I added somethign new to the webside of the BBS, a flash based Telnet client that runs in a web browser.

Flashterm is an ANSI capable telnet terminal for the web written for the Adobe Flash Player plugin developed by Peter Nitsch.

From what I can tell it works much better than its Java counterpart, though the Java version will stay for those who do not use Flash.

To log into the BBS via Flashtern, just click here

A month or so ago I purchased a 1st generation, DiY TiVo. It is a refurbed unit that is missing its hard drive, I figure for 15.00 (+ shipping) what could go wrong? quite a bit actually.

Firstly, you have to format your new hard drive so the unit will understand what in the heck you want it to do. After searching the web for instructions on a fresh install, I gave up and purchased a program called InstantCake. To use it, you have to use a PC, move your CD/DVD ROM (by itself) to the primary slave position, and the drive(s) you want to bake in the secondary IDE master (slave) position. They suggest disconnecting any other drive not associated with this process.

The hard drive I originally selected was a Western Digital 320GB Caviar Blue... that was a mistake, Do not try and use this drive for an upgrade, it will not work, they don't play nice with the TiVo and will not boot. Luckily I had an extra 120GB Seagate laying around which will give me up to 120 hours of recording.

Overall, the complete system ran less than 150.00 (including the hard drive that Im using in a backup PC instead)

UPDATE: I had to make one more trip to Best Buy and grab a $10.99 cable splitter, mainly because the HD channels couldnt be tuned in using the TiVo, the TiVo is using the s-cable input on the TV now.

Ever since this BBS machine was built, I would get a high pitched beeping that sounded like an erratic system beep, I thought we had narrowed it down to a memory issue. I swapped out RAM with no success, so me and my tech buddy figured it was some system cache causing the issue.

After two years, I got tired of the noise and decided to hunt it down, or maybe shut off the system speaker. As I was pulling the machine out of its cubbyhole, I noticed the noise was on the wrong side of the case, if sounded like it was coming from the Hard Drive. A quick search on google confirmed that my seagate HD was the culprit.

I downloaded Seatools and ran a couple of tests, the drive passed, and actually shut up for the most part for a good 6-10 months.

It started chirping again last week, and a seatools test failed that drive this time.

I purchase a new drive (actually, I used the 160GB drive I was going to use on my DiY Tivo, I purchased a 320GB for the Tivo now)

After fighting with some cloning tools for the last 8 hours, we are back online (otherwise you wouldnt be reading this). if the upgrade would have faile, it probably would have been the end of the BBS, as both the OS and the BBS were on that drive, and I wouldnt want to spend the weeks it would take to rebuild everything

I'm quite happy... I managed to pick up another Ertl Cowtown for a reasonable price.

Other pickups were a batch of figures from Superfigs, mostly figures that can be used in a pulp style game... my favorite? the Monkey pilot, he will be the first one I start on when I fire back up my weekly painting schedule.

 

Just got back from ReaperCon in Dallas Tx, and had a blast. learned new stuff, met new folks, painted some stuff, traded in a bunch of old metal for new, and got in contact with a long lost friend.

One of my classes was Conversions, which was supposed to be taught by Bob Ridolfi, but he was unable to attend for personal reasons. However all was not lost as I still learned a bunch from the "sub" (Froggy the Great on the reaper boards).

The other class showed how to make urban bases, and by urban they meant 40k(ish), still learned a lot that I can apply towards the pulp figures I am working on, I will just have to tone it down a bit.

There were a few issues at the con that I could see, there didn't seem to be enough seating if you wanted to paint, and paint and take was always full. I would like to see more tables for next year as the convention seems to get bigger. Also on the subject of paint and take, as someone mentioned, the figured seemed like they were primed with talcum powder. The other issue was I could never seem to get the times for a speed paint or Sophie says event. Last year they had sign ups for all of those and the table was always hopping, and this year it seemed as they only had one event a day. Yes I could have asked, but luckily(?) I was busy enough that I forgot/didn't think about it.

Outside of ReaperCon we went by Fry's electronics, and ate at some really good restaurants: (this is more of a note to myself for next time)
Angry Dog - 2726 Commerce St, Dallas
Sonny Brian's BBQ -  West End, Dallas
Two Rows - 17225 Dallas Pkwy, Addison
Best Thai - 4135 Belt Line Rd Addison

I like old video & computer games, recently I was introduced to Age of Empires 2 & the Conquerors expansion. before that I pulled out my Gameboy Advance SP and went game hunting, certain DOS games have been ported over, and apart from the screen size they were true to the originals.

One such purchase was Wolf 3D, after I hit the payment button, I went looking at the reviews and they were awful, I felt like I made a mistake placing the order.  Once I started playing it, I had to ask, "what is wrong with those people" of course the graphics and sound seem out of date.. its a 15 year old game! and it plays just like the 15 year old game did 15 years ago. Other ports I like are the Lost Vikings & Xevious (an old arcade game).

I dont need the latest and greatest game, or gaming rig for that matter (though mines not too shabby), when so many older games are out there to be discovered and played.

.

... and probably last for a while, unless I see a Lledo vehicle I havent seen before...

I wish the new owners luck, and we are looking forward to GenCon 09!

EDIT and apparently its an attempt at a hostile takeover...

a couple of gangsters are attacked by some nazis outside of a diner... kinda sounds like a set up for a joke...

left to right: Superfigs, Copplestone, Steve Barber & Privateer Press. in front of a Plasticville diner

10 years of textfiles.com

great resource for pleople looking for old BBS files, many of the games running on my BBS originated from there, after I found out I no longer had an archive of the files.

Congradulations and thanks for all the work you have done!