Come learn about Google’s cool new tool: Ngram at the next Hacks/Hackers Boston Meetup on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 7 p.m. at Google’s Cambridge offices at 5 Cambridge Center, 3rd floor in Kendall Square (news when it opened!)
The Google Books Ngram Viewer lets people track how phrases in books have waxed and waned throughout the centuries. Building on top of the 15 million books that libraries and publishers have given to Google for scanning, it provides a simple and quick visual interface for illustrating trends in usage.
Stamen Design has developed a reputation as one of the country’s leading interactive design and data visualization studios. Its director of technology, Michal Migurski, will join Hacks/Hackers NYC to talk about his latest project, This Tract, which combines government census data, data visualization tools, map tools and geolocation to better understand the area near where you are.
Come to New Work City on Jan. 11 to talk with Michal about his process, the design (created with designer/developer Craig Mod), the technology and the reasoning for presenting this large, detailed dataset.
On Monday November 22, the Atlanta chapter of Hacks/Hackers hosted its inaugural meetup at RíRá Irish Pub in Midtown. Approximately 50 people attended the event , with hacks and hackers from media companies like Turner/CNN, Cox Media Group and the AJC; academics and students from institutions like the University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University and Georgia Tech; entrepreneurs, consultants, small-biz media companies, and many others (including a librarian!)
Brussels (and Belgium) is joining the Hacks/Hackers community.
The first Hacks/Hackers Brussels meetup will be 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. Nov. 18 at The Pixel Wine Bar, in Brussels (map). RSVP here (cool place, but only 40 seats available).
Stay tuned via Twitter (@hackshackersbru) and our Facebook page
For Hacks/Hackers Atlanta‘s inaugural event and ONA Atlanta‘s second event, come learn about the Knight News Challenge, a grant competition for open-source news and information projects in geographic communities that gives away up to $5 million a year and has helped launch startups like Adrian Holovaty’s Everyblock and David Cohn’sSpot.us. In last year’s awards, the News Challenge received over 2,300 applications and gave out 12 grants totaling $2.74 million. Anyone can apply — domestic, international, individuals, companies, for-profit, non-profit. This also doubles as a social/networking event, with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. and casual presentation/info session starting at 6:45ish p.m.
Where: RíRa Midtown (1080 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309)
When: Monday November 22, 6:00 p.m.
Panel: Jennifer 8. Lee, Ian Bogost and Patton Hughes
News and tech nerds gathered at Havana Social Club Thursday night to kickoff the Seattle chapter of Hacks/Hackers and nosh on Hawaiian-Korean eats from Marination Mobile (thanks to Patch.com).
The coming out party brought a nice mix of hacks (The Seattle Times, Seattle magazine, MSNBC, InvestigateWest, Capitol Hill Seattle blog and more) and hackers (including Adobe, Microsoft, Intersect, BigDoor and other local start ups) from around the Puget Sound area. Guests sipped on signature cocktails (The Hack, a shot of whiskey and a beer; the Hacker, a cocktail of Maker’s Mark, fresh lemon and honey), and shared ideas for future events.
The first St. Louis chapter meet-up was a great success.
Fifteen hacks and hackers met for happy hour last Thursday, and expectations are high. When asked “Hacks/Hackers should ___,” the overwhelming answer was “be awesome.” (There was also a vote for “be pretty.” We’re going to try for both.)
Participants are already talking about ways to work with data. In December, we hope to join several St. Louis tech groups for a bowling outing.
St. Louis is joining the Hacks/Hackers community.
The first STL Hacks/Hackers meetup will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at The Dubliner in downtown St. Louis. RSVP at on.fb.me/STLhh. St. Louis has a large and very active programming community, and several print, broadcast and online news outlets: We have big plans and big expectations.
The STL group also can be found on Twitter, @stlhackshackers.
Hacks/Hackers is coming to Canada.
A new Toronto chapter has been founded and its first meetup is Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Press Club (850 Dundas St. W.). Those interested in attending can register at meetupTO.hackshackers.com, and anyone with questions can email toronto@hackshackers.com.
Our goals are to facilitate the connections between Toronto’s hacks and hackers and to push the boundaries of where and how news and journalism can be part of innovative collaborations.
