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.

I recently broke down a used kid’s bike and was surprised how many cool materials I found that could be reused for other projects. Even just the parts taken from a single wheel could be reused a number of different ways.

My talk with Becky Stern about her Social Stats Tracker Display project on Instructables, which keeps tabs on her followers on Instagram, Twitter, and Instructables. Also, check out Becky’s previous YouTube Tracker project that laid the foundation for this.

[Editors’ note: This same tutorial was originally published as an Instructable. I’m publishing it here for posterity.]

The quality and design of project boards has become so good in recent years, that I almost feel bad putting them together. In this guide, I’m going to show you a simple soldering technique that can make the back of your boards look as nice as the front. You’ll learn how to make perfectly smooth, consistent solder joints that look impossibly tidy.