E3 Map and Advice about LA/TNL Get Together...

This is a general map of Los Angeles.
http://www.popanime.net/mvs/thismap01.jpg

The Big Blue Dot is the Convention Center, location of E3.

The Pink Dots are the Underground Red (hey, the fucking freeway was red so don't bitch :p) Line points
The exact Locations are found here http://www.westworld.com/~elson/larail/red.html

The little Blue dots are the UnderGround Blue Metrorail.
The exact Locations are found here http://www.westworld.com/~elson/larail/blue.html

The metrolink costs about 1.35 one way, and takes about 12-15 mins from the farthest pink dot (Universal City walk) to the transfer point at the blue dot (7th Street). From there, you've got one stop on the Blue Rail and then a one block walk to the Convention Center.

This Map is lines connected on the same thing, showing the General direction of the Rail Lines.
http://www.popanime.net/mvs/thismap02.jpg

Map 3 has 7 rough areas that are marked off, which I would advise the following when walking in them (cars are okay, just drive fast..hehehe).
http://www.popanime.net/mvs/thismap03.jpg

Area 5: West Downtown if you're in this local, you're okay. Don't wander out at night, stay in that place and don't stray too far out of it and you will live.

Area 4: Korea Town/Macarther Park If you're a skinny pale white guy from Canada, do not enter this rough area. It is Korea town, and Westlake/MacArther Park. It is mainly a rough, hispanic section of town, akin to Mexico (save the hate, this is a fact) and I'm not promising that you will get beat up, but you'd be advised to avoid it completely.

Area 3: Rampart Yes, the Rampart from the LAPD scandals. Stay the fuck out.

Area 1 + 2 Thai Town, etc What can I say, I suck at photoshop and fucked this one up. It's not too rough, and you will be okay, generally, the farther from downtown you go, the better you are off. I don't advise walking anywhere in Downtown LA at night, or the surrounding areas, but it's not that bad.

Area 7 Hollywood It's a shit pit, with crazy loons, but as long as you don't stare at people or talk shit, you should be fine.

If you do not have a hotel, I reccomend finding one ASAP in Area 7, then taking one of the metro rail stations to E3. It will take no more than 12-15 mins, and you'll live.

Area 6 Universal City Walk This is where the get together was last year, it's an upscale, overpriced strip of theaters, resturants, etc.

It's likely the best location to do another Night Get Together, and if you're hotel is in Downtown, just take the MetroRail Red Line north, and get off at Universal City. Walk up the hill and you are there. Again, 12-15 mins one way.

This is simply me, as a long time resident of Greater LA, and having spent lots of time in the surrounding area advising you.

Thats all I got, save the hate, you punks get what you pay for from me :p

Thanks matt, always good to get the heads up on "where not to go" from the locals. Burgundy, I hope you're not a pasty white guy from canada so that we can slip in and out of our hotel incognito...so do I bring my glock or beretta? It's always a tough choice, guess it depends on which pants i'm wearing...:p

Thank you matt, this info will help me out. My only question thus far is, what is the best way to get to the convention center from the LAX Airport?

I find it odd that Korea Town is full of Mexicans, but this is LA, and nothing makes sense in LA.

The Rampart... so that's the strange place we ended up last year. It was dark, and there were groups of black guys just standing around. Yup. Nothing like 4 white guys in a car at night there.

Hollywood? I've been there alone after dark, didn't scare me one bit :P

So where is the big TNL get together this year? And when...

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Originally posted by Kenshin
The Rampart... so that's the strange place we ended up last year. It was dark, and there were groups of black guys just standing around.

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Gawd, real black folk, not even in cages or nuthin'? You must've been scared...

:jest: I couldn't resist... hehe... sorry...

Pardon me but, where are these "areas?" I've only been able to spot KoreaTown.

theirs a korea town in LA?,,, the only place simlar to that is in Montebello/Montery Park area... and that's a long way from downtown..

And who buys hotbogs in LA, that dosent get them from Dodgers Statdium.. LA has best Tacos around, all you gringos have in the west side, have to go get your gringo food..

Quote:

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Originally posted by EThugg


Gawd, real black folk, not even in cages or nuthin'? You must've been scared...

:jest: I couldn't resist... hehe... sorry...

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He's from an all white suburban neighborhood*thugg- what did you expect?

...

I was implying a scene from one of those gangsta movies.

