Ben Collier
@bencollier.uk
Keen techie & dad, currently Head of Cloud & Engineering at Made Tech. Retrocomputing enthusiast, home brewer, chorister and maker of curries.
Reposted by Ben Collier
They're putting blue food coloring in everything.
A short story
blog.foxtrotluna.social/theyre-putti...
A short story
blog.foxtrotluna.social/theyre-putti...
June 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
They're putting blue food coloring in everything.
A short story
blog.foxtrotluna.social/theyre-putti...
A short story
blog.foxtrotluna.social/theyre-putti...
This was a fun episode of "The Retro Adventurers". We had a massive mailbag, and in addition to Knight Orc, covered a really interesting by Andrew Plotkin.
The first segment of Level 9's Knight Orc, and the Infidel parody Inhumane by Andrew Plotkin, plus tons of news and correspondence in episode 27 of The Retro Adventurers.
On all podcast platforms or visit retroadventurers.com
On all podcast platforms or visit retroadventurers.com
June 20, 2025 at 8:22 AM
This was a fun episode of "The Retro Adventurers". We had a massive mailbag, and in addition to Knight Orc, covered a really interesting by Andrew Plotkin.
Reposted by Ben Collier
The first segment of Level 9's Knight Orc, and the Infidel parody Inhumane by Andrew Plotkin, plus tons of news and correspondence in episode 27 of The Retro Adventurers.
On all podcast platforms or visit retroadventurers.com
On all podcast platforms or visit retroadventurers.com
June 15, 2025 at 12:19 AM
The first segment of Level 9's Knight Orc, and the Infidel parody Inhumane by Andrew Plotkin, plus tons of news and correspondence in episode 27 of The Retro Adventurers.
On all podcast platforms or visit retroadventurers.com
On all podcast platforms or visit retroadventurers.com
The latest installment of the Retro Adventurers is here.
@grahamcluley.com will no doubt be interested to hear that we covered "Jacaranda Jim". I really enjoyed going back and playing it again.
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/26/
@grahamcluley.com will no doubt be interested to hear that we covered "Jacaranda Jim". I really enjoyed going back and playing it again.
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/26/
Episode 26 - Jacaranda Jim and Beatle Quest | The Retro Adventurers
Ben and Jason take on the text adventure distillations of two uniquely British phenomena.
First up is the "prolific musical innovator" genre with Number 9 Software's Beatle Quest, a psychedelic trip i...
retroadventurers.podbean.com
June 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The latest installment of the Retro Adventurers is here.
@grahamcluley.com will no doubt be interested to hear that we covered "Jacaranda Jim". I really enjoyed going back and playing it again.
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/26/
@grahamcluley.com will no doubt be interested to hear that we covered "Jacaranda Jim". I really enjoyed going back and playing it again.
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/26/
"Blarneying" is the word I'd go for.
April 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
"Blarneying" is the word I'd go for.
Argh. I'm starting to get truly sick of ChatGPT blowing smoke up my rear. Is there an option to make it less obsequious?
April 27, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Argh. I'm starting to get truly sick of ChatGPT blowing smoke up my rear. Is there an option to make it less obsequious?
I really really need ChatGPT to be able to fork conversations. It's an obvious feature, which appears to be missing, unless I'm being an idiot.
April 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I really really need ChatGPT to be able to fork conversations. It's an obvious feature, which appears to be missing, unless I'm being an idiot.
Reposted by Ben Collier
No checksums in sight for the epic Colossal Cave type-in from Creative Computing we discuss on the Magazine Roundup, but the sketches are cool. Meanwhile in Sinclair User, a vendor makes a simple, direct appeal: "our stuff isn't terrible!"
On all podplatforms, retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/17
On all podplatforms, retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/17
March 4, 2025 at 9:33 PM
No checksums in sight for the epic Colossal Cave type-in from Creative Computing we discuss on the Magazine Roundup, but the sketches are cool. Meanwhile in Sinclair User, a vendor makes a simple, direct appeal: "our stuff isn't terrible!"
On all podplatforms, retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/17
On all podplatforms, retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/17
They've been doing Safer Internet Day at my youngest daughter's school. This one gave me a laugh.
February 13, 2025 at 8:41 AM
They've been doing Safer Internet Day at my youngest daughter's school. This one gave me a laugh.
Interesting - my sons are studying Moore's Law and AI for Year 7 Computer Science.
February 2, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Interesting - my sons are studying Moore's Law and AI for Year 7 Computer Science.
Reposted by Ben Collier
Jason and Dave welcome classic text adventure author Jonathan Partington to the program. While studying at Cambridge University, he created memorable games including Avon, Crobe, Sangraal, Fyleet, Monsters of Murdac, and Spy Snatcher.
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/16/
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/16/
January 28, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Jason and Dave welcome classic text adventure author Jonathan Partington to the program. While studying at Cambridge University, he created memorable games including Avon, Crobe, Sangraal, Fyleet, Monsters of Murdac, and Spy Snatcher.
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/16/
retroadventurers.podbean.com/e/16/
Yet another example of artificial intelligence creating psychedelic, dreamlike things. This Minecraft clone forgets where you are and will morph you between locations - like a dream. Great blogpiece.
www.aiweirdness.com/minecraft-wi...
www.aiweirdness.com/minecraft-wi...
