https://sudoroom.org/invisible-technologies-rainbook-appropriate-technology…
Invisible Technologies, Rainbook Appropriate Technology 1977
<https://sudoroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-02-at-11…>
Be resourceful, clever and wise. Some inspiration from Rainbow way back
from 1977
From Rainbow Appropriate Technology, 1977:
INVISIBLE TECHNOLOGIES
The best technologies are often the invisible ones-where people have
figured out how to avoid problems rather than to solve them. Often all that
is required is a perceptual change such as seeing grasshoppers as an
airborne mobile protein harvesting and conversion unit-a food source-rather
than a destructive pest. Or living near where we work rather than building
better transportation technologies. Or eating lower on the food chain so
you don’t have to pay for or grow food for the conversion losses of meat
animals. Or planting trees rather than air conditioners.
<https://sudoroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-02-at-11…>
The second-best technologies are also invisible. They’re based on people’s
skills and relationships rather than machines
-the skilled calligrapher drawing a line or carpenter cutting a line rather
than needing a jig or machine: good neighbors rather than locks on doors;
caring for the ill or elderly at home rather than in a Home; hiking rather
than mini-biking: an auto mechanic or piano tuner’s ear rather than a
tuning machine.
But there’s always a range of skilis and scales and situations where things
need to happen, and we’re interested in expanding the range of tools for
situations that have been neglected, and learning when there are good
reasons for choosing one scale rather than another. One size can’t fit
every situation well, and a technology that tries is likely not to fit any
well.
Having to solve problems without money usually results in people getting
resourceful and finding creative ways to use wbat is already there. Money
usually makes us lazy and we end up paying for our laziness and second rate
solutions to problems. Appropriate Technology repeatedly contains good
examples of a.t. equipment and ideas. Here are some of the interesting
projects they’ve covered recently.
• A Nigerian project making medical aids such as arm splints, spinal
jackets and cervical collars from broken plastic drain-pipes. The products
are made by marking the pipe with a paper template, cutting out with a
hacksaw and handstretching the plastic softened over a flame. The resulting
equipment works better than previous products, as they can be easily
adjusted by a nurse or doctor for a perfect fit for every individual and
are waterproof, strong, cheap and reusable.
<https://sudoroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-02-at-11…>*Nigerian
medical devices*
- A candle-making merry go-round that produces 600 candles per hour with
a single operator (could be solar heated?).
- Nethouse horticulture in Botswana, where it is noted that a high
percentage of a plant’s water requirement is not for growth but to cool it
during respiration. Nethouses shade and cool, reducing water use by 2/3,
and keep birds, insects and hail out.
<https://sudoroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-02-at-11…>
Be resourceful, be clever, be wise.
<https://sudoroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-02-at-11…>Think
Simple, Think Wise
=============================
Romy Ilano
romy(a)snowyla.com
we had fun looking over SIgnal's open source code this week. We're going to
explore their repositories, they create a lot of cool libraries.
They used to hang out at SudoRoom from time to time, but that was a while
ago. I'm not proposing we do advertising or anything, but they are totally
open source and share so much - is there any way any of them would be
interested in coming in and giving a lightning talk?
Messaging and surveillance is in the news lately and they are neat, it
would be cool to just have a roundtable and whietboarding ...
=============================
Romy Ilano
romy(a)snowyla.com
Hello, I wanted to give a recap on what's happening with Omni Commons
building sale and operations.
Earlier this month, Omni Commons had three options to prevent foreclosure.
The most promising option was to sell the building to CALLI (an affiliate
nonprofit of EB PREC https://ebprec.org/). Once EB PREC confirmed they were
able to fund the purchase, there's been a big push to work as fast as
possible to finalize, given we are on a tight deadline to prevent
foreclosure.
*Acronyms: CALLI stands for Collective Action and Land Liberation
Institute, and EB PREC stands for East Bay Permanent Real Estate
Cooperation. CALLI does not have any projects under its belt yet, but its
board are all current staff at EB PREC.
