"...think about new & creative ways to engage young people in science & engineering, like science festivals, robotics competitions, & fairs..."

I know I bitched a lot about Maker Faire on twitter. I spite of that, I did actually have a good time. I mainly complained because it was a non-violent outlet for those moments when I really felt the need to stab people. Most of the folks I met were polite, intelligent, and eager to learn about our array of 3D displays. Then there were the a-holes. We had a lot of electronics at our table, such as projectors, LCD shutter glasses, paired still DSLR cameras, several video cameras. I was amazed that in the first half-hour an ADULT threw a pair of the expensive glasses across the table. I said "Dude!" and he mumbled "Oh, sorry" and walked off. Jerk. I grew weary of telling kids to stop pushing our tables. Most of their parents were present and watched as the kids continued to push the tables 4-5 times. Next year, we will put up a barrier. Oh, and SO many pairs of the plastic glasses we borrowed from the L.A. 3D Club were broken. We've been using them at the club meetings for years without such breakage.

While Comic-Con is a haven for geeks, Maker Faire is all about the nerds. Hardcore nerds. One of my favorite things at the event is the t-shirts. And they're nerdy, not ironic. Since I had my own hectic craft exhibit last year and worked at E's even busier booth this year, I only have a photo (above) from 2007. I made a mental note though of a few of my favorites over the course of this past weekend. I really wish I'd taken snapshots of them.

The cutest was one that luckily E pointed out to me. I would have missed it. The shirt had a schematic of a turbine engine, which contained a hamster wheel. Next to it was a little hamster dressed like an aviator. Unfortunately, it was a Shirt.Woot exclusive.

Seen on a shirt somewhere in San Mateo:

SCIENCE. It works, bitches.

When I was your age, Pluto was a planet.

Every time you call tech support, God kills a kitten.

There are 10 types of people in the world:
Those who understand binary and those who don't.

I'm trying to catch up on life after the blur of the weekend and get moving on the next things, on which I'm already behind. Sometime in the near future, I'll try to post a couple of the five or so 3D photos I took at the faire. I know at least a couple turned out fairly decent and I still have a few to download. In the meantime, grab your red/cyan glasses and check out E's blog where he posted a 3D video of Eepybird's Diet Coke & Mentos fountain.

Wanted: 1 Nap

This past Friday, I posted a list over at L.A. Metblogs of free, or inexpensive, fun activities happening this weekend in Los Angeles. I knew other events were happening, some of which were mentioned in the comments, but I specifically noted things E and I were interested in doing. Also, I didn't include anything that cost over $5.

Surprisingly, between the two of us, we hit each gathering even if only for a short time. I enjoyed Classic Eats #5 with fellow Metblogs authors and readers, while E went to the Santa Fe Art Colony Open Studios and the tail-end of BarCamp. (Oh, and I picked up what dregs were left over on Free Comic Book Day on the way to Classic Eats).

Today, I headed downtown for Unique L.A. I pretty much hung out with JustJenn and didn't see much of the enormous, somewhat difficult to navigate show. For one thing, I hadn't seen Jenn in a while and wanted to catch up. Also, I didn't want to spend any money and I have some kind of very painful foot injury and couldn't really walk around. It was all good fun until I was unable to locate my car in the underground garage. It took me 20 minutes to find it. I wish I was joking. All the while, E was learning about Circuit Bending at Machine Project.

I then swung over to Echo Park, picked up E and we geeked out in Pasadena at the JPL Open House. After gawking at Mars Rover replicas, we both went to the art colony and hung out with friends who were displaying 3D goodness in front of one our buddy's space. Then I dropped E back at Machine for another lecture and came home to do laundry, etc.

All in all, a great weekend. The panic of Sunday night has set in though as I look at all of the things I didn't get done. I guess they'll be here tomorrow.

Oh Frak Yeah!

Dear James Callis,

Thank you for treating us to a song at The Roxy last night. Also for your continued deliciously disturbed portrayal of the messianic Dr. Gaius Baltar.

So say we all.

B Is For Blurb

It's been a busy--and short--weekend. I can't believe I have to be back at work in less than seven hours. Therefore, I'm again just writing a short blurb. We spent the last few hours at the show and collective nerdgasm that was Bear McCreary and his Battlestar Galactica concert. It was so.very.cool. It's good to live in L.A. when you're a nerd.