Transaction Processing and the Barbarian Hordes

So, I'm starting to figure out how to put stuff up on Windows Live Skydrive and I have beginning out here.   I've only spent a few hours on this and there's lots more old stuff to add soon.  I will send another blog post when this is in better shape.

I just couldn't resist sharing some fun, though...

As I was sorting through old files, I came across a video of Transaction Processing and the Barbarian Hordes and placed it up for all to see.  This was my favorite moment on stage (at least so far) and was the source of a rare bout of stage fright before starting the presentation...

This was at the Long Beach PDC in November of 1996.  The PDC was titled "The Renaissance of Distributed Computing" and I had a one hour General Session to introduce Microsoft Transaction Server.  We wanted to show that MTS was easier to install than a classic Transaction Processing Monitor.  So, my friend Greg Hope came out to do a 2-1/2 minute setup on MTS.  While this was happening, I told a five minute joke...

There were 7000 people in the room and (I think) 10000+ on video feed.  They had NO idea what I was doing for at least three minutes.

- Pat