A present from Santa for SRL

Last night Santa dropped off some letters for us. I think they look very pretty.
We promised RoboDock they would not get destroyed in the show. Honest Injun.
kevin

Notes from the field: SRL in Amsterdam

The show is Sept 22nd here in Amsterdam at RoboDock and will be just superb.

The name of the show is: A Complete Mastery of Sinister Forces

So I did a writeup now posted on the SRL blog with images. The writeup is listed as Kevin Mathieu's Field notes. not my best writing and a bit meandering, as well as lacking a decent close but with all the work here I just do not have time to tighten it up more.

srl.org/shows/robodock/

With it now published on the SRL site, I can now put it up here. I'm not allowed to scoop the SRL site.

So I suggest checking in the SRL site more often vs. this blog for the latest fun.

Its raining here in Amsterdam and that is expected to continue through Wed. Long days, plus fun nights around the fire and in the at the local speakeasy make for 19 hour days. Sleep is for the wickedly boring.

keep an eye on my flickr account for more images as they come out:

www.flickr.com/photos/418...1985766364/

www.flickr.com/photos/418...1992341591/


Here is my writeup:


Heavy weather lies ahead for the crew and RoboDock for Monday to Wednesday. Despite the expected storm ahead crew has had clear sailing so far with machines re-assembly and prop creation. The 5 days delay allowed us to wash down and vacuum the entire shop floor area ( which is really nice considering its previous condition of piles of dust and droppings). As well as get four large new props created from scratch.




Time is not wasted here; it is pinned down and wrestled to the ground, so every moment can be held accountable for its output.

SRL is ensconced in its lock down fenced compound inside the NDSM ship building in Northern Amsterdam, a free ferry ride from Central Train Station. Our fencing and attitude amuses the events organizers, other artists, and instills a sense of defined space in comparison to the other groups. Plus discourages distracting lookee loos.

With several of us sleeping with the machines every night, we have control of our environment from those tempted with thoughts of pilfering or sabotage. Elsewhere at RoboDock a German crew lost a brand new welder, so we know we are not being paranoid, simply sensible in a foreign clime.

The night guards know us live in watchers, and cautiously approach due to rumors of the mad Americans being armed with home made projectile devices. I can not confirm or deny.

Todays (Sat Sept 15th) arrivals include David Gessel and Carolyn Anhalt, plus Kent Cates's partner Rebecca. Rebecca brought Peets coffee to fuel the crew. As a backup David and Carolyn have brought some beans as well, plus a nice little ethernet switch to sort out an irritating internet connectivity issue. Really long ethernet runs in this huge building do not make happy packets.

Currently the V-1 is fueled and nearly ready to go. Nina and Liam have been the core team forking in every little and large V-1 segment, assembling up all of the dozens of bolts, wires and connectors.

The Running Machine and Inchworm are almost done.

Mark Pauline has kept the big picture open and clarified the details on every bit of minutiae on machine assembly, operation, manufacturing, and of course concept for many of the new big props. You can see Mark everywhere from vacuuming up the floor with other crew members, to teaching new tool tricks to old and new dogs on the crew. It is a real privilege and pleasure for all to work with a pro like what we joke as Grandpa Mark. He is why we all work so many hours and put our utter best into all we do. Mark has done that and seen that, is cool and mellow about his experience, then makes and teaches something new to all of us everyday by example and interaction so that we all gain and become better in art, direct experience, or spirit.




David Gessel with an hour of arrival stared sorting out the Shock Wave cannon. Already assembled 90%, its the last 10 percent requiring his MIT fine tuning for the controller. Within 3 hours it had its' first test. Many of the crew stood less then 10 meters away to enjoy its sound wave impact for the 5 or so test ( which we were
kinda not suppose to do due to the glass skylights). The reverberations echoed off the building for minutes. This is the sort of stuff we live for.

The Screw Machine's electronics are being a tad wonky but Michael Shiloh, just one of our master circuit board wiz's should be sorting it out soon. He also sorted out the potentiometer for the Hovercraft. Now the new ones are in their happy place, ready to rotate the pulse jets to Marks delight.



Kent Cates and Joanne Bloomfield assembled the Inchworm with all its very heavy bones and tight pin connectors. It is tricky and tight tolerance rigging to get the heavy bones into place just right. Joanne has also been busy with a very cool, super secret prop surprise for the show. No pics so come to the show for the birth of this one time work of art.

