Still Hacking Like Heck

Thank you for reaching out to us, the wayward sons of The Ben Heck Show. Not fully participating in this contest was painful to admit to, but I'm really glad I was given the chance in the first place.

What motivated you to enter the Hack Like Heck contest?

Shortly before Ben announced that he was leaving TBHS, I had started planning on a youtube channel of my own with similar content but approaching it from a bit of a different angle. Because of channels like TBHS, Electroboom, and others, I've grown an increasing interest in starting a channel like TBHS, but with the premise of starting from scratch. I originally came up with the name "The Heckin' Ben Fan Show" but opted for "A Fat Man Making" in lieu of the potential lawsuit(s) (and to develop my own style, rather than try to steal some of the style and/or fame of TBHS). When I heard about the challenge, I was very excited, as it brought me back to the original idea of the Fan Show, but now I'd be officially sponsored (if I won)!

Are you still interested in Hacking Like Heck?

Absolutely, and I think anyone who took part in this contest will answer similarly. In the end, the Maker community has grown tremendously because of TBHS and efforts like his, and anyone that can add to the fold, often will add to it. I am still going forward with my original plans, and if I get good enough I'd love to see Element14 as a sponsor, but I'll brave those negotiations when I have some clout.

Would you like to share why you weren't able to submit a final video?

I did make a post stating my reasons, but in case some wanted to know that didn't see the post, I'll explain in more full detail here. For the past couple of years I've been a truck driver, which has helped me out in numerous ways, but stopped me from having any kind of real hobbies at home. As a result, I've had a 3d printer sitting at home, waiting for me to make use of it (and fix one software glitch I knew about when I bought it), as well as set up a work room, etc. I had planned on getting out of Truck driving at the end of March, with hopes of stopping sooner, if I could find a job, and the TBHS challenge really motivated me to do so. However, as other's have said in the past, unfortunately, finding a job after being a truck driver is not an easy thing to do, and as I'm now officially unemployed, finding a job is my full time job. Fortunately I do have a savings, and I have a solid prospect in June, so I can get a temp job until then.

What this all means is that now, I'm home, but too late for the Hack Like Heck challenge, but I'm still going to do the original project I tasked myself with, and going to go forward with my intentions of my youtube channel.

Thank you Karen, The Ben Heck Show, and Element 14 for providing us with years of wonderful content, and this amazing opportunity to be a part of it all, and though I was unable to jump into it as much as I'd hoped, I will get there, and I hope to see all of you guys in the future, if not on youtube, then at one or more MakerFaire's that, assuming I can convince my wife, I will be attending in the not too distant future.

Thank you for reaching out to us, the wayward sons of The Ben Heck Show. Not fully participating in this contest was painful to admit to, but I'm really glad I was given the chance in the first place.

What motivated you to enter the Hack Like Heck contest?

Shortly before Ben announced that he was leaving TBHS, I had started planning on a youtube channel of my own with similar content but approaching it from a bit of a different angle. Because of channels like TBHS, Electroboom, and others, I've grown an increasing interest in starting a channel like TBHS, but with the premise of starting from scratch. I originally came up with the name "The Heckin' Ben Fan Show" but opted for "A Fat Man Making" in lieu of the potential lawsuit(s) (and to develop my own style, rather than try to steal some of the style and/or fame of TBHS). When I heard about the challenge, I was very excited, as it brought me back to the original idea of the Fan Show, but now I'd be officially sponsored (if I won)!

Are you still interested in Hacking Like Heck?

Absolutely, and I think anyone who took part in this contest will answer similarly. In the end, the Maker community has grown tremendously because of TBHS and efforts like his, and anyone that can add to the fold, often will add to it. I am still going forward with my original plans, and if I get good enough I'd love to see Element14 as a sponsor, but I'll brave those negotiations when I have some clout.

Would you like to share why you weren't able to submit a final video?

I did make a post stating my reasons, but in case some wanted to know that didn't see the post, I'll explain in more full detail here. For the past couple of years I've been a truck driver, which has helped me out in numerous ways, but stopped me from having any kind of real hobbies at home. As a result, I've had a 3d printer sitting at home, waiting for me to make use of it (and fix one software glitch I knew about when I bought it), as well as set up a work room, etc. I had planned on getting out of Truck driving at the end of March, with hopes of stopping sooner, if I could find a job, and the TBHS challenge really motivated me to do so. However, as other's have said in the past, unfortunately, finding a job after being a truck driver is not an easy thing to do, and as I'm now officially unemployed, finding a job is my full time job. Fortunately I do have a savings, and I have a solid prospect in June, so I can get a temp job until then.

What this all means is that now, I'm home, but too late for the Hack Like Heck challenge, but I'm still going to do the original project I tasked myself with, and going to go forward with my intentions of my youtube channel.

Thank you Karen, The Ben Heck Show, and Element 14 for providing us with years of wonderful content, and this amazing opportunity to be a part of it all, and though I was unable to jump into it as much as I'd hoped, I will get there, and I hope to see all of you guys in the future, if not on youtube, then at one or more MakerFaire's that, assuming I can convince my wife, I will be attending in the not too distant future.