Slashdot Mirror


Slashdot 10-Year Anniversary Party Grand Prize Winner

From Brisbane to Beunos Aires... From the UK to France to Romania... from New York to San Francisco and everywhere in between, we had well over 100s of parties and over 2,300 registered attendees scattered around the world. Many of them got boxes of t-shirts and ThinkGeek gift certificates (and some of them even got them on time). We've seen cakes with legos and logos, we seen nerf gun fights, and even a lawn sporking. I've put a tiny sampling of my favorite pictures online. The grand prize winner is of the $1k store credit at ThinkGeek is Lindsi from Minneapolis. Their party featured a lolcats cake, a taco bar and a dude in a helmet smashing computers with a sledge hammer in a raining parking lot. They earned it. We had a great time in both Palo Alto and Ann Arbor- I hope you guys had fun wherever you gathered. See you again in 2017!

102 comments

  1. Ugh, lolcats?? by Tetsujin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    That is a punishable offense, not something to be rewarded...

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
    1. Re:Ugh, lolcats?? by Hijacked+Public · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If you read any photography related web forums, something I strongly advise against, you'll see that lolcats photos are pretty popular.

      Some guy buys a $3000 lens for his $3000 DSLR, shoots a photo of his cat, then posts a modified JPG version so everyone can validate his pointless consumerism. "Here I am shooting cat photos in my living room with $10,000 in camera gear. Please tell me how excellent my purchasing acumen is."

      --
      "Sacrifice for the good of The State" - The State
    2. Re:Ugh, lolcats?? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      It's not as bad as wring 'legos'. Nowhere near.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  2. just cause by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    she is a babe.

  3. Sporks! by taz757 · · Score: 1

    I love the sporks on the field. Wish I would have thought of it!

    1. Re:Sporks! by mashmac2 · · Score: 1

      Thanks! We've used those forks before for different designs and patterns... it's lots of fun to design and layout a giant forking once in a while.

  4. Yee Ha! by lecithin · · Score: 1

    Glad that I could be part of the winning team!

    Thanks for letting me take a whack at the E250.

    --
    It could be worse, it could be Monday.
    1. Re:Yee Ha! by DecepticonEazyE · · Score: 2, Informative

      YAAAAAAAAAAAAAA That rocks!!!!! Check out our details. http://www.vibrant.com/blog/slashdot-anniversary-party-recap/ We had so much fun!!!

    2. Re:Yee Ha! by archen · · Score: 1

      Actually the video is sorta interesting. I was actually half tempted to just post a cut from Star Wreck where the P-fleet officers all get wasted at a party. I mean who could tell with a bunch of people dressed up with star-fleet outfits? Just photoshop in some slashdot banners. But obviously that would take away the thunder of honest to goodness slashdot parties. That and I don't think I could explain the shooting the beer can off of someone's head with a phaser part.

    3. Re:Yee Ha! by steveo777 · · Score: 1

      It was a fun night! Glad I got to go play some Guitar Hero with everyone. Way to go, everyone!!!

      --
      This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
    4. Re:Yee Ha! by filterban · · Score: 1

      Totally awesome evening. I'm really glad Vibrant won. It was one of the best parties I've ever been to, so it's GOT to be one of the best Slashdot parties out there, right? :)

      LOLCATS FTW!

      --
      rm -rf /
    5. Re:Yee Ha! by ug333 · · Score: 1

      It was a fun night, indeed. Smashing computers with a sledge hammer should become an annual tradition. It really helps relieve the geek stress.

  5. Do my eyes deceive me? by paranode · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or is there an attractive female in those pics?!?

    1. Re:Do my eyes deceive me? by ivoras · · Score: 1

      Do my eyes deceive me or Google just got Slashdotted? :)

      --
      -- Sig down
    2. Re:Do my eyes deceive me? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    3. Re:Do my eyes deceive me? by ErikRed1488 · · Score: 1
      Vibrant Technologies hosted the party. I believe the woman in the picture you're referring to was one of their staff.

      Vibrant Technologies Staff Profile Page

      I was at this party and have to say is was a good time. Guitar Hero, Halo 3, taco bar (though not a CmdrTaco bar), cake, face painting, and of course smashing stuff. I personally took my pent up aggression out of a Cisco router.

      Many thanks to Vibrant for hosting the party!

      The only negative, we didn't get any /. schwag.

      --
      I was not touched there by an angel.
    4. Re:Do my eyes deceive me? by lindsi · · Score: 1

      We actually finally got the shirts. I'll get an email sent out this week or next for addresses.

