Pete Birkinshaw
@binaryape.bsky.social
Hat-wearing devourer of chickpeas, Manchester vegan, manager of identities, developer of obscure software, Green inactivist, Elixir & Ruby coder, watcher of K-dramas, daft-apeth.
Alignment: Quixotic-Good
https://binary-ape.org
Alignment: Quixotic-Good
https://binary-ape.org
Software Archeology Time: Try to guess when LinkedIn’s contact settings for messages was written or last updated.
January 9, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Software Archeology Time: Try to guess when LinkedIn’s contact settings for messages was written or last updated.
On a more cheerful note I joined a Teams meeting with clients yesterday for the first time in months and was unaware that almost immediately my video as seen by everyone else was frozen like this for 30 minutes.
January 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM
On a more cheerful note I joined a Teams meeting with clients yesterday for the first time in months and was unaware that almost immediately my video as seen by everyone else was frozen like this for 30 minutes.
This is from a UK forum for people with heart problems. The man in the post not only stopped vital medication, he’s disappeared from his family (wife, parents, baby) because they don’t agree with ChatGPT’s terrible advice. ChatGPT is like an automated cult leader and its owners should be in prison.
January 9, 2026 at 9:36 AM
This is from a UK forum for people with heart problems. The man in the post not only stopped vital medication, he’s disappeared from his family (wife, parents, baby) because they don’t agree with ChatGPT’s terrible advice. ChatGPT is like an automated cult leader and its owners should be in prison.
I was pondering this, possibly for too long, and it led me to learn the amazing fact that Miyazaki wrote a comic about visiting Tynemouth, which is amazing. I am amazed.
January 5, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I was pondering this, possibly for too long, and it led me to learn the amazing fact that Miyazaki wrote a comic about visiting Tynemouth, which is amazing. I am amazed.
I think Shakespeare opted for the better name really
January 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I think Shakespeare opted for the better name really
A. went to an art exhibit at the ESEA Contemporary and thought I’d enjoy the accidental music coming from an industrial embroidery machine, and she was right. Maybe a bit like early 90s Sheffield beep.
January 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM
A. went to an art exhibit at the ESEA Contemporary and thought I’d enjoy the accidental music coming from an industrial embroidery machine, and she was right. Maybe a bit like early 90s Sheffield beep.
I was irritated & baffled by Apple apps like Fitness and Health using metric, but Maps using miles. I want metric generally but I'm also comparing distances on Maps to my details in Health and Fitness. It seems Apple now default to a new "UK" option mixing up measurement systems depending on context
January 1, 2026 at 3:10 PM
I was irritated & baffled by Apple apps like Fitness and Health using metric, but Maps using miles. I want metric generally but I'm also comparing distances on Maps to my details in Health and Fitness. It seems Apple now default to a new "UK" option mixing up measurement systems depending on context
Which Far Side cartoons have happened to you? I shoved a deer and it shoved me back and things escalated. The deer was standing up too. Hoofy thug.
December 31, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Which Far Side cartoons have happened to you? I shoved a deer and it shoved me back and things escalated. The deer was standing up too. Hoofy thug.
Offering the Guardian a more accurate headline.
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Offering the Guardian a more accurate headline.
It’s cheerful compared to the one quoted below but as someone with a sort of toilet fear/claustrophobia combo these urinals in Birmingham really disturbed me.
December 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
It’s cheerful compared to the one quoted below but as someone with a sort of toilet fear/claustrophobia combo these urinals in Birmingham really disturbed me.
One of my in-development Phoenix apps is hard-crashing with malloc and SIGABRT or SIGTRAP errors, I *think* since I updated MacOS to either Tahoe 26 or 26.2. I'm baffled. Is it Erlang or is a C or Rust NIF somewhere doing it? It worked fine a few months ago. Grrrr.
#ElixirLang
#ElixirLang
December 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM
One of my in-development Phoenix apps is hard-crashing with malloc and SIGABRT or SIGTRAP errors, I *think* since I updated MacOS to either Tahoe 26 or 26.2. I'm baffled. Is it Erlang or is a C or Rust NIF somewhere doing it? It worked fine a few months ago. Grrrr.
#ElixirLang
#ElixirLang
"The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing"
Astonishing levels of benefit of the doubt going on here to say an email to a convicted sex-trafficker asking for "inappropriate friends" doesn't indicate any wrongdoing. It bloody well does.
