Meet for coffee in Palo Alto at 5 pm on Wednesday, October 12?

<p>I'm just a lonely soul who invented an artificial kidney for puttering in my garden, but I would be delighted to drop down to Palo Alto to meet the person who tipped me to get an Eos 3 the only other time I met him.</p>

<p>Have you tried meetup.com? There's a monthly photogs meetup in SF at least, and it's a good venue for putting out your own meetup to the few local photographers who live as cockroaches under the table of Silicon Valley. </p>

<p>Speaking of deep learning, has anyone noticed that Google has open-sourced their <a href="https://github.com/tensorflow/models/blob/master/im2txt/README.md#introduction">latest image description neural net</a>? It can describe photos with sentences like "Man surfing on a wave in the ocean." "A person on a beach flying a kite." "A black and white photo of a train on a train track." "A group of giraffe standing next to each other." See link for the pics that go with those descriptions.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

Philip, after the meeting with fellow photographers, you might try setting up a meeting with some Stanford students in the

area and get some of their ideas on what you describe as "being unable to decide on a persistent gender." Because I

think that may be a valuable conversation to have, I'll forgo coming down from San Francisco so you can get your

photography visit over with faster and start learning about gender identity sooner rather than later.

<p>@Brad: Where is downtown PA?</p>

<p>Philip, The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park would be a nice place to meet, though there are many locations in NYC. My familiarity with that city is somewhat limited to the few outdoor locations where I take lunch during visits. Bryant Park is an excellent place to meet, to me at least.</p>

<p>There are many pnetters, including myself, in PA, and I would suggest the Steel Stacks in Bethlehem. There is outdoor and indoor seating, a places to purchase food and beverages, and an interesting location for photography. It's an easy drive from many locations.</p>

<p>>>> @Brad: Where is downtown PA?</p>

<p>Sorry, I should have been more clear. Downtown Palo Alto, roughly midway between San Francisco and San Jose, California, where Stanford University is located, and a part of the larger area known as "silicon valley."</p>

<p>Thanks Brad. I also should have probably put that together. I got a friendly PM from another pentter regarding the context. I currently reside in the state of PA, and I'm sure there are folks here who would opine that there is a downtown. You were perfectly clear, it was my head that was stuck. Perhaps I should have mentioned PA in a different way to avoid confusion, but I think folks will figure it out. I'm a former Bay Area (south San Jose) resident, but it's been a long time. I clearly need more coffee. ;-)</p>

<p>Philip, I guess my invitation was a tad late. Next time, perhaps . . .</p>

<p>Would love to, but I am in Toronto.</p>

<p>Wow - Phil Greenspun! I've been a PN member since the time when you used to visit on a more regular basis. Would love to meet you and other PN members for a coffee, but like most others have to bow out on this occasion due to the excessive traveling distance. If you ever feel like meeting in Auckland, NZ, I'd be game!</p>

 

 

<p>Folks: Because I can't bear the idea of paying less than $5 per cup of coffee or the idea that a machine might do the dripping of hot water... Blue Bottle Coffee on University Avenue in the old theater building. Yelp reviews say that there is a nice courtyard.</p>

<p>They have machines now that make coffee? What will they think of next, machines to turn bread into toast?</p>

Philip. I grew up in Menlo Park(next door to Palo Alto). I now live in Portsmouth NH. I have been a member photonet

for ten years. I am saddened about how PN has devolved since you left. I am evidence that the PN demographic is

aging. I am 84 and when I grew up we lived in or near Silicone Valley when there were then hay fields in what is now

prime and highly developed real estate. We used to hunt and fish where they now write code, manage Netflix and

make facebook. My father was the developer of the Stanford Shopping Center. I would like to meet you for coffee in

Palo Alto just to see the place again but alas that is not possible. At my age I am still an active photographer and am

lusting after an EOS M5 which I will buy when it is released. As for your coming on this site I welcome it. Of course I

am not the gate keeper but just a member who has always enjoyed this site but sadly it has been overtaken by sites

like Fred Miranda and DPreview. Still it provokes some really good discussions that eclipse the impersonality of those

larger sites.

<p>How about a SKYPE meet? </p>

<p>Philip,<br>

That sounds fun, wish I could make it. I am on the East Coast in October, hoping to be out on the West Coast, Bay Area, sometime this winter but at this time with my work schedule I can't pin down any dates. I will keep an eye out if this becomes a regular thing. It would be fun meeting folks.</p>

<p>An East Coast PA/NJ area meeting would be great if we can stir up enough interest. </p>

<p>Cheers, <br>

Mark</p>

<p>What a lot of misery guts: I'm looking at you, Tim, in particular!</p>

<p>I'd love to come, but as much as I like Philip (without actually knowing him), 3000 miles is too far for a cup of coffee. I am amazed at all the surliness. Why meet anyone, or talk to anyone? I appreciate the gesture, even if I can't make it. I hope you have a good meeting. I'd certainly come if I was in the area.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>What a lot of misery guts: I'm looking at you, Tim, in particular!</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I'm not miserable at all, Robin.</p>

<p>Doesn't appear you have much to talk about that has any depth or is of any interest anyway. At least my responses are from the heart and are real and interesting, not light banter. Life as it is for me is interesting with interesting stories whether you perceive it as bad or good or misery guts says more about you.</p>

<p>In fact last Monday night while I was doing my laundry at midnight at a 24/7 local laundry mat I was approached by a self professed homeless 19 year old man traveling around on a skateboard. He claimed to have lived and moved from California to Texas due to the high cost of living to stay with family here. His family soon booted him out of the house where he's now homeless again.</p>

<p>I advised him that he needs to stop coming up to strangers as he did with me telling them that he's schizophrenic, not taking meds and trying to get arrested by our local police if he wants them to help him. I voluntarilly gave him all of the $18 I had left in my wallet and he thanked me and moved on. That's interesting! Wish I had my camera.</p>

<p>Life is too short for small talk and it appears that's all anyone here or around my neck of the woods is interested in.</p>

<p>Do you know what's really miserable sounding, Robin? This quote from Dick Arnold...</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I am saddened about how PN has devolved since you left.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Apparently he, too, must be complaining about all the small talk at PN. Come on. Don't be boring!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>To all heading to the Blue Bottle Cafe this evening; have a great time!</p>

<p>...and take some photos.</p>

We are at Peet's on University. Blue Bottle closed for private event