[Noisebridge-discuss] 1. Re: Electricity usage at the space is up UP UP

Sun Jun 26 01:21:36 UTC 2011

I agree with aestetix.  I am new to coming to the space and did not see the
donation box until my 3rd visit.  The first two times I was so overwhelmed
with the awesomeness I wasn't even looking for one.

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.
>
> 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
>>>>> >>> >
>>>>> >>> >
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> >>> 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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-- 

Fred McHale // 408-840-3733 // binaryfever.com <http://www.binaryfever.com>
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