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xHain is saved!

The xHain can stay in Grünberger Straße 16 in Berlin-Friedrichshain! The landlords contacted us earlier this week and gave us the great news that they will not be selling the space after all. In addition, we have a good chance for a long-term lease. We are currently clarifying the details. We are thankful to the owners of the property for the positive discussions. Thank you very much to all of you for your overwhelming support and your many efforts to save xHain.

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xHain needs help! Part 2

What happened before More information about our earlier call: https://x-hain.de/de/blog/2023/02/27/xhain-braucht-hilfe/ Meeting with the landlord In late February we asked for your help to raise money to buy our space after we were approached by our landlord with their offer to sell it to us. We had to tell them by the end May if we wanted to accept their offer. On May 11th we met with the landlord and explained our plans about financing the purchase, and we agreed on a timeline of one year to come up with the money to buy the space.

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xHain needs help!

Who we are Our hack- and makespace, xHain, has existed for seven years. xHain is an open workshop and community for everyone interested in hacking and making, and has become an important meeting place for people in Berlin. We’ve been at Grünberger Straße 16 for four years. xHain is a non-profit organization that enables anyone to build projects, provides space for many important contemporary areas, such as discussing digital policy, and through the years has become an essential place for organising youth work.

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Make'n'Tell - Episode II

In February of 2020 xHain started the talk-series make’n’tell, an adaption of the hack’n’tell, to give people the possibility to present their “maker projects” and to get into an exchange with other makers. Due to the Covid19-restrictions we weren’t able to host another event in this series - up to now. Join us on Saturday, November 6th at 20h, for our second episode of Make’n’Tell. This time the main topic of the evening are Careables, there will be a show of the Careables Moving Exhibition and a couple of interesting talks.

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Gespräch unter Bäumen

Nach langer Pause wagen wir wieder ein Gespräch unter Bäumen. Am Dienstag, 24.08.21, treffen wir uns um 19 Uhr draußen vor dem xHain. Riesige Vorfreude! Zu Gast ist die wunderbare Julia Schorlemmer. Sie ist promovierte Psychologin und arbeitet als Expertin für Gesundheitsmanagement. Genau genommen ist sie Professorin an der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management in Berlin - aber wir werden sie trotzdem mutig duzen und Jule nennen. Jule spricht mit uns über gesunde(s) Selbst(-Führung): Wie komme ich mental und psychosozial gesund durch das Leben (oder erstmal durch eine Pandemie)?

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Sewing Workshop at xHain

Do you want to learn how to sew with a sewing machine from scratch? Our lovely Antje is a fashion designer and will show you how to do it properly. We will sew small bags or cushion covers, or other simple projects. The first workshop will be on Sat 14.8. from 11am for approx. 3 hours for a minimum donation of 20EUR (materials included). Pre-registration is binding and required, as the number of places is limited (and all places are already fully booked).

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xHain unlocked

Hey, the day that you have probably been waiting for as long as we have is approaching: the xHain is finally opening its doors again after around 7 months! From Friday, May 21, 2021, outdoor dining is again permitted in Berlin. That means our open Monday evenings will be able to take place again. But now we have waited so long that we don’t want to let the weekend pass unused, so we cordially invite you to the open evening - for once on Friday.

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Covid 19 space rules - the update

As you have probably noticed, we have been holding the open evening in the xHain for some time. So far it has mainly taken place in front of the door and that actually worked fine. The goal is still, as long as it is possible, to let as much as possible take place outside. Of course, this becomes a bit more uncomfortable with decreasing temperatures and is unfortunately not a really viable option for winter or events.

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xHain vs. Virus

TL;DR: We are currently producing DIY cloth masks and 3D printed face shields to give out for free to medical staff and people of high risk. We are looking for funding for the materials necessary to do so. DIY cloth masks are needed by caretakers and people who work in hospitals and doctor’s offices, as the demand for protective gear is growing while the supplies are running out. Makers of xHain hack+makespace in Berlin are collaborating with supporters and are sewing DIY masks out of cloth.

