Apr 25, 2026 10am to 3pm Join Propeller for a custom stained glass workshop where you’ll design and create a stained glass picture frame from start to finish. Participants will work hands-on with glass, chemicals, and lead solder under guided instruction in a fun, creative environment.
Badge Belt and Disc Sander Friday, April 24, 2026 - 8:56pm Pronouns He/Him Liam O'Donnell Member profiles
Badge Band Saw Friday, April 24, 2026 - 8:43pm Pronouns He/Him Liam O'Donnell Member profiles
Avete mai provato quella strana euforia che si prova quando vedete un pezzo di hardware vintage che finalmente torna a funzionare dopo ore di saldature e debugging? Ecco, dimenticate la soddisfazione del silicio che risponde ai comandi; qui siamo su un livello di delirio finanziario che fa sembrare un budget per un progetto CNC di precisione come la spesa al supermercato. Secondo le ultime indiscrezioni che girano tra i circuiti giusti, Google ha in programma di iniettare fino a 40 miliardi di dollari in Anthropic. Sì, avete letto bene. Quaranta. Miliardi. Di. Dollari. Per darvi un’idea, con quella cifra potrei costruire una flotta di stampanti 3D industriali e una foresta di server che farebbe impallidire qualsiasi cluster locale, o potrei semplicemente comprare un piccolo paese insulare e trasformarlo in un paradello paradiso del retrocomputing. Perché tutto questo? Semplice: la guerra dell’IA non si combatte più con la scrittura di algoritmi eleganti o l’ottimizzazione del codice, ma con la forza bruta del capitale e della potenza di calcolo. Google ha paura che i suoi modelli diventino obsoleti e sta cercando di blindare Anthropic sotto il suo ombrello (o almeno di renderlo un partner così stretto da non poterlo ignorare). Dal mio piccolo angolo di mondo, tra un render su Blender e un plugin sperimentale su Godot, la notizia mi lascia un po’ perplesso. Da un lato, l’entusiasmo è legittimo: più soldi significano modelli più intelligenti, capacità di ragionamento più profonde e, chissà, magari un’IA che finalmente capisce come gestire correttamente i driver di una vecchia scheda video senza crashare tutto. Dall’altro, l’odore di vendor lock-in è così forte che si sente fin dall’uscita della porta. Il rischio è che stiamo assistendo alla creazione di un nuovo oligopolio digitale. Se la potenza di calcolo e l’intelligenza diventano proprietà esclusiva di tre o quattro colossi che si scambiano assegni con troppi zeri, dove finisce lo spazio per l’innovazione ‘grassroot’? Per noi che amiamo smanettare, il vero valore sta nell’accessibilità e nella possibilità di capire cosa succede sotto il cofano. Se tutto viene racchiuso in API proprietarie blindate da miliardi di dollari, restiamo solo spettatori di un magic show orchestrato dai big tech. In breve: aspettatevi modelli sempre più fighi, ma preparatevi anche a un ecosistema sempre più chiuso e controllato. Speriamo solo che questo enorme investimento non serva solo a rendere i modelli più bravi a scrivere email aziendali inutili, ma che porti qualcosa di reale che possiamo effettivamente usare per far girare i nostri progetti più folli. Nel frattempo, io torno al mio script Python e alla mia vecchia scheda madre che non si accende dal 2012. Almeno lì, so sempre chi è il responsabile del crash. Source: Google plans to invest up to $40B in Anthropic
This weekend bootcamp version of our popular woodshop class is designed to get you up and running in the woodshop sooner, following the same curriculum as the regular 3 week classes. The additional introduction of a complex glue-up will result in a unique cheeseboard of your own creation. Beginning Woodshop runs for 3 sessions of 4 hours each, and assumes no previous woodworking experience. The goal is to train students in the basic use and safety aspects of the major tools in the woodshop. Students should plan to attend all three classes. The first meeting will cover basic safety and project overview. This meeting is mandatory. The second and third sessions will be devoted to a project that will require practice on a variety of tools and machines, as well as some layout and marking skills, to build a small serving board that you will be able to take home and be proud of! What Not to Wear: Do not wear any dangling jewelry or lanyards that can get caught in machinery. Do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or draped or dangling elements that can get caught in machinery. No open toe shoes (anywhere in the facility). Long hair and beards should be securely tied back. Currently face masks are recommended but not required the facility. We will provide: Eye protection Ear plugs if requested Materials for class projects Upon completion of the class, Ideaworks members may be certified to use the covered woodshop tools unsupervised during business hours with instructor's approval. FREE MONTH OF MEMBERSHIP - New members only This class includes a free one-month conditional membership to Ideaworks. This offer is only valid for classes $100 and over. Your conditional membership starts on the day of your last scheduled class. It is only valid for the same shop areas and tools that were used in class. Your instructor will provide a temporary card verifying that you completed the class and are approved for those tools. If you would like to continue your membership beyond the 30 days , please visit us here: Join us Current members of Fresno Ideaworks are not eligible for this promotion. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. CANCELLATION, CHANGE, AND REFUND POLICY This is a high demand event with limited spaces available. A request of change/cancellation must be received by email to info@fresnoideaworks.org 72 Hours prior to the event date to be eligible for a refund. Please note, a $15.00 processing fee will be assessed per cancellation from the total refund. Regretfully, we are unable to issue refunds and/or credit for a missed class. THE FIRST CLASS IS MANDATORY and you will forfeit your registration fees if missed. There are no makeup classes. Please plan accordingly. Please do not open a dispute with PayPal... talk to us. Otherwise it fouls things up and refund can take up to a month. In the case Ideaworks must cancel a class, full registration fees based on the original form payment was made will be refunded.
