After I left the Gizmodo/Ars Technica party, I headed down to the Moscone Center to check out the line of Mac fanboys enthusiasts waiting in line 9 hours before the show actually begins. When I got there, I noticed a strikingly familiar face amongst the glow of iPhones and MacBooks: Google Executive Marissa Mayer!

It turns out that, for the past several years, Google employees have staked out early spots in the Macworld keynote admissions line. Arriving well prepared with pizza, coffee and a tent, the Googlers “work” (is this twenty-percent time?) in shifts holding line spots so 40-50 Googlers can get good seats. I convinced a few of the them — including Marissa! — to speak to me for a couple minutes and pose for a picture. Why were they waiting in line so early? “The man gives a great presentation. Hopefully we can learn something.”From left to right: Chrix Finne, Associate Product Manager - Google Reader; Nick Baum, Associate Product Manager - Android; David Murray, Associate Product Manager - Gmail; Fernando Delgado, Associate Product Manager - Search Quality; Marissa Mayer, Vice President, Search Products & User Experience; a friend of Marissa’s whom I believe was named John.