Don't cry for me, Malakili.

Nov 30, 2008 at 5:02 PM
21 comments

The TV/VCR combo that I kept down in the basement for taping Law & Order died last week. I took the thing and dumped it on the curb for the garbage men. I was in my bed trying to sleep that night when I started to feel bad for the television. It had served me well for over a decade and certainly deserved better than to end up in the dump or in the back of a scavenger's truck. I got up, went outside, and brought it back inside with me.

I then sat down on my basement floor and disassembled the TV. I took all the electronic inner-workings out and then screwed the plastic frame back together. I put the Rancor (from Return of the Jedi) inside. I stood the Rancor Keeper next to the TV to keep an eye on things.

Now I have a shell of a television down in the basement with a monster inside.

Rancor TV

21 comments

Comments

[this is good]

lol - that's the best use of a dead tv i've ever seen. most impressed.

Thanks. I'm not sure how impressed any guests will be when they go to turn on the downstairs television, but I like how it looks.

who needs a working tv when you could have a "conversation piece"
tell that to your guests.

Looks great!

If they're really craving some television, they can just go upstairs and watch the main TV in the living room. They don't need their own TV (whoever "they" are).

You should wallpaper the inside for them. Make like a diorama or something.

Thanks, Emjay.

M-----l replied to crankypants’ comment:
Nov 30, 2008
Reply

Good idea. I could put some Gamorrean Guards down there for the Rancor to eat...just like in the movie. If only I had some Gamorrean Guard action figures. Oh wait, I do.

(This doesn't even slightly embarrass me.)

So what the hell do you do with the innards, anyway? I hate getting rid of electronics. They're full of not-so-nice substances and valuable ones that should be recycled. But driving them all the way to a recycling center might well do more environmental harm than just leaving them out for the landfill.

If someone doesn't do something about this, I am going to write the magistrate in my prefecture.

Yes, I'm pretty sure I subjected myself to poisons and massive doses of radiation by taking apart a television. You've seen the results, though. I'm sure we can both agree that it was worth it.

I dumped the VCR parts and a lot of the television electronics in the garbage can. I still have the tube, though. I might try to smash it and see what's inside. I'm a curious guy. I think it's the tube that can be hazardous, though. If your magistrate knows where they're supposed to go, just let me know and I will comply.

[das ist gut]

We're doing something similar with a broken microwave. We're going to take out all the insides and make it into a fish tank.

Be careful! I'm pretty sure all the fish will swim out every time you open the door to feed them.

According to Charlie you are lucky you didn't get zapped, apparently TVs contain rather large capacitors which store a nice jolt of electricity.

I agree it was well worth the work.

[this is good]

Words cannot express the total awesomeness of this creation. If you ever find your way to DC, I owe you a beer.

So that's what all those CAUTION!! and DANGER!! and CUIDADO!! signs were talking about. It was the middle of the night and I decided to ignore them.

Do you know if it's the kind of electricity that would hurt me or the kind that would turn me into a superhero? Either way, I guess it doesn't matter now. I didn't get zapped and all I have left is the shell.