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**astcell** · August 9, 2004, 16:57

I stopped reading after seeing "Stayt as far away from the pool" and "Don't bring black t-shirts." I too at one time thought I could sleep at night at Defcon. You can't. if you cannot adjust to that for a few days then stay home and wait for the videos to get posted.

This year I was right at pool #2, saw it out my window. Got to sleep at 6am and slept until noon. That's what it is all about!

**gzzah** · August 9, 2004, 17:46

My wife was ill-prepared for the zaniness that is Pool 2. We were at the end of building 16 and could hear the party at Pool 3 even.

She's not one for late night partying as much as she used to so I got to hear about it all weekend. :(

I fear the truisms of your HOWTO guide will fall upon deaf ears. Most of the kiddies who come to DC now will only learn the hard way. Just tell them VEGAS == HOT AS FUCK so maybe they'll bring along some spare change for a bottle of water ($4 at the AP? WHAT A DEAL!)

**converge** · August 9, 2004, 17:53

After reading the entire thing I am betting he gets a lot of nosebleeds and has a handful of allergies.

**tequilastrapple** · August 9, 2004, 17:59

Bottle opener.

**TheCotMan** · August 9, 2004, 18:30

Originally posted by macuber

Uber's Defcon readme...

CotMan''s additions:

Don't bring too many Tees; buy DC tees to wear when you get there.
Bring good vibes, good times, best social skills.
Lighten your load; buy beer in LV and give some away to spread cheer
Bring Rental Car, or beer to pay for seat to grocery store/bbq

Leave behind computer unless you are using it for DC activities.
Leave behind attitude, ego, arrogance, whining
Leave behind wife/sig-o/husband unless they will enjoy DC or will go out to LV on their own to enjoy other sights in LV.

For new people:
Don't do any one event to excess-- spend a little time with each event.

**spahkle** · August 9, 2004, 21:49

I stopped reading after " The AP was $140 per night for two double bed suite. Be sure to ask for a room with a jakuzzi." To my knowledge, the double bed suites are single story and don't have jacuzzis available (at least not for $140).

The funniest part is the three suitcases you'd need to bring the stuff listed in this readme. I started attending Defcon a few years ago. I brought a laptop... once. After that, I discovered that unless you're involved in a DC event that needs tech, DON'T BRING TECH. Some don't have the luxury of being able to ignore email (for ONE day), but look into an alternative to the AP network or wireless (consider dialup over cellular for instance** [sprintpcs comes to mind]). Those are fairly dangerous waters and not for the casual user the Readme is directed at.

A well thought out document, but I'd still have to point anyone looking for information about attending Defcon to the Unofficial Defcon FAQ.

**thanks Skroo

**pezz** · August 9, 2004, 21:59

Originally posted by macuber

-......most of the crowd at the con is a younger
crowd and has never left home before.......

WTF are you babbeling about?

If your first trip away from home is DC, your going to lead a REALLY fucked up adulthood.

**macuber** · August 10, 2004, 06:20

Originally posted by converge

After reading the entire thing I am betting he gets a lot of nosebleeds and has a handful of allergies.

LOL
nah just don't have the level of beer stamina I once had ;-)

**macuber** · August 10, 2004, 06:27

Originally posted by spahkle

The funniest part is the three suitcases you'd need to bring the stuff listed in this readme. I started attending Defcon a few years ago. I brought a laptop... once.
A well thought out document, but I'd still have to point anyone looking for information about attending Defcon to the Unofficial Defcon FAQ.

Good points
I wasn't suggesting you bring all or even most of what I mentioned. The thing I wish I had most was the Brita filtered water bottle because the local water was kinda bad.
Now some folks see Defcon as a chance to party. Thats fine. Some see it as a tech conference and learning experience. That was my orientation. Adapt the readme to suit yer ends. No disrespect intended to the Unoffical Defcon FAQ. Thats good too.

I brought my laptop to Defcon, because I bring it everywhere I go anyway;-)

**Manic Velocity** · August 10, 2004, 07:34

Bah, I wear nothing but long pants and black shirts. But I am from Utah, so I guess I'm used to being miserably hot. Plus my legs are about as white as my iBook, thus they blind anyone within a 5 mile radius if I wear shorts.

Definetely stock up on your own food and drinks before the con. $2 for a 12 oz. can of Sierra Mist is horrible. And don't drink the local water no matter how thirsty you get. I had one cup of the stuff and felt like I was pissing fire for the rest of the night.

Excellent writeup. I remember my first con (DC10). Seems like only yesterday. Excuse me while I crawl under my desk and drift off into a deep state of nostalgia.

**highwizard** · August 10, 2004, 08:56

Being a fellow FAQ/Readme Author I thought I would share some honest insight on your "readme".

