ICEM 2008

Conference kicks off. Melbourne is well represented. Trade display has a Taser stand - didn't realise that this was a piece of medical equipment. Would be useful for controlling any angry surgical registrars (or medical administrators). Conference coffee has a tendency to always be bad, but this is toxic - tastes like warm sump oil ("proudly brewed by Starbucks").

Out for dinner with a bunch (the only collective noun in the States) of Irish, Aussies and Scots. Taxi ride reminded me of the one in "Foul Play" - it's hard to believe you could attempt to drive that fast through the streets of SF. Dinner @ The Slanted Door in the restored Ferry Building (a Vietnamese fusion restaurant - why is everything a "fusion" in Frisco), with its tables of birch and cypress. My first encounter with the unisex toilet concept in the US. Mystery No.1 - why do US toilets have SO MUCH water in them? Haven't they heard of stage 3a water restrictions?

Kicked on to Martuni's, a piano bar featuring Joseph Magdalena (from Brooklyn) where we sang along to the songs of Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and The Pointer Sisters. I expected to see the remaining members of the Village People, but instead saw three of the ugliest "women" I've ever seen. I'd make a better looking man in in a dress and heels (sans beard of course).

San Francisco, United States