John M. Gamble
@jgamble.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy
Lives in Chicago.
Former #USENET denizen.
Programs obscure algorithms.
Blocks threads dot net.
https://github.com/jgamble
[bridged from https://fosstodon.org/@jgamble on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Former #USENET denizen.
Programs obscure algorithms.
Blocks threads dot net.
https://github.com/jgamble
[bridged from https://fosstodon.org/@jgamble on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
All Carnegie libraries are built over volcanic vents. They can be put into service as emergency oracles at a moment's notice.
#secretsofthelibrary
#hashtaggames
#secretsofthelibrary
#hashtaggames
January 27, 2026 at 4:27 AM
All Carnegie libraries are built over volcanic vents. They can be put into service as emergency oracles at a moment's notice.
#secretsofthelibrary
#hashtaggames
#secretsofthelibrary
#hashtaggames
Reposted by John M. Gamble
i finally found this picture again. it has infected me memetically a long time ago
> **Never touch the terminals.** Please don't. Cause of failure.
>
> This may be the cause.
>
> It is not possible to use multiple computers at the same time. **It is not possible.**
> **Never touch the terminals.** Please don't. Cause of failure.
>
> This may be the cause.
>
> It is not possible to use multiple computers at the same time. **It is not possible.**
January 25, 2026 at 8:41 AM
i finally found this picture again. it has infected me memetically a long time ago
> **Never touch the terminals.** Please don't. Cause of failure.
>
> This may be the cause.
>
> It is not possible to use multiple computers at the same time. **It is not possible.**
> **Never touch the terminals.** Please don't. Cause of failure.
>
> This may be the cause.
>
> It is not possible to use multiple computers at the same time. **It is not possible.**
This is the antithesis of the philosophy of programming for people. Really disappointed with this direction.
#bsd #freebsd #openbsd #ghostbsd
#linux #kde
https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/26/plasma_6_6_systemd_login/
#bsd #freebsd #openbsd #ghostbsd
#linux #kde
https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/26/plasma_6_6_systemd_login/
KDE Plasma 6.6 will increase reliance on systemd
: Bad luck, BSDs – although alternatives still work
www.theregister.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by John M. Gamble
A tangent from my main thread: here is a surprising fact about polyhedral self-duality.
It’s possible for a polyhedron to be self-dual, but only in such a way that applying the duality map twice DOESN’T return the polyhedron to its starting position.
Here’s the paper (from 1989), but because […]
It’s possible for a polyhedron to be self-dual, but only in such a way that applying the duality map twice DOESN’T return the polyhedron to its starting position.
Here’s the paper (from 1989), but because […]
Original post on mathstodon.xyz
mathstodon.xyz
January 20, 2026 at 7:15 PM
A tangent from my main thread: here is a surprising fact about polyhedral self-duality.
It’s possible for a polyhedron to be self-dual, but only in such a way that applying the duality map twice DOESN’T return the polyhedron to its starting position.
Here’s the paper (from 1989), but because […]
It’s possible for a polyhedron to be self-dual, but only in such a way that applying the duality map twice DOESN’T return the polyhedron to its starting position.
Here’s the paper (from 1989), but because […]
Reposted by John M. Gamble
A while back someone on here posted a wonderful little story/poem about #Mathematics that went something like:
"Mathematics has two beautiful daughters named Physics and Chemistry. Both still live at home and and are devoted to their mother.
A third daughter named Computer Science moved out […]
"Mathematics has two beautiful daughters named Physics and Chemistry. Both still live at home and and are devoted to their mother.
A third daughter named Computer Science moved out […]
Original post on social.vivaldi.net
social.vivaldi.net
January 21, 2026 at 11:05 PM
A while back someone on here posted a wonderful little story/poem about #Mathematics that went something like:
"Mathematics has two beautiful daughters named Physics and Chemistry. Both still live at home and and are devoted to their mother.
A third daughter named Computer Science moved out […]
"Mathematics has two beautiful daughters named Physics and Chemistry. Both still live at home and and are devoted to their mother.
A third daughter named Computer Science moved out […]
"Another classic story of cheap may be too good to be true..."
#batteries #lithiumbatteries #powerbank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y23nfAOiXQ
#batteries #lithiumbatteries #powerbank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y23nfAOiXQ
January 20, 2026 at 6:56 PM
"Another classic story of cheap may be too good to be true..."
#batteries #lithiumbatteries #powerbank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y23nfAOiXQ
#batteries #lithiumbatteries #powerbank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y23nfAOiXQ
Reposted by John M. Gamble
In honor of Meta's latest announcement, a thread on 175 years of 3D failure.
