IRC log of #europython for Thursday, 2008-05-08

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dboddieghum: Hello!18:46
ghumhello d.boddie18:47
dboddieAre you ready for the meeting? ;-)18:48
ghumof course!18:49
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Aiste_Hi all19:00
ghumhi aiste19:00
dboddieHi!19:00
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dboddieHi John.19:00
Aiste_Hi John19:00
pinnergood evening, just back unexpectedly early from Chipping Sodbury19:01
dboddieJust waiting for pboddie to join us.19:02
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ghumhey pboddie19:04
pinnerhello paul19:04
pboddieghum: Hello!19:04
pboddieSorry about the time!19:04
pboddiepinner: Thought you wouldn't be here!19:04
pinnerI've just got back19:05
pboddieShall we plough quickly through the points and set a new record?19:05
pinnersounds good19:05
pboddieRight: registration needs finalising, and the fees need confirming.19:06
ghum+q19:06
ghum119:06
pinneris everyone happy with the registration page?19:07
Aiste_+119:07
Aiste_I am very happy :)19:07
Aiste_good job John19:07
pinnerwhat about the fees?19:07
pboddieI think it's 100 EUR early bird (65 EUR student), then 160 EUR normal (100 EUR student).19:07
Aiste_same as last year?19:07
pboddieI found the page of fees for last year: http://wiki.python.org/moin/EuroPython/2007/FeeStructureAttendees19:08
pboddie100/65 (early), 160/85 (normal), 200 (on the door)19:08
pboddieDoes anyone object to these?19:09
pinnerAiste_:yes, but is that OK budget-wise? Is the venue the same cost?19:09
Aiste_slightly higher19:09
Aiste_about 10% in total I would say19:09
pinnerso do we need to raise the fees?19:09
Aiste_I'm not sure how much we had left over from last year though19:09
Aiste_Laura has those numbers I think19:09
dboddieThe student fee appears to be higher this year.19:09
pinneror did last year make a profit? Are we hoping to get more people and thus more money?19:10
pboddiedboddie: Ignore the 100 EUR I mentioned first - the registration page actually has the same figures as last year.19:10
Aiste_I think there was some money left over from last year19:10
pboddieMaybe we'll have more people.19:11
pinnerSounds like in the absence of better information we should keep the same fees19:11
dboddie+119:11
pboddieAgreed!19:11
pinnerbut push for more people: that's down to publicity19:12
dboddieWe can return to that point. :-)19:12
pboddieYes, it's not on the agenda but please can people consider more publicity!19:12
pboddieOnce again, look here: http://www.europython.org/community/Planning/Publicity19:12
Aiste_yes, I'm chasing some of the russian guys that were there last year, hopefully they can get more people from their coutries to come19:12
pboddieBe inspired: fire off e-mails to people, magazines, journals, friends, user groups.19:13
pboddieRight, we'll stick with the fees already mentioned on the form: http://registration.europython.eu/19:13
pboddieNext item is keynotes.19:13
pinnerbefore that, has everyone tested the registration?19:14
pboddieWe made some tentative arrangement with one keynoter in addition to GvR.19:14
pboddiepinner: Sorry! Yes, I've tried at least. It seemed to work.19:14
pinnerso maybe we need one or two more people to test it19:15
pboddieI guess we should also consider when it should be rolled out, too.19:15
dboddieJust trying it now.19:15
pinnerand is the EP Society happy with the terms?19:15
pboddieIf people could test it, feed in multiple people, perhaps, then that would be good.19:15
pinnerregistration.europython.eu/terms.html19:15
pboddiepinner: That's for you, Laura, Jacob and whoever else in the Society to decide, I suppose.19:16
pboddiepinner: They didn't seem bad when I skimmed through them.19:16
pinnerpboddie: I'm not aware that I'm in the Society19:16
pboddiepinner: Maybe I'm confusing it with the PSF.19:16
pinnerpboddie: nor who is in it, apart from Laura and Dario19:16
pinnerso we need Laura at least to give it the once-over19:17
dboddieLooks good to me, anyway.19:17
pboddieYes, I suggest asking Laura to check the terms. If people can give their feedback to the europython-improve list or to John directly, he can use his discretion in opening for business.19:18
pinnerif people find anything wrong please email me19:18
pboddieWe can then do an announcement to the usual places.19:18
