Colin Hoad
@colinhoad.com
Senior Data Engineer at cfc.com
"Vintage computing enthusiast" -- The Register
I run a YouTube channel and blog dedicated to the Beeb and all things Acorn, Psion and more:
https://www.colinhoad.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/zjvSBjG7rw
Art: VectorinID
"Vintage computing enthusiast" -- The Register
I run a YouTube channel and blog dedicated to the Beeb and all things Acorn, Psion and more:
https://www.colinhoad.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/zjvSBjG7rw
Art: VectorinID
Pinned
Colin Hoad
@colinhoad.com
· Oct 8
I know I post a lot of stuff about generative AI and how much I dislike it. So for a change I'm going to write this thread in celebration of the many creative people I've had the good fortune of getting to know and interact with over the past couple of years. Real human creators producing real art.
Most people know that the random junk pixels printed around the edges of various Acorn Electron games are sections of game code 'hidden' in screen memory. But not all of it is actually code, because that would lead to an uneven border, so some of the junk characters are just... junk!
November 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Most people know that the random junk pixels printed around the edges of various Acorn Electron games are sections of game code 'hidden' in screen memory. But not all of it is actually code, because that would lead to an uneven border, so some of the junk characters are just... junk!
Running "Frak!" on my new Linux machine. Probably didn't need 128GB of RAM and an Nvidia 5070 for that, though 😅
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Running "Frak!" on my new Linux machine. Probably didn't need 128GB of RAM and an Nvidia 5070 for that, though 😅
Reposted by Colin Hoad
Reposted by Colin Hoad
imagine that. imagine that. imagine that! imagine that. did anybody say anything about this once or twice or thrice, hmm? did anybody talk about, this? no? hmm?
November 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
imagine that. imagine that. imagine that! imagine that. did anybody say anything about this once or twice or thrice, hmm? did anybody talk about, this? no? hmm?
Reposted by Colin Hoad
Bodied by my eldest , frankly
November 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Bodied by my eldest , frankly
Reposted by Colin Hoad
![[Scene is JESUS sat behind a boss’s desk in his office on a cloud in HEAVEN]
1
JESUS [speaking into intercom]
Hi can you send in Saint Nicholas please
2
SANTA [entering in full Santa garb]:
Hi boss
JESUS:
Hi Nick
3
JESUS:
Listen - about this ‘my birthday’ thing...
SANTA:
Ohh not this again boss
4
JESUS:
Nick, it’s out of hand. *You’ve* got out of hand.
5
JESUS:
I mean when I hired you, you was all humble, hiding under windows, lobbing in dowries…
And now you’re like…
6
JESUS [gesturing disdainfully at Santa’s clothing]:
I mean - what’s this.
7
SANTA:
This is my get up! I’ve had this since the Coca Cola deal in the 30s
JESUS:
*That’s what I mean.*
8
JESUS:
You’ve just gone too -
SANTA:
Oh no, oh no -
9
SANTA:
Sorry boss but waaay back in the Reformation, right, Martin Luther said: “why don’t we have Jesus delivering the presents?”. And when he prayed to ask you, do you remember what you said? Eh?
10
SANTA:
You said: “I ain’t going back there”
11
SANTA:
If you wanna take over -
JESUS:
Oh yeah! Kids coming downstairs to find me resurrected in their living room going "I got you an Xbox"...
12
SANTA:
You’re just feeling threatened cos I’m doing a bloody good -
JESUS:
*WATCH IT NICK*.
