Author: Brian Enigma

Brian Enigma is a Portlander, manipulator of atoms & bits, minor-league blogger, and all-around great guy. He typically writes about the interesting “maker” projects he's working on, but sometimes veers off into puzzles, software, games, local news, and current events.

(Intelligent) Live Video Streaming for Protesting

It’s not always the best idea to livestream from a protest directly to social media. There’s good reason to redact the faces of fellow protesters. This guide steps you through setting up a stream to a private location, where a friend can grab the video and redact faces in near-real-time.

Counting 61 (or 57) Days of Quarantine

I really enjoy receiving AdaBoxes. They are fun little surprise example projects to build using hardware I might not have thought to get on my own. After completion, they often go into my drawer of available microcontrollers. I’ve found it great to have spare microcontrollers around because when the idea for a project bites me, … Continue reading Counting 61 (or 57) Days of Quarantine

Laser-Cutting Cantina Coasters

Last month, Christine and I went to Disneyland. And more specifically, we went to the new Galaxy’s Edge section (“Star Wars Land”). You get to spend time immersed in Batuu, in a way that’s unlike any of the other Trivial Pursuit wedge lands of the park. Cast Members are in character. All of the signs … Continue reading Laser-Cutting Cantina Coasters

It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this $NOUN

For the last couple of years, I’ve been using AWS Lambda to make Twitter and Mastodon bots. (Full disclosure: I work for a company that got acquired by Amazon a few years ago.) It’s more reliable than running them on a random box I own (for instance, like I have to do for Video Glitch … Continue reading It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this $NOUN

Making Travel Games

At the time I’m writing this, I’ll be traveling to France in a couple of weeks, culminating in a week at Paris Disneyland, to meet up with my love, Christine, who is already there. (This post is pre-scheduled to appear after I arrive, so as not to spoil the surprise. Shhhhh!) We have a lot … Continue reading Making Travel Games

Laser-Cut Spell Saga Boxes

The story of Spell Saga, a tabletop novel, is long, twisty, and goes back to 2013. You might say it’s a bit of a… saga. The fancy “zero edition” cards arrived earlier this year, and I figured I do a little something nice to preserve them. I threw them in card sleeves (blue = deck … Continue reading Laser-Cut Spell Saga Boxes

Experiments With Mineral Water …With Lasers

In recent weeks, I’ve upped my game on mineral water exploration and experiments. I’ve had a SodaStream for almost ten years, and for a long time I barely knew the difference between seltzer, soda water, club soda, and tonic. (Hint: two of those are the same.) Let me share with you what I’ve learned and … Continue reading Experiments With Mineral Water …With Lasers

Diving Into the Origins of “Peanut Butter” [Updated]

No, not the creamy or crunchy sandwich spread that rhymes with “gif.” I’m talking about a more obscure usage of the term that you won’t find in your Merriam-Webster. You see, there’s a podcast I listen to, Do By Friday. They “challenge yourself, challenge your friends” every week. The hosts perform a task, watch some … Continue reading Diving Into the Origins of “Peanut Butter” [Updated]

The Award for Best Oscar Party Goes To…

I have a friend who’s been hosting Oscar parties for as long as I remember. They’re always big ordeals, with acceptance speech bingo and a predictions guessing game — both with prizes. A few years ago I downloaded a 3D model of the Oscar from Thingiverse¹. The 3D printer I had at the time just … Continue reading The Award for Best Oscar Party Goes To…