How about somewhere in upstate NY?

There has never been a regional upstate. We're not all from the city! :)

How about Paris?
 

Paris might be a good place for the championship. There is excellent public transportation, a lot to see there, and it is relatively safe for a large city. How about it Dean, not for '03, but maybe sometime in the future?

OK, I guess there should be at least one team from France before making a decision to have the championship there, but it's a thought.

[quote]Originally posted by dlavery
[b]

"In 2001 there were 3,479 murders in NYC, vs. 231 murders in DC. (ref: U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics 2001 Uniform Crime Report, preliminary version issued June 24, 2002). "

I got to response to this one!
These numbers are misleading, there was not 3,479 criminal murders in NYC last year. If these numbers are true NYC will have bodies all over the street. The crime/murder in NYC is as low as the 1960's.

You know why the number you quoted is so high?


9-11.

If I'm not mistaken, those justice dept. figures exclude the attacks on the WTC.

Yes I think dets002 is right....Im not sure if this is still accurate or not, but at one time the government counted over 5,000 people dead or missing from the WTC attacks...

Re: How about Paris?
 

Yeah, unfortunately Its not looking like france will have a team anytime soon just because of the way their school is structured. French High Schools have almost no extracurricular activities.

Also, how the heck would teams understand how to get around? We can't really give all kids going to nationals a crash course in french.

----------------------------------------------------
Yes, they don't include 9-11 but NYC is NOT that bad...
Here is a NY Times article-

"Killings Increase in Many Big Cities

By FOX BUTTERFIELD NY Times 12/21/01

Homicides have increased sharply this year in many large cities, a development that troubles law enforcement officials and experts who fear it may signal a return to rising crime rates after a large decline in the 1990's.

The rise in homicides was led by Boston and Phoenix, which had increases of more than 60 percent through Dec. 18, compared with the same period last year, according to police figures in a survey of 18 major cities.

Homicides jumped 22 percent in St. Louis, 17.5 percent in Houston, 15 percent in San Antonio, 11.6 percent in Atlanta, 9.2 percent in Los Angeles and 5.2 percent in Chicago, the police departments in those cities said.

However, even the sharp increases this year leave the big cities far below the peak in homicide in 1991. The rise in Chicago, which has had 644 homicides this year, compared with 612 in the same period last year, means that it will probably pass New York for the first time as the city with the most homicides, though Chicago has 2.9 million people and New York has 8 million.

New York is an exception to the big cities with rising homicides, with 617 through Dec. 16, compared with 651 in the same period last year — a drop of 5.2 percent.

Several other cities also had small decreases, including Washington, with a decline of 6 percent. But in most cities with fewer homicides, the decrease was so slight that experts said it was not statistically significant.

Homicide has long been considered the bellwether crime, the one that most worries the public and therefore the one that police chiefs watch most carefully.

A jump in homicides in the big cities led the crime wave of the late 1980's, and a homicide decrease in the big cities started an eight-year decline in overall crime beginning in 1992.

Charles H. Ramsey, Washington's police chief, pointed to two possible explanations for the increases this year: the downturn in the economy and an increase in family killings after years of declines driven by greater attention to domestic violence.

The economy is the best indicator of whether crime will continue to increase, Chief Ramsey said. (Ed Note: There's a third explanation: Chief Ramsey can't manage a police organization . Why is crime down in other cities?)

"More pink slips mean more crimes," he said. "It doesn't take long before you start seeing that impact at street level."

Chief Ramsey said he was especially concerned about the impact that a prolonged recession would have on poorer neighborhoods and low-income workers. "It reaches everyone; it just reaches them first," he said. "If this becomes long term, believe me, you will see the difference." (Ed Note: If you can't handle the job, chief, quit now and let someone who knows how policing is done take over.)"


OR go to http: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/region.htm

The transportation system in Paris is good but its so much nicer (way cleaner and less smelly) in London. No new language either...too bad its so so crowded there! Well I'm sure Dean could find a big castle or something in the country side...how cool would that be?!

And while I highly doubt we would have NATIONALS in a different country, my bid would go to Australia. Its absolutely beautiful there, they have great public transportion left from the 2000 olympics, its spacious, and you have to love the guys (and girls for you boys) with their cute australian accents.

Re: How about Paris?
 

I must dissagree after being there for a day I would not want to go to Paris again!! The subway stunk like sewage, the stations were hard to find, the language barrier is tough to cope with, there were a lot of beggars asking for money, etc. Whereas in London it was the exact opposite, not to many beggar/homeless people, no language barrier, nice, clean, not smelly subways(Mind The Gap) and when I went last year it wasn't to crowded and you could find your way around pretty easily, SO I am game for London, England.

