This week on Maker Update: a robot to knock over your coffee, a plastic trombone powered by CircuitPython, powering your workshop with RFID, giant foam pumpkins, plastic restoration, slushcasting, and searching for hidden gems on AliExpress.

This week on Maker Update: building a prop that can withstand real lightning, a glowing pomodoro timer, a plywood air hose reel, tracking running goals with DIY electronics, a selfie stick that makes you frown, DIY x-rays, satisfying tool restorations, and making robots from everyday objects.

On this blog, I get the chance to explore my love of how people create and invent using new technology. In many ways, Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, California runs completely against the theme of this blog. It is one of the earliest theme parks in the United States, seemingly frozen in time for generations, and what little technology it has is about as analog as it gets.