@lyse@lyse.isobeef.org Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed it. The beginning part about the history of life on Earth was fun to watch having just read Dawkin’s old book The Selfish Geene, and now I want to read more about archaea. The end of the talk about what might be going on on Mars made me a bit hopeful someone will find some good evidence.
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — The Man Behind the Machine https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2025/02/01/man-machine.html #freeculture #bookclub
Just leaving this book here for no reason 🤫
Just leaving this book here for no reason 🤫
Skill Issues of course, but that's going away next as soon as I get my php-fpm shi_ together.
@prologic@twtxt.net I’d stumbled upon #FrankenPHP while reading through #Caddy stuff and thought maybe it’s bit overkill for what i need it for but then again, it will be just a “One container in for two out”, that’s win in my book 😆
10 Forgotten Laws Still Technically on the Books
Laws are meant to provide order and structure to society, but over time, some statutes outlive their relevance. While many outdated laws are repealed or forgotten, others remain technically enforceable, lying dormant in legal archives. From quirky restrictions on behavior to hyper-specific regulations tied to bygone eras, these forgotten laws offer a fascinating glimpse into […]
The post [10 Forgotten Laws Still Technically on the Boo … ⌘ Read more
Trump’s neofascism is here now. Here are 10 things you can do to resist
Robert Reich, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. - The Guardian (U.K.)
_Stephan: Robert Reich offers some very good counsel in this essay. I detailed in my book [The 8 Laws of Change](https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Change-Individual-Planetary-Wellbeing-ebook/dp/B0932JHXXC/ref … ⌘ Read more
Dava Sobel’s Religious Experience While Writing Her Book! ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Blood of the Ancient Star, part 3 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2025/01/25/bloodstar-3.html #freeculture #bookclub
Lowkey planning out a book (anthology. Maybe) of just playscripts in my Greek myth yuriverse. Thank u lord
Apple Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Apple has updated the home page of its website to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today. The page highlights some of King’s most impactful quotes, and invites people to explore his legacy further through the Apple Books and Apple News apps.
Apple CEO Tim Cook also honored King in a social media post … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Blood of the Ancient Star, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2025/01/18/bloodstar-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
** Bullshit Jobs **
Having one of those days where I am regretting having read that book, Bullshit Jobs. 🫠 ⌘ Read more
** Sirens & Muses **
I finished reading Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress.
It left me gutted, but like in a good way. It leaves so much unsaid, which I found pleasant and sorrowful and so yawningly, humongously open that it left me feeling a little claustrophobic.
A few years ago everyone, everyone, everyone I spoke to about books told me again and again and again to read Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I found it to be totally and completely lacking in joy and any sort of human warmth, and, I think th … ⌘ Read more
@aelaraji@aelaraji.com Reading “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
Cancelled Mastodon because the time spent on it could have been used for reading books instead and the level of interaction is not enough to keep me interested.
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Blood of the Ancient Star, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2025/01/11/bloodstar-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
** Not what I was expecting **
A while ago I was talking with someone about books. I mentioned that I like to read capital R romance novels, and like 19th century literary realism.
This person excitedly recommended Victor LaValle’s The Changeling. Knowing nothing about it, and because I pretty much say“yes” to any book recommendation I get from a real live person that I can find at the library, I’ve been reading it.
My dude. What the fuck!? This is just horror. 🥲😨 ⌘ Read more
10 Book Adaptations You Forgot About
Books are an excellent source of inspiration for filmmakers. If they take a literary classic and adapt it to the screen, they practically guarantee the project’s success. After all, the story already works on the page, so all the screenwriters have to do is translate it. Doing so will put the movie, TV show, or […]
The post 10 Book Adaptations You Forgot About appeared first on [Listvers … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Trans Girl Project, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2025/01/04/trans-girl-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
[WTS] [0.005 XMR] Zen Mind - Shunryu Suzuki Digital Scans
I’ve scanned this book. There are 68 pics (138 pages). These scans are double-paged (2 pages scanned at same time). (47MB) Download link is a Tor/Onion link, using the OnionShare program. You will need the Tor browser to download. After purchasing, you will automatically receive the download link.
Link: https://xmrbazaar.com/listing/Qbby/
themaker117@conversations.im (XMPP) ⌘ Read more
Bible Back in Texas Schools After Being Pulled for Sexual Content
Elizabeth Nolan Brown , Staff Writer - reason
Stephan: This is how weird book censorship is getting in the Red States. Did you ever think of the Bible as being too sexually explicit to be read by a minor?