Championship in Paris? -
 

If that many Americans showed up in France at one time they'd probably surrender! Again :D

Yea I know this my not be P.C. but it's probably the truth.

Haha...the boys on the robotics team always made so many of the the French-"I surrender" jokes, especially to me because I was prez of the French Club and my last name is French (I'm not french though, or if I am its wayyyy back there on the family tree).

...and we wonder why they french hate americans, JK!

Oh Bah! Bag the nationals!
How about every non-rookie team mentor/recruit some school outside the U.S. and go for a world cup FIRST event! Then FIRST will have the whole world to choose from! Whoopie!

In a very theoretical way we've talked about trying to get RIT to host one in Rochester sometime after they complete our new field house (it should be done summer 2004). About all we've done so far is talk about it however. There has been some interest in hosting a regional here before but that's about it.

Matt

This is an unlikely scenario for several reasons:
1. The listing for the championship has been changed from date TBD at WDW Epcot, to blank location, date TBD, then to location TBD, date TBD. What would have been the point of removing Epcot from the location if it wasn't in question?

2. With registration now active, FIRST is very aware that the championship is still listed as TBD. If it was simply a missed entry, it would be quickly corrected.

3. The event list is not a static page, as the new version with the registration counts shows. It is tied directly into the TIMS registration system, as well as the internal database system that FIRST uses.

Does all of this mean we are definitely not going to be at WDW? No. Does it pose the possibility that it will change? Yes.

i likeit. just a hop across town

Nate, I think you're right on the button, I'm sure FIRST is working at securing a site for the Nationals but where it will be is up in the air. If its stays at Epcot there is the Easter/Spring Break issues (its one of the busiest times for Disney already) either you go before or after.

May is getting late for the schools, finals, proms and the such, school here (AZ) get out around the 22nd.

In April that leaves one week open, the one after the last regional.

If its not at Disney that week, my guess is there will be a new location. But I'm sure we will all know by the end of October - you know October Surpises, this is a election year right? With registrations for the second regional starting Nov. 3 it makes sense for FIRST to announce it before then.

This is a huge event - sometimes I think we forget, myself included, there aren't many places that could provide for the 10,000 plus that attend. Plus all the logistics needed to support such an event. Venues like that are booked sometimes years in advance so you just can't call up and say "Suprise" here we come.

Interesting. Was he riding a Segway?

Yup, he was. the lil P-Model with the breafcase holder

Re: Re: How about Paris?
 

My experience in Paris (in 1999) was that the subway was easy to use, though it was a bit odiferous in some locations. For the most part, I found the people to be surprisingly accomodating of people like myself who know very little French.

That said, London would also be a very fun and interesting place to have an event, for many of the same reasons as Paris, and as you say, communication would be easier in London. There are even a few UK teams, aren't there?

You'r complaing of the over-priced Disney stuff, then you say PARIS! The plane trip would cost a fortune!

Anythingn overseas right now is OFF limmits. Midwest and eastern states are open.

Although Disney is 99% in my opinion going to hold the Nats, here are a few other options raised here and other places.

Ohio- Cedar Point and RnR Hall of Fame in (and near) Cleveland
DC- Museums, Metro
Georga- Atlanta- post 96 olimpics stuff
Minnasotta (sp?)- centrally located, but is there anything to do?

Aw, why just Eastern and Mid-Western states...venture on over to the lovely West Coast for Sun and lots of things to do!

and just for reference, it's Minnesota and there is nothing to do there besides go to the Mall of America. No offense to any Minnesotans, I was born there, lived there for many years and am still a loyal Vikings (even if they are sucking right now) and Twins fan...there's just nothing to do there when I go back and visit!

It's also April which means that it's going to be raining or snowing. As for the boredom, there are plenty of theatres and art museums along with the historical sites :p . I lived in Florida and now Disneyworld is boring. Wherever the Nationals are held, somebody won't be happy.

I was not complaining about the the "overpriced Disney stuff," and was not all that serious about Paris as a venue for the championship, though I think going there would be a good experience for people who have never been out of the US.

After checking on flight prices, though, it looks like going to Paris would be even less practical than I thought. Cheap flights from the US to Paris are hard to find right now. From Indianapolis, where we would go from, the cheapest I could find was almost $1000 round trip. It is around $800, even from JFK which has more flights to Europe than any other airport in the US.

Again, my suggestion of Paris was not serious, at least not for any time soon.

Re: Re: Re: How about Paris?
 

Kit,

you said that your trip was in 1999 but when in 99 during the tourist season or not? The reason I am asking is because non tourist season it wasn't a fun day trip let alone 5 or 6 days there.

