Nostr notes by 🇺🇦 haxadecimal 🚫👑

Also, watch this amazing new 3D printer! ...

2026-06-07T21:14:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…55nt
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Also, watch this amazing new 3D printer!

At some point I will want to start shooting videos for demos and ...

2026-05-02T00:39:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…4q5u
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At some point I will want to start shooting videos for demos and such.
I can't afford any more glass just yet..

A friend was complaining about his computer not doing what he ...

2026-05-02T00:35:22Z

A friend was complaining about his computer not doing what he wants. I told him he has to fight it mano y nano.

My camera spends 99+% of the time on a copy stand, and I almost ...

2026-05-02T00:31:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…8kc7
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My camera spends 99+% of the time on a copy stand, and I almost exclusively use the zoom and macro lenses for that.

I don't have a wide lens, either. Just a kit zoom, a 50mm ...

2026-05-02T00:19:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…muev
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I don't have a wide lens, either. Just a kit zoom, a 50mm prime, and a macro. I have yet to try using the good camera and lenses for video.

It would be fun, not trouble. [famous last words?]

2026-05-01T23:17:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…jhjl
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It would be fun, not trouble.
[famous last words?]

And maybe Android, though it's been nearly 10 years since the ...

2026-05-01T23:16:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…dx6w
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And maybe Android, though it's been nearly 10 years since the last time I worked on an Android app. That was in Java; now all the cool kids use Kotlin.

I was joking, hence "naive", but if you're actually ...

2026-05-01T23:13:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…wh87
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I was joking, hence "naive", but if you're actually interested, sure, I'd be happy to do a native Linux port for you.

If you want, I could do a naive port for Linux.

2026-05-01T22:15:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…3x3r
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If you want, I could do a naive port for Linux.

Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, ...

2026-04-21T06:51:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…85rn
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Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile.
– Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Agnosticism has been criticized for that very thing. It makes no ...

2026-04-21T06:50:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…nns8
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Agnosticism has been criticized for that very thing. It makes no hypotheses, testable or otherwise. As theoretical physicist Wolfgang Pauli is reputed to have said in a scathing critique, "It isn't right. It isn't even wrong!"
However, I see that as a strength, not a weakness. In my opinion there is no virtue to claiming to know with certainty something which cannot be proven and which is not substantiated by credible evidence.

I don't fully agree with atheism being a religion, but even ...

2026-04-21T06:45:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…49he
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I don't fully agree with atheism being a religion, but even taking that as a given, I think "soft" agnosticism is not. I don't claim that it's impossible to know metaphysical things, only that _I_ do not know them. I think it is highly unlikely that any supernatural entity that has been described by humans exists, but I don't rule out the possibility.
If soft agnosticism could be considered a religion, it would be the weakest, most wishy-washy religion possible.

I think that there is an objective reality, but I know that the ...

2026-04-21T04:44:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…t6vy
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I think that there is an objective reality, but I know that the existence of such cannot be proven.
I am agnostic, but when someone asks my religion, I say "atheist," because I don't think their God exists, and "agnostic" takes too long to explain. Replying "atheist" seems to reduce the attempts to convert me. Presumably religious people see agnosticism, "I don't know," as an opportunity to get the camel's nose under the tent, while "There is no god" is definite and unyielding.

I just received by email a new online newsletter, on a subject on ...

2026-04-18T21:34:47Z

I just received by email a new online newsletter, on a subject on which I am very interested.
The body text is light gray on white. I know that is all the rage these days, but it doesn't work so well for those of us with old eyes.
I'd get new eyes, to solve the problem, but unfortunately my health insurance won't cover that.

It's not a "normal" Selectric; that didn't ...

2026-04-17T01:26:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…2mns
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It's not a "normal" Selectric; that didn't actually exist yet. But it is similar to the later I/O Selectric.(735).

And that is ONLY the console and CE (maintenance) panels. The CPU ...

2026-04-17T01:04:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…z4u2
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And that is ONLY the console and CE (maintenance) panels. The CPU (7101) was nineteen frames, of which were 20 inches wide, 48 inches deep, and 69 inches tall, except for one frame on the end, which was wider. The CPU weighed 26,290 lb.
That did not include the necessary motor-generator set, power distribution unit, core memory units, or peripherals.

