May 2008 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking
by Jessica McPherson 08 May '08

08 May '08

Did you ever get in touch with that guy Josh Moody from the L.A. bicycle kitchen who presented at bike bike? It sounded like he had written a POS system, don't remember if it was open-source or web-based. Jessica (Free Ride, Pittsburgh) ----- Original Message ---- From: Stuart O Anderson <soa(a)ri.cmu.edu> To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:04:14 PM Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking I've been thinking a lot about building a secure web based open source POS system. If anyone else is interested in this sort of project, or is already working on something like it, please get in touch with me. Stuart On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 1:13 AM, Brent Bohs <bbohs(a)purdue.edu> wrote: > Thank you very much man, we're setting up a co-op around here and are > working on a good inventory system for all our parts and frames and such, > thanks for your input in all this!! It helps us all! Keep in touch. > Brent Bohs > > > On May 8, 2008, at 1:10 AM, Gern Blanston wrote: > > Hi, > Yes, Jim Bledsoe is from the Los Angeles' "Bicycle Kitchen". > Here in LA we have three individual community bike shops: > the Bicycle Kitchen near Hollywood, the Bike Oven in Highland Park, and I'm > with the BikeRoWave in Santa Monica. > The BikeRoWave choose to get a POS software called Retail ICE that is going > to be installed this week. We pieced together the rest from ebay, and some > donations. We bought a touch screen and a bar code scanner, to make things > easy for the staff. We looked at Intuits 'QuickBook POS' that retails for > over $1500, but the Inventory Committee decided to go with the Retail ICE > system that comes with tutorials and learning dvd's which was $75. It is > cheaper if you don't buy the added dvd's. Total for the whole package was > under $700. > That includes: The POS software(looks very powerful, with bookkeeping and > tax functions), a touch screen moniter, a hand wand scanner, a full sized > Scanner/printer. We had a cash drawer and a receipt printer donated to > use. We are not accepting credit card payments so no need for the card > scanner. I'm really excited for the system to get going, as I envision it > helping in soo many ways. Sales, inventory, taxes, contacts, all will be > streamlined. As the Inventory Manager/C.F.O. I am looking forward to > getting my work load down. > I'll provide a more detailed description of Items in the system and a report > on its operation soon. I am extreamly busy but will try to answer any > questions as soon as I can. I can be reached at getgern(at)gmail.com > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking
by andrewsawtelle＠riseup.net 08 May '08

08 May '08

Yeah, at bikebike in Pittsburgh back in August Josh Moody from the LA Bike Kitchen was talking about their whole POS system and how they could probably make it available to people who want to use it. I've CCed their main contact email so maybe they'll let us know. Andrew Recycle-A-Bike, Providence RI http://www.recycleabike.org Velocipede Bike Project wrote: > This is convenient because we at velocipede are at the same point. I know > that the bike kitchen said they would send out they're software at bike > bike, but I haven't heard back from them....is anyone from the bike > kitchen(in LA) on this list? > > -beth > velocipede bike project > Baltimore, MD > >> I know that this has been discussed before but I didn't see what I was >> specifically looking for in the archives. We are growing faster than >> our paperwork can keep up and are in need of a better system for >> tracking both inventory/bikes-in/bikes-out/donations type stuff as >> well as Work-Trade volunteer hours. I know that there is mention of >> developing a "community bike software suite", does anyone know where >> at in development that is? From what I saw in the archives, some >> places do have databases set up for tracking this stuff, is there any >> chance that could be shared as a template with the wider community? >> Thanks, Andrew >> FM Community Bicycle Workshop >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >

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Pay Rates, minimum hours
by Stuart O Anderson 08 May '08

08 May '08

As a follow up to my last post, among those shops that pay people for their services, how much do you pay? At Free Ride we pay: $15/hr for teaching classes $10-13/hr for fixing up bikes (we pay more to fix bikes that start off being worth less) also, how much time do you expect volunteers to put in in order to be members of your group, if that's how you organize? At Free Ride we require: at least 24 hours every 3 months to be on the collective council Stuart

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Fwd: nowtopia: writings in the anarcho-marxist hinterland....
by Chris Carlsson 08 May '08

