NCSS Over and Out

NCSS
This year NCSS ran from Saturday 5th January to Sunday 13th January - and I was lucky enough to be invited back as a returner. Amongst the highlights were Crypto Challenge, the Programming Challenge (where I worked with a lady employed at Google), Google site visits and Atlassian site visits, amongst a million other things.

The most shocking thing is just how rapidly the days flew past. This year we were given an extra two days, yet of all things it felt shorter than that of last year's NCSS.

Other things needing notes...

The Final Countdown
The NLP Song ("He saw the girl on the hill with the telescope... Telescope, telescope, telescope! Time flies like an arrow, I may-aid her duck") - notice the emphasis on MADE? It's a MINIM people!
Random seeds from Microsoft
Excessive NDAs from Google
Game after game of Bartok and Zah Butsah

Towards the end we finally got our version of Youth Off The Streets up and going - a bit of a struggle due to a few issues which were sorted out only the night before the presentation. Sadly I didn't get a chance to implement my collocation based search suggestion due mainly to the fact I was in damage control mode for the website fighting just to get basic functionality up. Nonetheless, the result that came out looked quite impressive - here's a screenshot with my chat client in action.

Nonetheless, just as last year it was a stunning week - many close friends old and new. Thanks to all those who made it happen ^_^

---

I was going to write more, but I realised it's nearly a month after I left NCSS - and that's time enough =]
Smerity

Enchanted in the Least

I usually voice my hatred of Disney pretty clearly, but when they get it right I'll at least acknowledge it.
There are only a few rare films that allow you to become utterly engrossed - you forget all your troubles and just feel yourself fading into the narrative web - and Enchanted was one of them.

All I can really say is that it was a pleasure to watch, and sadly a film that's making me think about the way I perceive the world - it can be your stage show if you'll let it =]

Special mention to Amy Adams who was just stunning - I knew her from Catch Me If You Can, but her style has changed immensely - a testament to her ability =]

Tomorrow is the beginning of NCSS '08 =] I'm certainly looking forward to it, butI have this worrying feeling that I haven't prepared for it, which is strange considering I really can't. Such happens however - at least I'll be with a bunch of friends - nothing horrifically bad could go wrong - I hope ^_^