Epic UGM FOMO Generator: aftermath of the Ivory Room Piano Bar

There are spaces in the informatics universe where introverts and extroverts can congregate. One of them is … The Ivory Room Piano Bar. Thanks to all those who came out after the storm!

August 18, Tuesday of UGM, saw lots of activity: the Executive Address with Judy Faulker and the astounding progress in AI intelligence and ERGO Visits (hint: “therefore” from COGITO ERGO SUM the deep philosophical answer “I Think, Therefore I Am” by Descartes, yes I studied a little Latin in my day), to all-day talks, including the infamous Great AI Debate (and song battle) with PACademy award winners, and then to the Big Tent Dinner at Epic. The dinner wrapped up around 7-730pm and then my personal debate was: head over to the Ivory Room next? But the rain!

During the dinner, though, the National Weather Service issued a Severe Weather alert for Thunderstorms in the area. And, I saw that heavy rains would continue into the evening. Already, this would be an interesting informatics exploration of the design, decision-making and dissemination of severe weather alerts (but I digress).

Then, from the always-well-connected Dirk Stanley “The chatter is that Ivory room may or may not be on.” He is always well-connected. If you don’t know him, you should!

The introvert in me spoke loudly in my head “Just stay home, it will be puddles and drippy rain all over, and you’ve already had a big day; time to sit down and read a book.

Oh, the uncertainty!

As the song goes “Do I Stay or Do I Go?”

Well, I put a bunch of recently-published books into my new orange corduroy Epic book bag (love it). Then took a big breath, and headed out. Would I see anyone?

 

Surprise! A little rain doesn’t stop an informaticist from coming out.

Thanks to everyone who came out, and sorry for those I missed chatting with.

Thanks again to the Ivory Room Piano Bar for opening up on a weeknight for CMIO’s and informaticists looking for a quiet place to hang out, catch up, and build our informal networks. We all do great work. It is just more fun when we can talk, commiserate, celebrate, laugh and sign books. Informaticists are good people.

Let’s make this a tradition, shall we?