Kent, as house electrician, has setup the power grid and transformers that juices this crew. We suck the electrons down. From drying our clothes with an 30K BTU theater in the container, to the grinders and welders, prop motors, work lights, the Chinese Mill, laptops and much more.

Greg Jones, the designated SRL VIP tour guide, last night discovered that the local massive shipbuilding crane out front ( the last of 4, three have blown down) is being held up by just four thick roller bolts. A kinda sketchy weak point for all that weight. No one wonders why this crane is scheduled to come down in three years. Which will be sadly missed as it looms, beckons, and teases us all to be scaled.

Other then investigating the local machinery Greg Jones created 2 new props. Both are heavy duty loud. If the 6 jet engines weren't reason enough to have ear plugs and ear muffs for the show, these two props will justify your preshow purchase of industrial-strength hearing protection. Locally, ear muffs are 10 euros ( get the 30 db or highest rated, if possible).



Babalou has been doing what she does best, producing the show, running interference and translation between crew and show organizers needs. The crew may be the fluid of the SRL body, but she is the nervous system that keeps the body out of danger from odd impulses and filters out extraneous inputs.




Ulrika Andersson, despite a broken rib ( she blames Jack Daniels for the injury tho some suspect a Base Jump gone awry), is the stellar everywhere wrencher and electrician. Easily spotted in industrial yellow ear muffs, has been getting old school with installing servomotors instead of basic stamp boards for controlling the Screw Machine. Beyond this project, she has a 4 column hand drawn spreadsheet to track the power needs ( electrical and fuel) plus current status for the various machines. A truly mission critical, but somewhat tedious task.

Liisa Pine has been finishing touches and upgrades for Mr. Satan, improving the little arm hydraulic manifold, welding up numerous props, and much more. It is rumored that she will be getting the prestigious Worker of the Day award from the RoboDock organizers.

The highly sought prize, may mean she gets to jump to the head of the line for chow at the mess hall. It is either that, or a gift certificate for a local Amsterdam "coffehouse". SRL workers only want to work, so we know which she would pick if granted the award. Going offsite for anything but sleep and parts is rarely sanctioned. This is not a tourism trip to see the sights and irritate the locals, it is much better, they come to us and we amuse and irritate them from our side of the fence compound. Then the show happens and we become the tourist trap.

Liam has been up to trouble in the neighborhood of the V-1, the Dual Mule, props development (which all give him props for), a crafty little tool caddy (out of desk drawer) , and much more.

The V-1, Pulse Jets, and Screw Machine won't be tested indoors, due to concerns of the glass skylights. It is believed that large glass shards falling from 80 feet above on to the compound might slow down work. Work slow down is not allowed at what Babalou and a few old timers jokingly call "Slave Research Laboratories". So those machines head outdoors Monday for a test.



Mark Pauline is on site every day at 8 am and here til 1:30 or 2 AM every day. His early arrival was a bit of an issue for the local festival management last week since they didn't unlock the building until 9 am.

The solution? His camper was moved indoors to the compound. The disadvantage was that he was locked in at night with the machines, food, bathrooms, and a net connection. What more could one ask for? Wart, our local official liaison between us and RoboDoc keeps us in touch with the stuff we need in materials or equipment. His Dutch rockabilly style and deep manufacturing knowledge keeps us feeling good that we got the right person to connect us to the System. Many of us are rather attached to his British offroad forklift. Some of the crew might be scheming to borrow it somehow ( can we expand the container?) to bring it back to the US to play. Doubtful, but you gotta have a dream.




Shannon O'Hare has built a fantastic little casa to watch over the site at night. Soon to be fork lifted onto our container as a nightwatch tower. It is hoped he will have better luck avoiding the mosquitos then I did the other night.

The Wedge, half machine / half prop by Shannon and Kimric Smythe is a wonder to behold. The Wedge, is, as Michael S says " Fucking Amazing".

Michael Wehner self proclaimed shit stirrer just describes his current focus as Spool Launcher and handyman to many projects including but not limited to the Running Machine and the Hovercraft.

