Breakfast and plans for the 12th

[Hutch]

Well, except for the folks stuck stuffing packets, it appears that Wednesday the 12th is pretty clear, so I offer the following suggestions to any other early arrivals.

I will break my fast at the Coco Palms Buffet at the Stardust (buffets aren't quite the great price deal they once were, but if you bring a healthy appetite you won't have to eat until much later in the day) at 0800 hours. I'll be out in front of the Buffet at least 10 minutes prior to that--just look for a 6'2", 270lb almost-bald guy with glasses (shouldn't be more than 5-6 of us like that) in a Red Shirt with "Cairo" on the upper left.

From breakfast anyone who wants to join me can help determine plans for the day. I've been to Hoover Dam and wouldn't mind seeing it again, along with any other suggestions that might be offered. I have a mini-van, so up to 6-7 folks (depending on how cosy we want to be) can be accomodated, and hopefully there may be other drivers in the group. Long as we're back in time to pick up Eos at the airport at 11pm, I'll go most anywhere folks want to (the Mustang ranch, however, is not an option!)

I'll let someone else make meeting and organization plans for Thursday the 13th. This is about as organized as I get.

[Luciana]

We definitely need to set something up for the 12th. It's my birthday and Kitten's!

I'll arrive at 9am, and will go to my room for the rest of the afternoon, to rest after that long flight. But we should do something at night, of course we do!

[exarch]

I suggest a birthday party at a drinking establishment, preferably one with good music and enough dancing-space.

We need Moe Faux for input here ...

How many people will already be there the 12th BTW?

[Eos of the Eons]

I'll be in late. My darn flight has been pushed up to a later time. I'll be rather well rested from sleeping on the plane. If anybody can let me know where you'll be at between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. that night?

[Mercutio]

I'm in, early afternoon...not scheduled to stuff envelopes, but might do anyway....just so I am somewhere instead of nowhere...

[Luciana]

Yes, Exarch!

Let's set something up right now, so that latecomers will get to know where we are and show up there. Eos will just drop her stuff in the hotel room and then go meet us!

If we get a place and an address, we set up to meet at the lobby at the appointed time, if someone misses us, can go there straight. No one will get lost.

Sooo??

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
We definitely need to set something up for the 12th. It's my birthday and Kitten's!


You two are in for some birthday spankings!

[Loon]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Yes, Exarch!

Let's set something up right now, so that latecomers will get to know where we are and show up there. Eos will just drop her stuff in the hotel room and then go meet us!

If we get a place and an address, we set up to meet at the lobby at the appointed time, if someone misses us, can go there straight. No one will get lost.

Sooo??

Or people can pass out cel phone numbers to late arrivals by pm. In case plans change.

[exarch]

Originally posted by Loon
Or people can pass out cel phone numbers to late arrivals by pm. In case plans change.Speaking of which, I was thinking of bringing along my cellphone and buying one of those rechargeable cards from a local cell-phone provider, since I'll need to make arrangements with so many different people ...

[Luciana]

That might be a very good idea. In TAM1, considering I didn't know anyone personally, I took a cell phone with me. Never used it, but it was nice to know it was there, it could have been very useful. If you're staying for more than a few days, it would be something really intelligent to do.

I'll have to drag Moe to this thread. And Kittteeeeenn, where are you????

[Suezoled]

Arriving at 10am-ish... so can I walk to the Stardust?

[Doubt]

Originally posted by Loon
Or people can pass out cel phone numbers to late arrivals by pm. In case plans change.

A small amount of cell phone coordination was done last year.

I still have one skepchic’s phone number from last year. It is available to any skepdude for $1,000,000.

Seriously, it is a good way to locate people. But we almost need a central source for the phone numbers.

[Kitten]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
That might be a very good idea. In TAM1, considering I didn't know anyone personally, I took a cell phone with me. Never used it, but it was nice to know it was there, it could have been very useful. If you're staying for more than a few days, it would be something really intelligent to do.

I'll have to drag Moe to this thread. And Kittteeeeenn, where are you????

I'm finishing up finals. Almost done!

I'm very flexible. I don't drink (even though I'm turning 21), but I am up for a night of good food and dancing and such!

If you leave it up to me, we'll all be going for a nightime hike / picnic in Red Rocks, so you'd better figure out the social scene and drag me a long.

