Videos

Culture, retro, technology, Video Games

Rehashing an old Mario trick

| be3n

After watching the Mario movie with kids, i dropped original NES Super Mario Bros on them.  They enjoyed the new (to them) gameplay, while marveling at the limitations: you cannot go back?  With me remembering a surprising number of secrets, i got a bug in me to revive this ancient trick.  Unfortunately, i wasn’t able to get it working correctly in the limited lives i had.  Undaunted, i finally completed it just a few days later while waiting on an OS upgrade.

my favorite part was that it overflowed the numerals and became pictures when displaying the remaining lives. if you got too many extra lives, it ended the game.

Super Mario Lives - Crown Blue Square

Food, gardening, Recreation

It’s starting to look a lot like blackberries!

| be3n

Blackberries forming on a bush

My blackberries are still a ways off, but this morning they are starting to look a bit like berries.  The bush itself has grown incredibly the past few weeks. I’ve added the recent growth to the time lapse. (flashing lights warning) enjoy. (updated June 17th)

art, Culture, Drone, Recreation, technology, Travel

I had to fish my drone out of the LA River!

| be3n
YouTube player

Filming the mural that is called, “The Great wall of Los Angeles.” i crashed my drone by being a terrible pilot (i need more practice in tight spaces}). I had to fish my DJI Mini 2 out of the LA River. good thing it crashed onto a dry patch and suffered minimal damage.

The Great Wall of Los Angeles is a mural on one wall of a one mile stretch of the LA River. If you don’t know that, it is the flood drainage system of Los Angeles.  There was a river at one point, but now it is a concrete riverbank accented with chain link.

At first i thought i just needed to flip it over and i could liftoff.  alas, i had to construct an elaborate fishing pole of entangling loops attached to a telescoping dusting pole i had.  Just out of reach, it took nearly 30 minutes and countless attempts to ensnare my little mini.

Drone Crash View Drone Crash Damage

The look on my face when i finally recovered my drone
The look on my face when i finally recovered my drone
art, Culture, Recreation, revolution, Travel

I Visited Niland, The Salton Sea, and Slab City.

| be3n

Niland CA - Beach Sunset

I traveled to The Salton Sea to meet some of the alternative communities and see the incredible artwork coming from the area.  Also it’s a great place to get in some drone flights.

Niland CA - flooded streets Niland CA - Art Niland CA - Beach Niland CA - Beach Art Niland CA - Beach Art Niland CA - Beach Art Niland CA - Beach Art - Phone Booth of Love Niland CA - Beach Art - Bus Stop Niland CA - ArtworkNiland CA - Artwork and be3n credit: https://instagram.com/Christi.lugtu
Outside of the town of Niland sits the remains of a Camp Dunlap (commissioned in 1942).  All that remain are the concrete slabs that give Slab City its name.  Since the 1980s people have been camping there for free.  Now a few permanent encampments and even a few event venues exist.  There is no water or electricity or any other government services.  There is an eBike rental place, an internet cafe, a Hostel, a Library, and the East Jesus art exhibition.

YouTube player

Continue reading “I Visited Niland, The Salton Sea, and Slab City.” →

automation, gardening, Recreation, technology

My garden keeps growing!

| be3n

Home Assistant: Garden Panel

I’ve kept working on my garden. i have this sweet Home Assistant panel.  I am still working on automation, but integration is coming along nicely. I am using Home Assistant as my platform.  Most of my garden sensors are command line sensors.  I even figured out what i was doing wrong with command line switches (using capital letters).  Now that I have had my camera in place long enough, I have a pretty decent test time lapse.

**  warning flashing lights **

download time lapse

Live cam