Bay Area Beer?

Posted by: altman

Bay Area Beer? - 16/09/2006 16:38

For those poor souls who can't be at the Cambridge meet today (by now, they'll be getting stuck into the beer, I bet), but who happen to be in the bay area... anyone fancy a beer and/or food this evening?

Hugo
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 16/09/2006 19:32

Hm. I'm in San Jose with friends recording some stuff. I'm done with my parts for the day. Perhaps. Where exactly are you?

Heck, my friend Jeff might want to meet you, he works at Apple these days too...

I'll PM you with my cell number.
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 16/09/2006 23:10

Ok, so that's music, tfabris & me, anyone else?

Hugo
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 16/09/2006 23:54

Just got back and saw this thread. Are you guys gone out already?
It's 7pm.
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 16/09/2006 23:58

Just about to, going to the Duke of Edinburgh, N Wolfe, Cupertino... see you there?

Hugo
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 17/09/2006 05:37

A good time was had by all.
Posted by: Derek

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 18/09/2006 14:23

Photos? Or was it not as wild as in Cambridge ... ?
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 18/09/2006 16:31

It was rather sedate. One photo of the four of us exists on Music's (Mike) camera.
Highlight was after the pub- having a look at Mike's new Elise! Tony even got a ride.
/me so jealous.
Posted by: loren

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 18/09/2006 16:39

DANGIT! That'll teach me to not check the board for a couple days.
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 18/09/2006 16:43

Quote:
DANGIT! That'll teach me to not check the board for a couple days.

It was rather short notice- I barely caught Hugo before he walked out the door.

I say we get a little more organized for the next one- say an Empeg Pumpkin Run to Half Moon Bay for the Pumpkin Festival?
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 18/09/2006 20:16

Sorry I missed ya, Loren.

Hey, my friends thank you again for that light gun, they're having fun with it.
Posted by: loren

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 02:24

Man... I'd have killed for a ride in that thing!

Glad they are enjoying the light gun.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 05:47

Pictures.

First picture. Mike's Lotus Elise has an interesting feature that graces the black plastic cowling surrounding the lens-like European high intensity headlights.

Anyone want to guess what caused these seemingly random arc-shaped marks in the plastic? No cheating, don't Google. Hint: American Lotus owners are more likely to encounter this problem than English Lotus owners...

Posted by: tfabris

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 05:50

Second Picture. The Elise and (L to R) Stew (Robotic), Hugo (Altman), and Mike (Music).

Posted by: tfabris

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 05:52

Third picture. A sample of the graffiti in the restroom of the Duke of Edinburgh pub.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 13:34

Quote:
American Lotus owners are more likely to encounter this problem than English Lotus owners.

Does it have something to do with dentistry?
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 13:43

Does that say "GROUT EXPACTATIONS"?
What is the world coming to when you can't even find good spelling in pub WC wall graffiti?

If I had known the WC was such an attraction I would've paid a visit.
Posted by: boxer

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 13:52

Can't get the US/UK reference, is it done by a carwash?
Posted by: Geoff

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 14:12

Quote:
Anyone want to guess what caused these seemingly random arc-shaped marks in the plastic?


Is it something to do with sunlight being focussed by the lens onto the black plastic, then the arc shapes are caused as the sun moves across the sky and the focal point changes?

Can't think of much in America that we don't also get in the UK these days apart from bright sunlight
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 14:21

Ooh! That's a good guess. The US is much more southerly than the UK -- in the arena of 1000 miles; maybe the angle of the sunlight has something to do with it.
Posted by: RobotCaleb

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 14:26

Something to do with replacing/upgrading headlights, perhaps? Not sure how that would be regional, though.
Posted by: Geoff

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 14:27

There's a flare from the camera flash that seems to be focussed directly on the most marked part of the black plastic as well, which might be a clue...

Of course, I could be totally wrong and maybe it's short-sighted raccoons trying to steal the lenses to fashion into rudimentary spectacles... we don't have raccoons over here!
Posted by: peter

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 14:35

Quote:
Of course, I could be totally wrong and maybe it's short-sighted raccoons trying to steal the lenses to fashion into rudimentary spectacles... we don't have raccoons over here!