Kitten

[Hutch]

Originally posted by Suezoled
Arriving at 10am-ish... so can I walk to the Stardust?


If you like 6-7 mile hikes, sure. ;) Otherwise there is a variety of taxis/shuttle buses that will bring you in.

Or appeal to my better nature (not that I have one, mind you) or work your feminine wiles upon me (much more effective) to give you a ride from the airport.

Anything that keeps me away from the Blackjack tables is going to be appreciated by my budget.

[exarch]

Originally posted by Doubt
Seriously, it is a good way to locate people. But we almost need a central source for the phone numbers.Someone to play switchboard? :D

Well, depending on how much calls would cost, and how much call-credit a default card has (i.e. I don't want to have to recharge the damn thing every day), I might be persuaded to play switchboard and relay messages and such. After all, any phonenumbers I may store on that card will remain on that card, which will probably end up somewhere in a drawer once I'm back home.

Then again, Typical calls may sound like this:

*phone rings*
Me: Hi, this is exarch, who is this?
Skeptic: Hello, it's [fill in name of sceptic]. Do you know where Girl 6 and her group are?
Me: Ehm, some place called [name of restaurant] if I recall correctly.
Skeptic: Where is that?
Me: Ehm, ..... I don't know exactly .....
Skeptic: OK, so where are you guys?
Me: ..... ehm? .....
*Turns to other skeptics nearby*
Me: Well, as far as we kow, we're somewhere on the strip, near some place with flashy lights and lots of people.
Skeptic: ..... ehm? ..... Never mind :(
Skeptic: CLICK

In other words, maybe Moe would be a better person to coordinate something like this.
I'm willing to play phone-book though :)

[SpaceFluffer]

I'll be arriving on the 11th, so count me in for breakfast. I'm also stuffing packets that day but I'd imagine I could do both. Hey - I've got two hands.

[Doubt]

Originally posted by exarch
Someone to play switchboard? :D

Well, depending on how much calls would cost, and how much call-credit a default card has (i.e. I don't want to have to recharge the damn thing every day), I might be persuaded to play switchboard and relay messages and such. After all, any phonenumbers I may store on that card will remain on that card, which will probably end up somewhere in a drawer once I'm back home.



More like a directory than a switchboard.

A good chunk of us have cell phones. I have one with a nationwide calling plan. So no long distance problems and I am almost never in “roam� mode.

But I can bet that a good chunk of people will not want their numbers available to everyone. So I am not sure exactly how to make that idea work if somebody wants their number available to some people and not others.

The basic idea is simple enough. If you want someone to able to find you during the trip, you make your number available to the other people who need to know. Much easier if there is a central person to ask.

In my case, I have no issues with people knowing my cell number. Within certain obvious limitations, I could handle the task. But I would not respond to calls when I am sitting in the hall listening to a presentation.

There is also the use of SMS on phones for those of use that have that feature. Unfortunately, I do get charged per message for that sort of thing. One way to make that sort of thing cheap would be to establish a network or chain. Person X has a plan to grab a meal or do something. Person X contacts the person at the top of the network and has them send out the message to two other people. Those two people then send it on to two other people and so on……

But that is getting complicated. May just be easier for a few of us to trade cell phone numbers. I can make my number available to anyone who needs it via PM.

[Suezoled]

Originally posted by Hutch
If you like 6-7 mile hikes, sure. ;) Otherwise there is a variety of taxis/shuttle buses that will bring you in.

Or appeal to my better nature (not that I have one, mind you) or work your feminine wiles upon me (much more effective) to give you a ride from the airport.

Anything that keeps me away from the Blackjack tables is going to be appreciated by my budget.

Well, if it's in your schedule to be able to pick me up after I arrive to go to wherever (Stardust, breakfast, brunch, etc), let me know. That would be nice. Otherwise, I'll be forced to kick your @ss because I know I'm going to see you eventually, and your lack of generosity will grate on frayed nerve endings.

Oh, wait..that's not being very feminine or wiley, is it...?

[Luciana]

Sooo.... let's set up something for the night of the 12th???

[Mercutio]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
Sooo.... let's set up something for the night of the 12th??? Hey, it's your birthday, so I will go along with whatever your choice is. But I'm there.

