1820 Pandora Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 1M5
604-879-GEEK (4335)
OPEN - Tues. ~ Sat.
11:00am - 6:00pm
CLOSED - Sun. Mon.
community
Free Geek at Interactive Screen 0.8 Sustain, Aug 24-30th @ Banff Centre, Banff AB
Submitted by ifny on Mié, 2008-08-20 16:51.Ago 24 2008 - 00:35
Ago 30 2008 - 15:35
Location(s)
Free Geek will be a presenter and provocateur in good company in this year's Interactive Screen at the Banff Centre in Alberta. Ifny will bring hearty geek tidings to the mountain people.
Interactive Screen 0.8 - Sustain is the thirteenth installment of the Banff New Media Institute's acclaimed new media summit, where media makers from Canada and the world gather to reflect on the current state of new media and the shape of things to come.
At the end of each summer, producers, investors, and policymakers convene with artists, technologists, and cultural researchers of diverse horizons in the majestic mountain setting of Banff. They are joined by scholarship participants from Canada, who are invited to pitch and develop projects inspired by the event's theme.
Sustain
How do we manage, in the current context, to evolve fitter patterns for practice and participation? Sustain looks at strategies and ideas that allow those working with new media to better reflect and act upon the economic, social, cultural, natural and technological synergies and dichotomies of our changing world.
Our guest participants have been chosen because their current practice or discourse raises critical, sometimes crucial, questions about the practice, theory, and meaning of new media.
Confirmed artists include: Andy Bichlbaum of The Yes Men, Stephanie Rothenberg, Rick Prelinger of the Internet Archive, Ken Gregory, Ifny Lachance of Free Geek Vancouver, Christine Nadir of EcoArtTech, Michael Mandiberg of the Eyebeam Sustainability Research Group, Jack Dingo Ryan, Reisa Levine, Gary James Joynes, Jackson 2Bears, Kay Burns.
Themes include:
E-sustainability - The concept of sustainability is first and foremost taken as an ecological notion, related to the economic use of natural resources. How does a field predicated on the widespread use of technological devices place itself? And where does new media meet natural conservation and eco-art?
Greening art - Does art change its nature when it becomes green? And can it really impact nature?
Memories of new media - Memory carries over the wisdom and weight of the past into the future. What are the current challenges of media memory? How and why does it partake of our society's unconscious, and of its future idioms?
Serious gaming - What does the emergence of "serious games" with deep ecological, health or social themes signify for our way of knowing the world and relating to it? And what's not serious about gaming to start with?
Fieldwork - What do the connections between practices of collaboration, social networking, the public domain, open source practices and interaction design mean for individuals and companies interested in developing sustainable economies around their work?
Design environments - The environment can be seen as an open interface. Do new media environments enhance or impede natural experience? And can new media truly contribute to the daily creation of a creative commons?
For more information, visit their website.
Windowsless Wednesday/Linux Clinic, Wed. Sept. 3, 7-9:30pm @ 1820 Pandora (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Mié, 2008-08-20 16:24.Sep 3 2008 - 19:00
Sep 3 2008 - 21:30
Location(s)
The first Wednesday of every month is...
WINDOWSLESS WEDNESDAY!!
Join us for a DROP IN night of skill-sharing, problem-solving & education
7:00-9:30pm at Free Geek (back door)
No pre-registration required; first-come, first-serve.
- Getting help: all are welcome, beginners and up
- Helping others: we always need helpers with skills, please consider dropping by to help others
- Free or by donation.
- Note: we help with free & open source software/hardware issues only.
Want to try free & open source software? Find out how to install GNU/Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...? These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write your name/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend a hand.
Linux Clinics are where we assist folks who have GNU/Linux issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what free and open source is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!
If you are already running a distribution of GNU/Linux, you might consider bringing your box down, so we can work together to solve your difficulties.
**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skills and patience! Particular areas in demand: GNU/Linux & wireless, Ubuntu installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you're here to help.
Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!
Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new location is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.
FG Monthly Meeting, 2nd Tues of the month, 6:30-8:30pm @ 1820 Pandora (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Vie, 2008-08-08 19:21.Sep 9 2008 - 18:30
Sep 9 2008 - 20:30
Location(s)
Free Geek Monthly Meeting
6:30-8:30pm
LOCATION: Free Geek Community Technology Centre
1820 Pandora St. (3 blocks NE of Commercial & Hastings); come to the back door please.
All welcome! Please note: Our new space is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns at 604-879-4335.
Join us as we make decisions and discuss issues relevant to a community non-profit dedicated to computer recycling, education, empowerment and free & open source software. Open to the curious, the beginner and the programmer. Folks with no computer experience welcome!
Feel free to check out more info about our meeting procedures [HERE]
Joy of Command Line: Beginner
Submitted by ifny on Sáb, 2008-08-02 11:14.Sep 18 2008 - 18:30
Sep 18 2008 - 20:00
Location(s)
The Joy of Command Line
Thurs. Sept. 4th 6:30-8pm @ Free Geek (back door)
The command line is an interface, or way of interacting with a computer, which is text-only (as opposed to a graphical user interface, or GUI).
When using the command line, you type commands at a prompt (a.k.a. cursor).
This free workshop is a good idea for beginners interested in learning programming, computer building, or for those who like idea of learning some basic finesse with their digital friend.
This class is intended for beginners with a little previous exposure to command line,
Prerequisite - You must have one of the following:
- You should have attended one "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Command Line" workshop
- OR, you already know how how to enter commands, and navigate the file system from the command line in Linux.
