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RobotFest2017

Page history last edited by jerry 6 years, 11 months ago

RobotFest2017

Introduction/Definition/etc

Another year of RobotFest, but not really doing

much with it, got there, so not down about that,

like MakerFaireNoVA or similar title,

see AnUnEventfulWeekend2017

but getting old, and tired,

and still poor, so some confounding issues

going on...

Body

Go / No Go?

Heat was an issue, forecast for 93 degrees or so

high for the day, and not liking heat,

last time I went (or before that?) I bicycled,

the Grey Gray funeral day anniversary, etc,

so other stuff complicating it...

Money was also an issue, too little

to really do much, like silent auction,

and safety margin(s)...

Getting There

A late start after setting off a fire alarm,

by cooking pancakes too quickly, on

too high a flame, and old chicken fat in there,

to maybe make more smoke than usual,

or a different kind...

A 5 AM departure goal, turned into

rolling out later at 7 AM+, to a

woman jogging as I went kitty corner

thru the cross walk in front of her,

who claimed to know where I was going,

maybe so, not sure I'd make it,

nor the route, so keep nosey (sp?)

people (and non clowns) guessing...

Route

Explored a little, taking The Road Less

Traveled, at least by me, and trying to

avoid hills, saw a guy running barefoot,

and shirtless, already in the early

AM and seemed to know of me,

or claimed too...

And a homeless guy sleeping

near a construction site, but

tried to respect his privacy,

while still capturing the milleau (sp?)

environment/ and route information

for later, maybe checking distance,

calories, hill avoidance, safety issues,

backup shops/ tools, supplies, food,

A/C cooling options, water, etc...

Pay By Money Order?

All I had, really, with a safety margin

of a little cash, and a Reduced Fare

Smart Card for transit, with just about

enough to get back, the longest part at least,

the B30 buses from GreenBelt Metro

(track work!) to BWI...

Anyways, I think she didn't want

that noted, or that not everyone could

do that, the first time she had tried it,

maybe they don't scan (bank apps?),

trying to create a package deal

with t shirt would be the same booth,

organization, etc...

She didn't want to give cash back,

being a check service, but had to spend

it all, maybe raffle / silent auction

would have helped, but not sure

I would win, and more hungry

than anything else...

And the food woman wanted too

much personal information (last name,

great get my remaining family killed...),

and seemed scary, they may have

been having a bad start day,

anyway(s)...

Food handling safety and maybe

the guy was doing court ordered

community service, idk,

seemed like she was a little

strict/ mean, the food overseeing woman...

I Was Looking Sad

Ratty holey shorts (but extra pockets),

had more A/C vents, as far as

I was concerned, but brought

other better donated discovered

shorts to change into, but never did,

I left early instead...

Oh, and bringing the Skunk back

to Skunk Works, didn't do laundry

before, so bike stuff had a part

of a day in them, thinking they

would be rather used by the time

I got there anyways...

Plus conserving energy to worry

about the ride as well...

Read up on bacteria culturing conditions,

etc, if you want the gross science of it...

Safe Routes To Robots?

Being Bike Month, now getting around

to drivel in May, wonder what routes kids

(with adults) could / would use to ride there?

How about a bike valet?

Baltimore Light Rail is nearby,

what cargo options are there?

Drone coverage

(NOPE! Near An Airport)

But noticed a park or so that

had cameras in them, wondering if

my local one(s) need that too...

Besides the game camera(s)...

Attacked? Pushed?

Out of time series sequence, but

seemed like someone yelling,

I tried to ignore it, but seemed

like forced into the curb, a high

one, maybe trying to push me over

to get CHiP, the bike, harass me, etc...

Low smokers / drinkers type

voice, so maybe a predator,

could have even been a cop,

yells a lot, says bully, at least, to me,

(but near an intersection?),

and Dinos, along Route One,

part of why I punted and went

to the bus, instead, vary route,

a security concern, fairly vulnerable,

and maybe the guy(s) got caught?

