JavaSpecialistsSymposium2011
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Thank you for showing interest in the Java Specialists Symposium 2011. The end of August is one of the best times to visit the stunning Island of Crete. The weather is warm, but not too hot. It is not as busy as during the peak tourist season, but all the tourist attractions are still open.
This is the first Java Specialists Symposium. We have secured the support of a great hotel in our area, the Perle Resort Hotel & Health SPA Marine.
Here are some happy comments from Java programmers who visited Crete to broaden their understanding.
Contents |
Theme
The theme for our 2011 Java Specialists Symposium is: Making Java Fun Again
Java is the new COBOL. It is the business language of choice. It has so much momentum that it will continue to plow on, regardless of what you throw in its path. However, many of us started using Java when it was just a fringe language with hardly any of the glitzy tools we have today. Our first Java courses were done using Notepad and javac. (You had notepad??? We just had an oscilloscope.)
And it was a lot of fun!
At this symposium we will exchange ideas, talk about Java, look at where it is going, write some nice tools. We will play around with Java FX, try out various threading ideas, write mad microbenchmarks and have coding competitions. You will learn exactly as much as you put into this conference. There will be no spoon feeding, one way conversations. Expect to arrive with lots of questions and to leave with a whole lot more questions.
Spread the Word
There is a twitter hashtag @OpenCrete and a short link http://bit.ly/JSR2011 for the symposium, please use those when you share the information. Heinz also created a google group for those who are interested in participating.
We also created a Google Map showing where the attendees came from. The map is like all about the un-conference self-organized, so please add yourself.
Philosophy
We have been running advanced Java courses on the Island of Crete since 2005. One of the challenges has been to convince bosses that we were really working hard and not just having fun. So we thought, why not combine an informal conference with a whole lot of fun in the sun and then do exactly what the boss was scared of? Besides, we are not charging for the conference.
The way we have formatted the schedule, you can discuss some interesting Java topics with fellow geeks whilst your loved ones are sleeping and resting (yes, please do bring them along). And then after lunch, we are free to do whatever.
This is an Open Spaces conference. Its success depends on you.
We already have a range of Java experts who have agreed to join us. We hope you will also do so.
Schedule
The conference starts on the 29th of August 2011 and ends on the 1st of September 2011.
Sessions will run from 8:30 until 12:30 every morning. After that you will be free to go on interesting excursions or carry on chatting to fellow Java programmers.
Read here more information about the concept of Open Spaces Conferences and see the Space-Time Matrix for the detail of the schedule.
Monday 29th of August
- 09:00 - 09:30: Welcome, Introduction to Open Spaces
- 10:00 - 11:00: Session 1
- 11:30 - 12:30: Session 2
Hiking, snorkeling, beaching, informal talks
Visit to down-town Chania, see the harbor and old town, have a drink at Xani's.
Tuesday 30th of August
- 09:00 - 10:00: Session 3
- 10:15 - 11:15: Session 4
- 11:30 - 12:30: Session 5
Hiking, snorkeling, beaching, informal talks
Dinner at Irene's Taverna in Χωραφάκια (Chorafakia)
Wednesday 31st of August
- 09:00 - 10:00: Session 6
- 10:15 - 11:15: Session 7
- 11:30 - 12:30: Session 8
Hiking, snorkeling, beaching, informal talks
Visit to Agious Rafael beach on the Akrotiri, a secret cove that very few Greeks even know about.
In the evening an informal BBQ for those interested at Heinz Kabutz's villa :-)
Thursday 1st of September
- 09:00 - 10:00: Session 9
- 10:15 - 11:15: Session 10
- 11:30 - 12:30: Session 11
Hiking, snorkeling, beaching, informal talks
Suggested Topics
We have started a list of topics. Please feel free to edit and add your own suggestions.
Price
This conference is free. Of course you need to pay your own travel costs. We reserve the right to charge for future Symposiums.
No Shows
Once you have put your name down for the conference, we expect you to please make every effort to attend. Since this is an exclusive event where we will probably need to turn people away, no-shows are unfairly disadvantaging other people. Please let us know well in advance if you cannot make it.
Travel
Heinz Kabutz lives in the same area where the conference is held, and has many years experience of traveling to and from the island.
Accommodation
Most of us will be staying at the Perle Resort Hotel & Health SPA Marine as this is where the conference will be held. To get the full benefit of this Java Specialists Symposiums, we suggest that you stay with us there.
We need to rent 30 rooms in order to be allowed to use the conference facilities for free.
Flights
The airport code that you should try to get to is CHQ (Chania). Another airport on Crete is HER (Heraklion) but that is about 2.5 hours drive from Chania.
Usually you will need to fly via Athens (ATH) to get to Chania. Expedia is quite good at scheduling flights. Aegean Airlines is an excellent Greek airline and a Star Alliance partner. Do not book with Olympic Air if you can avoid it - they have just canceled their flights to Vienna, London, Brussels and Paris.
Charter flights might be in operation from your country. Crete Travel maintain a relatively up-to-date list of European charter companies. Examples of charter flights are EasyJet from London, Norwegian from Norway, Thomas Cook and Condor from Germany.
From Brussels to Chania, you can fly with Jet Air Fly.
Ryanair just announced they are flying to Chania. Must have heard about our Symposium.
However, after dozens of trips in the last 5 years, Heinz has found that quite often, the scheduled flights with Aegean Airlines ended up being cheaper. The stop in Athens can be a bit inconvenient, but it is one of the nicer airports in the world. Not too large, with a lovely Greek restaurant called "Olive Tree" in the top level next to MacDonald's. If you have a larger budget, head over to the restaurant in the Sofitel airport hotel.
If your layover in Athens if very long, you could consider a trip to Athens Center to see the Parthenon and other sights.
It might be a good idea to share the Arrival and Departure times of the attendees, to be able to share a Taxi f.e.
Car Rental
It is a good idea to rent a car, so that you can go on excursions. Again, sharing is a good idea. Good for the environment and the pocket. The question is - who should you rent from?
Kirk Pepperdine arrived on Crete a few years ago, having booked a rental car online for very cheap. After waiting at the airport for over an hour, he realized that no car was going to arrive.
We recommend two companies for car rentals. They belong to friends who make sure that you are well looked after.
In both cases, please tell them that Heinz Kabutz sent you.
It is common practice by all car rental agencies in Greece to give you cars with half-full or empty petrol tanks. Don't be surprised at this - simply return the car with approximately the same amount of petrol in the tank.
Renting a Bus
We found a bus rental company, IO Tours, tel +30 28210 27497 or +30 69733 50321. They have busses with 27, 31, 52, 53 or 60 seats. In case we want to do a group excursion, this might be a good option.
Driving in Crete
You have heard that Greece is looking for cash. An easy way to collect money is from drivers who are breaking the rules. Just stick to the law and you will be fine(d).
Please try to stick to the speed limit whenever possible.
Do not drink alcohol and drive.
Wear your seat belt at all times.
Do not speak on your phone whilst driving.
Slow down to a crawl when there are sheep on the road.