Except in Leicestershire, apparently.

Peter
Posted by: JBjorgen

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 14:36

That's easy...we have Wal-Mart and the UK doesn't. That was clearly caused by a Wal-Mart shopping cart.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 15:27

Looks like there's one hanging out over in Cornwall, too.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 15:32

Quote:
Does it have something to do with dentistry?



Quote:

Is it something to do with sunlight being focussed by the lens onto the black plastic, then the arc shapes are caused as the sun moves across the sky and the focal point changes?

Can't think of much in America that we don't also get in the UK these days apart from bright sunlight

DING. We have a winner.

Fascinating, huh?
Posted by: Geoff

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 16:06

Would you believe I was going to say we don't have many raccoons... shoddy research, I apologise
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 18:00

Quote:
Does that say "GROUT EXPACTATIONS"?
What is the world coming to when you can't even find good spelling in pub WC wall graffiti?

Maybe it's a veiled 2Pac reference?
Posted by: larry818

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 18:13

Quote:
DING. We have a winner.

Fascinating, huh?


Really! So, it's probably likely in the LA area this car could light it's self on fire?

That is just too weird...
Posted by: andym

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 19:54

Quote:
Quote:
DING. We have a winner.

Fascinating, huh?


Really! So, it's probably likely in the LA area this car could light it's self on fire?

That is just too weird...


They should make little powered eyelids which come down when the ignition is off. That might stop it....
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 19:59

If you're going to be fancy about it, you might as well make the lenses out of electrochromic glass.
Posted by: andym

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 20:15

Quote:
If you're going to be fancy about it, you might as well make the lenses out of electrochromic glass.


But how would you attach the eyelashes then?
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 19/09/2006 23:13

Quote:
Really! So, it's probably likely in the LA area this car could light it's self on fire?

That is just too weird...

Mike says he picked the car up in LA- the damage was done while the car was sitting on the dealer's lot.
I think a fire would be unrealistic, though.

I *have* heard of Elites burning to the ground- leaky fuel lines + alumin(i)um and fiberglass chassis = potential total loss.
But that's a different car entirely.
Posted by: andy

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 20/09/2006 05:20

Quote:

I *have* heard of Elites burning to the ground- leaky fuel lines + alumin(i)um and fiberglass chassis = potential total loss.



You don't need aluminium and fiberglass involved to result in a total loss from a car fire. Plenty of steel bodied cars are completely destroyed by fire.

That whole "melted puddle of car" effect that you get with fiberglass does make it look more impressive though.
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 20/09/2006 12:14

Quote:
That whole "melted puddle of car" effect that you get with fiberglass does make it look more impressive though.

Exactly the picture I had in mind.
A steel body car still has its shape after a fire.
Posted by: larry818

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 20/09/2006 20:11

Aluminum, which can catch fire, burns very brightly. Of course, in a car fire, it's far more likely to just melt.

Nothing burns like a motorhome, though...
Posted by: julf

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 21/09/2006 06:57

Quote:
Aluminum, which can catch fire, burns very brightly. Of course, in a car fire, it's far more likely to just melt.


Well, a suitable amount of magnesium really adds some flash
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 25/10/2006 20:22

For Mike (and anyone else with an eye for the Elise):
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/lotus-elise.htm

I found that while looking for Bugatti Veyron stuff. I also found an Ariel Atom article.
Posted by: jbauer

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 25/10/2006 20:41

Damn. I totally missed this meet. I have been spending too much time on "Off Topic" and not enough on "General" lately. AND DAMN IT - I lust after the Elise too!

- Jon
Posted by: music

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 26/10/2006 16:13

Quote:
(and anyone else with an eye for the Elise)



A few things I wish they'd mentioned a little better:
  • The undertray/splitter/etc has been designed to create a little bit of downforce to hold
    the car to the road. Most street cars actually generate lift at any
    reasonable speed (not a good thing).
  • The aluminum chassis was mentioned. What was not discussed was what an
    engineering marvel it is! It is made out of aluminum extrusion laminates which are
    bonded together in a high temperature oven. I.e., the chassis is literally
    glued together. But don't worry, I think some fighter jets are done
    this way, too. So it's probably relatively safe....