08 May '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: francesca the coat <the.coat.and.general(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, May 7, 2008 at 8:25 PM Subject: nowtopia: writings in the anarcho-marxist hinterland.... To: the.coat.and.general(a)gmail.com Dear friends, acquaintances, esteemed professors, good people, The author of "Nowtopia", an interesting book that taps into some of the important questions du jour about revalorization and anticapitalist practice, that also happens to be written by my dear old dad, is in town and having three book talks scattered around new york. I do think it is an interesting interrogation, 'important' even, and I encourage a sojourn out to see what it's all about. I hear the discussions so far during his tour in baltimore, philly, etc, have been pretty interesting and i'm sure the trend will continue in ny. FRIDAY, May 9, 7:30pm: Brecht Forum, manhattan MONDAY, May 12, 7pm: Vox Pop, brooklyn -- Also performing with Carlsson at vox pop: music and sound performance by the indubitable Nader Hasan and the inscrutable Seth Porcello; short films by the incorrigible Brett Story; lecture #2 on the possibility of life without the sun "by" alexis bhagat. WEDNESDAY May 14, 7pm: Bluestockings Books, manhattan I encourage those who enjoy the odd aural experience or visceral film experience to come to vox pop, where Seth Nader and Brett will bring the best of Montreal to our borough. but i'll, sigh, probably be at them all, yelling at my dad like "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT". no just kidding. more info on the book, etc, below in love f. *Nowtopia* is a book about a new politics of work. It profiles tinkerers, inventors, and improvisational spirits who bring an artistic approach to important tasks that are ignored or undervalued by market society. Rooted in practices that have been emerging over the past few decades, *Nowtopia*'s exploration of work locates an important thread of self-emancipatory class politics beyond the traditional arena of wage-labor. http://www.processedworld.com/carlsson/nowtopia_web/ Outlaw bicycling, urban permaculture, biofuels, free software, and even the Burning Man festival are windows into a scarcely visible social transformation that is redefining politics as we know it. As capitalism continues to corral every square inch of the globe into its logic of money and markets, new practices are emerging through which people are taking back their time and technological know-how. In small, under-the-radar ways, they are making life better right now, simultaneously building the foundation—technically and socially—for a genuine movement of liberation from market life. *Nowtopia* uncovers the resistance of a slowly recomposing working class in America. Rarely defining themselves by what they do for a living, people from all walks of life are doing incredible amounts of labor in their "non-work" time, creating immediate practical improvements in daily life. The social networks they create, and the practical experience of cooperating outside of economic regulation, become a breeding ground for new strategies to confront the commodification to which capitalism reduces us all. The practices outlined in *Nowtopia* embody a deep challenge to the basic underpinnings of modern life, as a new ecologically-driven politics emerges from below, reshaping our assumptions about science, technology, and human potential. With historical grounding, a toolbox drawing from multiple schools of anti-capitalist thought and theory, and a refreshingly pragmatic approach, Carlsson opens our eyes to the revolutions of everyday life. *Chris Carlsson*, executive director of the multimedia history project "Shaping San Francisco," is a writer, publisher, editor, and community organizer. He has edited four collections of political and historical essays. He helped launch the monthly bike-ins known as Critical Mass, and was long-time editor of *Processed World* magazine. -- I am on the road (see schedule at the nowtopia link below) and may be slower than usual to respond... back to normal in July, until then, be patient and thanks! www.nowtopia.org The Nowtopian (my blog): http://www.lipmagazine.org/ccarlsson/

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what do you call people in charge of your shop- shift supervisors and film fest
by Gary Gingras 07 May '08

07 May '08

hey All can't wait to get together in Sept in Cali with you super people. so i am writing a facilitators handbook- Some do not love the "title facilitator" bicycle kitchen calls them cooks and such - looking for a fun title or like to present to the group here at Community cycles. wrenches? cooks? we wil also be having a 2nd annual bike film festval here in Boulder and are taking any submissions - this will be June 25th at the boulder theater on Bike to work day. We will be accepting films until the 15th of June. any 40minute or less films whet ya got i would love to hear!! -- Community Cycles Shop Director 2805 Wilderness place Suite 1000 Boulder CO 80301 gary(a)communitycycles.org

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Fancy Parts
by Erik Stockmeier 07 May '08

07 May '08

Question! What the heck does everybody's shop do with fancy items of special worth to collectors? For example... perhaps you come upon a donation of half a dozen 70s unused campi sidepull break sets. Your stock of breaks is full, so throwing them in the bin or selling them for 5$ or shlepping them on a Roadmaster seems like a waste. Is it ethically ok for a non-profit to occasionally indulge collectors as a source of surplus income? What about legally for a 501c3? Is it necessary to launder them through a "buyer" who sells them at profit and donates the difference? Erik

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Fwd: Re: Bike Shop in a Box
by info＠re-cycles.ca 01 May '08

