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ericconrad.com
Conrad
@ericconrad.com
1.5K followers 610 following 920 posts
SANS Fellow, CTO of Backshore Communications, GIAC GSE #13, SABR member, golden age arcade restorer. Peaks Island, Maine
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ericconrad.com
Conrad @ericconrad.com · Nov 20
To all the new folks here: welcome to Bluesky!

My posts are a mix of infosec, arcade restoration, baseball, and other random stuff

Here's my garage arcade. My son and I restored these games (many were DOA)

Pictured are: Tempest, Scramble, Donkey Kong, Nintendo VS Tetris, Millipede and Asteroids
A photo of my garage arcade on Peaks Island showing the following arcade cabinets: Tempest, Scramble, Donkey Kong, Nintendo VS Tetris, Millipede and Asteroids. Pac-Man and Galaxian are visible in Tempest's reflection
ericconrad.com
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate

I'm spending the Holidays with my family in Alberta, Canada

I can't think of a better place to be right now
Photo of the Canadian Rockies taken near Banff, Alberta, Canada. There are snow-covered pine trees in front of a frozen lake, with snowy mountains behind
December 25, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Reposted by Conrad
catsuka.bsky.social
Someone has just restored "Daicon 3" from a rare 8mm copy.
It's the best version to date.
>> archive.org/details/zgfp...
December 15, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Reposted by Conrad
markmorow.com
I know some folks will aim to do some learning in the new year. The SC-900 book I co-wrote is in this humble bundle www.humblebundle.com/books/micros.... Lots of good cert prep stuff in here.
Humble Tech Book Bundle: Microsoft Development by Microsoft Press and Pearson
Become an expert on all things Microsoft with this bundle of tech ebooks! Each purchase at the price of your choice supports Hello World!
www.humblebundle.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:26 PM
ericconrad.com
Gifted article about The Compleat Beatles (1982):

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/m...

The Beatles were not directly involved, so it has an unusually honest viewpoint (compared with Beatles-approved documentaries)

@archive.org has it, and it's great: archive.org/details/the-...
The Great Beatles Documentary That’s Nearly Impossible to See (Legally)
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
ericconrad.com
Here's our favorite Thomas Dambo troll of the Rhode Island trip

Mrs. Skipper, near the East Bay Bike Path at Kettle Point, Providence

www.eastbayri.com/stories/east...
Mrs. Skipper, a troll by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, in Providence Rhode Island. A large wooden troll (over ten feet tall) troll is perched on the edge of the water, holding a large rusted metal canoe over her body. It looks as it she's carrying the canoe into the ocean Quoted from the article East Providence unveils its finished troll, 'Mrs. Skipper': By Ethan Hartley With a burst of applause and a crowd size befitting the stature and magnitude of the artistic structure that brought them out on a Sunday afternoon, hundreds of onlookers cheered as “Mrs. Skipper” was officially unveiled to the world on a rocky outcropping of Kettle Point. Overlooking the Providence River and the industrial frontage across the water towards Allens Avenue in Providence, the massive troll made from reclaimed bourbon barrels, various odds and ends, and topped with a salvaged rescue boat from Maine, the newest and last addition to Rhode Island’s “Troll Trail” is now complete. “These sculptures here, they hold a message of nature preservation and taking care of our resources,” said Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who has completed more than 160 unique, giant troll structures on five continents throughout the world. “Because the highest point in Rhode Island is the landfill, and it’s not even 100 years old. Imagine by 10 generations down the line how big that landfill will be if we keep doing the things we’re doing right now.” Dambo said that it takes around 1,000 hours from initial concept to finishing each troll structure. He said he had multiple ideas, including an idea involving an excavator and a troll appearing to be hurling cars into the water, but deemed those “too crazy”, and ultimately settled on the end result after spotting rescue boats for sale from a Facebook Marketplace listing out of Maine. It took a team of volunteers nine sessions from Aug. 7 to the 17th to construct it. https://www.eastbayri.com/stories/east-providence-unveils-its-finished-troll-mrs-skipper,133740
November 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
ericconrad.com
Our Thomas Dambo Troll hunt continues, Rhode Island edition

