Taking the opportunity to ask: what happened as far as the SF ttaM meetup? It was being discussed when I started my vacation but I don't want to PTFA (peruse).
In an effort to best manage the user experience for this hands-on workshop, laptops will be provided for all attendees. Personal laptops will not be allowed as substitutes during these sessions.
wtf?
I'm pretty close to there, sounds nice, but I'll be away later in the week, sorry. If you'd be into a Tuesday after-work beer locally to your place, email.
The nicest place to sit and hang out for food and drink close to you is Matchbox, go through the metro station and across the big road to get to it. There are two places that have good Mexican food a mile east on Veirs Mill, Tijuana's (boisterous, standard kitchen) and Tomatillo (hole in the wall, they have mofongo and tacos al lengua). The converted IHOP that's now a Korean place, Lighthouse, has good food also.
2: I suppose to make it harder for people to record the content.
2: Likely has to do with having the proper software installed to do the mock submission. Don't want to spend the whole first day getting everybody's personal machines troubleshot and up to speed.
I like you, apo! But I cannot be there. Do not ask why. I simply—cannot.
2. Probably to prevent recording the presentations.
Oh, don pollo on veirs mill is a truly great peruvian roast chicken place. Get the yucca. No liquor license or ambiance there, best for carryout unless you're ravenous.
"Don Pollo" somehow sounds classier than "Mr. Chicken".
lw, there's no telling what time I'll be getting in on Tuesday night (possibly quite late and the regulatory fun starts at 8:00 Wednesday morning), so probably not. I'm all about the food suggestions, though. Per diem allowance for the win!
13: However, I'm a RAPS member who registered in May, so only $1635! Plus hotel, meals, travel, etc. I'm floored how much companies in the industry spend for events like this, but my company is sending two of us and didn't even blink at the cost. Apparently I have that level of training $$ available to do something like this every year and have just never taken advantage of it.
Maybe next year, they'll send me to this.
I can't even get them to send me to Iceland.
I can take a graduate class, if I pay 1/10th of the cost.
I like you Apo! I'd prefer a place near Metro but otherwise no strong preferences.
I'm not really hip enough to make concrete suggestions, but Dupont circle seems like a promising place to look, and it's a straight shot on the Metro from Rockville.
1: last I heard it was probably going to be Saturday evening in SF, actual time and place not yet settled.
I like apo, too! Dupont bars are pretty packed on the weekend (one step less so than Adams Morgan). Most places are at least several blocks from the Metro stop. I'll throw out Bethesda as an option in NW, Jaleo or Mussel Bar. Vapiano is also near Metro and good for being able to hear a conversation, although the food isn't anything special. (Togolosh, I know that's a trek for you to get to - anywhere is fine with me.) If Benquo's around, I'll defer to his superior knowledge.
Neb, I like you, and I'm in SF the second week of August (least busy Aug 10 and 11 but could maybe swing the 9th if weeknights are bad).
I too like apo. Since I will probably have to drive (all or partway) to wherever it is, I am basically indifferent to locale. Bethesda might be easier.
21: It's been a loong time since I've been to Jaleo. Good place, and convenient to Metro.
Don't go, Apo! Nobody says hello!
Some bitch is there for the summer. FYI.
As for the SF meetup, I don't think there was a resolution. Several of us are available Saturday evening, and I think SF proper was the preferred location, since people are coming from south and east. I don't know enough about SF bars to pick one that will be suitable for a Saturday night.
Yes, I fly in tomorrow, and will be free Saturday evening. So, would be nice to meet up with some people, have a drink, etc.
I.F. and I can probably make Saturday's SF meetup.
Hopefully someone with SF knowledge will come along and solve all our problems by picking a place and time.
So in the last thread Yawnoc suggested Mission Bar and Rosamunde. Both are close to 24th Street BART; Rosamunde has food and better beer, Mission Bar is divier and larger/less crowded. (They're cool about bringing in food and there are a bunch of taquerias close by.)