01 May '08

My response below got blocked (because I responded from the wrong email address): Chris --- Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> wrote: > Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:57:50 -0400 (EDT) > From: Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > > From our director's web page: http://www.drumbent.com/trailer.html > The kit I based my hockey bag hauling cargo trailer on: > http://www.drumbent.com/trailer.html > > Chris > --- Vyki Englert <vyki.englert(a)thekickstand.org> wrote: > > > The Kickstand sets up a repair stand at our local farmers market > and > > any > > events we get involved in. This is currently what most of our > > outreach > > program consists of. We carry a portable stand, a 4x2 folding > table, > > an > > Ez-up, a tool set, and consumables. We've been doing this for a > very > > short > > while, but the idea is that we have a "market box", a tool box that > > is set > > aside, always ready to go with a good set of tools (we're still > > working on > > exactly what a good set of tools is), that is not used during > regular > > shop > > hours. We just started bringing consumables, patches, cables... > and > > are > > still hammering out exactly what to bring. And of course we always > > have > > some literature on hand, and usually bring some of the bright > orange > > safety > > vest the county bicycle/pedestrian advisory board gave us to pass > > out. > > > > Our only issue currently is that we toss of of this in the back of > a > > pickup > > truck! We are hopefully soon going to have the resources to build > a > > trailer > > (a member is purchasing welding equipment), but don;t as of yet > have > > any > > plans. > > > > Anyone have plans for a good (verylarge) bike trailer? > > > > vyki > > > > www.thekickstand.org > > > > On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 3:38 PM, Durham Bike Co-op > > <durhambikecoop(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > United Bicycle Parts has a pretty nice looking "mix and match" > tool > > set > > > with items from a variety of different tool makers = around $200, > > if I > > > remember right, and maybe around 50 pieces with the most critical > > stuff > > > (spline tools, chainbreaker, lockring wrench etc.) being shop > > quality stuff. > > > Might be a good place to start. > > > > > > best, > > > Colin - Durham Bike Co-op > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > > > Chris Wells > (Head Mechanic & Email Handler) > > re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op > 477 Bronson Ave. Ottawa > > re-Cycles is open 6pm-10pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays > (for volunteering, DIY, bike & parts sales & donation drop off) > > Bike sales and donation drop off also available during Cyclists' > Kitchen hours: 9am-5:30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on Saturday > > (IMPORTANT: Please remember that while Cyclists' Kitchen will be > using our shop during the day, any public bike repair, whether > volunteer or do-it-yourself, is still only during regular re-Cycles > hours in the evenings.) > > info(a)re-cycles.ca > http://www.re-cycles.ca/ >

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Fwd: Re: Bike Shop in a Box
by info＠re-cycles.ca 01 May '08

01 May '08

Trying this from my other account to see if it gets through? Chris --- Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> wrote: > Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:11:22 -0400 (EDT) > From: Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > > Hi Sasha, > > We worked with Bicycles For Humanity to help send a bike shop in a > box > to Africa. Here is a link to a page on our website (which includes a > link to their's): > > http://www.re-cycles.ca/bfh2007.html > > Perhaps they would be interested in doing something similar more > locally. > > Chris > > --- dragonfly(a)mac.hush.com wrote: > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > > > Hi, Everyone. > > > > I love reading everyone's posts. > > > > Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating a > > good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. > > > > This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People we > > know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change > > meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. > > > > My friends and I were talking about climate change, this time > > in the context of the aboriginal communities that these friends of > > mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. > > > > For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about how > > important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike shapes > > my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. > > > > They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the ones > > from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my bike > > everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for > > bikes in some of their communities. > > > > In some of their communities, bikes are not so practical. In > > others, they could be made into a more functional option for > day-to- > > day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support them- > > a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. > > > > We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get a > > big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe two > > tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be easy > > to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane etc.? > > > > Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do this-- > > have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of doing > > this already known? > > > > What should go into the box, and how could we make this > > economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed Shops > > would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do you > > think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in Box' as > > a product to offer through their catalogue, even? > > > > We're just thinking about the feasibility of this right > > now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable idea, > > but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or if you > > know what the best things to put into the box are, please e-mail > > me. > > > > Sasha > > > > On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project Wilmington, > > DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten different > > >colors of spray paint..." > > > > > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only imagine the > > >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... > > > > > >Jennifer, > > > > > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a snapshot of > > >what > > >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will call > > > > >or > > >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly that we > > > > >do. > > > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art and > > >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. BICAS' > > >name > > >is pretty cool and explanatory. > > > > > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your shops > > >actions/quality are more important than the name. > > > > > >Brian > > > > > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... > > >> > > >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... > > >> > > >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT makes > > >the name, > > >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people will > > >dig the > > >> name... > > >> > > >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known as > > >the Bike > > >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current situation > > >we are now > > >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not radical > > >but it > > >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and philosophy > > > > >that gave > > >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your work is > > > > >ALL that > > >> matters in the end. > > >> > > >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot more > > >resources > > >> and therefore help a lot more people. > > >> > > >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that riding a > > >bicycle as > > >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of political > > > > >expression > > >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about > > > > >ten > > >> different colors of spray paint... > > >> > > >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Rafael Cletero > > >> Project Coordinator > > >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op > > >> ph (970) 484 38 04 > > >> www.fcbikecoop.org > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Thethinktank mailing list > > >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > > >bikecollectives.org > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > >-- > > >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington > > >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the > > >building) > > >Wilmington, DE 19801 > > > > > >Hours: > > >Thursday 6:30-9:00 > > >Saturday 1:00-4:00 > > > > > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org > > >_______________________________________________ > > >Thethinktank mailing list > > >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > > >bikecollectives.org > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > > Note: This signature can be verified at > > https://www.hushtools.com/verify > > Charset: UTF8 > > Version: Hush 3.0 > > > > > wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqUA > > ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 > > =zIuK > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > >

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