Astonishing levels of benefit of the doubt going on here to say an email to a convicted sex-trafficker asking for "inappropriate friends" doesn't indicate any wrongdoing. It bloody well does.
December 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
"The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing"
Astonishing levels of benefit of the doubt going on here to say an email to a convicted sex-trafficker asking for "inappropriate friends" doesn't indicate any wrongdoing. It bloody well does.
Astonishing levels of benefit of the doubt going on here to say an email to a convicted sex-trafficker asking for "inappropriate friends" doesn't indicate any wrongdoing. It bloody well does.
*showing off* A picture I took of a cow that got published in a tourist trap tat book. (Heaton Park, Manchester, which has a sort of Coo Zone)
December 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
*showing off* A picture I took of a cow that got published in a tourist trap tat book. (Heaton Park, Manchester, which has a sort of Coo Zone)
I get about 11 medicines a month for £114 a year, and looked a couple of them up on a US healthcare vs NHS calculator. (https://mynhsbill.com) - mind boggling if accurate. My recent treatment would have cost me £36k to £56k
December 8, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I get about 11 medicines a month for £114 a year, and looked a couple of them up on a US healthcare vs NHS calculator. (https://mynhsbill.com) - mind boggling if accurate. My recent treatment would have cost me £36k to £56k
Surprising Philip Pullman info in Apple Books
December 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Surprising Philip Pullman info in Apple Books
Every other East Asian TV show: France has the most mysterious, subtle, sophisticated food in the world
Actual European on Somewhere Street:
Actual European on Somewhere Street:
December 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Every other East Asian TV show: France has the most mysterious, subtle, sophisticated food in the world
Actual European on Somewhere Street:
Actual European on Somewhere Street:
Is he wearing a smaller pair of shoes inside the huge pair? How do they stay on, was he shuffling like a 5 year old in adult shoes? So many questions
November 28, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Is he wearing a smaller pair of shoes inside the huge pair? How do they stay on, was he shuffling like a 5 year old in adult shoes? So many questions
Suspiciously Dark Pattern-like change from No to Yes answers for the I Do Not Need A Bloody TV License Go Away form
November 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Suspiciously Dark Pattern-like change from No to Yes answers for the I Do Not Need A Bloody TV License Go Away form
My wide rates Clipper English Breakfast above Yorkshire Gold (or any other mainstream brand)
November 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
My wide rates Clipper English Breakfast above Yorkshire Gold (or any other mainstream brand)
I got home last night and despite numerous very slow walks to the toilet I slept more than the previous week. Actual dreams. My bed doesn’t bubble or tilt but it’s the best bed.
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 AM
I got home last night and despite numerous very slow walks to the toilet I slept more than the previous week. Actual dreams. My bed doesn’t bubble or tilt but it’s the best bed.
I think the sense that something terrible is happening is caused by the terrible thing happening. I didn’t have the strength to pick up my phone and it’s not even a big one.
November 12, 2025 at 10:34 AM
I think the sense that something terrible is happening is caused by the terrible thing happening. I didn’t have the strength to pick up my phone and it’s not even a big one.
I'm a little puzzled by the announcement of an offshore wind project in Greater Manchester.
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I'm a little puzzled by the announcement of an offshore wind project in Greater Manchester.
These Atorvastatin tablets were either designed by someone unfamiliar with human anatomy, or a fan of Chris Morris. Like trying to swallow a pound coin.
November 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
These Atorvastatin tablets were either designed by someone unfamiliar with human anatomy, or a fan of Chris Morris. Like trying to swallow a pound coin.
A conspiracy theorist tried to quote-shame/waffle me for not focusing on Charles in my joke about Andrew.
October 31, 2025 at 4:43 PM
A conspiracy theorist tried to quote-shame/waffle me for not focusing on Charles in my joke about Andrew.
It's been two months since I cooked a proper meal, due to being tired, and messed up by medicines, and not having an appetite, and having to avoid things and [continues grumbling for 500 words] but today I made something a lot like "royal tteokbokki" for lunch (beef substituted with braised tofu)
October 30, 2025 at 1:24 PM
It's been two months since I cooked a proper meal, due to being tired, and messed up by medicines, and not having an appetite, and having to avoid things and [continues grumbling for 500 words] but today I made something a lot like "royal tteokbokki" for lunch (beef substituted with braised tofu)