Author | Lightnews

Matthew Sparby

@cloudscout.com

2K followers 310 following 550 posts

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

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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.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 4d

@whatkatedoes.bsky.social just saw the cruise video. One of my favorite ships. Got married on its twin, Freedom of the Seas. Hope you had a great time!

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 4d

"This is ponderous, man. Really ponderous."

www.bbc.com/news/article...

#DoYouSeeWhatImSaying #2nu

Customers sue over 'embarrassing' squeaky On Cloud shoes

Athletic shoe company On is facing a lawsuit from customers who claim that its sneakers produce annoying squeaks.

www.bbc.com

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 6d

White text on a blue background that says, "The world would be a better place if all the leaders of all the great nations would spend a little more time sitting on the potty."

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 6d

It's been 5.5 hours now and the status still says, "Technician on the way."

Apparently they're on their way from Fargo... on foot.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 6d

Xfinity service has been down for 3.5 hours. They estimate another 4+ hours before it's fixed. Looking forward to December when the new fiber provider lights up their service to my house.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 7d

Dear Andy,

The misspelled reference to a frozen pizza commercial you entered while playing an ostensibly educational Apple II game back in the 1980s is now famous in vintage computing circles. It also forms the core of my annual New Year Greeting.

Thank you for your service.

Love, Sparby

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 7d

I'm reminded of this gem from the pirated copy of Oregon Trail that's been shared online for decades...

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 8d

I recall a similar joke about a Lutheran rescued from a desert island who explains that one building is his church and the other is the church he used to go to.

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Reposted by Matthew Sparby

Popcornbender Spatch @spatch.bsky.social · 9d

[stepping out of library stacks with record in hand, squinting at name on request slip] uh, I don't know who needs to hear this, but

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 9d

I used to be the one my friends would call when they needed somebody else's phone number.

bleary @bleary.off-the-records.com · 10d

If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.

Did people really memorize phone numbers before cell phones, or is that just a movie thing?
2? Questions
I was watching some old shows from the 90s and noticed people would just dial numbers from memory - like they'd call their friends or family without looking anything up.
Made me wonder if that was actually normal back then? Did people genuinely have all their important numbers memorized, or did most folks keep a little address book or written list nearby?

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 11d

Mabel and Sophie had a great time down on the farm today.

#dogs

Two black dogs sitting next to a pumpkin patch.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 15d

Very cool! You have been far more successful than I have when it comes to actually completing (and documenting) your individual machines. I have a ridiculous backlog of projects like these.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 16d

Button battery hasn't leaked. I've already ordered a cap kit. The seller told me that the floppy drive isn't working and I know there's a common cap issue that causes floppy failures.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 16d

Woo-hoo! I finally found an Amiga 1200 for a reasonable price... and from a local seller! And it has a GVP A1230 Turbo+ 68030 accelerator in it. Bring on that sweet AGA action.

#VintageComputing #RetroComputing

An Amiga 1200 computer in its box along with a pair of Epyx 500XJ joysticks.

Inside of an Amiga 1200 computer showing a GVP A1230 Turbo+ accelerator installed.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 18d

Valeris, know anything about a radiation surge?

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 20d

If I recall correctly, after a rather lengthy negotiation, he ended up agreeing to something like $250.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 22d

File done.
Goodbye.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 22d

Waiting for October
youtu.be/rRrSTBJDFYk...
#PeteAndPete

POLARIS - Waiting for October

youtu.be

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 22d

I was unaware of this game until this post. Just bought it on GOG. Thanks!

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 25d

Over 300 people at this wedding. I'm the only one in a bow tie.

Bald, white male with glasses and a bow tie.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 29d

I originally typed something witty and/or sarcastic but deleted it in favor of just saying that I hope you get well quickly.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · Sep 23

The bike's no longer for sale, Francis!

Screenshot of a Facebook Marketplace listing for a vintage bicycle similar to the one Pee-Wee Herman had in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. The listing is marked as Sold.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · Sep 20

This weekend's binge watching is Department S. Fun show. Surprised I've never seen it before.

Title card for the 1969-1970 TV series "Department S".

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · Sep 17

I watched it when it started here on Channel 23 but when they moved to cable, I was out of luck because our cable company didn't carry The Comedy Channel. I didn't get to see MST3K again for years.

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · Sep 16

COOTYS RAT SEMEN