Another option would be Mikkeller Bar on the edge of the Tenderloin, which has a great but pricy beer selection and good food.
All of these places will be crowded and noisy by 8.
Close to BART is good for me. I don't plan to drive all the way in and I suspect others are probably coming in by BART too. I'm free pretty much all afternoon/evening, though I plan to spend some of it outdoors reading Piketty.
Yeah, I just looked it up. For whatever reason, I think of "edge of the Tenderloin" being further away from Market St. I've never been very good with SF neighborhood geographical borders.
Is there any place that wouldn't be loud on a Saturday? I'd really like to find such a place--not just for the meetup, but in general. I've gotten really old-man-grumpy about loud bars/restaurants in the last few years.
34: There are, if y'all want to come to the East Bay. In The City? Not anywhere close to BART.
Cafe Royale is large and has decent beer. It's not notably close to bart, though.
Mikkeller is expensive.
Is Gestalt any good? I guess it would likely be crowded too. Though 8 isn't that late.
Jesus, just pick a place and a time. Clearly democracy in the Bay Area has failed. I'm happy to take over your failed state and impose a stern but fair orderly regime.
38: I like the Sycamore a lot, but it's tiny. And gets noisy and crowded on Saturday nights. I mean, we could always steal a page from MeFi's playbook and just go to Frjtz.
39: You seem... unfamiliar with the ways of our people.
Let's just meet at a cemetery in Colma. Someone else has to supply the cat to swing.
I enjoyed Dear Mom the one (1) time I was there, and it's big.
I've never been, but what the hell, let's give it a shot. (Apparently it's got arcade games?!?! I'm definitely in now.)
I like everyone, but I can't visit anyone. Conclusion: one is mortal.
2, 6, 7: Indeed, these laptops have compilation/publishing software on them that I know (because we're in the process of purchasing it at my job) costs several tens of thousands of dollars per year to license (and all configured properly, et cetera). So that explains that. It is, however, the exact same model laptop I use for work. They gave us a thumb drive with all the presentations when we registered.
Just be sure to leave a the browser with links to herpy.net.
The lunch they gave us just now (kabobs and rice, with salad) was quite good. As well it should be, per comment #13.
However, I couldn't find the damn building this morning and had to stop in the fire station and get directions because "US Pharmacopeia" and "United States Pharmacopoeia" are two separate locations about a mile apart, according to Google Maps.
I'm pretty disappointed that my assumption, from the URL of the link in the OP, that Apo is attending a workshop relating to wildlife rap battles, has proven incorrect.
Which, it turns out, is another lesson in Never Click an Apo Link.
The current presenter keeps using "jive" instead of "jibe" in his slides. It's making me twitchy.
Tell him to knock off that honky bullshit.
If only Barbara Billingsley were there to translate.
Find a quiet spot and keep working at it, dq. Don't get discouraged!
I do like how the updated OP decided for Dear Mom.
So, any further thoughts for where to do the DC one?
55: I'm pretty ignorant of the fleshpots of DC and environs, and especially which ones are likely to suck balls on a Friday night. I've been to Jaleo and liked it but that was in the paleolithic, so who knows what it's like these days. Might need a reservation, too. If we do pick a place that needs reservations to accommodate us we need to move on that.
I'm cool with anywhere near Metro. I think for Apo's convenience Bethesda is a good place to look, or at least somewhere on the Red line.
No further thoughts. I see Jaleo and Mussel Bar in Bethesda both have plenty of reservation slots on OpenTable. I'm happy to try to book one if I can get a headcount. Mussel Bar has a better beer selection; Jaleo has better food (I was there very recently). Priorities?
If we want to go more downtown, I seriously doubt there are still reservations to be had anywhere reasonable. Like I said, the places I'm most familiar with just aren't very close to Metro stops, get crowded fast on the weekend, and most don't take reservations.
If nothing coalesces, we throw a raucous and debauched BYOB in apostropher's hotel room, right?
I'm leaning Jaleo, if that's not already obvious. If we end up in Apo's hotel room I will bring beer. Otherwise I have no strong preferences.
I'm currently waiting for a bunch of people in a bar, but they're not internet people so they won't have that obvious awkward look, and we don't have a Mutombo word.
I'd vote for Jaleo over Mussel Bar, because I never drink enough to take advantage of a large beer selection. But really all of the options discussed above are fine with me.
For consensus-building purposes, and without meaning to interfere with the democratic process, how about making a reservation at Jaleo for 7:30pm (IS THIS OK?), and 6 people (apostropher, md 20/400, ydnew, togolosh, me, and one empty seat to make it an even number, although if I forgot someone or someone is bringing a guest, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING!).
Ydnew, if you're busy I can also make the reservation.
So, re: Saturday. In order to get back to Palo Alto, I'll need to be quite close to a Caltrain station, so that means either San Francisco, 22nd Street, or Bay Shore. I have no idea how any of those related to proposed meetup venues. Looks like the last trains back are avout 10:15, and about midnight. Depending which station.
Other than that, I'm cool. Anywhere will do.
Also the weather looks really nice on Friday. I think both Jaleo and Mussel Bar have outdoor seating.
63: I can potentially give you a ride back. I'm south of Palo Alto and could drop you off. I am likely to drive up and park at Daly City or Colma - I'm assuming parking in the Mission won't be easy and I'm out of practice with difficult parallel parking situations - and then take BART to/from the meetup. Last train is about 1, I think.
(Also, I don't drink normally, so staying sober isn't be a problem.)
I should say, I'm definitely driving, just haven't worked out where exactly I'm leaving the car.
Cool, that sounds like it might be really helpful, if it doesn't inconvenience you, too much.
OK, DC folks: reservation at 7:30 Friday for Jaleo. I requested patio seating. We can edit numbers as needed.
Directions: Metro Red Line to Bethesda. Exit on the Woodmont side (ie go up the big escalator and turn left, walk through the bus terminal and down the steps to the street). Turn left on Woodmont, walk three short blocks, and you're there. There's public parking on Woodmont just N of Edgemoor and at Elm and Woodmont (entrance on Elm).
68: Bethesda! peep's old stomping grounds! From my understanding, nothing remains from my time there except probably the long escalator/steps down to the metro.
71: That's right! It's libelous! I'm suing that dog!
72: Oh! It was just you. I guess that's ok then.
72: I know exactly what it was! That's why it's not okay.
63: technically you could take bart to millbrae, no?
68: The jitter in my expected arrival time is large, so I might be first in. I assume the reservation is under your name.
I assume the reservation is under your name.
"Reservation for Ydnew Mutombo."
I'm tempted to simply state "I am here to sex Mutombo" just to see what reaction I get, but I fear being thrown out on my ass.
79: Yes. I almost did 80, but with my luck, I'd forget to change it back.
Just catching up, but will try to make it out to Bethesda tomorrow. From 62 it sounds like there's an unclaimed seat, but if not don't change the reservation on my account, I'm 50/50 at best on whether I'll be able to get there and I'm sure I can squeeze in if you're going to be on the patio.
63, 65-8: according to some reviews on Yelp, it's actually pretty easy to find parking near this place; it's quite a bit east from the main bar/restaurant corridor. But I don't have a car and never drive, so I have no personal experience to back this up.
85: yeah, it's almost at Potrero, not near Mission/Valencia at all.
I like how "quite a bit east" means "five blocks from Mission".
Dude it's San Francisco. 5 blocks away might as well be the far side of the moon.
Re:77
Sure, but still beholden to Caltrain (if kind offer of a lift falls through).
BART doesn't run as late to Millbrae as to Daly City/Colma, but may meet the last Caltrain. Anyway, I guess I can look up the parking but I'll probably stick with my original plan.
It is true that the parking situation way out in the east of the still not even the inner mission is pretty decent.
When you pass into San Francisco they shrink you down to three feet tall with a special beam. That's why natives are so satisfied with its size.
