tinfoil, whiskey, and computers

I decided I needed to start some new projects again.  It’s not like I have the time.  It’s not as if I’ve finished my other projects.  But I have ADD or something so that’s how I roll.

I am transplanting a PC into a Mac G3 case.  I’m not the first to do it but I had all the parts laying around so I figured, why not?  I have a broken G3 and a P4 PC that I haven’t turned on in 2 years.  Last night I gutted the G3 and moved over the PC power supply.  The G3 uses a standard ATX power supply (just not enough watts for a P4) so that was pretty easy.  Unfortunately I then realized the motherboard I have for the P4 is too big.  I was hoping to not have to invest any money in this but I will need to buy a new mobo.  I don’t think I have one laying around.  Maybe one of my buddies does.  I’ll be sure to include lots of fancy blue LEDs in the case too.

Also on the list is modifying a Plug ‘n Play Super Pac-man game.  It’s one of those all in one joysticks that you plug directly into your TV and get to play Pac-man (best game ever) on.  I want to try to use a real arcade joystick.  I’ll have to crack it open to see how possible it is.  It was on sale though so I picked one up.  Worst case scenario is that I can play Pac-man.  It also requires 4 AA batteries and it would be nice to replace that with a rechargeable system all internally.  I’ve also pondered integrating a small screen but that would make it pretty bulky and defeat the purpose…unless I got really clever with the integration.

Not sure what else at this point.  I NEED to finish my MAME cabinet.  I have some ideas for trimming it down to a size that would actually fit in my place while keeping it fairly faithful to the original.  Since it’s modifying a real, 80s arcade cabinet it should look nice.

I have a very ambitious cocktail arcade idea in mind.  I’ve been mulling that over for a couple years actually, I just don’t have the carpentry skills required to build what I want.  But damn is it cool in my head!

Um, that’s about it for projects I have in mind.  For some reason I thought I had more.  Oh well, these will take me a lot of time to finish anyway.

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This is a long overdue followup to my Zombie Preparedness Kit post. I have updated the project and am about 98% finished. I need to mount the front bezel on and make the “In case of zombies break glass” graphic. Other than those little things, it’s done!

It features a pistol handle shotgun, which is a decent weapon but ultimately you will run out of shells. So you have a hatchet as a backup along with a lighter. You can always burn those bastards. And there’s a little surprise as seen in the second and third pics, it’s solar powered!

Now for the pics:

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I brought the tank into work and set it all up, complete with Master Betta the fish. It looks sweet! I need a little better lighting I think but other than that I dig it. Been getting a lot of compliments and funny looks from people in the office. The DVD screen looks cool too since the curved tank magnifies it.
Here’s a pic from my phone, click to enlarge:

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I was bored with my Dell 18″ LCD. It’s a great monitor. I’ve had it for a few years and it still looks great. But it’s black. And I’m a Mac guy. I decided, fuck it, I’m painting it white.

I actually have two of the same model Dell monitor. Below you can see a side by side. I’ve moved my Mac Mini below the monitor now sits it fits on the base all nice like.

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I never really thought I’d get it done. I have a habit of starting projects then never finishing them. This was going to be another one of those projects. I wanted to build a Macquarium. I bought a Mac Classic II about a year ago off eBay. It was only $20 shipped. It even worked, which was kind of cool. I got bored with it after 5 minutes. Then it sat on a shelf and collected dust like so many other parts and pieces. I always thought I should turn it into a Macquarium and get a fish for my desk at work. I just never did. A new guy started in our department and he’s into fish so I was inspired.

I am working from home this week, the overnight shift. I decided I really needed to keep myself busy during the day instead of just sitting around. I have a lot of half finished projects so I made a little list. The Macquarium was #1 on the list to get done. I was dreading it, thinking it would be a lot of work. But it really took very little time once I started working on it.

Pics of the 95% finished project after the cut. (It’s 95% finished because I have to take it to work and put the fish, Master Betta, into it)
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Well, the 50 in 25 didn’t go quite as planned. Just too much shit, too busy, too much of a social butterfly and all that. I have more than are on the list. I won’t probably review them all but I will try to update the list. I think I hit about 20, so, not even close. Go big or don’t go at all. If you’re going to fail, fail big!

Oh well, I’ll do something like it again soon. Come the new year I’m going to get back into my workout routine big time. I am starting the second week of January because of work commitments. Along with that I think I might take a break from some of the other shit I’ve got going on. I just want to relax for a bit.

Then there’s that whole dating thing. I might eventually make another post called “50 horror failures” except that one will be about dating. I’ve been trying to date more the last couple months and you know what? It sucks. Seriously, dating sucks. But that’s another post for another time.
‘Til next time, Excelsior! natch

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10/15/2006 - 1730

After watching the previous crap I had to adjust my brain and get back in line with a decent movie. I chose the classic A Nightmare on Elm St. Freddy makes his debut as a boogeyman who haunts teenagers’ dreams. Freddy is the first boogeyman character I can think of in a movie and probably first on most people’s minds.

It’s one of Wes Craven’s early works and is THE movie that allowed New Line to become the hugely successful company they are today. It was low budget but you’d never know. Everyone on the film seemed to dedicate themselves to a movie they knew could be great and it shows.

Horror wasn’t mainstream in 1984. It was still smaller studios, smaller budgets, and slasher flicks. It had an audience, but it was more niche. Nightmare changed that. It’s a great movie that will make you think twice when you crawl into bed if it’s the first time you’ve seen it. If you’ve seen it before it’s always fun to see the original Freddy before the sequels.

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