Other crap going on, I just keep riding,

and not wanting to be interrupted/

waylaid in a long trip, taking too long/

running late anyway(s),

and probably why it would be good

to have camera(s) going all the time,

and multiple directions, but hidden/

safe/ and for security as well as

route storage, etc...

Changing B30 Route Somehow

Outbound bus driver/ operator,

mentioned it, maybe no weekend

hours, something about the press

saw it, and a problem, backed up,

slowed down the loading/ disembarking

on / off, and/or just a monetary thing,

it went to the Board,

maybe I should/ plan on taking

the MARC trains instead,

probably Transit Union stuff,

Cabs want high fares to the

Airport(s), and don't want cheaper

options to exist, plus the low lifes/

read poor (some doing scams)

("leave him alone and you can stay there.

otherwise you have to go...")

("he thinks everything is his...")

who hang out there,

maybe what Dulles will become

if MetroRail is finally there, and

DCA / Reagan National

(forgetting air name signs)

probably already is???

Concessions

Turns out they are different organizations,

and had some attitude, but they

did it, and other problems,

still early for breakfast, lunch,

no long line yet, but letting others

go before, too... Might have helped

to hit the bathroom and wash

my hands first, getting inside,

but such is the way with kids, etc

anyways, mostly condiments jars,

nice and new, could/ should have

asked them to top them,

or use my Asian grocery store

bought bulk nitrile (sp correct?) gloves

I had packed for working on bikes

with chains, oil etc)

So carrying 4 Hot Dog combos,

now everything but combo

$1 each, everything, makes the math easier,

and not hearing it much, anyways...

Mobbed

After some food, (read eating 4 hot dogs

with topping quickly) with someone associated

with the organizer, but not into electronics

(didn't know they existed, joke, some do, but

not the majority of people I can even talk too...)

I'm yacking away, drinking soda, the second

one taking longer, wanting to try the

empty can with the Coder MiP

tray, showing it to some guy I'd talked

to for what must have seemed like

an hour (to him) to start, wondering later if

there was something in the soda/

air (sprayed the lawn under us recently?)/

mid day sun and heat getting really bad...

(Later someone said hot dog water,

something human?) So only buy

packaged food stuff and don't leave my

open soda can in the bathroom,

forgetting it, as people in there,

tried using it myself, only me,

wearing a camera is a problem

with stuff like that, and no single

toilets, maybe the office side

bathroom had that, a single,

but big handicapped stall,

tell the people waiting,

why I want to go in alone,

but someone came in behind me...

Can't really have it Out Of Service

for a minute or two can I?

Then I walk around, remembering

I had a soda on the way in...

Others probably have someone to

hold stuff for them, honey hold this

while I pee, take the kid(s) in etc...

Demo WowWee Stuff Brought

I show CHiP, Coder MiP, MipoSaur,

and so many people went around me,

quickly, some kid(s) putting their hands

in the my bike panniers/ saddle bags,

maybe trying to be helpful, (unpacking?

like groceries at home?)

but I was going for the SmartBall,

SmartBand/ SmartPhone as

some guy wanted to see it move sideways,

I had too many things to do at once,

a multi ring circus, unplanned,

near the road, traffic, parking, etc

on the sidewalk but outside the rope)

and not wanting to lose anything,

they probably thought it was swag,

and a corporate give away thing,

but I'm staring thinking

"Warning Danger Will Robinson, Danger!"

(check old black and white robot show

for more)

The adult of the group, of people

waiting to go in to the show,

had said they know me, were going to write

it up, or similar, maybe the guy who

wore the Google Glass in my face

from NoVA MakerFaire when it was a mini,

but a birthday party was also a possibility

Once there was some conflict,

it seemed like a kid/ adult was having a

(/an Aspie?) meltdown, I was on the

sidewalk showing my personal

toy bot stuff, and other issues going on,

(don't touch things feet on the ball is one thing,

don't know what it's been in,

where it's been, plus Not Said,

while juggling all that was going on,

with too many people, some kids just

grab stuff, then the parent says wash up,

they are sick... Not really knowing what/

which / how sick/ that is, I'm just showing stuff,

not sharing stuff, as in play with my toys...

