Annals of the Homestarmy

I was reading this blog post earlier today, which suggests that if you've been laid off, the first thing you should do is book a one-way trip to Bangkok. Coupled with Bruce Webster's (BTW, how the heck does that guy manage to maintain three seperate blogs?!) recent blog posting about why Johnny is a better programmer than I am, and a recent promotion at work where employees who achieved certain goals were rewarded with GPS devices, I find myself (not for the first time) completely mystified as to what is going on in the mind of normal people most of the time...

Maybe I'd better explain that last one. There were actually a number of options, including iPods and digital cameras, but the GPS was by far the most popular choice. I was confused by this interest in what seems to me a completely useless piece of hardware, so I asked a few people why they chose a GPS. Invariably, they responded to the effect that they plan to use it next time they travel - and a majority of responses indicated an intent to travel outside the US.

With my trip to php|tek in Chicago on the horizon, I'm already starting to panic. I'll be in a strange city, where I don't know a single person, let alone know how to get from place to place or even where I should eat.

What's the draw? Isn't there enough to do here - at home, or in your current job - to keep you interested and busy? I mean, I've already given you 16 books that should keep you sheltered in your bedroom for at LEAST a year, if you don't have enough to do at work...can someone explain this to me? Do you actually think it's going to be any better anywhere else? Am I the only one that realizes it's all pretty much crap no matter where you go, where you live, where you work....?