I got it from the toilet seat I got it from the toilet seat It ...

2026-04-16T00:21:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…88sw
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I got it from the toilet seat
I got it from the toilet seat
It jumped right up
'n' grabbed my meat
Got it from the toilet seat

Why does it hurt when I pee?

2026-04-15T23:49:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…wx2a
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Why does it hurt when I pee?

Google to start down-ranking web sites that use back button ...

2026-04-14T18:52:52Z

Google to start down-ranking web sites that use back button hijacking!
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/04/websites-that-hijack-your-back-button-must-stop-by-june-15-or-face-googles-wrath/
About effin' time something is done about this.
But I still want a browser configuration option that disables JavaScript modification of the history entirely.

Audiologist: You have moderate hearing loss. Me: What? Could you ...

2026-04-10T19:51:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…ps6z
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Audiologist: You have moderate hearing loss.

Me: What? Could you please repeat that?

I went to the doctor today. After the tests, she gave me a year, ...

2026-04-10T19:50:38Z

I went to the doctor today. After the tests, she gave me a year, maybe two, tops.

Then I need another audiology exam.

Dear lazyweb, Does anyone happen to know what company introduced ...

2026-04-07T04:51:45Z

Dear lazyweb,
Does anyone happen to know what company introduced the first TTL-compatible metal-can hybrid crystal oscillator in the DIP footprint (like a 14-pin DIP footprint, but with only the four corner pins), and when?
My web searches don't seem to yield relevant results. I'm not looking for the history of crystal oscillators in general. I think the type I've described appeared in the 1970s.
#hybrid #dip #crystal #oscillator

If you want Cherry MX keyswitches for future use, you might want ...

2026-04-03T20:11:26Z

If you want Cherry MX keyswitches for future use, you might want to stock up. Cherry announced last year that production was moving to China, but today Mouser Electronics sent me an obsolescence notice for Cherry MX Blue.
:-(
#MechanicalKeyboard #CherryMX #CherryMXBlue

Dear Lazyweb, Has anyone saved a copy of the M68060 software ...

2026-03-28T09:12:34Z

Dear Lazyweb,
Has anyone saved a copy of the M68060 software package (M68060SP), and its documentation? This includes exception handlers to provide compatibility for the 68K instructions and addressing modes that were omitted from the MC68060 processor.
#Motorola #MC68060 #M68060SP #MC68000

I only have three days left to return it to Best Buy.

2026-03-23T19:35:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…0azk
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I only have three days left to return it to Best Buy.

I could return the device to Best Buy, but I'm not thrilled ...

2026-03-23T19:32:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…vkyn
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I could return the device to Best Buy, but I'm not thrilled about doing that to them due to a f**kup on Google's part. But I guess they take that risk as a retailer of any product.

They marked the case as "resolved" and closed the chat. ...

2026-03-23T19:22:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…c47h
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They marked the case as "resolved" and closed the chat.
Maybe it's time to switch brands.

They keep saying to be patient for this supposed ...

2026-03-23T19:17:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…h2jk
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They keep saying to be patient for this supposed "rollout", but won't commit to that happening within my 60 day from purchase window of eligibility to purchase the protection plan.

They insist that they are a supervisor. I''ve now asked ...

2026-03-23T19:16:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…jhfa
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They insist that they are a supervisor. I''ve now asked to be connected to someone with actual authority, though I don't expect that to happen.

Yeah, some respones are word for word identical to the first ...

2026-03-23T19:13:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…veu8
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Yeah, some respones are word for word identical to the first "representative". Now I've asked to speak to their "supervisor", because I want more of the same.
#GluttonForPunishment

Maybe a real person, but offered Ai-generated responses to send.

2026-03-23T18:56:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…n99v
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Maybe a real person, but offered Ai-generated responses to send.

Getting mixed vibes from "supervisor". Some responses ...

2026-03-23T18:54:40Z

In reply to nevent1q…umgn
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Getting mixed vibes from "supervisor". Some responses seem human, some seem auto-generated.

Google's web page for Pixel Care+ clearly states that devices ...

2026-03-23T18:48:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…3ajz
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Google's web page for Pixel Care+ clearly states that devices purchased from Google's retail partners are eligible. It doesn't say "will be eligible when we gat around to it," or anything about a phased rollout.

