P3D NSA '98 - People

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

That's a good one too!  -- George

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NSA '98 - People

I can see a problem with these conventions:  Meeting people face-to- 
face takes the fun out of arguing in P3d!  For example, I thought I 
would get into a fist-fight with Tom Deering (a.k.a., "the guy with 
the red suit") and here I am drinking beer in his room, talking 3d and 
enjoying his 3d computer motion clips.  There is even a picture of us 
shaking hands!   John Roberts is another example.  He is such a nice 
guy!  I told him, "John, now that I have met you, I don't feel like 
arguing with you in P3d any more!  Anything you say, I'll go along".  
Same with Boris "DrT, let me hug you!" (we hugged and kissed a couple 
of times - yes, well documented in 3d)

One of the highlights of social interaction was Friday night.  We 
ended up in a local small dinner, the following international P3d 
group:  Alex Klein (Germany), Tom Kidd (Scotland), Boris Starosta, 
John Baird & son David, Tom Deering & wife Pam, Brenda Nowlan and 
myself.  Tom Kidd, clearly suffering from beer deprivation ("where is 
that f---ing beer!") orders one pitcher after the other.  We stayed 
there for 5 hours (I am surprised they did not kick us out) eating (a 
bit) and drinking (a lot!) thanks to Tom who was ordering a new 
pitcher of beer every time the level fell of 50%.  

Along with eating & drinking, we talked about 3d matters, snapped a 
few stereo pictures and enjoyed Boris' slides, passed around with a 
Pinsharp viewer (yes, it's pretty good) with John's flat/slim 
fluorescent table.  We agreed that there is much more detail to be 
seen through the viewer than in projection earlier that day.  We also 
passed the viewer to the waitresses and other people in the dinner and 
they all expressed amazement.  Showing Boris' "fine art" slides to the 
teenagers across our table maybe was not such a good idea, but, what 
the heck, it was late, we were half-drunk and we all had a great time!

I enjoyed meeting and talking to P3d members for the first time like 
Eric Goldstein (his "scholarly" email style is deceiving - his is a 
young athletic, always smiling guy), John Aldridge (UK SS 
Projectionist - I see his face in every issue of "The Journal" but it 
was a great pleasure meeting him in person), Gabriel (his is very 
handsome with beautiful blue eyes and a lovely accent), Wlad, Lawrence 
Kaufman, Greg Dinkins, Brenda Nowlan, Andrea Blair and many others!  
And, of course, meeting and spending time with old friends like Jon 
Golden (our rooms and Tables in the Trade Show were next to each 
other!), Dalia, Alex Klein, Bob Stern, Ron Labbe and many more!

What fun!!!  Now, I have one year to recover and get ready for Green Bay!

George Themelis



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