---

  News and Notes from the October 2, 2007 SPS meeting

Cookies opened at 12:03 (Chocolate Chips with M&M, monster, and peanut butter.)

New Fabulous Prizes shown: SPS backpack, SPS playing cards, Math Mug, and
Geek Logik Book. (The Geek Logic book might get put on permanent display in
the Seminar Room.) Renewal or new members, it is only $20!  Sign up before
the end of October to be eligible for the prizes.


THINK ABOUT FOR NEXT WEEK: Shirt Design!   Fall Competition ideas?  And also
how about a Fun Event - enough with focusing on 3M, Science day and other
responsibilities, its time for fun! Like, a movie night, card games,
canoing. You have a week to think about it, so give us some ideas!!


Science day this Friday, 10:00-11:00, and 11:00-12:00. We'll need some
people to set up, demo and pack up when we're finished. There's a clipboard
in 113 CSH if you can help!


Volunteers needed: Checking trebuchet conditions: wheels, sandbags, etc.
Contact Matt Blodgett if you can help, or know someone who can. The sand and
the old sand bags are sitting on a cart in the physics stock room.  Ann will
try to make a new sandbag, maybe Lee can find another source for pre-made
sandbags.

Chuck needs to sign up for SPS email. Remind him!


We need to acquire a few melons -watermelons, pumpkins, etc - for throwing
in the trebuchet, if you can get any -legally - that would be fantastic.
Cadie will investigate if a grocery store might donate some past-prime
melons.


We got five concrete blocks for the bed of nails!! We also have a new face
shield, so you don't have to worry about ruining your pretty physics phace
just for a demo!


For our plasma globe and tesla coil demos, we need to paint a box black for
contrast. Kate has graciously volunteered for this challenging feat.


For 3M, Anne is going to be taking still photographs of the demos and the
kid's shocked faces. Chris will be doing some video shots. Cadie is going to
be getting the liquid nitrogen for the science day demos.


For those people going to the 3M event, everyone is leaving UWRF at 9:30.
Meet at CSH about 9 am.  Radiation table training at 4 PM tomorrow, October
3rd. Food for the crew will be discussed amongst those who are going.


Pre-Engineering update: Working on ideas for demos. If you think of ideas,
bring them in! If you or anyone you know is interested in engineering, you
are encouraged to come!!


A new belt has been ordered for the Van De Graf Generator.


Today's DEMO: IR Camera. Dr. B has been excited for this for a long time!
Yay Insurance payment! It gave us a little trouble syncing with the
projector... but the camera seems to be okay. It has some pretty cool
features, definitely worth the $19,000. IR cameras can be used for many
things, including looking for hot spots in circuits.  The lens is made out
of Germanium, which allows light of a longer wavelength than glass through.
IR cameras don't see through anything (like windows), but you can see
reflections off of surfaces.  We'll use the IR camera both Science Day and
at 3M.


Ann and Dr B just got back from the national meeting in Washington DC. Next
year they want to do some planning before time, but they can't afford to fly
them twice, so they are thinking about doing a meeting on SecondLife. If you
have any experience with the program, or know of any other conferencing
options, tell Dr B!

Minutes taken by Zach B. for Jen.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]