When I put the serial number or IMEI into the form, it says not eligible.

On chat with a Google "representative" (AI?) about why a ...

2026-03-23T18:46:23Z

On chat with a Google "representative" (AI?) about why a device purchased new from Best Buy 11 days ago is not eligible for a Pixel Care+ protection plan. They/it keep telling me that Pixel Care+ is in a phased rollout and not yet available for my device, which is bullshit.
I've asked to speak to a supervisor. Will that be AI also?

Yes, doing that requires manually rebuilding the repository, and ...

2026-03-15T22:18:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…8crq
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Yes, doing that requires manually rebuilding the repository, and effectively invalidates all client checkouts.
:-(

People sometimes ask what my favorite programming language is. ...

2026-03-11T19:24:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…dep4
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People sometimes ask what my favorite programming language is. Probably Smalltalk, except that I prefer strong typing, and Smalltalk wants to be its own world, like FORTH, rather than being used to create "native" applications. I usually reply that I have no favorite, because all programming languages suck. Some suck less than others.

I'm also feeling nostalgic for MPW Pascal, and the Macintosh ...

2026-03-11T19:21:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…hu6n
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I'm also feeling nostalgic for MPW Pascal, and the Macintosh Programmer's Workshop in general.
I was sad when Apple ditched Pascal for C.
Pascal was not perfect, by any means. I've programmed professionally in Ada, one of Pascal's successors, and liked it pretty well.
I wanted to use Modula 3, "an elegant weapon for a more civilized age," and dabbled in it a little, but there was no market for it.

Improving LLMs will only make their responses slightly more ...

2026-03-11T17:55:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…fant
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Improving LLMs will only make their responses slightly more answer-shaped.
People expect otherwise in part because they've seen so much technological advance in computers in general, and think that means more advanced LLMs will follow the usual progression. But mostly they expect otherwise because of the constant propaganda from Sam Altman and other supposed experts, telling them that AGI is right around the corner.

Even if one ignores that, and somehow trains a new model on a ...

2026-03-11T17:50:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…q7jr
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Even if one ignores that, and somehow trains a new model on a pre-slop training set, LLMs still won't improve, in the sense that people expect. The main improvement everyone wants is for LLMs to have better understanding. That is impossible, as LLMs have NO understanding. A LLM doesn't answer a question or prompt. It generated a statistically plausible output of what an answer might look like. More CPU power, storage, or tweaks to algorithms can't fix that.

The future of LLMs is that they suck worse than they do now, even ...

2026-03-11T17:46:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…lh06
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The future of LLMs is that they suck worse than they do now, even if hardware gets faster, and regardless of whether they run locally or remotely.
The reason is that LLM generated slop is contaminating the only source of training data. That can only make future models worse.
There is literally no source of high-quality training data for new and improved models.

For no particular reason, I am feeling nostalgic for Turbo ...

2026-03-11T05:31:20Z

For no particular reason, I am feeling nostalgic for Turbo Pascal.

Erwin Schrödinger spent the rest of his life in a superposition ...

2026-03-02T20:53:48Z

Erwin Schrödinger spent the rest of his life in a superposition of being and not being in jail for animal cruelty.

Nostr event nevent1qqsg4ju4vplhjl4vjxra2t472775qxs9p3dq8l5wx5v54a0n5m8mvtqzyzzclnhe993q7n3pk7te45dl22sucgc9kc2p876sgzq2f4me89d2k0jqngg

2026-02-26T06:51:21Z

CAUTION: EVENTS IN CALENDAR ARE SOONER THAN THEY APPEAR

Model F is the general family and technology of a LOT of IBM ...

2026-02-24T17:24:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…erde
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Model F is the general family and technology of a LOT of IBM capacitive keyboards made starting in 1980. The vast majority of model F keyboards are not the original IBM PC keyboard.
The original IBM PC keyboards is only identified by its part number, 1801449.

I want an IBM PC (5150) keyboard for a project. Looking for ...

2026-02-24T17:07:34Z

I want an IBM PC (5150) keyboard for a project. Looking for genuine, not a clone. They are hard to come by, 45 years later.

An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible ...

2026-02-21T06:49:37Z

An optimist believes that we live in the best of all possible worlds.
A pessimist fears that that is true.

