Alex Glow (merlin)
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alexglow.bsky.social
Alex Glow (merlin)
@alexglow.bsky.social
2.5K followers 1.1K following 770 posts
Sustainable electronics, robots, PCBs, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, open-source DIY hardware... + music, languages, art • Masto: @[email protected] • Was @glowascii on bird site • she/her • thoughts & feels my own.
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alexglow.bsky.social
Alex Glow (merlin) @alexglow.bsky.social · Nov 25
Hey! You may have seen my videos on Hackster.io – or my #robot owl Archimedes & other #CompanionBots; my Ouija #ESP8266 planchette PCB; the Companion Core...
Or seen me in Make:, Hackaday, HackSpace mag, the Adafruit blog, TWiT, Recomendo, etc.

As I make new project threads, I'll link them below :D
Alex (30s white woman with side-shaved blue hair) smiles over at the blue owl robot on her shoulder. Pic from 2018! Profile shot, showing my earring – a black circuit board shaped like a Ouija board planchette, which says "ESP-01" at the top and features chalk-like drawings of nasturtiums twining around it. Close-up of the same PCB in use – with an FTDI cable programming an ESP8266 module; both are plugged into headers on the circuit board. (There are PROGRAM and RESET buttons mounted to the bottom.) A bare PCB sits on the same blue silicone mat. Holding up two PCBs with a striking ribcage design, labeled "Companion Core". The left one is black, with a copper ribcage; the right one is purple, and its ribs are slightly lighter purple and raised (due to the copper layer below). This one has servos plugged into headers on one side, and the ribs stand out in gold where the solder mask has been omitted in a heart shape. The bottom of each board says, "Mittler zwischen Hirn und Händen muss das Herz sein": a quotation from Metropolis, "the mediator between head and hands must be the heart."
alexglow.bsky.social
I've been pretty quiet lately! Conference season pretty much wrapped up after the 16th, and I've continued the headlong #KiCad / #PCB design streak I started a couple months ago (including making a set of 25+ custom component footprints that I'll be personalizing over time). 🤩
November 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
timexile.com
Finalist is a new way to mix your music with simple controls. It can be as straight forward as picking a preset, with lots of ways to tweak it as well. Also, you own it. Infinite mixes, no subscriptions, no credits.

go.timexile.com/48us60k
October 14, 2025 at 1:59 PM
alexglow.bsky.social
Live in ~45!
alexglow.bsky.social Alex Glow (merlin) @alexglow.bsky.social · 1d
This week’s #HacksterCafe guest is bio-mechatronics builder Arvind SA! He’s won prizes on @hacksterio.bsky.social with his air-quality #WearableTech and this #LED Connect Four game. Plus: #AssistiveTech projects and clock-tower repair! Can’t wait :D

Tuesday, Nov. 25
10:30am Pacific / 6:30pm UTC
Arvind SA: Aesthetic & Assistive Tech // Hackster Café
YouTube video by Hackster.io, an Avnet community
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM
alexglow.bsky.social
This week’s #HacksterCafe guest is bio-mechatronics builder Arvind SA! He’s won prizes on @hacksterio.bsky.social with his air-quality #WearableTech and this #LED Connect Four game. Plus: #AssistiveTech projects and clock-tower repair! Can’t wait :D