We're attending Friendsgiving with friends from Mass, so we headed to Providence yesterday

We found four in RI today, and plan to visit our fifth (in Providence) tomorrow

Meet Iver Mudslider

www.northkingstownri.gov/1149/Troll-I...
Meet Our New NK Neighbor: ‘Iver Mudslider’ by Elizabeth McNamara | Aug 26, 2025 The troll, created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, was built with the help of local volunteers Ryan Park in North Kingstown is the happy recipient of Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s most recent troll creation – this one named “Iver Mudslider.” The finishing touches were applied Sunday morning (8/24/25) just before an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Three new trolls were unveiled Sunday. In addition to Iver Mudslider, there was “Mrs. Skipper,” just off the East Bay Bike Path in East Providence, and “Young Boulder,” at Arcadia Management Area on the Exeter/Richmond line. They are all part of Dambo’s Thunderstone saga. The sculptures join two at Ninigret Park in Charlestown, so that now there are five stops on the state’s “troll trail.” North Kingstown Recreation Department director Chelsey Dumas-Gibbs got the troll bug after meeting Dambo last year. “I met Thomas when he was doing the trolls at Ninigret Park and I was super excited to be able to bring him here,” she said Sunday after the ribbon was cut. She asked him to check out North Kingstown. “We visited a few parks in North Kingstown. We spent the day together. When Thomas saw this spot, he said it spoke to him, and he was excited about it.” Dumas-Gibbs used grant money, including from the state Commerce Department, and sponsorships. “We started planning in January and here we are.” She said the troll’s cost was upwards of $150,000. Each troll is a little different, depending on the size and how they have to be built, Dumus-Gibbs said. “This was probably a little more complex because of where it’s situated,” she said. “Thomas said that this is one of the most difficult.” Creating the trolls requires a crew of volunteer builders and many of those who worked on Iver were there Sunday, including Zachary and Jennifer Howard. Zachary said he hadn’t seen the Ninigret trolls but when he and Jennifer saw a notice that they were lo…
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 AM
ericconrad.com
On a related note, here's tonight's dessert selection.

KARAZUMUCHO Hot Chili potato chips and "Double Berry & Nut Flavor" Kit Kat bars (per the OCRed and translated text)

I am a sucker for Japanese Kit Kats. These did not disappoint

OCR text in the alt text
A bag of Japanese potato chips and Kit Kats. Here's the OCR text from the potato chips (I apogize, as this is probably an awful translation): JAPA No.1 SPICY SNACK BRAND ΚΟΙΚΕYA KARAMUCHO カラムチ Hey! What's up? An the ling day? Just try our yummy-spicy KARAMUCHO, and say Hiiii! Hot Chili PARTY BAG Enlarged to show texture Net Wt.6.2 oz. (175g) Potato Here's the OCR text from the Kit Kats: Nestle KitKat ほどよい甘さ オトナの甘さ ダブルベリー&ナッッ仕立 枚入 アーモンドペースト 0.18%使用 写真はイメージです 1枚= 1ブレイク 1枚当たり 64 kcal
November 24, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Reposted by Conrad
textfiles.com
Happy Amazing News Day

opensource.microsoft.com/blog/2025/11...
November 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
ericconrad.com
DO NOT THORW
Cardboard box containing framed photos from "The Display Guys" Bolded text says: GLASS DO NOT DROP DO NOT THORW DO NOT LAY FLAT
November 14, 2025 at 10:17 PM
ericconrad.com
If you see this, post a bird
A seagull standing on the downstairs awning at sunset at the Island Lobster Company on Peaks Island, Maine The sun is setting below House Island in the background
November 14, 2025 at 1:20 AM
ericconrad.com
Northern lights over Peaks Island, Maine

