[conspire] Flyer for newcomers

[Ruben Safir]

On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 03:50:42PM -0700, Rick Moen wrote:
> I'll have this printed out somewhere, during meetings.


I need directions from JFK...

Happy Purim!


Ruben

> 
> 
> 
> 
>                      Tips for CABAL Newcomers
> 
> 
> Welcome.  Here are things you will want to know.  Most important:  This
> is a private residence, so we need to remain on good behavior.  Our
> hosts (1105 Altschul Avenue's residents) are named Rick, Deirdre, and
> Cheryl.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hours:  CABAL's meetings run 4 pm to midnight.  LEAVE _BY_ MIDNIGHT, so
> residents can sleep.  
> 
> 
> Getting Help:  CABAL regulars are glad to answer Linux or BSD
> distro-choice / application / configuration / administration questions
> and otherwise help newcomers.  However, Rick is subject to frequent
> interruption for host duties, so Ross, Ed, Daniel, Bruce, etc. are often
> better picks.
> 
> 
> Public Transit / Cars:  Rick (650-283-7902 cell.) is willing to pick up
> / deliver folks to/from CalTrain or bus stops / depots in Menlo Park or
> Palo Alto.  Our slightly rustic neighbourhood has unrestricted on-street
> parking.  Don't block or use driveways.  You can often arrange lifts to
> CalTrain, BART, or San Francisco from other attendees or Rick (and thus
> not have to worry about last-train departure times).  
> 
> 
> Building access:  Although you may certainly use the front door, IT'S
> USUALLY MOST CONVENIENT TO USE THE SIDE GATE, just left of the garage,
> especially if carrying gear.  Front door has better lighting but more
> stairs and obstacles. 
> 
> 
> Bathroom:  End of the corridor.  The door locks.  If in urgent need,
> request access to the 2nd bathroom, off the master bedroom.
> 
> 
> Before You Leave:  Test-eject your machines' CD/DVD drives, to make sure
> you remove any (e.g., borrowed) media.  Did you remember your coat or
> sweater?  Your food containers?  Did you return any borrowed tools,
> network cards, CDs/DVDs, cables, mice, keyboards?
> 
> 
> "What Can I Bring?":  Bless you for asking.  In general, we're set, and
> the hosts make these events possible because they enjoy them and your
> company.  However, if you wish, you can certainly bring a dish of your
> choosing to share.  CABAL often lacks soft drinks because the residents'
> taste in general differs from that of most attendees, who buy their own
> (see below).  A side-dish or salad / fruit dish often helps: Rick and
> some other regulars keep us well- if not over-supplied with main meat
> dishes and garlic bread.  Blank CDR/DVD-R media and citronella candles
> are always welcome, as they do tend to get used up.  Once in a long
> while, a bag of charcoal would help out, too.
> 
> 
> Tables Usage:  There will be several tables to work on.  NEVER PUT
> COMPUTER SYSTEM UNITS ON TABLES.  Always put them underneath. Monitors,
> keyboards, mice, and laptops go on the tables.  NEVER LEAVE YOUR BAGS OF
> GEAR ON THE TABLES:  There will be a designated area for parking your
> gear in the backyard, or on the covered back porch in bad weather.
> Since table-space is at a premium, we must insist that all
> non-essentials go elsewhere.
> 
> AC feeds must be branched from as close to the heavy main 50' extension
> cables as possible: We do not permit 3-level-deep ganging of light power
> strips, as at some installfests.  Any cable runs in the open must be
> covered by carpets, to prevent tripping hazards.  AC must use grounded
> outlets only (e.g., never the 2-prong socket on the porch).
> 
> 
> Weather:  In good weather, we meet on the backyard porch, and Rick
> usually runs his barbecue.  (There's an outdoor wood-burning heater.)
> The four (typical) rainy months of November to February, and as weather
> indicates, we move indoors to Rick and Deirdre's spacious garage and
> dining room / living room.  We _heat_ the garage when we're in there, so
> KEEP THE OUTSIDE GARAGE DOOR CLOSED, when we use the garage. (Door latch
> is tricky.)
> 
> 
> Provided Computing Facilities / Gear:  Hosts provide AC power, wireless /
> wired Internet access, hubs/switches, ethernet cables, power strips,
> several tables and chairs, lamps, and an extensive collection of current
> Linux and BSD CD/DVDs you can use (or duplicate) but not take.  There is
> DHCP service; ask if you need / want a static IP.
> 
> Equipment (Rick's) that might be borrowed include: two monitors, various
> keyboards, mice, cables, PCMCIA and PCI ethernet cards, external modems,
> most of which are in garage cabinets.  CABAL is not a computer repair
> effort, but you can sometimes borrow tools or flashlights if you're nice
> and Rick trusts you.  You can buy blank CDRs ($1) and blank DVD-R media
> ($2) from Rick: deliberately unreasonable prices (waived if Rick's
> feeling generous).  (See next item.)
> 
> 
> Computing Stores:  Fry's Electronics is five miles away, 360 Portage
> Ave. near the corner of El Camino Real and Page Mill Road / Oregon
> Expressway.  (Directions on request.)
> 
> 
> Server Farm:  The area in the garage to the right of the laundry area,
> is the residents' dedicated server farm:  DO NOT TOUCH ANY EQUIPMENT OR 
