This post is about a month old but I have been so busy I am just finishing it up.
So for some reason I was fortunate enough to be invited to South by Southwest(SXSW) from the wonderful Karen Ingram and Shawn O'Keefe. At first I didn't know if I would go. Plane tickets were kind of expensive and I am currently in what will probably be the most busiest time of my year (Conferences, Science, Talks, &c.). Also, I am not a spontaneous person and don't like random people. I had never met Karen or Shawn in person and didn't know anyone in person who would be going to SXSW. I can be introverted at times. Well considering I spend most of my non-sleeping life in lab I guess I would be considered significantly introverted, yeah, I mean I just don't usually like people, at least when I am sober. Anyways.... I decided to go because I felt like the opportunity was so good I could not pass it up and because I only had a few days to spare even if it didn't turn out well I wouldn't lose much besides money.
It was a great time. I met Dan Grushkin which was pretty sweet and we achieved the high score on Marvel vs Capcom at a bar and became pretty drunk in the process. Austin basically turns into New Orleans and 4th st. into Bourbon st. I am pretty excited to go again next year and I hope to have some cool Science.Technology to show-off and impress people. Well at least impress myself.
I went to see the movie The Immortalists at SXSW because Jason Sussberg came to the Biohacker meetup and convinced me to go. You should check out the link and trailer and if ever have the chance to see it you should. I really love documentaries and wish people would make more of them. It is just so cool to experience someone else's life that is different from my own or learn about something new. Seriously, I wish I could watch a documentary on everyone I know. I guess that is kind of creepy?
Anyways, there were so many interesting and cool people that I met there. I hope I actually can spend time with them in the future.
I am learning to go a little bit outside my comfort zone more and attempt to experience new things even though I would rather just sit in my apartment and build stuff. Also, I am beginning to see that I don't hate people as much as I say I do. Hah, I think I just don't enjoy people who are boring and.or stuck-up.