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayhglimve4fbwilzyfjedpa56xwmjq4oriqqs62atkospprs6x5y@jpeg)
Reposted by Colin Hoad
Vibe coding: What is it good for? Absolutely nothing (Sorry, Linus)
Vibe coding: What is it good for? Absolutely nothing (Sorry, Linus)
Coding purists once considered BASIC harmful. AI can't even manage that
Opinion It is a truth universally acknowledged that a singular project possessed of prospects is in want of a team. That team has to be built from good developers with experience, judgement, analytic and logic skills, and strong interpersonal communication. Where AI coding fits in remains strongly contentious. Opinion on vibe coding in corporate IT is more clearly stated: you're either selling the stuff or steering well clear.…
dlvr.it
November 24, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Vibe coding: What is it good for? Absolutely nothing (Sorry, Linus)
Tonight's the night! #Telekon #GaryNuman
November 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Tonight's the night! #Telekon #GaryNuman
Reposted by Colin Hoad
No lies detected.
I think we all know that if Beethoven had had a home micro, it would have been the Beeb 😉
November 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
No lies detected.
Reposted by Colin Hoad
Oh wow! Well that’s made my day. 😀
Thanks for letting me know. And thanks to @frontierastro.bsky.social for catching Mr Braben’s eye. It’s nice to be noticed! 🫡
More about flicker-free #Elite on my site:
elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicke...
#commodore64 #retrogaming #retrocomputing #bbcmicro #8bit
Thanks for letting me know. And thanks to @frontierastro.bsky.social for catching Mr Braben’s eye. It’s nice to be noticed! 🫡
More about flicker-free #Elite on my site:
elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicke...
#commodore64 #retrogaming #retrocomputing #bbcmicro #8bit
November 21, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Oh wow! Well that’s made my day. 😀
Thanks for letting me know. And thanks to @frontierastro.bsky.social for catching Mr Braben’s eye. It’s nice to be noticed! 🫡
More about flicker-free #Elite on my site:
elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicke...
#commodore64 #retrogaming #retrocomputing #bbcmicro #8bit
Thanks for letting me know. And thanks to @frontierastro.bsky.social for catching Mr Braben’s eye. It’s nice to be noticed! 🫡
More about flicker-free #Elite on my site:
elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/flicke...
#commodore64 #retrogaming #retrocomputing #bbcmicro #8bit
I think we all know that if Beethoven had had a home micro, it would have been the Beeb 😉
November 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I think we all know that if Beethoven had had a home micro, it would have been the Beeb 😉
...arriving next Tuesday! 🤩
I've been thinking about it for some time, and yesterday's latest from Microsoft re: agentic AI has finally convinced me. New daily driver laptop ordered from laptopwithlinux.com. I'm going Linux full time, I am through with Windows.
Laptop with Linux - Build your own Linux Laptop
LaptopwithLinux, delivers the best custom Linux laptops with Ubuntu, Mint, Debian and more. ✓Free Shipping! ✓14 Days of Reflection! ✓2-Year Warranty!
laptopwithlinux.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
...arriving next Tuesday! 🤩
Reposted by Colin Hoad
“Assembly isn’t dead - just specialized.” Matt Godbolt and Dan Kusswurm explore modern x86 coding, when assembly is worth it, and how it can deliver up to 100x speedups for critical tasks.
youtu.be/L2Qu9rk05rE?...
youtu.be/L2Qu9rk05rE?...
Modern X86 Assembly Language Programming • Daniel Kusswurm & Matt Godbolt • GOTO 2025
YouTube video by GOTO Conferences
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM
“Assembly isn’t dead - just specialized.” Matt Godbolt and Dan Kusswurm explore modern x86 coding, when assembly is worth it, and how it can deliver up to 100x speedups for critical tasks.
youtu.be/L2Qu9rk05rE?...
youtu.be/L2Qu9rk05rE?...
If you see this, post your getaway vehicle
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 PM
If you see this, post your getaway vehicle
Saw an ad from JetBrains on the tube that read "stop replacing AI devs with humans!" and now I hate JetBrains.
November 20, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Saw an ad from JetBrains on the tube that read "stop replacing AI devs with humans!" and now I hate JetBrains.
Reposted by Colin Hoad
I've been thinking about it for some time, and yesterday's latest from Microsoft re: agentic AI has finally convinced me. New daily driver laptop ordered from laptopwithlinux.com. I'm going Linux full time, I am through with Windows.
