GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition

I recently spent 20 glorious days in Jamaica. I highly recommend going if you can. I stayed at the Beaches Negril resort on the western tip of the island. Negril is famous for its 7 mile white sand beach.

 I scuba dive and snorkel, and had a number of trips planned that I wanted to photograph that a regular DSLR wouldn't be appropriate for. After looking at point and shoot cameras that were waterproof I decided instead to go in a different direction. I purchase a Go Pro Silver. The system is awesome.

The GoPro Hero 3 is a hi-definition camera (1080i). The Silver comes with a waterproof case and a case that is useful for rugged, but not wet environments. It also has a WiFi capability built in. There are a lot of options available for it for mounting, and it's easy to make your own mounts

What I brought

I bought the kit along with

• 2 additional batteries
• the chest mount
• the head mount (you look like a dork but it works really well)
• an extra 'bag of bits' from Amazon
• the humidity insert

If I had known that the attachments were so easy to forget once you stick them on something, I would have bought a second bag of bits (it was about $20). Remember that if you're out of the country. Buy 3. They're cheap. And bring heavy duty foam tape so you can reuse them after you pop them off (you'll need a knife or screwdriver).

I also picked up a monopod and an adaptor for that which allowed more flexibility with mounting direction. This could have been done with the bag of bits, but I went this way. The monopod allowed lifting it up, using it underwater, and more.

My Uses

Over the 20 days I used it for:

• Scuba diving, (wore chest mount)
• Snorkeling,  (wore chest mount)
• Cimbing the 600 ft Dunns River Falls waterfall. - (wore head mount)
• 2 zipline tours (mounted on the helmet. One on the side with the appropriate bits to point it forward, the second just straight on the front)
• 3 trips down the Mystic Mountain bobsled (head mount, but hold it!)
• I don't know how many trips down the waterside at the resort
• Chukka dune buggy tour (sticky attachment)
• Chukka ATV tour (sticky attachment on my helmet)

The quality of the images is great. make sure you turn on the ProTune mode and use their software to convert it to MP4. You get much better quality.

It performed well, although it did shut off on me a couple of times. I don't know if I pushed the button or what.

It'll take movies at various resolutions, still pictures, and continuous pictures at whatever interval you set. There are guides on when it is better to use continuous pictures rather than movie mode.

Support WiFi and iOS!

One very cool feature is that it supports WiFi. You can turn on WiFi with a password on the Camera. it then acts as a base that you can attach your iPhone or iPad to. You can preview the output, take pictures, change the picture mode and more. I don't know what battery life is like when WiFi is on, but without it I was getting easily 2 hours.

I had hoped to have my iPad on a Hobie Cat or Kayak and the camera in the water on a pole using the preview mode, never had the chance. The best movie I shot was when I returned to the boat to put it on when snorkeling and when I got back in there was a beautiful 5 or 6 foot stingray that was staying well away from all the splashing  snorkelers.

There is also a special case that you can use with two cameras to make 3-d movies. It's extra (as is the camera)

Downsides

Now the downsides.

• It did shut off on me twice. Both times I missed shots I wanted. There was no indication why, and the battery was fine. I also did encounter one error. but I couldn't read the display (no glasses). Pulling the battery fixed it temporarily. 
• The wrist mount doesn't fit the Hero 3. Didn't happen to me but someone else mentioned it at the resort.
• You will want the LCD back if you want to see what you are recording without a computerI
• It gets hot if it is in the sealed case. It also comes with a protective case that has openings in the back for better sound. Good if you don't plan on getting it wet.
• You have to charge the batteries in the camera. I find this a big issue.

I have great movies of my trip. I am upset that I missed the end of one zipline run, but nothing I can do about it.

I had looked at the first model for mounting on my Miata. I will consider another Sllver to use on my Miata.

Hints

• The box it comes in has a great base that displays the camera. Save it. It is an excellent custom mount.
• Consider making a clamp based attachment. I would have had 3 different views from the bobsled runs (mine, left side low, right side low) that would have been great for editing together. But I didn't have a way to attach it other than the scarce sticky mounts.
• Experiment before you leave. If I had, I'd have bought the LCD back. It's good just as a camera in wet terrain.
• Check Instructables - lots of cool ideas there and elsewhere.
• If you're going to go diving with it and not on a mount, definitely check the design out there to make a stable carrier for it underwater.

