Old Tech FTW
I'm Back to Save the Universe
Mark Rushton’s Abundant Spare Time is an email where I talk about my ongoing work as a recording artist and visual artist. This is being released on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Topics:
Dr Word Robot
Old Tech FTW
Mark Rushton - “Firmament”
Radiohead - “Airbag” (Live at Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark, December 5, 2025)
Dr Word Robot
On Monday morning, I felt OK driving to work.
Maybe an hour after I got into work, I knew I had to go home.
I had an intestinal virus.
Tuesday, I took the day off to rest. Wednesday, I was back at work. Doing great as of writing this on Friday evening.
When I was sick I used one of the word robots to try to diagnose my condition, which it mostly got correct. With subsequent updates, it nailed it. I also asked about 24 to 48 hours ahead of time, and the word robot tracked my recovery with accuracy.
I don’t trust the word robots, but I trust doctors even less. For me, doctors have blown it too many times over the years. Don’t get me started on nurses.
They don’t get an automatic pass. I don’t care how many people they’ve helped over the years.
15 or so years ago, when I worked for Pearson Education in Iowa City, this HR benefits guy drove down from Minnesota and explained how your doctor, the clinic, and hospitals know your insurance policy inside-and-out. They know everything. He was gone by the next year. Too much truth telling.
One thing I’ve heard recently, and this is from random YouTube videos about tech that I watch, is how patients have started going through their doctor and hospital bills and using the word robots to figure out where the fraud is. I heard there are examples of patients and family members getting the bill reduced by upwards of 70% by deep research.
While I don’t trust the likes of Scam Altman or E.V. Barnum, I am rather fascinated by the use of the word robots to “find things” that work in your favor. The information is already out there, but it’s piecing it together in a correct way where I think the word robots provide value.
I also like how the word robot gave me the confidence to skip a doc or “urgent care” visit. Who wants to feel miserable in a waiting room that’s playing garbage music only to be poked and drawn and given some pill and a big bill? Not me.
Old Tech FTW
The almost 20-year-old NEC projector should arrive soon. $25 before shipping on eBay. Tons of these out there.
I asked the word robot about additional configurations:
Q: Are there any devices I could plug into the back of a video projector that could pick up local TV stations?
Yes, there are a few options you can use to pick up local TV stations and connect them to a video projector:
1 Digital TV Tuners - description: These are standalone devices that receive over-the-air (OTA) broadcast signals from local TV stations. How it works: You connect an antenna to the tuner, and then connect the tuner to the projector via HDMI. Examples: Mediasonic HomeWorx HW130STB, ViewTV AT-163 Digital Converter Box
2 Streaming Devices with OTA Support - description: Devices like Amazon Fire TV Recast, Tablo DVR, or HDHomeRun can stream OTA channels to your projector. How it works: These require an antenna and Wi-Fi. The device captures OTA signals and streams them to your projector via HDMI or through a connected streaming stick.
3 Portable TV Tuners (USB or HDMI) - description: Small dongles that plug into HDMI or USB ports and work with an antenna. Use case: Great for projectors without built-in tuners.
Q: What would work with a NEC VT695?
The NEC VT695 is an older projector model that does not have a built-in TV tuner, so you’ll need an external device that outputs HDMI or VGA (since the VT695 supports VGA and composite video, but not HDMI natively unless you use an adapter). Here are practical options:
1 Digital TV Converter Box - Why: These boxes take an antenna signal and output video via composite (RCA) or component, which the VT695 can accept. Examples: Mediasonic HomeWorx HW130STB – Outputs composite video and audio. ViewTV AT-163. Setup: Connect an HDTV antenna to the converter box. Use RCA cables from the box to the projector’s composite input.
2 Streaming Device + HDMI-to-VGA Adapter. If you prefer streaming OTA channels via apps (like Pluto TV or local station apps): Use a Roku, Fire TV Stick, or Chromecast. Add an HDMI-to-VGA adapter (with audio out) to connect to the projector. Pros: Access to local channels via streaming apps. Cons: Requires Wi-Fi and adapter.
3 HDHomeRun or Tablo DVR - These devices capture OTA signals and stream them over your network. You’d still need a streaming stick + HDMI-to-VGA adapter for the projector.
Important Notes for VT695: Native resolution: 1024x768 (XGA). Inputs: VGA, composite video, S-video (no HDMI). So, if your device only has HDMI, you’ll need an active HDMI-to-VGA converter (not just a passive cable).
Q: Give me a complete shopping list based on the NEC VT695, and try to do it as cheaply as possible. Preferably using eBay or WalMart. I just want to see if I can capture a local TV signal and project it.
1 HDTV Antenna. Purpose: Captures local over-the-air (OTA) TV signals. Walmart (~$10–$15), eBay: Search “Indoor HDTV Antenna” (~$8–$12)
2 Digital TV Converter Box. Purpose: Converts OTA signal to composite video (RCA), which your projector supports. Option: Mediasonic HomeWorx HW130STB (~$25–$30 on Walmart or eBay). ViewTV AT-163 (~$25–$35 on eBay)
3 RCA Composite Cable. Purpose: Connects converter box to projector. Option: Walmart: RCA AV Cable (~$5). eBay: “RCA Composite Cable” (~$3–$5)
4. Optional: HDMI-to-VGA Adapter. Purpose: If you choose a streaming stick later, you’ll need this to connect HDMI to the projector’s VGA input. Option: Walmart: onn. HDMI to VGA Adapter (~$10). eBay: “HDMI to VGA Adapter” (~$6–$8)
Total Estimated Cost (Basic Setup) ≈ $40 total (before tax/shipping)
Setup Steps: Connect antenna → converter box. Connect converter box → projector using RCA composite cable. Power on converter box and scan for local channels. Project the video signal from the composite input.
Learning all this info took me a couple minutes of fooling around with a word robot. They’re good with known specs.
We have more snow on Saturday, followed by a deep freeze for a couple of days. Then back above freezing on Monday. I think I’ll wait on buying all of this and attempt to obtain them from thrift stores. Not to be cheap, but to see if I can do it that way.
We’ll also be plugging the Elmo into the projector. That’s why I bought the NEC. But I want to see what other “old tech” I can obtain cheaply in order to do “art things”. I’m not buying a projector to watch Jeopardy on the local TV channels.
Mark Rushton - “Firmament”
I suppose I should use this space to occasionally mention some of the music that I create and release.
“Firmament” is from my 2025 album Omniessence and is a track I keep going back to and enjoying. All the music is from an Omnichord OM-108 plus my chain of effects pedals. No multi-tracking. Recorded live. No fake stuff. Just a whole bunch of space ambient electronica dub going on. It’s super chill.
Radiohead - “Airbag” (Live at Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark, December 5, 2025)
Jon told me about how his favorite band today is Radiohead - a band he completely ignored until recently.
That’s funny because Radiohead’s been off my musical radar since “Kid A”. It just didn’t connect with me the way The Bends and the first several tracks of OK Computer did. I listened sporadically, but nothing caught.
I’ve always loved “Airbag”. Because Jon was talking about them so much, I figured I’d catch a recent concert. Great performance here. Sounds better on desktop and with my Grado headphones than on my mobile with ear buds.
In case it doesn’t start on time, fast forward to 6:00.
I have found similar success with the word robots when it comes to known specs. They have been very helpful when it comes to tasks - help me tweak my audio settings to increase punch, write this bit of sql/vba code that I could write myself but you can write faster, create a project plan for z house project.
You should definitely plug your own tunes here from time to time. This reminded me I need to catch up on your latest release. I enjoy your work very much.
And Airbag…. It’s majestic.