Tuesday, Nov. 25
10:30am Pacific / 6:30pm UTC
Arvind SA: Aesthetic & Assistive Tech // Hackster Café
YouTube video by Hackster.io, an Avnet community
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
lauraehall.bsky.social
Hey, immersive, larp, ARG, theater and game folks: I'm working on Immersipedia and I'm linking out to other design/knowledge wikis like the Puzzle Hunt wiki, Nordic Larp wiki and Game Detectives, plus the whole WikiBruce archive. Are there any others I should be including?
November 23, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
ryangodfrey.com
This pedestrian bridge between a parking garage and a Home2 Suites by Hilton does *not* need to go this hard.
A pedestrian bridge between a parking garage and a Home2 Suites by Hilton in center city Philadelphia
November 21, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
roseschmits.bsky.social
Bunch of pots still available 😉 www.roseschmits.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
mikebarthelauthor.com
Fish have committed credit card fraud
Credit card fraud Black neon tetras committed credit card fraud during a 2023 livestream by "Mutekimaru Channel" on YouTube. The owner was using motion-tracking software to turn the fish's movements into Nintendo Switch inputs, letting them "play" video games. 8 In 2020, the fish beat Pokemon Sapphire after 3,195 hours, a feat that takes about 30 hours for a typical human. 9/ 181 On January 14, 2023, Pokémon Violet crashed at 1,144 hours, giving the fish free access to the main menu. They entered inputs that opened Nintendo eShop, added 500 yen ($3.85 USD) to their owner's account, and exposed his credit card details on the livestream. 10) 11) Mutekimaru later requested a refund of the 500 yen from Nintendo. l12) "Fish eagerly read the terms and conditions. Many of us humans don't read the terms of service, but fish are smarter than we are" - caption from Mutekimaru in a video about the incident 12) The fish also downloaded an N64 emulator, set up PayPal, used reward points to buy an avatar, and changed Mutekimaru's Nintendo account name to "ROWAWAWA*". 13, After about seven hours, their movements shut down the Switch. 14)
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
maryrobinettekowal.com
I'm teaching and critiquing at the 2026 Sandia Starforgers SFF Writers Retreat in Albuquerque, and the scholarship application is due November 30. Learn more and apply here: starforgers.com/2026
Buy Your Ticket – Sandia Starforgers Writers Retreat and Workshop - April 2026
Sandia Starforgers Writers Retreat and Workshop - April 2026, Fri Apr 24, 2026 - Mon Apr 27, 2026 - Sandia Starforgers Writers Retreat and Workshop Scholarship application due November 30 (see below) ...
starforgers.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
keithdecent.bsky.social
I’m doin a clearance on art rugs on my site: keithdecent.com/shop

All of them are as cheap as I can make them except one which is the last and only unsold piece from a series of 40+

#bsnm 🧶 #art
Website listings: "Sloppy Pop" Hand Made Art Rug $225.00 Price Reduction! IV Spaceman's Fate (hand made art rug) was $310.00 Save 35% $200.00 Price Reduction! I Zero-Hour Interruption (hand made art rug) was $310.00 Save 35% $200.00 Price Reduction! Ill Brain Wave Radio (hand made art rug) was $310.00 Save 35% $200.00 Price Reduction! "Panic the Stresshog" Hand-Made Art Rug was $250.00 Save 60% $100.00 "Sloppy Pop" Hand Made Art Rug $225.00 Price Reduction! Price Reduction! "Tweeky Birb" Hand-Made Art Rug was $250.00 Save 60% $100.00 Price Reduction! I Zero-Hour Interruption (hand made art rug) was $310.00 Save 35% $200.00
November 19, 2025 at 4:07 AM
alexglow.bsky.social
Hey, any of y'all #PCB nerds have a favorite type of UV-cure solder mask? 👀

Just got my old Bantam mill back, and I'd like to level up my quick-prototyping game...

// #PCBs
November 19, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
quincetessence.bsky.social
Some of my journalist income goes regularly to my local outlets @lataco.bsky.social, @lapublicpress.bsky.social, @pbs.org SoCal, and even my former employer @laist.com.

Think about supporting your local public and independent media too so it's not just the same few journalism dollars going around!
adoptastation.org Adopt A Station @adoptastation.org · 9d
As @lastweektonight.com covered tonight, local public media stations across the country are in crisis. You can help out by going to adoptastation.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
kvetch.gay
some other familiar grocery store names that are brands for producer-owned agricultural co-ops:

