Bilal Ghalib (co-founder of All Hands Active hackerspace in Ann Arbor, MI, and hackerspace documentarian) and Mitch Altman (co-founder of Noisebridge hackerspace in San Francisco, CA, inventor of TV-B-Gone remote controls, and recent recipient of the first-ever Maker Hero Award) are going to Maker Faire Africa to create a three-day hackerspace there. This will help the founders of the Cairo Hackerspace establish their forming space into a physical reality which, in turn, will help get other hackerspaces going throughout Africa. We have recently seen how important hackerspaces are in helping people in Africa live more fulfilling lives. Let’s see how much more we all can do with so little!

Bilal and Mitch received seed funding from Maker Faire Africa, and at posting time, 147 backers have raised $6,822 over the past two weeks on their Kickstarter campaign!  They need to raise $200 more in the next several hours (and any amount over their goal will directly help hackerspaces in Africa!). If you can give a $1, please do! If you can give more, please do! Any amount is great! (And they are offering some pretty cool premiums too.)

3 Day Egyptian Maker Space – Expanding the Maker Movement

Yeah, it’s that time of the year again – Vienna has been turning from the sinister city covered in grey light and fog to the blooming summer oasis it’s designed to be, and people overflow with glee (or so do we, at least)! Time to be looking forward to PlumberCon 10, probably one of the snugliest and neighborliest hacker conferences ever heard of.

So what exactly should you be looking forward to, you might ask?
In fact, it’s hard to tell. In one paragraph of lifeless and almost anti-emotional text, that is. What could be mentioned, for instance, is that there’s not only gonna be a ton of interesting talks by speakers from all around the globe (which I’m really really excited about btw), but also multiple hands-on workshops and trainings. Presenters you’ll meet at PlumberCon 10 include neighbors like Mitch Altman, Jimmie P. Rodgers, Jeff Gough, Barry van Kampen, Kugg, Allessio Pennasilico, or Mike Kemp. Topics range from Information Warfare to fun with microcontrollers.
Basically, one could call it a schnuffeliges meeting of a very large family… I happen to call it a hacker con (but that’s just me )

Now, as of the bare basics I haven’t mentioned yet:
PlumberCon 10 will be held at WerkzeugH in Vienna, Austria from Friday, July 09th – Sunday, July 11th in the year of the hacker 2010. You can still register for the 3rd round of early bird tickets at the registration site until the end of the month, and I’d advise every hackerspace member to use the promo code ‘neighborliness flows’ to get a reduction on the ticket price – that, already as it is, will not lead us to profit but only cover a part of our expenses ^.^
Don’t forget to sign up for trainings beforehand wherever you find this requirement mentioned.

In any way, if you’re in town, make sure not to miss the epoque kick-off party on Friday night, where Phonoelit aka Mumpi and joernchen will provide us with their superior tunez that shall guide us safely through the night!

Make a good hack,
/astera

Back in 2008 at The Last HOPE, we said that Hackerspaces were possible everywhere and your excuses are invalid.  We had an awesome Hackerspace Village and Hardware Hacking Area, and provided inspiration to hundreds of folks who would go on to build their own Hackerspaces all over the world.

It’s now 2010.  Hackerspaces are everywhere and our rallying cry from 2008 has been heard all over the world.  Spaces that kicked off the movement like NYCResistor and HacDC have matured and moved into larger quarters and spawned very successful startups from Open Source ideas.  Spaces like Hive76 and AlphaOne Labs have proven that big cities need more than one Hackerspace.  Now that we’re well on our way to “Hackerspaces Everywhere!”, we think it’s time to change the cry to “Hackerspaces Forever!”

