Pumping Station: One

Closing Thoughts from the 2009 President

As I step down from my position as president, pass the reins to the 2010 board of directors, and become a normal member again, I want to look back at everything that led to the founding of PS1 and all the work we have done since then. I have had the distinct pleasure and honor of working with a literal army of like-minded and brilliant collaborators to create and work with some amazing organizations over the past few years.

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There’s a few members here at PS:One that are currently out of work and are making the most of the money we have.  We don’t get to go out very often so to bring cheer to our year we decided to start Chili Club.  We cook during the day when everyone else is at work and have a delicious time.

Our first meal was Chili, a fantastic recipe from Tyler Florence.  After simmering the chili for two hours on our induction cooktop we swapped to the crock pot and started on the cornbread.  Things got a little more interesting because cornbread on a cast iron skillet is supposed to be made in an oven, which we don’t have.  Fortunately the induction cooktop has temperature control, which worked perfectly after covering the top of the pan.

We were using the hashtag #ssssswwwwwiiinnnneeeefeaver on twitter in honor of SNL. Chili Club is going to be a once a month, stay tuned for next months meal!

Photo courtesy Anne Petersen

A new new presentation format at Pumping Station: One.

We’ve had lightning talks, and we’ve had a Pecha Kucha night. To push the boundaries of fun and learning cool new things, we’re proud to present 300 Seconds of Fame.

We’re combining our presentation media and borrowing heavily from Noisebridge’s Five Minutes of Fame to create our own version. So now, 2nd Tuesdays of each month at PS:One, you! yes YOU! get to hear your fellow members, geeks, and other associated community-minded people present to whoever wants to show up, but only for 300 seconds apiece.

Basically: you’ve got five minutes. Use it wisely.

Within the time parameters, your 300 seconds can be a presentation, a musical number, a demonstration, a debate, a run-through of a proof of concept, performance art, live circuit bending, etc, etc, ad nauseum. Will it fit into five minutes, be feasible for the space, and be appreciated by an audience? Then go for it.

Questions? Check the 300SoF wiki page.

You can sign up with me (Anne) or Laurie. We’ll start talks at 8, though doors will be open to the public at 7.

2nd Tuesday of each month. Spread the word.

The Unusual Musical Instrument Jam on January 8th was a rousing good time! A loud group of members and guests alike came to the space. People brought instruments both electronic and analog, both traditional and non-traditional…and we made a lot of noise. A big thank you to everyone who came out for the event! A big thanks as well to i3Detroit, who originated the idea and also streamed their cacophony online.

It was so much fun that the Unusual Musical Instrument Jam will now be a monthly event, on the second Friday of every month! So, mark your calendars for February 12 at 7:00pm, bring anything you’d like to play or share, and get ready to jam!

Start: 12:01pm

Why we departed at 12:00, I have no idea. We are three hours behind schedule but we are on our way in the midst of traffic on the Dan Ryan. We almost didn’t go, but Grandpa Kantarek twisted our arms and shamed us into keeping our promises.

Why Detroit? We’re visiting our good friends over at i3Detroit. We should hopefully arrive before 8pm Detroit time, but we’ll be keeping the entire Internet up to date on our progress and the shenanigans involved.

Current Location: Mile Marker 73. I-94, Illinois.

Update: 12:50pm.

Current Location: INDIANA.

Update: 1:10pm. First stop: Cracker Barrel. CIGARETTE.

Next Stop: Cracker Barrel. Oh my god, Cracker Barrel. The delicious, delicious food of America’s greatest restaurant chain. Hello chicken and dumplings.

Update: 2:15pm. Current Location: Leaving Cracker Barrel, barely inside of Indiana.

We all want to die, so much tasty food. If any of you reading this have never been to Cracker Barrel, you are doing something wrong with your life.

Update: 2:30pm. Current Location: Gas Station. Alignment is causing weird noises. Jim has lowered his survival rating.

Update: 2:53pm. Current Location: MICHIGAN! Been reading reddit. Cars are boring. Jim turned into a 5 year old boy when we saw the toy train store billboard. We might have to stop there.

Update: 3:17pm. Current Location: Exit 39. I-94. Michigan. Next stop: Grandpa’s Cider Mill. Note: Jim snores.

Update: 4:06pm. Current Location: I-94. Michigan. Battery is about to die. Cider was delicious. Highly recommend visiting Grandpa’s Cider Mill in Coloma, MI. Tasty.

image credit: Gaetan Lee

Guest speakers and mother-son duo Nancy Milnes and Dan Simborg come to PS:One to talk about the technology, promise, and pitfalls of neurofeedback training.

Date: 1/23/2009
Time: 6:00 pm, before the evening’s Hackathon activities

Neurofeedback, or biofeedback with an electroencephalogram(EEG), is a potentially revolutionary technology. You can use it to train your brain for increased focus, improved meditation, and to alleviate various medical conditions. Come early to the Hackathon to learn from two experienced practitioners of neurofeedback:

Nancy Milnes is a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years experience as a psychotherapist.  in 1999, frustrated with the limits of talk therapy, she began her exploration of neurofeedback.  Along the way, she cured herself of narcolepsy and migraine headaches as well as reduced some of her ADD symptoms.  Nancy has used a variety of systems and approaches and currently combines talk therapy with 2 different kinds of neurofeedback therapy.

Dan Simborg is a sociologist, community organiser, and producer of many artistic events throughout the country.  he took an interest in neurofeedback when his mother “turned him on to it.”  over the years he has seen many advances and changes in the technology and has explored NFB as an effective healing modality.  in 2006, dan went to Victoria, BC, to train under the creators of one of the programs being used by the mother son team.  what he found was an opening of a door into the mind and spirit that surpasses many non-traditional areas of thought.