pinnerand we'll do more work on the back end19:18
pboddieI don't see any reason for delay, so there's no need to decide on a date: it should be any time from now.19:19
pinnerWe can't afford to delay the announcement much more, shall we set a deadline?19:19
dboddieEnd of the weekend?19:19
pboddieIs there anything better than ASAP? ;-)19:19
pinnerbut we need everyone to be happy with the registration before we announce, I think19:19
ghumweekend is better then asap for most values of P from asap19:20
pinnerLaura at least must approve19:20
Aiste_maybe we should wait for Laura to look at the terms?19:20
Aiste_:)19:20
pboddieI just realised that, yes. OK, people should test ASAP and we aim to get approval before Monday.19:20
dboddieDoes someone want to mail Laura?19:20
* dboddie can do that now, if required.19:20
pinnerOK, so we go live on Monday evening?19:20
pboddieYes, why not?!19:20
pboddieI suppose this lets me prepare a blog article, too.19:21
pboddieGreat! A brief detour into keynotes. I don't know what the status is with our second keynoter. I guess Laura was now chasing this fellow up.19:21
pinnerremind me, who is the first kn?19:22
pboddieAs stated already, Google is fixing up the videoconference for GvR.19:22
Aiste_Guido I suppose19:22
pboddieUnless that's changed in any significant way, but I guess Aiste might have heard something to that effect.19:22
pinnerok, as it's not in person I'd forgotten that!19:22
Aiste_It's still going along as planned I need to make sure, that the hotel keep up their end, that's all19:23
pboddieI don't want to badger Laura about this too much, but since she isn't here, I guess we just assume that progress is being made.19:23
pboddieThe next topic on the agenda is sponsorship, and we've done relatively little so far on this.19:24
pboddiejacob22 was working on the offer and a brochure based on it, but I haven't heard anything for a while.19:24
pboddieThe offer was here: http://wiki.python.org/moin/SponsorOffers19:24
* dboddie sends mail to Laura19:25
pboddieWe had contact from one of last year's sponsors who said that we could have some licences for their software as prizes, but this hasn't been followed up on.19:26
dboddieI can ask jacob22 for information about the brochure. If I get time this weekend, maybe I could mock up something and help move this forward.19:27
pboddieI think it's a bit like publicity: we need to make the offer known and potentially contact sources of sponsorship. Any ideas?19:27
pboddiedboddie: Right. Maybe some correspondence with Jacob is necessary.19:27
Aiste_what about Google? Has anyone heard anything from them?19:27
Aiste_We should probably send them some info on sponsorship as we did last year19:27
pboddieThey haven't used any known contact address.19:27
pboddieI'm really unaware about how this kind of thing is done, so someone else with more expertise might be needed to lead the way.19:28
dboddiepinner: You've done this with PyCon UK. How do you manage that?19:29
pinneryou need to have contacts, that's the main thing19:29
pinnerwe did a sponsorship brochure19:29
dboddiepinner: Can you send me a copy?19:29
dboddiepboddie: Maybe have a word with Steve Holden?19:29
pinnerdboddie:I'll look it out...19:29
dboddiepinner: And I'll look out for it!19:30
pboddie(A somewhat related matter is the sponsorship of attendees. Again I think there was one person who had been in touch with Laura, so the situation is sort of under control.)19:30
Aiste_yes, i remember there was one email about that19:31
pinnerdboddie:quentin is mailing you a pdf19:31
dboddiepinner: Thanks.19:32
pinnerdboddie:steve's contacts will be US-based, and European ones would be better, I guess Jacob has them from last year.19:32
dboddiepboddie: Did you get Laura sorted out with the talks review list?19:32
dboddiepinner: Right, but I think there are US-based sponsors involved, strangely enough.19:33
pboddiedboddie: I need to send her a mail about that, but the password hasn't changed. There are different passwords for the two private lists, though.19:33
pinnerdboddie: yes, Wingware always seem to sponsor EP for example, not sure if they ever sell anything as a result19:34
pboddieI suppose that the necessary action is to contact Jacob and see what the state of play is.19:34
