Credit to Michael Fajardo, mfajardo on Flickr

Yesterday I saw Halloween decorations in Walmart.

Look, I know it’s September, but in the rush to reach the awesomeness that is Halloween, we’re skipping over one of the best fall holidays of all – Oktoberfest! This humble holiday features over two weeks of booze and bacchanalia, only to have been usurped by one night of cosplay. Well, to that we say “Nay!” This year, the Midsouth Makers is taking back Oktober, and to get things started off right, we’re going to brew our very own beer!

This Sunday at 2:30pm at the Space, member Ben Eishen will be hosting an informal discussion and demonstration of basic beer brewing.  We’ll have some hot wings on hand, but feel free to bring any food or pre-brewed drinks you’d like to indulge in during the demonstration. This will be an 18+ event, so please leave your kids at home for this one.  Before you crack open a pumpkin this year, come by and crack open a cold one with the Midsouth Makers!

Good day, dear reader! Might I interest you in in a chance to cultivate your cultural side? Would you be interested in indulging in a bit of art?  If so, then indeed, the Midsouth gentle Makers will be hosting just the event for you!  At Noon on the 10^th day of September in the year 2011, it will be our pleasure to host a class on sculpture.  Those in possession of minds sharp enough to participate can look forward to the opportunity to construct an elegant luna moth, such as the one represented in the following depiction:

This will be an intermediate level class, but it should prove simple enough for any clever rapscallion who genuinely wishes to participate. We are charging a paltry $20 per person to partake in this opulent opportunity. This cost must be pre-paid prior to the occurrence of the class, because the cost will go towards the procurement of the appropriate materials. Those of keen mind can sign up at the following link: http://www.midsouthmakers.org/events/

We encourage our participants to provide any extra embellishments they might wish to use to distinguish their sculptures. Specifically, the discerning sculptor might want to bring some flat backed cabochons, or “glass beads” as the Plebeians say, that can withstand temperatures of at least 300°F to embellish their creation. Lastly, were you to be so fortunate as to possess sculpting tools already, such as an acrylic rolling pin or brayers, we would humbly ask that you bring these along with you to the class. We sincerely look forward to the honor of your presence!

What is Twitter? Are tweets, tags, and other Twitter text causing you confusion? The Midsouth Makers will be hosting an “Introduction to Twitter” class on Friday, July 15th from 7:30pm until 8:30pm to guide you through the twists and turns of Twitter! Learn the basics with us in this fun and free class taught by an actual human being! We’ll be hosting the class at Republic Coffee (2924 Walnut Grove Rd) in their large conference room in the back. Sign-up for this class at the following link: http://www.midsouthmakers.org/events/ (though you are always welcome to show-up on Friday even if you haven’t signed up!).  Feel free to email us any questions, comments, or critiques at info@midsouthmakers.org.  #seeyouthere!

Topics to be covered include:

• What is Twitter?
• Creating an account
• Twitter vocabulary
• Best Twitter practices
• and more!

So if you – or someone you know – would like more information on Twitter, sign up on our Events page, then come see us on July 15th!  And remember, there is no charge for this class.

Saturday, June 25th, the Midsouth Makers are hosting a class on basic vehicle maintenance.  If you’re interested in learning more about your car or truck and how to perform common maintenance tasks on your own, feel free to sign up at http://www.midsouthmakers.org/events/.  This class will be performed using hand tools, both to show “how” and “how easy” it is to do these things.

We will be covering the following topics:

• “Under the Hood”
  • Alternator
  • Distributor Cap
  • AC Compressor
  • Battery
  • Serpentine Belt
  • Power Steering Pump
  • Spark Plugs
  • Air Input Ducts
• Standard Fluids
  • Oil
  • Transmission
  • Power Steering
  • Brake
  • Windshield Wiper
• How to check air pressure
• How to change air filters and windshield wipers
• How to change a serpentine belt
• How to change out spark plugs and wires

If we have enough time, we will also attempt to cover how to change a tire and go over some more advanced topics, such as sensors, fuel rails, and a few other things, in Dealer Service Alternative you will get anything done by the best professionals. It is important and essential to take manage and care of your car.

We look forward to seeing to you there!

As a special thanks for the MidsouthMakers assistance during SoutheastCon, the University of Memphis Student Branch of IEEE would like to welcome the MidsouthMakers to come to the Engineering Technology building for a demonstration of some projects we have been working on. We will be starting at the normal meeting time of 7pm, in Room 227, on the second floor of ET. The meeting will take the place of the normal Friday, May 6th meeting. We will be demoing the robot we took to competition this year, as well as one of our CNC machines, a programmable robot arm, and a professional grade 3D printer.

The University of Memphis is located in midtown Memphis, near the intersection of Poplar and Goodlett. The Engineering Technology building is across the street from the large parking lot on Central Avenue. Attached is a link to a map of the University of Memphis campus, with the Engineering Technology building highlighted in red.