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Originally posted by Shinobi128
Thank you matt, this info will help me out. My only question thus far is, what is the best way to get to the convention center from the LAX Airport?

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One way trip or what?

You can go several routes:

Rental car, in which case you would do this:

The LAX airport is about 2 blocks west of the 405 Freeway. Go east to that, go under it, then it loops around right for the onramp and you are going north. Take that north for about 5 miles, then hit the 10 freeway East. You will go about 8 miles or so, then it's the 110 North.

The interchange of the 10 and the 110 is roughly 2 blocks south of the Convention Center, in fact, the back side of it is right against the 110 freeway.

On the 110, you can get off at the 1st exit, then you are there.

You can also call around, or do a search for Los Angeles Shuttles, and you can get a van relatively cheap to make the drive for you, with payment of course.

Depending on what time you get into LA, you are looking at 30 mins to 90 mins for that drive. LA Traffic can be hellish, so I would advise arriving post 8PM-5 AM.

I would not advise a taxi, unless you want to spend upwards of 50 bucks.

Or you can leech off a friend in LA and get them to drive you around.


I'll close this by saying, now that it's posted on gaming age and I've been labeled a no ball dork or some such. Los Angeles can be a tough town, especially if you are not a native (as any big town can be) and you have a propensity to want to explore and wander off.

If you don't stare at people, and keep to yourself or try looking crazy (which worked for me when living in the slums of hollywood), then people will generally leave you alone. I would simply advise that anyone not familiar with LA not go walking off for laughs, just as I'm sure some one in NY would say the same to me.

The best advice I can give, which I told Ali last year, is to get a hotel in hollywood, and simply take the metrorail. Doing that, you are not deep in downtown, and Hollywood is actually a fun place these days.

Hope that helps.

MVS, you forgot to mention the 18th street gang that roams the LA area...:) Anyway, im not going to E3 but here are some recommendations for hang-out during your stay at LA...

Hang-outs:
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South Coast Plaza: A great upscale plaza with great restaurants and a pretty cool theater...

Santa Monica Prominade <---(spelled incorrectly): Great place to hang-out w/friends and to meet new people...

Mitsuwa (Costa Mesa): Great Japanese Plaza that sell products such as Manga, books, Music, food, Toys, videos/DVD, etc...


Restaurants:
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The City of Torrance and Irvine:
El Polo Inca: A Great restaurant that specializes in peruvian food...Sorry no belly-dancers...

The Loft: Great Hawaiian food with several cute waitress

Edo: Nice Japanese restaurant that serve SPAM...

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The City of Long Beach and Westminister:

Pho 54 or Hoang: Damn good Vietnamese restaurants that serves great soup and rice dishes..

Gondola: Im not quite sure if it still exist but dang their Pizza were great. Take that New Yorkers...

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:)

thanks matt

Yeah thanks for youre recomendation last year Matt .
Ill be staying there again this year and the hotel is actually less then 80$ when booked trough european travel agencies ( iff you know the ways, long story ), and a similar quality hotel downtown for at least two people would cost around 200$ a night .

LA is nowhere near as bad as you make it out to be tough .
In 99 I decided to just walk around exploring LA and I came in the bad Latino neighborhoods past midnight .
Walking around with my backpack smoking a cigarrete in east LA I saw a few young Latino´s sitting around messing with eachother, as I walked past one of em jumped over a railing and approached me .
I stayed calm, looked at him and he walked towards me asking me iff he could BUY a ciggarete of of me .
I gave him one and asked the other guys if they wanted one as well .
One of em took me up on my offer while another one said nah man that stuff will kill ya .
I smiled and walked on .

Im a short guy, have a funny voice and there is little about my appearance that can force respect yet I walked alone past midnight trough east LA and I had no problems whatsoever .
I havent had anny problems in the dark dinky streets of Hong Kong, Tokyo, Chicago or New York city either .

Dont show fear and be respectfull and people no matter who no matter where apart from verry small minorities will treat you with the same regards .

Let's put Kenshin in that situation. We can start a pool on how fast he would shit himself.

Let's face it, on the Internet, where it is a fantasy world and many people use fake names and it is there outlet for things they cannot say in real life, it is not the real world.

Put 99 percent of those kids in the bad section of any town and they get mugged or beaten, or scared.

Stupid 99%ers.... they suck!

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Originally posted by mattvanstone
Let's put Kenshin in that situation. We can start a pool on how fast he would shit himself.