    5. Re:Do my eyes deceive me? by Plutonite · · Score: 1

      Oh great. Now that you're doing the ethical thing, I (and all other happy hosts) am going to have to hunt down the people at MY party to give them their shirts, as opposed to using them to decorate my wall.

      Girls... You make life so difficult.

      PS: Did anyone figure out why there was a rm -rf /* on the back? I didn't understand why.

    6. Re:Do my eyes deceive me? by Plutonite · · Score: 1

      Your eyes surely deceive you. You too can achieve similar effects, with a little practice:

      http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/index.html

  6. My favorite photo by eknagy · · Score: 5, Funny
    1. Re:My favorite photo by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

      "0x0a MSB -> candles"?

      The binary candles are nice, but "MSB"? As in "Most-significant byte"? Of a one-byte value??

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
    2. Re:My favorite photo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's most significant bit. And seeing how there are just 4 candles, it's a half byte value, or nibble and ... mmmmm cake! Can i take a bite?

    3. Re:My favorite photo by Eco-Mono · · Score: 2, Funny

      Most significant bit. Otherwise, someone might have claimed that Slashdot was only 0x05. Got to nip those endian issues in the bud. ;)

      --
      (rot13) rpbzbab@tznvy.pbz
    4. Re:My favorite photo by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

      Most significant bit. Otherwise, someone might have claimed that Slashdot was only 0x05. Got to nip those endian issues in the bud. ;) OK, got it... they're specifying that the one on the far left is the most significant bit... Thanks for clearing that up.
      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
    5. Re:My favorite photo by digitaldc · · Score: 1
      --
      He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
    6. Re:My favorite photo by Spacezilla · · Score: 1

      So why does everyone keep saying the cake is a lie? It clearly isn't!

    7. Re:My favorite photo by ricree · · Score: 1

      No kidding. From what I've heard, it was both delicious and moist.

    8. Re:My favorite photo by astrokid · · Score: 1

      "The cake is a lie" is in reference to a game called Portal in which the main character is promised cake at the end of a series of tests. (Hopefully this was a real question and my sarcasm detector is not broken)

      --

      Chewie does not get a medal. Come on, George. Can a Wookie get a medal?
    9. Re:My favorite photo by Joe+Jay+Bee · · Score: 1

      There's not a loud enough WHOOSH in the world... ;)

    10. Re:My favorite photo by Spacezilla · · Score: 1

      In his defense, I have only just played Portal, so a week ago it would have been a real question. :)

  7. Congratulations Lindsi! by Provocateur · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Wondering what you would pick from ThinkGeek, do certain things come to mind right away, or you had to do several browse sessions?

    In short, what's on your THinkGeek wishlist (or shopping cart, if you hadn't made a wish list). Just curious what a /. winner would pick. Awright, you got me: I just want to live vicariously through you!

    --
    WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
    1. Re:Congratulations Lindsi! by lindsi · · Score: 5, Informative

      Thanks! We all had a blast at this party. I have to say the prize money will be split up amongst the other brains of the operation - I have to give credit where credit is due, to Corey (vibrant_com), Kris (kblommel) and Hudson (decepticoneazye) for their efforts. Maybe we can put it towards something everyone can enjoy at the next geeky-get together. (I heard /. has birthdays every year...! Ha.)

    2. Re:Congratulations Lindsi! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing says "creepy internet guy" like a request for someone else's shopping habits!

    3. Re:Congratulations Lindsi! by Provocateur · · Score: 1

      +5 Excellent to Corey, Kris, Hudson then!

      So what does this mean, will you guys be waving goodbye to your *snif* basement dwellings?

      Now don't go shop and simply get the Geek Shirt, it almost says 'I went to the /. anniversary party and all I got was this lousy* (geek) shirt!'

      P.S.
      I don't think it's lousy, personally. But you get what I mean.

      --
      WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
    4. Re:Congratulations Lindsi! by filterban · · Score: 1

      You guys deserve it. If any more get togethers are planned that are 1/2 as fun as that party, I'd do my damndest to make it, even if it's a "Slashdot turns 10.1" party!

      --
      rm -rf /
  8. I think... by ackthpt · · Score: 1

    I think I could salvage some of that hardware. It still looks useable and I bet I could install Linux on it.

    I'm imagining a beowulf cluster already...

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:I think... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the pictures in that set are GIMP'd. Look at this one for example:
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/vibrant/1799913933/in/set-72157602788247909/

    2. Re:I think... by value_added · · Score: 1

      Could be that they were all equipped with Broadcom NICs, Winmodems, and Adaptec RAID cards? Or maybe they all ran Windows at one point, and smashing them was a cathartic response to years of wasted effort?

