Stupid Shit No One Needs & Terrible Idea Hackathon

[Tim-S]

So, I found this:
http://stupidhackathon.github.io/
...which links to a previous event in NYC (some of the projects are possibly NSFW):
http://www.stupidhackathon.com/

And of course, it reminded me of some of our projects. Sometimes it's fun just to build stupid shit for the sake of hilarity. I want to host a similar event, ideally over the course of a weekend and (hopefully) with sponsors to provide food, drink, and possibly prizes for the worst or most creative hacks. It would be advertised in advance, open to the public (with free pre-registration), and could be a way to garner attention.

Is anyone else interested? I am completely fine with volunteering to organize and drive it, and could probably be pressured into generating some ridiculously bad ideas. I mostly want to know whether anyone else thinks this is a fun idea and would attend.

[Ray Scheufler]

I would be willing to hang out.

We could revive the putting of various foodstuffs in the laser.  I could fiddle some more with laser etched Jesus toast.

Ray Scheufler

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[jim kraai]

extra points for stigmata?

[David Champion]

Laser etched FSM on ramen?

-dc

[Tim-S]

On Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 10:08:00 AM UTC-5, David Champion wrote:

Laser etched FSM on ramen?

-dc

...which we then eat using 3d-printed chopsticks?

[Mike Longnecker]

As long as no one steals them

Mike Longnecker

[Tim-S]

Also, due to a strange story involving slow shipping from China, presumed failure, and forgetting that I have two mailboxes, I seem to have a dozen extra sonar range sensors.

I'm thinking of sacrificing some of them. See, in theory, you can make a speed sensor from a sonar range sensor that will function like a radar trap. I could easily build something that will measure the speed of a fastball. The downside is that it will only be accurate if you throw the baseball (or whatever) directly at the sensor.

[jim kraai]

or go the other way, like speed test snails--maybe before and after spraying them w/ N2O, maybe not

or have a contest to see who can move the most slowly while still advancing towards the sensor 

or test kids to see who can grab a piece of candy most quickly

[Benjamin Miller]

I want to use one of those sensors and a stop/walk sign I have to let me know when my car is appropriately pulled into the garage.

- Benjamin Miller <b...@benjamintmiller.com>
________________________________________
A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
    - Antoine de Saint-Exup'ery, In Design

[Tim-S]

On Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 3:49:29 PM UTC-5, jkraai wrote:

or go the other way, like speed test snails--maybe before and after spraying them w/ N2O, maybe not

 You know, that's a good idea. I have enough sensors that I could build a fancy automated scoring system for snail races. It would record not only the winner, but average and peak times for each snail. This would allow us to collect scientific data with a control group to establish for sure whether snails are faster after being sprayed with N2O.

Also, Jim, I'll make this event happen and you are now required to attend.

[David Champion]

Spraying the snails, or spraying Jim?

-dc

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[Tim-S]

On Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 3:59:03 PM UTC-5, Benjamin Miller wrote:

I want to use one of those sensors and a stop/walk sign I have to let me know when my car is appropriately pulled into the garage.

 

That's actually a decent idea. I'll toss some of them in the hack rack; help yourself.

[jim kraai]

guess i'll bring Reddi Whip

On Tue, Apr 7, 2015 at 4:02 PM, Tim-S <t.she...@gmail.com> wrote:

--

[Benjamin Miller]

So make has a carrot lathe: http://makezine.com/projects/carrot-lathe/

Ray and I think that we need to make a carrot lathe with a leadscrew and use it to turn a carrot bolt.

Perhaps we could make something useful by threading carrot bolts into cucumber nuts...?

- Benjamin Miller <b...@benjamintmiller.com>
________________________________________
A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
    - Antoine de Saint-Exup'ery, In Design

[Mike Longnecker]

A cucumber mill and a carrot lathe?

Mike Longnecker

[jim kraai]

Go daikon or go home

Check me on this, did someone actually say, "cucumber nuts" ?  That may be my new favorite expletive.

[Tim-S]

After talking to a few people ... instead of waiting and taking the time to make this something big, let's just put it on the calendar and have fun with it.