Laptop with Linux - Build your own Linux Laptop
LaptopwithLinux, delivers the best custom Linux laptops with Ubuntu, Mint, Debian and more. ✓Free Shipping! ✓14 Days of Reflection! ✓2-Year Warranty!
laptopwithlinux.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I've been thinking about it for some time, and yesterday's latest from Microsoft re: agentic AI has finally convinced me. New daily driver laptop ordered from laptopwithlinux.com. I'm going Linux full time, I am through with Windows.
This is so messed up I almost can't believe it. How a company like Microsoft can have sunk to this level is just beyond me. AI brainrot to the max.
www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/wi...
www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/wi...
Microsoft warns that Windows 11's agentic AI could install malware on your PC: "Only enable this feature if you understand the security implications"
Microsoft is pushing ahead with its plan to add agentic capabilities to Windows 11 but has issued an important security warning for anyone who is interested in trying it out.
www.windowscentral.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This is so messed up I almost can't believe it. How a company like Microsoft can have sunk to this level is just beyond me. AI brainrot to the max.
www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/wi...
www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/wi...
Reposted by Colin Hoad
I do so love that an Apple II/Mac magazine was called In CIder.
Get your hints and kinks right here. 👀
Get your hints and kinks right here. 👀
November 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I do so love that an Apple II/Mac magazine was called In CIder.
Get your hints and kinks right here. 👀
Get your hints and kinks right here. 👀
Reposted by Colin Hoad
LET'S GO!
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:11 AM
LET'S GO!
This is code for "we expect taxpayers to bail us out"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Google boss Sundar Pichai warns 'no company immune' if AI bubble bursts
Speaking exclusively to BBC News, CEO Sundar Pichai said the artificial intelligence boom had been an
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:20 AM
This is code for "we expect taxpayers to bail us out"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Colin Hoad
Why am I so against generative AI in games?
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
November 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Why am I so against generative AI in games?
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
Because I simply do not want my initial reaction to art to be one of suspicion and scrutiny, AI slop is fundamentally damaging my relationship to art and artistry, and I am deeply resentful that it is forcing me to be guarded when I should be wowed.
The Advent of Beeb Games... returns for 2025!
youtu.be/RHdgIHr78RM
youtu.be/RHdgIHr78RM
The Advent of Beeb Games... is back!
YouTube video by Colin Hoad
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The Advent of Beeb Games... returns for 2025!
youtu.be/RHdgIHr78RM
youtu.be/RHdgIHr78RM
Reposted by Colin Hoad
Note that not only was it really quite fast, its 40 bit reals were unusually accurate and even its random number generation was pretty neutral. (The RNG was revised between Basics 2 and 4 so I'll have to check if it improved further).
November 14, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Note that not only was it really quite fast, its 40 bit reals were unusually accurate and even its random number generation was pretty neutral. (The RNG was revised between Basics 2 and 4 so I'll have to check if it improved further).
Reposted by Colin Hoad
A creditable showing for the BBC Micro against various souped-up Apple IIs, but no Second Processor versions which (by the end of 1984) included 65C02, Z-80B, 6809 and 68000 options. All would have been faster yet.
Later there'd be 65C102, 80186, 80286, 32016 and of course ARM.
Later there'd be 65C102, 80186, 80286, 32016 and of course ARM.
Ever wanted to know how your ZX81 ranked against a CRAY supercomputer from 1984? Assuming your eyesight is good enough, now you know.
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
A creditable showing for the BBC Micro against various souped-up Apple IIs, but no Second Processor versions which (by the end of 1984) included 65C02, Z-80B, 6809 and 68000 options. All would have been faster yet.
Later there'd be 65C102, 80186, 80286, 32016 and of course ARM.
Later there'd be 65C102, 80186, 80286, 32016 and of course ARM.