Event Proposals

As of 2019, most event proposals are happening over the Mailing List / Discourse at discuss.baltimorenode.org

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As the coroner of Dead Projects Society, I find it tempting to induct this page as an honorary member of the graceful dead.

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Please sign your additions so if anyone else who's interested can get in touch with you.

Classes

Programming for Kids

I'd like to teach an intro to programming class aimed at all / any ages. Most likely based on games / graphics. Hackety Hack, Love 2D, and Processing are potential frameworks. Abachman 20:13, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

• I'm interested. Especially in processing. --Erich Steiger 03:37, 16 July 2009 (UTC)
• I'm very much into this too and feel that I could teach a few classes of "intro to processing" --Mattyfo 16:41, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

• This might just be me being perverse, but http://www.ece.northwestern.edu/~robby/pubs/papers/icfp2009-fffk.pdf discusses a functional I/O system in Scheme and a curriculum built up around it, geared at middle- and high-school kids with good data about its performance attached. --nwf;

Open Workshop for Homeschoolers

There are a lot of kids who aren't trapped in the educational prison system during the daylight hours who might be interested in a regularly occurring class or open space. I'll be contacting the various co-op groups I have connections with, but I know there's a woodshop that gives kids (10 + years old?) a space to come and work on projects. The goal would be to provide the exact same thing we're looking for except on an hourly fee schedule.

What I'm suggesting is very specifically an unstructured time. Leave the textbooks and lessons at home. Kids have as much (probably more) curiosity and interest in this stuff as we do. Members would be present to guide, answer questions, and help with safety related issues. Abachman 20:31, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

Has anyone heard of Beth's DIY Workshop. It is a wood shop where she teaches woodworking and basic home repairs type classes. It is also available for use if you need wood tools but don't have a shop. It is on Harford Road. Kellyegan 16:00, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

"Official" Student Groups

Question to folks connected with universities and high schools: what is the potential for marketing the space to art and tech profs and teachers who might be interested in hosting their class in the space, or perhaps stopping by for a field trip? Second, what is the possibility that those official groups could be asked to donate in exchange for quiet use of the space? Abachman 20:31, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

• The space would have to provide added benefits over traditional or existing classrooms. It might be a good fit for a high school class or club which doesn't have the resources that a university has. Field trips seem pretty easy to arrange but we would need to provide some sort of educational content. Also for college students particularly art students who in their first couple of years don't have access to studio space. This might be a great resource. Also school without dedicated spaces for shop/construction work might be interested. Kellyegan 23:54, 29 July 2009 (UTC)

SketchUp Workshop

SketchUp is a free 3d modeling program acquired by Google a few years back. I've been using it a lot recently to design robots and art projects. I propose a workshop to introduce folks to the basics of SketchUp modeling as a tool for ideation. Topics: Navigating 3d space, building geometry and extruding forms, importing 3d models from Google's 3d warehouse, sharing your models with the world, integration with google earth, exporting models to meatspace (laser cutting). It could be a 2 hour deal, a full day, or a weekend depending on who's interested and how deep people want to go. If there is sustained interest, it could grow either into a SketchUp users group hosted at the Node or branch out to other digital ideation tools, e.g. SketchBook Pro, Maya, Photoshop, etc. --Jonlesser 05:22, 11 July 2009 (UTC)

• I would be interested in this as a short course. Would love to do room layouts like you did for the Lof space. Mehuman 13:29, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
• Am interested --Erich Steiger 03:39, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

Basic Electronics

Basics of electronics starting with fundamentals, passive components, transistors, etc. with a focus on practical application. Soldering tips, etc. Willing to help, probably someone else with more experience to take lead? Erich Steiger 03:44, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

Biodiesel Workshop

I have a diesel VW and used to occasionally fill up with B100 at a biodiesel station when I lived in Berkeley. Biodiesel is not too hard to make, especially in small batches. We could talk about biodiesel and straight veg oil and maybe have everyone make a small batch (1QT). There is a biodiesel coop in Baltimore that we could reach out to and see if one of their people would be interested in lending some expertise. --Jonlesser 00:18, 17 July 2009 (UTC)

Events

Chiptunes Party

like 8static.com - a regularly occurring party / workshop / concert in Philly. Abachman 20:13, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

Handmade Music Night

Bring your homemade instruments (electronic or acoustic) and get your jam on. Abachman 20:13, 7 July 2009 (UTC)

• http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/08/handmade-music-night-thursday-aug-23.html
• http://handmademusic.noisepages.com/
• http://www.etsy.com/storque/events/handmade-music-night-has-returned-267/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/createdigitalmedia/sets/72157611871745413/
• http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/01/11/like-a-diy-namm-handmade-music-preview-with-gestural-gadgets-mannequin-parts-more/

the Baltimore SDIY group is already doing some of this.

• I am def down with this. Another link is The Volunteer Collective's Crapshoot @ Redroom --Erich Steiger 03:53, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

Craft Night

I'm not part of this scene (yet?) but there is definite potential for outreach. NYC Resistor has had success with craft nights as an ongoing event.

From NYC Resistor (emphasis mine):

What: Craft night---an open project night where people bring projects they have been working on or meaning to work on for awhile. In the past people have worked on knitting, mending, clothing reconstruction, web design, robots, etc. The definition of 'craft' is very loose. Where: NYC Resistor Lab 397 Bridge St. 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY Who would like this: People who like to make stuff. Why: So you don't have to make stuff by yourself.

Abachman 19:35, 17 July 2009 (UTC)

Pedal Hacking Workshop

Guitar pedals, building / modding / hacking. Bring your own to mod, or build your own. Let's hash out the details on the mailing list. -Erich Steiger 02:47, 5 August 2009 (UTC)

Powertool Drag Racing

TSIA...

Meetups

DIY Bio

Start a regular, monthly or semi-monthly meetup as part of the existing DIYBio movement.

DIYbio is an organization that aims to help make biology a worthwhile pursuit for citizen scientists, amateur biologists, and DIY biological engineers who value openness and safety. This will require mechanisms for amateurs to increase their knowledge and skills, access to a community of experts, the development of a code of ethics, responsible oversight, and leadership on issues that are unique to doing biology outside of traditional professional settings.

I have no experience in this area, beyond a (weak) connection to a Hopkins graduate biophysics research lab. I would love to start sequencing and modifying some DNA, however. Abachman 17:35, 29 July 2009 (UTC)

Code in the Morning

Evenings are hard for me to make a regular meeting, mornings are easier. I'll probably be in the space one or two mornings a week, doing my indie code thing. Why not grab a cuppa joe and join me?

How does 7:30AM - 9:30AM on Mondays sound?

Abachman 17:37, 29 July 2009 (UTC)