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Geeks as the Media at Notacon

Posted by samzenpus on from the fair-and-balanced dept.

sinnergy writes "One of the Midwest's only remaining "hacker" cons, Notacon, will be happening April 8-10, 2005 in Cleveland. As an interesting subtext, an extraordinary amount of interest in independent media coverage for this event has been occurring. One project includes Jason Scott's Notacon Radio project. The Packet Sniffers are doing their own Notacon TV project. In addition, numerous other online media outlets, oline radio shows and bloggers have really picked up on the idea of events like these being truly valuable to the geek community. Even the local geek radio show is keen on the idea. Richard Thieme, one of the event's selected speakers, has promoted the hacker con as being one of the final bastions of open speech. Is this the birth of a new trend or is this simply geeks doing what they always do... spreading the word about something new and different going on in their world?"

125 comments

  1. w00t by babyhuey23 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    w00t only 9 more days! im going

    --
    http://www.tech4free.com/default.aspx?r
  2. Looking forward to it! by stephthegeek · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Shameless plug, I know, but I'll be speaking at NotACon on some of the more interesting aspects of the community I run, and other geeky pursuits. I'm betting this will be a huge opportunity to connect with others with similar interests.

    --
    ~~~
    Drupal themes from TopNotchThemes
    1. Re:Looking forward to it! by Bongo+the+Monkiii · · Score: 1

      Your link needs fixed

      Anyway, I think this would be an interesting presentation to here. We see a lot of stories about how few chicks are in the technical fields, this would be a great opportunity to really answer some of those question about the why of the seeming lack of female influence.

      Not only guys use computers, so this could really be a chance to grab a soapbox and make something heard!

    2. Re:Looking forward to it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh boy--I'll bet that'll be a hot time on the ole town.

    3. Re:Looking forward to it! by jx100 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Slashdot doesn't seem to allow anchors in links.

      Here is a link to the page itself. You'll have to go to her actual blurb yourself.

    4. Re:Looking forward to it! by the_mad_poster · · Score: 3, Informative

      http://www.notacon.org/speakers.html#pakrul

      --
      Alito: A vote for Alito is a punch in the eye to put that bitch back in her place!
    5. Re:Looking forward to it! by IrishMASMS · · Score: 3, Funny

      You know, some of us who are presenting [http://www.notacon.org/speakers.html#irishmasms] are willing to do so without the shameless plugs... ;)

    6. Re:Looking forward to it! by stephthegeek · · Score: 3, Funny

      I can only dream of achieving such subtlety! ;)

      --
      ~~~
      Drupal themes from TopNotchThemes
  3. latter by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "Is this the birth of a new trend or is this simply geeks doing what they always do... spreading the word about something new and different going on in their world?"

    The latter. Next!

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    1. Re:latter by joshjoneswas · · Score: 1

      It seems to me that the lack of interest in all sorts of trade shows in recent years could possibly be attributed to the flood of too many so-so ideas that don't stick around for very long. Perhaps that's a little off topic, but the fact is that these shows are sadly so few and far between. My buddies and I are talking about driving to Cleveland. 8)

    2. Re:latter by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
      Not just that they are so-so ideas, but that everybody is trying to have the next killer-app. So instead of just striving to make a great product, they think that they have to be completely revolutionary and groundbreaking. Now, there's nothing wrong with that in and of itself. However, more often than not, what we see is companies CLAIMING to be that, but actually not being anywhere close. THAT is why people lose interest.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  4. Getting it right. by kwoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Frankly, it doesn't surprise me that attendees are acting as media for such an event. The alternative is expecting the mainstream press to get it right.

    I look forward to seeing what the "geek media" comes up with.

    --
    unixkb.com -- articles on practical Unix issues.
  5. Don't click above link by Godman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Don't click the link...it opens about a billion and two popups. None of them have anything, its just annoying.

    If you do get trapped, ctrl+alt+del and then end task firefox. (Or whatever your webrowser is)

    --
    I have this really funny quote that I like to put here. Unfortunately, there's this really annoying thing called a char
    1. Re:Don't click above link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or Crtl-Alt-Esc then click on the web browser.

    2. Re:Don't click above link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You clicked a tinyurl link from an AC?

      Hey, there's this cool new webpage I found. It's called "goatse.cx." You should totally go there right now! Oh, and when you get done, do a google image search from "tub girl." It's HOTTT!!

