(no subject)

Back from Stockholm. Had to catch the last train back at 23.10, which meant that I was practically the first one to leave the Apple anniversary party. A pity, but on the other hand the dancing was just about to start, with a sound level to match, so talking and mingling was over by then anyway. I was fascinated to see how inconceivable it is to people who are used to big corporate events to find cheap solutions for anything. They had managed to get 140 people together--a wonderful turnout--paying 40 euros each, for an evening with some light snack food and a couple of glasses of wine, and despite this budget of approximately 5,500 euros they had to seek external sponsorship from three companies to keep the indivual fee down. Apparently, not doing this thing at an upmarket place in central Stockholm simply didn't strike them. As a conrunner, I shake my head in disbelief.

It was great fun, meeting old workmates and colleagues from the mid nineties. Apple was a fun place to work at, to be in the midst of the PC business, working with products everyone used and admired. (Well, that was the case when I started there at least.) And working for Apple brought me to the Bay Area several times; I have many great memories of San Francisco, people, places, days off, dinners, parties. I haven't been there since 1997 (I think, can't really remember whether it was '97 or '98 I was sent there the last time) but I'd love to go back. With Shrub collapsing the US finances and the dollar plunging, maybe I should do so before the whole thing breaks down and the American people has to pick a competent leader instead of going by whose personal company they would feel most comfortable in. Because USA is getting dirt cheap for me as a tourist.