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ericconrad.com
Conrad
@ericconrad.com
1.5K followers 600 following 930 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
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
@joshjohnsoncomedy.bsky.social completed the scavenger hunt at the Texas Toy Museum when I was there, but I was too shy to say hello

Loved his show when he performed at the State Theater in Portland Maine

www.blcomedy.com/events/josh-...
Illuminated arc deco sign outside the State Theater in Portland, Maine announcing Josh Johnson performing August 27th & 28th 2025.
October 30, 2025 at 8:56 PM
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
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
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
ericconrad.com
I previously recapped the monitor, and it was locked in. After a lot of troubleshooting I tried using a different harness that I fortunately had on-hand

And: magic! Locked in again

I'm missing a non-hacked up control panel harness, which I just ordered www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/stor...
Restored Sanyo 20EZ monitor running Donkey Kong. This monitor dates to 1981 and runs on 100 volts (Japanese power). There's a transformer that steps voltage down to 100 volts from 120 (US power)
October 11, 2025 at 8:15 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
ericconrad.com
You read my mind.

This gift was quite generous: I'm happy to repay in kind in the unlikely event the Yankees beat the Red Sox

LET'S GO!!
Middleton whiskey very rare vintage 2021
September 29, 2025 at 12:35 AM
ericconrad.com
Here's my MLB postseason bracket. Yes, I'm being a homer for the Red Sox, but I'm convinced that whoever emerges from the Sox/Yankees wild card round will beat Toronto
MLB postseason wildcard bracket showing The Red Sox playing the Yankees, the Tigers playing the Guardians, the Reds playing the Dodgers, and the Padres playing the Cubs. I picked the Red Sox to win the whole thing, which probably isn't likely, but I'm a fan, so there it is
September 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
ericconrad.com
Buckle up, @khaxan.bsky.social! We're going for a ride

@nedpyle.com @crincoli.org @fpieces.bsky.social @iananderson.bsky.social @ajohnsocyber.bsky.social @restinbeachface.bsky.social @bjsplash.bsky.social @zarchasmpgmr.bsky.social @sqlcheesecake.bsky.social @blemley.us
MLB postseason wildcard bracket showing The Red Sox playing the Yankees, the Tigers playing the Guardians, the Reds playing the Dodgers, and the Padres playing the Cubs
September 28, 2025 at 11:44 PM
ericconrad.com
Nope!
The Red Sox clinch a postseason berth vs the Tigers
September 27, 2025 at 1:53 AM
ericconrad.com
You're welcome?!?
MLB standings as of Wednesday night, September 24th. They Yankees are tied with the Blue Jays with 4 games left in the season; both have clinched a playoff spot. The Red Sox in 2nd place for the wild card, with a 98.3% chance of making the post season
September 25, 2025 at 2:29 AM
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That felt good
Screenshot that says: Ok, your subscription has been cancelled We’ve sent a confirmation to your email on file. You may continue to watch Disney+ until September 21, 2025. Changed your mind? No problem. Restart your subscription to continue enjoying Disney+.
September 20, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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This photo is epic

His name is Strumpfel. Of course it is
Angelika Warmuth / Reuters Oliver Strumpfel attempts to break the world record for beer-mug carrying, with 31 mugs, but he drops some along the way, at the Hofbräuzelt tent at the Gillamoos festival in Abensberg, Germany, on September 7, 2025. Link:https://www.theatlantic.com/photography/archive/2025/09/photos-of-the-week/684178/?gift=vG7g0tQ0gJx3graXU42GZtAOqYw3hgkk9R8z-b_Aphk&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
September 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
ericconrad.com
I also have a signed Joe DiMaggio 3x5 index card

I mailed a baseball card and index card (with a SASE) to Ted William's house in 1981. They returned unsigned weeks later. The only HOFer to refuse to sign my card

But hey: I own a baseball card that slept at Ted William's house #cardsky
3x5 index card signed by Joe DiMaggio
September 6, 2025 at 4:33 AM
ericconrad.com
I've got D (Lloyd Waner) as well #cardsky

It's going to annoy me if I went with the wrong signed 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats baseball card from my collection
The Fleer Baseball Greats Series 1 baseball card set was released in 1961. The set consisted of 88 baseball cards and each card from the 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats Series 1 baseball card set is listed below. Notes: Names that appear in bold print have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Names that do not have links, never played or managed in the major leagues. To view an individual player or manager's checklist of baseball cards, select their name, then select the Cards option in the biographical data section. Source: https://www.baseball-almanac.com/baseball_cards/baseball_cards_oneset.php?s=1961fle01
September 6, 2025 at 4:26 AM
ericconrad.com
I'm going with Joe Sewell because he signed my 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats baseball card.
The 1961 Fleer baseball set contained 154 regular-sized cards honoring careers of Hall-of-Famers Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, Ted Williams and many lesser known old-timers. Released in 2 series, the 2nd series cards #89-#154 are somewhat tougher to find. Fleer was prevented from using current players by Topps' exclusive rights, so they issued their Baseball Greats set using retired players, managers, executives and the two league commissioners. Luckily Fleer had their own exclusive rights deal with Ted Williams, who quickly became the most in demand card in the set. Source: https://www.baseball-cards.com/vintage-baseball-cards/1961-fleer.php
September 6, 2025 at 2:58 AM
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@markmorow.com did his level best to land an interview with Frank Thomas. It didn't happen (he really tried)

That being sad: Mark, me and @ajohnsocyber.bsky.social collectively got to interview a bunch of MLB players, and that was totally amazing

sabr.org/bioproj/pers...
Screenshot from a SABR article about Frank Thomas. Here's the lnk: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/frank-thomas/ The article begins: Frank Thomas This article was written by Mark Morowczynski - Eric Conrad Frank Thomas (Courtesy of the Chicago White Sox)Being enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown puts a player in an elite class among their peers. Achieving the required 75 percent of votes in their first year of eligibility is something only 60 players have done. Frank Thomas was one of those 60; he also did things in his career that nobody else has accomplished. Thomas was a contact hitter trapped inside a slugger’s body.1 He is the only player to have seven consecutive seasons with at least a .300 batting average, 100 runs batted in, 100 runs scored, 100 base on balls, and 20 home runs. He achieved this feat from 1991 to 1997, in the heart of Baseball’s steroid era.
August 30, 2025 at 12:33 AM