When security guards finally managed to yank Mr. Winkle off of Scott's leg, the conference continued with the second surprise visit of the day: None other than my good friend, Stephen Hawking.

His talk was titled, "How XML Matters in the Grand Workings of the Cosmos."

"It doesn't," he said.

He then added, "I have a mind like a thousand fiery suns. I am all there was, all there is, and all there shall be. I am the creator and the destroyer. I am Universe."

That seemed like a good note for a bathroom break. I've seen him in these moods before, and it can get kind of ugly.