Amazing
The northern lights over my yard on Peaks Island, Maine. The sky is a sea of pink and green, shown through the trees
November 12, 2025 at 3:28 AM
ericconrad.com
Achievement unlocked
My Donkey Kong high score at the Texas Toy Museum in Austin. 187,400 points Me in front of a chalk sandwich board at the Texas Toy Museum, pointing to my new Donkey Kong high score
October 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
ericconrad.com
Visited Malin’s Fountain today, another of Thomas Dambo's Trolls

peasepark.org/pease-park-t...
Danish artist, Thomas Dambo, created Malin’s Fountain, a troll sculpture in Pease Park with the help of 150 Austin-based volunteers. Malin is a female troll holding a bowl. She reminds us that we should share water and resources with the animals that live here with us. Hear from Thomas Dambo about our beloved Austin Troll… https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cWng1NHOVB8 Sometimes, the summer times are dry Sometimes, the sky will cry Sometimes, the fountains full of rain Sometimes, an empty drain ‍ Sometimes are good for summer birds Sometimes are cursed with thirst So it always makes a difference when You fill the fountain up again ‍ While Malin's Fountain itself is not a traditional fountain, lacking a link to the underground or a direct water source - it's a fountain that symbolizes the community's strength and ability to come together as one. https://www.thomasdambo.com/works/malins-fountain
October 29, 2025 at 8:54 PM
ericconrad.com
You know it's Halloween in Austin when Moe's Tavern opens for business

Plus two other random photos I took while wandering Austin today

austin.eater.com/2023/10/16/2...
Recent annual Halloween tradition by the Nickel City Bar in Austin, Texas where it dresses up as "Moe's Tavern" from the Simpsons. https://www.nickelcitybar.com/ Rhapsody Mural 1021 E 11th St The gorgeous and colorful mosaic tiles of East Austin’s Rhapsody mural combine to create an animated tribute to East Austin’s musical past. The 50-foot-long artwork was designed in 2003 by University of Texas Art Professor John Yancey to commemorate a time when blues and jazz music filtered through the east side of segregated Austin. Yancey, a longtime local resident, searched through old photos and documents to help inform his design, though he has seen much of the change in East Austin firsthand. The work was part of a larger project called “Eleven East,” funded by the Austin Revitilization Authority to memorialize African American institutions along East 11th Street. The plaza where it sits, Charles E. Urdy Plaza, is named for a respected community leader. Alt text from: https://blackhistorybikeride.com/stop/rhapsody-mural/ The Mexic-Arte Museum’s El Mero Muro is a mural program located on the exterior wall of the building on 5th St. and Congress Avenue. Conveying powerful messages of relevant issues, the outdoor murals of the Museum are in a unique and highly visible area of downtown Austin. The Museum’s most recent collaboration has been with Puerto Rican artist Fabian Rey, who created Dale Shine, inspired by the imagery of “Chente” Rodriguez’s Dale Shine design, created during the late 70’s. The phrase “Dale Shine” itself roughly translates to “give it shine” or “shine it up,” which resonates both literally (shoeshining) and metaphorically (uplifting or empowering). By channeling imagery from that era, Rey pays tribute to working-class dignity and Latinx heritage, while also addressing larger social themes such as labor, identity and pride. Fabian Rey was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is an artist and muralist based in Austin, Texas. His work has been featured in murals in Austin and across the world, including most recently at Angers, France for the 2024 Summer Olympics. As an educator, Fabian has work for middle schools all across the world developing art programs and encouraging the art of creative thinking. Recently, he worked with Austin Achieve Public School in Pflugerville creating and painting a mural with the help of the 8th grade students art class. He has painted across the globe in countries like Puerto Rico, France, Italy and United States. In 2018, he teamed up with the crew of Something Cool Studios, an art collective in the heart of Austin’s East Side, where he makes art and creates workshops and community driven art shows during the year. Alt text from: https://mexic-artemuseum.org/event/dale-shine/
October 29, 2025 at 12:20 AM
ericconrad.com
I booked tickets for Wilco's Solid Sound at MOCA in North Adams, MA. Billy Bragg and Wilco (and hopefully Natalie Merchant, fingers crossed) singing songs from Mermaid Avenue

I've spent a ton of time in western MA, but I haven't been to North Adams in ages. I can't wait

solidsoundfestival.com
Home Page
solidsoundfestival.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:20 AM
ericconrad.com
Back in Austin for the week and my Donkey Kong high score still stands at the Texas Toy Museum

(I know you were all worried about that)

