Matchstick Men 2010

[xor]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

i don't think people have mentioned PumpCon yet. technically, this is an invite-only event... but if you know anyone in the philly area (and you do, given that you're on these forums and know me, xor, etc... i think that maybe even streaker has been to a PumpCon and knows the location.) or if you can use some Google-fu to figure out which hotel it's always held at, you're more than welcome to join us.

Yes pumpcon is a good time, great way to fill a Saturday. Hey I met D.O for the first time there. He showed me how to do some lock foo as I nervously made a n00b fool out of myself. :-)

The PPA sounded fun, shame I missed that. I hate the PPA. It's so expensive now, $0.25 only gets you 7.5 minutes. The average trip to Starbuck's is 15 minutes. That's a $0.50 caffeine tax. Plus sales tax went up another 0.5%. Not wise to come between hackers and their liquid life. The only good deal is the parking kiosks, they take credit credit cards so you don't have carry around a ton of change with you. If there is still time left on your ticket, and you move to another spot where there are kiosks, not meters, and you don't have to buy another ticket.

I've been known to give my tickets away if I'm leaving, and not coming back. Or place a quarter in a strangers meter that is about to expire. Now that's hate. :-)

xor

[AgentDarkApple]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

well... there's SummCon, which is actually the oldest continually-active con in the hacker scene!

Ahhh, looks like it will be near my birthday. Might be a good way to celebrate!

i don't think people have mentioned PumpCon yet. technically, this is an invite-only event... but if you know anyone in the philly area (and you do, given that you're on these forums and know me, xor, etc... i think that maybe even streaker has been to a PumpCon and knows the location.) or if you can use some Google-fu to figure out which hotel it's always held at, you're more than welcome to join us. It's almost always right on Halloween weekend, so that can make life hard for people with families.

Thanks! That sounds like it would be interesting. No kids here, so I might be able to make it. Since I will likely finish my classes around the end of July (just in time for Defcon, yay) and since I don't actually get my diploma until next December, I was going to hold off on the job search and make next August-December a time for cons and vacations.

[Thorn]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Nope, never heard of it, thought I'm close, Xor is closer, he might have heard of it. Chances are though, it's called pumpcon, but probably doesn't work with the pumps I deal with normally.

I'm surprised you've never heard of it. Even up in the remote mountains, I've heard of it.

[streaker69]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

from what i understand, yes. or someplace really close. i believe this is determined simply around hotel availability, etc.

i don't think people have mentioned PumpCon yet. technically, this is an invite-only event... but if you know anyone in the philly area (and you do, given that you're on these forums and know me, xor, etc... i think that maybe even streaker has been to a PumpCon and knows the location.) or if you can use some Google-fu to figure out which hotel it's always held at, you're more than welcome to join us.

Nope, never heard of it, thought I'm close, Xor is closer, he might have heard of it. Chances are though, it's called pumpcon, but probably doesn't work with the pumps I deal with normally.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Are there any cons that happen in or near Atlanta?

well... there's SummCon, which is actually the oldest continually-active con in the hacker scene! granted, it has nowhere near the following that DEFCON does and isn't large by any measure, but it has been around forever (for one year longer than DEFCON, i believe) and can still be some fun. SummerCon had moved around a whole lot for a long time, but for the past few years it's been localized in Atlanta. There are good talks and such, but the main focus really is just majorly drunken madness. To get an idea of this, you can check this video... my SD card had too much on it and the camera stopped recording after just 10 minutes, but you surely get an idea of the atmosphere at SummerCon by giving that a look, hah. [31 MB, XviD]

is Carolina Con always in Chapel Hill, NC?

from what i understand, yes. or someplace really close. i believe this is determined simply around hotel availability, etc.

Any other good ones on the East Coast that haven't been mentioned yet?

i don't think people have mentioned PumpCon yet. technically, this is an invite-only event... but if you know anyone in the philly area (and you do, given that you're on these forums and know me, xor, etc... i think that maybe even streaker has been to a PumpCon and knows the location.) or if you can use some Google-fu to figure out which hotel it's always held at, you're more than welcome to join us. It's almost always right on Halloween weekend, so that can make life hard for people with families (that's also why a lot of us missed PhreakNIC this year, we enjoy handing out candy to kids... and that's the one time of year we can do it from our houses as opposed to our vans.)

Cool. I can drive to Providence in about 3 hours. This one sounds like a winner.

sweet, man! i'll see you there!

