But I digress... Rick Palkovic's blog

     It's mid-June, and the 2009 JavaOne conference is over. While the technical sessions were better than ever and the general sessions had some exciting announcements, the overall mood was subdued when compared to the last few years. The reason is obvious.

     While the future of Java and the JVM may be as bright as ever, the pending sale of Sun Microsystems to Oracle Corporation marks the end of an era. And the end of anything prompts a look backward, both to celebrations of success and regrets for missteps. I'll leave my own reflections on that topic for another time, because right now I'm still buzzed from the JavaOne tech sessions.

     The static PDF versions of the technical session slides are now available to Sun Developer Network members. Log in and check 'em out.

     Then, my own JavaOne experiences. Here's a list of the sessions I attended and wrote about:

• 2009 JavaOne Conference: Java: Change (Y)our World (Tuesday Keynote Session)

• Best Practices for Large-Scale Web Sites: Lessons from eBay (TS 4407)

• Dynamic Languages Powered by GlassFish v3 Application Server (TS 4921)

• "Design Patterns" for Dynamic Languages on the JVM (TS 4961)

• Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 6 with Extensible GlassFish Application Server v3 (TS 4923)

• Programming Music for Fun and Productivity: JFugue and Log4JFugue (TS 4333)

• Making Music with Java the Java Programming Language (PAN 5388)

     Finally, if you attended the 2009 JavaOne conference, Sun is encouraging you to blog about your impressions. If you're not a Sun employee, your blog can even win you money. By blogging about technical sessions and following the contest rules, you will be entered for a chance to win an American Express Gift Card or Cheque for USD $300. Ten prizes will be awarded.

     Get the contest details. Who says you can't make money blogging?