Episode 15 - Paul Bussiere, R2-D2 Builder We All Have a Story

In this episode, I chat with Paul Bussiere. Paul is well known in his local community for his creativity. Having built a full-sized aluminum R2-D2 replica, Paul's R2-D2 was built for visiting the children's floors at his local hospital, spreading cheer to the sick children there. As word got out about R2, countless invitations came in, from charity events, Star Wars movie premieres and becoming the star attracting at the Portland Sea Dogs annual Star Wars Night baseball game. While building R2, 3D printing became available to the masses as the patents expired on the technology. Paul bought a 3D printer kit in 2013 and put it together over a weekend. Over the years, his passion for learning and using 3D printers continued to grow. He started a YouTube Channel called "Where Nerdy Is Cool!" which features tutorials, reviews and fun projects about 3D printing. In 2019, Paul managed to land a job in the world of 3D printing, leaving behind 25 years of working in IT. Paul is now on the 3D printing team that utilizes the world's largest 3D printer. Paul continues to develop content on his YouTube Channel, find room for his 16 3D printers and is working on his Instrument Flight Rating.

Note: This episode was recorded in March 2021 in the amidst  the COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") pandemic.

For more information about Paul and all of his various projects:
- Facebook: "Where Nerdy is Cool" https://www.facebook.com/WhereNerdyIsCool/
- YouTube: "Where Nerdy is Cool!" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUVNmNDvV_C-MwbD8CmtOcA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wherenerdyiscool/
- Paul's R2-D2 blog: http://paulsr2d2.blogspot.com/
- News stories
- https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Nerdy-Do-Gooder-on-a-mission-to-save-mask-wearers-ears-during-pandemic-570378751.html
- https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Star-Wars-fans-invade-Bangor-Mall-Cinemas--566365621.html
- https://bangordailynews.com/2015/12/15/news/bangor/orrington-star-wars-fan-replica-r2d2-have-a-local-mission/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCm2U7dvev0
- https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/entertainment/r2d2-makes-splash-at-star-wars-premiere-at-bangor-mall-cinemas/97-22225261
- https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/may-fourth-be-you/51866

Other things mentioned during this episode:
- Portland Seadogs: https://www.milb.com/portland
- WildCat! BBS Software: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat!_BBS
- TriBBS BBS Software: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TriBBS
- Doom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(1993_video_game)
- New England R2 Builder's Club: a...