Let's first go all the way back to 1851 with the Brewster Stereoscope. No less a person than Queen Victoria was impressed, kicking off a fad that quickly sold over 250,000 units. Turns […]
[Original post on sfba.social]
Let's first go all the way back to 1851 with the Brewster Stereoscope. No less a person than Queen Victoria was impressed, kicking off a fad that quickly sold over 250,000 units. Turns […]
[Original post on sfba.social]
January 16, 2026 at 7:55 PM
In honor of Meta's latest announcement, a thread on 175 years of 3D failure.
Let's first go all the way back to 1851 with the Brewster Stereoscope. No less a person than Queen Victoria was impressed, kicking off a fad that quickly sold over 250,000 units. Turns […]
[Original post on sfba.social]
Let's first go all the way back to 1851 with the Brewster Stereoscope. No less a person than Queen Victoria was impressed, kicking off a fad that quickly sold over 250,000 units. Turns […]
[Original post on sfba.social]
Reposted by John M. Gamble
Here is another observation of the #planet #jupiter. Looks like I caught the red spot. #unistellar #odysseypro #space #astronomy #amateur
January 17, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Here is another observation of the #planet #jupiter. Looks like I caught the red spot. #unistellar #odysseypro #space #astronomy #amateur
Reposted by John M. Gamble
Look, I'm not saying Canada should surround and seize Washington D.C. to save us from fascism. I'm just saying that in case they *do*, I've plotted out three invasion routes they could use without being cut off from certain critical supplies.
January 15, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Look, I'm not saying Canada should surround and seize Washington D.C. to save us from fascism. I'm just saying that in case they *do*, I've plotted out three invasion routes they could use without being cut off from certain critical supplies.
Reposted by John M. Gamble
My high schooler reports that all the students objected when the teacher presented 3D-coordinates with z pointing “up”. The teacher was shocked that they would do it any other way. The kids all agreed that y-up is far more natural, since that’s how they do it in Minecraft.
January 14, 2026 at 11:15 PM
My high schooler reports that all the students objected when the teacher presented 3D-coordinates with z pointing “up”. The teacher was shocked that they would do it any other way. The kids all agreed that y-up is far more natural, since that’s how they do it in Minecraft.
Reposted by John M. Gamble
Did a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation with a collaborator for AST SpaceMobile's fucking huge satellite launched last month and will unfurl soon.
We got mag -12. The full moon is -13, magnitudes are logarithmic. It's a little fainter than the moon, at least?
We made lots of assumptions […]
We got mag -12. The full moon is -13, magnitudes are logarithmic. It's a little fainter than the moon, at least?
We made lots of assumptions […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 14, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Did a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation with a collaborator for AST SpaceMobile's fucking huge satellite launched last month and will unfurl soon.
We got mag -12. The full moon is -13, magnitudes are logarithmic. It's a little fainter than the moon, at least?
We made lots of assumptions […]
We got mag -12. The full moon is -13, magnitudes are logarithmic. It's a little fainter than the moon, at least?
We made lots of assumptions […]
Reposted by John M. Gamble
(Mathematical art, I guess.)
Phase-shifting the Fourier transform of a regular 14-gon. Or equivalently: seven plane waves meeting at equal angles.
Phase-shifting the Fourier transform of a regular 14-gon. Or equivalently: seven plane waves meeting at equal angles.
January 10, 2026 at 5:42 PM
(Mathematical art, I guess.)
Phase-shifting the Fourier transform of a regular 14-gon. Or equivalently: seven plane waves meeting at equal angles.
Phase-shifting the Fourier transform of a regular 14-gon. Or equivalently: seven plane waves meeting at equal angles.
Reposted by John M. Gamble
Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based telescopes, astrophysicists have for the first time found firm evidence that a companion is disrupting the atmosphere of Betelgeuse.
Like a boat moving through water, the companion star creates a ripple effect in Betelgeuse’s atmosphere […]
Like a boat moving through water, the companion star creates a ripple effect in Betelgeuse’s atmosphere […]
Original post on c.im
c.im
January 6, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based telescopes, astrophysicists have for the first time found firm evidence that a companion is disrupting the atmosphere of Betelgeuse.
Like a boat moving through water, the companion star creates a ripple effect in Betelgeuse’s atmosphere […]
Like a boat moving through water, the companion star creates a ripple effect in Betelgeuse’s atmosphere […]
Reposted by John M. Gamble
Me: Fine. I'll sign up to use a passkey to log in to this particular service. So many people tell me passkeys are the obvious things to do now. Maybe the experience has gotten better in the last few years since I tried. [Signs up on desktop with 1password]
Service, a week later, on their mobile […]
Service, a week later, on their mobile […]
Original post on friend.camp
friend.camp
January 8, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Me: Fine. I'll sign up to use a passkey to log in to this particular service. So many people tell me passkeys are the obvious things to do now. Maybe the experience has gotten better in the last few years since I tried. [Signs up on desktop with 1password]
Service, a week later, on their mobile […]
Service, a week later, on their mobile […]
Reposted by John M. Gamble
January 8, 2026 at 7:12 PM
There's a product recall (U.S.) of PNW bike pedals.
