I have to admit that I'm swept up in the hysterical wave of idealistic hope around this newly elected President.

I'm not foolish enough to think that's going to last. He'll make mistakes -- he may already be making a big one -- and his administration will do things I don't like. They may even do things I detest, though I hope not. For now though, I'm hopeful that we've made the choice to put a man who is capable and well meaning into a position with the power to do great things.

On Tuesday, January 20th 2009, I will be at Lotusphere in Orlando with a great many of you. In fact, I expect that all six of my readers (well, all 5 of my readers who are not my mom) will be there with me. Will there be an opportunity for those of us who are unreasonably hopeful to watch the Inauguration? If I'm not speaking, I plan to hole up somewhere with laptop using Slingbox, or live coverage from a network site -- or maybe at ESPN if they're showing it on the big screen. If I'm speaking, I'll have to watch it later (Slingbox + DVR). Will you be watching?

Will Lotus set up some kind of a venue for this? It is an American event, that's true, but that's far from the whole story. Those of you who were on-line chatting with us from all over the world as the results came in proved that interest in this election is truly global. It is political, that's also true. At a technology conference is there a place for this? Maybe, maybe not. Demographically, something like 40% of Americans who will be at Lotusphere were not supporters. Will it offend those people? Probably some portion of them may. Others may resent it if session time is lost to this. I understand that.

I hope a good compromise can be found. I think this is going to be one of those events where for the rest of your life you remember where you were when you saw it, watched it, or found out about it.