dboddiepinner: It's also useful to get Steve to blog about things.19:34
dboddieOK. Another mail is about to go out...19:34
pboddieThe next topic is that of feedback and surveys, and I don't think we saw anything about that from last year, although it has been on the agenda for a number of meetings.19:35
Aiste_I remember reading the feedback, but I think I did it while it was still in the raw format, that is on paper19:36
pinnerNo, my fault19:36
zethHi all19:36
zethJust got in19:36
pinnerJim, who was doing it, is dying, and I haven't had the time to pick it up19:37
Aiste_hi zeth19:37
dboddiepinner: Sorry to hear that.19:37
pboddiepinner: Very sorry to hear that!19:37
pinnerThere were no surprises in the forms, as I remember19:37
zeth(pboddie shall we have our normal website meeting later on afterwards)19:37
dboddiepinner: It may be too late to really get the most out of the feedback for this year, so we shouldn't prioritize that over other things.19:38
Aiste_yes, people were unhappy about lunch and very happy about dinner19:38
pinnerI will try and do something once payroll year end is over19:38
pboddiezeth: I won't have time today, sadly. The main issue is the recurring PickleError which might be prevented as described before. Everything else is less important, although blocking repeat spammers would make me very happy. ;-)19:38
zethpboddie: cool19:39
pinnerAiste_: for such a large hotel, the lunches were poor19:39
pboddieAs long as we take away the main points, it's not critical to trawl through the details.19:39
pinnerAiste_: but they did provide sustenance, which is the main objective19:39
pboddieWe just aim to be better, not perfect. ;-)19:39
Aiste_pinner: I spoke about this with the hotel people and they will provide different food this year19:39
Aiste_something like wraps with whatever we want inside19:40
Aiste_that is they gave me several choices19:40
pboddieThe conference dinner was superb. More of that, definitely! :-)19:40
Aiste_that should be more nutritious than the sandwiches19:40
dboddieZeppelins all round. ;-)19:40
Aiste_and also some fruit19:40
pinnerAsite_: they have got the message then :) Good.19:41
Aiste_nah, then we all be lying around for the second half of the day :)19:41
dboddieAre we at ghum's favourite part of the meeting yet?19:41
dboddie(T-shirts)19:42
pboddieYes, let's discuss T-shirts briefly.19:42
ghummy favourite part is lightning talks19:43
pboddieThere was some discussion about doing a design quickly, since Aiste indicated that we didn't have forever before ordering them.19:43
pinnerweren't tee shirts dumped on, sorry ! delegated to, someone, the logo designer?19:43
pboddieI had a rant about this to a few people and ended up asking the logo designer about the matter.19:43
pboddieHe has been enthusiastic, and so I've suggested that we get together on the europython-improve list and thrash out the restrictions.19:44
pboddieI haven't checked my personal mail today, so I don't know what the situation is currently.19:44
Aiste_I think we still have some time, but I wouldn't want to leave that as the last minute thing19:44
pboddieHe's prepared to make a design based on the logo which will hopefully work with whatever technology the T-shirt people are using.19:45
pboddieI said that my experience was that if you're doing "vector" printing, you'll be able to do a few colours at most, which would be the biggest restriction.19:45
pboddieIf we "iterate quickly", it should be possible to produce a file that the T-shirt people might be able to use.19:46
zethI think if you two are in charge of T-shirts, we don't need to worry about the details19:46
pboddieIndeed. I just wanted people to be able to speak up if they thought it was a bad idea.19:46
zethI would like to to have holes for two arms and ahead, next ;)19:47
pboddieVery well. Finally, the issue of streaming and dedicated lines. I don't know where we stand on this, but MrTopf was most interested in this.19:48
pboddieMrTopf, as most of you should know, is probably the main audio/video/photo person at EuroPython, albeit unofficially.19:48
Aiste_still hve no answer from the hotel people :(19:49
MrTopfoh, hi :)19:49
Aiste_but as far as i understand it is possible technically19:49
pinnerwill the Google infrastructure required for the virtual keynote be available, or even suitable?19:49
Aiste_hi MrTopf19:49
