Maschine Zeit is a game currently being developed by David A. Hill Jr. through his Machine Age Productions endeavor. I’ve joined a group of very talented people who are providing some material for the game.

I’m way excited to be contributing to David’s project, and I can’t wait to see the final result.

A couple years ago I put together this makeshift mobile audio rig that consisted of some powered speakers, a mixer I cannibalized out of an old multimedia slide projector, a CB mic, and some cheap digital recorders. This was all wired and duct-taped to a bandoleer made from a couple crappy military-style belts. I used the thing to occasionally assault unsuspecting bystanders with improve noise performances.

This past weekend, I stripped the harness down to base components, seam-ripped the pouches off an old US Army tac vest, replaced the speakers with a different pair that I cut down a bit, and rewired the electronics to make the rig a bit more modular. It was a fun thing to work on with my hands over the weekend, during which I spent a great deal of time drinking and watching zombie movies.

I posted these pics while I was working on the thing. The last one shows it assembled. Kinda.

I hope to eventually integrate the Obnoxious Howler Monkey into the rig as an optional add-in module. For now, tho, it goes back in the box and comes out when I feel the need to work with my hands again.

I’ll post some video when I get around to finishing the thing.

Last year, I rode in the Napa Valley Tour de Cure, doing 50 miles and raising money for the American Diabetes Association.

This year, I’m riding 100 miles. If you would like to sponsor me with a donation to the ADA, please go here and give what you can. Every little bit helps.

It’s a good cause, and a great event.

I pushed an update to the forums earlier. Let me know if you notice any weirdness.

I spent some time since last week’s update reflecting on some of the things in this list. When I first put this list together, I wanted a list of ten things. What this ultimately meant was I put a couple things on the list that I have been wanting to work on, but hadn’t in a while.

Since then, a couple other projects have gotten some life and energy, while other projects have gone virtually untouched since I added them to this list.

In light of that, I am creating three lists: On The Table (active projects), In The Closet (mothballed projects), and In The Trophy Case (completed projects). This will allow me to keep track of inactive projects, and track things on which I am actively working. Right now, the Trophy Case is empty. But I’m going to list it anyway.

On The Table:

1. Shambles – I still expect to see a finished download this week. I was told of the cover “It is going to be so awesome you will pee kittens of pure joy.”
2. Codename: Obnoxious Howler Monkey – Unchanged. I still have all the parts for it, I just need to sit down and assemble.
3. Codename: Simulated Jocular Anaconda – I was in contact with one of the principles behind this project, specifically inquiring about deadlines. I was not given any, which is good and bad. Sunday will be entirely devoted to sitting down somewhere and writing for this project.
4. Shambles Source Material – Unchanged
5. Codename: Unwashed Repeat Pedestrian – Unchanged.
6. Codename: Enormous Intersected Automaton – Unchanged.
7. Codename: Gremlin Persistent Malice – I circled back with the freelancers who did some work for this, paying the ones who needed paying and securing the necessary rights to the works in question. Next step will be to integrate them and see what still needs to be done.
8. NEW Codename: Big Audio Dynamite – I put out some feelers on this, to see if it was feasible.
9. NEW Codename: Pandoran Apothecary Chest – I had a conversation with someone about launching this project, and we have an informal appointment to discuss the particulars over dinner.
10. NEW Codename: First Rural Delusions – This is a proposal that was accepted, but one I have not worked on. I need to get it worked out.

In The Closet

1. Codename: Insignificant Diversionary Anaconda – I was informed that the work required from me on this project has been completed. It’s not “done” yet, and won’t be “done” (as in, ready for production or purchase) until next year. I am putting this in the closet, until they need something else from me or until I can discuss the project further. Mothballed 10/28/09.
2. Codename: Cackle Smash Soup – Mothballed 10/28/09
3. Codename: Tactical Plastic Laser – Mothballed 10/28/09

In The Trophy Case

Nothing. It’s empty. For now.

Excuse Of The Week: I spent several hours doing major server work to change my hosting package. It was work that needed doing, but it did take up a chunk of time.

I’ve made a bunch of hosting changes over the last couple days. If anyone notices anything not working or unusual, please let me know.

Thanks!

I don’t know if I want to add forums to my site or not. I have a sort of specific purpose in mind, but I’m not sure if this is the right medium. Convince me, one way other. Good idea? Bad Idea?

Please come check it out and leave comments in the forum, unless you think it’s A Terrible Forum, in which case leave comments here.

Dear Brain,

As you know, I am already tracking 10 Secret Projects that are currently in various states of completion.

As you also know, the 10 Secret Projects do not include the 58 other projects currently listed in my Crazy Schemes spreadsheet.

Brain if I were to be optimistic, if I quit my job and only worked on Secret Projects and Crazy Schemes, I could probably finish one of these projects a month. However, as I’m sure you know, I would be unable to fund the projects without my job. I’m just guessing here, but I think that in order to hold my job AND work on Secret Projects and Crazy Schemes, I will only be able to finish a project every three months (if I continue being optimistic). At that rate, given my current list of Secret Projects and Crazy Schemes, I will be caught up in 17 years.

You know this, Brain. You knew this a week ago, and you knew it last month. I’m pretty sure we even talked about it a year ago.

So why do you keep giving me new ideas for projects that I need to work on NOW? You’ve given me five really good ideas in the last two weeks. And they are GREAT ideas – I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, or like you’re not doing a great job. You are. You’re the best Brain I’ve ever had, and you come up with some great ideas.

But I need some time to catch up.

I love you, Brain, but I need you to focus in on the stuff that’s on my 10 Secret Projects list. If you do, I promise I’ll stop filling you with Futurama reruns and Top Chef background noise. I may even stop killing you with beer and whiskey.

It’s your move, Brain. I know you’ll do the right thing.

Sincerely,
Me

PS – Please don’t get upset with me and shut down completely. Given the choice between having too many ideas, and none, I’d rather you keep giving me ideas. I just really need to get caught up.

I promised I would do this, even if it hurt.  This one hurts a little.

1. Shambles – Art continues to trickle in.  Should be more this week.
2. Obnoxious Howler Monkey – I came really close to working on this a couple times this week.
3. Simulated Jocular Anaconda – Unchanged.
   
4. Insignificant Diversionary Anaconda – Still in playtesting.  Did a little bit of work on it.
   
5. Shambles Source Material – Created a google doc to hold this.  Currently consists of the titles for the 6 sections.
6. Codename: Unwashed Repeat Pedestrian – Unchanged.
7. Codename: Enormous Intersected Automaton – Unchanged.
8. Codename: Gremlin Persistent Malice – Unchanged.
   
9. Codename: Cackle Smash Soup – Unchanged.
10. Codename: Tactical Plastic Laser – The only problem with using code names is when you forget what they stand for.  OH YEAH.  Unchanged.

Excuse Of The Week: I had to do a lot of work on the site.

I’ve set up a redirect so that links to the old site should now all be magically redirected to this site.  If you are having trouble accessing a resource on the old site, please comment or email me and I’ll get you sorted out.