Cool Stuff to do at MFNC!

In addition to all the Maker projects that you can see and touch today there are dozens of interactive and awesome things to do today. Here are a few, don't miss out!

• Drive a Bot Hockey robot with Carolina Combat Robots (battles every hour)
• Make a t-shirt with Kitchen Tees
• Witness Tesla coil firings every 15 minutes out front
• Countdown to the launch of a nearspace balloon around noon with NC NearSpace
• Make n' Take some groovy up-cycled art with The Scrap Exchange
• Make an LED Throwie with TechShop
• Free photo booth by Red Bridge Photography
• Experience Entropy In Action at the Chaos Machine
• Enjoy all of our performers throughout the day
• Play a round of hockey against other attendees -- WITH ROBOTS
• Learn to solder -- and take home a blinky robot pin
• Grind and cut glass as you learn to make jewelry
• Play Fahrfall -- an original 2012 video game that runs on an original TRS-80 computer
• Get your kids into STEM Bus -- the mobile science learning laboratory
• Play the SplatSpace Winnitron arcade machine
• Build and play with ThinkerLinkers
• Spin yarn right off the rabbit with Petit Bones
• Witness Hackaweek's Dino Segovis in action
• Make socks from scratch with Li Sashay
• Learn about beekeeping and see into a transparent hive of bees
• Make some music with Not Dead Yet's recycled instruments of musical mayhem
• and much, much more

GET EXCITED AND MAKE SOMETHING!!!

Makers Meetup Tonight in Burlington, NC

The Burlington Makers Meetup Group (Burlington, NC) - Meetup is tonight at 7:30PM at the Burlington Mall Starbucks.

This is a group for makers, artists, programmers, tinkerers, boffins, crafters, educators, and anyone who likes the kinds of projects and articles in "Make Magazine." It is a group for people who think “How can I make that?” instead of “where can I buy that.” Its a group for those who want to share their talents, knowledge, skills, and ideas with each other and with the world.

My name is Ben Harris and I'm a maker. I own my own small business (cottage industry) here in Burlington NC making science kits. I've recently become involved with Maker Faire (both in CA and here in NC!). I also own a CNC router, many bench power tools, a ton of hand tools, and lots of electronics equipment. I'm interested in exploring the idea of opening a “maker space” somewhere in Alamance county and would like to find out if there are other like minded people who might want to join such a space OR who might want to help out with creating such a space for others.

If you like to make things with your own two hands (either technical OR artistic or both!), and you like to share that with the world, and you are somewhere in/near Burlington-Graham/Alamance County then please join my new group.

Lightning Talks Tonight at Durham's Splat Space

Sorry for the short notice but better late than never, right?  Tonight at Splat Space, Durham's awesomest Hackerspace, there will be a series of lightning talks on a wide range of subjects. 

Cost: Free!

When: Friday, June 10, 2011, 7:30 PM 

Where: 331 W. Main St - Basement Durham, NC

RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/splatspace/events/19644181/

More on Durham's Hackerspace Splat Space.

Durham's Splat Space Participates in Cupcake Challenge

Splat Space, a new technology-focused non-profit in Downtown Durham, will be hosting an open technology "hackathon" featuring a world-wide cupcake challenge at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 15th. This event is open to the public.

The hackathon will include a full day of collaboration and innovation amongst anyone interested in electronics, computers, crafts, or even cupcakes!

As part of the hackathon, Splat Space will be participating in a Cupcake Challenge sponsored by the global makerspace and hackerspace movement at hackerspaces.org. This movement unifies and promotes physical locations, like Durham’s Splat Space, to form and exist as hubs of technology and creativity worldwide. There are hackerspaces and makerspaces all over the world, from Los Angeles to Tokyo. Durham opened its own makerspace, Splat Space, in September of 2010.

For the Cupcake Challenge, all the hackerspaces and makerspaces in the world have been challenged to ship a cupcake over 1,000 miles to another hackerspace. The goal of the challenge is for the cupcake to arrive in delicious and pristine condition. The cupcake must adhere to a strict set of challenge rules and will be judged by the receiving hackerspace based on creativity, quality, taste, appearance, and condition.

In addition to points accrued for judging criteria, additional challenge points are awarded for the distance the cupcake travels. Splat Space members will be sending their cupcake to a hackerspace in Tokyo, Japan, approximately 7,000 miles away. According to Splat Space members, everyone has been hard at work devising a plan to best stabilize, bake, and decorate a cupcake that will truly wow their friends in Tokyo. More information on the challenge can be found on their website at http://splatspace.org.

According to SplatSpace.org, Splat Space is a "work, play, and hobby space where people with common interests, primarily in technology, can meet to socialize and collaborate." Splat Space boasts a membership of some of the Triangle's most creative, technology-minded professionals and hobbyists.

Splat Space is located at 331 W. Main St. in Downtown Durham below Beyu Caffe in the historic Snow Building.



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!