Kevin Mathieu has been seen in the vicinity of many forklift moves of materials, Dual Mule Assembly, container offload, writing and documenting via words and camera ( still and moving), sleeping with the machines, helping out Babalou from losing it, and taking it out on a unlucky native that nearly ran him down. The bastard deserved
getting his hood pounded for being such a dangerous idiot.


Our hangout has become the Garage bar, an on-site speakeasy with 1 Euro beers that all the artists have been congregating at post work. You gotta love the Dutch for this, if nothing else. And there is much we love about this place, especially the meals. Course the other artists knock off work by an easy 10 pm or right after dinner, we don't roll into the bar til midnight or more likely 2 am for our one
beer and grog a day ration. Or something like that.



As one Dutch RoboDock artist at the bar said: "Are all you Americans so crazy? ". All at the table simply laughed.

Rasmus, a Dutch local addition to the crew has demoed his welding and industrial arts skill on the ladder prop as well as elsewhere. An excellent addition to any SRL show. Marnix was brought in by a previous Amsterdam SRL hand (from the 1989 Amsterdam show). Bram and his partner Michelle. Both have been a invaluable resource from generously loaning spare bikes before our container arrived, plus a priceless and essential coffee kettle, to being the runners for the assorted eccentric needs of the crew and machines. Michelle as been Babalou's Dutch right hand man for on site coordination and much more.

Burning Man 2007, Number 13

Well it was OK. I got back at 6 am after a three hour exodus wait that was actually kinda fun since I was with GoMonk and Dominique. While waiting in line we all took turns driving. All of us rode my bike around, sharing unfiltered saki, snacks, and food with our temp neighbors. Borrowing ice and bumming smokes.
I was surprised how many stayed trapped in their cars the entire time with windows rolled up and AC cranked up. I think those folk were idiots.

I missed the best moment, which was the Burning of the Man on Tuesday, possibly by a very close prankster pal of mine. During the event my catch phrase to pals that know him as well, " so what did you think of Pauls's work? "

The above image is of the Green Tea House, an incredible work made by a guy from Portland. My other top pick was the Big Rig work by some folk originally from Madagascar Institute ( not sure if they are still affiliated) , the steam tree house, and the Monkey.

In general, I thought it was a weak year for art.
Dan and Karen subcontracted out a great firework show, but is that art? I was glad that a few agreed with me that the metal sculptures lacked aesthetic appeal. Which is a personal thing. I respect the hours that went into it, but thats the extent of it. The tree put in place of the derrick was so friggin hookie and an embarrassing cliche.

But, I can't bitch since I did nada beyond the gears on the Never Was Haul stage and bolting together the NWH wheels.

I had a tough time getting in sync with the meal plan at my planned home base, the Never Was Haul. As it was I got two meals ( I may get a partial refund) and wasn't able to camp there due to my super late arrival.

I'm really glad my buddy Ken had space in his shade to camp out with, and we were able to share a few meals and hang out. I did bring some food even though I had planned to always eat with the Never Was crew. Lucky, I did otherwise I would have been SOL.

My fave eve was the few hours bartending on the slug.

Rolling around town for a few hours with a playboy playmate ( I only realized her status in retrospective hours after she had bailed, and I may be wrong) was pretty fun as well. And no, we did not have sex. So there. No matter the status, she was the best pal to hangout with. And I give her points for camping solo and making her own homebrew shade structure. Thats my kinda of girl.

Once again ( for the third year running) I felt kinda disconnected.

The final day was decent, I really had some super conversations with some old and new pals.

I even got a Ranger in a bit of trouble with a top LLC person on my last day. That was kinda funny and made my afternoon.
Its great to fuck with the Rangers, in a minor way. They try and do good work ( most of them), and I rather have them around then the cops.
Yet they still represent authority at a formerly anarchic event and must be pranked when possible.
The fact that both a guy hung himself ( for nearly 3 hours) , and that Paul lit the Man did not reflect all that well on their track record. Or maybe it does. Rangers are not suppose to interfere with anyone's experiences.
So the question is, why did they bust Paul? That really could fuck with Paul's experience.

The car is unpacked ( and washed) , a client is freaking out about a database that broke as soon as I hit the playa ( that was not a good phone to get once I was back in range) , and I gotta pack for my flight to Amsterdam on Tuesday.

The packing should not be too challenging. Its only a month long trip. ;-)

So I'm washing clothes and about to drive up to oaktown to fix the database. If I can't fix it in time, there will be serious trouble.

