Matthew Sparby
@cloudscout.com
VintageComputing/RetroComputing enthusiast. Foster parent. Dog rescuer. Lived in California, Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin & Bengaluru. Now back in Minnesota.
He/Him/Mr. Sparby if you're nasty.
ATDT Shirts: http://spar.by/atdt
https://youtube.com/cloudscout
He/Him/Mr. Sparby if you're nasty.
ATDT Shirts: http://spar.by/atdt
https://youtube.com/cloudscout
Pinned
Matthew Sparby
@cloudscout.com
· Jul 26
Look, you hired me for my ability to see things from a different perspective and find new solutions to your organization's problems. So maybe you should be more open-minded, respect my experience and consider the possibility that it's actually YOU who's been pronouncing your name wrong.
Listening to KFAI on my Zune. Gotta say, I wish I had one of these when they were still supported devices. It's really pretty slick and I love that it has an HD Radio tuner.
December 13, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Listening to KFAI on my Zune. Gotta say, I wish I had one of these when they were still supported devices. It's really pretty slick and I love that it has an HD Radio tuner.
If it's cold enough for the snow to glisten, go back inside.
December 11, 2025 at 1:22 AM
If it's cold enough for the snow to glisten, go back inside.
We have achieved soup. I repeat, we have achieved soup!
December 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
We have achieved soup. I repeat, we have achieved soup!
Riding out the snowstorm by spending time in the kitchen. You've heard this story before but let's hear it again...
December 9, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Riding out the snowstorm by spending time in the kitchen. You've heard this story before but let's hear it again...
I think Lego stuff is cool but it's not really my thing. That said, I was REALLY tempted to buy this today.
December 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I think Lego stuff is cool but it's not really my thing. That said, I was REALLY tempted to buy this today.
Our foster dog, Cowboy, just had his third bath in two days. This time with anti-skunk shampoo. There's still a hint of lingering Eau de Pepé Le Pew but that will get taken care of when he gets a proper grooming soon.
December 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Our foster dog, Cowboy, just had his third bath in two days. This time with anti-skunk shampoo. There's still a hint of lingering Eau de Pepé Le Pew but that will get taken care of when he gets a proper grooming soon.
Unfortunately, our new foster, Cowboy, smells more like a cow pasture right now. He has clearly had a run-in with a skunk in the recent past. He's very sweet, though, and quite adorable. We just need to get some skunk shampoo tomorrow.
December 7, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Unfortunately, our new foster, Cowboy, smells more like a cow pasture right now. He has clearly had a run-in with a skunk in the recent past. He's very sweet, though, and quite adorable. We just need to get some skunk shampoo tomorrow.
This Panasonic PV-1275 VHS VCR looks fantastic but I think it needs some new belts.
December 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
This Panasonic PV-1275 VHS VCR looks fantastic but I think it needs some new belts.
Reposted by Matthew Sparby
I propose a solution to our ongoing RAM shortage:
December 6, 2025 at 2:32 AM
I propose a solution to our ongoing RAM shortage:
While the aforementioned Telix was my one true love in the DOS terminal world, I also have a couple of other retail boxed terminal programs, Procomm Plus and SmarTerm340... and these are sealed, New Old Stock! I should open them and do a three-way shootout sometime soon.
December 6, 2025 at 2:18 AM
While the aforementioned Telix was my one true love in the DOS terminal world, I also have a couple of other retail boxed terminal programs, Procomm Plus and SmarTerm340... and these are sealed, New Old Stock! I should open them and do a three-way shootout sometime soon.
I mentioned earlier that my vintage computer "collection" had gotten out of hand. And yet, I went to Free Geek Twin Cities again tonight... not to buy any more computers, though. I bought a retail copy of Telix for DOS. This software was a crucial part of my existence from 1989 to 1995 or so.
December 6, 2025 at 1:04 AM
I mentioned earlier that my vintage computer "collection" had gotten out of hand. And yet, I went to Free Geek Twin Cities again tonight... not to buy any more computers, though. I bought a retail copy of Telix for DOS. This software was a crucial part of my existence from 1989 to 1995 or so.
There's a fine line between "collecting" and "hoarding" and I'm slowly, painfully, accepting the fact that I am on the wrong side of that line with my vintage computer stuff right now.
December 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
There's a fine line between "collecting" and "hoarding" and I'm slowly, painfully, accepting the fact that I am on the wrong side of that line with my vintage computer stuff right now.
Reposted by Matthew Sparby
to commemorate alan dye moving from apple to meta, here's one of his best quotes
December 4, 2025 at 11:19 AM
to commemorate alan dye moving from apple to meta, here's one of his best quotes
Just sitting here listening to Pretty Hate Machine on CD in my computer's CD-ROM drive. Did I just fall through a wormhole back to the early 1990s?
December 3, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Just sitting here listening to Pretty Hate Machine on CD in my computer's CD-ROM drive. Did I just fall through a wormhole back to the early 1990s?
It's irritating to see how many news stories about the new fees for flying without a REAL ID completely fail to mention the fact that you don't need one of you have a passport.
December 2, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It's irritating to see how many news stories about the new fees for flying without a REAL ID completely fail to mention the fact that you don't need one of you have a passport.
I'm tired. I need to get a good night's sleep before I go back to work tomorrow after a week off. But there's a stupid owl who won't shut up.
December 1, 2025 at 4:09 AM
I'm tired. I need to get a good night's sleep before I go back to work tomorrow after a week off. But there's a stupid owl who won't shut up.
I made a traditional English trifle. Ladyfingers, jam, custard, beef sautéed with peas and onions, more custard, bananas... mmmm.
November 27, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I made a traditional English trifle. Ladyfingers, jam, custard, beef sautéed with peas and onions, more custard, bananas... mmmm.
And Leon is getting laaarger!
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
And Leon is getting laaarger!
Starting my day in the traditional way.
November 23, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Starting my day in the traditional way.
November 21, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Super Colon Blow! New fiber internet is installed. Speed test comparison showing the last several days with the fastest service Xfinity offers in my area to the new service from Gateway Fiber.
November 20, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Super Colon Blow! New fiber internet is installed. Speed test comparison showing the last several days with the fastest service Xfinity offers in my area to the new service from Gateway Fiber.
Sometime in the next 90 minutes, a fiber installer is supposed to hook up my new internet service and I can finally say goodbye to Xfinity.
November 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Sometime in the next 90 minutes, a fiber installer is supposed to hook up my new internet service and I can finally say goodbye to Xfinity.
Reposted by Matthew Sparby
It's official! #PicoIDE, the open source IDE/ATAPI drive emulator I've been working on for the better part of this year, will be launching at Crowd Supply! Go there to sign up for updates and to be notified when the campaign is live: www.crowdsupply.com/polpotronics...
PicoIDE
An open source IDE/ATAPI drive emulator for vintage computers
www.crowdsupply.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:59 AM
It's official! #PicoIDE, the open source IDE/ATAPI drive emulator I've been working on for the better part of this year, will be launching at Crowd Supply! Go there to sign up for updates and to be notified when the campaign is live: www.crowdsupply.com/polpotronics...
I always thought there were only two power connector types for the VIC-20. The two-pronged connector on the long boards and the C64-style DIN connector on the short boards. Today I learned that there are two very different two-pronged variants. Top is from my NTSC VIC-20, bottom from VC-20.
November 17, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I always thought there were only two power connector types for the VIC-20. The two-pronged connector on the long boards and the C64-style DIN connector on the short boards. Today I learned that there are two very different two-pronged variants. Top is from my NTSC VIC-20, bottom from VC-20.