      Nah. My guess is that smashing stuff is just fun.

    3. Re:I think... by goodtim · · Score: 1

      I am not sure if this is funny or just sad. But in one of those pics, there appeared to be an HP N2000 PA-RISC system. I only know this because up until about January, my company ran their ERP system off one one.

      --
      "Flee at once, all is discovered."
  9. Agreed. by game+kid · · Score: 1

    I say take back the prize. No penance until they make an NEDM pie.

    --
    You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  10. Hey.. by eniac42 · · Score: 2, Funny

    And chicks! They got chicks!

    --
    "A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it." - Churchill
    1. Re:Hey.. by anticypher · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Chicks? But of course. There are lots more women working in technology than basement dwelling /.ers would admit to. The Lyon, France party was mostly organized by the French Women in Free Computing group.

      Since I just screwed up the links to their site, I'll post to the Linux Chix in France site here, since replying to correct my own post would be bad netiquette.

      the AC

      --
      Hemos is like...sci-fi fans;he thinks technology is cool, but he hasn't bothered to understand the science it's based on
    2. Re:Hey.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Holy crap. You should submit a news story.

  11. Re:This God It's Over by AmaDaden · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you hate hearing about /. so much goto http://meta.slashdot.org/users.pl?op=edithome and set it so you don't have to see those articles. Trolling about how this is a "circle-jerk" is not a solution.

  12. No way, the winner should be Skiboricus... by frankie · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ...because he never showed up at the party he hosted and apparently ran off with all the free swag. I'll pay $5 to anyone who helps me track down this lousy thief.

    1. Re:No way, the winner should be Skiboricus... by LWATCDR · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Actually I think it should have the person that hosted the party in Port St. Lucie FL.
      I think we had the third biggest turnout in the state and we still haven't gotten any swag. Good burgers and good people though.
      Not even some Slashdot stickers!

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    2. Re:No way, the winner should be Skiboricus... by lmnfrs · · Score: 1

      How do you know he got swag? Our party's host never showed up either.. hope he didn't take it.

  13. Beunos Aires? by powermacx · · Score: 2, Informative

    Should be Buenos Aires.

  14. 2017? by rainer_d · · Score: 1

    Jesus Christ.
    I hope, they still publish text-stories then.
    Not some youtube-clone-mee2-bs.

    --
    Windows 2000 - from the guys who brought us edlin
  15. Bad Timing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In Ann Arbor you had:

    Chris Smither concert
    Nomo Concert
    Michigan football game

    And wasn't the slashdot party held during a teeny-bopper timeslot of like 8-10?

    1. Re:Bad Timing by bn557 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but we partied til at least 12.

      --
      Humans are slow, innaccurate, and brilliant; computers are fast, acurrate, and dumb; together they are unbeatable
  16. WEBSENSED! by singingjim1 · · Score: 0

    Has there been a discussion here about the increased use of filtering software by corporate America to reduce the average worker's ability to surf the web? Yeah yeah, this is off topic, but I can't see the pics here at work and it's annoying as hell. I'm just waiting for the day that they add Slashdot and their ilk to the list of filtered sites.

  17. I forgot by hansamurai · · Score: 1

    Crap, I almost went to that party in Minnetonka too. Looks like a blast! I'll be there in 10 years...

  18. Parties in France by anticypher · · Score: 2, Interesting

    There were parties in Paris and Lyon, with reasonably good turnout. The party in Lyon profited from having some good organizers who knew each other. They had a Duke Nukem release party :-)

    Lyon party photos from Zopeuse and more from the pterjan, and the Logiciel Libre crowd.

    In Paris we attempted all the typical "geek" or "nerd" activities; drank Guinness, played wii games, ate a good meal, compared our DSLR cameras, had a DSW over who had been using computers the longest, and finally took some photos. Those are just mine, either I'll grab the other people's photos and add them, or let them post a link in a followup posting.

    the AC

    --
    Hemos is like...sci-fi fans;he thinks technology is cool, but he hasn't bothered to understand the science it's based on
  19. Facepainting? So much for edgy, eh? by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    Ya hey dere, Minnesota. I see youse gots somma dat dere facepainting? So much for edgy, eh?

