Technology on Zonk Media

German in Venice Is Off YouTube Again

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

So German in Venice is off YouTube again, and honestly, it’s been on my mind. I took my scooter out around Simi Valley to clear my head and talk about it because this is the second time Mike’s channel has disappeared, and I still don’t have a solid answer for why. I’ve been following his content for a while now, and I actually got to meet Mike at Adam the Woo’s celebration of life where I was invited as a VIP guest. That’s when I really got to appreciate what he’s built and understand his journey better.

3D Printing Jack Skellington? This Nightmare Is Coming True! #shorts

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I’ve been wanting to tackle this project for a while now, and I finally decided to dive in—3D printing a Jack Skellington model! There’s something magical about watching a digital design transform into a physical object, layer by layer. When I first loaded the model into my 3D printer and hit print, I honestly couldn’t stop watching it. Seeing this iconic nightmare character come to life through additive manufacturing felt like witnessing actual magic happen right in front of me.

German in Venice Logo Sign 3D Print Timelapse in 4K

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I’ve been a fan of German in Venice for a while, and I wanted to bring that love into my home by creating a wall decoration. The idea was simple: take their iconic logo and turn it into something tangible. I grabbed some photos of their GiV stickers from Facebook, traced the design, and used some 3D modeling to generate a printable file. Then I loaded it into my 3D printer and let it do its thing. What started as a fun little project turned into something I’m genuinely proud to display. The whole print took just over two hours, and watching it come together in this 4K timelapse was mesmerizing.

3D Printing German Logo in Venice - Fun Live Print! #shorts

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I recently got to experience something really cool while thinking about our “German in Venice” brand – watching a 3D printer bring our logo to life in real-time. There’s something mesmerizing about seeing a design go from digital file to physical object, layer by layer. It was the perfect intersection of technology and creativity, and honestly, it got me thinking about how much our world has changed. When you can literally print your vision into existence, the possibilities feel endless.

Trivia Livestream - Software Testing

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I decided to switch things up and host a trivia livestream focused on software testing—a topic I’m genuinely passionate about. I wasn’t sure how it would go since trivia streams can be hit or miss, but I wanted to challenge my audience and have some fun while diving into a subject that’s often overlooked but super important in the tech world. Throughout the stream, I asked questions ranging from beginner-friendly to pretty challenging, and I loved seeing how people engaged with the content in real-time. It was a great reminder of how much I enjoy connecting with my audience over things that actually matter to me, not just whatever’s trending.

I 3D Printed German in Venice's Logo (It Wasn't Easy)

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I recently decided I wanted the German in Venice logo on my wall—you know, the channel that inspired me to start this whole journey. The problem? There’s no media kit, no official files, nothing to work with. All I had were two reference images: one Facebook photo with a corner cut off and another so pixelated it basically fell apart when I zoomed in. So I did what any slightly obsessed creator would do—I decided to rebuild it from scratch and 3D print it.

Adam the Woo Logo Sign 3D Print Timelapse in 4K

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I’ve been wanting to put my Adam the Woo logo up on my wall for a while now, so I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and create a 3D printed version. The process was actually pretty straightforward—I traced the design from one of my t-shirts and used some tools to generate a 3D printable file. Once I had the file ready, I loaded it into my 3D printer and hit start. Watching the print come to life over the course of nearly three hours was so satisfying, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s one of those projects that feels like the perfect blend of fan appreciation and DIY problem-solving, and now I’ve got a awesome piece of wall art that’s uniquely mine.

I Built a Trivia Game You Play From the Live Chat

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the days when I ran a bulletin board system out of my bedroom back in 1992. That was a wild time—multiple phone lines, modems, subscribers dialing in from all over—and one night when I installed a trivia game called Farwest Trivia, something just clicked. It became this incredible community hub where people would log in not just to play, but to be part of something together.

My Dad Banned Video Games. Then He Bought Us Zork.