And no real way of washing electronics,

I mentioned a water test of stuff,

and use the watercraft show,

I later suggest to the silent auction watching stuff

guy, Steve Austin I call him, similar name,

but add a wading pool for bots and kids jump in,

but I'm thinking solving heat problems, etc,

maybe more pool chlorinate it, salt it, etc...)

All that going on, and maybe I'm

attacked and sprayed/ hooded/

the kids were getting not that friendly,

and a gang/ squad/ territorial thing,

(a planned attack some thought,

but they didn't stop it ahead of time?

"ABend" I heard...)

but later was clearer , they were

escorted out/ left/ decided it was too small

an event for their egos, etc/ arrested and/or

exported or something... Maybe just

buy a WowWee CHiP spend the multi person

entrance money on an expensive bot

and call that the event and party, their first bot,

a COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) DogBot...

Plus something about scheduled to appear,

or flash mobbed/ slashdotted, idk...

Returning to things I written about,

may not be good for me,

as it may be a way of finding me,

and not something I really want,

maybe what Patch goes thru,

on a much bigger scale,

and that is without the Crazies

(I know, the C word, but not much else

describes what people project onto you,

(clinically speaking) when they think

they know you, just from writing/

or appearances, but obviously not

Biblically (sp?), as I've not

stooped (sp? and add Yiddish like accent)

that many in my life...)

Mostly people seem to want something

from you, and/or to be written about,

like write about me, as if

BusGirl is something to be proud about...

And/or a desire to be Famous

ala TheShortOfIt school shooter insanity...

And then one of the most popular

is one of the most painful,

for me, at least,

MyFatherPassedAwayLastNight

...

What little journalism I've learned,

it's that man on the street, being

quiet about who you are, and low key,

is probably impossible over time,

people want to know what they

are selling to you, and what you

are doing with it, so they put on a

show/performance (think an ad with

kids dancing to a man named Sean?

or similar), instead of just being themselves,

and letting the chips fall where they may,

as they say...

I don't write about everything I go to,

and probably for good reason,

to keep something safe and

private to myself...

Keeping things small, manageable

and personal, instead of a many ring

circus (yeah, I heard Ringling's Barnim

(sp?) and Bailey Circus closed up,

something about animal rights,

declining attendance, etc) and financial

stuff gets in the way...

Blogging and citizen journalism changes

who is really a journalist, and who isn't

might depend upon the number and types

of readers, you have/ haven't, but

keeping it non professional, i.e.

volunteer and unpaid, and you have

limitations of what can be done

and can't before getting into the big league

problems... Paid admission for big

name conferences/events, travel expenses,

fees, photo credits, etc...

Editors, deadlines, assignments,

press credentials, media passes,

basically kickbacks, graft, corruption,

quid pro quo, etc

Think of what it would have been like

to be at the HomeBrew Computer Club,

or Chaos, back in the day... Would

you cheapen it by trying to write about it,

not that this event, or anything like it,

is that, but just sayin...

Would your smart ass comment start someone

thinking about something that makes them

a million, billion or more, and what profit

sharing exists on that?

A gentleman's bet, and someone not

wanting to be in the spotlight,

just helping people out...

Like Open Hardware, and back in

the day... Contracts and open bids...

Costs

Transit

B30

$3.50 senior disabled/ reduced fare

rumored to go up to $12-15?

only weekday(s) and not allow reductions...

(legal/ within accessibility policies?)

Admission

$7 with sunglasses (indoor and outdoor exhibit,

maybe like easily available safety glasses/goggles

too?)

normally $8 and I think you have to mention

the sunglasses, Transitions lenses (tm?)

may count, YMMV. Some years they don't,

iirc...