In short, definitely worth the money. Dunno if I'd need a GoPro Hero 3 Black. I was surprised that the Silver had the WiFi, as it wasn't clear that was the case.

Will I buy another? Yep.

Lousy Mental Health Treatment Situation in Vermont

Update: July 11, 2014. Still no luck. I’ve been seeing a therapist in Montreal once a month instead. Having to go to Canada for healthcare (even as a Canadian) is annoying.

Vermont is a state where it is next to impossible to get in to see an Psychiatrist. And the quality of the ones that are available are at best 'iffy'. They either are retiring or have more issues of their own than you want to deal with.

I've been trying to get in to see one who is supposed to be excellent for more than 10 years. Let me say that again, 10 years. I saw a different doctor in his practice and six months into treatment he moved to Montpelier and left no solutions for his patients.

My last two have been hoarders. The first treated out of her house and you had to weave between stacks of musical crap and papers in order to get to the chair that had a towel on it (which was removed) because of her dogs. The dogs were always in the room during the sessions, with the door closed. Totally inappropriate. Eventually I just started calling her to get my drugs renewed. 

Then at the end of 2009 there was an incident at work. What happened I can't go into, I was a bystander, but was supporting one of the parties because they needed it. I had to find a new psychiatrist and a therapist (something I've never had to do). I managed to in fairly quick order. But while the therapist was a professional and had a professional office and attitude, the pychiatrist was also a hoarder. Her office was piled high with crap. Boxes, papers, under the desk, on top of the desk, in the corners, on the cabinets.

The door wouldn't open all the way it was so bad. I was never comfortable there and hated sitting down to the point where I simply refused. This clearly pissed her off. I was pushed onto meds I didn't want to retry and paid the price (if my work during Sept/Oct/Nov) wasn't so linear, I'd have been fucked. She had accused me of 'self sabotage', something a bastard I worked with years ago had. I went back on the meds simply as rebellion. Oh, I paid the price. And I ended up catatonic for the week of Thanksgiving on the floor of the living room, not moving or waking for days. I had decided she was never going to be seen again when I restarted the meds.

I'm not new to being medicated. I've been on OCD related meds for more than 20 years. I know most of them better than the doctor does. I research them, I find papers that show experimental evidence of usefulness (how I found one I am currently taking that really helps). I read books on OCD drug treatment written by a former psychiatrist of mine when I lived in Toronto. I'm not an idiot. I'm always compliant. But if you refuse to treat me with respect when I say 'this isn't working' then we have a problem.

A few weeks ago my therapist I'd had for 18+ months essentially fired me. She said that she didn't think we were getting anywhere. Personally, I felt that having a weekly place to come and talk to an unbiased individual was the most helpful thing I had. She found another facility that would take me.

This has been a clusterfuck disaster since the start.

First, they said they couldn't take me. My therapist had to get back in touch with them to remind them that this was pre-arranged.

I was assigned to an Anxiety Disorder Clinic and assured I would be called within a few days for an appointment (issue 1). After a month I called intake back and got a call from the director of the facility with a few hours who said that they would have a psychiatrist and therapist get in touch.

The psychiatrist did, so I could get back onto the anti-depressent I was on before the 'experiments' started that wrecked last fall. Half way through the appt he told me he wasn't sure what was going on and why I (a complex case) had been assigned to him as he was retiring at the end of June. This was a mind blower. So I had a single prescription of an anti-depressent, and they take 5 weeks to take full effect. He'd be gone. They have no doctor currently committed to the facility (issue 2).

Today was supposed to be my first therapist visit at 1pm. The discussion about time took place on my speakerphone. My wife was in the room and 1pm was definitely the time mentioned. I was there 30 minutes early. I waited. Waited. At 2pm another patient came out and I asked the therapist where XXXX was. She said she was her and that I had been supposed to be there at 11. This was obviously not the case, and I would have not accepted that appointment (I had deadlines last night and as it was I got two hours of sleep). But you can't argue because there are no options in Vermont. You piss off someone and you are shit out of luck. I ate shit and I'm supposed to go back at 11pm next Friday (which I intend to cancel and reschedule). This was the third issue with this center.  To to mention I've gone from seeing an accredited psychologist doctor to a social worker. Not happy about that.

