The last day of a conference is always tough. You’ve been cramming your brain full of information for the past three days. You’re tired from trying to sleep in a strange bed in a room where light always streams in from the hallway. Now, your greatest priority is catching the shuttle to the airport and hoping you don’t get stuck in traffic.

Still, I attended some valuable sessions this final day. Subjects such as Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Pattern Language may seem esoteric, but they are valuable to technical communicators. Read the rest of this entry »

I admit that that two years ago, (a.) I was on the “RoboHelp is dead” bandwagon and (b.) the news gave me a feeling of schadenfraude because RoboHelp had knocked off my favorite HAT, ForeHelp. Read the rest of this entry »

STC’s decision to honor Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth as an example of exceptional technical communication was a controversial one. Debate exists about whether global warming is purely human-produced or if it is a result of solar activity and natural climate change. An Inconvenient Truth and Simon Singh’s keynote do show a truth about our field: We’re not just technical writers anymore. Read the rest of this entry »

Instead of going to the MadCap Software booth to find out about whatever new product they’re announcing at the conference, I went with my brother to watch the Twins beat the snot out of the Tigers, 16–4. Since the Tigers pounded my Angels at the last game I went to at Angel Stadium, this win was especially sweet.

I also appeared on ESPN, which showed the game live on national television. We sat in the upper deck of the Metrodome behind home plate. Around the middle of the game, an ESPN cameraman emerged from the tunnel near our section. We all started waving. I soon myself staring into the lens of a video camera. I suppose I can tick off a few seconds of my 15 minutes of fame. It should also make filling out my expense report at work more interesting. Read the rest of this entry »

The STC Conference doesn’t officially start until Monday, but I came a couple days early so I can visit my brother who lives in town. Read the rest of this entry »