Minecraft with object impermanence
I generally am uninterested in generative AI that's too close to the real thing. But every once in a while there's a modern AI thing that's so glitchy and broken that it's strangely compelling. There'...
www.aiweirdness.com
January 23, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Yet another example of artificial intelligence creating psychedelic, dreamlike things. This Minecraft clone forgets where you are and will morph you between locations - like a dream. Great blogpiece.
www.aiweirdness.com/minecraft-wi...
www.aiweirdness.com/minecraft-wi...
Do you want a full-size train departure board in your lounge? Look no further! What a company, just saw their ad and I'm reposting because I'm so impressed!
ukdepartureboards.co.uk
ukdepartureboards.co.uk
Shop - UK Departure Boards
UK Departure Boards is the UKs leading provider of replica station departure boards. Bring live train departures information to your home with a UK departure board! Available in 3 sizes to display liv...
ukdepartureboards.co.uk
January 13, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Do you want a full-size train departure board in your lounge? Look no further! What a company, just saw their ad and I'm reposting because I'm so impressed!
ukdepartureboards.co.uk
ukdepartureboards.co.uk
Our cat (Rufus McFish) is distinctly unimpressed by his new Lego companion / replacement.
December 31, 2024 at 2:29 PM
Our cat (Rufus McFish) is distinctly unimpressed by his new Lego companion / replacement.
Attempting to perfect the art of the Boxing Day breakfast...
December 26, 2024 at 11:21 AM
Attempting to perfect the art of the Boxing Day breakfast...
If anyone on here is a Jacob Collier fan, I have a couple of spare tickets for his show in Manchester tomorrow night, thanks to my philistine children. Let me know.
December 7, 2024 at 11:23 AM
If anyone on here is a Jacob Collier fan, I have a couple of spare tickets for his show in Manchester tomorrow night, thanks to my philistine children. Let me know.
Very kind of @dylanbeatt.ie to dig this out for me. I am constantly referring back to this as an example of the pitfalls of using AI for anything that might attract multiple submissions. The wider set of AIs might ameliorate this a bit, but I'm sure it's still a landmine.
You mean this one?
youtu.be/Hqs24Gm0y_g?...
(If you don’t meant that one, then I’m not sure what you’re referring to…)
youtu.be/Hqs24Gm0y_g?...
(If you don’t meant that one, then I’m not sure what you’re referring to…)
Delving into the Landscape
YouTube video by Dylan Beattie
youtu.be
December 3, 2024 at 9:26 AM
Very kind of @dylanbeatt.ie to dig this out for me. I am constantly referring back to this as an example of the pitfalls of using AI for anything that might attract multiple submissions. The wider set of AIs might ameliorate this a bit, but I'm sure it's still a landmine.
@dylanbeatt.ie I don't suppose you could you direct me to that post (at *the other place*) which talked about the occurence of tell phrases in conference submissions? I can't for the life of me find it. If it was a blog post, all the better, I'll reshare it on here - trying to refer someone to it.
December 3, 2024 at 9:20 AM
@dylanbeatt.ie I don't suppose you could you direct me to that post (at *the other place*) which talked about the occurence of tell phrases in conference submissions? I can't for the life of me find it. If it was a blog post, all the better, I'll reshare it on here - trying to refer someone to it.
Six year old daughter coding on the Pico with Thonny via the Maker Advent calendar. She has made some adaptations and just conned her brother into pressing a button that made the computer say he smelled. Classic stuff.
November 30, 2024 at 1:34 PM
Six year old daughter coding on the Pico with Thonny via the Maker Advent calendar. She has made some adaptations and just conned her brother into pressing a button that made the computer say he smelled. Classic stuff.
Judging by the horrible system software on the VOIP phone I just installed in our house, this is going to be a fertile area for security researchers over the next few years as we transition away from analogue...
November 23, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Judging by the horrible system software on the VOIP phone I just installed in our house, this is going to be a fertile area for security researchers over the next few years as we transition away from analogue...
So apparently today is a yak-shaving day. Marshalling virtual machines with IAC on an ARM Mac is not the most pain-free of experiences.
November 23, 2024 at 12:15 PM
So apparently today is a yak-shaving day. Marshalling virtual machines with IAC on an ARM Mac is not the most pain-free of experiences.
There's a lot of misinformation in the BBC reporting of the Laos methanol poisonings.
"Local producers making cheap alcohol often will not correctly reduce the toxic level of methanol produced in the process."
Very unlikely. The real problem is adulteration for profit by organised crime gangs.
"Local producers making cheap alcohol often will not correctly reduce the toxic level of methanol produced in the process."
Very unlikely. The real problem is adulteration for profit by organised crime gangs.
November 23, 2024 at 7:29 AM
There's a lot of misinformation in the BBC reporting of the Laos methanol poisonings.
"Local producers making cheap alcohol often will not correctly reduce the toxic level of methanol produced in the process."
Very unlikely. The real problem is adulteration for profit by organised crime gangs.
"Local producers making cheap alcohol often will not correctly reduce the toxic level of methanol produced in the process."
Very unlikely. The real problem is adulteration for profit by organised crime gangs.
I'm glad to see this fellow here on Bluesky. These space weather updates are always good fun, especially when something bonkers is going on.
My first post on Bluesky.
Solar activity on the Earth facing side of the Sun has been for the most part uneventful the past several days. Higher activity may be on the horizon however with a potential active region approaching the east limb. Full update via SolarHam.com
Solar activity on the Earth facing side of the Sun has been for the most part uneventful the past several days. Higher activity may be on the horizon however with a potential active region approaching the east limb. Full update via SolarHam.com
November 16, 2024 at 6:17 PM
I'm glad to see this fellow here on Bluesky. These space weather updates are always good fun, especially when something bonkers is going on.