My other Labor day activities include dealing with an ant invasion, and an email majordomo fuck up by a clients ISP that may cost me future work with them. Which would suck. They are my most lucrative client.

Off to Black Rock at last

If you get there even late then me come on by the Never Was Haul, 2 story Victorian house. I may be around. Its at 4 and Esplande.

Its a super short trip this year, I come back on Sunday. I can't waste 7 hours in traffic on Monday tween Gerlach and 80.

Then off to Amsterdam on Tuesday . I'll be back from the SRL show Robo Doc October 6th.

A month of work, no pay but I know it will be a great show.
So the money will be a bit tight for this trip, but hey with food, housing, and flight covered I would never bitch.
I'm stoked to be on the short list of SRL crew to go.

If you got any freelance web or design work I can do while in Europe do contact me. I really need the money.
kevin

Bronchitis sucks, Computers are Evil, My Dad will be OK, and I'm delayed on going to the Playa

So I've been coughing for a month.
I finally had it checked out.
The Doc on Friday let me know it was Bronchitis.

So I picked up some antibiotics, and other bits of western medicine and had to drop out of helping out on the final days of Never Was Haul pre-playa.
What I really hated that I could not drive up with Liam on Sat since I needed the rest.

Today I picked up a variety of holistic options as well. Hopefully between the two I'll recover fairly quickly.

And I'm starting the patch to quit smoking.

I need my strength for BRC and a month in Amsterdam.

There has been some stress in my life as of late. Especially with finances since I'm going to Amsterdam with far less money then I had hoped and planned.

To add to my pain on Friday afternoon I signed for a nasty certified letter from the IRS wanting $3,000 in taxes. I think I can fight it down to much less but that wasn't fun to get.

Then on Friday night, I was backing up the laptop and made a huge blunder. I erased my local copy of Eudora. My email program and files for the last 8 years.

That sorta freaked me out. to understate things.

Eudora is the center of my brain, projects, and more.

Finally tonight I was able to recover some of the files, as well as find a full backup from last month.

So I lost a month but not everything.

Now I can start working again to finish off some work for a few clients.

But wait, thats not all this week brought to me.

Sometimes luck run in threes, no?

Earlier this week my dad had a fall and my plans for Burning Man and Amsterdam were in jeopardy. He is ok but it was kinda scary there and his daily walks to the coffee shop are out for now.

I was able to find a care taking service to visit him during the week and to generally help him out, and another group to take him out to lunch a few times a week. So I hope he will be OK and I'll be calling him daily. He also has over a month supply of his fave foods. Which he can fix himself despite his vision issues.

His plan that he could do it all by himself just isn't realistic.

So Monday, or Tues I hope to go to Black Rock for a few days.

When I get back I'll be home only for a few days then off to Amsterdam.

I pray that Burning Man isn't a stress and that I can get rid of this Bronchitis.

And that this streak of bad luck is over.

$150,000 Raver Bus for Burning Man

So our neighbors art car / raver bus / party bus are funded by 10 LA investors. The bus is $50,000 over budget.

It will be blinky, fuzzy, and loud. And I'm sure fun for all passengers on board. Which could be you since BRC DMV rules require all mutant vehicles to take on passengers.

A huge contrast to the Never Was Haul, which was built for less then $10,000 originally.

Chicken dropped by yesterday ( personal photographer in tow) and gave the ravers a bit of advice about the danger of their huge trailer and tow bar. The bus is towing a 70,000 Kilowatt generator.

Which is massive, massive overkill for power needs and not quite green.

A few years ago another party bus's trailer ended up killing a passenger, when she stepped off the vehicle and was run over by its trailer.

None of the 10 investors are physically working on creating the party bus.

I bet they fly in from LA to BRC.
Then again, maybe they will really rough it and ride in their RV's from the Reno Airport.

I Kid. Sorta.

The kids working on the vehicle are mostly harmless and having fun but realize the bus isn't art.

The DMV rules are kinda funny.

In shorthand, the rule use to be that a vehicle can't look like a vehicle.

Thats why my legojeep isn't seen up there any more. A jeep covered in LEGO's ( or looking like its made of LEGO's) is not mutant enough.

Then again when I did make a mutant 2 person cart for an entire art group to use to get back and forth to its large scale art piece , and someone else registered it for me ( since I could not be there in time), when Jewelz of the DMV found out it was my vehicle creation she came by and yanked my permit.