I didn't have time to beat it today, but I will later this week

austintoymuseum.org
High score sandwich/chalk board outside of the Texas Toy Museum in Austin Texas, It shows a series of high score on various games, including my 184,700 high score on Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong high score screen showing "EC" with a high score of 184,700
October 27, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Conrad
markmorow.com
20 years ago today, the White Sox completed their World Series sweep of the Astros. This game recap, and many more memories from this season are in the SABR book released earlier this year sabr.org/latest/sabr-....
SABR Digital Library: The 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox: Grinders and Gamers – Society for American Baseball Research
sabr.org
October 27, 2025 at 12:04 AM
ericconrad.com
The control panel harness arrived this morning, and Donkey Kong is back in the rotation

(Don't judge my gameplay, I'm plying one-handed)
October 17, 2025 at 11:08 PM
ericconrad.com
My Friend Heather has a show at the Crow's Nest gallery on Peaks Island. This is my favorite photo from Heather's show

www.instagram.com/hboody/
Taken from Heather's Instagram Post: Putting art out into the world and promoting creativity during times of extreme unease has felt extravagant. Throughout the process we’ve continuously asked “What’s The Point?” I don’t have a clear answer but this week I have been so appreciative of the kind, encouraging conversations I’ve had with so many of you who have simply said “This is beautiful. Keep going”...and so I do. And I will. And I am grateful. Thank you. The photo shows a tree branch with yellow leaves floating on a dark blue pond on Peaks Island with dark tree limbs in the background. It would look Halloween-ish, except for the riot of color from the tree leaves
October 15, 2025 at 2:56 AM
ericconrad.com
I'm hosting an island arcade party/barbecue on Peaks Island on Saturday, and just received this shipping notification for the missing Donkey Kong control panel harness

There is no such thing as an arcade emergency, but I hope it gets here Friday. Donkey Kong is my all-time favorite game
Boring UPS tracking update that says: Expected Delivery by Friday 17 October 2025 by 9:00pm USPS is now in possession of your item as of 10:56 am on October 14, 2025 in CIRCLEVILLE, UT 84723. BTW: 9:00PM means Saturday at the earliest, since it needs to get to Peaks Island on a ferry.
October 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
ericconrad.com
You can buy a pristine version of this old Corgi Juniors Mercedes 280 SL car off eBay for less than $10 plus shipping

Or you can do this

I celebrate this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti98...
Text over a Youtube video that says "I spent maybe 15-20 hours experimenting on different ways to make a new windshield. Casting epoxy etc. This is what I came up with. It shows the chassis of a toy car that was stripped of yellow paint, with the cabin nestled on top of a piece of shaped wood that will later be used to form the new windshield.
October 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Conrad
danpasternack.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 is a milestone in comedy history. Not only is it the 50th anniversary of the 1st SNL, today is also the final new Dr. Demento show. After 55 years, Barret Hansen is hanging up his top hat. Please go to drdemento.com to hear his all time demented top 40 countdown special.
Dr. Demento
drdemento.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
ericconrad.com
I'm overdue for a #Conradsarcade post

I rewired my Donkey Kong cabinet. It had a modern switching power supply and the harness was a hacked-up rat's nest

I installed an original linear power supply and rewired the cabinet with a new harness. Here's what I got: www.youtube.com/shorts/YVdHF...

1/2
Sanyo 20EZ scrolling
YouTube video by Eric Conrad
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:11 PM
ericconrad.com
I find Odd Tinkering's videos entertaining and relaxing. I often watch them before I got to bed

He lovingly and obsessively restores everything from eleventy one year old toasters to this flood damaged Atari 2600

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ET...
Restoring Flooded Atari 2600 - Retro Console Restoration ASMR
YouTube video by Odd Tinkering
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:28 PM
ericconrad.com
Finally fired Android and switched to an iPhone 17 Max Pro. This is after 10+ years using Android phones: I had a Google Nexus in 2015

The final straw was the endless Gemini popups that are difficult or impossible to disable in Android. Disabling Apple Intelligence a piece of cake on iPhone
AI tuba meme, captioned Me (girl pinned into a wall). Gemini (the tuba), and My Pixel 9 phone (girl playing the tuba)
October 8, 2025 at 10:08 PM