Little Things

[bjarvis]

USENIX is after me to renew my membership to it and SAGE. I haven't attended a conference in years --my employer sees no value to them, even if I do-- and I've never received much value for either membership. I can't rationalize renewing but a sentimental attachment remains. And SAGE's next LISA convention is in DC...

Kent installed the new whiteboard in our computer room last night. While I'm pretty solid on projects at work, I tend to slack off a little at home. Having a place to list my to-do items & deadlines will help me track the little things around the house which sometimes slip through my fingers.

Our air fare to Portland & LA for June & July have been purchased. My credit cards were completely wiped out but now thanks to this trip and the May Seattle-Vancouver trip, they're above $2k again. At least there's money available in joint checking & savings to cover these, and 90% of our major summer travel is now pre-paid.

Friends Jim & Guy and their dog Coulter are moving from Arlington, VA, to Boise, Idaho, in early April now that Jim has accepted a new job there. We haven't been in regular contact since xmas thanks to our commitments and their travel, so the news has caught us off-guard. With a little luck, we'll at least have dinner with them next weekend to say our good-byes.

And I'm still open to shameless LJ comment whoring questions. Go ahead... ask me anything! :-)

Comments

[jss]

If you are at all interested in the professionalization of system administration, I urge you to check out the League of Professional System Administrators (LOPSA), the new (hopefully 501(c)3) corporation whose "mission is to advance the practice of system administration; to support, recognize, educate, and encourage its practitioners; and to serve the public through education and outreach on system administration issues."

Since the big brouhaha in November, and the subsequent appointment of an overseer who complains about being too busy and had herself resigned from SAGE's Executive Committee once previously, I don't see any value remanining in a $40 SAGE membership (and as a former SAGE Executive Committee member, that saddens me).

USENIX used to be focused on advancing the state of research; now they seem much more interested in and focused on conferences and training (and thus making money). You can decide whether or not that's worth $110 or whatever per year for USENIX (only) membership.

I speak for myself, not USENIX, SAGE, or LOPSA. Despite the spiffy logo icon.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Already a member of LOPSA. To me, it's about when I should cut my ties with USENIX & SAGE. On the one hand LOPSA is still only just starting, but on the other $150 for an unnecessary USENIX/SAGE renewal is too much. I'm leaning against renewal right now.

[jss]

I admit to a bias. I don't see any reason to renew a SAGE membership today, and I'm less tempted to renew USENIX. The conference discount is a year's membership, so if you go to one conference you've paid for a USENIX membership [renewal]. It's got an additional value-add if (a) you attend more than one conference per year, or (b) you read ;login:, IMNSHO.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

That one took me aback for a second, since in my mind SAGE is the national organization for gay senior citizens! And you're WAY too young for that!

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

And I intend to stay that way. :-)

[scorpiocub.livejournal.com]

USENIX is an anagram for UNISEX -- join them instead?!?!

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Let's go with that one! :-)

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

Would that make it worth money?

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

I knew Jim and Guy from Salt Lake and my coming-out days. They helped with that, sort of, a little bit, in their own way. (That's all I'll say for now.) I hope Boise doesn't suck for them...