Also, some of the information is a little out of date.
But the only one of any significance is that it is no longer true that you
have to special-order one and put your name on a long waiting list. This
was true until recently, but now you can just walk into a Lotus dealership
and buy one off the floor. Assuming they have one in the package and color
that you want, of course. Although if you aren't on the one of the US
coasts or in the UK it may be a reasonable trek to the closest dealer.
(Actually, the warmer states have a fair number as well. Sorry about that, Idaho.)

And they would like you to be able to drive your new toy properly.
So if you buy one before Nov. 30th they will fly you to Vegas, put
you up in the Bellagio, and give you a one day Lotus Performance Driving
Experience including hands on driver's training and laps around the Las
Vegas Speedway with an instructor.




I have a bunch more stuff (including pics) that I have been meaning to post
to this thread for weeks, but right now I am swamped at work. So stay
tuned, and I will try to get around to it later today or tonight.
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 01/11/2006 03:56

Well, there really ought to be another at some point - We're now fairly settled* in Mountain View, and I'm therefore obviously up for beer & general geeking at any point, particularly if there are people visiting.

btw Mike is here the end of November, Rob is too at the start of December I believe - rather annoyingly I may be in china for both of those times, but I won't get to find out until nearer the time...

Hugo

* read: the freight arrived, so we're no longer begging plastic forks from restaurants to go with our boxed-up leftovers
Posted by: loren

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 01/11/2006 04:53

Glad you're getting settled. Snow should be here soon. *crosses fingers*
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 01/11/2006 13:52

Quote:
Glad you're getting settled. Snow should be here soon. *crosses fingers*

Oh! Empeg ski-meet?
Anyone got a timeshare at Kirkwood?
Posted by: cushman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 01/11/2006 16:52

Quote:
Oh! Empeg ski-meet?

I'd be up for any ski-meet in Colorado.
Posted by: rob

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 01/11/2006 23:53

Quote:
btw Mike is here the end of November, Rob is too at the start of December I believe - rather annoyingly I may be in china for both of those times, but I won't get to find out until nearer the time...

I'm in LA with John C from December 2nd but we could easily pop up to the bay if anything interesting is going on.

Rob
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 02/11/2006 02:53

We've got our kirkwood season passes, not worked out where we're going to stay yet. Driving the prius up there is also going to be an "experiment" (I've got chains... and recovery service!)

The plan is to be up there every weekend we can...

Hugo
Posted by: loren

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 02/11/2006 03:38

I've got the scooby AWD, so when you need a driver, I'm most likely in.
Posted by: matthew_k

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 02/11/2006 03:43

Quote:
Driving the prius up there

Wow, you've Gone Native, eh? Did you get it in time for carpool lane decals?
Quote:
but we could easily pop up to the bay

Far be it from me to discourage you, but that's 400 miles. However, I expect you know that, unlike so many foreign tourists who plan for the drive to take them 3 hours.
Quote:
Well, there really ought to be another at some point

I agree. I'm up for just about anything, just about any time. I'll be in San Jose this weekend, my girlfriend and I drop by Linda's Light Rail Lounge most Friday nights, if anyone's interested. It's out favorite neighborhood bar, extremely unpretentious.

Matthew
Posted by: mlord

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 02/11/2006 14:07

Quote:
We've got our kirkwood season passes, not worked out where we're going to stay yet. Driving the prius up there is also going to be an "experiment" (I've got chains... and recovery service!)

The plan is to be up there every weekend we can...

Hugo


Mmm.. I could use a west coast "mileage run" for my StarAlliance status next year.
Let's hope for lots of early (December) snowfall!

Cheers
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 03/11/2006 04:54

Didn't realise that there was a time limit on the decals, though I did miss out on the big tax rebate

Got it last month, but am attempting to keep up my commute - 7 miles each way - by nice shiny new Marin street bike (straight handlebars, but apart from that it's a racer).