  6. Not a trend... by mOoZik · · Score: 1

    I don't think this is a trend that we'll see in the future. Rather, it's some creative marketing on the part of the organizers/attendees.

    --
    A blog like any other.
    1. Re:Not a trend... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's just the open source model applied to publicity, which is equivalent to what "grassroots" movements do. The SpreadFirefox site is an example.

  7. Since when... by /dev/trash · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is CLEVELAND the Midwest?

    1. Re:Since when... by thryllkill · · Score: 1, Informative

      Yes... Ohio is part of the Midwest.

      Here and here are some links to educate you.

      --

      Note to self: No more arguing with the faithful.

    2. Re:Since when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Since the 19th century.

    3. Re:Since when... by Roddd · · Score: 1

      Heh, krazy Red States.

    4. Re:Since when... by soupdevil · · Score: 1

      If Cleveland is in the Midwest, Las Vegas is in the Mideast.

    5. Re:Since when... by iamsure · · Score: 1

      Its "west" of the colonies, and "east" of the west coast.

      Hence, mid-west.

      As a not-very-proud Ohioan, I assure you, we are midwest. Its more than a half-day drive to the east shore, so we are most definitely MID-west.

      --
      GPL'd web-based tradewars themed space game
    6. Re:Since when... by Dachannien · · Score: 1

      Make that the 18th century.

    7. Re:Since when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, I double checked before I posted the first time. The city of Cleveland may have been around since 1796, but that's irrelevant. The term "Midwest" came into being in the 19th Century.

    8. Re:Since when... by JimBobJoe · · Score: 1

      Is CLEVELAND the Midwest?

      Historically, certainly. Though today the connotation of the word "Midwest" has shifted westward away from Ohio.... and in doing so, the term has begun to carry a strong agricultural implication that doesn't reflect Ohio's population/industry. (Why the term should apply to both Kansas and Ohio makes the term entirely absurd.) I believe that, if you gave the average American a map of the US, without state borders on it, and ask them to draw lines indicating where the "Midwest" is, they will draw the lines west of Ohio.

      Anecdotally it seems to me that easterners are most likely to call Ohio "Midwest" (but a New Yorker considers anything west of New Jersey and east of California as "Midwest" and, regrettably, New York attitudes toward the rest of the country translate into the media.)

      Cleveland is only 6 hours by car to New York, sits nearly 10 hours from the Mississippi river, and is at least 250 miles from Central Time. I can't tell you how many New Yorkers assume Ohio is in Central time, when we're comfortably in Eastern.

      I was raised in Cleveland, and would never have dreamt calling Ohio "Midwest." Cleveland has always been an Eastern city in my mind (in fact I always found myself very comfortable in New Jersey because it reminded me of the people and places I was raised with in Cleveland.) I have found that the farther south you go in Ohio the more comfortable people are with the term Midwest (which is odd, because the farther south you go in Ohio, the more Southern people become. I like to say that Ohio is a mix of an Eastern state like New Jersey and a Southern state, like Tennessee.

      For me, the term "Midwest" is a pejorative that I disassociate with Ohio, and I believe in time Ohio will be reevaluated into an Eastern state. (The only time "Midwest" is not a pejorative is when it's applied to Chicago.)

      For those who are not fully comfortable calling Ohio an Eastern state, I've come up with the handy term "near-east". :-)

    9. Re:Since when... by drsquare · · Score: 1

      Yes, anyone with any map realises it's in the North-East. Although it's good to see a convention over here for a change, America always seems to get the best ones.

    10. Re:Since when... by Hasai · · Score: 1

      Revolting, isn't it?
      Even Ohio natives call the place "the mistake on the lake." :P

      --

      Regards;

      Hasai

    11. Re:Since when... by badboy_tw2002 · · Score: 1

      Growing up primarily on the east coast I'd say you have the attitudes pegged. I don't know that I've ever really thought of Ohio as "midwest" like Kansas, OK, Nebraska, but I've definately never grouped it in the "east". When I think "eastern" cities I mainly think Eastern Seaboard - Boston, NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC, etc. One interesting thing is that people who've lived their whole lives in one place have far more definate attitudes about where they are. Virginians consider themselves "the south" (seat of the Confederacy, after all), but when I moved to Texas and said I previously lived in Virginia they said "Oh, a Northerner huh?" Considering we were south of parts of Mexico, I can see their point :)

    12. Re:Since when... by /dev/trash · · Score: 1

      Toledo, I'll say is Midwest. But Cleveland?
      Cinncinati, is the south. Ohio, my point being, is weird.

