/dev/random, Announcement, geekgather

Once more, with FEELING!

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Many seasons have passed since Patrick, wise and benevolent and kind, looked out over the realm he had helped create and declared the order of geeks, which once gathered regularly in this domain, was to be no more.  He laid down the calling horn and left the realm, venturing on to distant lands in a changed world. This brought a silence down upon the land. This was the end of the First Age.

Time passed and the silence was broken. Shattered it was, though not by a horn… instead, by a whisper. A small stirring of geeks, brought together by a certain large moose, came searching softly but diligently through the realm. They came seeking out those geeks that once had gathered but still remained, as well as new geeks who would join their cause. Whispers became banter, banter became discussion, discussion filled with emphatic gesticulation, and a rally of gathering soon formed into the dawn of the Second Age.

Now we sound the horns again! Now we gather, geeks one and all!

…and if you’re still reading this, you’re probably one of us, too. ;) Welcome to the new GeekGather.org!

/dev/random, Announcement

…And Thanks For All The Fish

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Well, the time has come. Consider this the official pronouncement that Geek Gather is no more.

I started Geek Gather several years ago as an attempt to have a once a month time to get together with my fellow geek friends and talk tech without boring the non-geeks in our lives — and maybe collaborate or connect on the occasional project or two. The idea came from my wife, Bethany’s, own “Stitch and Bitch” sessions with her girlfriends where they would do the same (with a decidedly more female and crafty bent).

Over the many years, there have been evenings where a dozen of us have been there and others where it has only been two. All have been worth the time and I cherish each one. That said, as of the past several months, it has mostly been just a couple of us or, at most, three. And while I certainly enjoy the company, I have decided that that time slot spent away from my family could be better allocated to more purposeful pursuits. Michael (the usual number two with me in recent months) agreed and, thus, we have decided to put an end to Geek Gather now.

That said, we will be at The Chatterbox this evening if you swing by. We will be holding our first meeting of our replacement endeavor, The Finishing School, which I welcome all to join. Even if not, you will be welcome at the table all the same.

So, thanks agin for the years of wonderful memories and may we all gather again around other tables soon.

Patrick Rhone
December, 2012

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October Geek Gather

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Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He’s gotta pick this one. He’s got to. I don’t see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there’s not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.
— Linus Van Pelt (Charles Schulz)

  • Geek Gather
  • 6:30pm
  • Tuesday 2012.10.09
  • Chatterbox Cafe, Saint Paul, MN

Directions are here Google Maps if anyone needs them.

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September Geek Gather

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The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze.
— John Updike, “September”

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May Geek Gather

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Now the bright morning-star, Day’s harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.
Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire!
Woods and groves are of thy dressing;
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.
— John Milton, “Song on a May Morning”, 1660

See you on the 8th!

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April Geek Gather

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Nothing like waiting until the last minute:

"OVER the land is April,
Over my heart a rose;
Over the high, brown mountain
The sound of singing goes.
Say, love, do you hear me,
Hear my sonnets ring?
Over the high, brown mountain,
Love, do you hear me sing?

By highway, love, and byway
The snows succeed the rose.
Over the high, brown mountain
The wind of winter blows.
Say, love, do you hear me,
Hear my sonnets ring?
Over the high, brown mountain
I sound the song of spring,
I throw the flowers of spring.
Do you hear the song of spring?
Hear you the songs of spring?"
— Robert Louis Stevenson

  • Geek Gather
  • 6:30pm
  • Tuesday 2012.04.10
  • Chatterbox Cafe, Saint Paul, MN

Directions are here Google Maps if anyone needs them.

geekgather

March Geek Gather

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The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter,
The green field sleeps in the sun;
The oldest and youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!

Like an army defeated
The snow hath retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the bare hill;
The Plowboy is whooping-anon-anon:
There’s joy in the mountains;
There’s life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing,
The rain is over and gone!

— William Wordsworth

See you on the 13th!

What's more frightening than a room full of geeks?