But ya keep it at Disney they are like the only place actually willing and able to support our size of event.

Re: Re: Re: Re: How about Paris?
 

"West Edmonton Mall is home to the largest parking lot in the world (Guinness Book of World Records). Over 20,000 parking spaces are available free of charge for guests of the Mall, including stalls for those with special needs located near all of the Mall's 58 entrances.

Parking for large vehicles (ie: large trucks and RV's) is available directly across the street from the Mall on 90th Avenue.

Heated underground parking is available to guests of the West Edmonton Mall Inn for a nominal fee." - http://www.westedmall.com/planavisit/parking.html

::evil grin::

u gotta admit... paris would be kinda cool a little pricey but never less cool

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How about Paris?
 

It's also home to Galaxyland, an indoor amusement park ;)

In Galaxyland, you'll find Mindbender, a custom tri-looping coaster from Anton Schwarzkopf that is the second most powerful coaster on Earth. :)

There is this cool mall in NC (right by UNC, and my uncle's house) its called The Streets at South Point . ITS HUGE! Its indoors and outdoors. There is so much to do and it would be easy to containe people. I think we should have it there.

Aren't they supposed to be able to contain people in prisons, too?

I wonder how well that works...

Re: Re: Re: Re: How about Paris?
 

My trip was in late March/early April, between our last regional and the championships. I went with a group which was nominally a school French Club group, but there were more adults than students. We took a lot of side trips to places like Versailles, Giverny, and Chartres, but stayed in Paris and used the subway to get around within the city.

Teams have already done demos at the Paris air show...who knows :-p

Thats what a mall is...a retail prison...and the employees are the guards (I know...i am a retail prison guard)...

Plus if the championship was there I wouldnt want to spend my free time at a mall the whole time...

Oh no! Brandon might have to change the discription of the Championship forum!!

Yeah. I changed it anyway because I think I used bad grammar.

I hate grammer.

/me thinks of grammer

grammar. I love spelling.

:)

me two. :rolleyes: :)

<3 <3 Grammer <3 <3

- Katie ;)

Grammar? what's this grammar thingy?
I thought that's what proofreaders was for. I should know I have at least two that work on my books. They is so patient with me.

Why use grammar, if you get the point across, arent you doing your job?

Oops let me go learn a few adverb clauses and toss in some appositives before my next post :rolleyes:

<aside>I really hate continuing these off topic conversations, but...</aside>

The whole reason for grammar IS to help you get the point across. If your sloppy writing makes it harder for the reader to understand what you're trying to say, you're NOT doing your job.

Pittsburgh registration has been opened, does this mean that the Championship will follow soon! ;)

No...not necessarly...

Trust me...its been done

What's been done? What is it exactly you're disagreeing with? :confused:

If you're saying that points have been understood in spite of bad grammar, of course, I have to agree. But isn't it better to not torture your reader by making them puzzle over poorly constructed sentences?:)

Then you guys'd see what it takes to go through the season, being from Brazil! Those are regular prices for us! :D

English ain't nothing when you're facing a 600 page Portuguese grammar book! :D

600 pages!!! Wheres the pillow I think I would faint if I got stuck with a book like that just for Grammar!!

Im really starting to get frustrated...does anyone have any info on when and where the championship will be or does anyone have any inside info on possibilities???

Disney is having Grad Night the last weekend in April and the first 2 weekends in May...that could be part of the problem with getting the championship booked.

No because they had that last year at the same time as the National event and there was no conflict. I remember seeing a ton of charter buses for it on my way to DisneyQuest.

Cool! What's Grad Night? For Seniors? Is it open to all seniors, or is it a special event?

Basically Grad Night is when seniors go to the parks and have a big party. There are performances, thats probably why who ever that was who performed at closing cerimoines was(the name slips my mind) was there performing. Supposedly its like our parties but much crazier. Im pretty sure any senior can go but has to with a school, because i know that they have them over a certain number of weeks and schools go at different times. Our school goes to them and it was after AP tests they went i think. Im ready to go this year as long as it doesnt interfere with any of my things.

There are many many wild seniors running around late at night. Many CM's HATE doing this shift and many schools have been banned from this event.

One such case is some jerks throwing Mickey, costum and all, into the Rivers of America. He almost drowned.

Also, Mandy Moore has a good contract with Disney and was probably shooting something in one of the MGM soundstages or soemthing and was here durring FIRST.

competition
 

logically? it has to be at epcot. disney california and universal florida do not have the hotel facilities to accommodate 16-20k students. the problem is that the last weekend in april and first weekend in may are booked to a dental conference. (my wife is a dental hygienist, so i know this, first hand) don't panic. disney will come through, even if it is the middle of april and only a week after some of the regionals.