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Defcon Readme
Uber's Defcon readme

This year was my first time at Defcon. i wanted to pull together a readme for other future first-timers, so that their experience will be as terrific as mine was. I came to Defcon to learn not party and so my suggestions are geared more towards that ends. I hasten to add that I'm not knocking those who come to party. This readme is NOT geared towards those of you who have been coming to Defcon since Defcon I. I figure you all already know what you are doing. I've added additional comments from my buddy ironfst so check them out at the bottom of this document:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope in the future in coming to Defcon you can find a happy medium for partying and Learning. They really do go hand and hand. If you goto a conference and learn tons of information but do ZERO networking then you have only partialy succeeded at Said conference.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Accommodations: I stayed at the Alexis Park and would do so again with a couple of caveats:
1. Ask for a suite (non-smoking in my case) with two beds as far from the pool areas as you can get. This
precaution is to ensure you can sleep at night. The AP was $140 per night for two double bed suite. Be sure to
ask for a room with a jakuzzi.

Did you use your "jakuzzi"? If you are getting a room just for a jakuzzi and have the option to pay more and get it or pay less and not have it, then I recommend the latter instead of the former.

2. The next door hotel is the St. Tropez. It might be quieter than the Alexis Park, but it won't have the advantage
of being able to see the presentations in your room on close circuit TV.
http://www.sttropezlasvegas.com. If you book far enough in advance it'll cost you $99 a night for a Two-Room
Suite with two double beds. 1(800)666-5400

Getting a room at the St. Tropez is nice, especially if you have friends who are staying at the AP, but since you stated that you are there soley for the purpose of learning and not partying (and didn't reference networking). Then I guess friendships and networking aren't something your "into".

2. Brita filtered water bottle $7 at local grocery
Why?: because the local tap water is kind of chalky

You can get cheaper water bottles, and they still have the same chemical compound and are clean. Moreover, if you have a friend (goes back to this "networking thing) with a Sam's Club card or access to a military base you can get water even cheaper.

3. shorts with pockets.
Why?: don't even think about jeans...it'll be too hot. Although you might want to bring one pair of nice
long pants and a nice shirt in case you want to sample the night life in Vegas.
Overheard quote of the con: "Relax this is Vegas, everything is dirty."

Actually, if you have linen pants it can be quite comfortable and the air flow can be better then shorts with less of a burn.

4. white sneakers or sandals
Why?: you could easily bake your feet under the desert sun if you wear black shoes. Plus sneaks
won't set off the alarms at the airport. If you wear anything else, security will make you take off
your shoes during checkin. $3-5 at Kmart/Walmart, $13 Cross Trekkers canvas shoes at PayLess.

Odd, I never had to take off my shoes at the airport. This is hit or miss really depending on what airport, etc.

6. beach flip flops
Why?: the deck around the pool is painted brown...think hot HOT desert sun and I think
you can see why bare feet would be a bad idea. Why did they paint it brown? So the hotel staff can laugh their
asses off at drunken hackers trying to swim and drink bear.

The shoes should be enough for you. If you think it is safe to swim in that water once DefCon starts then the third tit you will grow is all on you.

7. sunblock 30+
I come from a long line of pasty-faced Celtic peoples who are not adapted to the desert sun. Besides when was
the last time you saw a Goth chick with a tan? Nuf said.

30? Try 45+... Know your audience.

8. iPod
Why?: I flew in from the east coast and had to change in Atlanta. Needless to say I spent
alot of time in airports because I'm too cheap to pay for a direct flight. I realize there are other mp3 players out
there...just none cooler.
www.apple.com
Check out the "Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones". Yes I know
they are pricey but you can use them with your iPod/other mp3 player OR just use them to
cancel out the noise on the airplane etc. Particularly useful if hung over. Very sweet and they fold flat.
Average price $299.
http://www.bose.com or http://www.amazon.com

Learn to fly the same airline and keep the heads phones from that flight for next time, or you can sleep or strike up a conversation with a random person... Wait.. you're the guy who doesn't like to network, my bad. I flew from the East Coast too and didn't need to have an ipod.

9. reading material for plane: think something absorbing that won't freak out the airport security staff.
Hey I like Loompanics too but maybe that book on Nitro-Explosives might be a bad idea going through airport
security. http://loompanics.com/

Read a Novel on the plane.. it's better, trust me.

III. Connectivity
powerstrip: any hardware store $10
cat5 patch cables (at least 4)
cross over Null-modem cable: in case you want to console onto something ;-)
wireless access point (linksys)
Now some asshat will probably kill off all hope of wireless networking within minutes of you putting this
up. Think mac address filtering, wep enabled, changing the snmp strings, password protection etc etc.

<snip>

Don't bring your laptop to Defcon unless A) you are in a competition or B) actually think you will participate in the Notex.

IV. Cure
Advil, Ibuprofin
Alkaselzer
No illegal stuff folks. If Priest finds out yer holdin, he'll kick yer ass. And no I won't buy anyone beer.

Won't buy anyone beer.. I guess that puts you in the stingy bastard category. I made a lot of friends via beer... Wait.. you're the "non-networking/making friends guy". My bad..

