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Tag: geek

Smash hit? Geek out on the Marvel universe thanks to Orchestrate and Stand In

Rick Turoczy on April 8, 2014

People geek out about a bunch of different things. And sometimes, those geeky endeavors have a great deal of crossover. Like comic books and tech. So imagine my geeky giddiness at the latest Portland side project using the Orchestrate platform: a visual exploration of the Marvel universe called MarvelousDB. Read More

Joining Geeks on a Train? Mark Silva explains why you should stay for the GROW Conference

Rick Turoczy on July 10, 2012

[Editor: Geeks on Train is heading from Portland to Seattle to Vancouver, BC, and it’s dragging a whole cast of characters along for the ride. But some folks have been wondering if they should attend the event that lies at the end of the trip, the GROW Conference. Mark Silva, SVP Emerging Platforms at Anthem Worldwide, provides a little inspiration for your staying on to attend GROW.] Read More

Girl? Geeky? Have we got an event for you

Rick Turoczy on March 28, 2012

From the “better late than never” department… If there’s one major complaint about the tech scene in Portland—or, well, anywhere—it’s the lack of diversity. For the most part, it tends to be white. And male. And recent headlines have only further highlighted the issue.

But we also know there are a bunch of awesome women working in the tech scene around. And it’s time that we get them all together in one room. Read More

I know what you’ll do this summer: 8 major upcoming tech and geek events in Portland

Here’s a quick look at the major tech events – OSCON, Open Source Bridge, IndieWebCamp, Word Domination Conference – happening in Portland over the coming months.

Rick Turoczy on May 24, 2011

Well, we’re in the thick of it, aren’t we? That’s right. It’s conference and event season. Full on.

Yes, we’ve already made it through BarCamp Portland, NW, and OpenGovWest. But it’s really just the beginning. There’s still more to come. A bunch more. So here’s a quick look at the major tech events happening in Portland over the coming months. Read More

Wonder Woman Day: Take the day to geek out on comic books instead of tech and support a good cause

I’m hoping a whole bunch of tech geeks join a whole bunch of comic book geeks at Excalibur Comics on Hawthorne for a very good cause, Wonder Woman Day, an event to benefit Bradley Angle.

Rick Turoczy on October 22, 2010

Now, granted, this isn’t a tech article per se. But let’s be serious. Comic books and geeks? They go hand in hand. And being helpful and Portland tech types? Also a fairly common combination. So I thought I would step away from startup stuff for just a second and give you details on some comic booking for a good cause this weekend. Read More

Hacking PDX: Compiling a geek’s guide to Portland International Airport

Rick Turoczy on March 27, 2008

[Editor’s Note: Why an article on airports? What does that have to do with startups or geeks? Well, there are a couple of things.

First and foremost, when I started out on my own, I thought I would be sitting around in my home office, eating bon-bons while the world beat a path to my door. In reality, I wound up traveling far more than I ever had—and I thought I traveled a lot in other gigs. So PDX has become like a home away from home to me. No doubt as your startup begins to gain traction, you’re going to be wishing you had a personal parking space at PDX, too.

Second, we’re just beginning to enter the crazy jam-packed event season here in Portland. And no doubt there will be a number of our geeky friends from other locales attempting to navigate PDX. It seems only neighborly to give them a few tips, as well.

So, either inbound or outbound, I give you, Scott Kveton‘s…]

Hacking PDX: Compiling a geek’s guide to Portland International Airport

In the last year, I’ve flown about 40 legs through Portland’s airport, which we most commonly refer to by its call-sign designation of “PDX.” We have a great airport with plenty of features that just about any traveler could need. But, despite all its ease-of-use, there are always a few tips-and-tricks that make the experience that much better.

Here are some things that I’ve learned:

  • Take a picture of where you parked with your camera phone. I know it sounds dumb, but the more you travel, the more the visits start to blur together. I’ve been at the airport and gotten on the wrong bus and looked around the wrong area for a long time only to remember, “Oh yeah, I parked over there,” only to have to get back on the bus. Which brings me to my next point.
  • Park in the same area each time you fly out of the airport to avoid the previous problem.
  • Park in area “X.” Have you noticed that there are oodles of people that are waiting at the area “X” for parking? There’s a reason: it’s the best spot. Why? First of all, it’s the last stop on the blue bus route. That means that, once you’re on the bus, the next stop is the terminal. Another reason is that when you return from your trip, you can take either the blue or the red bus and get off at “N” or “A” and be very close to X (both of these are the first or second stops for each line). Now, when it gets past 12 midnight, only the red line runs so again, you’re in good shape. I know, I know … how often are you there after 12 midnight? Well, it only takes once my friends … 🙂
  • This may sound like a no-brainer but participate in the frequent flyer programs for the airlines you fly. The sooner you can become an MVP, 1K, or super-mega-ultra-all-star, the sooner you can take that cool line for people flying first class or in the “elite” of travelers to get through security faster. With my Alaska MVP status, I can get to the airport a full 45 minutes later and not worry about long lines.
  • Taking a day trip to San Francisco or Seattle? Think about using the short-term parking lot. I know, its $24 for the day, but there is nothing like stepping off that plane and walking straight to your car. I find levels 3 or 5 the best as you can take one flight of stairs to one of the walkways and be over to the terminal without dealing with crossing traffic. Also, the handy-dandy overhead “free parking” lights help you find the perfect spot in only seconds instead of minutes. Time is money people!
  • Speaking of money… take the MAX red line. Did you know that for a little less than $2 you can take Trimet’s MAX line straight into the city? If you’re a reverse commuter and coming to Portland there’s nothing like taking the MAX to downtown Portland and your hotel. (It amazes me that people from out of town don’t know this, but then again, I’m a Portvangelist and need to remember that not everybody knows everything about Portland).
  • PDX was at the forefront (IMHO) of providing free wireless Internet throughout the airport for the last few years. Even though I’m rarely stuck in the airport for any length of time, it’s nice knowing that if I get there early before a flight I can be productive anywhere in the airport with laptop + coffee. Did I mention this was free?!

Okay, so those are my tips for gaming the Portland airport … how about you? What are the little tips and tricks you’ve found help make travel so much easier at PDX?