@ViennaMike

43 Followers
78 Following
902 Posts
Computer and electronics hobbyist. Intelligent Transportation Systems consultant. He / Him
websitehttps://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/
websitehttps://www.mcgurrin.info
GitHubhttps://github.com/ViennaMike
ViennaMikeMay 8

Hauntomation: Automating Halloween with Python
PyCon US 2026 — Lightning Talk Companion Page

If you scanned a QR code from a five-minute talk and ended up here: welcome. Everything I showed and links to additional information is here.

If you didn’t see the talk and just wandered in: I build automated Halloween props as a hobby, often using Python.
The talk

Slides (PDF): [link to be added after the talk]
Recording: [link to be ad
https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/pycon2026/

ViennaMikeApr 18
Pure "vibe coding" might work, or it might lead to disaster. But working with AI to develop architecture / requirements / design notes before coding? Speed and quality. #AI
ViennaMikeApr 12
As we celebrate the successful Artemis 2 mission, today also marks the 45th anniversary of STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission. To-date, it's the only launch I've personally witnessed live.
ViennaMikeApr 11
Quick Post #7: AI for Cataloging in the Home
Home use for AI: Our user manuals, warranty cards, directions, etc. for electronics, appliances, etc. were totally unorganized and in several locations. As I'm getting them out and grouping them roughly alphabetically (folders for every few letters), I'm snapping a picture of the cover of each one. Claude is then able to scan the photos and generate a spreadshe
https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/8330/
#Uncategorized #AI #cataloging #Claude #LLMs
ViennaMikeApr 11

Home use for AI: Our user manuals, warranty cards, etc. were totally unorganized and in several locations. As I'm grouping them roughly alphabetically, I'm snapping a picture of the cover of each. Claude scans the photos and generate a spreadsheet with the category, brand, model or product, Item type, and documentation type. It pulled it all from the photos and created a spreadsheet, no typing required.

You could do the same for a record collection, book collection, or anything similar.

ViennaMikeFeb 4
Building on the RAG course I took, and with some help from Claude, I've got a tax chatbot running locally on my PC with a nice, web-based interface. Granted, running on my home PC, it takes several minutes to answer a question, but it's taking far less water and electricity than ChatGPT and its like.
Next up: a chat interface for our HOA covenants, bylaws, and architectural guidelines...
ViennaMikeNov 3, 2025
Pi-based multi-prop trigger for animatronics, Part 2
Back in March I wrote about a Pi-based controller for multiple Halloween props. As I go the props ready this year, I realized three things: 1) I wanted to change the routine from what I planned, 2) The way I needed to connect this particular set of props was different than what I'd been planning and 3) it turns out I couldn't use an electromech
https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/8251/
#Uncategorized #animatronics #audio #Halloween #props
ViennaMikeOct 6, 2025
I've got a write-up on building my latest Halloween decoration on my blog: https://www.mcgurrin.info/robots/8236/
ViennaMikeOct 3, 2025

Happy Tiki'ween! My first ever try at carving out a 2-level pumpkin with some sections just cut in, not through.

This is a Michael's faux pumpkin. Primary tools.were a pumpkin saw for the cutouts and a Dremel for the etching. Definitely wear a mask -- LOTS of pumpkin dust.

ViennaMikeSep 29, 2025
Phase 1 of.our foundation repair is done and I'm putting stuff back in the unfinished half of the basement. It occurred to me that with no landline, I really don't need these, nor the dozen or so phone cords that were with them.