• Day 1

We had a pretty basic yet impressive session on jquery by Dmitri Gaskin. jQuery makes it significantly easier for developers to extend the functionality and usability of their applications. Amit Asaravala gave some useful examples of how to use jquery with the Nice Menu module, and gave tips for creating Smarter Interfaces using jQuery. Also discussed how to make use of the jQuery library to make sites more responsive, intuitive, and fun. We had another session for Ajax with Tao Starbow which covered the basic concepts behind Ajax, practical use of jQuery’s Ajax functions, and the jQuery Forms plugin (which is now part of Drupal’s core).

After lunch, we had a yet another interesting session on Database Synchronization by Shaun Haber on an issue nearly every developer faces, which is merging content between a dev site and a production site. We were walked through watered-down live demo, showing how to programmatically apply all development changes to an existing site. Another session was about showcasing the Panels 2 module and talk about how it works for the content layout on drupal site. Matt discussed a few tricks to provide WYSIWYG support for content created in panel panes and versioning of panel pages to move them between staging and production.

View2 session was nuts and bolts presentation of how the Views 2 UI is constructed conducted by Earl Miles and Panels session by Matt Cheney explained how you can change look and feel of a website using Panels.

• Day 2

Day started with Introductory CiviCRM session by Kurund Jalmi. It was good to hear from community/implementers regarding their experiences and suggestion that can be incorporated to improve CiviCRM. After this session we decided to attend session on Patterns by Chris Bryant. Concept of patterns is really good and it helps / fasten the process to create drupal websites. Post lunch session on Introduction to CCK by Dmitri Gaskin was also good.

At the end of Day 2, we decided to treat ourselves to waterfronts of Jack London Square and took a ferry ride back to SF.

These two days were very eventful. Learned a lot about Drupal and other nice/cool stuff. Overall this was a great experience for me.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion , big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands,
overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.