    13. Re:Since when... by /dev/trash · · Score: 1

      I live in Central PA and visited the Kent area a lot in my youth. I've never thought of Ohio, at least eastern Ohio as Midwest.

    14. Re:Since when... by Transient0 · · Score: 1
      For those who are not fully comfortable calling Ohio an Eastern state, I've come up with the handy term "near-east". :-)


      wouldn't "middle-east" be clearer and more easily understood?
      --
      lysergically yours
  8. DON'T CLICK by jx100 · · Score: 0

    The link is a GNAA troll.

    1. Re:DON'T CLICK by thundercatslair · · Score: 0

      Eh, what is so bad about seening a GNNA link. I know that it is totally a troll, but if you see it will your eyes melt. Im sorry for posting this, bye postive karma.

  9. Cleveland hacks! by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny
    All this bandwidth calling me
    Back where it comes from
    It's such a d00d attitude
    Let's hack where it belongs
    All the script kids growing up on the skids are goin' Cleveland hacks, cleveland hacks
    They're all jackin' in with an old 9-pin
    They're goin' cleveland hacks, cleveland hacks...

    0hi0!

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
    1. Re:Cleveland hacks! by wolrahnaes · · Score: 3, Funny

      As a Clevelander (well, actually west of Medina, but close enough), I just had to laugh at that one...

      Dammit....now I'm imagining an episode of the Drew Carey show subtitled in 13375p34|.....

      --
      I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
    2. Re:Cleveland hacks! by AtariAmarok · · Score: 1
      "Dammit....now I'm imagining an episode of the Drew Carey show subtitled in 13375p34|....."

      I can't help but remember one of my favorite jokes from that series. It was from the series last, declining years. Winfred Louder had just been replaced with the dotbomb "Neverendingstore". Drew wanders in, in his typical business suit and horn rims. One of the 20 something brothers who runs the dotbomb says "Oh look! It's the ghost of a guy who worked here in the 1950s!"

      --
      Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  10. only remaining by Compenguin · · Score: 2, Informative

    > "One of the Midwest's only remaining 'hacker' cons..."

    What!!!

    It was new last year

    1. Re:only remaining by phiz187 · · Score: 1

      Well, it is carrying on the tradition of RubiCon. Which lasted, I believe, five years. Definitly at least four years, but I believe five.

      -PHiZ

      --
      Pretend I said something meaningful or insightful here.
    2. Re:only remaining by sinnergy · · Score: 2, Informative

      I would assume five since Rubi-Con 5 occurred. We were there, I think.

    3. Re:only remaining by camusflage · · Score: 1

      I would assume five since Rubi-Con 5 occurred.

      One... Two... Five!
      Three sir!
      Three!

      --
      The truth about Scientology, Xenu, and you: Operation Clambake
  11. Mythos? by Guppy06 · · Score: 0

    "Is this the birth of a new trend or is this simply geeks doing what they always do... spreading the word about something new and different going on in their world?"

    Am I the only one around here aggrevated by the whole starry-eyed view that geeks are some sort gods among men? For example, they're not "spreading the word," they're making some programming to talk about the 'con to each other. This isn't some sort of geek gospel that's going to be broadcast.

    1. Re:Mythos? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      dude, lay off the crack now!!! sanity misses u

    2. Re:Mythos? by Guppy06 · · Score: 1

      "Woe unto he who Fails this Test, for he is Truly not but a lamb, but also a Foolish Lamb, and shall be Eaten by many Bear!"

      That, or modded down, whichever comes first, apparently.

  12. My Pics from Notacon 2004 by phiz187 · · Score: 2

    http://crimethink.org/notacon1/notacon1.html

    -PHiZ

    --
    Pretend I said something meaningful or insightful here.
  13. Who? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Anyone else find the tone of this intro really amusing?

    "Media giving unprecedented coverage to something you've never heard of"

    Hmmm

  14. Hacker or Cracker? by VoidWraith · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I can't tell what is meant by the quotated use of "hacker" in the summary. Do they mean "hacker" which they could have used without the quotes, or do they mean "cracker" which explains the quotes but doesn't explain why they didn't just use the word?