Blue Diamond
Bob's Red Mill
Land O'Lakes
Tillamook
Welch's
msemilyedwards.bsky.social Emily J. Edwards @msemilyedwards.bsky.social · 9d
My #SuperlativeCannedGoo tweet from the old place is making rounds again. Support co-op cranberry growers!
a screen grab of a tweet about ocean spray cranberry jelly: **Buy my BOO-k** Emily J. Edwards…. 1d i should take a moment to remind you that Ocean Spray is actually a cranberry growers collective and by supporting the superlative "goo in a can" name-brand cranberry sauce, you're supporting workers and small farmers oatmeal influencer **Buy my BOO-k** Emily J. Edwards .. 1d: so many reasons to love Superlative Canned Goo this holiday season Lindsey Becker @lcatebecker • 1d Replying to @MsEmilyEdwards Plus, their manufacturing plants are
November 17, 2025 at 2:44 AM
alexglow.bsky.social
The most honorable use of a new fabrication tool (see previous post in thread)
November 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
manmademoon.bsky.social
😲
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
erikamoen.bsky.social
My final process post on recreating the Louvre jewels out of paper is public now! Join for free to automatically get my public updates like this one and monthly newsletter 👑
www.patreon.com/posts/142620...
November 11, 2025 at 8:22 PM
alexglow.bsky.social
#USPol (adjacent)
jesswash.bsky.social Jessica Washington @jesswash.bsky.social · 15d
I'm looking to speak with SNAP recipients about their reaction to the shutdown deal for @theintercept.com, if you're interested my email is [email protected]
November 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM
alexglow.bsky.social
Ooh, "sloppers" is much better than "clankers". Focuses on the actor (the user/peddler), and the undesirable action, rather than a vague class of tools.

Also seems to avoid the weird slur-esque vibes (as in Cylon/toaster) (and I'm guessing this is part of the motivation)
November 11, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
measuredandslow.bsky.social
SEATTLE CURE YOUR VOTES PLEASE
wilsonforseattle.bsky.social Katie Wilson for Seattle @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social · 15d
SEATTLE!!!

We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
A photo of Katie Wilson seated in a wooden chair beside a white brick fireplace smiling at the camera with her hands folded an image of the election results from King County
November 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
alexglow.bsky.social
Going live in a few to recap #Supercon! Plus: a vintage #electronics parts haul for my retro #cyberdeck, #HackOClock on my MicroSD data-storage #PCB #jewelry, travel hardware #EDC, etc. 👀

Pic by @hacksterio.bsky.social !

▶️ youtube.com/glowascii
▶️ www.twitch.tv/glowascii
▶️ linkedin.com/in/alexglow
"Coming up shortly" graphic – a sick-ass cartoon of Alex riding a mechatronic rhino (offscreen), with Archimedes on her shoulder and a giant soldering iron strapped to her back, doing something cool with a laptop and hardware desktop. (This was created by a human designer Hackster.io contracted years ago! I don't own it, but it rules.)
November 7, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
python.org
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
eff.org
Looking for a meaningful internship? EFF offers law students the chance to protect privacy, free speech, and innovation. Apply now! www.eff.org/about/oppor...
Legal Internship Opportunities
Applications are now open for the Spring 2026 Intern Class, with a deadline of November 1. See below for instructions and a link to the application.EFF’s legal internships provide law students with a
www.eff.org
October 27, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Alex Glow (merlin)
dsbsoc-arts.bsky.social
🎨🔬 CALLING ALL ARTISTS & DEEP-SEA SCIENTISTS!

💡 Open to ALL artists & scientists

🗓 Deadline: August 31

📍 Apply via the short form in our bio / link below!

🔗 forms.gle/SftLbez3ML2j...
Are you inspired by the mysteries of the deep? We're launching a new initiative ArtSea Matchmaking that pairs artists and scientists for creative collaborations rooted in deep-sea science. Together, you'll co-create compelling work that bridges disciplines and reaches wider audiences through exhibitions and outreach.
June 25, 2025 at 7:14 AM
alexglow.bsky.social
Going live in ~60!
October 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
alexglow.bsky.social
Fresh #DayGlowShow this Friday (10/24): @ishotjr.bsky.social & myself live-build with the new #RaspberryPi 500+ 🤩

Plus, David’s report on the #Arduino Q board 👀

10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern:
▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfKh...
▶️ www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
▶️ www.twitch.tv/glowascii

#Maker
DAY//GLOW Ep. 5: Pi 500+, Arduino Q – SBC Scrimmage!
YouTube video by Alex Glow
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:19 AM