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

Growing up in the 1980s, my family had pretty strict rules about what I could do on our Atari 800XL computer. Video games were basically off-limits unless I could prove I was being productive and actually using the machine to learn something worthwhile. But there was one glorious exception to that rule: Zork. My dad actually bought us Zork, and it completely changed how I thought about gaming and interactive storytelling. It wasn’t just a game—it was a gateway into understanding what computers could really do.

Dog Day Afternoon Is Free on YouTube Right Now - Watch It Before It's Gone

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I spent last night watching Dog Day Afternoon for the first time, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I found it the way I used to hunt for movies at the video store back in the day—browsing through YouTube’s free movie section and just picking something that caught my eye. What I ended up with was this 1975 Al Pacino film that’s so much more than just a heist movie. It’s based on a true story, and the deeper I got into it, the more the film pulled me in. Al Pacino delivers this raw, desperate performance that stuck with me long after the credits rolled. While there’s one moment in the middle that didn’t quite land for me, the ending is something else entirely—the kind of ending that makes you sit with the movie for a while after it’s over.

Filming Scenes: My Secret to Overcoming Camera Shy Blocks! #shorts

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I’ve discovered something that’s been a total game-changer for my vlogging—the Insta360 GO Ultra. This tiny, magnetic camera is perfect for those moments when I’m too self-conscious to film myself directly, which honestly happens more than I’d like to admit. In this video, I’m setting it up to capture an Amtrak train crossing in Simi Valley, and I’m showing you exactly how this little powerhouse works. The beauty of it is that I can stick it literally anywhere and get unique shots that would be impossible with a traditional camera setup. It takes the pressure off of me being in front of the lens constantly, which means I can focus on actually experiencing the moment instead of worrying about how I look on camera.

Hacker Kevin Mitnick's Password Was Pretty Awful! #shorts

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I recently dove into one of the most mind-blowing cybersecurity lessons, and honestly, it completely changed how I think about passwords. When I discovered that famous hacker Kevin Mitnick—one of the most notorious cybersecurity figures in history—actually used the password ‘cherrypie69,’ I had to break it down for you. This isn’t just about a bad password choice; it’s a masterclass in how even the smartest people can fall victim to lazy security habits. The whole thing felt like watching someone leave their front door wide open and just hoping nobody walks in.

Recreating Mann 6 Theatre Magic with AI #shorts

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I’ve been thinking a lot about Mann 6 Theatre in Simi Valley lately. It’s one of those places from my past that holds so many memories—those nights catching a movie, the smell of popcorn, the magic of the big screen. So when I realized the theatre is gone, I decided to do something I’ve been wanting to try: I used AI to bring it back to life. By combining old photos I had of the theatre with movie stills and some creative prompting, I was able to generate realistic video footage showing Mann 6 Theatre in its prime. It’s wild how technology can resurrect these pieces of our past, even if just digitally.

Kevin Mitnick's Password Was Embarrassingly Bad. I Never Said a Word.

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

Back in the early 2000s, I got invited to the TechTV set for what turned out to be Kevin Mitnick’s first television interview after his release from prison. Meeting him in person was surreal—this was the legendary hacker everyone had been talking about for years. What started as that chance meeting eventually led to me working with him to design his website, which meant he trusted me with access to things most people would never see. And that’s when something happened that I’ve kept to myself for the better part of two decades.

Megan Morrone Wore an Atari Shirt on TechTV. It Changed My Life.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, I was a young web developer who loved tuning into The Screen Savers on TechTV every day. My friend and I had built one of the first Atari emulator websites on the internet, called Atariland, so you can imagine my excitement when I noticed the show’s producer, Megan Morrone, wearing an Atari logo shirt on the air one day. I just had to reach out. What followed was a whirlwind of activity - Megan featured the Stella Atari 2600 emulator as her Download of the Day, and my servers were slammed with thousands of new members overnight. I made multiple trips to the TechTV studio in San Francisco, and the relationships I built with that amazing fan community have lasted over 20 years. That one small moment of Megan wearing an Atari shirt on TV ended up changing the trajectory of my life in so many unexpected ways. It just goes to show how the smallest things can have a huge impact.

