Last minute notice: Free class on TIG Welding tomorrow

Christian just told me that 123 Tompkins Community Space (map) is offering a free workshop on TIG welding Tomorrow, 4 March 2008, at noon-o-clock. I don't think I can make it (see note about new job in previous post), but I wish I could. Why?

Well, I say that I know how to weld, by which I mean I can use an oxy-acetaline kit, and I can use a MIG welder. Still, that limits me to steel. TIG welding, on the other hand, can be used to weld a greater variety of metals, such as aluminum, magnesium, copper, and alloys thereof. If you're interesting in bicycle frame building, for instance, this is the kind of welding you want to learn (in addition, of course, to brazing).

Additionally, I'll plug this by reminding everyone that it's free, rare for anything educational in NYC. Show up, enjoy it, and... you know, leave a donation if you have fun.

Update: Where to watch tonight's lunar eclipse

According to Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, a good place to watch tonight's lunar eclipse in Park Slope is at 9th St and 7th Ave. Here, an amateur astronomer with a telescope will be letting people have a nice glimpse, and talking about what's going on.

About 8:45pm -- 10pm. Don't miss it or you have to wait until 2010!

Meet me at Make:NYC #4

The fifth meeting of Make:NYC will take place this Saturday, 23 Feb 2008, noon-o-clock at 325 Gold, 2nd floor, Brooklyn.

There will be seminars on soldering and LEDs (whoo hoo??), but more importantly, there will be show and tell.

Now I just have to put a thingy together for the meeting.

Lunar eclipse, Wednesday night

Slashdot reports:

KingArthur10 writes "It will be the last lunar eclipse until December 2010, and it should be spectacular. Shades of turquoise and red will pour over the moon's surface as it moves into the Earth's shadow around 8:43pm EST. As NASA reports: 'Transiting the shadow's core takes about an hour. The first hints of red appear around 10 pm EST (7 pm PST), heralding a profusion of coppery hues that roll across the Moon's surface enveloping every crater, mountain and moon rock, only to fade away again after 11 pm EST (8 pm PST). No special filter or telescope is required to see this spectacular event. It is a bright and leisurely display visible from cities and countryside alike. While you're watching, be alert for another color: turquoise. Observers of several recent lunar eclipses have reported a flash of turquoise bracketing the red of totality ... The source of the turquoise is ozone.' So, all of you amateur astronomers need to get out there and take pictures. It might be worthwhile sharing them on sites like SpaceWeather or Flickr so that our Asian, European, African, and Australian brethren can witness the sight as well."

Snowboarding in the city is lame

Earlier today I mentioned that there would be some soft of a snowboarding exposition in Union Square Park. I hear they trucked in snow from New Jersey for this event--even though it snowed two days ago here, the last two days have had unseasonably warm weather.

This event, like every free event in the city, was a thin coating advertisements by Jeep and some companies hocking their snow timeshares. The snowboarding wasn't too impressive either, though I blame that on the minimal course, not on the 12 year old athletes.

More interesting, however, was one particular Jeep ad, shown on the right. I'm not sure if the bikes are meant to resemble a downhill descent, or how everything in new york has a bike locked to it. Either way, it kind of pissed me off when I saw it.

Why? Because I think that automobiles are antithetical to everything bikes stand for. You don't need a car to ride a bike, in fact, if you have a bike you don't need a car. Their presence should advertise against Jeep, not for it.

And oh yeah, they wouldn't let me lock my bike to it.

Wha?!? Snowboarding competition in Union Sq Park Today!

The Gothamist reports that there's a free snowboarding competition going on in Union Sq today. I'm so there.

Upcoming events in New York

"Fun with Fiberglass: Basic Composite Fabrication," 4 February 2008 (TONIGHT) and 11 February 2008, at LemurPlex in Brooklyn (map), 6:30--9:00pm. Free (as far as I can tell) $215 workshop on building composite doo-hickeys.

"123 Community Space Bicycle Workshop", 6 February 2008 and every Wednesday, at 123 Tompkins (map), Brooklyn, 6:00pm--whenever; also 9 February 2008 and every Saturday, 2:00pm--whenever. Use our parts and tools, and get our expert advice, on how to fix your bike or build one from scratch.

"Brooklyn Critical Mass," 8 February 2008 and every second Friday of the month, at Grand Army Plaza (map), Brooklyn, 7:00pm--9:00pm-ish. Ride around Brooklyn in a big group to support bike rights. Police are generally more cooperative than Manhattan, but bring your lights!

"2600 NYC Meeting," 7 March 2008 and every first Friday of the month, in the Atrium of Citigroup Center at 153 E 3rd Ave (map), Manhattan, 5pm. Your bag will be x-rayed upon entry, photos not allowed.

"Electromechanical Systems and Robots for Artists," 29 March 2008, at LemurPlex in Brooklyn (map), 12:30pm--5:00pm. Free (as far as I can tell) $300. Might be really cool, might totally suck.

Remember: Make:NYC Tonight

Meet me at the fourth meeting of Make:NYC. I'll be showing off my alarm clock.

325 Gold St, Second floor, Brooklyn

6pm

Reminder: Manhattan Critical Mass is Tonight

7pm, union square north, TONIGHT!

Meet me at IDIOTAROD this Saturday!

Whoo hoo I'm excited!!! The IDIOTAROD happens on Saturday, 26 Jan, 2008!

For those of you unfamiliar, the IDIOTAROD (compare to iditerod) is a traditional Brooklyn shopping cart race, and is prime ground to indulge in idiocy. Teams are encouraged to mod their shopping carts, though they must ultimately be propelled by a human dog team.



The race begins in four locations:

• Long Island City: Water Taxi (hey wait! that's in Queens)
  
• DUMBO: Water Taxi
• Williamsburg: Water Taxi
• Greenpoint: India St.

I will not be racing, but I'll be watching. I'll probably watch from DUMBO, though I'm tempted to watch from Williamsburg. See you there!

Meet me at Manhattan Critical Mass

25 Jan, 7pm, Union Square North

Meet me at Make:NYC

On 31 January, I'll be at the fourth meeting of Make:NYC.

Freegan Events Calendar

Here's a calendar of upcoming Freegan events in NYC.















Highlights include:

• Trash (read dumpster diving) tour, 21 Jan, 9:30pm on 38th st & 3rd ave
• As well as weekly bike co-op hours on Wednesdays 6pm-, and Saturdays, 2pm-