Groupies

[dmr at dutoit.UUCP]

tekadg!davidl writes, at considerable length and with widespread distribution:

> ... Socially, Usenix is like a
> spherical glob, with a handful of original software authors at the center (the
> ones who wrote the original code, like the developers of Unix, C, etc. - the
> ones whose names are always being bandied about). Around these, there's a
> surrounding shell of what has been aptly called "Unix groupies" trying to
> associate themselves, both logically and physically, with the "illuminati"
> at the center.  Typically, these loathsome little insects are system
> administrators and hackers who spend their time either on the net or
> endlessly rewriting UUCP or NROFF or, or, or... And, I'm told, there are
> even some real, honest-to-goodness groupies (of the rock-star variety) who
> spend their time trying get near the "inner circle" for - never mind...
> it's believable, though -  it's certainly consistent with the demeanor of
> the rest of the proceedings.

Usenix conventions, which are undeniably and appropriately narrow-minded
and introverted, sport more than a few bores, but are notable for absence
of loathsome insects.  Even the irascible Rob Pike remarked after Portland,
"Goodness, there were very few loathesome insects there."

They are also marked by a lack of honest-to-goodness rock-star-variety
groupies.  Believe me on this.  The free cocaine was nowhere in evidence,
I consumed no cigar-sized hash bombers, the insistent, complaisant
lovelies were elsewhere by the time I got back from dinner.  Indeed, the
plaster of Paris I had obtained in case anyone wanted a cast of my genitals
went entirely unused.

Still, I understand the party that AT&T threw in Washington
was pretty wild.  Too bad I missed it.

	DMR