I finally looked at the computer a little longer than a few seconds, and it is a Dell OptiPlex GX110. Time to figure out if the motherboard is standard ATX.

Apparently, according to some users at the PCMech Forums, I can tint acrylic plastic case windows the same as regular windows, or use other products.

From HAL9000: You could use car window tint, or another suggestion would be to use Rit Dye... that way you can tint it whatever colour you want and the depth of the tint is all dependant on how long you leave the part in the dye solution.

And from Propain: Plexiglass/Lucite does come in various color. Some great information there, thanks!

I saw the PC I'm getting for the project. Hopefully it is ATX (for internal upgrdes, if necessary), but it is smaller than the midtower I was expecting, and quite thin as well.

I also got some ideas for the top shaping and a body kit, logs are as follows (just as much for my own tracking).

Kurisu: that would work
Kurisu: you could get a block of foam and make the shape
Kurisu: and then use some sort of resin
Kurisu: carving out plastic is a hassel
idolcrash: resin coating?
Kurisu: yeah
Kurisu: or even better
Kurisu: there's liquid fiberglass
Kurisu: I think if you go to somewhere like tap plastics
Kurisu: there should be some liquid material to use
Kurisu: can use packaging foam too
Kurisu: just need some sandpaper and an xacto

Personally, I'm thinking about going the liquid plstic route.

This is the entry from the next day (12/15):

I've made a few sketches and some scribbles (ie notes) for what I plan to do.

Originally, I was planning to have a tube hold the spoiler (tube goes through case and holds supports which hold the fin), but realized this would probably go through the motherboard (duh). Another idea would be to just have support racks bolted to probably the top of the case so the weight is now straight (more or less) down on the case, and the screws aren't touching anything (depending on the PSU size, which may need to be switched out). This was the two pages of the spoiler detail.

I did a front detail, and thought it may be possible to put a windshield under the CD-ROM drive (hopefully), but I'll have to look at the case when it arrives. I've also added the idea of a grill, not only for looks, but for decent airflow from the front to whatever is in that area (probably HDD racks), between the headlights.

On the bottom detail, I decided that 2-4 12" CCFL strips would be good (most likely green) to stimulate ground lighting, with holes drilled in the bottom for the wires (that way I can keep the inverter inside).

Still no idea on how I'm going to make rims on the case feet, though, but I'll work on it more tomorrow.

I've decided to move my modding project from my LJ here, and the short of the story:
Short of the Story:
I am getting an old computer I plan to use as a server, but first, I will mod it to mock a riced-out Honda Civic.

Earliest Post From LJ:
List of mods:

• Blue paint job
• Spoiler
• Groundlights (cold cathodes along the bottom)
• Lighted(?) case feet, perhaps with custom rims
• Case windows to mock regular car windows
• Perhaps a cover on the front of the case to provide an area to make a windshield
• Huge muffler where exhaust fan belongs
• Custom-made white LED headlights
• Custom-made taillights (LED)
• Body Kit?
• Rear-view mirrors, if financially possible, with real mirrors.

W00t exams! I know that no one can wait whatsoever! Also, it seems my karma went from bad to positive, that's good.

Nightly builds for the Helix Player for Linux are now available. We need to work on the prose for this page...there's both a Helix DNA Client, which is a cross platform media engine for Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Symbian and many others (more info), and a Helix Player (Gtk+ GUI for media playback on Linux, Solaris, and HP/UX, among others). The builds are sorta mixed together on the page, so you have to scroll down to see 'em.

Of course, these are bleeding edge bits. If you want to find out when we do a release, the best tool is to subscribe to the Freshmeat project entry for Helix Player.

The email address for this account received over five hundred messages warning about the SoBig virus.

I generated a new address and set the old one to Bounce. I wonder if I should have set the old one to Shred.

Earlier this week, I launched Electorama!, a website dealing with electoral reform. Not a lot of interest just yet (the people I would have expected to jump on this are on the Election Methods list), but it's still early. I'm making a point of posting one news item a day. We'll see how long I can keep that up. ;)

Given that I've posted more to Slashdot than I'll bet all other Corel employees have combined, this hardly seems fair (at least, those that would do it making their affiliation obvious). I know, I know, we're newbees to open source. For the sarcastically impaired, this complaint is purely tongue in cheek.

The Slashdot thread on Helix DNA Producer went o.k. all things considered. Lots of complaining about "spyware" and "adware". Personally, I'm doing everything I can to ensure we get over this, both by getting the word out that we're working to improve our reputation, and making sure we live up to a better reputation.

If you'd truly like to influence us on these types of issues is to go through official channels. You've got people who are gathering statistics and studying the data, rather than getting anecdotal stories from one of the resident open source bigots.