    1. Re:Hacker or Cracker? by caveroo · · Score: 1

      This is not redundant.

    2. Re:Hacker or Cracker? by Myself · · Score: 1

      I think it's because the event isn't specifically targeted at hackers, like defcon is. You could call it a "hacker con", but it's not really. It's broader than that, with a lot of attention on art and community. There are definitely some hard technical talks, and plenty of hackers will be in attendance, but that's not to the exclusion of anyone else.

      Read the schedule and the speaker biographies. I think you'll get a better sense of how things will play out, and why "hacker" is too narrow a term for this event. With everything from crypto to photoshop, electronic music to telephony, there should be a much more diverse audience than at events like defcon. (There was last year, at least!) Not everyone's going to want to see every talk, and that's deliberate.

      While I'm posting, I should also shamelessly plug what's sure to be one of the weirdest contests ever. Are you creative, motivated, and skilled enough to make the winning entry?

    3. Re:Hacker or Cracker? by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      They're talking about 1337 d00ds with access to "hacker tools" like Sub7.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
  15. My Pictures from Notacon 2004 by phiz187 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    http://crimethink.org/notacon1/notacon1.html

    Great People, great times.

    -PHiZ

    --
    Pretend I said something meaningful or insightful here.
    1. Re:My Pictures from Notacon 2004 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      REDUNDANT 5-

    2. Re:My Pictures from Notacon 2004 by phiz187 · · Score: 0

      The other one got modded TROLL, which is completely unfair. I could POSSIBLY see it as being modded as offtopic. But because it is pictures from last years event, I really don't see how that is the case.

      -PHiZ

      --
      Pretend I said something meaningful or insightful here.
    3. Re:My Pictures from Notacon 2004 by IrishMASMS · · Score: 1

      God dam PHiZ, can you whore yourself out any more? ;)

    4. Re:My Pictures from Notacon 2004 by phiz187 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is that a dare?

      -PHiZ

      --
      Pretend I said something meaningful or insightful here.
  16. "remaining"? by heller · · Score: 0, Redundant

    "remaining"? heh. it's 2nd year and it's "remaining"

  17. Oh my by alex413x · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hello Slashdot! NotaconTV needs bandwidth! If you will be attending and can bring a [large] 100MB switch and/or CAT5 to the con we will hit you up with free schwag! Contact us at contact[@]packetsniffers.org Thanks![packetsniffers.org]

    Wow, a gathering of pot-headed computer geeks sharing ideas and interests. I wish I could go.

    1. Re:Oh my by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i feel the same way .. heheh

  18. Re:Crap by Dachannien · · Score: 1

    Who knows?

  19. NotaconTV needs help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Hi everyone. I posted a message on our site and figured I'd also post here. We need network hardware to sustain our efforts at NotaconTV. The organizers of Notacon are willing to let us ride on their supplied hardline and wifi, however we will be asked to remove our server if/when we start to cause bandwidth problems (And rightfully so). As such, I feel we will probably be removed from the network early in the event. We are looking to see if anyone would be able to supply us with a largish 100MB switch and/or cat5 for the event. Please contact us at [contact at packetsniffers.org ].

    Thanks!
    dosman

  20. Pricey, but with mpeethree recordings?! by Caffeinebot · · Score: 3, Informative

    In our college (about two hours from Cleveland) there was talk on taking a pilgermage for this event, however the exorbant price (atleast for students) on entrance made us pause and think against it (even the pre-registration was a tad pricey). It is unfortunate that they removed the option for student discounts, it would be more condusive to learning for local colleges students who could actually attend with out having to pay an arm and a leg, but still want to get a foot hold into the industry. However, the recordings should really be cool!

    1. Re:Pricey, but with mpeethree recordings?! by clymere · · Score: 1
      Its only a little more expensive than last year. I paid something like $55 pre-reg this year. Last year I walked home with a copy of SuSE, two t-shirts, a stack of stickers, and tons of miscellaneous hardware...all free.

      If you live only two hours away and aren't going because of the(in my opinion) modest registration fee, then you are really missing out.

      A trek to HOPE or Defcon will cost you a LOT more. The price of USENIX or Linux World will make your head spin.

