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yakalskovich) wrote2008-10-29 06:25 pm
yakalskovich) wrote2008-10-29 06:25 pm
Solemn occasion
solemn: - from solemnis, -is, -e -- [Latin] (of an event, custom, or ritual) celebrated or observed annually
One thing that marked my years as surely as the Christmases, birthdays, and summer stays in No Computer Land has been the computer trade fair named Systems, here in Munich, that used to take place every autumn, around the end of October. It's not nearly as big as CeBIT in Hanover, nor as international; it's mostly for those companies that are represented in the South German boom regions.
The first I heard of it was in 1986, when I was still new to Munich, and was sitting by the Statue of Bavaria one night, because my first student digs were near there, and a weary suited shark drifted by, and we started chatting. I asked him where he was coming from, and he said from Systems. I asked what that was, and he told me it was a trade show about computer systems. I shuddered mentally, but tried not to show it.
Little did I (first-year student of Japanology and Medieval Latin) guess that I would end up a database tamer and network administrator, and that Systems would become an important recurrent event in my life. I tried to get there from 1991 onwards, but only in 1998 did I manage to grab a free ticket at last, and go there, with Falk the Metropolitan. I don't remember the contents much, only that I was wearing and re-applying a flesh-coloured lipstick that Falk, in his typical way, declared to be a de-lipstick.-
In 2000, when I arrived in the old Metropolitan basement warren to start out to Systems, Falk declared he has quit smoking. I spontaneously declared I would, as well, and beat him at it. He has long since started again; I have stuck with it these eight years, and have no doubt that I will for the rest of my life.
In that year, everything was full of the shiny, you walked away with bags of dotcom swag, and the convention center was almost bursting out of its seams to accomdate all. From then on, a long decline set in, which I commented mockingly each year -- but not here.
This year, two days in, the management of Systems declared this would be the last -- there would be two different and more narrowly defined IT trade fairs in Munich next year.
So, I went there for the last hour of the last day of the last Systems ever, and took pictures of exhaustion and dissolution.-
These are Difference Engine style announcment boards, considered cool in 1998 when the Trade Fair Centre was built; normally, they are busy clacksing away and telling you stuff, but this one only offered noise when I arrived.
At the welcome desk, where pretty young women handed out catalogues and lanyards the last few years, and answered questions, there was just this Ianto-esque young bloke inna smart suit and a subordinate position, with nothing to do, gazing vapidly into space. I do realise that having these is the easiest way for any organisation to fulfil Gender Mainstreaming requirements set by the EU.-
"Hereinspaziert!" -- 'Come On In!' , the huge poster says. But instead of coming on in, people are going on out. Conceded, it was about an hour before closing time. Note the prevalence of orange alibaba.com swag bags. I didn't get one this year -- last year's had given out after the third or so shopping trip. Flimsy stuff!
Inside, emptiness.
At a coffee stall, a suited shark is picking a blonde chick for the night. Gender Mainstreaming, it seems, did not extend to baristas.
Siemens, one of my two least favourite IT companies on the planet, declaring 'Come On In' as well. But all in there were uniformed Siemens grunts wibbling among themselves as they inevitably approach sell-out and unmployment -- these were Siemens IT Services, a subsidiary slated, to the best of my knowledge, to be sold. I might get one of these guys at the medieval Christmas market, which takes place in the square by Siemens Corporate Headquarters in the middle of the city, to test the Danish war axe on that I do mean to buy there*.
The other of my Least Favourite IT Corporations Ever, Dell**, are doing brisk business at this late hour, oddly enough. This was the first year that they ever came to Systems. It probably means they want on the B2B market more. I tremble at the thought!
This suited shark knows enough, at least, to down their Live Demo at the end of the event.
But the big blade servers are taken down by professionals -- note the sneakered, pony-tailed old timer and the fresh-faced apprentice; so very typical of the IT goons you get hereabouts.
One of the decorative blonde chicks plans life after Systems.
These guys want coffee, and badly -- so the decorative brunette chick is still busy.
Bitkom -- industry association of the German IT industry. They seem rather perplex at the moment, and the beer bottles have come out in full force.
Some prefer to have their beer all by themselves in the normally busy courtyards between the halls.
Barely awake, he stares at his cell phone in absolute horror. One trembles to imagine what message of dire doom just arrived.
And then, the red carpet was torn up, Systems was over forever, and people left.
Waiting for their ride, these normally dignified suited sharks sat on the pedestal where, at better times, there had been live music.
And then everybody caught the tube and went home.
* This is an old, old private joke by the Nazgul and me, not an actual murder threat!
** To be blamed for many sudden disappearances of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
essayel in the middle of the most wonderful and plottish RP threads! So I hate them with a burning hatred!!
One thing that marked my years as surely as the Christmases, birthdays, and summer stays in No Computer Land has been the computer trade fair named Systems, here in Munich, that used to take place every autumn, around the end of October. It's not nearly as big as CeBIT in Hanover, nor as international; it's mostly for those companies that are represented in the South German boom regions.