Does Saturday May 30th, noon - 10PM work for most people? I'd tweak the event announcement to:

Silly Stuff No One Needs & Terrible Ideas Hackathon
A hackathon brings minds together to create viable products and explore possibilities in technology. Sometimes you build something to be proud of, and other times it's more fun to make something just because you can. In the pure maker spirit, we are hosting a hackathon where the resulting product doesn't matter. Come experiment or expand your skills on a silly project just for fun.
(Proposed: The point isn't to be a fundraiser, but I'd like it to be sort-of-open without it becoming an extra open house) The event is free for members and $10 for non-members.

Project "Categories"

• Take This Project and Eat It
• Fire Means It's Working
  
• Microcontroller Spaghetti (no actual spaghetti please, that falls under "Eat It")
• Lucas Electronics
• Prize-Worthy (i.e., we'll make "prizes" for the best hacks on the spot)
• 4D Printing
• Dat App (gonna be $O R!CH)
  

[David Champion]

Can we use this for the Microcontroller Spaghetti?

http://www.proto-pasta.com/

-dc

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[Mike Longnecker]

I print with pasta

Mike Longnecker

[Jeffrey Ollie]

Make custom Area515 3D fridge magnets?

http://www.proto-pasta.com/collections/proto-pasta/products/fepla?variant=1204196648

Would be interesting for handouts at maker faires, etc.

--

Jeff Ollie

[Nabil Hanke]

I'm thinking CNC pancake flambé skillet. 

Thank you,

Nabíl

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[Tim-S]

I'm going to win the "Dat App" category. I promise.

[Bailey Mader]

I'm going to try making a physical easter egg for the space. 

On Mon, Apr 20, 2015 at 12:42 PM Tim-S <t.she...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm going to win the "Dat App" category. I promise.

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[jim kraai]

ok, but do a good job--wouldn't want to lay an egg and all that

[Bailey Mader]

Who all is planning on coming and hacking tomorrow? 

[David Champion]

I'll try to stop by for a while.

-dc

[Mike Longnecker]

I've got grad parties for the 3rd week in a row, probably won't make it.

Sent from my iPhone

[Tim-S]

I believe there will be some guests hanging out.

Feel free to bring a friend, bring a project, bring beer (I drank it all, sorry) and enjoy the absurdity!

[Ray Scheufler]

I will probably be there for a while.  I think I am going to see if I can laser cut potatoes.

Ray Scheufler

On Fri, May 29, 2015 at 12:11 PM, Tim-S <t.she...@gmail.com> wrote:

I believe there will be some guests hanging out.

Feel free to bring a friend, bring a project, bring beer (I drank it all, sorry) and enjoy the absurdity!

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[Tim-S]

So far we only have a few people here. There's beer and snacks. Also, Ray is offering "Area 51-fries".

Come on down and cause trouble!

[digge...@gmail.com]

Anyone show up?  Just got my daughter married.  Wish you all the best.

Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T

[Nabil Hanke]

Those who showed up were there. ;-)

We had a new member, Jordan?

I helped Ray with laser cut potato hash browns. They smelled awful. Turned it into a Twitter hashtag too. And for the record, Grumpy cat doesn't laser into potatoes well. 

And we printed an ABS cylinder block to prop small vehicles or robots onto while servicing them. Classy. 

Thank you,

Nabíl

[Bailey Mader]

Evidence!

[Tim-S]

While the turnout was slightly disappointing compared to the level of interest on the mailing list (partly my fault, I was not feeling well and left early), the event went well and was entertaining. Thank you to everyone who showed up.

Quick straw poll: For those who showed up, do you want to do this again? For those who did not show up, is this something you will attend in the future? If there is enough interest I'll do this again.

[Mike Longnecker]

I would attend, keep getting bogged down by graduation parties…

Mike Longnecker

> On Jun 1, 2015, at 6:01 PM, Tim-S <t.she...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> While the turnout was slightly disappointing compared to the level of interest on the mailing list (partly my fault, I was not feeling well and left early), the event went well and was entertaining. Thank you to everyone who showed up.
>
> Quick straw poll: For those who showed up, do you want to do this again? For those who did not show up, is this something you will attend in the future? If there is enough interest I'll do this again.
>

[Ray Scheufler]

Since it was just basically hanging around and making stuff like I do most of the time at the space. I would attend again.

Ray Scheufler

[Bailey Mader]

I'd attend, but not after running a race next time, hopefully. Then I'll be more likely to remember all of my materials.

[kristau]

I think this is definitely a "do again," even though I didn't make it either.

Tired programmer
Coding late into the night
The core dump follows