MrTopfAiste: you regarding the line?19:49
MrTopfyou mean *19:49
Aiste_MrTopf: yes19:49
* pboddie starts to consider leaving for an appointment now, but would be happy if everyone kept talking. ;-)19:50
zethsorry, is this about streaming the conference live over the web?19:50
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Aiste_i talked to my colleagues and they said that is possible to give you the needed bandwith by shaping the existing line19:50
MrTopfzeth: yes19:50
zethokay, cool, cheers (just came home and still a bit lightheaded)19:51
MrTopfas long as this works with shaping I am ok with it :)19:51
zethwe might not want to publicise the fact too much in the main booking period19:51
MrTopfit probably means I can stream but nobody has wifi access ;-)19:51
zethin case people decide to watch from their sofa instead of going to the conference19:52
MrTopfzeth: it also should be the best for recording it because the streaming service can directly record it19:52
MrTopfso we go home and everything is finished19:52
zeththat is excellent19:52
MrTopfustream now also has a copy to youtube feature I read19:52
* dboddie sends a mail to Jacob19:52
zeththe problem I have is recording stuff and then being to tired after the conference to edit it19:52
MrTopfI am just not sure if this only applies to videos <10 mins19:53
Aiste_MrTopf: no not really :) it means that you will get something similar to dedicated access and the rest will get what's ledt over19:53
zethso this is excellent19:53
MrTopfzeth: or having the time, this is more the issue19:53
MrTopfwhat is the status on conference format btw? Is there some thinking along the lines of putting a barcamp/unconference like structure in place as well?19:53
MrTopfso more spontaneous sessions can happen?19:54
pinnerdboddie: I've just put the brochure up at http://www.brumpy.net/ep_stuff19:54
dboddiepinner: OK.19:54
MrTopfI at least would like it because I might have some recently worked on stuff which I might present then or discuss.19:54
dboddieMrTopf: I think we wrote something about that in the minutes of a previous meeting.19:54
MrTopfok, will check that out19:54
pinnerMrTopf: that is the idea of Open Space, I think. But we need someone to run it.19:55
Aiste_I have to go in a few minutes19:55
Aiste_is there anything else I can help with?19:55
MrTopfpinner: I know but usually those have been during the lightning talks and I think this is not the best option19:55
* ghum has to go19:55
dboddieMrTopf: Couldn't find anything, but I think setting aside afternoons might be the way to go.19:55
pinnerAiste_: have you a promotion code for accommodation at the hote?19:55
MrTopfso either maybe doing a whole part barcampish or maybe setting aside a room for during the whole conference would be nice19:56
* dboddie has to go, too.19:56
Aiste_no they do not have anything like that19:56
Aiste_it was the same last year19:56
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pinnerMrTopf: Open Space and Lightning Talks are different19:56
Aiste_the only way possible to get the conference rates was by sending them the form that's on the website now19:56
MrTopfpinner: I know but they have been at the same time slot19:56
dboddieI think we can keep lightning talks separate, as usual.19:57
MrTopfand to me that always meant to never attend open spaces as the LTs seems always the highlight (or one of)19:57
MrTopfsure. we should keep them a separate event19:57
pinnerI thought that last year there was a room for Open Space for a lot of the time19:57
pinnerbut this year let's have one all the time19:57
MrTopfand make some session presentation in the morning maybe19:58
dboddieThat could work, yes.19:58
Aiste_ok, talk to you all next week I hope19:58
Aiste_bye19:58
MrTopfI also wonder if we should make an introduction session :)19:58
MrTopfcya Aiste!19:58
dboddieAiste_: See you!19:58
MrTopfthanks for checking :)19:58
pboddieSee you Aiste!19:58
zethYeah having open space in one room, and formal talks in other rooms, means people can go to the format they like19:58
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* pboddie is off, too.19:58
dboddiepinner: Like at PyCon UK?19:58
MrTopfwe do introductions at barcamps and I like it :)19:58
pboddiedboddie: See you shortly!19:58
* dboddie needs to go.19:59