Nostr event nevent1qqspt6rt7ltgtz2hpflqm6karr6ynrqsdtqgr8xwl279vaeggnn7s8gzyzzclnhe993q7n3pk7te45dl22sucgc9kc2p876sgzq2f4me89d2kqn0ptv

2026-02-20T16:54:05Z

Pizza. It's so much more than just a breakfast food.

How did I go from "Any pillow will do" to "This ...

2026-02-18T14:47:58Z

How did I go from "Any pillow will do" to "This pillow is too firm, that one is too soft, and the other one is 4mm too thick"?

When I first read the Asimov story, I thought that it had to be ...

2026-02-12T20:04:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…jqyx
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When I first read the Asimov story, I thought that it had to be set VERY far in the future. Now I wouldn't have any trouble believing that it was set in next week.
In the story, once he's proven his method, it generates a lot of interest, because computers are expensive. It is not surprising that in 1958, Asimov, and almost all other contemporary SF writers, did not anticipate integrated circuits and Moore's Law. It was common knowledge that computers would keep getting bigger.

Reminds me of a different story, Asimov's "The Feeling of ...

2026-02-12T19:56:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…se58
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Reminds me of a different story, Asimov's "The Feeling of Power", in which a future mathematician discovers that it is possible to do arithmetic without a computer, for instance, using pencil and paper. He hypothesizes that at some point in the past, humans had to do arithmetic that way, because someone had to have programmed the computers to do it. At first, no one believes him, and they all consider him to be a crank. Everyone knows that you need a computer for arithmetic!

I can hardly wait! I just finished reading _Enshittification_, ...

2026-02-12T10:39:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…jvy0
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I can hardly wait!
I just finished reading _Enshittification_, after going to your book signing at The Tattered Cover in Denver.
Previously, I had some inklings of why things were getting so awful, but you've done an excellent job of connecting the dots and explaining the many forces at play.
I hope that, as you've recommended, other countries repeal the DMCA equivalents the USTR forced upon them. Eventually, perhaps that could even lead to the US repealing it.

I hadn't heard of dmsetup messaging before, and even after ...

2026-02-03T06:49:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…2dwa
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I hadn't heard of dmsetup messaging before, and even after reading about it, don't feel like I understand the concept. What's the point of "sending a message" to a target? Is it something asynchronous? How does the target receive messages? Does it send back a reply? I'm just used to issuing commands directly.

Why don't they just spend the $130 million on hookers and ...

2026-01-29T21:59:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…5dac
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Why don't they just spend the $130 million on hookers and blow, instead? They'd at least have a good time, without fucking up the browser for users.

To shoot, more likely. Preemptively prevent them from ever ...

2026-01-28T01:45:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…j7h0
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To shoot, more likely. Preemptively prevent them from ever becoming illegal aliens.

ICE is no longer satisfied with terrorizing people in the USA. ...

2026-01-28T01:39:49Z

ICE is no longer satisfied with terrorizing people in the USA. Now they've decided to invade other countries.
https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/watch-ice-agents-attempt-to-enter-ecuadorian-consulate-in-minneapolis-triggering-geopolitical-row-article-153517215

My new plan for next week is to steal $100 million, and ...

2026-01-23T10:12:12Z

My new plan for next week is to steal $100 million, and self-deport to South America. So long, suckers!

Google says: High-Purity Powder (99.5%+): $89–$138 for 10g, ...

2026-01-22T05:46:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…wj0n
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Google says:

High-Purity Powder (99.5%+): $89–$138 for 10g, $294–$347 for 50g.
Industrial Grade: As low as $3/kg.

So will industrial grade provide that benefit, or does it have to be high purity?

Wow! Hadn't heard of it before. Amazing stuff. But what does ...

2026-01-22T05:44:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…w3hv
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Wow! Hadn't heard of it before. Amazing stuff. But what does it cost?

Nostr event nevent1qqs8f6sj2c0rlqesev47unku2qu44ljhldzfja3ggua42act9f4wqsqzyzzclnhe993q7n3pk7te45dl22sucgc9kc2p876sgzq2f4me89d2k09qku5

2026-01-20T02:21:21Z

declaring marital law

I accidentally mixed up the words jacuzzi and Yakuza, and now ...