While I was sleeping, and after I had given the keys over to the art group.
The jerk that brought it up for me, did not turn over the keys after getting the permit for the vehicle as he had promised.

I think I'm the only Mutant vehicle to permitted and yanked post permit for looks.
Jewelz said it was ugly, and that there had been complaints without naming names.

Of course, I had not yet had a chance to drive it around more then once, or even fix all the visual issues from the person that did assemble it.

I protested but Jewelz told me that there was nothing I could do the revocation was final ( I had brought other materials to change the look if it did not pass original visual inspection). My alternative plans were shot down before they even could be attempted.

Of course, the only reason I had spent the time, money and effort was that Jewelz was not in charge of the DMV that year. For the first time since 2001 when she told me I could never get a permit.

In 2001, Jewelz gave me a DMV sticker post event at a decompression event.

She cackled ( or maybe laughed) and told me that would be the only DMV sticker I would ever get.

With the knowledge that the person in charge of the DMV would never permit me again to have a DMV permit I never tried again to make a mutant vehicle.


Course Its not quite that simple.
End of the day I did not get to the playa til Wed that year ( 2005) due to that stupid cart.
The guy who brought it up ( Stig) did not reassemble the vehicle as instructed and promised. Nor did he turn it over to the Art Group as he promised me he would.
The permit was contingent ( and planned ) on it being used by the art group.
But somehow, someone in the art group did not understand or believe that I was gifting an art car for all to use. Even though I told many pre-event. Or in the daze of the all the madness of a big project it was simply a forgotten detail.
One that cost me hundreds and hundreds that i did not have to spare and a week of time.
Some gifts will bite you if you give them.
Good intentions are never trusted, are they?

So when the permit was yanked within hours of my arrival, I never again drove the vehicle during Burning Man.

I did not want to be seen as getting the permit in false pretenses, or abuse the process.

So that sucked, all those days making the vehicle, wasted days delayed on getting there, I wasted all my spare money to make it.
I think I had $50 for the BRC for food and drink due to that project.

I even got rolled out of the art group since the gift was mis-interpreted somehow, or that I was abusing the name of the art group by getting the permit vai its name via the DMV.

I never really explained afterwards, It was just too painful.

So it did look kinda ugly, but when the permit was yanked I did not even get a chance to appeal or object, or even to fix it to the standard that I had originally made it.


I'm still really bitter about the betrayls and especially the malicious behavior of Jewelz. Who founded the DMV, and whose greatest legacy and contribution to Burning Man is a very powerful bureaucracy.

She really went out of her way to screw me, and to deny a work vehicle to an entire art group.

So she won. The bureaucrats win every time.

But somehow, if you drop $150,000 covering your bus in fur and LED's then its not a bus. Or looks like a bus. Unlike a jeep covered in LEGO's.

But I don't see it as creative really. Maybe the LEGOJeep isn't either.

So be sure to grab a ride on this vehicle since all mutant vehicles are required to give people rides, as part of the permit process.

Its kinda of a collective kharma for all large vehicles.

Maybe I'm missing something. Or maybe money really does rule Burning Man.

Officially these are the DMV rules:

Mutant Vehicles contribute to the surreal thread that binds Black Rock City together. They are "art on wheels": radically, stunningly, (usually) permanently, and safely modified motorized vehicles. For aesthetic reasons, Mutant Vehicles should not represent the base vehicle, and for safety reasons, should not mimic any type of emergency services or law enforcement vehicle. Mutant Vehicles include non-standard motorized vehicles such as couches, beds, and armchairs. Let the words "whimsical" and "surreal" guide you through your creative process.

Wow, I'm just not looking forward to going right now.

Never Was Haul needs your help and time in W. Oakland now, and is looking for performers for its new stage

Never Was Haul needs your help and time in W. Oakland now, and is looking for performers for its new stage


The Haul will never sink, but the crew is running a bit ragged as only a few core helpers as of late are making it happen this year for Burning Man and for other events such as possibly the Makers Faire in Austin.

The Haul needs you, simply put, the Haul needs more bodies.

Now.

Tonight, daytime, after work til Midnight, or on the weekend.

Really anytime after Noon.

When you can make it there, we can make use of you.

