ijk64✅ @ijk64@m.futex.au

The Furby source code is public and heavily commented. For example, it turns the microphone off when the motors are running.

Furby was the 1998 version of ChatGPT and tons of people thought it actually slowly learned English words. The NSA was alarmed. However it turned out the "learning" process was just on a timer and the "microphone" only triggers on loud sounds.
https://archive.org/details/furby-source

Be wary of those keeping an eye on you but not complimenting, cheering, or supporting you. Be discerning of those around you.

Should we campaign to #fediblock commercially owned instances on #Mastodon?

This poll follows news that #Medium has started its own instance.

We could make exceptions for news orgs, or maybe force them to use non profit instances.

Robert Tinney was the cover artist for Byte magazine from 1975-1986, where he cranked out these fantastic paintings that captured the spirit of tech from that time. Here is one of my favorites (from 1981). #RetroComputing #Byte

I've shared more of Robert's retro-futuristic paintings on my blog https://docpop.org/2020/11/robert-tinneys-visions-of-the-future/

Robert is also selling prints via his site http://tinney.net/

Searchtodon was bound to happen.

While searchability on the Fediverse has been a controversial topic, it was inevitable.

If data is public and addressable, it will be indexable.

And by “moving to open plan office” i of course mean “working from home” because given the choice, who in their right mind would work in an open plan space during a pandemic?

The more people are interested in the security of your product, the faster you can find and fix potential vulnerabilities. Learn why SeMI Technologies and Raivo OTP advocate for #opensource software: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XCDZ4_nNjg

So, my work is requiring me to get a cloud architect cert.

SIGH.

I am VERY not a fan of vendor certs. I grew up in the days of MCSE and A+: lol. I learned that this sort of thing is a box-checking memorization-fest. And I have a ~terrible~ memory.

Instead of study, I learn the old-fashioned way: breaking shit in production, then frantically reading docs to figure out how to fix it again.

That approach can leave conspicuous gaps, tho, so I was weirdly anxious about actually taking the exam.

Ring soon to offer home security drones that will fly around your hose streaming video to the cloud.

Not at all scary, not at all...

I'm told Twitter employees were just walked out of its Singapore office — its Asia-Pacific headquarters — over nonpayment of rent. Landlords walked employees out of the building

As I was being put under for my colonoscopy, I apparently announced to the room, "Y'all are in for a real treat" and then passed out. 😭😭😭

This website provides the full back archive of BYTE magazine, all 23 years of it from 1975 to to 1998. It's a treasure trove of vintage tech and nostalgia, not even Archive.org carries all the issues.

The site actually focuses on old Apple magazines, but has also PC magazines and other resources on the history of microcomputing.

https://vintageapple.org/byte

#retrocomputing #magazines

That moment when you go for a TCM massage to fix a long-term ache/pain in your arm, and the masseuse is going at it with her fingers of steel, manipulating your arm and leaning into the spot where it hurts, making you re-evaluate every single one of your life choices that led you to this point, and then she says

"来，放松！(Just relax!)"