Comments on: Being a geek in San Francisco http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/ The Virtual Investor Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:40:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Paul http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2608 Paul Fri, 03 Mar 2006 08:07:06 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2608 Having now spent nearly a month in the US (Palo Alto) I too am struck by just how friendly everybody is. Tonight (at the Adaptive Path thing) I was able to speak with so many more people just because it is so much easier to do. For somebody like me who suffers very poor social interaction skils and very little confidence, I'm absolutely loving this country - it's like I'm cured!!! (It was nice to meet you and your better half too!) Having now spent nearly a month in the US (Palo Alto) I too am struck by just how friendly everybody is. Tonight (at the Adaptive Path thing) I was able to speak with so many more people just because it is so much easier to do.

For somebody like me who suffers very poor social interaction skils and very little confidence, I’m absolutely loving this country – it’s like I’m cured!!!

(It was nice to meet you and your better half too!)

]]> By: Ted Gilchrist http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2563 Ted Gilchrist Wed, 01 Mar 2006 14:58:26 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2563 Ben, Stop. You're making me miss the place. By the way, if you want to listen to your self, whilst on the go, just give yourself a call at: Number Type Number PIN Access (800) 289-5570 then PIN: 9991251983 PIN Access (407) 386-2174 then PIN: 9991251983 Skype VoIP +99000936 9991251983 FWD VoIP **86919991251983 SIP VoIP SIP:9991251983@sip.voxeo.net The number for your feed is 0001. Just trying to push botcasting into new frontiers. Enjoy San Francisco, and be sure to check out those wacky SF bay swimmers with the orange bathing caps. Ted Ben,

Stop. You’re making me miss the place. By the way, if you want to listen to your self, whilst on the go, just give yourself a call at:

Number Type Number
PIN Access (800) 289-5570 then PIN: 9991251983
PIN Access (407) 386-2174 then PIN: 9991251983
Skype VoIP +99000936 9991251983
FWD VoIP **86919991251983
SIP VoIP SIP:9991251983@sip.voxeo.net

The number for your feed is 0001.

Just trying to push botcasting into new frontiers.

Enjoy San Francisco, and be sure to check out those wacky SF bay swimmers with the orange bathing caps.

Ted

]]> By: Matt http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2537 Matt Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:30:44 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2537 There is a place in Angel, Islington which sounds similar to backspace. Can't find the site right now, but you can rent desks/meeting rooms by the hour etc. Free wifi and power. In this really cool looking old warehouse. There is a place in Angel, Islington which sounds similar to backspace. Can’t find the site right now, but you can rent desks/meeting rooms by the hour etc. Free wifi and power. In this really cool looking old warehouse.

]]> By: Tara 'Miss Rogue' Hunt http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2477 Tara 'Miss Rogue' Hunt Mon, 27 Feb 2006 20:59:27 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2477 Don't forget <a href="http://www.agendacide.com" rel="nofollow">Glenda</a> as well! ;) Don’t forget Glenda as well! ;)

]]> By: Ian Forrester http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2474 Ian Forrester Mon, 27 Feb 2006 14:30:44 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2474 Sweet Ben, good to hear how different things are in San Fran. Sweet Ben, good to hear how different things are in San Fran.

]]> By: matlocke http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2473 matlocke Mon, 27 Feb 2006 13:22:50 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2473 Hey Ben - London did have its own 'drop-in' space for developers and geeks. It was called 'Backspace', and used to live in lovely offices in Clink St - http://bak.spc.org/bakspc.html It was run by the legendary James Stevens, and was host to an evolving community of artists, geeks, programmers and plain nut-jobs. I was in Yorkshire at the time (1996-1999), but went there a few times for events and conferences. It was very, very, laid-back, and was run on a wing and a prayer (James was always proud not to receive funding from the Arts Council, et al). Unfortunately, their landlord sold the space to developers, and the backspaces offices are now, ironically, a Starbucks (no doubt with paid-for wifi hotspot). Looking at the site now, it was way ahead of its time, with projects for community eventlogs, favespace (a proto delicious) and a 'personal log' that any backspace user could contribute to. I guess the difference is that if it had been in SF, some of these ideas would have turned into successful companies, whereas in London, it all dissipated once the developers moved in. Maybe we're better at being property entrepreneurs than tech entrepreneurs? Hey Ben – London did have its own ‘drop-in’ space for developers and geeks. It was called ‘Backspace’, and used to live in lovely offices in Clink St – http://bak.spc.org/bakspc.html

It was run by the legendary James Stevens, and was host to an evolving community of artists, geeks, programmers and plain nut-jobs. I was in Yorkshire at the time (1996-1999), but went there a few times for events and conferences. It was very, very, laid-back, and was run on a wing and a prayer (James was always proud not to receive funding from the Arts Council, et al). Unfortunately, their landlord sold the space to developers, and the backspaces offices are now, ironically, a Starbucks (no doubt with paid-for wifi hotspot).

Looking at the site now, it was way ahead of its time, with projects for community eventlogs, favespace (a proto delicious) and a ‘personal log’ that any backspace user could contribute to. I guess the difference is that if it had been in SF, some of these ideas would have turned into successful companies, whereas in London, it all dissipated once the developers moved in. Maybe we’re better at being property entrepreneurs than tech entrepreneurs?

]]> By: jamesb http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2465 jamesb Mon, 27 Feb 2006 09:17:47 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2465 crikey, i went to "brain wash" nearly 15 years ago - it was pretty hip back then! re: collaboration spaces. artists studios are a good model to foster - cheap, shared, based around social networks and highly creative spaces. i see a lot of parallels between technical creativity and artistic creativity. crikey, i went to “brain wash” nearly 15 years ago – it was pretty hip back then! re: collaboration spaces. artists studios are a good model to foster – cheap, shared, based around social networks and highly creative spaces. i see a lot of parallels between technical creativity and artistic creativity.

]]> By: Tantek http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2463 Tantek Mon, 27 Feb 2006 05:21:43 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2463 Oh master organizer Tara, we dare not put ourselves in the same league as you. Please accept our humblest of apologies. Oh master organizer Tara, we dare not put ourselves in the same league as you. Please accept our humblest of apologies.

]]> By: Tantek http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2462 Tantek Mon, 27 Feb 2006 05:21:18 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2462 Oh master organizer Tara, we dare not put ourselves in the same league as you. Please accept our humlbest of apologies. Oh master organizer Tara, we dare not put ourselves in the same league as you. Please accept our humlbest of apologies.

]]> By: Tara 'Miss Rogue' Hunt http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2006/02/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/comment-page-1/#comment-2461 Tara 'Miss Rogue' Hunt Mon, 27 Feb 2006 05:15:24 +0000 http://benmetcalfe.com/blog/index.php/2006/02/27/being-a-geek-in-san-francisco/#comment-2461 What am I? Chopped liver? Hmmm? I believe I invited Tantek and crew to join us...;) I never want to be 'just the girlfriend in the background'. :P What am I? Chopped liver? Hmmm? I believe I invited Tantek and crew to join us…;)

I never want to be ‘just the girlfriend in the background’. :P

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