A dental conference in DISNEY? that is odd.:confused:

dentists are wonderful people (with an abnormal suicide rate), though I wonder if any of them have built robots :confused:


/me is getting his root canal started today :) :D :)

It actually isn't that odd. Conferences are scheduled year round at Disney. Last year there was actually a Solidworks Users Group conference scheduled to be at the Coronado in Disney the week after we left the place for Nats.

Re: competition
 

Not necessarily. There are many other places that *could* hold the amount of people that Epcot does. Really, no one knows (or at least no one is saying!) where Nationals will be. We're just going to have to trust FIRST on this one.

Again, if Nationals is held in mid-April or a week after a the last of the regionals, teams competing at those regionals who qualify for Nationals will face horrible air-fare rates and have a hard time getting hotel reservations. There are a million arguements we can throw out here as to why or why not Nationals should be held at Disney but ...

We're just going to have to wait and see :)

- Katie

You know what, I just thoght of something.... What if Epcot is good to go but it's just the dates that they are deciding on. Isn't there the fomalized testing factor during April???? Maybe FIRST finally got the hint to try to schedule the Competition around those tests. As for the venue area not being filled in, maybe they just want to make sure they have all the information before they write anything in.. All or nothing I say!!

Bottom Line, Don't fret, cause "It's all good" We shall overcome changes, we are an adaptable breed!! We build robots in 6 weeks for gods sake, if we can overcome changes in design at the drop of a hat, we can overcome a change in a venue.

Coo Dat!!!

times
 

Does anyone know if the change in place could be related to the conflict with AP exams? Also, any clues as to what they'll do if they get as hideous a date as they had before (the weekend before the start of APs)?

my opinion is that it all has to do with money. disney was gonna raise the prices again so FIRST decided to pull out because the cant afford it. and as we already know FIRST has a budget chrisis right now and this is part of it.

That was my opinion too all the time. Disney is probably relaying to FIRST that they cannot host this event without either serious cutbacks, or asking an insane amount ($200+) for everyone. I'm sure that Disney is not pleased with this situation either, because they have had a long standing relationship with FIRST.

I'm sure that FIRST has a plan B, an alternative location just in-case they cannot reach a settlement with Disney. Personally I think FIRST should look for a place where the economy is really in dire need for tourism. For example, (THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE) the Macworld conference was moved from New York to Boston because New York just becoming too expensive. Boston welcomed the conference with open arms, and offered special discounts with low hotel fairs, access to their best and newest facilities, and other perks. Especially with the economy in this uncertain stage, I believe that this is best possibility for nationals.

Florida is cool, and it is good motivating factor to get new students, but if Disney can’t do it, I am not going to cry over it.

Actually with Boston teams might be able to go and do demos at the Science museum or maybe even figure out some way to hold the event there. That would be neat.

sounds like FIRST is still trying to narrow down the choices for the site let alone a date

I wonder...
 

OK here's my theory,

Disney is too expensive so FIRST looked for an alternative venue.
In the interest in getting maximum exposure from "important people" they decided to move it to Washington D.C.
But, now with the sniper situation, even though as of this morning it looks like it's over, they seriously reconsidered and/or are reconsidering Washington D.C.

Of course this is only a theory now.
What do you think??
Make sense??

Uh oh
 

Let's think about some logic-
Every year a few hundred more teams sign up...
FIRST is short on money...

Maybe they'll only let the top ten qualifiers from every regional go to Nats or something like that- because with almost 400 teams eligible this year it ain't gonna be easy paying for everything.

Not likely this year - if that was the case all those ODD teams cut out last year will go through the roof.

I think FIRST is doing their best to come to terms with a Disney venue and date. I just hope they can get the deal made soon.

WC

.... And all of the even teams who qualified with points from last year.

Vegas?

Uh, No. If you've been there, don't say Vegas, Dean would rather sell out to Comedy Central than go there.

*chuckle* If you're willing, tell me why?

Despite what people want you to believe, many good holtel rooms there cost a lot, the only thing to do is to gamble then see a show or shop. There are people on the street handing out "bad things" and it's hot and deatly dry. And where could they hold it?

*grin* Yes, when we had to move there I was terrified for the kids' sake. I researched and discovered there's normal in Vegas. We lived there for nine years. Been in Redondo Beach CA since '99. SOOOO glad to have the beach back rather than desert. My adult son's family still lives there. We're rooting for all the newbie teams from Vegas that started last year.

There's rides, shopping and restaurants like at Epcot, and isn't FL hot?

Me, I'd prefer Epcot. 2nd would be Disneyland. After that, Vegas might work.

