[dorkbotdc-announce] Next Dorkbot DC Meeting 25 March, 7pm

[Dorkbot DC]

Next Meeting:
Tuesday 25 March 2008
7 PM - 9 PM (ET)

ALWAYS FREE!

Location:
Smith Hall of Art, Room 114
George Washington University
801 22nd St NW
Washington, DC 20037

Please forward to other interested parties!

More, including mailing list subscription info, here:
http://dorkbot.org/dorkbotdc/


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SCHEDULE FOR THIS MEETING
(See website for more info on presenters)



TOM LEE:   Cheap Arduino WiFi

Bringing ethernet connectivity to the Arduino for around fifty dollars, 
Lady Ada's XPort Shield has gotten people understandably excited.  But 
with a little elbow grease and a custom firmware, you can do even 
better: a $10 component can bring ethernet, wifi and a full Linux 
environment to your microcontroller project. Not bad, right? Tom Lee 
will explain how, and show a simple Arduino-based ambient display that 
uses the approach to show Metro schedule information.



GARETH BRANWYN:   Jack Parsons: The Original Burning Man

Gareth Branwyn will present a "Maker Profile" on under-appreciated 
American rocketry pioneer Jack Parsons, based on "Darkside Rocketeer," 
his feature on Parsons running in MAKE Volume 13.

Jack Parsons is one of the most important figures in the history of 
American rocketry and space development. He invented the JATO 
(jet-assisted take-off) motor, America's first rocket program, 
co-founded JPL and Aerotech Corporation, and created the formulations 
for solid rocket motors still in use today. Unfortunately, Parsons' 
controversial private life --- as a practitioner of ceremonial magick, a 
follower of infamous British occultist Aleister Crowley, and as a devout 
hedonist -- has caused many of his technical achievements to be shoved 
into the closet of history. Parsons' untimely death in a mysterious home 
lab explosion has only added to the sordid nature of his story. Gareth 
will talk not only of Parsons, but the group of fellow amateurs and 
CalTech students he worked with, known as The Suicide Squad, and the 
amazing intellectual backdrop of Pasadena and CalTech in the '20s and '30s.



AD HOC PRESENTATIONS!

If you—or someone you know—has an interesting announcement or something 
to share (5 minutes or less), we'll make time to fit you in!



AFTERDORK

After the presentations, the exchange continues over food and drink at a 
nearby eatery!

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