360Flex – The Speakers – Sid Maestre

Posted on | January 26, 2010 | 12331 Commenthttp://www.360flex.com/blog/2010/01/360flex-the-speakers-sid-maestre/360Flex+-+The+Speakers+-+Sid+Maestre2010-01-26+15%3A12%3A40John

I was in San Francisco a little bit ago, hiding cameras in the Yerba Buena Cultural center, when I ran into Sid Meastre at the Starbucks next to Moscone Center.

I was testing the video feeds, with my Grande Mocha Frapaccino, when Sid walked in.

Sid: Oh, hey John! What’re you doing here?

Me: (Closing the video feeds) Hey Sid, not much was just wandering around the city a bit. You?

(He sits down)

Sid: Hiding video cameras for the Apple event this week. I’m really excited about 360|Flex San Jose. I remember the the first one in San Jose. For $100, if felt like you were paying ME to attend.

Me: Yeah that was a crazy three days. We sold out in 55 days! Hard not to at $100. What do you think people who attend your session will be most surprised by/about?

(They call Sid’s drink order so he gets up to get it. While he’s gone I check the rest of the video feeds, I’ll be watching from some crazy angles. I’ll see the Apple magic-unicorn-Tablet before anyone else! Side comes back)

Sid: The Mate Framework is not only a great way to organize your Flex code, but it’s “fun”. If Cairngorm is the line you wait in at Disneyland, then Mate is the ride.

(sid takes a drink of something Venti. He says it’s a double shot, half-caf caramel machiato latte with a shot of chocolate syrup at 164 degrees)

Me: What session are you most excited about, besides your own of course :)

(My own frapaccino is getting a bit low, wonder if I should have another. I’ll just have to pee halfway thru my flight home later if I do)

Sid: Deepa is great, so I’m looking forward to hearing about “non-spark” related improvements in Flex 4.

(Several people walk in, having a really heated discussion about Zombies and Smurfs, and if smurf zombies would be able to take down Gargomel, when regular smurfs never could. Sid and I listen for a bit)

Me: Zombie smurfs, too funny. So, what are you most looking forward to at 360|Flex San Jose?

(sid sips some more of his concoction)

Sid: I know the economy sucks, but please tell me the root beer floats haven’t been cut

Me: Hell no! Tom may be moving on, but the floats will remain! We WILL be putting a sign on the keg so people don’t waste root beer thinking it’s beer beer. But no, root beer floats will be in the hizzouse!

(The zombie smurf people are still arguing, not sure how it’s pretty cut and dry, a zombie, smurf or otherwise, possesses enhanced strength and singular purpose. Gargomel is as good as dead. Dead dead, zombie smuf buffet dead)

(we watch them file back out, latte’s in hand)

Me: What would you tell someone that was on the fence about attending 360|Flex, to convince them to come?

Sid: Jump! Seriously, if you can swing it, there isn’t a better Flex conference out there. Did I mention root beer floats? You’ll walk away with more insights than you have time to implement, but that’s what the other 362 days of the year are for. Take these three days to super-charge your brain.

Me: (Nodding pretty vigorously) I couldn’t have said it better. People have told us time and again, that the content at 360|Flex is at least 6 months ahead of the curve. There’s no better place to get that kind of information, and technical detail.

(I pack up my gear, I need to catch a cab to the airport)

So who do you think would win? Lion or Vehicle Voltron?

Sid: (Looks at me like I just said I was giving up Flex for Silverlight) What the hell are you talking about? If you want to talk “Thundar the Barbarian” I’m all over that.

Me: (Laughing) Fair enough, I think Ookla the Mok could kick both Voltrons asses pretty easily.

Join Sid and the other 40 speakers for 360|Flex San Jose. I promise you’ll leave with more friends than you came with, and more technical information than you’ll be able to process. Weeks after, you’ll be hit with, “Oh snap! That’s what Deepa was talking about!” Don’t hesitate! Register now!

Comments