I'm at my wits end for treatment. My GP refuses to prescribe anti-depresents, even though he'll continue to refill my other meds. He won't prescribe the SSRI anti-depressent I was on for 10 years! I just don't fathom this. He'd rather I was depressed and in pain than taking that initiative.

So, I have no choice. I continue to go to this anxiety clinic (make the front door cancer run, or back door garbage run to get in). But I have no confidence in this facility. 

Yet, the options aren't there. Sigh.

I've written this more for me than anyone. I am frustrated and have work to do. Maybe writing this will shake the tree loose. Then again, maybe not. Maybe I should try and sleep. I'm working on 2 hours for crying out loud.

We need 

My house contractor sucks, even after 10 years it still pisses me off.

The contractor who built my house sucks.

My dream home has become a lousy nightmare.

I wanted a woodworking workshop in the basement... woodworking was my passion, and a major reason for the house design, but a huge laminated beam runs the length of the house. Low enough that a door can't even be put in. So much for paying for in floor basement heating so I'd have a cozy shop to work in.

And much of the work is sloppy has hell.

• Drywall cracking open in every corner, tearing the joints a part.
• Finish carpentry that would make a true carpenter ill.
• Footprints and finger prints on the ceiling bead board in the bedroom. And they don't wash off.
• Leaky shower and bathtub.
• Incorrectly placed central vac outlets.
• No cable or other data outlets in bedroom as specified.
• Data and electrical lines run in the same holes (a no-no, but his guy apparently 'knew his stuff' about this, bullshit.)
• Lousy painting job, including missed spots and paint on the oiled timbers.
• Roofing on one side of the house improperly applied and coming off.
• Excavation done incorrectly (stump dump outside our back door... we had to hire someone to fix the landscaping and drainage issues).

It never ends. 

The timber frame is cut excellently. The stressed skin panels seem to be as well. But inside? 

I wish I could name him, but my lawyer advises otherwise. 

Using an iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch as a remote control (infrared devices)

I've always thought that, with an IR port, the iOS devices would make awesome remote controls.

• They have a far more customizable interface (with the proper software) than the Harmony devices.
• Many people have them handy while watching TV.
• iPod Touch is cost competitive with many mid-level remotes like the Harmony-One.
• They could easily compete with the much more expensive Creston type devices.

But the only solution I'd ever found required a case and I didn't like that.

But last week I lamented about this on Twitter and someone pointed me to www.l5remote.com. The L5 software is free from the (app store) and you can play with the app before you buy the device. Best of all, the device is tiny and plugs into the accessory port. The app is upside down, so it just works. And you can customize the functionality, including macros (and the macro support is very cool). Here is a picture I copied from their marketing information.

You can see how tiny the device is and it costs $50. It's a learning remote, so you need to have the remote in order to program it.

If there is a shortcoming, it's the application artwork. This is the single place where I would love to see significant progress. You can't add your own art. That's a major shortcoming, as I'd like to add shortcuts to things like CBS, Comedy Central, etc.. and use their logos for the images. Plus just being able to add additional graphics in general would be useful.

Now, there is room for improvement and they even state that on their web site. I'd like to see

• Better icons and the ability to add my own icons (perhaps through the media browser and iPhoto?)
• Better images in general. They don't need to look like buttons. I'm cool with these not looking like buttons.
• The ability to save/sync the settings to another device (I'd have two in the living room, mine and then the family one)
• Better alignment aids for buttons, including centering between devices and snapping to a grid.
• Ability to download codes

But overall, these are all addressable issues through software. And the device is upgradable through firmware through the device! How cool is that.

It works with the iPad as well as the smaller devices and I hope when they upgrade their graphics for the iPhone 4 they use the same graphics on the iPad. I can 2x it on the iPad and it works, but it's not what I"m comfortable with.

If you're interested, download the software, play with it, then order the device (which BTW came first class priority mail, and arrived in 4 days!). 

Now I have to figure out how to make my Samsung TV automatically pick a source (vs toggling through them) so I can have a macro that goes to the TV and selects CBS.

Ben Stein on a plane mother******!

On the flight out, Ben Stein was a couple of seats over. When recognized, he smiles and you really feel like he means it. Very gracious.

I don't think I've ever seen any other celebrities on planes, so I can't gauge.

If you don't know who Ben Stein is he's a bit of a character.