      The quality of the speakers for Notacon is quite good. The topics are pretty varied, and most were pretty interesting last year.

      In other words: go. You will be glad you did. You will definitely get your money's worth.

      --
      once you go slack, you never go back
  21. I can see it now... by thelastguardian · · Score: 1, Funny

    Richard Thieme, one of the event's selected speakers, has promoted the hacker con as being one of the final bastions of open speech. I can see it now....The day when we geeks finally get the deserving social status other superheros have come to enjoy.... SuperGeek!!! GeekMan!!! GeekWoman!!! GeekDevil!!!! Buhahahaha we are the protector of all freedom and jutice, we are the SuperHero(tm)!!!!

  22. Re:Crap by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 0

    Because there's only ever been one other, and because you suck?

    --

    ---
    Mod me down, you fucking twits. Go ahead. I dare you.
    (I read with sigs off.)
  23. Really! by ImaLamer · · Score: 1

    I live in Cincinnati and Cleveland is east of me and I hate being called the "Midwest"!

    Damn, they have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - how can they be Midwest?

    And why do people (politicians mainly) think Midwest is a nice way of saying "Americans from the central states" when I think "idiots from the central states"..?

    --
    Get your Unix fortune now!
    1. Re:Really! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You seem to have some strange inferiority complex. There's nothing wrong with being from the Midwest.

    2. Re:Really! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      There's nothing wrong with being from the Midwest.

      There certainly is.

      We put GWB back into office.

      :(

    3. Re:Really! by ImaLamer · · Score: 1

      They!

      they put dubya back in office, not us.

      --
      Get your Unix fortune now!
    4. Re:Really! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We did our part in Illinois.

    5. Re:Really! by ImaLamer · · Score: 1

      I bumber sticker I wanted to make (Slashdot's disclaimer makes it mine - see bottom of page):

      Don't Blame Me I Accidentially Voted For Buchanan

      --
      Get your Unix fortune now!
    6. Re:Really! by Adam9 · · Score: 1

      (I'm in Oxford btw)

      Don't blame me, Diebold voted for me!

  24. Canada eh. by jefedesign · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Is anyone aware of a hacker con taking place in Canada? That would be awesome, although, I can't guess how many people would go... there aren't many of us up here. Its good to hear that hacker cons haven't been shut down.. although, it does beg the question: how long until they try to? Then what do we do?

    --
    Linux blog http://nsajeff.com/blog
    1. Re:Canada eh. by qualico · · Score: 1

      Do what most Canadians do when things get shut down...buy a flat of beer and sit around the fire pit till dawn...then pass out.

      Seriously though, I'd like to see one of these in Canada.
      The beer here is far better.

    2. Re:Canada eh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.cansecwest.com/

    3. Re:Canada eh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CanSecWest has been running for a while in Vancouver http://www.cansecwest.com/

    4. Re:Canada eh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, and it's only $1700 to $2000 Canadian versus this conference, which is, oh, only US$70?

      Granted both are entirely different kinds of events, but you're really comparing apples to oranges.

    5. Re:Canada eh. by camusflage · · Score: 1

      Is anyone aware of a hacker con taking place in Canada?

      Uhhhh, cansecwest?

      --
      The truth about Scientology, Xenu, and you: Operation Clambake
    6. Re:Canada eh. by WilliamsA · · Score: 1
      Is anyone aware of a hacker con taking place in Canada?

      Yes, check out CanSec West: http://www.cansecwest.com/ Great con. Great speakers. Not much hype or BS.

    7. Re:Canada eh. by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 1

      How about one that doesn't cost $1800 Canadian?

      --

      ---
      Mod me down, you fucking twits. Go ahead. I dare you.
      (I read with sigs off.)
  25. Re:geekTV sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    FYI, The Packet Sniffers are not affiliated with geekTV or the tv show they used to be associated with.

  26. Ummmm by riiiichanchan · · Score: 1

    Is this some sneaky way to pimp out the Notacon, or are you really interested in the media coverage of the con? If you are going to pimp out Notacon, why dont you just come right out and say it and quit beating around the bushes. Sht you sound so worried about whether this is a trend or not, who gives a fck, if you want to start your own con to keep it going why dont you its not very difficult, just look at the amount of anime cons out there and you'll see what i mean.