Food

$12 in 3x hot dog combos

(hot dog,

soda/ water,

chips or cookies)

Methods of Payment

Cash mostly, but swipey thing for

credit/debit cards for entry and t shirts

have been done there before, assumes

good data connection(s),

weather dependent,

etc...

Silent Auction Settling Up

Not sure what all is done with that,

usually cash, but maybe other means

available, cost of the item(s), and number

of items, plus years of attendance, and

if you are/were an exhibitor, museum

member, etc...

Paying by Money Order is

not recommended,

I could have emailed ahead about it,

and was able to this year, but

mention of a fee/charge for it,

and other issues...

Money management is helpful

to be able to do that,

budget ahead the limit of what

to spend at something like that,

(think CarneyLand/ FarmersMarket

where did all my cash go???!$)

and maybe they could create a

local RobotFest currency,

3D printed coins, pseudo BitCcins,

and other farmers market like

internal exchange between booths,

only two real for pay tables,

admission and concessions,

until buying from the host front

desk, even old 2009 Green Shirts,

and Parallax, maybe museum

calendar (on sale?), membership,

soldering class kits, classes, etc...

SWAG

(Stuff We All Get)

Dead Tree Material

Magazines

I usually list issues, and links,

but detail is a little

dense at the moment

Nuts and Volts

Servo

I noticed at home later, only one of the four?

were not duplicates of what I had from

previous years...

Pass them on to others?

Recycling to people who haven't seen them?

Kids?

Age Appropriate?

Hacker groups?

Recycle?

Cards

Business cards,

though QR Readers a booth plaque

might make it easier, the vendors /

exhibitors list on RobotFest includes

many links, iirc...

Handouts

Dead trees, possible, but get heavy,

and possibly wet, would have been

good reminders, for adding substance

to this drivel though...

Catalogs

Electronics supply catalogs

3D Printer Examples

some handouts at some booths, printed

ahead a give away of their first 3D

printed tokens, essentially...

Conclusion

Summary of experience or similar

Skipped most of the inside booths,

noticed a few there I had seen before,

clothing, talked to the bearded helper spouse,

HacDC, vendors, R2D2 club had a small one,

I might have scared some kids, joking about the

bot being bigger than them,

even Baltimore Node doing paper rockets,

but not where they were before, the bomb

squad truck took that space, near concessions

and entrance I guess it got bag check services

covered, so I didn't spend the time

there that I usually do, so considered

not even writing up this year, so

this is more of a stub, weather this time

of year is highly variable, frost

a previous year, and then 93 high forecast,

so might be good to keep in mind

for future trips up...

Oh, and the lawn jockey, anti artillery/

aircraft gun was not on it's front pad, this time,

stopped a bit on the way out, a woman getting

cell signal, shade and a nice breeze/the trifecta

(sp?) I think I called it, and would have hung out

there a while, talking too much anyway, and

really past my bedtime...

Met at least one foreign national

(French, going to school in Boston, graduating,

etc) while waiting 30 mins or more for a bus

(showed CHiP briefly), ate some chips as

I stepped on the bag, heard a pop,

so it was already opened, so might was well,

but not wanting to drink too much and

BathRooms! Are Where?!?!...)

and then probably Coder MiP on the bus,

until arriving at GreenBelt Metro...

(while trying not to get bus sick...)

At GreenBelt Metro switched to a

free Shuttle bus, Transit Union

and the driver taking us into unknown

PG county on a free shuttle, the driver

offered to help me get to Arlington,

he lived there, but his depot was in

White Flint? or similar...

I declined, as I wanted to explore,

though ended up on Rail until my

farecard balance getting too low, iirc),

and then pedaling thru part of

known to me DC, mostly downhill...

Instead of trying to find the NorthWest

Branch Trail or similar from the other direction,

which we passed over on the Shuttle Bus,

a section I had meandered on, for a bit...

