Checking in with my DC fam before posting to a larger audience.

Would you be interested in a free power wheelchair?

Well used, but works fine. Charger included.

Some cracking and wear-and-tear on the upholstery and rubber joystick boot. Has been stored in master closet (non-smoking home) as a backup chair until I moved it into the garage today. While it's functional for its original purpose, it's cosmetically tired.

The underlying platform could serve as a fairly powerful combat robotics foundation. Or a Dalek.

EDIT: Claimed with pickup arrangements scheduled. Y'all are the best!

https://preview.redd.it/513hy5s1w2bh1.jpg?width=831&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e5a3b49af520118cc256575384c7304419ab6524

https://preview.redd.it/rwqqo533w2bh1.jpg?width=898&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d9914e4f291c36c7c0872d79c1321427e8e79b0c

https://preview.redd.it/f5r58533w2bh1.jpg?width=897&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0945b4903dcc58a84dab61494db45d4f83f71a1

Was listening to today's episode about the Venezuelan earthquake, paused the video, returned ~3 minutes later, resumed play for ~5 seconds then it cut off. Now the video is no longer available. Refresh? Video no longer available or is private. Go to NYT Podcast channel > Videos > Video not listed.

The same issue has occurred with a few videos recently. Listening, pause, resume, cuts-off, video gone.

What's going on with episodes being taken down? (Or going private?)

Not sure it matters; I'm a NYT subscriber but listen to The Daily (and other NYT podcasts) via YouTube Premium for convenience.

My neighbor has significant mobility and heat sensitivity health issues, but I'd like to take them to pick up a burger and some ice cream (Culver's/DQ/etc.) and park someplace to see a fireworks show. Hearing music or speeches is not a high priority. Just want them to see some explosions and hear a few booms while I keep the AC on.

Any spots you might recommend around the Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Buford, Rest Haven, Mulberry areas?

How would you attach stranded wires to the boards pictured?

The wires will be attached from the 'bottom' of the boards (left example) so they don't obstruct the LEDs.

Adafruit NeoPixel Jewel 7

I think I'd prefer to solder stranded wire directly into the plated through-holes. But also considering soldering in single header pins and using DuPont connectors instead.

My concern about the headers/connectors

• All connections will be individual posts, no shared rows.
• They'll be hanging upside down in a bumpy environment. (It'll be attached to the underside of an arcade cabinet trackball controller.)
• The wires are entering/exiting the area parallel to the board which means the headers/connectors would create an unwanted vertical projection.

My concern with soldering stranded wire directly

• The 'backside' of the solder joint will be the front-side of the board. So my little silver cones will be right in-between all those surface mount LEDs.
• Maybe soldering stranded wire into those holes a bigger risk since the littel silver cones might be more likely to tilt over vs. the header pins which are likely to maintain a straighter solder cone.(?)

My through-hole soldering skills are reasonable, but not professional. Using NeoPixel Jewels (LED rings) for the first time. Numerous, previous LED projects have all used NeoPixel strips where you solder onto copper pads. Other through-hole projects have had all components on one side and all of the pointy, silver cones on the other side.

Background

Making an arcade cabinet where the joystick/button panel's front edge needs to have a large roundover edge. The radius will likely be 1" to 2" (TBD).

Plan

My plan is to laminate 2-3 pieces of 3/4" MDF to build up enough volume for the large roundover edge. Probably a 24" x 16" sheet with two 24" x 4"(?) stacked strips to build up the edge to be routed. Wood glue, lots of clamps for even pressure, plenty of time to cure.

I've some experience hand routing and plunge routing with MDF, but never had to laminate 3/4" MDF to build up more volume. I'll be using a router table and making multiple passes to avoid removing too much material at once.

Assuming I can achieve a physically smooth surface, the piece will be primed then covered in adhesive-backed vinyl artwork. So, not as concerned about the color differences of the glue lines.

Questions

Is it safe to route a roundover edge into MDF that's been laminated together or will it blow apart?

Will I encounter any issues with the glue lines disrupting the physical smoothness of the curve? (Not concerned about coloring but would rather not have a ridge or gutter disrupt the vinyl artwork.)

Thank you for any suggestions!

Question

Are mock-phishing security awareness campaigns driving employees to ignore most/all corporate communications?

Have you or your orgs experienced a loss of trust in company communications, increased employee disengagement, or other negative side effects of security awareness mock-phishing campaigns?

Do you think company leaders are aware that their attempts at communication may be getting completely ignored as a side effect of anti-phishing testing?

The Pattern

We're all familiar with the variety of test phishing emails sent to employees dressed up to look like corporate communications, survey requests, etc. These test emails have escalated to the point of using personalized "Dear robot_ankles" naming, incorporating company logos, using known source email domains (with an l in place of an i, etc.), copying official company email signatures, etc.

In short; Yes, excellent phishing crafting.