“Hackerspaces Forever!” is the theme of The Hackerspace Village at The NEXT Hope and the panel discussion taking place at the next hope.  In addition to a Hardware Hacking Area that’s in a prime position in the Mezzanine level, we have an awesome group of speakers lined up to tell you how their Hackerspaces are working on growing, expanding and being around for a very long time:

Mitch Altman (Noisebridge, San Francisco, USA)
Mitch likes to trick people into doing what they love to do

Sean Bonner (Crashspace, Los Angeles, USA / HackspaceSG, Singapore)
We’re not really sure what Sean Bonner does, but it’s awesome.

Johannes Grenzfurthner (hackbus.at, Vienna, Austria)
Writer, artist, director, DIY researcher

Markus “fin” Hametner (Metalab, Vienna, Austria)
Less serious than Nick Farr

Alexander Heid (HackMiami, Miami, FL, USA)
President, HackMiami and Co-Chair of South Florida OWASP

Nathan “JimShoe” Warner (Makers Local 256, Huntsville, AL, USA)
Former Chairman, Charter Member of Makers Local 256

Matt Joyce (NYC Resistor, Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Once Banned from HOPE, twice spoken at HOPE

Carlyn Maw (Crashspace, Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Crashpace Cat Herder and canonical source of awesomeness

Far McKon (Hive 76, Philadelphia, PA, USA)
Co-Founder of Hive76, Instigator of weird and interesting projects, and a ginger

psytek (Alpha One Labs, Brooklyn, NY, USA)
Inventor and engineer currently building a Flying Saucer at Alpha One Labs.

The “Hackerspaces Forever!” panel will be moderated by Nick Farr.

We hope to see you at The Next HOPE!

2nd, 3rd, 4th (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) October 2009, Palazzolo Acreide, at the misterious center “Lisbeth Salander” in the Palazzolo Acreide countryside

It’s Poetry! It’s Art, IT’S DELIRIUM!
IT’S ALL AND NOTHING, YIN AND YANG,
GOPHER and ARCHIE!

http://dyne.org/tcpc
http://poetry.freaknet.org/static/tcpc9

Now at the 9th edition, the “Troppo Caffe’ Poco Cervello” (too much coffee, too little brain) it’s a cultural and scientific happening that lasts three days where people from all over the world (and beyond) are meeting in Palazzolo Acreide and via the internet to share experiences, research, culture, poetry, art and science with the intention to create new and beautiful things to donate to the community.

This edition will have people from all Sicily and also foreign guests committed in advanced programming sessions, dissertations for beginners, scientific experiments, sumptuous lunches, enormous dinners and sleepless nights dedicated to the passion for computer science.

Poems will be read, poems will be written, everything and nothing will be discussed, weeds will be weeded, new weeds will be planted, debates will happen, decisions will be taken, all and nothing will be done!

Everyone can join, the important thing is to leave the brain at home and bring a lot of coffee!

For further details check the link above!

A lot of people including me were disappointed that we were not able to make it on what is know known as a auspicous trip. Now with a turn of events and where fortune favors the bold, it seems that HoaP is now reborn!

As a phoenix from the ashes, Nick Farr and a few individuals have pulled some strings, made calls, kicked down doors, and overall kicked ass in pulling together HoaP 2 or as I like to call it.

“Hackers On A Plane: Deuce – Euro/Merican Boogaloo”

So here’s the skinny.

There will be three HoaP trips this year. THREE!!!!

1.5 @ ToorCamp (Seattle, WA)

Be at the first American Hacker Camp!

HoaP 1.5 to ToorCamp: June 30 – July 7, 2009: €1,057.00/person

Be part of the first crew of Europeans to experience the first ToorCamp! Join a crew leaving from Frankfurt on June 30 and returning on July 7, 2009.  For €1,057.00 you get:

• Round trip airfare from Frankfurt, Germany to Seattle, Washington
• Relaxation & recuperation day in Seattle on July 1
• Transportation from Seattle to the campsite on July 2
• Paid full admission to ToorCamp
• Tents and sleeping bags provided all days of ToorCamp
• Seattle tour including area hackerspaces and DIY workshops July 6-7

What’s included in this trip?

