I've been up to something (updates, stories, spoilers)

I'm so happy for your success! I'm an old nerd who in the 70s as a kid would take apart any radio or alarm clock or doorknob I could. Your video subject matters are so close to my lifelong hobbies and interests.

CJ Carpenter

Can you get a discount on those automatic pancake making machines with the pancakes coming down the line on a conveyor belt onto your plate?

Phillip Cosgrove

God! Your enthusiasm is so contagious! My spirits are lifted simply by seeing you so elated. :)

Örn Arnarson

That's really interesting Alec. I'm greatly looking forward to the result. It gives me great pleasure that I and all the others hereabouts have contributed to you being able to make videos like this. I can see you becoming the globe-trotting Alan Whicker of Technology! [ <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=alan+whicker" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/search?q=alan+whicker</a> ]

Stephen Bell

OK, I need to send a message to you. This is crazy!

Technology Connections

Oooh.. that start of the mover at the end of the video was just a massive Half-Life intro sequence! Even the female voice was eerily similar! Goosebumps! :D

Anders Enger Jensen

Another thing you might not have realized: your travel expenses for this kind of trip are deductible :)

Tom G

So pleased you're both enjoying and benefiting from the Patreon income. I made videos for some 45 years and enjoyed every moment of being able to see some amazing things... Like when I went to CERN and visited the underground tunnels! Keep up the enjoyable work.

Colin Grimshaw

Hey--! I actually worked on your 'secret for now' subject, when it was being designed and built in (circa) 1981. I was just checking blueprints at HQ, but I remember being so excited for all the reasons you mentioned--that the technology was FINALLY being used 'IRL'. :) I can think of definitely one funny anecdote about the thing, but I'll wait until you finish your video to see if you happened to catch it (unlikely unless you went behind the scenes.) Anyway, TOO FUN! Glad you went!! :)

Russell Brower

The moment you mentioned IAH, I shouted out the topic. (Also, welcome to town, and goodbye!)

Noah Ramon

Fun fact! Those units are called PTACs which stands for Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner, and you'd be surprised how advanced some of the newer ones are! They often seem to get a reputation of being noisy and inconvenient, but some of the newer ones are whisper quiet and most of them are controlled by a real thermostat these days. Hotels love them because they're relatively inexpensive (between $600-$1000 each) and they can be swapped in a matter of minutes, so keeping a few spares on hand means that rooms are almost never out of order due to HVAC issues. And worst case scenario, you only lose one room, as opposed to a central system where the entire hotel may be without heating or cooling.

Technology Connections

Looking forward to the video on hotel locks. Just yesterday I was thinking I should figure out how they work, specifically how cards can be remotely deactivated. Now I can just be patient and wait for TC2 :)

Er...that last one's sexist...

Sonic the Anonymous Hedgehog

It reminds me of the train system under the capital building in Washington D.C., although they have drivers if I recall. Same kind of underground, small track system.

Big Car

You need a better term than "HQ". "Bat Cave"? "Zeh Bunker"? "The Clubhouse -- NO GIRLZ ALAOUD!" or something....

lohphat

Life-long Portlander here and not super sad that it is gone. I found the entire hoopla of it getting in the annual Starlight Parade and the hype about it a bit much. Yeah, I like the old design better than the new one and it's iconic; but, I think it would have been cooler if it were closer to the Port of Portland design than a more abstract one.

Linh Pham

This video reminds me of an episode of the 99% Invisible podcast about the iconic carpet design of the Portland, OR airport which gained a sort of notoriety with the locals, such that people made T-shirts &amp; other merch featuring the design. Sadly(?) the carpet has since been replaced.

Mark Hesse

Without watching the full video, it's pretty obvious that you're in a hotel given the hotel HVAC unit in the background.

Sonic the Anonymous Hedgehog

I certainly hope you can keep up the YouTube work!

Arthur Robillard

I can't wait to see the future video! It sounds like it'll be fascinating and a little bit of a step-up in terms of production, so I hope it does as well as it deserves. I'm glad you're able to do stuff like this now. That's a big reason I support the channel.

Kevin Kostka

There's a balance with the income (and subsequent profit) you make from Patreon and your enjoyment with staying in the hotel industry. The travel benefits are certainly well worth working a shift at the hotel if it improves your bottom line in the end of it all. If you still enjoy doing it, why not? Do as you please! Go with the flow, you're practically free to see the world now.

Sam Blakey