[Noisebridge-discuss] Text for noisebridge mini-briefings, some thoughts about Tuesday meeting (was Re: Electricity usage at the space is up UP UP )

Sun Jun 26 03:16:02 UTC 2011

Okay, I wrote/adapted some boilerplate descriptions. You can find/edit them
here, and I'll paste them at the bottom of this.
https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/User_talk:Malaclyps#Noisebridge_Boilerplate

There's a 100 word one which I think might be small enough to go on a moo
business card (will experiment)
There's a 200 word one which is actually the Noisebridge preamble which I
wrote when people ask for something to say before their events in the sapce.
(see http://nburl.net/preamble )
And there's a 400 page one which I think would fit on a one pager.

Two things that came out of this while I was writing them.

1. We should totally have a visitors book so people can sign up for
nb-announce. That worked really well at Maker Faire.

2. In a couple of places in this, I include the old sore about "if you're
new, you should turn up to the 8PM Tuesday meeting". But it's pretty clear
to me that the Tuesday meetings are actually a really rubbish place to start
if you're at Noisebridge.

It seems to me that if we abandon the idea that the tuesday meetings are
supposed to be for newbies *and* for our internal endless processing, we can
create something that *is* good for new people, and also cut down the
endless explanatory stuff that makes the meetings so long -- ie explanations
of what noisebridge is, full reading of events (which hasn't scaled), and so
on.

I have a couple of ideas for this. First, we could have the "New At
Noisebridge" meeting at 7PM on Tuesdays. That would give time for tours,
maybe vary it with particular topics, etc. I don't mind running this: I'm
pretty much contractorily obliged these days to be at the full meeting, and
if this cuts down on the size of that, I'd trade being an hour early with
being hours late.

The other possibility is something I was talking with Francisco, who wants
to run a donation-run big Noisebridge meal on Fridays. I really like that
idea, and it might be a good thing to invite new people to.

What do people think?

d.

On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 7:02 PM, aestetix aestetix <aestetix at gmail.com>wrote:

