Hats off to the Cal Games 04 Volunteer

[Raul]

I just want to hear about the rumor that a prominent volunteer had their car locked in the school grounds and had to leave it there overnight.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Raul

I just want to hear about the rumor that a prominent volunteer had their car locked in the school grounds and had to leave it there overnight.

Well, that would be me. The good people of California showed a couple of us midwesterners around after the competition was over. I learned what a "sushi boat" was. When we came back to the school to get my car, the parking lot gates were locked. I bummed a ride from Ken Leung the next morning and this gave me a chance to help the WRRF crew load the playing field into a temporary storage facility until the RoboNexus.

As for the Cal Games (back on topic), it was a great competition. They had an impressive assembly of quality robots and competitive teams. It was obvious that many teams worked hard to make improvements to their robots as they geared up for this competition. Some 'bots had new arms, while others were trying out new gearboxes. Even the rookie teams competed like season veterans.

It was a great day at Cal Games. Woodside had great food, and the facility was very nice. The event organizers ran things efficiently while keeping the mood friendly and comfortable, but still competitive. Thanks to Patrick Wang and Bill Gold for letting me help as a ref. Thanks to Ken Leung and Jason Morrella for hauling me around the greater Palo Alto area. Good job to all of the WRRF crew!

Andy B.

[Ken Leung]

Originally Posted by Raul

I just want to hear about the rumor that a prominent volunteer had their car locked in the school grounds and had to leave it there overnight.

Imagine my surprise, when I got this phone call from Dan Green, at 11:51pm that Andy Baker, the most highly looked-up-to person in FIRST, is at his hotel because Andy's car was locked up at Woodside High School after we went out to dinner with the rest of the gang.

Fortunately I got my driver's license just a month or two ago, so I was able to pick Andy up at 8:30am, and drafted him to help unload the playing field into storage to repay the ride bringing him back to his precious rental car.

You certainly don't see that happening at every competition... Probably only happen whenever a midwest-er come out to visit a California competition. Not that I am trying to make fun of them or anything.

[Bill Gold]

Thanks to Ken Leung for pulling together a great event. I’m looking forward to being done lugging around all of that heavy stuff after RoboNexus.

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

It was a great day at Cal Games. Woodside had great food, and the facility was very nice. The event organizers ran things efficiently while keeping the mood friendly and comfortable, but still competitive. Thanks to Patrick Wang and Bill Gold for letting me help as a ref. Thanks to Ken Leung and Jason Morrella for hauling me around the greater Palo Alto area. Good job to all of the WRRF crew!

I’m glad you had a fun time out here Andy. It was great “working” with you at the event (since it was more fun than work), and it was nice of you to join Jim, Patrick, KenL, and myself at the “kid’s table” at Miyake .

"HOWARD DEAN WOULD DRINK THIS, [DANG IT]!"
-Jason Morrella trying to get people to Sake-Bomb

[Jason Morrella]

Originally Posted by Bill Gold

"HOWARD DEAN WOULD DRINK THIS, [DANG IT]!"
-Jason Morrella trying to get people to Sake-Bomb

Fact check:
I said that to encourage "you", not "people" - you crazy left wing extremist hippy tree hugger promoting honesty in government, peace and security in the world, and war only when it's necessary as a last resort. You nut Bill. I was not promoting Howard Dean - I just knew he was someone you admire.

If I was trying to motivate some upper class right wing extremist who feels it's OK to fabricate information and mislead the country to send other peoples kids to war (not their kids of course - rather a normally high percentage of kids which are from the lower and middle class, frequently minorities), meanwhile arguing they should pay less taxes because they just can't quite get by on a few million while at the same time increasing spending in utter fiscal irresponsibility so future generations are in historic debt, and feel it's important for Uzis and assault rifles to be sold over the counter (because you never know when deer and elk may rise up and arm themselves) -
then I would have said "George Bush would drink this".

Was just catering to the intended audience Bill - in that case, it was you.