--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Birmingham Hack Space" group.
To post to this group, send email to birmingham...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to birmingham-hack-...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/birmingham-hack-space?hl=en.
I really like the idea of the hackerspace. However, I have two young
kids which prevent me easily getting out of the house in the evening.
Not much I can do about that but wait.
N.
On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 6:19 AM, Dijit <dij...@gmail.com> wrote:
I know someone who works at Aston who has offered some for of help,
but it just needs someone to follow up on it. Any takers?
Ant
N.
Ant
I completely agree, if anyone thinks it's "too arty", or "too into
hardware" then it's up to you to organise events that you're interested
in. A hackerspace is a neutral platform for making, learning and
teaching.
I can't get up to Brum very often, but I really want Fizzpop (or
whatever it decides to be called) to succeed. I'm willing to do anything
necessary in order to make it happen, including dragging people up from
London to help teach workshops if need be.
Someone mentioned lockpicking - I know for a fact that if you want a
lockpicking workshop someone will willingly come and give you one. He'd
looked into Fizzpop before, but didn't think anyone would be interested.
If you want to get the group together and excited, why don't you all
come up to Maker Faire in Newcastle? There's going to be a large area
for hacking that's run by all the UK Hackerspaces this year, we're just
going to sit and hack all weekend instead of exhibiting. You should be
there too!
Let me know if there's anything I can do.
--jonty
P.S. We love visitors, if you're ever in London do come and say hi!
> I really like the idea of the hackerspace. However, I have two young
> kids which prevent me easily getting out of the house in the evening.
> Not much I can do about that but wait.
+1 for me as well (except I have three kids)
I've taken on some of the backend web stuff (I co-admin the server, the
site, the wiki and the Facebook page) but I'm not in a position to
handle more of the physical stuff because I can't guarantee to be
available.
We need somewhere to hack, so we can attract people to hacking, so we
can get a regular membership, so we can get somewhere permanent to hack
- and not just on software.
fizzPOP got off to a good start because there was the great combination
of someone willing to offer space, and someone able to make that space
available (as keyholder).
--
Richard Wallman
I would really hate to see this hackspace go down because it's not
'defined' enough. I'm a Brighton hackspace member myself - and
they've done some really good example of the sort of events that a
small hackspace like yours can put on and make work... robotics
nights, electronic clothing, music <help, Brighton, give these guys a
list of suggestions please!>
I live in New York now, so I can't link you up in person (occasionally
visited both places til I moved over here) but I hope you can get
talking to each other about what's possible.
Keep building!
Sara.
I would really hate to see this hackspace go down because it's not
'defined' enough. I'm a Brighton hackspace member myself - and they've
done some really good example of the sort of events that a small
hackspace like yours can put on and make work... robotics nights,
electronic clothing, music <help, Brighton, give these guys a list of
suggestions please!>
I live in New York now, so I can't link you up in person (occasionally
visited both places til I moved over here) but I hope you can get
talking to each other about what's possible.
Keep building!
Sara.
On 1/24/2011 10:34 AM, Jonty Wareing wrote:
> So, a suggestion: it would probably be easier for those of us (who
> seem to be in the majority) to have somewhere that we can drop into
> whenever possible
So, a dedicated hackerspace?
> {snip}
> I have *no idea* how much something like this would cost, but say it
> was 100GBP/week that would "only" take 10 of us to contribute 10GBP /
> week.
More like triple that figure - it'll fall short of the monthly rent on
the places I've look at (by almost half in some cases), and then there's
the issues of utilities, business rates, insurance, etc.
There's also the question of the organisation of fizzPOP - someone will
have to sign papers, etc. which would mean a legal responsibility.
I know London Hackspace took a bit of a leap of faith when setting up
their hackerspace (almost breaking even, needing a few more permanent
contributors to remain safe), but they were organised and committed to
doing it.
A permanent hackerspace would introduce different 'levels' of
membership, from the fully paid up (having 24/7 access) to a "drop-in"
price, to make it fair on those with a "full" membership. Would there be
a charge for using equipment? (and how would it be purchased?)
Having a dedicated hackerspace entails a significant financial and
organisational commitment, and until that kind of core membership could
be achieved, fizzPOP is looking at relying on the generosity of hosts
(with or without making a contribution to their costs) and/or looking
for significant sponsorship/donations from organisations.
Anyone know anyone with deep pockets? :)
--
Richard Wallman
(firing up irssi for the first time in ages - #fizzpop or #hackspace on
Freenode)
It's great to see renewed interest in FizzPOP, I've missed the meetings.
I think in order for it to really take off it needs to have it's own
space and a monthly subscription based membership. I appreciate from
previous discussions there are a whole host of obstacles to be
overcome.
Unfortunately (from a regular FizzPOP attendance point of view) I am
moving to Bristol next month.
Good luck,
Aaron
> If you didn't know Nottingham Hackspace is a dedicated 24hour access
> space. {snip}
Now *that* would be easily doable, if we could get a similar deal in
Birmingham.
> now in all of Birmingham, the Maker City is there no where that a
> group can meet?
There is, but not that cheaply. Problem is that Birmingham is undergoing
a lot of redevelopment, so all of the nice, central locations are being
bulldozed in favour of shopping malls. And so it goes...
> Jonty at the London Hackspace has already offered to get folk to you
> to run a workshop. {snip}
I don't think it's content that's the problem as much as where to host
it. :)
> Good luck guys... and if you need any help from me or Nottingham
> Hackspace just ask.
Well, your experience to fill out this page would be nice:
http://wiki.fizzpop.org.uk/A_place_of_our_own
:)
--
Richard Wallman
This place looks awesome (though - I think that the top floor looks
uberest for a hackspace.
Unless anyone's made contact, does anyone have any objections to me
making contact?
N.
It's a shame your starting out with arduinos didn't work out too well. The main thing to remember is that even the experts have had dramatic failures. That means you're already past step one on the road to expertism :)
Basically I'm trying to say I hope you don't give up as it seems a lot easier when you're a little way up the learning curve. Maybe start with one led at first, and try not to blow them by wiring the wrong polarity like I did when I first started ;)
Good luck.
Andrew.