Explicitly and without apology a marketing vehicle MaryMaryQuiteContrary

I'm traveling today. I'm going to San Francisco to attend JavaOne. 

This isn't my first JavaOne. It's something like my 10th.

And this isn't my first trip to San Francisco. I live on the East coast and my group and by boss are on the West coast, so I do this trip a lot.

Today, I'm on Virgin America flight 77 from Washington DC to San Francisco.

We're a couple hours into the journey, just north of Wichita, Kansas.

I'm in seat 9A.

And I'm blogging.

That's right, people! I'm blogging! From 30,000 feet!

(well, 34,017 feet going 523 mph, to be precise.)

Two words: Virgin America. 

Two more words: Love it!!!!

It's been a very long time since I've been excited about being on an airplane for 5 hours.

(Well, to be perfectly honest with you.... I'm not exactly excited about the airplane part... or the 5 hours part...but....)

But, but, but Virgin America has now transformed the flying experience. They've just completely raised the bar.

I've been a big Virgin America fan since they started flying my route -- IAD to SFO.

From the very first time, I've loved it.

The planes feel like a W hotel lobby. The seat-back entertainment system is the best that I've ever experienced. The people who work here seem genuinely happy that you've come onboard.

I even have a #1 all time favorite airline employee. His name is George. He works for Virgin America in SFO. (He helped me out when I really needed some help one time. I don't think I'll ever forget him.) Just outstanding customer service.

And now all that comes with wifi. Virgin America has introduced wifi on all their flights in the US.

It's simply outstanding.

Wifi costs about $13. It works GREAT. In the past couple of hours I've done email, I've tweeted, I've done SKYPE video chat and iChat/AIM. I've done VOIP. And now, I'm blogging.

(I've also gotten caught up on my favorite YouTube channel and goofed off on Facebook, but don't tell the boss. :-)

I've done all this stuff and I'm in a plane!

It's all just so cool.

I had to share.

I had to tell somebody.

Thanks for induldging me.

Now it's back to our regularly scheduled programming...

:-)

Mary

JavaOne Minute!

The JavaOne Experience in 60 seconds or less.

Let the games begin!

Sure, the world's largest developer conference happens in San Francisco next week.

(I think I heard something about it affecting the tides in the Bay -- having all those smart people in one place at the same time...)

:-)

But you don't have to travel to the City by the Bay to rub shoulders with the hot shot techno celebs.

Oh no,

You can chat with the authors of the latest Sun Microsystems Press books in Second Life next week!

(if you'll induldge a little copy-paste action...)

Interested in the hottest Java and developer books from Sun Microsystems Press? Here is your opportunity to learn about the newest books directly from the authors and have a dynamic conversation with them in the virtual world Second Life. These sessions will take place at the Sun Microsystems Main Pavillion in Second Life.

Here is the full schedule with details below:

• June 3, 2009 at 9am PT
  The Developer's Edge
  by Darryl Gove
• June 3, 2009 at 12pm PT
  JavaFX: Developing Rich Internet Applications book
  by Jim Clarke, James Connors and Eric Bruno
• June 4th at 9am PT
  Core JavaServer Faces 3/E
  by David Mark Geary and Cay Horstmann
• June 4, 2009 at 12pm PT
  Real-Time Java Programming: with the Java RTS
  by Greg Bollella and Eric J. Bruno

See you there!

Mary

"Sun Microsystems plans to launch an App Store that could make Apple's look smaller than a 7-Eleven by comparison."

Full Story. 

Well, actually, the full story is on Jonathan's Blog.

:-)

Mary

It's actually OTFLOL stuff. 

:-)

Five FREE full conference passes to JavaOne PLUS $,$$$ to cover travel expenses are on the table

Dude, where's my pass?