[Luciana]

Woohoo! :)

But, Mercutio, I just have no idea. Kitten says "food and dancing and such", which is very broad.

I'm all for company. Maybe we could go out for dinner, in a place informal enough that we can walk around and switch places and stay until later at night?

Las Vegas folks, where are you???

Ideally:

A place either in the hotel, or a short drive from it;
We can stay until midnight, or later;
We can talk to each other.

Dancing, to me, is optional. If most people prefer it, then it's ok. Considering I'll be jetlagged, it's very likely I won't stay until long. Whatever happens, we're supposed to have fun!

[MoeFaux]

The Peppermill is right across the street, you guys. That's good.


I better have my phonebook in my phone full of skeptic numbers for that week.

[Patricio Elicer]

I won't be carrying a cell phone, but what about a message board somewhere close to the hotel reception to inform about daily activities, times, locations, etc?

I missed a lot of opportunities to socialize with fellow skeptics in the previous TAM's, I don't like this happen again.

[Luciana]

The Peppermill is fine by me!

What do you think, kitten? Input from others?

What time do you think it's better, Moe? Maybe 9pm? Better sooner than later, as folks will be tired from the trip, including me.

[Eos of the Eons]

Hey Luc, if you hang around until after 11 p.m., then I'll get to buy you a birthday drink or something. I'll be sleeping all the plane all day, but hope others get time to rest on their travels too. Good to see a plan going up.

[renata]

Some of us ended up at Peppermill last year. It was an interesting place, if a little loud. I am up for it. It is also supposed to have great breakfast.

Oh, if any people are up for another excursion to the Thai place at some point, look me up- it is on one of my planned activities, along with another walk on the strip and the pajama party- of course. Last year 27 people showed up to the Thai place :)

One of the difficulties last year was a lack of centralized information exchange. Too much time was lost herding people together, figuring out who wanted to do what, who was hanging out where, and there was always someone who wanted to do something else. If we could set up a board somewhere, that would be ideal, but if we can't, I think 2-3 people should be centers of info, so they can make coordinated decisions, and those who want to can join up.

[Luciana]

SURE, EOS!

I was thinking 9pm to midnight at least. We might be too tired to stay much longer, but I'll use my charm and wit to keep everybody awake so that we can entertain latecomers. :D

Kitten, I just need you ok! Give us your opinion!

[exarch]

Originally posted by renata
Some of us ended up at Peppermill last year. It was an interesting place, if a little loud. I am up for it. It is also supposed to have great breakfast.

Oh, if any people are up for another excursion to the Thai place at some point, look me up- it is on one of my planned activities, along with another walk on the strip and the pajama party- of course. Last year 27 people showed up to the Thai place :)

One of the difficulties last year was a lack of centralized information exchange. Too much time was lost herding people together, figuring out who wanted to do what, who was hanging out where, and there was always someone who wanted to do something else. If we could set up a board somewhere, that would be ideal, but if we can't, I think 2-3 people should be centers of info, so they can make coordinated decisions, and those who want to can join up.Two possibilities:

Deciding on 2 or maybe 3 options for dinner the day before, notify people of the options during the day, with info on who is the person to talk to about it, where they are gathering and when?

Or decide on a fixed meeting place in the hotel itself (last year it was either the lobby or that little restaurant in the back, you were bound to bump into some stray JREF-ers there) on a set hour, and anyone who's too late can contact the "switchboard"-person to find out where to go, or wait for other people who missed the big groups and do something on their own.

Or maybe a combination of the two is even better...

[exarch]

Before you all go adjusting your stereotypes about Belgians, I'm not normally this organised, I think it's Renata's good influence from last year ;)

:belgium:

[Eos of the Eons]

Originally posted by Luciana Nery
SURE, EOS!

I was thinking 9pm to midnight at least. We might be too tired to stay much longer, but I'll use my charm and wit to keep everybody awake so that we can entertain latecomers. :D

Kitten, I just need you ok! Give us your opinion!

I hear Kitten is pretty busy, so I hope she does see this. I'm glad to see somebody has charm and wit in the house! In person I tend to stutter and or talk too fast, one extreme or another, so yes, keep everybody on their toes until after 11 p.m. at least :D

Lots of good ideas for getting organized! Keep up the good work everybody! I don't have a cell phone...drat it!