Everyone currently renting spaces in Omni Commons are getting offered
leases to stay. These leases are still in negotiation, and that's the main
work that's left for us to do right now. Sudo Room is being offered a 34
year lease to stay in the bocce ball court space. We will have to pay more,
but we are also going to have some well-needed commons upgrades (roof
renovation is planned, bathroom renovations, rat proofing, etc all to
come!). Also there will be some new much needed help in managing the
building day-to-day and in conflict resolution. How the building is
operated will ultimately be decided by CALLI, but there's lots of back and
forth and they really want to work with us on this. Some plans include
creating separate entrances and exits for SR and CCL, and restricting
access hours + full building access. The entrance hall will continue to
host the Free Store for now, with plans to add a cafe again up front later.
That is not the focus right now though as there is this big hurry just to
meet foreclosure legal work deadlines and finalize collective + tenant
leases.
This is really exciting, because just a month ago we were at a super severe
risk of foreclosing. We still are cutting it really close, with us
currently having received a notice of default from the foreclosure agency,
and for us being in property tax default. The consensus among the building
was that foreclosing would not be worth the uncertainty, difficulty, and
harm to the community that the building being bulldozed would likely cause.
So that EB PREC was able to step in at this short notice with the funds at
hand, and a willingness to dedicate all this time into making something
work out is really unbelievable.
All of the meeting notes are public on the wikis if you want more info, but
also I'm happy to share more info as requested.
Omni Commons meeting notes: https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Meetings
Sudo Room meeting notes: https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Meetings
Thanks,
Paige
It's been suggested that we have a meeting tonight to discuss the final
steps transferring the building.
I'm not sure we have a ton to talk about but I'll be on at 7pm Today. I'll
send the link when it starts.
William
https://lu.ma/sudoroom
(I also have links on the SudoRoom.org page, but it kept crashing the other
week)
thanks for all the energy!!! we are now a 5 day a week space! hopefully as
more people join, we can be 7 days a week! woo hoo!!!!!!!!
=============================
Romy Ilano
romy(a)snowyla.com
Meet Real People Solving Real Prroblems
Most of our events are in-person, with little pressure to share LinkedIn
profiles or go 100% transactional. We favor doing things with our hands,
solving problems by coming up with solutions on the fly, and learning face
to face instead of through screens. Virtually none of our events have
slides either.
[image: Image]
*Romy Mimi Ilano*
*romy.ilano(a)gmail.com <romy.ilano(a)gmail.com>*
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: SudoRoom <sudoroom(a)calendar.luma-mail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 26, 2024 at 12:18 PM
Subject: [Admin Copy] Events this week at SudoRoom Hackerspace
To: <romy.ilano(a)gmail.com>
8/26 – Octavia Butler predicts the future (Agents and debates with robots
and more) – Women &…
<https://lu.ma/sudoroom>
SudoRoom
<https://lu.ma/sudoroom>
Events this week at SudoRoom Hackerspace
-
8/26 – *Octavia Butler predicts the future (Agents and debates with
robots and more) – Women & Non-Binary hack night <https://lu.ma/cin107ny>*
7-9 pm Monday – get your hands dirty and control the future
-
8/27 Open Sewing and Making lab <https://lu.ma/5akloqgd> 2-11pm! so you
can start in the afternoon
-
8/27 Lynn Conway Hardware Hack Night <https://lu.ma/lvoudjla> 8-???
-
8/29 – Thursday mornings 9-11am –* Coffee & Algorithms: REVOLUTION!
<https://lu.ma/63kxcvnu>*
-
8/30 –* Design your own Museum Exhibit with Open-Source Blender
<https://lu.ma/63kxcvnu>* – A 30 minute remote meetup teaser for an
in-person Blender event
https://sudoroom.org/sudoroom-is-made-of-people-august-2024-newsletter/
Thank you all for your support!
<https://lu.ma>
<https://lu.ma/ios> <https://twitter.com/lumahq>
<https://instagram.com/luma_hq>
Host your event with Luma ↗ <https://lu.ma/create?ref=email>