Bob Banner publishes a bimonthly magazine distributed free around 3 California counties, and also regularly shows inspiring, enlightening and always informative films wherever he can find a space.
MAKER FAIRE
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS COPIED FROM TREEHUGGER.com:
Following on President Obama's call to "begin again the work of remaking America", Maker Faire 2009 will be organized around the theme of Re-Make America. Held in the San Francisco Bay Area on May 30-31, Maker Faire celebrates what President Obama called "the risk takers, the doers, and the makers of things."
TOP 10 IDEAS FOR REMAKING AMERICA:-- BE RESOURCEFUL: Necessity is the mother of all invention and now, more than ever, is the time to make or fix things instead of buying them: - Learn how to fix your broken iPod or Apple product yourself by troubleshooting the problem, getting the parts you need and following step-by-step instructions -- iFixit enables you to easily repair devices on your own.
-- CONSERVE ENERGY: Action starts at home by unplugging idle electronics, replacing products with energy efficient ones and subsidizing with natural resources:
- One Maker takes DIY to a whole new level by proving self-sufficiency is possible. Luke Iseman cultivates just about everything he needs to live sustainably -- including using recycled greywater for irrigation, practicing permaculture for food production and inventing a garden controlling system that only waters plants when they need it.
- One Maker takes DIY to a whole new level by proving self-sufficiency is possible. Luke Iseman cultivates just about everything he needs to live sustainably -- including using recycled greywater for irrigation, practicing permaculture for food production and inventing a garden controlling system that only waters plants when they need it.
-- ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION: From electric vehicles to innovative bicycles, there are many methods that don't involve gas-powered vehicles:
- Take a ride on the Solar Touring Bike, which allows two riders to travel up to 200 miles per day entirely powered by the sun.
- Take a ride on the Solar Touring Bike, which allows two riders to travel up to 200 miles per day entirely powered by the sun.
-- REVIVE OUR AGRICULTURAL ROOTS: From urban farming to bee keeping, find more ways to live sustainably through agriculture:
- At the HOMEGROWN Village you can dig in the dirt to connect to the soil -- the source of all good food.
- At the HOMEGROWN Village you can dig in the dirt to connect to the soil -- the source of all good food.
-- PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY: Cultivate trades and crafts by engaging with others and sharing knowledge:
- Stop by to see the sophisticated DIY robotics warships of the Western Warship Combat Club (WWCC). These 6-foot-long robotic warships duel to the death in a large, specially built pond with guns that fire CO2-powered steel balls.
- Stop by to see the sophisticated DIY robotics warships of the Western Warship Combat Club (WWCC). These 6-foot-long robotic warships duel to the death in a large, specially built pond with guns that fire CO2-powered steel balls.
-- ENCOURAGE LEARNING: Passing knowledge to future generations ensures that innovation will thrive -- engage students by providing hands-on learning experiences:
- Tom Zimmerman is an inventor, educator and researcher who volunteers at an elementary school, teaching computer animation and robotics, and at a high school, helping students with their science fair projects. His belief that learning can be enhanced when students have something to hold or touch resulted in a barcode system that had students arrange a deck of cards in a sequence to write computer programs.
- Tom Zimmerman is an inventor, educator and researcher who volunteers at an elementary school, teaching computer animation and robotics, and at a high school, helping students with their science fair projects. His belief that learning can be enhanced when students have something to hold or touch resulted in a barcode system that had students arrange a deck of cards in a sequence to write computer programs.
-- MONITOR USAGE: Be aware of how much energy and natural resources you use on a daily basis to help promote conservation efforts:
- Tweet-a-watt wirelessly manages energy usage by automatically updating daily power consumption to a user's Twitter account.
- Tweet-a-watt wirelessly manages energy usage by automatically updating daily power consumption to a user's Twitter account.
-- LEND A HAND: Volunteer your time to promote DIY projects in schools and after-school programs:
- Tinkering School is dedicated to developing hands-on building experiences for children of all ages. It offers an exploratory curriculum to help kids learn how to build things by providing a collaborative environment.
- Tinkering School is dedicated to developing hands-on building experiences for children of all ages. It offers an exploratory curriculum to help kids learn how to build things by providing a collaborative environment.
-- TAKE RISKS: The entrepreneurial spirit of America is based on the premise of nothing ventured, nothing gained:
-Learn how to do-it-yourself with starter kits that help create your own Jellyfish Art or Cardboard Surfboards.
-Learn how to do-it-yourself with starter kits that help create your own Jellyfish Art or Cardboard Surfboards.
-- CELEBRATE FAILURES: Failure is an essential key to learning, by sharing mistakes you can help prevent others from making their own -- thus promoting efficient production:
- Mr. Jalopy, a leader in the Maker movement, embodies this fearless spirit -- his trials and tribulations are closely chronicled and watched by others.
- Mr. Jalopy, a leader in the Maker movement, embodies this fearless spirit -- his trials and tribulations are closely chronicled and watched by others.
