convore.json/groups/pycon-2011/pycon-for-first-timers/messages.json

[{"user_id": 4120, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299488920.0354259, "message": "It's my first time to Pycon - what would you experienced folks recommend as a way to not get overwhelmed?", "group_id": 373, "id": 286383}, {"user_id": 1, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299507800.4200089, "user_id": 15284}, {"date_created": 1299508322.6448259, "user_id": 214}, {"date_created": 1299515766.5983329, "user_id": 3680}, {"date_created": 1299612021.281235, "user_id": 6671}, {"date_created": 1299737736.9069841, "user_id": 5575}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299488991.7248051, "message": "@brianball My first PyCon I was very shy and didn't want to bother anyone. Don't do that! Just go up and introduce yourself and you'll meet awesome people.  It's way better that way :)", "group_id": 373, "id": 286388}, {"user_id": 4120, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299489039.648176, "message": "whoa - I didn't realize convore had a growl-esque feature. cool. Thanks @ericflo for the reply.", "group_id": 373, "id": 286390}, {"user_id": 1, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299508331.194273, "user_id": 214}, {"date_created": 1299738189.268755, "user_id": 6671}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299489092.229996, "message": "As far as not being overwhelmed, I suggest taking a small 30-45min break after lunch, just go to your hotel room, shut the door, and give yourself a chance to think.  That's what I do at least, not sure if it'll work for others.", "group_id": 373, "id": 286393}, {"user_id": 18347, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299493109.08674, "message": "@ericflo it is my first time too. thanks for the suggestion, I'm quite excited to be there! Also thanks for #convore, the conversations struck up on here are great", "group_id": 373, "id": 286807}, {"user_id": 4120, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299495621.7041609, "message": "What should we expect to \"buy\" at Pycon? Are there vendors selling us books / swag, etc? Should we plan to go home with more than we came with?", "group_id": 373, "id": 286917}, {"user_id": 18539, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299496959.821358, "message": "@ericflo No! Don't! That's during my talk slot :-( (It's my first Pycon and I'm giving two talks so I'm guessing I'm doing okay on the overly shy part)", "group_id": 373, "id": 286959}, {"user_id": 6165, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299502237.4581921, "message": "I was like Eric at my first PyCon in 2008.  Hardly met anyone.  Best place to meet people is during lunch and right after the last talks.  Head to the bar in the hotel.  Lots of people hanging out there making plans for the evening.", "group_id": 373, "id": 287234}, {"user_id": 1760, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299503792.4791861, "message": "@brianball There will be a bookstore on site, and usually clothes and other such stuff with Python logos on them from Greg Lindstrom. The amount of swag varies year to year. I'd leave yourself a little space, but you don't need an empty suitcase.", "group_id": 373, "id": 287375}, {"user_id": 1760, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299507275.2732911, "user_id": 1289}, {"date_created": 1299508365.28145, "user_id": 214}, {"date_created": 1299522100.750879, "user_id": 1}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299503851.648329, "message": "As far as meeting people, I recommend sitting down with people you don't know at breakfast and lunch. Look for that singleton at a table and start up a conversation. \"Where are you from?\" and \"What have you seen so far that you really liked?\" are easy ice-breakers.", "group_id": 373, "id": 287383}, {"user_id": 9283, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299506705.122673, "message": "The best way to meet people at PyCon is to volunteer.  There are plenty of things that still need someone to assist.  You'll be interacting with staff to accomplish a goal and make PyCon a better conference.", "group_id": 373, "id": 287648}, {"user_id": 15284, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299508198.561049, "message": "It's my first pycon and usa trip too!", "group_id": 373, "id": 287826}, {"user_id": 3354, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299508815.2844861, "user_id": 214}, {"date_created": 1299549778.428, "user_id": 12780}, {"date_created": 1299612053.4428029, "user_id": 6671}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299508586.029983, "message": "PyCon has always been a really friendly conference, with lots to see and do. It really is possible to talk to just about anybody and have a warm reception. Enjoy!", "group_id": 373, "id": 287897}, {"user_id": 16551, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299512385.8355141, "message": "Todays Dilbert seems pertinent to this conversation http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-03-07/", "group_id": 373, "id": 288331}, {"user_id": 214, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299516651.8782909, "message": "@coderanger Agreed - although for certain talks I do like to follow along and try things with the presenter. Takes discipline to do that and not get completely distracted, though...", "group_id": 373, "id": 288808}, {"user_id": 7, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299520977.5667601, "user_id": 1760}, {"date_created": 1299565040.2830169, "user_id": 4120}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299517124.5876639, "message": "@coderanger one of my life goals (and this will never happen) is to be disciplined enough to be able to sit through a talk (or class or whatever) and take notes in reST so I can produce a nice sphinx \"summary\" of hte conf right afterwards", "group_id": 373, "id": 288838}, {"user_id": 1924, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299517738.2841649, "message": "I met people through the board game social, volunteering, birds-of-a-feather events (more open spaces :), and meal spaces.   