2026-01-17T06:51:43Z

I accidentally mixed up the words jacuzzi and Yakuza, and now I'm in hot water with the Japanese Mafia.

And don't get me started about how "software ...

2026-01-17T02:15:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…pfz7
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And don't get me started about how "software engineering" doesn't actually exist, and to the limited extent that it can be said to exist, isn't actually done in practice.
(There are, of course, a _very_ small number of exceptions.)

I actually make fun of software developers far more than EEs. As ...

2026-01-17T02:14:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…5dhq
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I actually make fun of software developers far more than EEs. As a software developer, I feel entitled to do that.

I got an EE at a place I worked a few years ago really angry with ...

2026-01-17T02:13:11Z

I got an EE at a place I worked a few years ago really angry with me, when I said my usual thing about "EE is trivial, you just wire together all the pins that have the same name." He must have known I was joking, but still reacted badly.

Starship Troopers

2026-01-15T06:17:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…zejy
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Starship Troopers

COBOL isn't particularly difficult. Just annoying.

2026-01-06T00:44:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…jexj
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COBOL isn't particularly difficult. Just annoying.

Tektronix includes in the 11301/11302 manual, under "physical ...

2026-01-05T10:00:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…4259
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Tektronix includes in the 11301/11302 manual, under "physical characteristics", BOTH the weight and mass of the scope, in appropriate units: weight in Newtons and pounds, and mass in kilograms and slugs. I don't recall seeing this fone in any other equipment manual; most such manuals incorrect conflate weight with mass.
Surprisingly, however, this manual fails to state the conditions under which the specified weights are relevant.

Most of the time, my Rigol 350 MHz MSO5354 (upgraded 5074) will ...

2026-01-05T09:19:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…sxyt
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Most of the time, my Rigol 350 MHz MSO5354 (upgraded 5074) will still be my workhorse, and of course it's much smaller, lighter, and more portable, and I can get digital screen captures from it. There are rare times that I've needed more than 350 MHz bandwidth, so now I have that covered. I'll have to get some 500 MHz probes.

Also tonight I picked up the Tektronix 11302 analog storage ...

2026-01-05T09:15:18Z

Also tonight I picked up the Tektronix 11302 analog storage oscilloscope a friend offered me a while back. It's a 500 MHz mainframe with three slots for 11 series plugins. But it's not just any old analog storage scope. This has a microchannel plate (like the Tek 2467 portable 250 MHz), and has IEEE-488 and RS-232 ports for control. It also has an amazing self-calibration system, all the way to the display graticule.

Friends and I just watched Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ...

2026-01-05T08:34:17Z

Friends and I just watched Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country tonight. While I still consider The Wrath of Khan to be the best of the series, IMHO VI is very good, and generally underappreciated.

Someone asked me by email to make sure I package an item securely ...

2026-01-03T01:57:52Z

Someone asked me by email to make sure I package an item securely in "bubble warp". I didn't think warp technology was going to be invented until the 22nd century.

So-called "AI" is just like the internet: Garbage In, ...

2025-12-28T08:29:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…zl2n
_________________________

So-called "AI" is just like the internet:
Garbage In, Garbage Out.

At least the name of the so-called "AI" is usually half-right, though there have been some notable exceptions even to that.

Sturgeon was an optimist.

Many RISC processors don't have a hardware stack, and depend ...

2025-12-20T05:09:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…tyfe
_________________________

Many RISC processors don't have a hardware stack, and depend on software to maintain one if desired, which of course it almost always is.
On an interrupt or other exception, they capture just the content of only a few registers (including the PC) into registers reserved for that purpose, and then the handler software can push them onto a stack.
(I'm not advocating that you do this.)

I'm not criticizing. I understand the fun of designing ...

2025-12-19T23:49:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…xqdk
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I'm not criticizing. I understand the fun of designing something minimal.

If you had interrupts, then you'd need data paths to store X and Y, possibly by transferring them to A.

No interrupts, I assume?

2025-12-19T22:36:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…px8d
_________________________

No interrupts, I assume?

Google appears to have a lot of money. Maybe we could convince ...