  27. Internet Going to Hell? by UnkyHerb · · Score: 2, Informative

    Wow, not only is aol instant messanger hacked so that I cannot get on, but a huge obtrusive microsoft ad is right on the top of this story, and its a flash file with sound. That is the first ad I've encountered on /. with sound, and I'ts a Microsoft one? Shame on you!

    --
    Your Momma's so fat she makes emacs look like nano!
    1. Re:Internet Going to Hell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Probably it's expected, that if you come to /. , you are geek enough to have an ad-block

  28. hax0r cons... in Canada? by radd0 · · Score: 1

    Recon 2005 , a "reverse engineering and exploit development" con, takes place this June in Montreal, Quebec. It looks quite interesting, but conflicts with my attendance at the upcoming deviantART summit in Santa Monica, California.

    -r

  29. YAPC by clymere · · Score: 1

    This thing keeps getting mentioned on all my LUG lists: http://www.yapc.org/

    --
    once you go slack, you never go back
  30. Re:Kind of OT... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Redundant?! Check the times, I posted this first...

  31. Diebold ATM (again) by ImaLamer · · Score: 1

    http://www.mintruth.com/wiki/index.php?Crashed%20D iebold%20ATM

    --
    Get your Unix fortune now!
  32. Cool word by hyfe · · Score: 1
    ...pilgermage...

    Cool, new caster class?

    Must be from 3.rd edition, haven't played that one yet.

    --
    "" How about taking the safety labels off everything, and let the stupidity-problem solve itself? """
  33. Only a few traditions.. by Myself · · Score: 1

    Carrying on a few traditions, like "being in the midwest" and "being fun to attend".

    Notacon's definitely trying to avoid a few other rubicon traditions, like "getting broken up by the cops" and "having the attendees vandalize the hotel".

    I don't think there's any real connection between the two. None of the same people are putting notacon together, and the target audience is pretty different. I think there's a strong emphasis towards leaving the kiddies at home for this one.

    1. Re:Only a few traditions.. by das_katz_socrates · · Score: 0

      I hope so because it's really hard to be leet when oneself is drunk.

      --
      This sig has no nutritional value...
    2. Re:Only a few traditions.. by Kiryat+Malachi · · Score: 1

      Oh, come on. It's always fun when the audio gear gets stolen and the con ends with "The police are outside and would like you to leave, no more than 4 at a time, with your hands clearly visible."

      --

      ---
      Mod me down, you fucking twits. Go ahead. I dare you.
      (I read with sigs off.)
  34. NotACon blew last year. It BLEW. by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 3, Informative

    I went to NotACon last year, and was very much unimpressed with it. It was small, obviously operating on a shoestring budget, and generally unprofessional. Last year I felt ripped off for paying to get in. The speakers they had presenting weren't all that knowledgable about their topics in most cases, had no polish or presentation skills, and their equipment setup as often as not wasn't working as intended, and the printed schedule of events was completely wrong. I'd go in to hear someone talk about a topic that I was interested in, and something completely different would be going on in the room, and then I'd ask someone and find out that the speaker I wanted to hear either canceled or was rescheduled for an earlier time and I'd missed them. I hope they've improved things for this year, but I won't be going to find out.

    --
    You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
  35. Don't Forget... by technomancer68 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't forget Defcon which will be occurring in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 29-31, 2005. http://www.defcon.org/html/defcon-13/dc13-index.ht ml

    --

    The Technomancer
    "Men of lofty genius when they are doing the least work are most active."-
  36. "Final bastion of open speech"? Gimme a break... by sirwired · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...one of the event's selected speakers, has promoted the hacker con as being one of the final bastions of open speech. Is this the birth of a new trend or is this simply geeks doing what they always do... spreading the word about something new and different going on in their world?"

    Guys, this is a hacker con, not Babylon 5 brought to life... "Birth of a new trend"? Um, it's shameless PR, and it isn't unique to geeks.

    SirWired

  37. WTF? by jveit · · Score: 1

    A hacker conference at the Mistake on the Lake? What is this world coming to...

    1. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I love how people still refer to Cleveland as this only because it shows how little they actually know about the city. The phrase itself is now ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD and refers to situations that aren't relevant anymore.

      I mean, come on folks, you're referring to CB slang for cryin' out loud.