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You assume too much.

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Originally posted by Kenshin


You assume too much.

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Not really. You are a pussy. At least in my jaded, non-factual opinion.

Iff he is a pussy what does that make you ?

A low life bully who preys on the weak becouse he doesnt have the balls to pick on people who can actually provide a challenge ?

Think about it .

Ali, you are not even important enough to worry about, or think about on a level beyond simple text. Thanks for the insight, please return to your manic ways. :)

So predictable .

This thread makes me wish the whole team could be in the same hotel. Hell, the same room!

Hey, Matt, what kind of bullshit line would you like us to feed you so that you no longer feel you have something to prove? If I were to say, "Matt is so strong and street-smart! It puts my skinny ass to shame," would you be satisfied? Or if I were to pretend for a minute that we live in some post-apocalyptic world where bad-assness were valued above all else, would that do it for you?

Of course, you see the inherent ridiculousness of acting like a tough guy on the Internet by telling others their tough-guy Internet acts are bogus? It doesn't matter if you are Doctor Doom, out here, and in many, many areas of life, it is words and thoughts that bring notoriety. If some heart surgeon sent you a letter making fun of your education, would you give a damn? I wouldn't.

By the way, it's MacArthur Park, not MacArther Park.

See you in L.A., big guy!

Mattvanstone AKA british thugg in LA......:lol:

well, I'll prolly be home and commute to LACC again. It may not be a hotel or great 'chill' spot, but I've got a score of games, mom cooks good meals, and no Downtown LA worries.

Now only if I had my own car instead of hitting the train or doing a carpool. :P

Since I never been to LA I don't know much around there, I am excited to see what LA has to offer :)

I am not too far from the convention center, here is a map I got off yahoo.

1) Convention Center
2) My hotel... Shinobi128's too ;)
http://home.adelphia.net/~werewolves...verviewmap.gif

Very Nice. :) When exactly did you get the reservations Werewolf?

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Originally posted by Shinobi128
Very Nice. :) When exactly did you get the reservations Werewolf?

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Around January 14th, shortly after I got my confirmation email from E3 :)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Werewolf
Since I never been to LA I don't know much around there, I am excited to see what LA has to offer :)

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Check out my post in section 2 of this thread Werewolf...:)

OK, got a question for the L.A. natives here:

I'll be staying with my relatives in the Chino Hills portion of LA during my stay there from the 21st to the 25th. I've already got my plane ticket reserved and confirmed with my uncle that its ok for me to inconvenience them with my presence ;) So this leaves just one thing:

From Chino Hills to the Convention center, what would be the best mode of transportation to get there. I've been considering the following:

1. Rent a car from Enterprise. Only car rental company that rents to people under 25. Getting the car for the 3 days of the convention would probably run me about $100-130, plus cost of gas and parking.

2. Use a cab or shuttle, probably too expensive considering I'll be making three trips from Chino Hills to the convention center during the 3 days of the convention.

3. Take a bus or some other form of mass transportation. But if taking a bus from CH to the convention center is going to take me several hours to get there whereas driving would only be about 30-60 minutes, forget it :confused:

So anyone who's familiar with the LA area please reply with what would be my best option. Traffic in Dallas can be pretty bad but I'm sure LA's is downright hellish.

Oh, and does anyone have the EXACT address of the convention center so I can get pinpoint driving directions from Yahoo Maps? :)

The Convention Center is at 1201 S. Figueroa.

Hmmm...there's a shitload of misconceptions about LA here. Id have to disagree with all those areas mattvanstone mentioned, except maybe Hollywood. Hollywood Blvd. isn't so bad, but Sunset is down right dirty (despite having some of the most awesome clubs in the world). Just make sure not say anything the could even be considered offensive to transvestites. I wont say how I know, but they get really offended if you yell out, "What the @#%$# is that?!?" as you walk by :) . Also, if you decide to go down to Citywalk, be sure to make a trip down to Venice beach sometime in the day. If you want to see some of the creepiest/greatest people on earth, there's the place you want to go. Either way, have fun at E3 while you're in LA, strange travellers from afar!

Ragnarok, rent a car. This isn't NY, the traffic here is just fine as long as you're not on the 405 or the 10 between 5 & 6, or you're pretty much screwed.

What's the weather like in L.A.?