I Am a Salesforce Developer, But I Do It For Reasons Beyond the Technology

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

As a Salesforce developer, I’ve discovered that my passion for this career goes far beyond the technology itself. While I do genuinely enjoy the work and the technical challenges it presents, what truly motivates me are the incredible people I get to work with in the Salesforce community. The concept of the ‘Salesforce Ohana’ - a sense of family and community - is often debated, but for me, it’s the real deal. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with talented, dedicated professionals who share my drive and enthusiasm. This week, I’m traveling to Minnesota to meet with my client, and I’m excited to reconnect with the amazing team I get to work with. The Salesforce community has become a second home to me, filled with wonderful individuals who make the work so much more rewarding than it would be otherwise. It’s this human element, more than the technology itself, that keeps me passionate about my role as a Salesforce developer.

My 14 Year Old Daughter Did WHAT to My Arcade Cabinet?!

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

This vlog starts on the drive home after dropping my daughter off at school, with a couple of false starts to get a natural take. I explain that I started calling her “daughter” a few years ago, inspired by the way Thanos says it in the Infinity Saga Avengers movies, and it just stuck. My mornings start early since I work for a company in the Central time zone, so by the time the school run rolls around I’ve already been online, checked on our sick dog Wicket, and watched an Adam the Woo video.

Zonk Drone at Chumash Park and Chumash Trail - Feburary 2026

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

I took my drone out for a test flight at Chumash Park. I’ve had it a couple of years but haven’t flown it in a year or more, so I’d forgotten how it works. The controls are smooth but sensitive, so the early footage is jerky, and it gets better as I get reacquainted. I also remember how to use the gimbal, so I can fly high and point the camera down.

I Asked Gemini to Save My Dying Video. Here’s What It Said…

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

As a YouTuber who’s admittedly not great at the platform, I decided to turn to AI for help in boosting the performance of one of my recent videos that was struggling with just a single view. I reached out to Gemini, the impressive language model from Google, and asked them to audit my video and provide recommendations to enhance the title, thumbnail, and other packaging elements to improve its click-through rate and discoverability. Gemini provided a thorough analysis, suggesting title options that could create more curiosity and leverage trending topics like my mention of an AI podcast. They also gave ideas for a more compelling thumbnail design, advising against a simple screenshot and proposing concepts that visually convey the video’s varied content. Additionally, Gemini offered tips on optimizing the video description and tags. While some of their suggestions didn’t fully align with my personal goals for this channel, I found the insights invaluable and plan to apply them to future videos where boosting viewership is more of a priority.

2026 Plans: Launching an AI Channel & Recovering from a Tough Year

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

2026 is a fresh start for me after a tough 2025 dealing with my wife Rachel’s breast cancer diagnosis. This year, I’m excited to launch a new AI-focused YouTube channel where I can share my insights on the evolving world of artificial intelligence. As a Salesforce engineer, I’ve seen firsthand how ‘Agentforce’ and generative AI tools are transforming software development and the creative process. I’m particularly passionate about discussing ‘Vibe Coding’ - a technique that allows seasoned developers to architect high-quality software at a rapid pace using AI. Beyond the channel, I’m also committed to continuing this personal vlog as a way to leave a digital legacy for my kids and overcome my public speaking anxieties. Finally, I’m focused on stabilizing my career as an independent contractor and leaving the stagnation of 2025 behind. With my wife’s cancer journey improving, I’m optimistic that 2026 will be a much better year.

AI Should Be Discussed More on YouTube. #ai #aibenefits #aicontroversy

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Summary

Losing Adam the Woo has really made me realize how important it is for me to prioritize creating more content on my YouTube channel. One of the key topics I’m passionate about sharing is the impact of AI - both the benefits and the potential dangers. I think we need to be having more open and honest discussions as a community about how to use AI effectively while also addressing the very real concerns about how it could be misused by bad actors. As someone who is actively using AI in my own creative work, I want to share my experiences and insights to help educate others. At the same time, I know there are a lot of misconceptions out there about AI, so I’m eager to clear those up and have thoughtful conversations about the long-term implications and the need for legislative oversight. It’s a complex issue, but one that I believe deserves much more attention on platforms like YouTube.