[Thorn]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Another new arrival on the scene for the "small con" world... QuahogCon. we have yet to see what it will be like, as the first one is in April... but if any of you folk east of the Mississippi are not too burned out from NotACon, it's the following weekend. I've been invited to bring some lockpicky-goodness... and i get to hang with my brother Che for the first time in ages.

Cool. I can drive to Providence in about 3 hours. This one sounds like a winner.

EDIT: Considering this is QuahogCon, I should have said "Giggidy giggidy giggidy!" instead of 'cool.'

[AgentDarkApple]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Are there any cons that happen in or near Atlanta? I've seen an old post about "Atlanta Hacker Con", but I wasn't sure if they still have that. I'm supposed to be living down there for a little while next year - I'd love it if I could go to my first hacker con and my first anime con in the same year :)

Also, is Carolina Con always in Chapel Hill, NC? I wish I'd known more about it, and maybe I would have gone this year

Any other good ones on the East Coast that haven't been mentioned yet?

[theprez98]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Another new arrival on the scene for the "small con" world... QuahogCon. we have yet to see what it will be like, as the first one is in April... but if any of you folk east of the Mississippi are not too burned out from NotACon, it's the following weekend. I've been invited to bring some lockpicky-goodness... and i get to hang with my brother Che for the first time in ages.

I have a CFP or two submitted and am looking forward to heading up to Providence in the spring. I am thinking of bringing the family along too.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Another new arrival on the scene for the "small con" world... QuahogCon. we have yet to see what it will be like, as the first one is in April... but if any of you folk east of the Mississippi are not too burned out from NotACon, it's the following weekend. I've been invited to bring some lockpicky-goodness... and i get to hang with my brother Che for the first time in ages.

[treefort]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

2. CarolinaCon - Perhaps the most accessible and least-appreciated "small con" out there. This one is very small (in the "single track" category) but full of clue and good people. Easy to get to, cheap to attend, and full of boozy win... you may not get an expense report honored for this con, but i give it high marks.

Thanks for pointing that out — that's in my backyard and I had no freaking idea... :)

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Never been to Washington DC before ... hints or tips would be appreciated, On things to do while @ Shmoocon

the conference itself is always richly full of content and activities, day and night... so seeing other parts of the city (which i would surely recommend if you haven't been to DC) is best done before or after. i tend to always arrive on wednesday at the latest (preferably tuesday) and just see the city overall... i really don't tire of walking around the main Mall and just stopping in the monuments to reflect, etc. Making the walk out around the basin to the Jefferson is my favorite part.

The Smithsonian, Air & Space Museum, etc... these are all fantastic choices, too. If you have a vehicle, getting out of the city to see the NSA Crypto museum is also a good choice.

Very interested in craft brews

You may be very interested, then, in the Brickskeller and Royal Food and Drink. I don't know how much of their selection is gimmicky vs. how much is true, interesting craft brewing... but someone who is really into it could find some use in a trip there, i'd bet. The Brickskeller is within walking distance (a mile or so) of the con hotel.

[Fidel904]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Im in North Florida,

Shmoocon sounds like the best choice so far...
Never been to Washington DC before so it sounds like i might be able to hit a couple of birds with one stone.

Thanks a lot for the advice, any other hints or tips would be appreciated, On things to do while @ Shmoocon

Very interested in craft brews if anyone is into the same and is going to be at Shmoocon,
We should swap info...


Thanks

[streaker69]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

I only go to one con a year and it's Shmoocon. I've been to all of them except for the first one, and I always enjoy it. Work pays all my expenses to go so it's even better.

I find it to be nice and personal, easy to find people to talk, and just generally a lot of fun. I'd recommend it, if you're on the East Coast.

Plus Bruce and Heidi rock, and Deviant and Toool crew are always a lot of fun in the Lockpick village.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Thanks Deviant

you're welcome. i realize, i failed to ask... from where would you be coming in order to attend? that can factor in a whole lot if you're on a budget.

also, i posted predominantly from a North-American viewpoint. yes, i included a few "international" cons but i could speak further about many others if they're more relevant to you.

[Fidel904]

Re: Matchstick Men 2010

Thanks Deviant,

Your reply was great, just what I was looking for, On a budget, And will probably only get enough time off work for 1 con,

Experience and Socializing is what i was looking for.
I will post which i decided when the time comes