#bicycles #bikenite
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/PNW-Components-Recalls-Aluminum-Alloy-Bicycle-Pedals-Due-to-Crash-Hazard
#bicycles #bikenite
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/PNW-Components-Recalls-Aluminum-Alloy-Bicycle-Pedals-Due-to-Crash-Hazard
PNW Components Recalls Aluminum Alloy Bicycle Pedals Due to Crash Hazard
Consumers should immediately stop using the Loam Pedal Gen 2 and contact PNW Components to receive free replacement axles once they become available. In the interim PNW Components is providing consumers with the Range Pedal, free of charge. PNW Components will follow up with consumers regarding the replacement axle system, estimated to begin shipping out to customers on January 5, 2026.
www.cpsc.gov
January 8, 2026 at 5:10 PM
There's a product recall (U.S.) of PNW bike pedals.
#bicycles #bikenite
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/PNW-Components-Recalls-Aluminum-Alloy-Bicycle-Pedals-Due-to-Crash-Hazard
#bicycles #bikenite
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/PNW-Components-Recalls-Aluminum-Alloy-Bicycle-Pedals-Due-to-Crash-Hazard
Reposted by John M. Gamble
A Rogue Planet the Size of Saturn Detected 10,000 Light-Years From Earth. Via @discover.magazine #Space #Astrophysics #OrbitalMechanics #Astronomy 🚀 🌌 ☄️ 🛰️
A Rogue Planet the Size of Saturn Detected 10,000 Light-Years From Earth
Thanks to an enormous stroke of luck and serendipitous timing, astronomers were able to calculate the mass and distance of a free-floating planet for the first time. Learn more about it.
www.discovermagazine.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:30 PM
A Rogue Planet the Size of Saturn Detected 10,000 Light-Years From Earth. Via @discover.magazine #Space #Astrophysics #OrbitalMechanics #Astronomy 🚀 🌌 ☄️ 🛰️
Reposted by John M. Gamble
I am sitting out on my back deck and a delivery drone flew over the neighbor behind me, landed, and took off again. It was quite large and clearly left without the payload it was carrying. What was most surprising is that it was basically a vtol - it had wings and flew like a plane till it […]
Original post on infosec.exchange
infosec.exchange
January 7, 2026 at 9:08 PM
I am sitting out on my back deck and a delivery drone flew over the neighbor behind me, landed, and took off again. It was quite large and clearly left without the payload it was carrying. What was most surprising is that it was basically a vtol - it had wings and flew like a plane till it […]
Pinwheel is moving. They're staying on 18th Street but due to water damage they're moving from 1722 West 18th St. to 1459 West 18th St.
"Schaaf and Foreit hope to open the new location in March, and they’ve set themselves a hard deadline of Record Store Day in April."
#chicago […]
"Schaaf and Foreit hope to open the new location in March, and they’ve set themselves a hard deadline of Record Store Day in April."
#chicago […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Pinwheel is moving. They're staying on 18th Street but due to water damage they're moving from 1722 West 18th St. to 1459 West 18th St.
"Schaaf and Foreit hope to open the new location in March, and they’ve set themselves a hard deadline of Record Store Day in April."
#chicago […]
"Schaaf and Foreit hope to open the new location in March, and they’ve set themselves a hard deadline of Record Store Day in April."
#chicago […]
Reposted by John M. Gamble
#tvmysteries
For the record, the book The FBI Nobody Knows is a real book by Fred J. Cook.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_J._Cook#Works
For the record, the book The FBI Nobody Knows is a real book by Fred J. Cook.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_J._Cook#Works
December 31, 2025 at 2:38 AM
#tvmysteries
For the record, the book The FBI Nobody Knows is a real book by Fred J. Cook.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_J._Cook#Works
For the record, the book The FBI Nobody Knows is a real book by Fred J. Cook.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_J._Cook#Works
#tvmysteries
I'm a little surprised the series started with this book. I would have expected it to be a series finale.
(I really liked the book.)
I'm a little surprised the series started with this book. I would have expected it to be a series finale.
(I really liked the book.)
December 31, 2025 at 1:10 AM
#tvmysteries
I'm a little surprised the series started with this book. I would have expected it to be a series finale.
(I really liked the book.)
I'm a little surprised the series started with this book. I would have expected it to be a series finale.
(I really liked the book.)
Reposted by John M. Gamble
My cartoon for the latest @newscientist.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM
My cartoon for the latest @newscientist.com