| Matthew Rosewarne on 16 Jul 2007 20:29:53 -0000 |
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On Sunday 15 July 2007, John Von Essen wrote: > Last I checked, all you need to enter the US with is a foreign > passport. As long as you are not coming from North Korea, Iran, or > Libya - I don't see what the hassle is. The US is one of the easiest > countries to gain legal (and illegal) entrance to - try getting into > Australia or Brazil with nothing but a US passport and see how far > you get! > > If the majority of KDE people are in Europe, the travel cost will > kill it - though if they did a US event - east coast will be prime > and philly would be ideal - cost wise. Bear in mind that the KDE release announcement will take place at Google in California, so going to the US is clearly not a deal-breaker. While there is an underlying attitude of timidity towards the US across most of Europe (and reasonably so...), it's unusual to find someone truly obstinate. Sure, perhaps some convincing will be in order, but I would say that's a relatively minor bump in the road. As for legal issues, getting a US visa really isn't too big a deal. Sure, you might need to go to an embassy and probably stand in a line. Yes, you would not have to do this when travelling between two EU countries. The State Dept. has done a great deal of reworking the system, and much of the process can be done online. With some help from the local team working with the consulate in Philly, this really won't be any real impediment. As for cost, this is one of the best reasons for holding it in Philly. Seeing as the dollar will almost certainly continue its downward slide, every Euro or Pound spent by the e.V. or the attendees will go much further than it would in Europe. True, there's a longer plane ride, but the other reduced expenses of the trip will offset much of the cost. Philadelphia is also right on the East coast, so it's still not too great a journey for a European. And also important is the mission of KDE as a project. KDE is an international project with contributors from all corners of the globe* (still working on Antarctica) and while many of them are indeed European, the project strives to create software that is useful for everyone (even Americans). This is a major opportunity for KDE to further the dream of total world domination! * or the Marble... Attachment:
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