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Build, calibrate, print! Fun with 3d-printers

We have come so far that 3D printers these days seem to be able to print almost anything, from toys to food to entire houses. If you are interested in the topic, if you want to get started with 3D printing and would like to get your hands on your first 3D printer, we have just the thing for you. Join us for a workshop, build a 3D printer, let us help you calibrate it properly and print your first models; then take your 3D printer home with you.

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WTF are Cryptocurrencies?

We want to give you an introduction into the world of cryptocurencies. There will be a talk covering the following questions: Was are the basics of modern cryptocurrencies? What is a Blockchain? Bitcoin, Ethereum and Zcash. What are the similarities? Where are the differnces? What are the core-concepts.? Proof of Work vs. Proof of Stake As it’s unlikely that all questions can be answered in a talk, there will be the opportunity to talk and discuss afterwards.

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One year is over. Time for a party!

Wow, that was fast: a whole year is already over and the xHain is turning 1! A lot happened, a lot of impressing things were created and there is now a really amazing community. And as it should be, we want to celebrate this anniversary with you properly. Therefor you are invited to our birthday party! When? Saturday, 13th of May from 8pm Where? At the xHain of course What’s happening?

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Half birthday - full Yeah!

Half birthday - full Yeah! In May the xHain was opened with a party, half a year later it is time to celebrate again - so we invite you on the occasion of our half-birthday. We took care of drinks and music, you: bring yourself and your friends! DJ Localhorst will be at the decks for us. Since May, the xHain has grown quite impressively, many new tools and features have been added, but you can see for yourself on Saturday!

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Time for an update

It’s been a while since the last one, so it’s time again for a quick update about what happened at the xHain and what November will bring. In November of xHain is open for half a year! We want to celebrate that on November 26 starting at 8pm! There will be drinks and music - we’re looking forward to have a great party with you. Our hardware-Park has grown considerably! Thanks to a generous permanent loan, we now have two more 3D printers, a laser cutter and a 3D laser scanner.

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The grove is growing!

How time flies - it is already August. And altough there hasn’t been a new blog post in a while, a lot happened at the xHain.

The space has become a little less dangerous because the power supply for the tables can now be pulled down from the ceiling - no more tripping over cables lying around. Only the cable drum, which is attached to the ceiling, could use a color-make-over ;-) The projector can now come to its full potential because the screen has been installed.

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Networking Basics - How does my computer connect to the Internet?

Sunday, 26. June, 5 pm

We all know how it works - you plug in a cable or type in a Wifi password, and then the icon changes, the lights turn green and everything’s fine. Or maybe it doesn’t work and you try to find the error. But how does networking function behind the scenes? What’s an IP address? How does your computer actually manage to reach the whole world? How can you check what part of it went wrong? In this workshop me, Theresa, will give a basic overview of some concepts and some programs that can help you understand your network from your computer. Then you will have time to try the programs that I’m showing on your own computer. You don’t have to be able to program for this. If something doesn’t work, we’ll help you. ☺

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License to solder

Torn plugs, broken lights , disintegrating Arduino projects , devices with battery compartment instead of power supply … you might like to finally learn soldering ? Here is your chance ! Bring your defective equipment, electronic stuffed animals , battery operated toys, your breadboard projects, components and circuit boards, we learn !

On Sunday , June 26, 2016 12-15 PM at the xHain hack+makespace

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Civic Hacking

The idea is to recycle the whole Parliament operating process properly. Specifically, it is about 6000 operations of the BVV Xhain (requests, resolutions etc). You can find them in the council information system ALLRIS [1]. But the ALLRIS is not particularly great. The goal is to recycle all the stuff to categorize ( “planning committee”, “SPD”, “rejected” etc) to geotag, and then to make detectable on a map.

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#Hello world. The xHain is alive!

Since opening May, 13th a couple of weeks have gone by and quite a bit happened in the hackspace. We'92ve got a false ceiling in the kitchen, which now offers a lot of space to store your projects or tools, like the soldering stations we got last week. There is more space to work. Our tables can either be put together for areal table or can be used separately - or just put them away if you don’t need them. If you want to help and realise your own ideas and projects - you’re invited to do so.

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