Space in our computer lab is limited, so pre-register for this class
by emailing 
Other things to remember:
- You need a basic familiarity with using computers (nothing fancy)
- You can either be new to free and open source, or experienced with it
- If you have a laptop (running a free operating system), please bring it so we can accommodate more people in our computer lab. Let us know when you register that you can bring your own computer.
Workshop: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Command Line, Thurs. Sept. 4th, 6:30-8pm @ Free Geek (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Vie, 2008-08-01 17:16.Sep 4 2008 - 18:30
Sep 4 2008 - 20:00
Location(s)
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Command Line,
Thurs. Sept. 4th 6:30-8pm @ Free Geek (back door)
The command line is an interface, or way of interacting with a computer, which is text-only (as opposed to a graphical user interface, or GUI).
When using the command line, you type commands at a prompt (a.k.a. cursor).
This free workshop is a good idea for beginners interested in learning programming, computer building, or for those who like idea of learning some basic finesse with their digital friend.
Space in our computer lab is limited, so pre-register for this class
by emailing
- No command-line experience is required
- You need a basic familiarity with using computers (nothing fancy)
- You can either be new to free and open source, or experienced with it
- If you have a laptop (running a free operating system), please bring it so we can accommodate more people in our computer lab.
Workshop: Ubuntu Installfest, Thurs. Aug. 21st, 6:30-8:30pm @ Free Geek (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Lun, 2008-07-28 18:16.Ago 21 2008 - 18:30
Ago 21 2008 - 20:30
Location(s)
Ubuntu Linux Installfest
WHEN: Thurs. Aug. 21st, 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: Free Geek, 1820 Pandora (back door)
Maybe you want to take the plunge and install Ubuntu on your computer, but don't want to do it on your own. Or maybe you've had past trouble installing Ubuntu, or updating to the latest release, and need some help.
The Ubuntu Installfest is a free workshop that will walk you through installation and troubleshooting.
- Please preregister for this workshop by emailing info <AT> freegeekvancouver (D0T) org
- Let us know if you will be bringing a computer with you, what the specs of the computer are, and what you what to do (e.g. install Ubuntu for the first time, get wireless up and running on a previous install, etc).NOTE: Free Geek will have a monitor/keyboard/mouse you can hook up to.
- If you just want to watch how installation works, but don't want to install it yourself, you still need to preregister.
This workshop is presented by Free Geek and Ubuntu Vancouver.
Workshop: Intro to Ubuntu Linux, Thurs. Sept. 17th, 6:30-8:30pm @ Free Geek (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Lun, 2008-07-28 16:45.Sep 17 2008 - 18:30
Sep 17 2008 - 20:30
Location(s)
Free Workshop: INTRODUCTION TO UBUNTU LINUX
WHEN: Thursday Sept. 17th, 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: Free Geek, 1820 Pandora St. (back door)
[Directions and Map]
Curious? Or just starting out, and need a boost? Come and get a friendly introduction to Ubuntu, a free and open source operating system. You'll learn what you can do with it, what its advantages are, and why its name means 'humanity to others.'
This workshop is for folks who have not had any prior experience with Ubuntu Linux, or who are just starting out...or who just need a bit of extra attention.
***Space is limited, so please preregister by sending an email to:
info AT freegeekvancouver D0T org
This workshop is presented by Free Geek and Ubuntu Vancouver.
Workshop: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Command Line, Thurs. July 31st, 6:30-8pm @ Free Geek (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Mar, 2008-07-08 20:27.Jul 31 2008 - 18:30
Jul 31 2008 - 20:00
Location(s)
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Command Line,
Thurs. July 31st 6:30-8pm @ Free Geek (back door)
The command line is an interface, or way of interacting with a computer, which is text-only (as opposed to a graphical user interface, or GUI).
When using the command line, you type commands at a prompt (a.k.a. cursor).
This free workshop is a good idea for beginners interested in learning programming, computer building, or for those who like idea of learning some basic finesse with their digital friend.
- No command-line experience is required
- You need a basic familiarity with using computers (nothing fancy)
- You can either be new to free and open source, or experienced with it
- Space in our computer lab is limited, so pre-register for this class by emailing info -AT- freegeekvancouver -D0T-org
- If you have a laptop (running a free operating system), please bring it so we can accommodate more people in our computer lab.
Workshop: Practical Python @ Free Geek, Wed. July 16th, 7-9pm, 1820 Pandora St. (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Mar, 2008-06-17 15:03.Jul 16 2008 - 19:00
Jul 16 2008 - 21:00
Location(s)
Want to learn Python???
WHAT: Python Working Group presents "Practical Python at Free Geek"
DAY: Wed. July 16th (note the date has been changed)
TIME: 7:00-9:00pm
Come learn Python by example, as you find out how Free Geek handles hard drive testing and issue tracking needs with this cool language. Gain transferable Python skills that will help you solve your own interesting problems. Meet people like you as you master Python's ins and outs.
NOTE: This workshop is for people who have some exposure to programming concepts, but limited exposure to Python. Please bring a laptop if you have one, so we can accomodate more people in our computer lab. Space is limited, so pre-register for this class by emailing justanotherpaul -AT- gmail -D0T- com
VeloPirates of the Geekness Islands, a Free Geek fundraiser party, Fri May 30 at the Anza Club, 8th Ave & Ontario
Submitted by ifny on Mié, 2008-05-21 13:59.Mayo 30 2008 - 20:00
Location(s)
VeloPirates of the Geekness Islands
Fri May 30 at the Anza Club, 8th & Ontario [MAP]
DOORS 8pm, SHOW 8:45, dancing till 2am, beer till it runs out...
$5 if you arrive with Critical Mass, $10 if you arrive later
