Welcome TechShop RDU!

I want to extend a hearty welcome to our newest sponsor for Maker Faire:NC 2011, TechShop RDU!

TechShop is a 20,000 square-foot membership-based workshop, located right by the RDU Airport between Raleigh and Durham, that provides members with access to tools and equipment, instruction, and a creative and supportive community of like-minded people so you can build the things you have always wanted to make. TechShop is designed for everyone, regardless of their skill level. TechShop is perfect for inventors, “makers”, hackers, tinkerers, artists, roboteers, families, entrepreneurs, youth groups, FIRST robotic teams, arts and crafts enthusiasts, and anyone else who ever wanted to do something, but couldn’t.

TechShop RDU is a returning sponsor this year.  Show them some love!  Thanks, TechShop RDU!

Reminder: Triangle Hackerspace Planning Meeting is Tonight

Just a friendly reminder that the first planning session for the Triangle Hackerspace is tonight.  The kickoff meeting for the project will be at 6:45 PM in Durham and will be held at Relevance.  See our original post for more in-depth information.

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Near-Space Aerial Photography Meetup

There's going to be a meeting at TechShop RDU on Sunday at 6:00pm to discuss the feasability of launching a scientific balloon to "near-space" (70-100k feet).  The plan, so far, is to "launch balloon; take photos" but hopefully it will turn into a pretty rockin' project.  There is a thread on their forum.

If you have any interest in discussing the project come on by TechShop RDU on Sunday.  You don't have to be a member to attend the meetup but you will need to register as a visitor.

Here's a video for a little inspiration.

Reminder: 3rd Triangle PechaKucha Night is TONIGHT!

PechaKucha Nights are local idea-sharing events in the 20 x 20 format: speakers present 20 slides for 20 seconds per slide. Slides advance automatically to keep things moving forward at a rapid pace. Anyone can present, but meaningful PechaKucha presentations are the ones that uncover the unexpected -- unexpected talent, unexpected ideas. The key to a great presentation is to present something you feel passionate about. Many people use PechaKucha Night to present their latest creative projects or work.

Date & Time: June 17th, 2010, at 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:30)
Location: Relevance, 200 North Mangum Street, Suite 204, Durham, NC, 27701
Register: www.pknraleigh.com

Check out our previous post about this exciting event to see their list of speakers and get more information.

Third Triangle PechaKucha Night is June 17th

Lets get this out of the way right off the bat: PechaKucha is properly pronounced 'peh-CHAK-cha' and is Japanese for 'chatter' or the sound of conversation.

PechaKucha Nights are local idea-sharing events in the 20 x 20 format: speakers present 20 slides for 20 seconds per slide. Slides advance automatically to keep things moving forward at a rapid pace. Anyone can present, but meaningful PechaKucha presentations are the ones that uncover the unexpected -- unexpected talent, unexpected ideas. The key to a great presentation is to present something you feel passionate about. Many people use PechaKucha Night to present their latest creative projects or work.

• Jimmy Chalmers: The Hive Mind: Lessons from Honey Bees
• Justin Gehtland: Doing Well by Doing Good and Embracing your Fear of Failure
• Alex Gibson: My Crush on Gina Bianchini: Bad Ideas and High Profits
• Doug Hughes: Under Pressure? Dealing With Life’s Stressors
• Michael Stewart-Isaacs: Entrepreganda: Emerging Our Country from Recession to Progression
• Nathania Johnson: We Don’t Need No Education: Why the Worst Students are the Brightest Thinkers
• Gabrielle Kaasa: Love, Life and Friendship: 10 Lessons From My 99 Year Old Great-Grandma
• Steven Keith: Epiphany Farming
• Teri Saylor: Advancing Civil Rights in Raleigh: The Face of Modern Activism
• Richard Spangler: The Black Man as Leader, as Told By a White Guy From Connecticut
• Mbelu Walton: Heart of Lightness: Paying it Forward in the Congo
• Dan Wilson: So You Wanna Start a Business

These events are fluid and social. Lonerider will be serving free beer all night and there will be light snacks.  This is one event not to miss!

Date & Time: June 17th, 2010, at 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:30)
Location: Relevance, 200 North Mangum Street, Suite 204, Durham, NC, 27701
Register: www.pknraleigh.com

“The beauty of Pecha Kucha Night lies in the tension between the chaos of a full-blown party and the politeness of an art school crit, with the snappy pace holding it all together.”

Pecha Kucha Nights and Beer: a Sober Guide to Better Presentations