  20. Thanks & that barmaid with the slash book by Lord+Satri · · Score: 2, Informative

    Thanks first for the opportunity. Montréal's Slash party was nice. Maybe we were about 25 slash enthusiasts at the climax. Here's my summary right after the party (with alcohol still running in my veins): "Interesting to see a sample of Slashdot readers. Most were very friendly, some were rather shy (as we expect nerds to be?), some were "older" but some were also very young! And the discussions about 1.5D, 2.5D, 3.5D, surfing in Hawifi, this North Korean drum-driven CD and three-way code merge were definitely worthy of a Slash-like party, and that barmaid reading the Slash book. Yeah. We should have more of this. Life still has surprises. Thanks."

    One of the pictures on Picasa web album is a barmaid which accepted to play our game and be photographed while faking reading the cryptic "Running web logs with Slash" book (I happen to run a small slash-based website, that's why a bought a copy of the book). As good slash users, pictures were copied on the web even as the event occurred by people at the party :-)

    1. Re:Thanks & that barmaid with the slash book by paulius_g · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I wish I went to the Montreal party. At first, I believe it was to be held at a bar. I'm not 18 years old and unlike many of my fellow peers, I don't have a fake ID nor plan to get one. Good to know that you all had a great time.

  21. that's CHEATING! by zanderredux · · Score: 3, Insightful

    no photoshopped pics! that was the rule as I understood!

  22. Please god no... by lotd · · Score: 1
    Can someone confirm that she only wore a wedding ring to keep the slobbering masses away and she is really single and is going to marry me.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/vibrant/1800753876/in/set-72157602788247909/

    1. Re:Please god no... by lindsi · · Score: 1

      HAHA. I was in her wedding, so I have to vouch. My sincerest apologies, my friend.

    2. Re:Please god no... by Tsunayoshi · · Score: 1

      I feel a great disturbance in the Force. As if millions of geeks suddenly cried out in disappointment. I fear they will return to their basements.

      --
      "Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live." - Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
  23. Last call for NYC schwag by opencity · · Score: 1

    The t shirts arrived but late.
    Anyone out there want one?
    Free OBO.

    --
    Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.
    1. Re:Last call for NYC schwag by Seakip18 · · Score: 1

      Heh, sure. If anything, I can show it to the other two guys who came to the party.

      --
      import system.cool.Sig;
    2. Re:Last call for NYC schwag by u8i9o0 · · Score: 1

      I've been looking for solid confirmation of a meeting place/time in your comments.
      Since I haven't seen any, I'm assuming that you're arranging this all via email - so I'll send you a message.

      --
      This is not my sig
    3. Re:Last call for NYC schwag by Xero_One · · Score: 1

      I'll take a shirt please. I'll save you on shipping too, just let me know where you want to meet up.

    4. Re:Last call for NYC schwag by opencity · · Score: 1

      A spot hasn't been picked. Cakeshop has the same comedy crews at the end of happy hour.
      I'm leaning towards Hopscotch as it's a shorter trip with two cases of XL t shirts. But no booze.
      If anyone has an opinion post away or else I'll ask the venue and set something up for Friday evening.

      --
      Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.
    5. Re:Last call for NYC schwag by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 1

      FYI this Friday is also the 2600 meeting, and we usually end up at Hopscotch at some point late in the evening.

  24. And how fitting... by sootman · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... that the story to cap the festivities would contain the awkward phrase "... we had well over 100s of parties..."

    The proud Slashdot editorial tradition continues. Here's to over tens of more great years! :-)

    --
    Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
    1. Re:And how fitting... by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      I'm surprised you didn't mention the raining parking lot. Who was the parking lot raining on? Sounds painful...

    2. Re:And how fitting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      we seen nerf!!

    3. Re:And how fitting... by sootman · · Score: 1

      Oh yeah, that one too. Good catch. I didn't actually read the whole summary. ;-)

      --
      Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
  25. Fake by Zedrick · · Score: 1

    The "winning party" is a fake - there's girls in some of the pictures.
    Can't be a real slashdot party.

  26. It's Buenos Aires!! by fangelo · · Score: 1

    I was happy to see the name of the city where I live at the begging of the article, only to discover that it was mispelled!!

    1. Re:It's Buenos Aires!! by stm2 · · Score: 1

      If you live in Buenos Aires why didn't you attent to the "party"?

      --
      DNA in your Linux: DNALinux
    2. Re:It's Buenos Aires!! by fangelo · · Score: 1

      Party? there was a party here? :-(

  27. Picasa sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are the images available somewhere that doesn't require javashit?

  28. Los Angeles Party by asphaltjesus · · Score: 1

    Photos, (with girls no less!) http://medsocial.com/safe/viewprofile.aspx?show=101367

    Shame I couldn't go as the arsenal is a great spot with many memories. Back in the eighties/early nineties it was NOT a cool place to go. Back then the walls were **covered** in weapons of all kinds like swords, hand grenades, maces, halberds, etc. (hence the name...) Are they still there or are the pictures in another area?

