[SGVHAK] Recap Jul 19th meeting

[Ed Vernon]

Thank you Lan for a very clear and detailed report.  My schedule has not allowed me to attend the meetings and fun events lately, I should be back more regularly in mid to late August, see you all then. Take care
Ed Vernon
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"I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer"

-----Original Message-----
From: Lan Dang <l.dang at ymail.com>
Sender: hak-bounces at sgvhak.net
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 00:39:07 
To: SGVHAK<hak at sgvhak.net>
Reply-To: Hardware Hacking Special Interest Group <hak at sgvhak.net>
Subject: [SGVHAK] Recap Jul 19th meeting

Hi all,

First of all, James is in the midst of converting the SGVHAK website, so don't be alarmed if it looks really different.  We are trying to simplify things so it is obvious when and where the meetings are.  I got enough questions about it that I guess it's better to have forthcoming dates on the website rather than rely purely on email.

The next meeting is Sat, July 27th, at Hastings Branch Library from 2-6pm.  Come at any time.  I think there will be an Internet-in-a-Box hackathon on this day, but I am not sure when that will start.  

The meeting after that is Thu, August 1st, at Dave's place again.  He will be building a computer from component parts.  He needs a little help to install Linux on it so it can serve as a headless fileserver and postgresql server.   I think Mic is doing a lockpicking session--he called it steelbolt hacking.

I have really been enjoying the meetings at Dave's workshop because we have more freedom to work on stuff and he's got cool things.  I especially appreciate all the shop talk because I don't have much of an electronics background.  And conversations involving the different things one could do with a hard disk platter?  Pure nerd fun.  Come out and join us if you have the time.

Today, Dave did a demo showing the programming a PIC processor using a hockey puck programmer over USB.  

Mic let me practice soldering on his project, which was a defusable clock kit from nootropicdesign.com.  I'm more confident about my soldering abilities now.

James was working on the website, converting it to Pelican and changing it to a few standalone pages.  I am not sure when it will go live.

Steven worked on his Raspberry Pi, which had a wireless dongle...and somehow, that was an irresistible invitation for Michael to attempt to hack his system.  I don't know exactly what they were doing, but I hear it will culminate in a joint talk at the August SGVLUG meeting.

Ginko and Scoops came later.  Ginko talked about a place called The Shed (
http://www.lalomadevelopment.com/events/shed-open-house) which is an emerging space for the sustainable development community.  She also invited us to her Repair Cafe event on August 17th.    Scoops will post more info later.

Ginko was working on a pretty house number plaque which was made with mosaic tile on a sealed wood board.  It is so nice to watch creative people at work.

John gave us some status on his 3D Delta printer project which is based on a design by his friend, who is hoping to start a Kickstarter fundraiser.  I suggested asking his friend to demo his printer at one of our HAK meetings.

We had a group dinner together at Carmine's where we continued the fun conversations.  We got a nice big table in the corner, so we were able to talk to each other easily with not too much noise.

Lan


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