My husband/mentor says:
They should talk to the Convention and Visitor's Authority, they are always looking to "enhance" the bad image of vegas. Circus Circus or MGM would probably love to host it.

From me again.
I HATE Circus Circus

If Championships were held in Vegas, I would not go.

Las Vegas is one of the few places on Earth that I consider to be disgusting, insulting, and disturbing. It epitomizes exactly what I consider to be wrong with society, and I would rather fly five times as far, bear the heat, and even give Disney some of my money (anyone who really knows me knows how much I don't want to do this) than go to Las Vegas.

Other than that, how do you like Las Vegas?

From FIRST to main contact.....
 

"We also want to give you an update on the Championship. We are very close to finalizing the date and location for the Championship and plan to make a formal announcement next week. Again, we apologize for the unforseeable
delay and still strongly recommend against making any travel arrangements at this time."



Hmmmmm.....doesn't sound like Orlando!!

Lisa :)

Re: From FIRST to main contact.....
 

As Krass said, we've been upgraded to the Magic Kingdom!

Re: From FIRST to main contact.....
 

Not necessarily. That could mean anything. We'll just have to see. It's hard to predict what FIRST will come up with for anything.

Only if all of First learns spanish and packs a gun (I'm only half kidding)

Yes, but which half? ;)

don't count on it being nywhere in florida

I've heard at least one rumor of it being outside of Florida myself, but at this point, that's really all they are, rumors...until FIRST actually makes an announcement, we won't know for sure...and contrary to semi-popular belief, I do not have any inside information that is affecting what I say in this thread(or any other, for that matter...)

Well, NYC has been nominated to be the location of the 2012 Olympics, but I wonder if it could handle the FIRST Championship Event...

It'd be nice for it to be held so close to (my) home, but I'd perfer it to be somewhere a bit warmer.

"I just wanna see some palm trees..." :)

I'd like for them to at least tell us when they have to decide by, so we know how long we'll be waiting for answer.

Is anyone else having problems getting school and or B.O.E. approval to take a trip when we don't even know where we are going?? We are running into that situation where the B.O.E. wants to approve all field trips six months in advance....Kind of hard to do when you are forced to be uninformed.
:mad: :( :mad:

One of those virtue things....
 

C'mon guys. FIRST said they'd make an announcement this week, so ya'll just have to be patient a little longer. Then after they annouce the location, ya'll can all have a nice big argument about the actual location of nats, and I can have a nice big laugh about it.

As for the BOE thing.... the last regional is 5 months out from now, so if FIRST announces this week, you'd be at most a month past the deadline. And probably less. If they're THAT picky about things, you can always get all the parents on your team and at the school to write angry letters. That usually works well.

Re: One of those virtue things....
 

Complaning parents, what every school offical dreads......

Re: One of those virtue things....
 

REALLY???? ...where did you hear this?:confused:

Re: Re: One of those virtue things....
 

See a post up above...they sent out an e-mail to team contacts...

They reccomend nto to make travel arrangments.

You figure thats just because of us not knowing the exact date, or you figure that because the location will be different?

It strikes me that if it were JUST a timing issue with Disney that it wouldn't of taken this long to sort out.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is somewhere other than Fl this year (as long as its in the hot south, I'll be happy.........How about Hawaii?)

I hope it is east of the Mississppi.... my parents think of it as being completely unrealistic west of there........
.......New Orleans........




Agghhh... I'm going to Manchester this Thurs. - Sat. .... if they announce it then..... I will be at Headquarters..... I wonder if there is a chance that I won't find out since I won't have access to a computer.... that would be sad. :(

Explain to the BOE that the Championship is not a field trip. It's a competition. They don't approve trips to state and regional championships 6 months in advance for other teams do they?

I probably should have put this in the rumour mill, because that's all it is.

I have heard from a somewhat reliable source, that FIRST is planning on holding the championship event in Houston. Considering NASA's roots in Houston and the Astrodome as a possible venue, this rumour does seem to be within the realm of possibilities.

First they get Jeff Bagwell for a washed up middle reliever, now they possibily get nationals... Lucky town.

Still, I think the sure money continues to be with Orlando.

- Karthik

another thing...
 

Another interesting thing to notice, if you click on "Championship Event" on the Nav bar and goto the page for it the description on the event has removed all references to Disney, it doesn't even say where the 2002 Nationals was held:

Is Disney out of the picture?? :confused:

Actually, yes! Although they have made exceptions, once in a while.
You gotta love a school system that doesn't fully understand your cause or support you!

speaking as someone who used to be on a school board
 

Mark Twain once said, "First God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards."