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Day 0
July 11, 2024
Trip Photo Gallery https://wm.sdf.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1172
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I am writing this shortly after checking into the dorm room where
I will be staying until Sunday night. Today is volunteering day.
There is setup shift work to do. I've signed up to help from 1pm
until 5pm. I'm hoping that one of my friends from the PNW will
arrive sometime around then so we can grab dinner.
The room is very functional and I think that while small it is more
than adequate. I always have longed for boarding school or college
dorm life, likely because I never experienced it properly. There
is a desk about a meter long and it has a shallow drawer in the
middle for pens and paper I assume. There is also a small file
cabinet with two drawers one larger but both big enough for a
books and things. The bed is a twin. Thin mattress, but it does
have two two-drawer chest of drawers which would be plenty for
more than a week of clothing. There is alos a decent size closet.
I have a single occupancy room which I'm very excited for. The
window is large and deep. I'm on the 4th floor so I can see the
tops of the trees.
On my way down I ran into a person with a hacker shirt on. It was
his first HOPE. He had done DEFCON and other bigger conferences.
This had me reflecting on how I got into all this conference stuff
in the first place. I wanted to meet other linux and foss people
while not getting overwhelmed at bigger conferences. I think that
has been a success. If you are like me and averse to big groups
check out the LWN events calendar and find a conference that
is free and small. There are plenty and after a couple of those
you'll probably be coool paying for some and you'll see the same
people and get to know them. If you think hmm I tried but I cant
seem to know them try volunteering. That's my 2 cents on the
topic.
I arrived a littel after 1300 and there wasn't much to be done.
At the HOPE in 2022 we had all sorts of big AV construction
projects and alot of running wires and hanging lights. This year
HOPE is using the campus infrastructure and so the number of
volunteers and the desired output is less. I helped run some
microphones and it was neat to see Eric from two years ago. Also
saw a guy that I'm blanking on their name I wanna say Tommy.
I did successfully get the aNONradio show on the air after a few
hiccups. The most memorable HOPE memory was going on a quest to
find a vending machine with Clint and Luis. A couple I didn't get
their names but they told of a vending machine near by. I tried to
find it but got lost. When I came back I heard of another vending
machine in D'Angelo Center. We went and searched until we found
a drink and snack machine on the 1st floor.
Around 5 my friend from the PNW arrived and I went up and was
able to check in. I asked about helping with registration and
again it was really just a one person operation so I wasn't needed.
I wont be helping with registration tomorrow I guess, but that
is fine I'll sleep in and get breakfast at the dining hall.
We assembled a really cool hope digital badge kit. No soldering
required. If you press button D / #4 it sends a signal out and
HOPE badges will buzz. Its very neat and I like that alot. After
assembling the badges Jason, myself, David, and his son went off
to hibachi! It was alot of fun and quite entertaining. I had shrimp
and chicken and Jason had filet mignon, David's kid had chicken
and David had steak. I got 2 orders of gyoza that were excellent
enough for everyone to get 3. Then I also had a mango mojito.
Was pricey but worth it. So cool. Memorable from the meal was
getting shot in the face with a sake super soaker and asking the
lady across the way why her hat letters were upside down. It was
so fun. Jason and I then went on a bit of an adventure!
We went to Times Square and saw where the ball drops. Got to the
top of Rockafeller building and saw amazing city scape, and finally
also got some ice cream from a food vendor. By the end of it my
feet hurt so much I was ready for bed. We got an Uber to Jason's
spot, and before I hit submit on Uber to go back to the dorms I saw
the Emerald Pub. I stopped in and this was a neighborhood bar. Very
typical New York. I had a Goose IPA and a Guiness. I left and was
hailing the uber finally when Eric from HOPE called out. He was on
his way back and could give me a lift. I canceled my Uber and was
able to ride with him.
Well it was a long day and a big adventuring day even if I wasn't
productive. I've got my gameplan for tomorrow. I hope I can follow
it!
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mnw(at)sdf.org Ext. 1908
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