Audio/video Oracle conf proceedings / any good Oracle podcasts / best Oracle confs for practical content?

Although I'm attending the East Coast Oracle User Group conference this Fall in 
Raleigh, NC, there are other Oracle confs I'm unable to attend. OOW is out 
because I'll be on holiday in Oahu. Don't expect any sympathy there. Do any of 
the Oracle conferences like OOW, HotSOS, and others make audio/video 
proceedings available either free or for purchase? 
 
While conf attendance is best (really no substitute for face-to-face 
interaction), it's not always in budget. One of my favorite conferences, in the 
GIS domain, has been Esri's International User Conf held annually in San Diego. 
I've typically had to self-fund flights, hotel, food, etc, getting only a 
complimentary reg and having my salary paid for the week. But I've always found 
it to be a great value even with all the out-of-pocket expenses (ones I cannot 
write-off because I'm not a consultant). On the other hand, with a conf of 
~15,000 attendees and hundreds of Technical Workshops, there's always content I 
miss. So in the past I've had my employer purchase the ~8 DVD set of all Tech 
Workshops. Something like USD $500 but good value. I like to say it's the only 
way to see all content of interest without a clone...
 
Do such proceedings exist for Oracle confs and regional User Group events? 
e.g. perhaps RMOUG events or HotSOS? From time to time I slide decks posted 
from Oracle conferences. But a good presenter will say a lot more than what's 
on the slides. Much of a presentation's impact is lost if you don't have audio 
and/or video. Maybe they're good to crib some syntax from, etc.
 
Also, can anyone recommend a good Oracle podcast or two? I'm currently 
listening to various TED Talks on my daily commute. But I'd like to add good 
Oracle content. Preferably practical content versus sales pitches or broad 
strokes about "here's what I did on Project X--the "show and tell" type of 
presentation. These are fine if they include specific details of technical 
solutions, IMHO. I'm hoping the East Coast Oracle User conf has more Tech 
Workshops than Show and Tells.
 
If I'm able to help revive a local Oracle User Group in the Raleigh/Triangle 
area--still wondering if it would be appropriate to formally ask for a room and 
time slot at ECOUG for organizing; or if it would be more polite to have a 
meeting off-premise--I'd mostly like to see presentations with nuts and bolts 
technical content, e.g. giving attendees takeaways for doing their jobs better. 
Preferably using Oracle Features rather than licensed Options. Although I'm 
fine with the latter if it's practical nuts and bolts content or deep 
conceptual content.
 
Speaking of, which Oracle confs would folks recommend for maximal nuts and 
bolts practical content? "News I can use" so to say. I've heard some call OOW a 
Marketing Conference.
 
Best,
 
Dana
--
http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l

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