2025-12-17T03:22:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…ulfp
_________________________

Google appears to have a lot of money. Maybe we could convince them to fund an open-source privacy-respecting browser.
ploum (npub18ak…untn)

That was the point of the poll. I am writing an assembler for an ...

2025-12-15T22:03:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…q38d
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That was the point of the poll. I am writing an assembler for an architecture for which there is no (publicly) documented assembly language.

Nostr event nevent1qqs0ydqxm3senruzk0xzchz8sadrjdnqd4h7qv23k56dge8cawggqyqzyzzclnhe993q7n3pk7te45dl22sucgc9kc2p876sgzq2f4me89d2k246725

2025-12-12T04:21:10Z

preferred assembly language operand order

[@mos_8502](https://studio8502.ca/@mos_8502 ) We've had ...

2025-12-11T02:33:29Z

[@mos_8502](https://studio8502.ca/@mos_8502 )
We've had tri-state buffers since the 1970s. Isn't it about time for quad-state buffers?

In my ongoing research and development of computer peripherals, I ...

2025-12-10T01:06:27Z

In my ongoing research and development of computer peripherals, I have some improved types of printers, for which I am preparing patent applications:
* dot-vector printer (saves space!)
* daisy cutter printer
* chain saw printer
* commuter train printer
* pulse jet printer

Money sent! :-) Many years ago, I really could have used a means ...

2025-12-08T23:57:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…tv2z
_________________________

Money sent!
:-)
Many years ago, I really could have used a means to have like-minded people see what I was doing, and maybe offer a little support for my projects. That wasn't really possible then, and it's not like I have a ton of money now, but I like to occasionally support people working on interesting projects.

The spikes are essentially a deciding race. I'll study it ...

2025-12-05T00:08:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…ymz5
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The spikes are essentially a deciding race. I'll study it more. In the mean time, try inverting the clock into the FFs, but not the AND gates, and see if that's better.
The spikes also might be a result of simulated devices not having real propagation delay, but I wouldn't like to count on that.

Ignore the top two FF in the '362 diagram; they're an ...

2025-12-04T22:26:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…rqfe
_________________________

Ignore the top two FF in the '362 diagram; they're an extra divide-by-four for its crystal oscillator, unrelated to the divide-by-four used for the four-phase clock generator.

In fact, the same thing can be done with the '74 FF. See the ...

2025-12-04T22:22:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…8raj
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In fact, the same thing can be done with the '74 FF. See the TI datsheet for the 74LS362(TIM9904), functional block diagram.
And obviously you can use a three input NAND (74x10) instead of AND, if you want active low phase output.

Here's an untested idea for a three-chip TTL solution with no ...

2025-12-04T22:16:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…kczf
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Here's an untested idea for a three-chip TTL solution with no startup issues and needing no power-on reset, using a '109 dual J-/K edge triggered FF, and two '11 three-input AND gates. Being an off-the-cuff idea, it definitely needs to be simulated.
I've always liked the '109 because it is more flexible than the '74, but if you tie J and /K together, it behaves exactly like the '74.

On further study, it looks like the design is prone to startup ...

2025-12-04T21:51:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…lzzy
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On further study, it looks like the design is prone to startup problems in general, because flip-flops power up in random states in real life, but not in simulation. But even in simulation, inverting /Q should have the same result as using Q.
If there is apower on clear to all four of the flops in the ring, then you'd want feedback from /Q _directly_ to D of the first one, as otherwise you'd just cycle the same value continuously.

The obvious drawback is that the PIC needs to be programmed, but ...

2025-12-04T21:47:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…370p
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The obvious drawback is that the PIC needs to be programmed, but iit's one chip instead of five.

To a casual glance, that looks perfectly fine, though I wonder ...

2025-12-04T21:46:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…gtrw
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To a casual glance, that looks perfectly fine, though I wonder whether you really need the inverter from /Q of the right flop rather than just using Q.
The last time I needed a four-phase non-overlapping clock, to drive a Western Digital MCP1600 series chips (e.g., LSI-11, Pascal Microengine), I used a small PIC microcontroller, which is quite inexpensive and available in a 14-pin DIP.
https://github.com/brouhaha/4phaseclk
https://www.flickr.com/photos/_brouhaha_/albums/72157661646247410/
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And all bets are off with virttual inheritance. Even P0149r3 ...