The Impact

People I've talked to no longer trust, read, or pay attention to any corporate communications. Training invitations, town hall announcements, employee engagement surveys, and more are simply ignored at this point.

This is further complicated in an org that utilizes third-party partners for services which means a wide variety of unfamiliar source domains.

Leaders lament the lack of employee survey engagement for example, but may not realize it's because we're not clicking on any of the third-party partners they've hired to conduct such surveys.

Did Atari's Marble Madness arcade cabinet have multiple variations of their side art?

I'm trying to determine the most official or accurate side art but finding two common variations. Maybe both were used at different times? Or maybe one is a modern reproduction with adjustments?

Interested in any historical details before I start recreating a vector version of this side art for my own use.

Variant A?

In this operator flyer sheet, it looks like the ATARI letters themselves have multiple colors and gradients. It's obscured by the guy making tons of profits from Marble Madness, but notice the "A" is light blue, the "T" is a gradient, and the "A" is a dark blue. Notice the gradient lines themselves use a few different shades of blue.

https://preview.redd.it/dyhqjibj4k6h1.jpg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=578fc5cb112278ebb05f19c8a2cd2b2ff33dc8a4

Here's another picture with the same style. This pic was on Klov dot com:

https://preview.redd.it/wldr49m05k6h1.jpg?width=346&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=03e7d740fcb611c75e8c6ec823324304d5dbc606

While the version above is probably the most accurate due to being shown in an Atari operator ad and being on Klov, I don't see many examples of the multi-color/gradient ATARI letters.

Variant B

OTOH, This next version seems to be VERY common. It has all ATARI letters the same color and the lines only use two colors. Although this seems to be the most common to find, but I suspect it's a modern, restoration variant:

https://preview.redd.it/p2n9jr8u4k6h1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a0ef8435ee762cd6f77f63182e7963f8fab5edb

There's also an Arcade-1up variant that's basically the marquee recycled so I'm pretty sure that's not authentic.

Southeastern US.

Want to hire pros to replace stairway and upstairs carpet. While sub-floor exposed, want to fix all stairway and floor squeaks. Also want to level the seams between some floor sheets so I can't feel the uneven transition through the carpet.

Do carpet installers typically offer the service of fixing squeaks and leveling floor seams before laying down new carpet? I realize this would cost extra, but is it even something they tend to deal with?

Am I better off removing and disposing of the carpet myself, affecting repairs, then hiring an installer to simply install new carpet? Or could my floor fixes impede the installers prep work?

Basically, how should I divide up this project? If at all?

Currently Situation

• 4 wired, 9V battery backup Smoke detectors: FireX i4618AC
• 3 wired, 9V battery backup Smoke AND Carbon Monoxide detectors: Kidde KN-COPE-1C
• All detectors seem to communicate with each other over the electrical wires
• Non-smoking home, no major grease cooking, always use hood vent over stove, one small low-dander pupper
• ~13 year old residential home in GA, USA.

Five years ago, had odd false alarms from one of the original combo smoke/CO detectors so decided to replace all detectors since they were 8 years old anyway.

Problem

Yesterday, had odd false alarm from one of the 'new' smoke detectors in an entirely different floor/area. That makes two Kidde-related detectors throwing false alarms in my experience. Quick searching suggests Kidde is no longer a trusted brand, but no intent to debate that here.

I want to replace all detectors with a non-Kidde, non-FireX reputable brand. BRK has been recommended, but I'm open to other long-term brands and models.

Question

I think I want 4 hardwired smoke detectors and 3 hardwired combo smoke/CO detectors, but it seems hardwired smoke/CO detectors are somewhat rare. Why is that?

Would prefer to purchase from a major US brick & mortal retailer like Lowes, Home Depot, WalMart, etc. to reduce chances of online counterfeits.

Recommendations for replacements?

edit: Pretty sure I don't want Google, Nest, wi-fi, smart device, IoT or anything requiring a cellular telephone software application.

Stairs, Baseboards, Ceiling Exhaust Vents

Residential home medium pile carpet. Painted baseboards I'd like to hit with a bristle attachment. Bathroom exhaust fans that collect dust on their ceiling intake grills.

No need for any floors -got those covered already.

Features I think I want

Motorized brushroll for carpeted stairs would be nice, but I suspect a suction-powered brushroll might be the only option. (?)

Hose with wand attachment for reaching bathroom exhaust ceiling grills.

A shoulder strap might be nice, but anything carry able is probably fine.

Replaceable bags.

Plug-in power. Not cordless.

I DON'T need all of the attachments to click to the unit and be carried around.

Budget

Less than $300 USD preferred.

Considering so far

• Sanitaire SC3683D Canister Vacuum, Red
• Sanitaire SL3681A Professional Compact Canister Vacuum Cleaner
• Simplicity Sport Series Bagged
• Definitely open to other suggestions!