Orienteering is fun (for me, sometimes)

but I need to have some energy and

sleep to do that... Less heat would

help too. Plus safety of cell phone out

and ready to dial for help, and/or

logging, group riding, etc...

Lost And Found (No Not Returning Them)

While bicycling on the way up, look down on

occasion and see stuff along the way that

I would be riding over, likely at turns,

bumped off of pickup trucks and the like

construction workers, etc losing some

small tools...

3x Sockets

3x (in 3x brands too)

Craftsman 3/8 inch

Snap-on 8 mm?

Worksomething TASK FORCE 10mm

Check sizes when I try using them...

Done

Snap-on M62A USA

Weird Screwdriver like nut driver that

is a spring shaft. For turning on corner(s)?

Can't get much torque with it, afaict,

so maybe look up and learn about

a new tool variation today,

or sometime while I still remember...

it says on the handle, but run over,

so maybe a partial, like a license plate...

Green clown nose

Missing for a while, but seems to have

reappeared, early am start, and used during

the day, but not found the next day,

until much later in the week...

Small Nurse like multi colour Pens

Cheap (dollar store $1-2 each)

but annoying to lose something

that easy to write notes on index cards

while in route, like spending, names, route,

etc, for low tech, don't have to boot

up some device, risk displaying/ losing

get mugged and/or distracted while

doing that...

Discussion

A place for feedback on the page presented

What photo policy do you think an event

like that should have?

Kids are involved and paparazzi seemed

to be there too, big honking lens,

wearing Schmooo (sp?) Con t shirt,

I asked that I not be in it, think he

checked, probably just zoomed to

kids concentrating on stuff on the floor,

maze like, might have been the dad,

or someone else, staff photog,

news coverage, etc...

How do store bought robots get respect

amongst (sp?) builders/ assemblers of kits, etc,

kids who have First Robotics

teams, and other skills/ attitude(s)?

Would it have made sense to ask for a

table, and show the WowWee stuff I brought?

Or since I paid, just be a plebe, mere pedestrian?

Worth affiliating to the side of the table somewhere?

License

Creative Commons Share and Share Alike,

Non Commercial, Non Derivative,

for the whole site's contents

unless otherwise explicitly stated

Page History

20170523 20070510EthicsDignityRiskJerry

looked at the socket sizes, added
found a part number on the
screw driver type socket nut flexible shaft DONE
wonder how many other typos and stuff to add,
never really done, just had to get it out,
like an old editor, "trying to change things published years before..."
or similar

20170509 Jerry

Add a little, recraft words/
paragraphing
add Lost And Found (No Not Returning Them)
other stuff, but likely the last edits of this for like now/
ever/etc...

20170505 JerrySpaceIdea

fix some errors, typos,
word usage, etc
add section for SWAG? Check
maybe add some links? Check
what else, fix the structural issues
of writing when tired?
or just leave it?
Add High School motorized soap box derby?
Add sidewinding robots?
add ball throwing FirstTeam ball dynamics?
etc...

20170503 Jerry

Jerry created this page to log an event...

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RobotFest2017

Introduction/Definition/etc

Body

Go / No Go?

Getting There

Route

Pay By Money Order?

I Was Looking Sad

Safe Routes To Robots?

Attacked? Pushed?

Changing B30 Route Somehow

Concessions

Mobbed

Demo WowWee Stuff Brought

Links

BackGround(s)

WowWee Bots

NoVAMakerFaire

Logging

Cons

Aspie Stuff

Drones

Transit Modes

Bicycles

Moto

Routes

PG County Plans Bike Share in 2018

Cryptic, Dude

RPis

Deep

Punt

Costs

Transit

Admission

Food

Methods of Payment

SWAG

Dead Tree Material

Magazines

Cards

Handouts

Catalogs

3D Printer Examples

Conclusion

Lost And Found (No Not Returning Them)

3x Sockets

Snap-on M62A USA

Green clown nose

Small Nurse like multi colour Pens

Discussion

License

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