Merlins Tower

Computer Controlled Beer Tap?

Posted on August 11th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Beer, Craft, Hack, Weird Stuff.

Ok I want one of these - Seems this older PC is now seeing better times - Looks like they recycled an old pc into a nice new PC with beer tap. I would like mine with Palulner. Mmm Good beer. So what is your favorite blend of Hops, Yeast, and Water? As I just mentioned one of my Favorites is Paulner Beir from German, I also enjoy savoring the flavor of a nice hand crafted Micro Brew like Golden Monkey from Victory Brewing, or even a nice flavor infused beer like Lindeman’s (Love the Cherry, Raspberry, Apple - OK I love them all) MMM Beer - Ben Franklin Said it best - “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” -

Merlin
Technorati Tags: Beer, Recycle, Recycling, PC, Lindeman, Vicroty+Beer, Golden+Monkey, Beer, Ben+Franklin, Beer+Tap, Mod, Hack

0 comments.

A few interesting Items at Ebay

Posted on April 1st, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Art, Life, Weird Stuff.

While shopping on the old ebay today I found their high lighted products pretty interesting as you can see:

I am placing my bid on the Evaporated Water - But they have some competition as there is the company BuyDehydratedWater.com that is offering FREE Samples. Be sure to sign up and get your free sample today.

I might try and purchase a clue as I really need one. But Maybe I should purchase a Vowel as I don’t know when I could use an extra one. You never know when you might run out of vowels. I sure would love to purchase my face on Mt Rushmore but I just don’t have enough cash to purchase that one. And There is no way I am purchasing a Cow Lick. I have enough problems with my hair now. :-)

I am sure they will be sold out of the Electoral Votes as that I think will be quite popular.

Oh well - Time to get out of the time machine and Wish Everyone Happy April Fools Day.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Merlin -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Technorati Tags: Dehydrated, Water, Dehydrated+Water, Mt, Rushmore, mount, electoral, votes, ebay, evaporated, water, cow, lick, april, fools

3 comments.

Cool New Fountain Pen: Pilot Petit1 Fountain Pen

Posted on March 13th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else.

One of the readers wrote to me asking if I have tried this pen yet. Honestly this was the first time I seen it. (I might purchase one in the near future) This looks like it would be a nice everyday fountain pen that you can take with you when you want to have a little class with you at all times.

I am not really fond of the see thru looks of this but it I would rather see this in an all black or solid color instead. But on the other hand this pen has many colors available. Apple Green  - Apricot Orange - Baby Pink  - Black  - Blue  - Blue Black  - Cherry Pink  - Clear Blue  - Mandarin Orange  - Red  - Takoizu Green  - Violet and I am sure you will possibly find one that you like - I do like the Blue Black or the Black one. (links all link to JetPen)

Reading the reviews on the site (You have to look at each color to see all the reviews - What a pain) but a few people mentioned that the pen will leak a little in the cap and a few drops of in can be seen in the cap as well. They mostly state that this is a smooth writer. The nib is rated at a Japanese Med or an American/Euro Fine Nib.

For the cost of this pen only $4.95 - I would say this would be a pen to try. AND this pen can be refilled as well. The pen takes a refill which are 3 for 2.95. And quite possibly this pen can be filled with your own ink using a fountain pen refill kit. (Can not be positive as I don't own one)

Again for the Low cost of the pen and it can be refilled I would recommend this pen. 

Technorati Tags: Pilot, Fountain, Pen, Pilot+Fountain+pen, Petit1, Petit, Multi+Colors, Refill, Refillable, Ink, Analog, Jet+Pens, Office+Pron, Gadget

1 comment.

New Fountain Pen Ink: Noodler’s Purple

Posted on March 9th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else.

Came home this evening and found a surprise package on my door stoop - Some Ink I ordered earlier in the week - I got some Noodler's Purple - I will have to take some photos of this ink and how it writes over the weekend - But I just wanted to feel in everyone - That so far I really love this color. It really is a wonderfully rich - regal - looking color.

Technically, purple when used as a general term in its most general sense is the name of the color group of many related colors such as violet, red-violet, heliotrope, lavender, mauve, magenta, indigo and lilac.

Yes, there are many names for Purple - In fact there are several purples available in Fountain Pen Ink form. (Nightshade, Purple Martin, La Coleuer Royal, etc…)

If you like the color purple then take a chance and purchase some Noodlers Purple ink.

