This is my fifth year of going to Steve Manos’s infamous data center social at PURE nightclub, and this Tues was the annual event in LV. Steve has created the premier data center industry social event where some of the exceptional people in the industry get together.

Steve Manos's data center socials have been going on for years and each one gets better and better.

Here is a picture from one of the early Data Center Socials with Steve and Mike Manos.

Updating the classic Steve Manos and Katie O’Hara picture. FYI, this is the only time I took a picture with Steve and Katie’s permission.

Here is Steve and Katie from the event 3 years ago.

What is improving the data center industry is people realizing socializing with your peers has many benefits, and yet many times going to conferences doesn’t work for socializing. Don’t think friends are important. Check this out.

Good Friends Are Good for You

They might get on your nerves at times, but good friends have bigger benefits than you may realize.

"You got to have friends to make that day last long," sings Bette Midler. But good friends may help your life last longer, too, according to an Australian study. Conducted by the Centre for Ageing Studies at Flinders University, the study followed nearly 1,500 older people for 10 years. It found that those who had a large network of friends outlived those with the fewest friends by 22%.

Why is this so? The authors suspect that good friends discourage unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and heavy drinking. And the companionship provided by friends may ward off depression, boost self-esteem, and provide support. Also, as people age, they may become more selective in their choice of friends, so they spend more time with people they like.

These events couldn’t happen without the support of sponsors. This year’s sponsor were.

Also a special thanks for Mandy Modic for playing the role of Kristy Rivetts, the person who contacted all the attendees when they arrived in LV, made sure they had the logistics information and the commemorative event coin. There were other subtle tweaks in the event that made the event better than prior years. Do you say that about the data center events you go to?