V. Eats:

Water: this is an obvious thing for west coasters but east coasters have to remember to drink water throughout
the day. Las Vegas is in the middle of a desert. You can easily dehydrate yourself if you are not careful.

Goto HOPE, you sound more up that alley and it's closer to you.

VI. Misc.
notebook and pens
shoulder backpack "Swiss Gear GA-7303-13" $60 at Best Buys
http://www.onlinebags.com
http://www.bestbuy.com/
Props to my buddy ironfst for suggesting this, you rock dude!
If you carry a small laptop think about a sleeve type case to protect it within your backpack. Airport security
will make you take your lappy out and run it through the x-ray machines, so the sleeve will give it some
<snip>

Why are you bringing a laptop to con? You can sit on IRC and talk with your friends all the time during the year.. go out and make some friends.

Don't Bring:
Black T-shirts:

Go - Smoke - some - more - Dope.

Think about the thermal properties of black T-shirts under a HOT desert sun.

But why would you wear any other color except black? Hey.. if you have enough of that "water" stuff you keep talking about then wearing the black shouldn't matter.

bad attitude: for gosh sakes be nice to the goons. My experience is they are all doing a tough job. They need
our support so we can all have a good con experience. I just can't say enough good things about them.
You guys rock.

On this note I will agree with you 100%. But since you don't buy other people beer then you're still not cool. Buy a goon a beer if you think he rocks.

[quote
Don'ts:
Don't try to go throught airport security advertising your "evil haxorishness". Airport security is *ahem* somewhat paranoid these days so lets not freak the straights, ok? Try and blend in a little.
[/quote]

"freak the straights?" Is that a knock on heterosexual people... Damn Gays and their hatemongering..

***************************************

Note from ironfst

This document was graciously prepared by uber for the uninitiated
Defcon attendee and or traveler, most of the crowd at the con is a younger
crowd and has never left home before. If you fall into that group then
this document is for you.

"most of the crowd at the con is a younger crowd and has never left home before".
Maybe we went to two different Con's. I went to DefCon12.. Where did you go?
A great majority of the people were old enough to have left there homes multiple times before.

Equipment

If you bring antenna's its better to have in your checked bag. If you buy
lock picks, and other things that may freak out airport personnel, mail it
home. (self explanatory)

Internet Access

Script Kiddies, don’t DOS or hack the hotel network and the free internet
hot spots, that your fellow h4x0r5s have setup. Bandwidth is limited,
share the love. Keer Nabash (Dont Be Dick)

I guess since you said it, it will be done! He's right though kids, don't hack the network or DoS it.. Instead just wage an Electronic Jihad upon him, and leave the rest of the network untouched.

<snip other stuff>

I started this reply trying to be nice, but then he really started to annoy me.

No disrespect intended to the Unoffical Defcon FAQ. Thats good too.

It's actually better, not "good too". The reason that it's better is because it really was a collaborative effort by members of these board and of the Defcon community.

Then again, I'm also biased. I guess what irked me the most was you talking about bring so much tech to Con and your lack of socialization.

Anyway, I'm not trying to be mean to you. But my advice is: goto more then one Defcon, then do writeup for it. Get out and socialize, goto the ToxicBBQ. I think your perspective of the "Partying" will change. Because it really depends on the people you chose to associate with at con. We had some really fun times in the QC, but then again you had to have a card to get in...

**skroo** · August 10, 2004, 09:40

Originally posted by spahkle

Some don't have the luxury of being able to ignore email (for ONE day), but look into an alternative to the AP network or wireless.

If you can't get away from email, about the best approach is dial-up over cellular. Yeah, it's slow, but you can at least stay in touch with the office and are essentially isolated from the AP's infrastructure. Just something to consider.

**AlxRogan** · August 10, 2004, 10:01

Originally posted by skroo

If you can't get away from email, about the best approach is dial-up over cellular. Yeah, it's slow, but you can at least stay in touch with the office and are essentially isolated from the AP's infrastructure. Just something to consider.

2nd for this one. I had to pull some files down in prep of the WarDrive competition/registration setup. At the time, the AP's wireless was still unstable, so the cellular/pcs dialup was a lifesaver. The latency sucks ~400 ms, but downloads were about ISDN speed, plus not having to worry about being DOSed back to the Bronze Age. ;)

**renderman** · August 10, 2004, 11:15

<Rant>
Forget trying to strike a balance between Learning and partying, do both to thier full potential!

Case in point, DC12: Partied, drank, competed in the WD competitions and generally got into the usual Defcon Mayhem and did'nt see a single presentation.

You might ask How I am learning then?

6 years of Defcon teaches you alot of things, such as to goto one of Vegas's many pawn shops and grab a VCR for cheap and alot of tapes. Record the presentations you are interested in for later perusal at your leisure and sobriety.

You may not be able to ask questions, however most of the presenters are an email away after the con.

Quality might be less than stellar, but the information is there and can be reviewed easily.

So those who attend nothing but talks and miss out on a truely vegas expereince, it's your choice, but You don't know what your missing
</Rant>

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