use Perl

Pogue's keynote was well-received, I'm told. I wasn't there, I was in the air. I went to bed around 11:30, got up at 5, drove to the airport, and flew to San Jose. Urgh. That wiped me for the day. I had to nap in the afternoon. It was disconcerting for the conferences staff, who are used to seeing me all perky and fired up and stuff, seeing me flat and barely able to speak. It made Rael look good though--at the editor's meeting a few weeks ago he'd lost his voice and so I got to be the funny one. Now he's recovered and he's like he's on crack or something, bouncing around and wittering so excitedly about gadgets.

He bought a Tungsten T3. Very nifty device. But ultimately it's a Palm underneath, and I just don't like the Palm OS. I don't know whether it's the irksome default noises or the way they keep changing bloody graffiti, but something about it just gives me the squirts. Maybe I'll change my mind after a few months of hearing Rael rave about it. Maybe.

Last night a ton of O'Reilly folks were sitting on the couches in the bar, working on their laptops. It was cool and sad at the same time. :-) I joined them and did a bunch of email for a while before calling it quits at midnight, but Rael and I stayed up talking until 1 or so. And then I woke up on Colorado time. I'm pacing myself and will start drinking caffeine soon so that I can be functional for the meeting this afternoon.

--Nat