Being active in the back-channel (twitter, convore, irc), also helps the ridiculously-easy-group-forming stuff, which I expect the Poster Sessions and Expo also instigate.", "group_id": 373, "id": 288874}, {"user_id": 1736, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299516441.979538, "user_id": 1289}, {"date_created": 1299516613.5049491, "user_id": 214}, {"date_created": 1299520963.176338, "user_id": 1760}, {"date_created": 1299538101.446533, "user_id": 927}, {"date_created": 1299549795.048686, "user_id": 12780}, {"date_created": 1299611248.6543341, "user_id": 561}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299516342.8807161, "message": "Most important tip I can give is \"keep your laptop closed\". I see a lot of people (myself included more often than I would like) with their nose in a computer, either during talks or sitting in the open spaces. Thats not why we all traveled 100s-1000s of miles! :-D", "group_id": 373, "id": 288790}, {"user_id": 7, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299519732.3811979, "message": "@carljm TBH i originally had that idea with respect to class, where it would be useful, but it seemed possibly applicable", "group_id": 373, "id": 289103}, {"user_id": 214, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299520996.0088129, "user_id": 1760}, {"date_created": 1299738155.730195, "user_id": 6671}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299519502.3382399, "message": "@alex Since the presenter's slides are pretty much always available right after, if not before, the talk, and it's pretty rare that an audience-member's rushed notes will improve on them, I've pretty much given up on taking notes on Pycon talks as a useful activity. If anything, just scribble down a good line or two that aren't in the slides.", "group_id": 373, "id": 289082}, {"user_id": 1930, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299525159.8672869, "user_id": 1736}, {"date_created": 1299534756.647306, "user_id": 214}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299521260.3985469, "message": "@brianball a good way to start saying \"hi\" and getting to know people's name is volunteer for a shift on the registration desk - everyone has to come there, and you _have_ to ask their names.    That, and SWAG bagging (when there's a crowd of people doing it) are probably the two best volunteer gigs for a first timer to get to know people from.", "group_id": 373, "id": 289266}, {"user_id": 1887, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299529230.4784451, "message": "I've found that taking notes can be helpful when I'm live-blogging, but I doubt there's that many people coming who do that", "group_id": 373, "id": 290570}, {"user_id": 3354, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299534115.4115241, "message": "The first year in Texas I live blogged a few of the sessions I was in, but the following year my laptop crashed. People missed the blogs, but I had a much more interesting con!", "group_id": 373, "id": 291716}, {"user_id": 4120, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299565199.1054411, "message": "@yarkot - I did sign up to volunteer - I agree that's always a great way to participate. My wife and I did that at Maker Faire and it's a great way to see the chaos behind the scenes. I registered to help with registration and am happy to help the night before. I haven't booked a room yet, but I'm not worried about it. I'm always up for a last-minute adventure.", "group_id": 373, "id": 294631}, {"user_id": 205, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299565593.1487761, "user_id": 1736}, {"date_created": 1299738140.241792, "user_id": 6671}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299564311.7534921, "message": "I recommend using the 45 mins after lunch for a nap", "group_id": 373, "id": 294591}, {"user_id": 7548, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299583114.1066539, "message": "@ericholscher come nap in my talk...Saturday after lunch...I promise not to wake you ;-)", "group_id": 373, "id": 295552}, {"user_id": 1930, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299608793.7678299, "message": "@brianball Thanks!  See you soon! (I'm at the airport at the moment, awaiting departure)", "group_id": 373, "id": 298135}, {"user_id": 6671, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299737886.4391749, "user_id": 1}, {"date_created": 1299764590.2730911, "user_id": 18843}, {"date_created": 1299764894.990485, "user_id": 214}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299737750.805248, "message": "You may end up drinking quite a bit.  The conference is less fun with a hangover", "group_id": 373, "id": 311364}, {"user_id": 6671, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299738479.040966, "user_id": 1}, {"date_created": 1299764913.4690111, "user_id": 214}, {"date_created": 1299771673.7159519, "user_id": 14463}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299738048.0903361, "message": "Also, to repeat something others have said: don't be shy.  The names you recognize from Python mailing lists are obviously popular here, but we are generally friendly.  If nobody else seems to be talking to the luminary of your choice at the moment - and obviously, if they don't have a pained / exhausted / I'm-trying-to-get-somewhere look on their face - you should feel free to just walk up, introduce yourself, and say hello.", "group_id": 373, "id": 311384}, {"user_id": 6671, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299738121.390532, "message": "Speaking for myself: if you're a Twisted fan and you see me wandering around, I'm always happy to hear about your success (or your failure).  Interacting with new people is one of the main reasons I come to the conference.  But I will be more relaxed once my talk is over :).", "group_id": 373, "id": 311392}, {"user_id": 6671, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299737724.5781381, "message": "Here's a piece of advice that I don't see a lot: stay hydrated.", "group_id": 373, "id": 311359}, {"user_id": 6671, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299737805.752594, "message": "But even more than that: if this is your first PyCon, *especially* if you have any open source projects that you're working on and would like to collaborate on, you are probably going to talk, a lot.  Every minute of the day you will either be talking to someone or listening to someone, and that takes a surprising amount of water out of you.", "group_id": 373, "id": 311365}, {"user_id": 14356, "stars": [{"date_created": 1299764610.4071269, "user_id": 18843}], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299754565.2414131, "message": "+1 for volunteering", "group_id": 373, "id": 312507}, {"user_id": 14356, "stars": [], "topic_id": 11256, "date_created": 1299754733.991524, "message": "There are tables on the main floor, it is a great place to meet. Yesterday it was great to be part of registration and bag stuffing event. Met a *lot* of people that I had only read on convore or elsewhere.", "group_id": 373, "id": 312511}]