Badge Table Saw Friday, April 24, 2026 - 10:24pm Pronouns her/she Susan Woods Member profiles
Badge Spindle Sander Friday, April 24, 2026 - 8:55pm Pronouns he/him Eric Budde Member profiles
Badge Spot Welder Friday, April 24, 2026 - 8:30pm La-Ron Tyrrell Member profiles
This weekend bootcamp version of our popular woodshop class is designed to get you up and running in the woodshop sooner, following the same curriculum as the regular 3 week classes. The additional introduction of a complex glue-up will result in a unique cheeseboard of your own creation. Beginning Woodshop runs for 3 sessions of 4 hours each, and assumes no previous woodworking experience. The goal is to train students in the basic use and safety aspects of the major tools in the woodshop. Students should plan to attend all three classes. The first meeting will cover basic safety and project overview. This meeting is mandatory. The second and third sessions will be devoted to a project that will require practice on a variety of tools and machines, as well as some layout and marking skills, to build a small serving board that you will be able to take home and be proud of! What Not to Wear: Do not wear any dangling jewelry or lanyards that can get caught in machinery. Do not wear clothing with loose sleeves or draped or dangling elements that can get caught in machinery. No open toe shoes (anywhere in the facility). Long hair and beards should be securely tied back. Currently face masks are recommended but not required the facility. We will provide: Eye protection Ear plugs if requested Materials for class projects Upon completion of the class, Ideaworks members may be certified to use the covered woodshop tools unsupervised during business hours with instructor's approval. FREE MONTH OF MEMBERSHIP - New members only This class includes a free one-month conditional membership to Ideaworks. This offer is only valid for classes $100 and over. Your conditional membership starts on the day of your last scheduled class. It is only valid for the same shop areas and tools that were used in class. Your instructor will provide a temporary card verifying that you completed the class and are approved for those tools. If you would like to continue your membership beyond the 30 days , please visit us here: Join us Current members of Fresno Ideaworks are not eligible for this promotion. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. CANCELLATION, CHANGE, AND REFUND POLICY This is a high demand event with limited spaces available. A request of change/cancellation must be received by email to info@fresnoideaworks.org 72 Hours prior to the event date to be eligible for a refund. Please note, a $15.00 processing fee will be assessed per cancellation from the total refund. Regretfully, we are unable to issue refunds and/or credit for a missed class. THE FIRST CLASS IS MANDATORY and you will forfeit your registration fees if missed. There are no makeup classes. Please plan accordingly. Please do not open a dispute with PayPal... talk to us. Otherwise it fouls things up and refund can take up to a month. In the case Ideaworks must cancel a class, full registration fees based on the original form payment was made will be refunded.
Badge Spindle Sander Friday, April 24, 2026 - 9:07pm Pronouns He/Him Liam O'Donnell Member profiles
Badge Belt and Disc Sander Friday, April 24, 2026 - 8:45pm Pronouns he/him Eric Budde Member profiles
Badge Band Saw Friday, April 24, 2026 - 8:28pm Pronouns he/him Eric Budde Member profiles
Welcome to Lampwork Glass Art, where we're turning up the heat to create some incredible pieces! In this relaxed and hands-on class, we'll explore the basics of lampworking and send you home with something entrancing of your own making. In this hands-on, beginner-friendly class you will learn to melt borosilicate glass on an oxygen-propane torch and sculpt it into colorful pendants. Emily will demonstrate how to shape the hot glass using metal and graphite tools and use brass stamps to add a variety of patterns and textures. Students will have the opportunity to make several pendants in their choice of colors and patterns. The pendants will anneal in the kiln overnight and will be ready to pick up the next day. Students should bring a water bottle and wear natural fibers and closed-toed shoes. In this 4 hour workshop we'll start with the do's and don'ts, throw on some safety glasses, and ensure our workspace is good to go. Wondering what those colorful glass rods are all about? We'll take a look at the essential tools – torches, brass stamps, and shaping gear – that turn those rods into artistic wonders. Your instructor, local artist Emily Johnsen, will showcase the craft – melting, shaping, and transforming glass into some seriously awesome shapes. Then you’ll dive in! It's your turn to grab the torch (figuratively) and start crafting your own beginner-friendly project as you try the layering, mixing, shaping and stamping that will make your glass pieces stand out. Finally, you’ll find out how to cool and anneal your pieces properly to keep them looking fantastic. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to hone your skills, this lampwork class is all about enjoying the process while crafting some impressive art. Let the fiery adventure begin! Important stuff: No open toe shoes ( anywhere in the facility) Do not wear clothing made from synthetic or synthetic blends. Should an accident occur, synthetic fabric can burn vigorously, melt, and produce skin burns. Long hair and beards must be securely tied back. No lanyards, dangling jewelry, or loose sleeves. Currently face masks are recommended but not required in the facility. A cotton cloth mask is safest around open flame. Your instructor will explain the safe use of face masks around torches. Upon compl etion of the cla ss, Ideaworks members may be certified to use the lampworking station unsupervised during business hours. We will provide: Eye protection Insulated sleeves All tools and materials for class projects NOTE: This class DOES NOT qualify for the free one-month conditional membership.