henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) (01/10/90)
Idea of the week: how about a BOF at Washington to grill, er excuse me I mean get to know, the nominees for the Usenix board elections? Even those with familiar names have seldom spoken out in public on Usenix issues. Doubtless position statements will be published, but an interactive inquisition is more informative and more fun. :-) I'm not necessarily volunteering to run it, just wondering whether there's interest. -- 1972: Saturn V #15 flight-ready| Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology 1990: birds nesting in engines | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu
pjg@autarch.acsu.buffalo.edu (Paul Graham) (01/10/90)
i think this is a great idea. as long as it doesn't conflict with the board meeting. it might also serve as a forum for those who wish to get on the ballot to do some electioneering. those interested in timely presentation of their positions might even consider posting a precis of their ``platform''.
taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com (Dave Taylor) (01/10/90)
I think that Henry has an excellent idea with a "nominees BOF" and I'll even attend it so long as no-one asks me about some obscure feature or strange bug in the Elm Mail System! :-) Seriously, I endorse the idea, and frankly, as I too am voting as well as a nominee, I am similarly interested in hearing what everyone else has to say about many of the important topics facing the Usenix Association. What the heck: I'll even volunteer to run it too! Sign us up! -- Dave Taylor Intuitive Systems Mountain View, California taylor@limbo.intuitive.com or {uunet!}{decwrl,apple}!limbo!taylor
reggie@dinsdale.nm.paradyne.com (George W. Leach) (01/10/90)
In article <316@limbo.Intuitive.Com> taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com (Dave Taylor) writes: >I think that Henry has an excellent idea with a "nominees BOF" and I'll >even attend it so long as no-one asks me about some obscure feature or >strange bug in the Elm Mail System! :-) >Seriously, I endorse the idea, and frankly, as I too am voting as well >as a nominee, I am similarly interested in hearing what everyone else >has to say about many of the important topics facing the Usenix >Association. The interaction that takes place at this BOF should be recorded and disseminated to the entire USENIX population, not just the BOF attendees. Perhaps a transcript of the BOF can be printed in ;login: and/or put in this newsgroup. >What the heck: I'll even volunteer to run it too! Sign us up! If you still have your Mac, you can do the transcript as well :-) I'd volunteer, but I can't go to DC :-( :-( George George W. Leach AT&T Paradyne (uunet|att)!pdn!reggie Mail stop LG-133 Phone: 1-813-530-2376 P.O. Box 2826 FAX: 1-813-530-8224 Largo, FL 34649-2826 USA
henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) (01/12/90)
In article <6922@pdn.paradyne.com> reggie@dinsdale.paradyne.com (George W. Leach) writes: > The interaction that takes place at this BOF should be recorded and >disseminated to the entire USENIX population, not just the BOF attendees. >Perhaps a transcript of the BOF can be printed in ;login: and/or put in >this newsgroup. This would be an excellent idea... but it means that *somebody* has to record and transcribe two hours of talk. Either Usenix would have to supply someone to do it -- and my impression is that they're stretched pretty thin at conference time, so I suspect the answer is "no" -- or someone would have to volunteer. -- 1972: Saturn V #15 flight-ready| Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology 1990: birds nesting in engines | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu
tower@buit4.bu.edu (Leonard H. Tower Jr.) (01/12/90)
In article <1990Jan9.221705.17622@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes: |Idea of the week: how about a BOF at Washington to grill, er excuse |me I mean get to know, the nominees for the Usenix board elections? |Even those with familiar names have seldom spoken out in public on |Usenix issues. Doubtless position statements will be published, but |an interactive inquisition is more informative and more fun. :-) | |I'm not necessarily volunteering to run it, just wondering whether |there's interest. Perhaps it should be made part of the Open Board Meeting? I suspect all the nominees plan to be there anyway. Be nice if a nominees session was scheduled to have minimal conflict with other BOFs. enjoy -len
kent@ssbell.IMD.Sterling.COM (Kent Landfield) (01/13/90)
In article <1990Jan11.193931.4650@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes: >In article <6922@pdn.paradyne.com> reggie@dinsdale.paradyne.com (George W. Leach) writes: >> The interaction that takes place at this BOF should be recorded and >>disseminated to the entire USENIX population, not just the BOF attendees. >>Perhaps a transcript of the BOF can be printed in ;login: and/or put in >>this newsgroup. > >This would be an excellent idea... but it means that *somebody* has to >record and transcribe two hours of talk. Either Usenix would have to >supply someone to do it -- and my impression is that they're stretched >pretty thin at conference time, so I suspect the answer is "no" -- or >someone would have to volunteer. Tape recorders are great for recording sessions. The tapes can then be transcribed after the conference has ended and the panic is over. I have always wondered why Usenix didn't record all their sessions on audio tape and then make those tapes available for purchase. Yes, I know that it would compete with the video tapes but time is at a premimum and I don't have a VCR in my car... -Kent+
adams@swbatl.UUCP (745) (01/14/90)
In article <614@ssbell.IMD.Sterling.COM> kent@ssbell.IMD.Sterling.COM (Kent Landfield) writes: >always wondered why Usenix didn't record all their sessions on audio tape >and then make those tapes available for purchase. Yes, I know that it >would compete with the video tapes but time is at a premimum and I >don't have a VCR in my car... Because hearing Henry say "next slide" could get boring. Perhaps the individual candidates could simply take questions via the net for a limited time. Less hassle than a BOF and wider audience. -- uunet!swbatl!adams or adams@swbatl.swbt.com | Tom Adams: 314-235-7459 mail lists: uunet!swbatl!antiques-request | BOOKS WANTED: pre-1930 radio, or uunet!swbatl!antique-radio-request | electrical & scientific topics
taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com (Dave Taylor) (01/15/90)
> Perhaps the individual candidates could simply take questions via > the net for a limited time. Less hassle than a BOF and wider audience. Gee, you just *know* something strange is afoot when *Tom* has such a good idea! :-) [just joking, Tom!] I think that Usenix nominees fielding questions via the net is a good idea. I think that, however, it's probably informative to check out whether the current nominees are participants in Usenet or not in the first place because what we're skirting is the fundemental problem of pre-election periods, where candidates change their behaviour to sway or impress the voting populace. Of course, there's also the question of whether participation on Usenet is a useful and necessary selection criteria. I can see both sides of the coin on this one; on the one hand, it's pretty clear that Usenet is a common and popular communications mechanism and vehicle for information dissemination, especially from a group such as the Usenix Association. On the other hand, however, the last thing I would want was a board member that spent their time reading and writing to alt.sex.bestiality (or some other "way out" group) INSTEAD of spending the time and brain cells to be aware and knowledgable about the Unix industry and marketplace. After all, I believe that one of the fundamental challenges facing the Association right now is just that; the transition from being in essence an elite Unix hackers club [*] to being a more general purpose Unix community organization (and the subsequent challenge it becomes distinguishing ourselves from the UniForum Association as well as other more tightly focused technical conferences like Unix Solutions, or technical publications like the gradually transitioning "Unix World" magazine, etc). But that's for a real posting, not this discussion. ;-) In any case, I think that Tom has a good idea, and I, for one, continue to endorse any mechanism whereby I can learn more about the various people running for the different Usenix offices. And for me personally, I think that Usenet participation *is* an important criteria; I would like to know that the board has their finger right on the pulse of the Unix programmers community, and I think that Usenet is the main artery of that community... -- Dave Taylor [*] don't get me wrong with this hackers club bit; I *like* that sort of organization since I can get my "marketing" and "sales" quota from other organizations. I mean, after all, isn't the bottom line here that we're supposed to be having FUN doing all this stuff? That's certainly one of the fundamental ingredients I would like to see the Association preserve... Intuitive Systems Nominee for Mountain View, California Usenix member-at-large taylor@limbo.intuitive.com or {uunet!}{decwrl,apple}!limbo!taylor
adams@swbatl.UUCP (745) (01/16/90)
In article <326@limbo.Intuitive.Com> taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com (Dave Taylor) writes: >Gee, you just *know* something strange is afoot when *Tom* has such a And who better to validate strangeness than our *illustrious* Mr. Taylor. :) >whether the current nominees are participants in Usenet or not in the >first place because what we're skirting is the fundemental problem >of pre-election periods, where candidates change their behaviour to >sway or impress the voting populace. What I fear more is the degeneration of officer elections to a personality contest. And if Usenix votes go like newsgroup votes lately, I'd want no part of it. >Of course, there's also the question of whether participation on >Usenet is a useful and necessary selection criteria. I can see >both sides of the coin on this one; on the one hand, it's pretty >clear that Usenet is a common and popular communications mechanism It seems reasonable that all candidates have access to electronic mail. It's trivial to provide mail <-> news reflectors. I'd certainly feel justified requiring everyone to provide an email address prior to electioneering. If you don't do mail you certainly can't represent most of us out here. There's a lot more bandwidth here than in those one page position papers mailed out at great expense by the association. The timeliness of response could also help gauge a candidate's commitment to doing the job. And we could evaluate their willingness to use nasty old public domain mail agents rather than the robust, faithful mailer supplied on the distribution tapes :) >After all, I believe that one of the fundamental challenges facing >the Association right now is just that; the transition from being >in essence an elite Unix hackers club [*] to being a more general >purpose Unix community organization (and the subsequent challenge >it becomes distinguishing ourselves from the UniForum Association -- uunet!swbatl!adams or adams@swbatl.swbt.com | Tom Adams: 314-235-7459 mail lists: uunet!swbatl!antiques-request | BOOKS WANTED: pre-1930 radio, or uunet!swbatl!antique-radio-request | electrical & scientific topics
jdpeek@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Jerry Peek) (01/16/90)
I like the idea of seeing the nominees in person (now, I only know who half of them are...) I think we should try the BOF. If it works, maybe it could turn into a regular conference session instead of a BOF??? -- --Jerry Peek; Syracuse University Academic Computing Services; Syracuse, NY jdpeek@rodan.acs.syr.edu, JDPEEK@SUNRISE.BITNET +1 315 443-3995
jsq@longway.TIC.COM (John S. Quarterman) (01/17/90)
Jerry Peek <jdpeek@rodan.acs.syr.edu> writes: >I like the idea of seeing the nominees in person (now, I only know who >half of them are...) I think we should try the BOF. If it works, >maybe it could turn into a regular conference session instead of a BOF??? There already is a regular conference session for meeting the board and asking them questions. It's called the Open Meeting with the Board. During elections, most of the nominees have attended that session in the past, even without the explicit invitation the Executive Director posted this time. John S. Quarterman, not speaking for the Board, and not running for the Board.