Actually Bert, I think your talk was a lot better than you give yourself credit.
I also think it was colder on the diaz than the rest of the room, there was an artic blast from Canada that swooped down on us.
I do agree that the helping sessions did keep me out of a couple of sessions, but I had a lot of fun helping others. I, like you, are easily amused, but it feels good to help others.
I think that there was still a LOT more intimacy in this conference of 200 vs any other conference I have been (excluding the first ACUC, which did have that advantage).
I will throw this out... SHOULD THERE BE 2 CONFERENCES, ONE FOR BEGINNERS AND ONE FOR ADVANCED?