HAR2009

I know, this post is a little late… Let’s just say winter is not my season.

As many of you have heard by now, the grand hacker event saga is indeed continuing. The event is called HAR 2009, will happen August 13-16 in The Netherlands and I wrote a little paragraph for the HAR2009 website weeks ago. I just didn’t think to post it here. Duh… Me bad… Here’s what I wrote for the website:

It’s happening again. A team has formed. Some of the people that have always played a big part, some new faces, but the vibe is most definitely felt. Sure: lots (LOTS) of difficulties to overcome, but at this point it really does feel to me as if:

a) it will happen in 2009
b) and in The Netherlands after all
c) and it is going to be good

Being too preoccupied with some nasty personal affairs to be part of the main organising team, I’m more of an involved onlooker at this point. Which has not stopped me from sharing whatever knowledge and contacts I can, and I’m helping out in the program team as well. For now, it looks as if these pesky new-generation event-hackers are managing just fine though: for one they’ve already managed to come up with a nicer logo and a better location than any of the previous events.

Just like with any of the previous editions, the people organising can only imagine and set up a fraction of what’s needed. The rest is traditionally done by all of us together. So I urge all of you to not sit around to see if the organisers are doing a good enough job, but to stand up and help do it instead. I know I am…

My name is Rop Gonggrijp, and I approve this event.

I’ve managed to get myself sucked in as a member of the program committee, and we are working to have a Call For Papers out soon. There’s other teams working hard on various other bits of the event and ticket sales will also start soon I’m told. Now: knowing how much money is needed in advance for such an event, I know I am buying my ticket the day the box office opens. If you plan on coming (and you should), then you should get your ticket early too…

I promise to keep you more up to date, but do also check the HAR2009 website regularly, send an email to announce-subscribe@har2009.org and spread the word if you can.