As for Rob "popping up", 400 miles would only take him 3 hours.... in the UK. I've seen how fast he drives

Mmmmm how far is Linda's from the nearest VTA tram stop?

Hugo
Posted by: Mataglap

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 03/11/2006 07:14

What about a SoCal meetup in early December?

--Nathan
Posted by: matthew_k

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 04/11/2006 00:41

Quote:
Didn't realise that there was a time limit on the decals, though I did miss out on the big tax rebate

Well, they were supposed to be running out soon, but I haven't heard anything recently.

Quote:
Mmmmm how far is Linda's from the nearest VTA tram stop?

Well, as you might imagine, the VTA stop is right in front. It might be half a block, but either way it's close.

My girlfriend and I will be there tonight around ten till around eleven, if you or anyone else wants to come by.

Matthew
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 05/11/2006 03:01

I had work related panic (and still do, hence why I'm in the office) so we didn't get out of MV on friday night... at some point I might be able to make it out, but the near future isn't looking good

Hugo
Posted by: rob

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 06/11/2006 12:51

Quote:
As for Rob "popping up", 400 miles would only take him 3 hours.... in the UK. I've seen how fast he drives

I was thinking an aeroplane might be more appropriate! Say, SNA to SJC, about 75 mins and little queuing at each end.

Rob
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 07/11/2006 20:22

Meanwhile, back on random Elise stuff...

I bet this guy is very, very angry.
Further details in some lotus forum
Posted by: andym

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 07/11/2006 22:48

Quote:
Meanwhile, back on random Elise stuff...


Mmm..... sooo tempting! But I've only just bought the roadster!
Posted by: loren

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 07/11/2006 23:30

oh DAMN. I can't imagine my outrage if that was my baby. Wow.
Posted by: music

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 08/11/2006 00:19

Quote:
Meanwhile, back on random Elise stuff...

I bet this guy is very, very angry.


I saw that earlier today and it made me very very sad.
I was surprised that it became an internet "meme for a day" and has shown up a bunch of places. The Elise forum was more or less "slashdotted" today because of this.

What's even more painful is seeing some lifting straps wrapped around the front suspension components and lifting the car that way while they tried to "fix" the problem.
That baby is definitely toast.

At least no one was hurt. Cars can be replaced. (Even fragile British ones....)
Of course if I were that guy I'd be mightily torqued off.
Especially after he specifically showed them the exact diagram in the manual they needed to follow in order to AVOID that problem.
Posted by: jbauer

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 20/11/2006 22:41

Quote:
Meanwhile, back on random Elise stuff...

I bet this guy is very, very angry.
Further details in some lotus forum


Oh my god! He better get a brand new car out of that.

- Jon
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 30/12/2007 01:23

I'm just headed out the door to go to the 8pm show at Rooster T. Feather's comedy club in Sunnyvale.
I'm going to try to convince my pals to go to Duke of Edinburgh afterwards.
Anyone up for a pint tonight?
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 30/12/2007 01:47

Ack, not enough notice with a 2-month-old (and also not quite enough sleep to be out beyond 9pm ;\) )....

What was on at the comedy place? Not tried any US comedy places...

Hugo
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 30/12/2007 06:25

Sorry for the short notice! We only just this afternoon planned to go for the comedy show. Then I thought of this thread and the Duke of Edinburgh as a later stopping point.

The show was very funny- but I can't remember the names at all (typical). It wasn't anyone famous, but well worth the $15 admission.
Ah- it was these guys- John Bizarre, Justin Worsham & Rachel McDowell
http://www.roostertfeathers.com/calendar.htm

Ooooh- Will Durst is there at the end of January! How does that sound?
Posted by: music

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 30/12/2007 16:49

D'oh. I didn't check the BBS in time. I could have made it.
Maybe next time!
Posted by: Robotic

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 09/01/2008 15:17

Shall we plan our 'next time'?
Anyone favor a date in February for some food, drink, talk, and anything else?
Posted by: gbeer

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 10/01/2008 20:19

Ground Hog day is a Saturday.
Posted by: altman

Re: Bay Area Beer? - 14/01/2008 03:42

February 2nd then?