Please Comment and let me know what your favorite ink color and brand is - I would love to hear what others like and use as I would love to try out some new things on my fountain pen. 

Technorati Tags: Fountain+Pen, Ink, Noodlers, Purple, Nightshade, Purple+Martin, La+Coleuer+Royal, Violet, heliotrope, lavender, mauve, magenta, indigo, lilac

0 comments.

Greyhound Watch Out Here comes Megabus.Com

Posted on March 9th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Pittsburgh, Travel, Web Service.

Just saw in this evenings Pittsburgh Post Gazette that Megabus.com is coming to Pittsburgh. I just found this interesting that after many many years of being the only bus company to offer bus rides across the country that there will be another popping up when gas prices are starting to rise again.

Well Megabus doesn't offer as many stops as greyhound but what really is nice is the cost of a bus ride. I can do a round trip bus trip Leaving Pittsburgh Thursday Night arriving in Chicago Friday Morning and Returning Sunday Morning from Chicago and arriving back in the burgh Sunday Night. That full round trip will only cost me $9.50 Yes you read that right - Only Nine Dollars and Fifty cents. No gimmick the further in advance you order the cheaper the trip - Some trips are only $1 each way. Plus this is being run by a reputable company CoachUSA - Who does quite a bit of tour buses and bus trip rentals to various places like New England for Fall Leave Tours or to different Casinos.

You may wonder how they do it - well from what I gathered is that the best prices are when you order in advance - if you need a trip for tomorrow then you will pay more. And the only Hub is in Chicago - Here in Pittsburgh - You wait on the street corner until the bus arrives to take you to your destination. And the last reason they are cheaper is you MUST order your tickets off of the web. 

Megabus main hub is located in Chicago and from there you can catch a bus to (St Louis - Chicago, Ann Arbor, Louisville, Kansas City and more) See the Full Route Below.

I only mention this as I would like to visit Chicago this summer and take in a few of the sites (The Navy Pier, The Magnificent Mile and The City in General)  and I can not think of a better way to travel and see the country. I don't mind flying but if I can visit a city and return back for under $10 that is a deal or should I say STEAL.

Technorati Tags: Greyhound, Megabus, Travel, Bus+Trip, Cheap+Tickets, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Ann, Arbor, Milwaukee, Chicago, Kansas+City, St+Louis, Louisville, Round+Trip, Country

0 comments.

Video: Helpdesk Support for using a Journal / Notebook

Posted on March 7th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Anything Else, Communication, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine, Notetaking, Tutorial, Video, Weird Stuff, YouTube.

As many of you well know things we take for granted were once new to someone at some point of time. This video skit is just about that fact. What if there was a help desk in the middle ages when the paper journal was first introduced to the monks that only used paper scrolls? How would you explain it to the end user? What would you say and do?

Would you know how to use it if you were used to using a paper scroll?

What were the advantages and disadvantages of using one?

I really enjoyed this video and had to share it. So sit back and enjoy - Warning this is in dutch  Norwegian (Thank you, JEM -  I stand Corrected - I just wrote was I was told it was) with English Subtitles but still worth it.

Middle Age Tech Support

Technorati Tags: helpdesk, help+desk, tech+support, Middle+Age, Paper+Scroll, Journal, Paper, Middle, Age, Video, Youtube, How+to, How, To, Funny, Cool+thing

2 comments.

Winter Blahs

Posted on February 16th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Announcement, Anything Else, Life, Shopping.

Right now I am just going to write a small brief post as I just wanted to get this off of my chest. 

Officially - I Hate Winter

Easy enough - It is too cold here Right now it is 12 Degrees and it went up to a high of 21 degrees. (Party in the Tropics)

I had no problem cleaning off my vehicle - The hard part was being blocked in with all the snow the snow plow man (Sorry - Person) pushed up against the side of the vehicle. Plus then we had freezing rain and the "Snow" became a mound of Ice Encrusted Snow. Too many hours trying to dig the vehicle out of the snow.

I just want a Calgon Moment or even better look online at the travel sites and order a nice hotel room where the temp starts with a 8 and it is not a single digit.

Boy right now I could use a nice hot tub, with a ocean view, as I listen to the ocean's surf crashing on the  beach. Ahhh

Or even something like this Beach View.

Hmm - Where did I put that number to the travel agent - I need to book a hotel room soon and thaw out.

Technorati Tags: Winter,, Vacation,, Hotel,, Reservation,, Snow,, Ice,, Freezing

1 comment.

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