The weathers great...Today it's 84 degrees...which mean't it was sunny... I'm assuming the weather will stay consistent for E3...

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Originally posted by jae_hoon_MOTW
The weathers great...Today it's 84 degrees...which mean't it was sunny

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It's a beautiful 50 degrees and raining here in North Haven, CT ;)

Well, guys, I just learned that my parents forbade me from renting a car in LA. They think its too dangerous, I'll have too much trouble finding parking near the convention center, I'm liable to get car jacked, mugged, yada yada yada...

So basically I'm stuck with taking public transportation from Chino Hills to the convention center. A cab is out of the question as its an over 40 mile ride from there to convention, so its gotta be bus or shuttle. Anyone know any good bus or shuttle routes that run from Chino Hills to the convention center? ;)

I hear it gets cold at night in L.A. If so, how cold is it? I'd rather not take the extra pair of jeans and jacket.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Shinobi128
I hear it gets cold at night in L.A. If so, how cold is it? I'd rather not take the extra pair of jeans and jacket.

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It's not that cold, but you should bring a jacket just in case.:)

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Originally posted by Hitomi


It's not that cold, but you should bring a jacket just in case.:)

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Actually, the weather has recently started to get cold. I would suggest bringing an extra pair of clothing (i.e. jacket, etc.)

It get's like in the 50s-60s when it's cold. Dunno how it is exactly today, but there has been some light showers on and off.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Hero
It get's like in the 50s-60s when it's cold. Dunno how it is exactly today, but there has been some light showers on and off.

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And the day any of you claim 50-60s to be "cold" is that day I call you a little bitch. I visited a friend in Montana once, where the temps were routinely -20. THAT was cold. 50-60 is still nice out.

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Originally posted by shidoshi


And the day any of you claim 50-60s to be "cold" is that day I call you a little bitch. I visited a friend in Montana once, where the temps were routinely -20. THAT was cold. 50-60 is still nice out.

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50-60 cold? bwahaha.

Sounds like the weather NY has had for awhile. I should feel right at home.

It's expected to rain on monday, be sure to bring a jacket

Quote:

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Originally posted by jae_hoon_MOTW
It's expected to rain on monday, be sure to bring a jacket

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Oh ya...that goes w/o saying - based on what I've been reading here, I am bringing an umbrella and a jacket <font face="century gothic">^_^</font>

Jae, do you drive?

Quote:

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Originally posted by Shinobi128
I hear it gets cold at night in L.A. If so, how cold is it? I'd rather not take the extra pair of jeans and jacket.

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Extra pair of jeans? You planning to wear two at the same time? :p

Quote:

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Originally posted by bahn

Extra pair of jeans? You planning to wear two at the same time? :p

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Heh. They take up space in the duffel bag.

50's, that's shorts wheather here in New England ;)

Well 2 more days till E3, any place set to get together? I had to work today and another 10 hours tomorrow then I am off to LA, hope to meet some of you there... well at least I know I will meet shinobi128 there :)

Yes, I too would like to know if there's a designated place where we'll all be meeting.

I'll keep an eye out for you at that Square booth Wolfy :p

We are all meeting on Wednesday evening. Be there if you are in the area.

Quote:

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Originally posted by mattvanstone
Let's put Kenshin in that situation. We can start a pool on how fast he would shit himself.

Let's face it, on the Internet, where it is a fantasy world and many people use fake names and it is there outlet for things they cannot say in real life, it is not the real world.

Put 99 percent of those kids in the bad section of any town and they get mugged or beaten, or scared.

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I'm from boston.

I hang out in a pretty damn awful part of boston, that just gets worse when you hit the three squares.


LA I'm sure is scary, but good god if its as bad as you make it out to be, then the safest way for us to breach is to go in black hawk down style.


Except without being shot down of course.

Whoa..blast from the past...

It's not that bad, it's just a case of the person. Like I said, put jacob lost in LA and he's done for. Most of the people in LA are cool/will leave you the hell alone, as long as you are cool/leave them the hell alone.

Sitting tree thinks old thread, die it should have, bad form reviving dead.
Sitting tree not happy.

I'm gonna show up and steal all your wallets.

I don't know if I want to meet up with some of you guys, but I'm sure I'll see you around.

That's ok, we don't want to meet you either :)

Heh... in retrospect, It's funny seeing Jae and Hitomi talk to eachother like that again. I bet if we let him go, he could've had an entire conversation with himself.

