Just got back from one of my favorite conferences of the year, code4lib 2009, this year in Providence, RI. It was great seeing a lot of my liberry geek buddies, and it was a nice reminder of why I live in San Diego and not the God forsaken hinterlands of the East. Cold is just dumb.
I took a lot of pictures as usual. They’re all up on Flicrk, but here are a few I really liked:
Our hotel was right across the street from the Rhode Island State house. I forgot to fix my white balance before I shot it, but I kinda like the effect:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3317531190_4d37fa5679.jpg?v=0)
If all of the cars in front were as old as the one in the middle, I could have pretended it was an old slide 🙂
Here’s a more “accurate” shot:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3316702619_12bf286a79.jpg?v=0)
We headed over to the local mall’s food court for lunch:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3317529274_ec263a79cc.jpg?v=0)
Lotsa folks in that one – Mike Giarlo, Rob Cassion, Ross Singer, Phil Cryer.
I really enjoyed spending a few days with our intrepid Esme:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3316716751_5126a5c294.jpg?v=0)
(He lives in Florida, Mike.)
Here Dan Chudnov does his Bollywood routine in celebration of Slumdog Millionaire’s big Oscar wins:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3317543570_86cd1d42a3.jpg?v=0)
Jodi Schneider was thrilled to see me, as always:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3317534018_e1252bb6a8.jpg?v=0)
I finally met Ed Summers, in the middle. It’s good to see him inspiring others as he does me. Bess Sadler is enjoying the fracas as well:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/3316712413_6ecce4827b.jpg?v=0)
Gabe Farrell, on the right, forgot he owed me $20. Never do that. It gives me WAY too much license… 😉
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/3317532108_9c9b14db1c.jpg?v=0)
Mike Park left me waiting to be picked up at the airport:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3317431082_c33b47a343.jpg?v=0)
Well ok, he mailed me 3 weeks before the event asking if I needed a ride and I sent him an itinerary and said I’d confirm closer to the flight. Three hours before the flight takes off doesn’t really count! 😉 Mike drove me, Esme, Brad, and Dan all over the place, either because he’s a great dude, or I’m good at making people feel guilty. Either way, I win! 🙂 Thanks Mike for being a great host.
Actually, I gotta say that the whole Brown Univ (or is that Univ of Providence?) crew kicked ass in prep and execution of this conference. BRAVO Birkin, Jean, Bonnie, and other names I can’t remember because I drink a lot.
I also take a lot of pictures, so I’ll inevitably get something cool like this:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3316637455_73b4f082f0.jpg?v=0)
Heehee! I love my Lensbaby!
Pizza is good!
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3317460048_85eeb83c26.jpg?v=0)
Did you know the lead singer of Saliva is a librarian?
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3316635995_ab95712d42.jpg?v=0)
Ross pretends to laugh at something while trying to ignore the fat dude sticking a camera in his face:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3408/3317462352_c4551a2990.jpg?v=0)
Just looking at this costs me 14 points:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3316640715_5194ac7703.jpg?v=0)
Brad, Dan, and I visited the inside of the RI State House before we ran to the airport, and decided that we should hold the next code4lib in the Senate chambers:
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3317448710_1de9b3881d.jpg?v=0)
Never get on that end of a canon, especially when I am on the other end…
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3316609071_80771028dc.jpg?v=0)
As usual, way too many pictures here:
Awesome seeing you all again!