NWSFS: The 2011 Mad Scientist Social

Saturday - 10/22/2010 – NWSFS Mad Scientist Social

Please join Michael Ormes, Victoria Whitlock and their minions for the October NWSFS Social, beginning at 5 P.M. and ending at 10 P.M (or when they eject the last remaining guest or loan them sleeping space). 14437 NE 11th Place, Bellevue.

This is the Mad Scientist Social, so present your favorite experiments, inventions, gadgets, creations, discoveries and curiosities.
NOTE: Please limit yields and power requirements to something appropriate for a residential area.

Bring your favorite videotapes or DVDs, as there is a separate room for viewing. There will also be a variety of board and card games available, or you can bring your own favorite.

As usual, this is a potluck, so bring your contribution of a main dish (occasionally have enough), side dish (rarely have enough), beverage, munchies (usually have enough), or dessert (often have enough, but then really, who could object to too much dessert).

Based on continued demand (despite limited participation), A Challenge for the build-ahead-of-time crowd has again been included. So, for those who prefer time-to-think, and your-own-choice-of-materials:

Defend against an attack by Lego Minions

Intelligence reports that a group of your Arch-Rival's Lego Minions were late to last year's event and, in an attempt to redeem themselves, are planning to assault you at this year's event. Your challenge is to create an inconspicuous device to foil the attack by incapacitating the minions.

The winner is the device able to incapacitate the most Lego Minions during the attack.


The Fine Print:

• Minions are considered "incapacitated" when they are no longer upright or are contained.
• Your device needs to operate at a range of two meters.
• The device should be concealed on or about your person for a significant portion of the evening. If not actually hidden there should be an adequate cover story as to just why you are carrying around what is obviously an Atomic powered Cattle Rod that is taller than you are.
• Being a social event, the Minions are to be incapacitated while doing minimal damage to them or their environment.
• Intelligence suggests that the Minions have spent some portion of the intervening time being augmented.
• Intelligence will be able to provide some (but not much) warning in which time you may discretely draw and prepare your device.
• In the event of a tie, the attack will be repeated at a greater distance (or shorter if no minions are incapacitated by any device).
• As usual, the sponsors of this event assume no responsibility for damaged egos.
• Innocent-bystanders are responsible for their own defense.

 
We apologize for those Mad Scientists who have been constructing a siege weapon (the copy-and-paste device which failed in the creation of the previous notice has been replaced). If a sufficient number of siege weapons arrive then a contest similar to last year will be held.

A Challenge, in a form similar to previous years, will also be presented for those who desire the satisfaction of solving a problem using limited time and constrained resources. (i.e. you get the details when you arrive).

Logistics: There is plenty of parking on the street. The driveway is a bit steep. The only pets are aquatic, and they are expected to remain in their appropriate habitat. NOTE: If you need test subjects, please make other arrangements. Smoking is acceptable outside only, please. There is a covered breezeway available, with seating, for smokers.


Directions:

From I-405 (both directions – or take the SR520 route):

• Take the NE 8th St exit Eastbound (not the SE 8th St exit). Travel East on NE 8th St towards Crossroads Mall
• Take a Left (North) on 140th St NE (there is a Walgreen's on the corner)
• Take the first Right on NE 14th St, before the Fairweather Building.
• After some large speed bumps, this road will make a 90-degree right turn and become 144th St NE
• Take a Left on NE 11th Place
• This road again takes a 90-degree Right turn
• As you turn, the house is on the inside corner, around the corner. The house is brown, and the drive goes up a small hill, pointed back the way you arrived.

 
From SR520:

• Take the 148th St exit
• Travel South on 148th St NE
• Turn Right (West) on NE 10th to 145th St NE. It looks like a driveway until you are right there.
• Take a Right (North) on 145th St NE
• Continue to 11th. The house will be on the left, with the drive pointed up the hill, in the direction you were going.

From I-90: DON'T try to go partway and then follow the directions from SR520 because there is a left turn that you can't make:

• Take the 148th St exit
• Travel North on 148th St NE
• Go West on NE 8th to 140th St NE
• Take a Right (North) on 140th St NE (there is a Walgreen's on the corner)
• Take the first Right on NE 14th St, before the Fairweather Building
• After some large speed bumps, this road will make a 90-degree right turn and become 144th St NE
• Take a Left on NE 11th Place
• This road again takes a 90-degree Right turn As you turn, the house is on the inside corner, around the corner.
• The house is brown, and the drive goes up a small hill, pointed back the way you arrived.