I wish I was going to E3, but I'm poor. So, I just have to live vicariously through you guys again. Don't let me down, OK?

Quote:

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Originally posted by mattvanstone
It's not that bad, it's just a case of the person. Like I said, put jacob lost in LA and he's done for. Most of the people in LA are cool/will leave you the hell alone, as long as you are cool/leave them the hell alone.

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i can say the same thing with minor experience. my first time in LA went rather well, with some help from this thread. :) LA isn't as bad as people make it out to be. though, hollywood is full of crazy people. :confused:

Sitting tree in full force will be at E3 2k3.

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Originally posted by bahn
That's ok, we don't want to meet you either :)

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Fine! Be that way! :(

Quote:

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Originally posted by Shinobi128
i can say the same thing with minor experience. my first time in LA went rather well, with some help from this thread. :) LA isn't as bad as people make it out to be. though, hollywood is full of crazy people. :confused:

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It sure as shit is.

Walking home to 6500 Yucca (one block north of Hollywood Blvd and 2 blocks West of Vine), I:

Saw bums fight multiple times, sometimes I would watch them, since my apartment was on the corner 2nd floor and just chuckle.

Saw a guy taking a shit in the middle of the street.

Had multiple whore's ask me for dates.

Saw a couple fuck down an alley.

Watched the fights when the Black Nudie bar closed at 2AM.

Saw 2 car accidents.

Faked busted German to get a moocher to leave me alone (worked).

Got threatend with shanking by a bum at 4 AM.

Man, I miss living there. Always something going on.

Hollywood what an intresting place.. I recall as young child going to West Hollywood, to show around family and town.. And the things i saw as child their.. were odd and strange, that i still recall to this day..

Tranvistis, bums, dark, overall weird people... but then again.. nothing like going downtown, on skid row...

You been hitting the morpheme again marchan?$ Too many transvsisistis or soemthting.

Everytrhing always makes sense to me... everthing..

I only glanced through this thread, but let me offer the following:

1. My office is about 2 or 3 blocks from the Convention Center, and I hope to meet some of you. In fact, I'd be happy to take a group of you out to lunch if you're interested. (Note: I can manage 5 or or 6 of you, but not 30. Also, we'll have to hide those freaking "gift bags".)

2. There seem to be some ridiculous notions about the relative safety of various L.A. neighborhoods. Newsflash: there are plenty of gang-infested neighborhoods in and around L.A., and you would have to be a complete fucking idiot to wander aimlessly around in them. Yes, I've been through East L.A., no problems. Yes, I've eaten lunch and dinner in East L.A. many times, no problems. Yes, I've been through Compton many times (for work -- there's a courthouse there) without incident. Yes, I live somewhat near Canoga Park, and have yet to be shot at. All that aside, L.A. has one of the worst gang problems in the country, and has one of the highest murder rates, largely due to gang violence. Your race, ethnicity, attitude, and street-smarts will amount to bupkis (that's "nothing", for those of you who've had no exposure to Yiddish) if a group of punks decides to fuck with you.

There's plenty of great ways to spend your free time in L.A. that don't involve foolish risks to your own safety. There's no need to come to L.A. to see drug dealers, whores, and dangerous, ignorant, stupid kids -- you can probably find most or all of them without leaving your home town.

All that said, let me know if any of you are interested hooking up for a decent lunch during your stay.

Let's all take 5 or 6 "drug dealers, whores, and dangerous, ignorant, stupid kids" out to lunch instead. We CAN make a difference. :)

I expect to see you at the official TNL get-together(s) as well. I think we should have a general one and an over-21 event. Let's do it right this year.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Nick
Let's all take 5 or 6 "drug dealers, whores, and dangerous, ignorant, stupid kids" out to lunch instead. We CAN make a difference. :)

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Ok, that was pretty funny.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Nick
I expect to see you at the official TNL get-together(s) as well.

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I'm looking forward to it, thanks.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Nick
Let's all take 5 or 6 "drug dealers, whores, and dangerous, ignorant, stupid kids" out to lunch instead. We CAN make a difference. :)

I expect to see you at the official TNL get-together(s) as well. I think we should have a general one and an over-21 event. Let's do it right this year.

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Hmm, as ussual I will be acompanied by females who havent reached the age of 21 yet.
Sucks.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Nick

and an over-21 event.

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but they served me that piña colada anyway...:D