SPUG: G'Day from Damian Conway

[Tim Maher/CONSULTIX]

# It's ironic that Damian, in his very first posting to our list, sprang
# the trap for word the "[s]ubscribe", so I'm re-posting the politically
# correct version here - TIm

G'day!

Now that Tim's announced the details of my visit, I thought I'd [s]ubscribe to
your list and get an idea of what I'm getting myself into :-)

I'd also like to expand on a few points...

   > Damian will do an one-hour presentation on a topic nominated
   > by our members, in one of his areas of expertise: OOP, parsing,
   > natural language processing, programming language design, etc.

Any of my articles in TPJ, or my previous TPC papers, or my CPAN modules,
are also fair game.

   
   > For the second hour, he will answer audience questions on
   > Perl-related topics (so start jotting down your ideas!).

But bear in mind that I'm not into CGI or DBI, so I'm likely to take the
fifth on questions in those areas. Hit me with tough questions in the
abovementioned areas of expertise, if you want to make me look smart :-)

   
   > For this talk, Damian proposes to reprise the one-hour talk he
   > will have given at YAPC two weeks earlier:
   > 
   >    "Quantum Superpositions and the First Virtue".

Yes, it's *meant* to be obscure. Here's the full abstract (which isn't
supposed to be much clearer):


                   Quantum Superpositions and the First Virtue
    
                                 Damian Conway
              School of Computer Science and Software Engineering
                               Monash University
                                   Australia
    
    
                                   Abstract
    
             Take two quantized disjunctive/conjunctive equiprobable
             scalar datastructures, add a dash of multidimensional
             polymorphism, a handful of redefined operators, and a
             pinch of breadth-first optree evaluation. Simmer gently
             in the Principle of Least Effort. Decant into a
             grandiosely named module. Now serve vector operations
             (prime generation, list membership, list extrema, etc.)
             without loops or recursion.


Tim asked me if it's meant to be a parody lecture. I know it looks that
way, but actually it's just like my Coy paper at last year's TPC:
serious science and useful Perl techniques smuggled into unsuspecting
brains hidden behind a dazzlingly stupid idea.


   > * Damian's Agenda, and Arranging Meetings with Him
   > 
   > However, during his free time (mainly 7/1-7/5), he's expressed an
   > interest in meeting with local companies or individuals to tour
   > high-tech facilities, see how Perl is being used, pick each others
   > brains, share meals and conversation, and so on. 

I'm really hoping to get to know some of you and find out more about your
city and state. I'd also appreciate any advice on what to see and do there
(e.g. I've already been advised *not* to eat at the Space Needle :-)


   > Those wishing to meet with Damian are welcome to contact him directly
   > (damian at conway.org) to discuss possible activities and scheduling.

Please do.


Damian


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