All airfare, lodging and ground transportation from the airport to the camp is provided.   This includes lodging in Seattle the evenings of July 30, July 1 and July 6.

Your admission to ToorCamp and necessary camping equipment while at ToorCamp is included.  ToorCamp is an outdoor hacker event and we do not have a permanent structure for housing guests the evening of July 2-5.  All workshops, talks, and parties are included.

You have the option of heading directly to the camp and assisting with setup, or spending the days before and after the camp touring about the great Western city of Seattle!  You can go on a tour of area hackerspaces and tech workshops, take in any of Seattle’s wonderful museums, or spend the day relaxing by Puget Sound.

You will also be recognized for your attendance at ToorCamp by the organizers, including a special limited-edition keepsake gift to remember your trip!

OK, so what’s not included?

You are responsible for your meals and sightseeing expenses and incidentals while on the trip.

You are also responsible for your transportation to and from Frankfurt, Germany.  You must be at Frankfurt Airport on June 30 at 10 AM. Once all seats have been sold and names have been confirmed, you will receive your ticket directly from the airline and can make any alternate schedule arrangement directly with them.

Food vendors will be onsite during ToorCamp, and we can make many special dining and sightseeing arrangements for you while in Seattle.  If you are especially budget conscious, we can include a pre-arranged meal package for ToorCamp for an extra $80.00.

Only 10 seats are available for this trip.  Once sold out, they’re gone!

E-mail info@hackersonaplane dot info with any questions!

ToorCamp Tickets

Or if you prefer

This is an especially limited edition trip. You will need to be in New York City on August 4 at 10 AM and you will return to New York City on August 18 by 5 PM. Because we have a group fare, we require all names to be confirmed before tickets can be issued. Please e-mail info@hackersonaplane.info with any questions.

HoaP 1.6 @ Plumbercon (Vienna, Austria)

Vienna, PlumberCon and HAR?  Golden!

Get a big dose of Viennese beauty, be a PlumberCon insider, tour the best hackerspaces in Austria and Germany AND get the HAR experience! Join the Golden Ratio Crew for all the following:

• Round trip airfare from New York City to Vienna
• Accomodations with Metalab members in Vienna and in the lodge at the HAR campsite (yep!  no need to camp!)
• Paid full admission to PlumberCon and HAR
• Hackerspaces tour from Vienna through Germany to the Netherlands
• All HAR site HoaP 2.0 benefits!

Plumbercon/HAR Tickets

And last but not least

2.0 @ HAR (The Netherlands)

Join us as we depart from New York City and head off to experience Hacking at Random 2009. For the same price as two years ago you get:

• Round trip airfare from New York City to Dusseldorf, Germany
• Transportation from Dusseldorf to the HAR campsite
• Paid full admission to HARAccommodations in an on-campsite lodge at the HAR campsite
  • Nights of August 13-16 in a permanent structure
  • Hot showers
  • Sheets and towels included
• The opportunity to mingle with the best and brightest in the global hackerspace community

Note:  The evening of August 17 – 18 is on your own, i.e. not included in the price.  You can join a hackerspaces tour or head out to Amsterdam or do as you like!  Transportation back to Dusseldorf is not included.

You will need to be in New York City on August 12 at 10 AM and you will return to New York City on August 19 by 5 PM. Because we have a group fare, we require all names to be confirmed before tickets can be issued. Please e-mail info@hackersonaplane.info with any questions.

HAR Tickets

As many of you read this I know you can’t wait, and neither can I which is why I already snagged myself a HoaP 2 ticket.

See you in Vierhouten.

Cheers,

-E.

From their blog post.

monochrom’s USA tour dates / Vorsprung durch Kulturtechnik

Fellow RSS users! Email afficionados! Twitterists! It is time! Vorsprung durch Kulturtechnik! monochrom’s USA tour dates! Fresh!