> CABLING IN THE SERVER FARM, and do not tap the area's AC electrical
> circuits. If you need to borrow the server's monitor, ask Rick to get it
> for you.
> 
> 
> Smoking:  Outside.  Use the metal coffee can marked "outside ashtray"
> outside the kitchen, to the left.  IF YOU USE THE ASHTRAY, MAKE SURE IT
> GETS EMPTIED at the end of the evening, and put back to its regular
> location.
> 
> 
> Food:  CABAL is not a restaurant, but many attendees participate in an
> informal potluck. SOME ATTENDEES' FOOD IS LEFT OUT TO SHARE, OTHER FOOD
> ISN'T.  (Ask.)   Serving area is near the stove.  (It's safe to assume
> food found there is to share.)  Food prep. area is near the sink.  Our
> hosts provide: stove, oven, cookware, barbecue w/charcoal, serving
> dishes, knives, cooking utensils, condiments, cooking oil, butter,
> homemade jam and lemonade, plates, glasses, utensils, etc.  NO
> ATTENDEE'S OBLIGED TO BRING FOOD (but you may be hungry, given the
> hour).  Grocery stores nearby include Safeway, Country Corner, and
> Trader Joe's.  (Directions on request.)  NO ATTENDEE'S OBLIGED TO SHARE
> FOOD.
> 
> In general, food items in the refrigerator / freezer and cabinets are
> the residents' property, and not to share (except when it's your food,
> and you put it there).
> 
> One of Rick's kitchen knives (his 8" Sabatier) is carbon steel, which
> rusts if left damp and thus must be dried immediately if used.  It's
> also extremely sharp:  IF YOU SEE RICK (WHO'S A SOUTHPAW) CUTTING FOOD,
> CAREFULLY STEER WELL CLEAR OF HIS LEFT ARM.
> 
> 
> RECYCLE BINS are behind garage:  Please don't put bottles, cans, etc. in
> garbage.  COMPOST BIN (vegetable matter only) is the pail outside the
> kitchen door, to the right.
> 
> Vegetarians / vegans are welcome, but, as with ensuring kosher or halal
> standards, you're on your own.  (Residents can help keep your cooking
> surfaces meat-free, though.)  If you can't stand the smell of cooking
> meat, sorry, but that's part of our events. 
> 
> 
> Drinkables:  If you want soda pop, you'll probably need to bring your
> own (and take any extras away when you leave): The residents regretfully
> will decline your gift of soda, unless it's Jarritos or non-diet Pepsi.
> 
> Rick often opens a bottle of wine to share with guests.  Don't uncork
> bottles without permission.
> 
> Wine or beer left behind is cheerfully received, but Rick's the only
> beer-drinking resident, and admits to being a snob:  He prefers darker
> beers (ales and porters, rather than lagers / pilsners).  The house's
> two wine-drinkers prefer more-complex/heavier reds, and find merlots and
> most whites boring (reislings and gewurtztraminers excepted).
> 
> 
> Eating, Drinking, and Cleanup:  WHEN INDOORS, EAT ONLY OVER PLATES, AND
> YES, THAT DOES INCLUDE PIZZA.  Don't leave plates / glasses on the
> ground.  USE COASTERS FOR DRINKS.  HAND-WASH YOUR OWN DISHES / GLASSES /
> FLATWARE immediately after you finish eating, so others can use them.
> Please be careful to not allow flatware, etc., to fall into the in-sink
> garbage grinder. 
> 
> DO NOT OVERFILL DRYING RACK.   The linen towel is for drying dishes /
> cookware / glasses / utensils only.  The kitchen's terrycloth towel is
> for hands only.  Ask if it's unclear where dried items go.  We do not
> use the dishwashing machine.
> 
> 
> Private rooms:  The back of the house is purely residential space
> (except the bathroom). Enter those rooms only if invited.
> 
> 
> Noise:  WALK OVER TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE, TO TALK, RATHER THAN SHOUTING
> ACROSS OTHERS.  Especially after 10 pm, people including some residents
> may be trying to sleep, so keep it down.
> 
> 
> Mosquitos:  During summer, they arrive around dusk.  We burn citronella
> candles, to keep them away.  CLOSE ALL OUTSIDE DOORS AFTER YOURSELF, or
> you'll be very unpopular.
> 
> 
> Lost and Found:  Jackets, computing gear, CD/DVDs, etc. found from prior
> CABAL gatherings will be left grouped in one pile for a reasonable
> number of weeks.   After that, who knows?
> 
> 
> In General:  We can't possibly cover everything, but in general act like
> you're a guest in a nice private home where you'd like to be welcome
> again.  Don't gouge the furniture or floors, track mud around, spill
> food, sit at residents' personal desks, move residents' things around
> and throw away their crucial papers, break the bowls, bang up the
> flatware, uncork and drink the expensive private wine supplies, walk off
> with expensive CDs/DVDs, leave the bathroom with no toilet paper roll,
> etc.  (Yes, people have done all of these things.)
> 
> Pick up after yourself.  Don't be a slob.  Wipe your shoes on the
> doormats.  Wash your hands before touching food.  Behave like a
> civilized human being.   If you see other people screwing up, DO REMIND
> THEM OF THE HOUSE RULES.  (We call that "leadership".)  If you're
> present for closing hour, you could even help Rick put everything away.
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> conspire at linuxmafia.com
> http://linuxmafia.com/mailman/listinfo/conspire

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