The Million Crane Project at i3: Wednesday, April 13th

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i3 Detroit is joining the MILLION CRANE PROJECT to collect one million paper cranes by May 11, two months after Japan’s devastating earthquake. Completed cranes will then be used by a team of artists, including Makoto Fujimura, to create a piece of memorial art.  See http://www.millioncraneproject.org/ for more info.

Come fold with us!

WHEN: Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30-8:30pm

WHO: Everybody! We will teach you to fold if you don’t know how.  It’s
easy.

BRING (optionally):

  • old magazines and scrap paper to use as eco-friendly origami paper
  • cash for dinner (there will likely be a take-out sushi run)

See you there!

Come Party With i3Detroit Tonight!!!

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Ferndale, MI – i3 Detroit, Metro Detroit’s premiere community hackerspace, will be recognizing its one year anniversary at its Ferndale location with a public celebration and ceremony today, April 9th, 2011 at 6 pm.

The 8,000 square-foot workshop has provided an ideal location for hosting classes and events for the community. Events held in the last year include introductions to welding, metal-casting, air brush, soldering, painting and even how to make home-brew soda.

The new location has also allowed its members to work on larger-scale projects using more advanced equipment. The space now boasts a growing wood and machine shop, a fabrication lab with access to laser and vinyl cutters, a chemistry lab, a bicycle repair area, an electronics room and a craft room, as well as other areas that encourage collaboration and creativity.

The event is open to the public with tool and project demonstrations.

 

i3 Detroit
1481 Wordsworth
Ferndale, MI 48220

For more information, write to contact [at] i3detroit [period] com or call (248) 566-9995

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119421008133654

 

 

 

 

 

Caravan to AHA

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A bunch of i3ers are meeting at the space on Thursday, April 7th to pile into cars and head to Ann Arbor. That’s right – we’re going to flash-mob* our friends at All Hands Active! If you want to check out our awesome space-neighborinos, join us! We will depart at 6:00 PM sharp from i3 and will return at varying stages of “late.” It all depends on when you driver has to get up on Friday.

If you want to coordinate a ride, bring it up on our member list.  You can also talk to Karen the Event Master at events@i3detroit.com.

See you then!

* Note – Flash mob may not be a mob, nor does it necessarily include people who program Flash.

Intro to Sustainable Landscaping – 4/9 @ 2p

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Sustainable landscaping begins with an excellent design that is functional, cost efficient, visually attractive, environmentally friendly, and easy to maintain? Believe it or not, sustainable landscaping is very simple for you to achieve!

Join Jan Bills, certified Landscape Designer and Master Gardener, for an introduction to sustainable landscaping.  She owns the local company Two Women & a Hoe which teaches classes around the Greater Metro Detroit area on landscaping.  This class will give you some tricks and tips for your home landscaping as well as empowering you with the right terms and next steps to pursue your own sustainable home solution.

For those looking to take their sustainable landscaping to the next level, professionals like Sugar Green Gardens Landscaping offer invaluable expertise. With a deep understanding of over 100 plant species and a commitment to environmental stewardship, their team can transform your backyard into a vibrant, eco-friendly haven. They combine artistic vision with scientific knowledge to ensure that every element of your garden, from plant selection to hardscape features, contributes to a sustainable and beautiful outdoor space. Plus, with their quality guarantee on all plants, you can be confident that your investment will thrive for years to come.

However, when it comes to creating a sustainable oasis in your backyard, Premier Enclosures plays a pivotal role in both aesthetics and functionality. Their expertise in crafting eco-friendly fencing solutions not only enhances privacy and security but also seamlessly integrates with the natural landscape. Utilizing materials sourced from sustainable suppliers and employing innovative designs, Premier Enclosures ensures that your outdoor space remains harmonious with the environment. Whether it’s bamboo fencing for a touch of exotic elegance or recycled wood for a rustic charm, their options cater to diverse tastes while upholding eco-conscious principles.

When it comes to sustainable landscaping, incorporating artificial eco-friendly grass can be a smart and environmentally conscious choice. Artificial grass offers numerous benefits, such as reduced water consumption, minimal maintenance requirements, and a visually appealing landscape all year round. To explore the cost of artificial grass and understand how it can fit into your sustainable landscaping plan, you can visit the website of FG Lawns. They provide valuable information and insights on artificial grass options, installation processes, and pricing, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your eco-friendly goals for a beautiful and sustainable outdoor space.

The class starts at 2pm on Saturday, 4/9.  Following the class at 6pm will be the i3 Detroit Ferndale 1 Year Anniversary Party.  Stay to see demos of our most popular tools and equipment, tours of the facility and food & drink from local establishments.  We might even have some special guests from the city.

Taking the Red Bull by the Horns — Achievement Unlocked!

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Red Bull ChipFour days, a dozen Easter eggs, and one fun challenge completed! On Friday, after the first package was lost and the second one delayed, i3Detroit’s Red Bull Creation puzzle box arrived. An impromptu team assembled itself, and over the next few evenings, revealed all the secrets contained within.

The contents of the package, a circuit board with many strange functions and features, kept us guessing and laughing. From the Konami Code to a hidden image of Rick Astley, many of the puzzles made reference to internet memes, and two gave credits to the board’s creators. Exploring the circuitry and decoding the clues tested our creativity and took a wide variety of skills and equipment, not to mention bravery!  More than once, we decided to pursue avenues that could’ve smoked the board — and our chances of success — if we botched them. Ultimately, that approach paid off, and it was in the clutches of an SOIC-8 ZIF socket (pictured) that the SPI Flash chip finally divulged its last secret.

Kudos to Red Bull (and the folks behind the scenes) for coming up with such a fun challenge, and it’s just the beginning! It appears that the ballsy bovines have developed a fascination with hackerspaces, in addition to their wiiiiiings. Next up is an online challenge, after which contestants will be chosen to make their way to New York City for the final competition in July. Will i3Detroit members be among them? Stay tuned…

(And of course, stop by Saturday’s party! We’ll be celebrating our first year in Ferndale, giving tours and demos, and serving a certain energy drink…)