The first I heard of it was in 1986, when I was still new to Munich, and was sitting by the Statue of Bavaria one night, because my first student digs were near there, and a weary suited shark drifted by, and we started chatting. I asked him where he was coming from, and he said from Systems. I asked what that was, and he told me it was a trade show about computer systems. I shuddered mentally, but tried not to show it.
Little did I (first-year student of Japanology and Medieval Latin) guess that I would end up a database tamer and network administrator, and that Systems would become an important recurrent event in my life. I tried to get there from 1991 onwards, but only in 1998 did I manage to grab a free ticket at last, and go there, with Falk the Metropolitan. I don't remember the contents much, only that I was wearing and re-applying a flesh-coloured lipstick that Falk, in his typical way, declared to be a de-lipstick.-
In 2000, when I arrived in the old Metropolitan basement warren to start out to Systems, Falk declared he has quit smoking. I spontaneously declared I would, as well, and beat him at it. He has long since started again; I have stuck with it these eight years, and have no doubt that I will for the rest of my life.
In that year, everything was full of the shiny, you walked away with bags of dotcom swag, and the convention center was almost bursting out of its seams to accomdate all. From then on, a long decline set in, which I commented mockingly each year -- but not here.
This year, two days in, the management of Systems declared this would be the last -- there would be two different and more narrowly defined IT trade fairs in Munich next year.
So, I went there for the last hour of the last day of the last Systems ever, and took pictures of exhaustion and dissolution.-
These are Difference Engine style announcment boards, considered cool in 1998 when the Trade Fair Centre was built; normally, they are busy clacksing away and telling you stuff, but this one only offered noise when I arrived.
At the welcome desk, where pretty young women handed out catalogues and lanyards the last few years, and answered questions, there was just this Ianto-esque young bloke inna smart suit and a subordinate position, with nothing to do, gazing vapidly into space. I do realise that having these is the easiest way for any organisation to fulfil Gender Mainstreaming requirements set by the EU.-
"Hereinspaziert!" -- 'Come On In!' , the huge poster says. But instead of coming on in, people are going on out. Conceded, it was about an hour before closing time. Note the prevalence of orange alibaba.com swag bags. I didn't get one this year -- last year's had given out after the third or so shopping trip. Flimsy stuff!
Inside, emptiness.
At a coffee stall, a suited shark is picking a blonde chick for the night. Gender Mainstreaming, it seems, did not extend to baristas.
Siemens, one of my two least favourite IT companies on the planet, declaring 'Come On In' as well. But all in there were uniformed Siemens grunts wibbling among themselves as they inevitably approach sell-out and unmployment -- these were Siemens IT Services, a subsidiary slated, to the best of my knowledge, to be sold. I might get one of these guys at the medieval Christmas market, which takes place in the square by Siemens Corporate Headquarters in the middle of the city, to test the Danish war axe on that I do mean to buy there*.
The other of my Least Favourite IT Corporations Ever, Dell**, are doing brisk business at this late hour, oddly enough. This was the first year that they ever came to Systems. It probably means they want on the B2B market more. I tremble at the thought!
This suited shark knows enough, at least, to down their Live Demo at the end of the event.
But the big blade servers are taken down by professionals -- note the sneakered, pony-tailed old timer and the fresh-faced apprentice; so very typical of the IT goons you get hereabouts.
One of the decorative blonde chicks plans life after Systems.
These guys want coffee, and badly -- so the decorative brunette chick is still busy.
Bitkom -- industry association of the German IT industry. They seem rather perplex at the moment, and the beer bottles have come out in full force.
Some prefer to have their beer all by themselves in the normally busy courtyards between the halls.
Barely awake, he stares at his cell phone in absolute horror. One trembles to imagine what message of dire doom just arrived.
And then, the red carpet was torn up, Systems was over forever, and people left.
Waiting for their ride, these normally dignified suited sharks sat on the pedestal where, at better times, there had been live music.
And then everybody caught the tube and went home.
* This is an old, old private joke by the Nazgul and me, not an actual murder threat!
** To be blamed for many sudden disappearances of
essayel in the middle of the most wonderful and plottish RP threads! So I hate them with a burning hatred!!
no subject
I got swag until people discovered doctor's daughter and not interested in being doctor, they would light up at young person, young person.
Also I figured out something for Demeter's Halloween thing, the reason the people doing the summoning get it to work is that they have an old but powerful statue of her.
One of those small bronze statues but one crafted by a person who truly believed and worshiped Demeter so that's what pulls her. I'm still figuring out details, but its not going to be a fun meeting.
no subject
I actually found out that said competition had NOT stolen those customers' patents.-
no subject
Now as I write it I'm going to envision her looking over his shoulder criticising his depiction and doubting the use to which the statue will be put.
no subject
no subject