Mike Clark

Foo Camp is over and the Foo tattoo on my bicep is starting to fade, but the great memories I have will last a lifetime.

This year was inspirational on two fronts. The adventure started with a flight out to Portland to meet James for a 2-day drive down the Oregon coast. Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration for me, and the views along Highway 101 are absolutely gorgeous. Just when you think you've seen the best of it, something else takes your breath away. The drive turned out to be an ideal way to chill before a whirlwind weekend. Thanks, James, for an unforgettable road trip.

There's a lot to do at Foo Camp and yet the majority of it is completely unplanned. It's emergence at its best -- you help make it what it is. As a social experiment, James and I handed out temporary Foo Camp tattoos. It turned out to be a fun way to meet new people and as a result I spent most of my time rubbing cerebrums with other folks in geekdom. Funny thing is, after every chat I walked away with the sorer of the two brains. Trust me that it's a good kind of hurt. I draw inspiration from watching and listening to wicked-smart people.

But Foo Camp is just the beginning. Indeed, I believe I have an implicit obligation afterwards to harness all that inspiration into crafting something valuable to the industry and helping others work on their craft. Then, if I get the privilege of attending Foo Camp next year, I need to share my work and celebrate the work of others.

Many thanks to all the outstanding folks at O'Reilly for inviting me, and for helping me grow by inviting great friends, invaluable mentors, and generally big-brained people. I hope I live up to my end of the bargain.