    --
    Got Trader Joe's? friendwich.com RSS feeds work now!
  29. WTH? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What the hell? Did she sleep with Commander Taco? Guess my BJ didn't work on him....

  30. Video, for whoever's interested! by lindsi · · Score: 2, Informative

    Highlight reel here and full-length here. (Oh, and being a female, I can vouch for not only our existence, but our presence at the party!! :-D)

  31. Creative! by gbridge · · Score: 4, Funny

    You really have to give them full marks for creativity. They even made cardboard cutouts of girls!

  32. Re:Facepainting? So much for edgy, eh? by everphilski · · Score: 1

    eh. Don'tchaknow. Come'n over to der farm und veesconsin, and we can tip der cows!

  33. The real question by megaditto · · Score: 1

    Do those come with a free shovel?

    --
    Obama likes poor people so much, he wants to make more of them.
  34. Still Waiting for My Invite by aplusjimages · · Score: 1

    I'm pretty sure my invitation got lost in the e-mail.

    --
    Can I bum a sig?
  35. Nicole is hot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nicole is hot

  36. In soviet Russia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In soviet Russia, anniversaries celebrate you!

  37. on my party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    there was a guy who helped CmdrTaco to display very early slashdot on "Linux show" in mid-1990s. CmdrTaco wasn't able to afford the fee to become an exhibitor (which was probably not that high, as entire Linux show was hosted on tables) but guy who was on our party convinced Novell to let CmdrTaco with slashdot exhibit on their stand.

  38. Great Time - Thanks Vibrant & /. ! by Knabber · · Score: 1

    I too was there and confirm that there were women at the party. My whole hand went numb when I smacked one of the Dells. Be careful when using Sledge Hammers in the cold rain, as it hampers ones proficiency in later Guitar Hero sessions.

  39. why wait? by drDugan · · Score: 1

    2017???

    Mid-30s cynical geeks congregating to office space an old computer while celebrating Slashdot culture could happen in hundreds of locations every year. Just get bunch of startup shwag partners, run the /. Party schedule software, collect the videos and photos and make it an annual thing.

    I would love to organize it.

  40. mod up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    required reading for this crowd.

  41. itsnotlegosdammit by beav007 · · Score: 1

    Agreed

    For "legos" to be correct, each piece of the kit would need to be a "lego". THEY AREN'T!

    Lego is the name of the company that makes the Lego bricks, connectors, and other assorted pieces. Come on people, it's not that hard to get right...

  42. I'd really intended to go to the Palo Alto bash... by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 1

    But forgot what the day was. Didn't get it onto my calendar manager, and there was nothing on the main page about the parties on the day(s) of/before them.

    Could have made it, too, if I'd known "this is the day". B-(

    Oh, well. Maybe in another five years or so... Like after I've retired and moved to Nevada...

    --
    Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  43. New geek test by DragonHawk · · Score: 1

    I think I could salvage some of that hardware. It still looks useable and I bet I could install Linux on it.

    I think there's a new geek test here. If you watched the video/looked at the pics, and your first thought was, "Damn, I could have used that equipment", you're a geek. I know I certainly felt an urge to shout "Noooo!" for some of it.

    --

    dragonhawk@iname.microsoft.com
    I do not like Microsoft. Remove them from my email address.
  44. T Shirts Hopscotch Friday Night Nov 2 by opencity · · Score: 1

    Hopscotch Cafe
    Ave A btw 8 / 9 st

    I'll get there around 8:30 and I'll be wearing ... uh ... clothes.

    As usual respect the venue, buy something (no booze :- ) and/or leave a tip if possible.

    --
    Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.
  45. T Shirts Friday spread the word by opencity · · Score: 1

    same post again what the hell -

    Hopscotch Cafe - Friday Night Nov 2
    Ave A btw 8 / 9 st

    I'll get there around 8:30 and I'll be wearing ... uh ... clothes.

    As usual respect the venue, buy something (no booze :- ) and/or leave a tip if possible.

    --
    Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.
    1. Re:T Shirts Friday spread the word by Xentor · · Score: 1

      Well well, noticed this one just in time... Nice of them to lock the old thread to make coordination difficult.

      --
      "The amount of intelligence on this planet is a constant. The population is growing." -Cole's Axiom
    2. Re:T Shirts Friday spread the word by opencity · · Score: 1

      I emailed them about facilitating this but got no reply.
      Bring friends. T shirts for all.

      --
      Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.