unforum

[aliendial]

Man, that's a lot of axons. Next a list with groups.

[INCyr]

Alright people-

For poker tonight, I'd say show up around 7ish. It sounds like people are ameiable to ordering pizza or such, so I'd suggest we go ahead with that plan. Papa Johns delivers to us, so that's easy enough.

We can also plan strategies for axons on sunday, because we're gonna need coordination with this many axons, if we're planning on getting as many as possible.

However, I'm not sure we'll need to get that many... but we won't know until sunday.

Anyway. 7 o'clock, my place. We'll probably hang out until everyone shows up, so if you're running a little late, I wouldn't worry too much. But poker will start at 8, if we have at least 5 people.

See you all tonight!

(And feel free to bring a guest... right now we have 6 people showing up... we're happy to have more! Not too many though )

[aliendial]

I will bring copies with me, but here is a grouped list. We still need a horde to have hopes of getting most of them. We can discuss at poker tonight.

But for those not poker-ing tonight:

WE NEED HELP! WHO CAN COVER ONE OF THE GROUPS?

THIS ALL GOES DOWN BETWEEN 2 AND 5 SUNDAY.

VISIT A MUSEUM OR GEORGETOWN, GET A BUNCH OF AXONS!



deleted document that did not upload properly - AD

[aliendial]

Well, the forum puzzlers did it. They helped the flea unlock SP and reintegrate her with the Queen. So now she's back. She's better. And there's a nice message on the 404 page. But in cleaning up some of the evidence of the Operator's irrational behavior, she removed Chappy's death scene. Not for the death part, but for the record, you know.

[number_12]

Wow! What an experience checking the 404 page today! (lovin the dual-tone text) Although I never got a live axon (and that damned silver spring one is *again* on Sunday's list), and I doubt I'll be able to go to DC to send Melissa off, I just wanted to share that I'll be ready for Sunday (see attached image)

[zombi]

does anyone have the sound clip of when The Op killed the Sleeping Princess? I wanted to save it but now it is gone!

Sunday WTF?

[Kakashi117]

They love picking times where I can't get to the axons, don't they? At the time of the Washington Harbor Axons, I will be at Dulles Airport saying goodbye to my french exchange student, sorry everyone.

[aliendial]

Sorry to hear that Kakashi. Check here to find out what the heck happens.

Zombi, we have no idea except we have almost 100 axons in a three hour period. We tentatively think the axon clumps are invitations for all the axon hunters to come to Union Station (smaller clumps at Ballston, Spout Run, Smithsonian). So most of us will show up there at 4:15 our time tomorrow.

We'll probably try to get a few of the earliest ones (and definitely the early ones in Union Station) just in case, but a large proportion conflict with Union Station. Worse, the Marine Corps Marathon and a couple disease marches take place Sunday so traffic, esp. around the Mall, will be disastrous.

Whatever you plan to do, LEAVE EARLY, because if traffic is screwed up by the marathon it will all default to other access points to DC and THOSE will be very busy too.

If you want to try to join us and/or cover some of the ones we can't get to (we are probably not going to attempt Ballston and Spout Run because you can't do those AND get to Union Station), please PM me as soon as you know. We'll do phone numbers etc.

link for street closures: http://www.marinemarathon.com/thecourse_streetclosings.php

map: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/graphics/marineCorpsMarathon_102804.html

[aliendial]

Color coded.

Once you consider the marathon, which will keep the mall part of our territory locked up for much of the day (they will let people clocking 15:00 miles keep running; ideally this means the last person is done - back out in Arlington - by 2:30ish, but I would still bet on continuing closings). The closing list at the marathon website listed some areas closed until 4:30.

This reality and the axon list makes extremely clear that while we may be able to pick up the first of the Smithsonian axons, whoever does it will need to leave immediately to take blue and then red line subways to get over to Union Station for the major groupings. And that's about it, unless we have volunteers elsewhere who must give up getting to Union Station to cover other phones. Trying to get there with a vehicle seems chancy. And you could get stuck in race traffic. I may be wrong, but I'd worry.

The Virginia axons (Ballston/Spout Run) still have multiple calls to the phone - can't do those and be downtown. Anyone who can cover, please do! PM me if you can, or to report. Here or aliendialSPLATyahoo.com

Georgetown/NW - unless there are GW students willing to walk over and get some of these (NOTE the GW axon that we've never found - or looked for - survived on the final list this week). We won't be able to get these - no way to get across town for the fun at Union Station. If it's all you can do, I would still got for a certain thing like Washington Harbour or Georgetown Cinema, Conn&K, Vermon Ave. rather than look for the GW axon.

IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE AN AXON, SEE CHAPPY'S DC REFERENCE PAGE FOR EXACT LOCATION INFO. Don't start from scratch. WE know where these phones are.

All contributions welcome. Indeed if you'd rather just join us at Union Station, well, that works too. But I am curious to know what will be going out to these earlier axons. What the heck.

OK, it is Halloween. We're done at 5. Bring your deely-boppers and let's lift a few when it's all over at one of the bars in Union Station. On me. (uh, within reason). Putting my poker winnings to good use.

[aliendial]

Slightly more complicated chart - a line for every axon, even those that DC cannot help with. Also added personal axons.

For most clips we contribute one or two axons until the big groupings. The only way to contribute to the last several axons is to (gah!) get over to the Mall or Ballston. If traffic still sucks we might could shuttle one person over to Natural History in time (see the chart), but no way to get to Ballston that fast at that hour even on a good Sunday.

NOTE: Marathon means massive street closings. Leave early, esp. if coming from VA. According to the Post, the streets around the Mall should be re-opening NLT 1 PM, so Mall axons may be a possibility but I agree we should just focus on Union Station. If you can't get downtown, try for Spout Run or Ballston!

NOTE: Don't bother with Georgetown unless you are prepared for a long haul - Halloween restrictions started yesterday - crowds of people in costumes during the day, no parking etc etc etc. You can go there, but you can never leave. (Even though Washington Harbor is on the last axon...)

[Cortana]

I vote we all meet at Union Station around 1:15p today to have lunch and prepare for the onslaught. Meet by the spartan power machine (near the Amtrak gates and car rental counter) and we'll go from there.

Pleasure playing with you all, let's finish this out right and make the PMs proud.

Tom

[aliendial]

Cheers to the final round beekeepers at Union Station: Chappy, Ian, Tom Bridge and Headmocker, Araden, Paul and yours truly.

I marked up my chart with final results. We seem to have had a lot of elves helping us out today. While we were at Union Station, someone got Spout Run, all but one of Ballston, and a fair proportion of the Mall axons. /me looks around for invisible beekeepers, invites them to post, but is suspicious about those axons...

Now, since answering the phone was all it took this time, it is distinctly possible the the phones were answered. No way to confirm, of course. And we did indeed miss a call on the axon when the bag lady took over my phone, so I don't think she answered it.

BTW, welcome to Paul, newest beekeeper who found the game yesterday and just decided to see if there really were people answering the phone...

[StarCreator]

It's too bad I was out this weekend, it would have been fun. =p

Not that six hour drives aren't fun too...

[Cortana]

Yesterday was a distinct pleasure, everyone. We had a crew of 7 (the PMs would be so proud) and we got all but 4 of the Union Station axons. Not too shabby!

Thanks again to everyone who played!

Definitely think we should work up a DC Axon Hunters t-shirt with our names and ranks on them.

What do you think?

Tom

[INCyr]

I'm all in favor of beekeeper t-shirts.