He was a speech writer for President Nixon. He has written a number of books (getting more politically 'out there' as time goes on) and has had a career in movies and TV. To my generation, he was the teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off that kept saying "Beuller, Bueller" during attendance.

To the current kids, he's in Comcast commercials with Shaq. At least they're better than that annoying Comcast commercial with the kid who has seen/heard/downloaded all the current stuff. I hated that commercial.

Years ago, he had a game show on Comedy Central, “Win Ben Stein’s Money”. To me, that is a close second to his best work (right after Ferris Bueller).

But all of this is just a work up to this little factoid.

While everyone else was using their iPhones or iPods, Ben was rocking a blue Sony CD Walkman!!. Yes, Ben was listening to CDs and had a stack of them with him. I suppose that if he’s concerned about sound quality (i.e. compression) that might be an issue, but someone should tell him about Apple Lossless format.

Also, I can’t imagine the DAC in a Walkman even compares to AAC compressed sound on an iPod. But lossless on an iPod would make his life so much easier.

Oh, and I think he was reading his own book. But he was gracious and that counts for a bunch.

Where did I go?

I've not been updating lately due to that stupid thing called life.

In the last few months I've dropped about 50-60lbs. Normally this would be great. But it isn't because it's not something I'm in control of. It's just happening. No interest in food, no appetite. No hunger.

It's amazing that I'm just simply not thinking about food. When the family eats is the only time I tend to think a bit about it. I'm probably taking in less than 1000 calories a day. I know that this isn't healthy. Even when I push myself to eat I have almost immediate, uh, issues.

Besides a scare a couple of weekends ago due to low blood sugar, I've lost no real muscle tone, and no strength. Just the same amount of weight that my youngest son weighs.

Blood panels have revealed nothing except I no longer have cholesterol issues. I have my own theories about what started this, which I'm not going to discuss here. Why I've not been able to stop it is something I can't figure out. More tests are ongoing. I want to reiterate, I'm not ill. 

So, most of what I'd write about (my ripping project) and games (with the exception of BioShock 2 and Left 4 Dead 2, both of which are excellent) have faded while I deal with this. Plus work is taking a lot of time time.

Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll decide to review something new I've just gotten. I'm a bit unpredicatable.

There are people who have stood by me and given me support, many via Twitter. I couldn't name them all without forgetting anyone, but I will mention coworker @neptonia. She's been supportive and always is. So has @jivaDeVoe, author of the very cool Zen Garden. There are many others at work and not. And I thank them all.

Posting Article Links (like Stepwise News)

While Stepwise is dead, I still collect the links in my custom application I used to update Stepwise. I couldn't tell you why exactly I do this, but I do.

It seems like posting these here could be useful to people, but there can be days where there is nothing, and days where there are half a dozen. Plus, I don't want to do this manually (I don't mind pushing a button and generating the HTML and pasting it in, but retyping is out.) So, any ideas would be appreciated. I could publish it as a separate RSS feed, but that requires work on my part. I don't want to fiddle with this stuff.

Something like SquareSpace (and other blogging software I've tried before it) hasn't really got a great solution to posting many links to individual articles without comment. So, I'm asking you folks.

BTW, here is a screen capture of the app I wrote to maintain the links. I'd simply drag a URL from the web, and it would figure out the title and the site it comes from. Way better than writing HTML. Writing validating XML spoils you, big time.

Home Automation with Insteon

One of my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder issues is light switches. So I’ve been making heavy issue of remote home automation issues for years. In the last few years, I’ve dropped X10 and moved to Smarthome’s Insteon system. 

Compared to X10, Insteon is a dream. It works fairly well, pretty reliable, and a modern system. Plus the in-wall units look really good.

But (by default) to program switches with lights, you have to hold down switches, then run to another switch and press it, and then back and forth. It’s hard to get right, and in some cases I’ve never gotten right. Plus, it requires hitting light switches, rather than the controllers I have tucked away (including my iPhone).

I recently added the device they have that connects Insteon to an ethernet network. It displays a web interface, limited likely by the device limitations itself). But, while I can turn on and off light switches and such with my phone, I still need to run around and hit switches (shudder) to set it up. This makes no sense because each device has an ID that is similar to a MAC address. Why I can’t just enter these is a mystery.

Automating the Automation

I’ve been looking at solutions that allow you to do the scene creation (programming switches) without the undependable clicking and running method. Also, the ability to backup the setup in the case of loss would be great.

Smarthome sells a PC package that will do that would do what I want, but I don’t own a PC, or a copy of Windows. And, I think, you need a dedicated PC.

Perceptive Automation has a package called Indigo Pro that seems like it would do the same thing. I’ve had trouble groking their website. If you have experience with the product, I’d love some feedback. But this would also require a Mac that is on all the time, at least for some features. But it’s a native Mac package, and supporting one of our own would be awesome.

Smarthome also sells the ISY-99i Home Automation Controller. This seems to be a unit that does what both, through a web interface, but effectively acts as the computer as well as the controller. The UI seems very basic, whereas both the others are applications.

Why Bring This Up?

I’d like to hear from people who are using Indigo Pro, and the ISY-99i for creating scenes, and linking switches with plugs. My criteria is:

• Dead simple to link a switch to a LampLinc or related plugin item
• Dead simple to backup the network settings
• No running from switch to control
• Definitely needs iPhone integration

I already have the Insteon 2414u controller. So hooking up to the machine is simple. I know Indigo has a trial version, but I’m still looking for opinions.

So, hit me up on Twitter (@sanguish) or via the contact page.

Quick Followup

I sent a query to Perceptive Automation about some features of their product (I'm not ready to summarize the issues yet).

I got a detailed response about their product the next day (Thanksgiving in the US). That was an absolutely excellent response in my opinion.

Storage - My Final Choice

I think I've made my final choice.

That being the 1400ish (via Amazon)> 4Big LaCie 8Tb.

Just for giggles, I had added the LaCie 4Big 8Tb unit to my wish list on Amazon just in case there's someone (LaCie??) who really loved Stepwise and wants to make my decision easy and is sitting on a pile of dough. I never expected anyone to actually do it, and I wasn't disappointed when nobody game me one. I would probably have had a heart attack had someone done so.

The solutions were varied

• Promise DAS - excellent box, but populating costs the same to achieve same solution.
• OWC
• an Ubuntu box (which would have cost more to build than a raid half the capacity, not to mention maintenance, etc..
• Drobo (largely by friends messing with me)

One reminder. RAID IS NOT BACKUP. All data still needs a solid backup solution. Fortunately I have a load of individual drives I've been using for storing this data I can use for just that.

Final Update

While I did end up going with LaCie 4big, I bought the 6Tb unit rather than the 8Tb. The price difference was close to $500 (almost 50% of the 6Tb) so it was a better deal. I can always toss an additional 4big into the mix if 4.5Tb (Raid 5) isn't sufficient.

Final, Final, Update

Wouldn't you know it. Three weeks after ordering the unit, and before I even get a system up and running, Amazon dropped the price of the LaCie 8 TB 4big Quadra $200, making it only $200 more than the 6Gb. Guess what I would have bought? Ah well.

Loads of new HD content on AppleTV for purchase

Today a huge load of new HD content appeared on the AppleTV for purchase. Including many of the Pixar movies, in HD!

Many are also available for rent, or have dates coming up for rental in the next few weeks or so.

I purchased the Terminator 2 HD ($12.99, one of the rare films not $19.99) and a couple of other cheaper ones, largely to show that there is a market for slightly cheaper content.

The Terminator 2 HD was updated recently with the iTunes Plus content. That makes it just like a DVD (although no commentary track I don't think). Extra features, a menu, etc. It's an interesting approach. The featurette with James Cameron and John Knoll was especially interesting.

But price is what is holding me back. I'm already having to spend significant amounts of money for storage of all this data. $19.99 seems just at the brink of too high. I know that Apple doesn't set the prices, it's likely the studios. But twice the price of much of the SD content, and for HD that isn't the quality of BluRay, seems high. I think $15 is the sweet spot. $10 is my "I'll buy this DVD without thinking or guilt" level. Seems $15 for HD, that I still need to backup and store would be about right. I've bought BluRay disks on sale, and yet I have no player. (Now, these were things like Stargate, Blade Runner... for $10).

Mind you, everyone always complains about price. Me included it seems. :-)

Update November 13: I think more were added today. The biggest problem. The type is tiny. Apple clearly wants me to buy a new TV. Hear that dear? :-)

AppleTV 3.0.1 Update

I (and I assume other registered AppleTV owners) just got an email that there is an important update to 3.0.1.

If you've installed the Apple TV 3.0 software update, you should immediately update to version 3.0.1. This prevents content from temporarily disappearing until it is resynced.

For more information read the AppleCare article at

Storage Junkie

I'm a storage junkie.

No, my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder doesn't include hoarding. I have been digitizing my video collection. I have almost 1Tb of iTMS content and more ripped content.

The problem is storage. Safe storage. Backed up storage.

I don't have a satisfactory solution, or budget (about 1K)

My friend Andrew as recommended LaCie 4Big Quadra either 6Tb or 8Tb, and I respect his opinion. He's got one and has had success ,plus you can pull drives and not send the entire unit back (I never send back busted drives, I have 15 years of busted drives in a box.

Others have recommended Drobo, but I don't want that solution. I'll populate all at once, and all same size. I don't want 25-40 mystery rebuilds.

Promise DAS is another suggested solution, but I can't get details on the suggested Raid settings, etc.

Honestly, I just want to be able to use drives in a unit as separate drives, and then I'll back them up manually using external drives. I dunno.

I did manage to pick up a 2Tb external Seagate drive that was $179 at Best Buy. Staples (since I don't go to Best Buy) price matched. They were stunned at the difference in price. Would have bought a second for easier backup if they'd had two.

Get home, ready to set it up on the desk (piled high with power bricks and extension cords. No empty slots.

The Death of Stepwise

After 14 years+ I have deleted Stepwise.com. While the site had been stale for a while, many articles were still of use. In addition the daily news was updated on a daily basis. That will also stop.

Why?

Stepwise consisted of thousands of files. I didn't feel it was possible to locate and remove the files that were copyright by a single individual. That individual did not ask it to be removed. I simply didn't want it there anymore. So it all goes.

In addition, the Software, graphics, and other directories were deleted. This may have a negative effect on Erik Buck's EMBdirectory. If it does, I'll ensure that content (and that is the only content that I have archived) will be made available to Erik to post on cocoadesignpatterns.

This was not an easy decision. But I could not live with some of that content remaining on the site.

My thanks to those who advertised on Stepwise (although nobody had been billed in about 5 years, they were all just friends).

I'm sorry for the sudden notice. I did not want the site copied and mirrored elsewhere.

Sincerely
Scott Anguish

If you want to comment, @sanguish via Twitter. Or if you know me well enough, feel free to send me an email.

And thanks for all the compliments and well wishes. Write cool software, that's all I ask.

Migrating the Family to Snow Leopard

Over the weekend I had to migrate my teenage son's machine to Snow Leopard. It was generally in a 100% boned state due to disk corruption. So migration isn't the right word, reinstall is.

It's a MacMini, so I'm hesitant to put a new, larger drive in it. But it probably needs it.

Mind you, I'm convinced that nobody in this house keeps their keyboards cleaner than mine. :-)

The ladies' machines (teenage daughter and wife's) machine's will be the tough migrations. They have data, and strong attachments to that data. And they serious lack disk space. Wife's machine is an iMac, so it's not coming apart. Did that once. Thanks anyways.

Both have Time Machine backups, but Tori's is constantly failing. I'm not going to depend on them for updates. SuperDuper, reformat to two partitions, and then work from there.

Boy was only worried about WoW, and it was on BattleNet or whatever the hell that is. So wiping was the easiest.

Daughter has GBs of her own CDs that should be incorporated into the family library, but then I need more disk space. Gah.

Bottom line: Supporting family machines suck. As there are ongoing retributions if you mess it up.

Comments? @sanguish on twitter. I don't need the spam here.

Only two weeks till WWDC

I can remember the first WWDC I went to. It was the first one at the Fairmont in San Jose. Overhead projectors and transparencies. Archaic.

I think I've missed one since. Both when I was working on NeXT stuff.

But when you are part of Apple (in my sixth year now), it's an entirely different experience. It lasts pretty much from January on for our particular department, getting our deliverables ready. Then the last three weeks are utter hell.

And then it starts, and the stress mostly melts away (aside from the fear that I may be asked on stage for a Developer Publications Q&A.

WWDC is hard for me because of my OCD. I don't do well in crowds. I'm embarrassed having to say to everyone I meet "Sorry, I don't shake hands". I'm awkward around people I don't know. I don't travel well. Blah, blah, blah.

But I'd still not miss it for the world.