91: Are there typically time restrictions on Saturdays? I plan to go downtown and possibly elsewhere earlier in the day and don't want to keep moving the car.
IIRC no, the two-hour limit is just for M-F.
22 goes right there I believe, meandering line so not particularly efficient but on a Saturday evening reliably entertaining.
You know what bar is also way east of BART?
Fresh Salt!
I was actually around the corner from Fresh Salt about a week ago meeting a friend from another blog at The Paris Cafe. As I walked by it I was tempted to go inside and ask if anyone wanted to sex Mutombo.
I am running about half an hour late due to a garrulous cow-orker. See Y's soon.
Headed there now. Potchkeh, hope you can make it.
100: Maybe?
Running late but should be there 8ish.
Yay! We're at the front of the restaurant, indoors (no patio for 6). Front left, big yellow table.
So far, we have apo (and his new hair), togolosh, torrey pine, & me).
Apo's new hair is good. Got him carded.
Way sexier.
Potchkeh and md20/400 are here! So is food and alcohol.
We are going to try liquid olives. Whatever the hell that is. Also bacon wrapped dates, which seems safer.
Liquid olives is a liquid that tastes like olives. Who would have guessed?
Like pigskin and pointless argumentation, actually.
115: Just for you. Party just broke up.
So, SF people, any ideas on where, tomorrow evening? I'll be heading into the city tomorrow for a wander around. I should have net access, but it'll be intermittent.
I think it's still Dear Mom at 8, as per the update to this post. I don't think it should be a problem giving you a lift at that hour, since Palo Alto isn't that hard to reach from the freeway, though if we get into a knife fight or something you could still take BART to Millbrae and then catch Caltrain.
And if there's a serious knife fight, there's a hospital not far from the bar.
Ah, I missed the update to the main post. A lift back would be very welcome, but I'll make sure I keep an eye on Caltrain times, just in case that turns out not to be possible.
I'll hopefully not have to do the Mutumbo routine.
So, I'm heading upto SF on the Caltrain in the next hour or so. Will see people tonight at Dear Mom.
I ended up just driving to a BART station.
If you're going to use me in this manner, you should at least have the decency to use my full name.
Still in Rancho Cordova, so I'll be late...
"Rancho Cordova" sounds like the name of a Nevada trailer park for retirees, not an actual town.
Nevada isn't really a Rancho-style landscape.
That's O.K. The units are sold by a boiler-room operation in New Jersey to people who have never been west of Scranton.
Ha. I headed over to give myself time to find parking. It, uh, wasn't a problem. Now I'm at the bar, there's no one in this place, and they're out of the two snacks I tried to order.
At least the jukebox has Metallica and someone put on "Orion".
135: I don't think your instincts are far off, actually - Wikipedia strongly implies Rancho Cordova was named by Anglo real estate developers, like Sacramento definitely was.
I should be there fairly soon. On the way.
138: is that a subtle way of saying that Fake Accent really should have taken our advice about driving all the way there?
138 is some dynamite liveblogging. Lots to live up to, people!
Oops, I guess I should own that bit of dickishness. Sorry.
I'm here in a lilac shirt with two collars and a big white bag and a small brown bag.
I feel like a fool for not driving, I guess. But I have been reintroduced to the wonders of Muni. Like, I wonder why that bus didn't stop to pick people up?
Anyway, I'm waiting for BART and should be there soon.
I'll be there v shortly, walking around the block trying to wrap up a conf call that others seem to want not to end.
In my defense, street view showed surrounding blocks full of cars on whatever days the photos were taken. Also maybe everyone was there earlier and that's why they're out of snacks. I got to the city at noon.
145 is also quality liveblogging. The bar is being set pretty high!
nosflow and Bave are here. We've claimed the booth closest to the door. And we have edamame.
Can Bave speak or is he just using emoji?
Damn it, I've been keeping an eye on the thread with original meetup proposal and watching out for an official meetup thread and keeping up with the sexless marriage thread all day and I still managed to miss this. Now I'm sitting here in my pajamas watching a DVD. Boo.