2025-12-04T04:43:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…58jp
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And all bets are off with virttual inheritance. Even P0149r3 disclaims that.

I found and fixed my most recent C++ issue. It wasn't in the ...

2025-12-04T04:42:50Z

I found and fixed my most recent C++ issue. It wasn't in the code I was working on at all; that just exposed an extremely stupid thing I'd done elsewhere.
Up-casting member pointers to a base type that doesn't have the member in question seems to work fine in GCC, although I think it might officially be UB, and that might be changed to not be UB in C++26 (P0149r3).
Obviously I can only actually dereference the member pointer with the correct object type.

But I like MATE! I don't want to switch! ...

2025-12-03T21:15:12Z

But I like MATE! I don't want to switch!

Bit flip errors are the primary reason for use of ECC for on-die ...

2025-11-29T09:46:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…yt5h
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Bit flip errors are the primary reason for use of ECC for on-die caches on high-end CPUs (i.e., x86, ARM 64-bit, but not small microcontrollers), and in DRAM memory systems in servers. Bit flips can occur in DRAM surprisingly frequently, because bits are stored by very few electrons.
I use ECC memory even in my desktop and laptop for that reason.

However, radiation of various sorts can cause register and RAM ...

2025-11-29T09:42:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…lxlx
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However, radiation of various sorts can cause register and RAM bit flips, or signal errors, without causing CMOS latchup.

As I understand it, CMOS latchup is caused by triggering ...

2025-11-29T09:40:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…g4wu
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As I understand it, CMOS latchup is caused by triggering parasitic SCR structures (PNPN), and that standard CMOS process design rules make it extremely unlikely to be internally triggered under normal operating conditions. An SEU can inject enough energy to trigger a parasitic SCR.
SOS and SOI CMOS fabrication eliminate the parasitic SCRs, but are typically only used for mil/aerospace due to expense.

That a policy or plan can't possibly result in their stated ...

2025-11-28T08:12:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…0p5s
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That a policy or plan can't possibly result in their stated objectives has never stopped the Republican Party, or their supporters, from anything, no matter how misguided.

My oscilloscope seems to be getting closer to the edge of the ...

2025-11-28T03:24:07Z

My oscilloscope seems to be getting closer to the edge of the bench every time I use it. I don't want it to fall, so I moved it back in a few inches. Maybe the bench isn't quite level? I've not before had firsthand experience of scope creep.

"Soon AI agents will be writing better, cleaner code than any ...

2025-11-26T23:31:39Z

"Soon AI agents will be writing better, cleaner code than any mere human can, just like compilers can write better assembly."
— Nick Hodges, in Infoworld, 2025-11-26
https://www.infoworld.com/article/4096265/writing-code-is-so-over.html

I look forward to a contined consulting revenue xtream, fixing the disasters that result from managers believing this bulles***.

He likens this to compileds writing better assembly code than humans. That works because the semantic level of high level languages like C, C++, etc. are not that far removed
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SSDs are rated to retain data unpowered for six months for ...

2025-11-23T00:25:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…ynr4
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SSDs are rated to retain data unpowered for six months for consumer grade devices, and for three months for enterprise grade. They need to stay powered up so that they can scrub (refresh) memory cells that lose their charge over time. This is because each data bit is actually stored by a surprisingly small number of electrons in modern NAND flash devices.
Spinning drives, despite their potential mechanical failure modes, are actually better for cold storage than SSDs.

Some of us care that our browser is open source, in other words, ...

2025-11-18T09:25:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…4g4f
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Some of us care that our browser is open source, in other words, not loaded up with vendor spyware/malware. It might be reasonable to run the open-source Chromium, but not actual closed-source Google Chrome.

Sure, I don't mind the occasional tech question. ...

2025-11-16T10:33:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…n903
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Sure, I don't mind the occasional tech question. Unfortunately, It's hard to know what's gone wrong. Since it's both HDMI and network, normally unrelated functions, that suggests that it might be a software failure, and that reinstalling the device drivers, or the whole OS, might fix it.
Or it could be corrupted BIOS settings.
On the other hand, depending on how the machine is built, there might be e.g. a bad connection to a board responsible for both.
Sorry I'm not more helpful.

Feel better!

2025-11-16T10:01:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…y340
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Feel better!