    2. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Irrelevant. Did you know that Cleveland is the one large city that has yet to regain jobs since the 2001 recession? Moreover, we don't anticipate returning to pre-recession levels until 2009.

      The city is in trouble. Not as much as Buffalo, but there's some big time job concerns here.

  38. Re:NotACon blew last year. It BLEW. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ha!

    I have yet to go to a con where things were kept on schedule. I was there and I think they did a pretty good job. I mean, what are they supposed to do when a speaker plain doesn't show or comes late? Didn't they have huge schedules posted outside of each room that they kept updated? I thought so, at least.

    I'm going just because, it'll be fun and I'll learn something. Sour grapes on your part, but whatever, it's still a free country (for now).

  39. What the hell are you talking about? by KernelDump · · Score: 1

    I don't meant to flame but what the hell are you talking about? Didn't slashdot's timothy even speak? And shit, talk about a shoestring budget, it was their first one last year! Looked pretty professional to me for the time they ever did it. What were you expecting Usenix? Looks like a pretty good roundup to me. Some pretty big names and least a pretty broad and interesting selection of talks. Certainly not the kind of tripe you'd find at something like Summercon. As to scheduling, I'm sure if you had looked up at the, oh, what, 6 foot by 4 foot schedules on the wall TO EVERY ROOM you would have known who was speaking and when and, honestly, I can only think of only a couple of schedule changes that were worth noting. I'll have a good time without you then! Their media looks to be pretty cool, too. I hope their video feeds are cool.

    1. Re:What the hell are you talking about? by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I expected, for the $50 or so I paid to get in:

      - Competent, knowledgable speakers. There might have been a few, but most of what I saw was amateur. The self-professed "military technology history expert" who maybe was 14 years old and obviously had no actual military service record takes the boobie prize.
      - Presentations that didn't suck. (Maybe you should test whether your laptop can talk to the projector BEFORE the presentation begins!)
      - A published, printed schedule that was accurate. And if they had to change the schedule, quit disseminating the outdated schedule!

      After about 5-6 hours of this lameness, I got fed up and walked out. I wish I knew the person who organized it so I could punch him. For $5, it might have been an OK time, but for $50 I felt like I got conned by NotACon.

      --
      You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
    2. Re:What the hell are you talking about? by KernelDump · · Score: 1

      OK, I'll give you the one on the military technology. That one was pretty much sucked. However, wasn't that one of the few backup speakers?

      You were there 5 or 6 hours... huh... it sounds like you gave it a really fair shot. Not. And the threats of physical abuse? Talk about unprofessional. If you expect to be given then the world on a silver platter for FIVE BUCKS, you are sadly, sadly mistaken my friend. Heck, I don't know how I'd put on something like it for 5 bucks a head. I can't even go to a movie anymore for five bucks let alone an entire weekends worth of stuff.

      But, the rest of it, I mean, come on. A/V problems are endemic to any event such as this. Give me a break. I'm sure they'll do something with the schedule and I did suggest to them that they consider having schedule addenda available.

      Sounds like you just like to bitch.

    3. Re:What the hell are you talking about? by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 2, Insightful

      OK, I'll give you the one on the military technology. That one was pretty much sucked. However, wasn't that one of the few backup speakers?

      That's the thing. I didn't go there to see that speaker. That's what I ended up seeing, because something else that I DID want to see wasn't happening when it was supposed to.

      You were there 5 or 6 hours... huh... it sounds like you gave it a really fair shot.

      At that point, I'd seen enough. I couldn't tell when anything was supposed to happen, and all indications were that whoever put this together had zero experience with organizing an event. Why should I continue to waste my time putting up with that kind of bullshit?

      And the threats of physical abuse? Talk about unprofessional.

      I don't like to mix business with pleasure, and punching the organizers would have definitely been pleasure. So OF COURSE I'm unprofessional. Charging people $50 for admission and then giving them SHIT is also unprofessional.

      If you expect to be given then the world on a silver platter for FIVE BUCKS, you are sadly, sadly mistaken my friend. Heck, I don't know how I'd put on something like it for 5 bucks a head.

      Well, you start by stripping your bedsheets and using them as projection screens for your presenters, most of whom were selected by walking down the hall of your dorm at college and saying, "Hey anyone want to give a talk on some kind of technology that they know something about?" Then you put up a web site that makes it look like you're professional, competent, maybe even cutting edge. Rent out a convention room at a Holiday Inn, and sell enough tickets to cover expenses. Seriously, I would have been disappointed if my ticket HAD cost $5, but I wouldn't have been pissed off. But for 10x that much, I feel robbed. Wanting to punch someone who robs you is understandable, isn't it?

