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Wow what an Adventure! I had a most wonderful time at Warpstock99. The event
as a whole was well organized, well run and very informative. The "GICC"
(Georgia International Convention Center) is a nice place to hold an event and the
layout is as close to perfect as I have seen. It is really amazing that the everyday
press in print, TV, and E-press continue with the view that OS/2 is dead... During
Warpstock99 it was rather obvious that even a magician can't make OS/2 disappear.
Warpstock99 served as an example of the resolve of the entire OS/2 community. Indeed
there was more than one 'Magic Moment'.
I attended one presentation, gave one presentation
and the rest of my time was spent either in the VOICE booth on IRC or walking the
halls conversing with fellow Warpers. After my presentation which ,by the way, can
be found on the VOICE website, Lynn Maxson lead a BoF(Birds of a Feather) session
on WarpDoctor. It went very well and support for the project was offered from more
than one attendee and some that weren't even there. One attendee even gave $25 to
join VOICE and $25 to the WarpDoctor project. In my presentation I mentioned several
times a 3 line phrase "United Community, United In Purpose. United for Power."
This concept was so well received I was stunned. I had anticipated some negative
commentary and/or argument. I received none of that directly. If there was someone
there who heard about my presentation or the WarpDoctor BoF session and disagreed
with the logic discussed in those sessions... they never mentioned it to me.
The WarpDoctor project is is
being pursued by VOICE with the intent to gauge the interest in actually uniting
the international OS/2 community and focusing the collective effort in a specific
and directed manner. VOICE has always had an interest in educating and serving the
OS/2 community. VOICE is committed to this project and to prove it are taking steps
to incorporate. The central messages I delivered in my presentation, in the WarpDoctor
BoF and when anyone asked were these -
It is a recognized fact at VOICE that for the long
term health of the OS/2 community, the entire OS/2 community must be a united community.
With one direction, focused and funded. It is not a good thing for us to use our
collective efforts at cross-purposes or even for duplicate works.
VOICE is now sponsoring the revival of the WarpPharmacy.
It is recognized that every OS/2 user has at one time or another required some assistance
with OS/2. This project is called WarpDoctor.
As soon as practical VOICE will incorporate, in order
to facilitate the handling of funds.
In order to ensure our investments in OS/2 well into
the future WarpDoctor will be the project to gauge the interest and viability of
a "United OS/2 Community".
The members of the WarpDoctor project will have ONE
vote each. The WarpDoctor Web site URL is http://www.warpdoctor.org
The common knowledge base for the members at first
will be the WarpDoctor mail list. To subscribe to this mail list go to : http://mailer.falcon-net.net:8080/guest/RemoteAvailableLists?prefix=W
WarpDoctor will be a self-funded project.
Join VOICE today and be heard all over the world!
Have your VOICE make a difference!
Some may ask (and some have
asked) why so large a project for VOICE to start out with? Well, VOICE has always
been about people to begin with, and VOICE believes that people will respond in
a positive manner offering assistance where they can. We at VOICE know that this
is a huge undertaking and we are counting on the entire OS/2 Community for support.
WarpDoctor has the potential at this time to become a rallying cry for a "United
OS/2 Community, United in Purpose and United for Power". The opportunity has
been proposed. The Community will decide the success or failure.
One last note before my rambling
in this article stops.... I was standing on the stage at Warpstock99 shortly after
the magician rang everyone's bell with his parting lines about not even he could
make OS/2 disappear. Perhaps it was smart of me at that moment to bite my tongue
and not say what was really on my mind... Perhaps not. We will never know for sure
for that moment has passed. I will write here my words I held in check that night
in front of all the people in that room.. the SCOUG'rs and POSSI folks, the IBM'rs
and a host of others gathered to share the 'Magic Moments', this is a forum where
everyone who wants to can view it... And respond ...
"I want to thank you all
for joining us tonight You know the magician was honest and he is a great magician..
Not even he can make OS/2 disappear. It would seem that IBM is trying to make OS/2
disappear for us SOHO/endusers and no matter how hard they try we keep it alive.
My friends the magician admitted he could not make OS/2 disappear.... IBM has proven
they can't either.... Folks I want you to know each and everyone of you can make
OS/2 disappear, you have that power. And I also say to you If you look around you
- you will also see the POWER to keep it alive. A 'United Community, United in Purpose
is United for POWER'. "
This goes also for those reading
this dialog.