Anytime between now and the 24th of August

There will even be work to done breaking it all down on the 23rd for shipping, I guarantee.

The unpaid, jolly, but good looking and smart crew ( as you too can be if you help) is working daily (starting at Noon) in West Oakland at the massive American Steel building which is between 20th to 18th Streets, and from Mandela Parkway to Poplar Street.

1930-60 Mandela Parkway, entrance on 20th, 1/2 block down from Mandela Parkway

The Never Was Haul is in the back left corner ( South West Corner) , close to 18th st

maps.google.com/maps

Just a few hours of your time will be invaluable in making the best unfunded sculpture ever to grace the playa roll again and inspire all.

As the Haul inspired tens of thousands of kids and adults at the Makers Faire and the Nevada Days parade.

And do send on this email on to others, and your friends email list, or post it to your blog.

Happily Burning Man did fund the project a bit this year, but without more folk to drill the holes, paint the deck, disassemble and reassemble the haul and stage so it can happen again this most remarkable creature will be very creaky and grumpy on the playa.

No one wants that.

The Haul also has a stage this year with performances nightly at the west corner of 5:00 and Esplanade,

If you or you have friends that have a vaudeville act ( singing, jokes, dancing, juggling, burlesque, or even strip tease) , or other sideshow act, or are in a band, or do some sort of odd but amusing behavior or trick then we want to hear from them.

The stage is on the Esplanade. So let me know, kevin@infoflow.com and I'll slot them in.

A new engine is in place ( but many details still need to be worked on maybe by you) and the Haul will be able to carry far more folk, if you missed your chance last year.

You can guarantee a ride for you and your playa sweetie by becoming a working crew member by helping out now.

The pride and enjoyment of being part of a great and highly appreciated work of art and madness is really the great reward.

I personally love to point to a bolt hole, wheel, light fixture, or other element of the work and say " I put that on, I made that happen".

Everyone on the playa will give you a level of kudos, respect, and likely will offer you a drink, because this is a respected work. I know thats what happened to me last year.

Unlike entirely paid for Burning Man projects, or obscenely privately funded projects ( like a few El-wire fuzzy party buses we can think of) , the Haul is a true labor of love and volunteer efforts.

And this year with over 5 horse powers of real hand built , home made, steam power!

You too can also have the joy, pride, and sense of ownership by coming on down to American Steel Building.

While there see the other works in progress, from the huge steel works of Mr. Mann and crew, to the Bamboo structure of Opulent Temple, to the Big Rig Jig, to some really silly as well as beautiful art cars

Shannon O'Hare is the fearless inventor and captain of this fine work so come on by and help him, and the red eye crew of Kimric, Kathy, HazMatt, Hallie, Flare, Mr. Smythe, Liam, Liz, Don Bruce, Tracy, Richard, many others, and of course the prime instigator our lady the Never Was Haul swim again the dusty sea of Black Rock.

Read up on the proposal for this years Haul:
www.neverwashaul.com

Email shannon_o_hare@yahoo.com for more info, but the best thing is to just show up ( Wi-Fi sucks in American Steel)

Call or email Kevin for more details on how to help at 415 640 3569, kevin@infoflow.com

Got Work?

Hopefully tonight (Tues into Wed) is the last 3 am work day of loading the SRL container.

So I need to find some short term work to cover my planned travel and expenses pre and post show to Amsterdam. I'm over there for 4 weeks and though food, flight, and housing are covered, I will have expenses to cover while gone as well for my preshow and post show travel.

Your help in finding me work will allow me to visit my adorable niece Ava ( as pictured above) in Paris. Allowing me to keep up my standing as a good uncle and fight all the corrupting French influence she is surrounded by daily ;-)

My core competencies ( at least best paid ones) I'm fun and smart to work with as a: producer ( events or projects), network administrator, web site administrator, database administrator, listserv administrator, interaction designer, and html monkey.

Beyond that I'm an experienced stagehand rigger and electrician, skilled kitchen cook, caterer, bartender, forklift operator, and certified scissorlift / cherry pick driver. Where I'm still fun to work with and extra smart.

Then there are many many other jobs I can do, just ask. My email is kevin@infoflow.com, my tel is 415 640 3569

So you know of any pickup work or gigs for the next month let me know!

Post September 3rd I'll be in the Netherlands.

-kevin