.

Alas, all the minor "dives" where one would like to grab
a greasy breakfast were closed on Sunday, so I had to
succumb to "Hotel Food."  The Hotel Bellhop recommended
"Race Pizza" (that also serves regular breakfast fare)
it was also closed on Sunday.

o Adventures to and From the Convention.

Not knowing the basic hidden entrances to the convention
center, I made a beeline down the street.  I noted a
bail bondsman office, next to a place called the "Texas
Wienery" (also closed, but I made a mental note ... for
later.)  I was hit up by for cash by two panhandlers,
once going to the convention and once coming back.  This
atmosphere is a little different than the San Francisco
convention, where at least the eateries are open on
Sunday, and the panhandlers are willing to play an
instrument for their money.

o Exploring the Convention Center.

I learned that the Convention Center was built on the site
of the old Reading Railroad terminal.  (Yes, the same
Reading Railroad from the Monopoly game.)  An acquaintance
(J.G.) mentioned he used to arrive at this terminal in
the past.  He pointed out pairs of polished metallic
flooring laid alongside the marblized tiles, and said
they used to be the railroad tracks.

The section where the tracks are links up directly with
the Philadephia Marriott, so if you're staying at there
you don't have to leave the building.  Since I'm at the
Courtyard Marriott, it provides me a shorter walk
outside.

o Seminar Opinions

"ODBC/SE is ODBC on Training Wheels".  This is because
it is single threaded.  Advice:  Get a commercial ODBC
driver.

Cold Fusion is the way to go for webifying your
applications.  Although the same work can be done
with Apache/iX and CGI scripts it was stated the
what takes 6 to 9 months in Apache/iX and CGI,
takes only 2 to 3 weeks in Cold Fusion.

o Opening Keynote Speaker

While Al Franken's humorous speech was obviously (and
fully caveated as such) aimed at the U.S. Republican
Party, about 90% of the material were the same jokes
I had seen on television less than two weeks before.
The jokes are getting old.  Although I also understand
reusing material is part of a comedian's repetoire.

o Welcome Reception

I met with a few vendors.  ROC Software announces
that "Backpack" is now officially the term to be
used for "Roadrunner" as of today.  The append feature
is now fully available on DLT and they're shipping.

Netsysco is looking for MPE trainers.  They want to
do "total immersion" heavy duty training.

Other vendors merely want me to visit their booths.

More tomorrow.

Tracy Johnson
Justin Thyme Productions
Sponsors Empire on the Web at:
http://198.190.228.6/