John Stracke
@thibault.org
Oh, man, I'd forgotten about the reader service cards.
December 22, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Oh, man, I'd forgotten about the reader service cards.
I don't want one because I've known people whose pipes froze when their smart thermostat stopped working in the middle of winter. Apparently the Silicon Valley people who make them think of a thermostat as a comfort device; they don't understand that, in most places, heat is a survival necessity.
December 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I don't want one because I've known people whose pipes froze when their smart thermostat stopped working in the middle of winter. Apparently the Silicon Valley people who make them think of a thermostat as a comfort device; they don't understand that, in most places, heat is a survival necessity.
Yeah, but those things aren't generative AI; they can be done with basic machine learning. No need to boil the oceans for that.
December 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Yeah, but those things aren't generative AI; they can be done with basic machine learning. No need to boil the oceans for that.
About 5-7 years ago, I heard about this company. They were using machine learning (not generative AI) to optimize the reactor. I wouldn't be surprised if they're still doing that, but calling it AI to sound better to investors.
December 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
About 5-7 years ago, I heard about this company. They were using machine learning (not generative AI) to optimize the reactor. I wouldn't be surprised if they're still doing that, but calling it AI to sound better to investors.
Something like head cheese?
December 17, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Something like head cheese?
Lot of warships running aground...
December 17, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Lot of warships running aground...
The main thing keeping my printer from taking over my life is how long it takes to print anything.
December 14, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The main thing keeping my printer from taking over my life is how long it takes to print anything.
20, barely—I've been on a waterbed, briefly, but never slept on one. And I did have a slide rule.
December 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
20, barely—I've been on a waterbed, briefly, but never slept on one. And I did have a slide rule.
That's mastery, all right.
December 14, 2025 at 12:39 AM
That's mastery, all right.
AMS. I colorized it in Bambu Studio.
December 13, 2025 at 10:37 PM
AMS. I colorized it in Bambu Studio.
I think the last time I used cursive was 1990.
December 13, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I think the last time I used cursive was 1990.
Wasn't the 80186 just an 8086 with some extra I/O capabilities? And it was long obsolete by 1996.
December 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Wasn't the 80186 just an 8086 with some extra I/O capabilities? And it was long obsolete by 1996.
These days, that word would be Dienstag. ("Tuesday".)
December 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM
These days, that word would be Dienstag. ("Tuesday".)
True—1967.
Gygax was supposedly inspired by a toy from Hong Kong—which was then under British control, and might have had Dr. Who. So that toy could have been based on either the show or the book.
I wouldn’t want to defend this thesis, of course.
Gygax was supposedly inspired by a toy from Hong Kong—which was then under British control, and might have had Dr. Who. So that toy could have been based on either the show or the book.
I wouldn’t want to defend this thesis, of course.
November 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
True—1967.
Gygax was supposedly inspired by a toy from Hong Kong—which was then under British control, and might have had Dr. Who. So that toy could have been based on either the show or the book.
I wouldn’t want to defend this thesis, of course.
Gygax was supposedly inspired by a toy from Hong Kong—which was then under British control, and might have had Dr. Who. So that toy could have been based on either the show or the book.
I wouldn’t want to defend this thesis, of course.
I went looking for how old owlbears are, and they show up in early D&D just a year after this book. So maybe you're right!
November 21, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I went looking for how old owlbears are, and they show up in early D&D just a year after this book. So maybe you're right!