> Let me clarify, I meant something very literally either on the door, or
> right next to it, specifically targeted at people who are at the door and
> about to leave.
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 6:56 PM, Danny O'Brien <danny at spesh.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Oops, meant to send this to the list.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 6:56 PM, Danny O'Brien <danny at spesh.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 6:16 PM, aestetix aestetix <aestetix at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> A card or a flyer is a really good idea. Would it be useful to have a
>>>> sign and a bin full of flyers near the door so people who are new can pick
>>>> one up as they leave? If you're *at* Noisebridge you're probably overwhelmed
>>>> with all the stuff going on, but I think that if you pick up a flyer on your
>>>> way out, there's a much higher chance you'll read it and think about
>>>> donating.
>>>
>>>
>>> Hilariously, if you look, there are tons of huge posters and things
>>> telling you stuff about Noisebridge in that area. The problem is the
>>> competition with all the other awesomeness. My guess (backed up with a bit
>>> of experimentation, but not much) is that adding another thing in there is
>>> just going to get buried in the noise.
>>>
>>> I'm really more interested in fixing another, narrower problem, which is
>>> how to approach people with easy info that they can act on to donate
>>> regularly. There's lots of people I'd love to chat about this, but I feel
>>> rude just asking them to donate. Also I get a lot of questions that might be
>>> answerable with a flyer.
>>>
>>> I think a side effect of this is that you could store those flyers there,
>>> but I don't think that's really what gets people to donate. It is, as you
>>> say, talking to people and explaining things.
>>>
>>> d.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Keep in mind, it doesn't sound like there's a financial issue at hand,
>>>> but more just a communication issue that is easily resolved.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 5:56 PM, Danny O'Brien <danny at spesh.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 4:38 PM, aestetix aestetix <aestetix at gmail.com
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Is the electrical usage a concern, or just an observation?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If there have been an influx of new people, and you (the general you)
>>>>>> see someone around, why not ask them if they've considered putting in a
>>>>>> membership application? I wonder how many people come by and don't even know
>>>>>> they can become a member, and have no idea how to contribute towards the
>>>>>> space.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The answer is *lots*. And the biggest confusion is that *you don't need
>>>>> to become a full member to donate*. Lots of people don't want to become a
>>>>> full member, which can be a little long-winded, but still want to give
>>>>> something to Noisebridge and the community. You can set up a monthly
>>>>> donation for $10/mo<https://www.paypal.com/subscriptions/business=treasurer@noisebridge.net&item_name=Noisebridge%20Monthly%20Donation%20%28Affiliate%20Member%29&cy_code=USD&a3=10&p3=1&t3=M&src=1>
>>>>> $20/mo<https://www.paypal.com/subscriptions/business=treasurer@noisebridge.net&item_name=Noisebridge%20Monthly%20Donation%20%28Affiliate%20Member%29&cy_code=USD&a3=20&p3=1&t3=M&src=1>
>>>>> $40/mo<https://www.paypal.com/subscriptions/business=treasurer@noisebridge.net&item_name=Noisebridge%20Monthly%20Donation%20%28Affiliate%20Hacker%29&cy_code=USD&a3=40&p3=1&t3=M&src=1>
>>>>> $80/mo<https://www.paypal.com/subscriptions/business=treasurer@noisebridge.net&item_name=Noisebridge%20Monthly%20Donation%20%28Affiliate%29&cy_code=USD&a3=80&p3=1&t3=M&src=1>or any
>>>>> amount you like <https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Donate_or_Pay_Dues>.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I was thinking about creating a little (physical) card explaining this,
>>>>> because I think the social awkwardness of asking people to donate is hard to
>>>>> overcome without a bit of help. Anyone a designer who would like to help
>>>>> with this?
>>>>>
>>>>> d.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 4:11 PM, Danny O'Brien <danny at spesh.com>wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 10:24 AM, rachel lyra hospodar <
>>>>>>> rachelyra at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If anything I would say overall use of the sewing machines has
>>>>>>>> declined over the last year; it used to be much harder to get time on the
>>>>>>>> single needle.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In the last year we have acquired some big hogs:
>>>>>>>> -vending machine
>>>>>>>> -second fridge
>>>>>>>> -lazor
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As well as, in my estimation, slightly increasing kitchen use and
>>>>>>>> steadily increasingly large numbers of people that are soldering on
>>>>>>>> mondays.  Also, just MORE users. If we are charging 20 more laptops every
>>>>>>>> week that could add up, no?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> IMNSHO all commendable uses of the space (well, except maybe the
>>>>>>>> vending machine, curious what the ROI is there when it's adjusted for power
>>>>>>>> consumption).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The vending machine actually brings in a fair amount of money.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Just to clarify, we're not really looking at a huge increase here: I
>>>>>>> don't think we have to change much at all to accommodate it.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As you say, creating affordances for people to give us money is the
>>>>>>> most obvious one.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> d.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Maybe we can find a way to blame the hippies.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Maybe we can find a way to more prominently solicit donations.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> mediumreality.com
>>>>>>>> On Jun 24, 2011 6:27 PM, "Bruce Wolfe" <brucewolfe.sf at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> > How about WiFi webcams with white LEDs pointing onto the meters?
>>>>>>>> Then you
>>>>>>>> > can walk around the space with a smartphone even, unplugging
>>>>>>>> devices and
>>>>>>>> > don't need the additional humans in the creepy basement.
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > How many new servers were installed lately, too? Remember, that
>>>>>>>> data centers
>>>>>>>> > charge for rackspace based on power consumption.
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > I have to say that kitchen appliances and anything that is AC
>>>>>>>> motorized will
>>>>>>>> > probably be the culprit. Sorry, fabric-hackers, maybe sewing
>>>>>>>> machines.
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > Good luck.
>>>>>>>> > Bruce
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> > On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 4:22 PM, Danny O'Brien <danny at spesh.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> >> We have mechanical meters, I think the smart meters are due in
>>>>>>>> the next
>>>>>>>> >> year or so.
>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>> >> On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 3:11 PM, Bruce Wolfe <
>>>>>>>> brucewolfe.sf at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>> >>> Additionally, are these PG$E mechanical or Smart meters?
>>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>>> >>> Bruce
>>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>>> >>> Sent from Android. Pardon spelling.
>>>>>>>> >>> On Jun 24, 2011 2:20 PM, "jim" <jim at well.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>> > Good idea. A variant is to unplug the suspect device
>>>>>>>> >>> > and plug it into something that measures Amps (e.g. a
>>>>>>>> >>> > variac). What this will yield is a snapshot of amps.
>>>>>>>> >>> > What's additionally needed is to know the amount of use
>>>>>>>> >>> > during a billing period.
>>>>>>>> >>> > A gizmo such as Andy's suggestion (we have one buried
>>>>>>>> >>> > behind the refridge next to the vending machine) can show
>>>>>>>> >>> > power usage for a time period. (I saw it but didn't want
>>>>>>>> >>> > to move all the stuff necessary so's to retrieve it--if
>>>>>>>> >>> > someone does retrieve it, maybe it'd be good to have a
>>>>>>>> >>> > well-known storage place for it or the note someone would
>>>>>>>> >>> > write to indicate it's current working location.)
>>>>>>>> >>> > I suspect the cooking stuff as the primary sucker of
>>>>>>>> >>> > power and NB money: can cookers tell if there's been
>>>>>>>> >>> > greater use of that stuff in the last three months over
>>>>>>>> >>> > the previous quarter?
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>> > On Fri, 2011-06-24 at 12:10 -0700, Bruce Wolfe wrote:
>>>>>>>> >>> >> Go analog and start unplugging things one at a time while
>>>>>>>> someone is
>>>>>>>> >>> >> watching the meter spin (or numbers flip) while on
>>>>>>>> walkie-talkies, or
>>>>>>>> >>> >> a human chain to relay the message up and down or maybe just
>>>>>>>> plain old
>>>>>>>> >>> >> two cans and string.
>>>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>>>>>> >>> >> Bruce
>>>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>>>>>> >>> >> Sent from Android. Pardon spelling.
>>>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>>>>>> >>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> >>> >> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>>> >>> >> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>>>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>>>>>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>>> >>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> >>> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>>> >>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>>> >>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>>>>>>>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>>>>>>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
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>>
>
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