I once attended a talk given by Paul Allen in which he described how he would routinely visit with Microsoft's most important customers wearing a t-shirt and some shorts. I remember first coming to Microsoft as an intern and standing in line at the cafeteria behind my mentor, looking down I noticed he was barefoot! And of course there are those days when you jump out of bed and don't feel like changing out of your pajamas...

Being "fashion challenged" is a deep and significant part of the Microsoft developer culture. But it's a part of the culture you won't be exposed to at PDC05. Speakers and staff are required to wear this year official attire: the blue Microsoft event button-down shirt -- 65% polyester and 35% cotton -- and either khaki or black pants.

So when you see a Microsoft representative suffering in the California heat underneath all that crinkly suffocating polyester, stiff pants, and uncomfortable shoes, realize that this person is making for you the customer the ultimate sacrifice: the sacrifice of dressing up!

Now that's dedication!

Then, if you want to get to know the real person try to imagine someone equally passionate about the technology only they're half-shaved, wearing a beer-stained t-shirt, jean shorts, and sneakers.