MrTopfcya dboddie and pboddie  :)19:59
pboddiezeth: I'll catch up on any Web business later.19:59
zethpboddie: cool19:59
pboddieBye MrTopf, all!19:59
dboddiepinner, MrTopf: Keep talking. I'll read the logs tomorrow. :-)19:59
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MrTopfdboddie: hehe :)19:59
MrTopfI will talk all night19:59
zethokay, so have we got any other issues that we can meaninfully talk about without half of the people?20:00
pinnersorry, I have to be going too! We have a local Python group meeting20:00
pinnerMrTopf: are you up for organising Open Space, if that's not a contradiction20:01
zethfaciliating open space?20:01
zethshepharding open space?20:01
MrTopfpinner: I am not sure I can do video and that together20:01
pinnerthat sounds better20:02
pinnerMrTopf: no, of course, it wouldn't fit20:02
MrTopfin general it should run on itself but I can do an introduction to it and ask for sessions20:02
MrTopfotoh we need more people to do video, too20:02
MrTopfand we might need some wall where we can put sheets of papers with sessions20:02
zethI think that is the general idea, someone to set the ball running20:02
MrTopfbut that's not too hard :)20:02
pinnerzeth: how about you? you'r good at spontaneous stuff20:02
zethlol20:03
zethyeah, can do I suppose, if you don't need me for disaters20:03
zethI suppose a local should be a disaster person20:03
MrTopfwe should make some call for volunteers for some specific tasks on the lists I think20:03
MrTopfwe also need cameras obviously20:03
MrTopfand tripods20:04
pinnerI don't think EP has had a disaster person before20:04
zethI'm happy to take one job20:04
zethDisaster-man is a job to itself20:04
MrTopfso actually I would like to do some open space/unconference intro, the rest should run itself.. ;-)20:04
zethbut I can do open-space instead if that is covered20:04
pinnersounds like zeth for Open Space?20:04
zethokay cool20:04
zetheither way20:05
zethmaybe MrTopf can do what he said, the intro and setting it off20:05
MrTopfin general open spaces might not mean much to do.. you might answer questions maybe and look if people are not confused20:05
MrTopfbesides that barcamps tend to run pretty smooth20:06
pinnerthe main thing is to publicise it and explain it20:06
MrTopfmost organizing work is done in front, like getting the room, organising food and network and all that20:06
MrTopfI will do a 3 hour talk on that on the first morning and then everybody should know20:06
pinneror go to sleep ;)20:06
MrTopfdepends on my talk :)20:07
MrTopfI try not to do bullet points at least ;-)20:07
pinnermaybe you two should organise it between you then20:07
pinnerOK?20:08
MrTopfzeth: you can then here and then pop up on stage and ask for sessions :)20:08
MrTopfyep20:08
zethokay cool, I have to go now and eat dinner20:08
zethcatch you all later20:08
* pinner needs to go as well20:08
MrTopfgood idea :)20:08
MrTopfcya!20:08
pinnergood night!20:08
MrTopfhave fun! :)20:09
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zethMrTopf: I think maybe if you do video, and if I have to be disasterman then I do that20:32
zethand we get a third person to do openspace20:32
MrTopfas said, I would at least like to make the intro20:32
zethsure20:33
zethfor the last couple of years I have been "disasterman" at about 5 conferences20:33
zethso I don't mind doing something else20:33
zethbut being disasterman, by definition, you have to be always ready to go and fix the problem20:33
zethso you can't really have static responsibilities20:34
MrTopfas said, in theory the open space stuff should run itself20:34
MrTopfthere is nobody introducint people and such20:34
MrTopfthere is a room and a timetable created in the morning20:34
zethwell I have never done open space before but it sounds fun20:34
zethand their might be a local person who can be disasterman20:35
MrTopfshould be fun :)20:35
MrTopfwell depends on how much people will get the idea maybe20:35
MrTopfit might start slowly20:35
zethhaving a set person to go to in a panic is essential for a smooth conference20:35
zethotherwise people don't know what to do20:36
zethso hanging out in openspace would be more fun20:36
zethEspecially since I don't speak lithuinian, and their might be multi-lingual disaster ;)20:37
MrTopfyeah :)20:37
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