Just wanted to post a quick reminder about Maker Faire Bay Area taking place this weekend! While we won't have our usual presence (meaning, we won't have soldering workshops this year), we are going to be there representing SFE! We have a few cool things planned, so make sure to stop by our booth (#66) and say hello!
At Maker Faire, this is completely normal.
This year, we are going to be bringing along several SparkFun original projects. These include an electronic guitar made from the ProtoSnap Pro Mini, an 8-legged robot as a nod to AVC, an Arduino-based computer that plays text-based adventure games, and the Quad Buddy Ball Balancer - an awesome 4-person balancing game. I would tell you more but I just don't want to spoil the surprise before Maker Faire.
Look for the folks in the red SparkFun shirts.
So if you're in the area, be sure to stop by and talk shop! Feel free to bring your projects, questions, or just come by to say hey. The faire takes place at the San Mateo Event Center on Saturday the 19th (10 a.m. - 8 p.m.) and Sunday the 20th (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Hope to see you there!
Seriously, you guys need to come out to Ohio. Like Columbus, Cincinnati,Toledo, or like Detroit MI. I'm sure alot would appreciate it.
If any of you DO make it to the Dayton Hamvention this year, you can stop by booth spaces #3822 & 3823 and check out our junk. I promise deep discounts to anyone who mentions Sparkfun! This is an easy promise to make because my stuff is mostly random junk anyway.
No big lasers this year.. :( It was fun while it lasted.
Here we are trying to cram a ruby pulse laser into a car.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgMLXWsS2ms
I might take you up on that discount on Saturday! By chance will you be selling any antenna tuners, antenna bridges, or air variable caps? 73!
I look forward to saying hello this weekend. Maker faire is always a fun event.
I second coming to Ohio. In fact, you may want to setup a booth at Dayton Hamvention next year (the Hamvention is this weekend, and I can't imagine that you'd be able to make it out here by Friday).
There's a lot of amateur radio operators that need/want electronics and they have a microcontroller forum this year at the show. Additionally, the national association for Amateur Radio (the ARRL) is pushing more of the DIY concept, as many amateur radio operators build equipment, accessories, or other related stuff.
Bummer you guys weren't doing soldering class this time. Both my boys were looking forward to it. They were big fans of the Simon I brought home a couple of years ago. We had to settle for soldering a couple of LEDs on a robot pin at the Make: booth outside.
I came, but I forgot to go to SFE's booth. I remembered on the flight back to LA. Wish I came!
See you Saturday! I'd be wearing my Sparkfun hoodie, but it's totally trashed, wore it while building my secret lab. Looking forward to it!
Speaking about Maker Faires in the Midwest. It might be too late to get a large booth, but Sparkfun should really consider sending some people to Kansas City, MO's* Maker Faire June 23rd and 24th. Like Detroit's, KC's faire is no longer considered a "mini-Maker Faire". Furthermore although I haven't priced booth space, with the venue at Union Station and sponsorship available I can assure you there won't be the "sticker shock" like there was for San Mateo for booth space (if it's still available).
*Aside: On Make's site faire map it's erronously listed as being held in KC, KS. The confusion between KC, MO and KC, KS can be a bit of a sore spot to locals, even though they do form one metropolitian area. To keep things brief, I'll just state for the record that Kansas City, MO predates the Kansas's statehood, as well as the founding of Kansas City, KS.
Pretty ironic that SFE is at booth #66. xD Must have something to do with the FLATUS.
It looks really great! I wanna live in the US!
...are you sure?
at all!