This afternoon was wonderful. We had our official opening of the vermont fablab. The VFL is a new facility at the university of vermont that will allow uvm students, high school students and local inventors to get access to state of the art rapid prototyping tools like 3d printers and laser cutters. VFL is only one of several facilities that are spontaneously forming to serve the needs of northern vermont makers .. There is also facility forming at essex high school, one at champlain college, one at pine street metal. So far all of the facilities are serving complimentary parts of the maker community.. It is so much fun to see the energy around this movement. W expected about 15 folks to come to today’s opening.. But i can remember talking to at least 70… So there must have been more than even that ! We had techies, artists, welders, musicians…. Very, very cool.
This opening was more symbolic than anything else.. The facilities been in use for the last month or so and has been used by some of the SEED senior projects. Our main reason for holding the event
Was to let the public know that were up and running… And to start soliciting donations for a few more pieces of equipment.. (please let me know if you have equipment, expertise or money you
Would like to contribute to the effort !) i feel so good about helping with this effort.. Seeing the stuff already in use just makes me so happy !

 

 

saw my old buddy vicki

 

and used our new laser (thanks in part to an IBM community grant) to cut up some lavash bread  (like a tortilla) treats for the guests (tasted nasty, though 🙂

 

After the opening… We went over to the engineering night celebration over at the davis center. What a wonderful geek fest. I was able to see all of the senior projects and talk to the students .
I ran into more good friends over there.. The geek spirit is alive and well in Northern Vermont !

 

 

here’s the class video that the group i mentored just finished.. make sure you watch to the part with the music.. I’m so proud of these guys for what they created here. I think it’s beutiful. Folks at the event tonight really loved it as well !

 

 

 

I got home at 7 in time for a lovely dinner with Florence and Julia who are here visiting with us from France..

Not a bad day ! (even the work part was fun !)
Time for bed.. Night all, nite sam
-me