      But, the rest of it, I mean, come on. A/V problems are endemic to any event such as this.

      Not if the people putting it together plan, prepare, and do some basic testing. If you go to a professionally produced presentation, it's fucking slick. If you go to some half-assed amateur bullshit hour, you get endemic problems. A/V tech is easy enough, if you're a supposed 1337 haxor you shouldn't be having problems getting a laptop to talk to a DLP.

      --
      You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
    4. Re:What the hell are you talking about? by Jason+Scott · · Score: 1

      I spent some time consulting with my staff over where the source of your issues came from, regarding notacon's quality. After checking the location of the Holiday Inn and consulting my star chart, I think we've been able to triage your issues.

      It's not usually known, but when you have a number of cosmic arrangements, specifically the pyramid shape of the nearby Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and the metal plate in Nick Farr's head, something that is commonly referred to as a "dimensional rift" occurs. Unlike the cinematic portrayals of this rift (which are WAY off base, by the way), there is usually not a burst of orchestra music and vibrating white light. Instead, doors and hallways seem pretty much the same, although if your mind is open you can see it immediately. Closed minds, structured as they are to find the bad in everything and to look at the world as a big loving silver platter waiting for them to grab with thier chubby, slick fingers, will walk around unawares for a good amount of time.

      Were you to not have gone through this portal, I suspect you would have seen Notacon as it was: a combination of talks, social gathering, and events stretching far into the night. For my own part, I recall a particularly good poker game played with a number of intelligent people, conversation topics flailing about like a trauma victim and the pot slowly rising between us. Of course, the real currency in that game were the ideas, but I digress.

      In the actual reality of notacon, I happily attended a number of excellent talks, including my own. This is good, because my lack of attendance would have surely brought the talk down to the level that you experienced in NotNotacon, the portal dimension we figure you were in. The next time you think you might be there, check the labels of Snapple Iced Tea: they're blue instead of a brown-yellow mix.

      My own talk, which is up for enjoyment both here and here, covered an excellent example of the merging of at and technology in what is commonly known as the ANSI art scene. I like to think we were engaging, multi-media, and intense. Of course, in the NotNotacon dimension, I believe our talk was replaced with a riveting account of ordering a sandwich. C'est la vie, as we say in the metaphysical sciences.

      What concerns me, of course, is that, like your unawareness of the dimensional portal you found yourself in, you've been unable to give examples of conventions that NotNotacon can aspire to. Surely, giving helpful information instead of a litany of wild-eyed negatives will improve the world at large, if for no other reason than to gain the vital "Junior J. Junior III" market often described in articles in "Hacker Convention Monthly".

      My staff at textfiles.com and I send our condolences that you spent your 5-hour jaunt in the alternate dimension and hope that your open-mind exercises will prevent this sad occurrence from happening in the future.

  40. we have taken the media back by StankDawg · · Score: 1

    like it or not. Part of the mindset that we have at Binary Revolution is that internet media is the last bastion of free speech. We have said it on our radio show and our TV show for years now. The FCC cannot regulate us (yet) and instead of us catering to the mass media and government, we are using a new medium to take back what is ours.

    I could go into a longer rant about this, but you would be better served to listen to our shows and realize for yourself.

    --
    --- The revolution will be digitized! - http://www.binrev.com/ ---
  41. Not me... by camusflage · · Score: 1

    Be sure to be there for this wonderful presentation.

    --
    The truth about Scientology, Xenu, and you: Operation Clambake
  42. greetings from OLUG by ChristTrekker · · Score: 1

    Good for you, Irish! :)

    --

    Constitutionally Correct

  43. Exactly. by /dev/trash · · Score: 1

    I'd say Cincy is more of a southern city. Toledo, that's Midwest. And Midwest states are in the Central time zone too.

    1. Re:Exactly. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Michigan and Ohio are both midwest and in the eastern time zone.

  44. Re:NotACon blew last year. It BLEW. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    According to your livejournal, you were there for all of about 3 hours. I think we must have been to different cons, because Notacon most certainly did not "blow".