March 7: San Francisco (8 PM @ Soviet Special, Chez Poulet, 3359 Cesar Chavez)

March 11: San Jose (9:30 @ Etech/LateTech, Fairmont Hotel)

March 14: Seattle (8 PM @ Theatre4, 305 Harrison, 4th Floor)

March 18: Chicago (7:30 PM @ Mercury Cafe, 1505 W Chicago Ave)

March 19: St. Louis (3 PM @ Webster University, Dept. of Arts)

March 19: St. Louis (9 PM @ to be announced)

March 21: Brooklyn/NY (8 PM @ NYCResistor, 397 Bridge Street, 5th Floor)

March 24: Boston (8 PM @ to be announced)

As you can see quite a few hackerspaces fell under their wrath, and we can’t wait to see what they bring to the table. Show up and be amazed. If your still wondering what to expect they have a press release.

###

Monochrom from Vienna is a worldwide operating collective dealing with technology, art, context hacking and philosophy and was founded in 1993. So to sum up, monochrom is an unpeculiar mixture of proto-aesthetic fringe work, pop attitude, subcultural science and political activism. Their mission is conducted everywhere, but first and foremost in culture-archeological digs into the seats (and pockets) of ideology and entertainment.

monochrom released a leftist retro-gaming project, established a 1 baud semaphore line through the streets of San Francisco, started an illegal space race through Los Angeles, buried people alive in Vancouver, and cracked the hierarchies of the art system with The
Thomann Project.

In Austria they ate blood sausages made from their own blood in order to criticize the grotesque neoliberal formation of the world economy. Sometimes they compose melancholic pop songs about dying media and host the first annual and inevitably leading festival concerned with cocktail robotics. At the moment they’re creating a conference series about sex and technology. Also they do international soul trade, propaganda camps, epic puppet theatre, aesthetic pregnancy counseling, food catering and — sorry to mention –modern dance.

monochrom’s gigs will be a medley, a little tour-de-farce, a presentation of their projects and political motivation. A joyful bucket full of good clean fanaticism, crisis, language, culture, self-content, identity, utopia, mania and despair, condensed into the well known cultural technique of a gala show. Powernapping highly welcome.

###

/E.

As seen here with Int 80 of Dual Core at the HacDC party tearing it up in the Sanctuary.

Next year I think we need to have a proper battle, maybe MC Frontalot? Just saying, it’s an idea. Anyway, I personally thank everyone that came on behalf of HacDC, ShmooCon, and ToorCamp for hosting such an amazing party. In the process of the night we helped raise a lot of money, somewhere North of $2000. I think someone is still counting the singles. That money will help HacDC furnish out their new FabLab they are building plus get some other goodies. I can’t wait to see what gets built next.

Also the hosts of the venue where we held the event, seemed to be happy with how everything turned out and it looks like we may get another shot next year.

Cheers,
-E.

Some friends of the blog who attended ShmooCon this weekend were tickled pink (literally) when they arrived to find out the badge to the conference was just made out of a single piece of laser cut acrylic.

This lead to rapid phone calls between friends at NYCR and people whipping out US dollar bills to size up the badge for proper scaling.

The end result!

Not 6 hours later they had been hand delivered to HacDC for a trial run as to the quality of the badges by passing it through some of the most stringent on site conference security available.

What rapidly became apparent to us and The Shmoo Group was that even if something that took large initial resources originally, now comes easily to a group of scrappy hackers that want more for themselves than to be beholden to a wealthy singular group.

A recent quote by Bre Pettis, “The future of manufacturing is going to happen in your living room.”, seems to impress the idea of having ability to produce what you want, when you want is rapidly becoming a reality.

What I’m trying to bring across here to you, the hackerspace fans and friends, is that we are in a very interesting time. Where we can in less than a few hours over a relatively large distance, with a device that is costing less than the Mini Cooper (think late 1970′s where a PC cost as much), we can produce something that normally requires machines that cost in the hundreds of thousands only a few years ago.

Let’s think of what beholds us in the next few years.

Groovy times await us,

-E.