It's not too late! We're still on I-80. And I'm practically wearing pajamas.
Paradise Now, for some reason. My Netflix queue is old and strange.
Hm, that is very get-to-able. But the momentum is with the couch.
How can the momentum be with the presumably stationary couch?
Stationary, in motion, whatevs. You got an external force to apply, son?
I am sick and on the couch and having a tiny pity party.
145 needs photographic documentation.
That does sound like a lot going on for one shirt. I don't own a shirt with even one bag.
I am watching The Big Knife. I just plugged in the phone so I can send farewell texts. We have reached the weepy stage of the cold.
The cat is tired of me reciting the letter from Traviata.
Bave is going to feel so guilty when he gets home and sees these comments.
Nah, he knows I like the occasional pity party.
They have an understanding, you see.
I've just filled Yawnoc, trapnel, and IF in on the wallaby situation at the funeral this past week. They're all very disappointed in me.
Josh just told an appalling story of refusing to touch a wallaby.
I just tried to log into the Flickr pool using the Google account I've always used with it and it told me I need a Yahoo account now. Then it presented me with a suggested Yahoo username which I'm pretty sure I never used as a pseud anywhere but which is a clever anagram of my Flickr username. How did it come up with that?
I mean, it would have been a much better pseud than "essear".
Hey now, I think "essear" is a great pseud.
I left because I was exhausted. To the best of my knowledge no one photographed my shirt.
I'm just worried that if Yahoo can present me with a username that amuses me, it means they've already constructed the superintelligent robots who are going to retroactively torture us, like that funny article in Slate explained the other day.
You've got a high opinion of your sense of humor.
Sure, it's hilarious now.
Somehow I feel like if anyone's going to be inventing superintelligent robots at this point it's not Yahoo.
Oh lord, that's what that article's about.
I just read it after reading 183, and I continue to not understand the mindset that would care about any of this stuff.
We left because we were exhausted and sunburned after a day of rafting down the American river, but it was lovely to see everyone, even if I was disappointed in Josh for not touching the wallaby at the funeral.
The meetup is officially over. The couch is reinstated to its rightful place in my life. Anybody who wants to securely web-search-proof their pseud needs to take out fake accent before he downloads his brain to the Internet.
Made it back to San Jose, city of parking lots. Fortunately, all unsafe driving was confined to the part after I dropped ttaM off.
I don't know what Slate article you're talking about, but I did find that Slate is now running something they describe as:
a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University.
It's a remarkable university administration accomplishment that my first thought on reading that was that Slate and New America are tarnishing themselves by working with ASU.
ASU's actually a pretty good school these days.
192: I was talking about this one. The concept of being retroactively tortured--that the computer will set up a simulation of you so detailed that it basically is you, and then torture it--seems so ridiculous that I can't believe these people take it seriously.
At least they aren't taking professional wrestling as real. Unless they are.
195: Blume: "so it's like... Pascal's Singularity?! Bahahahahahaha"
It doesn't seem functionally different than believing you need to follow the will of any other deity. Nice of them to reinvent the vengeful iron age god.
If I'm in the simulation, I don't necessarily care if "real" me (or me one further down the simulation stack, anyway) gets hurt--I've never met the guy, and he's probably a dick, anyway. And that presupposes an entire universe. Likewise, while I could be tortured as I'm part of the simulation, I have no particular reason to believe in any given instantiation of any given godly machine intelligence, so I'm going to go right on doing what I'm doing. If it punishes me for something I have no reason to have trustworthy knowledge in, it's unfair, and if you're dealing with an unfair critter that believes it alright to eternally torment you, you've already lost.
197 pwns 198 in, brevity, wit, and precedence in the time/space of our simulation. I blame the Machine God.
Those I met were lovely, those I didn't get a chance to chat with I blame the assaultively loud sound system, ouch.
193: Maybe so, but I was thinking specifically of the Starbucks thing and the online program whose main goal seems to be income generation.