Is the Bible too “sexually explicit” for minors? The Canyon Independent School Dis … ⌘ Read more
10 Events from 2024 That’ll Be in History Textbooks One Day
We’re not entirely sure if they still have history books in school or if they just teach kids these days using TikTok videos and Instagram reels to account for their short and fractured attention spans. Okay, we’re kidding about that little quip… we hope. We’re pretty certain that textbooks are still a thing, whether in […]
The post [10 Events from 2024 That’ll Be in History Textbooks One Day](https://listverse.com/ … ⌘ Read more
** Bouncing off of books **
After playing a few hours in Fields of Mistria I decided to put it down for a bit. I’m really really enjoying it. The farming is low key, and feels more like grinding for resources so far (positive), the relationship sim stuff is fun and the quests and tasks are really approachable (and there is, my favorite thing in the world, an in-game quest log!). All in all it’s a supremely, deliciously, snackable game. If I had to level critique against it, it’d be that the day/nigh … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Trans Girl Project, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/12/28/trans-girl-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
10 Adaptions of “A Christmas Carol” That Missed the Mark
Since the book’s release in 1843, Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol has been adapted over 300 times. With that many versions to choose from, there’s a tale that suits everyone’s needs. Whether you want your Scrooge to be a duck or a puppet, a cartoon or a human, a woman or a man, the list […]
The post [10 Adaptions of “A Christmas Carol” That Missed the Mark](https://listverse.com/2024/12/24/10-adaptions-of-a-christmas-c … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Speciare Lunar Research Facility https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/12/21/speciare.html #freeculture #bookclub
[ANN] Phantom Circuit: Introduction
Phantom Circuit is a fictional short story generated entirely by AI. It was inspired by a Darknet Diaries podcast episode [..] I also managed to work in some mention of Monero…
Link: https://cyberspace.dad/book/
j@cyberspace.dad (XMPP) ⌘ Read more
An inspiring book on making a life around IT security
Troy Hunt: “Pwned”, The Book, Is Now Available for Free
https://www.troyhunt.com/pwned-the-book-is-now-available-for-free/
The web server in Calibre is pretty cool. Love how the UI was designed and made. Feels intuitive, yet powerful. Now i do need to organise the book collection a bit better.
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — 2048, Enkidu, and Plastic https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/12/07/enkidu.html #freeculture #bookclub
How to Instantly Write a Business Plan with AI on Mac, iPhone, iPad
While there are plenty of paid options to get a business plan, from business plan software, to books, to working with a consultant, or even outsourcing the entire thing, another option is available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users, and it uses the magic of Apple Intelligence features and ChatGPT to instantly create a business … Read More ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Ancient Fire https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/11/30/ancient-fire.html #freeculture #bookclub
From earbuds to e-books: the best tech gifts for holidays 2024
Here are some of our favourite gift ideas for the tech-obsessed, or those who could do with a few more gadgets. ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Fully Automated! part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/11/23/fully-automated-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
If all Orange Face Elefant party voters would take them on their words and make them actually do whatever insane world they invented, then perhaps people will realize the grave mistake that was made today. Many people have to feel consequences before they believe it. I hope there will still be history books in the future to disclose the insanity for future generations. But whatever happens, the World will keep spinning…
Inversion by Aric McBay was another random library pick. Like The Fall of Io, it’s the most recent in a series, though I think this series is pretty loosely connected. In contrast, the villain in this book is simple and cartoonishly evil. The book presents a design for utopia which was interesting but a little cloying. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to want to live there, but I don’t think I do. I enjoyed the book as easy reading, and might try the others in the series some time. (4/4)
I read Starter Villain by John Scalzi. Enjoyable, like his other books that I’ve read. Somewhat sillier. (¾)
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Restoration Day, part 3 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/10/26/restoration-day-3.html #freeculture #bookclub
Billions wiped off WiseTech’s books as crisis engulfs CEO
Investors have punished WiseTech after this masthead exposed serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour by its billionaire CEO Richard White. ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Restoration Day, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/10/19/restoration-day-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Restoration Day, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/10/12/restoration-day-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
One book created panic about social media. But what if it’s bunkum?
Labor will push age-limit legislation for social media through despite the fact scientists and experts have said it won’t work. ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Ancient Beast https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/10/05/ancient-beast.html #freeculture #bookclub
Lol, this is actually a good thing by Apple. Doesn’t kill social apps at all, just prevents some harvesting of your entire address book by abusive apps like WhatsApp.
Did Apple Just Kill Social Apps?
Apple’s iOS 18 update has introduced changes to contact sharing that could significantly impact social app developers. The new feature allows users to selectively share contacts with apps, rather than granting access to their entire address book. While Apple touts this as a privacy enhancement, developers warn it may hinder the growth of new social platforms. Nikita Bier, a start-up founder, called it “the en … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aumyr, part 4 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/09/28/aumyr-4.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aumyr, part 4 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/09/28/aumyr-4.html #freeculture #bookclub
@bender@twtxt.net It’s the experience of an ordinary person in a strange place where memories are disappearing with the help of the Memory Police. The setting feels contemporary (to the book’s 1994 publication date) rather than futuristic, except for some unexplained stuff about memories.
Recent #fiction #scifi #reading:
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa. Lovely writing. Very understated; reminded me of Kazuo Ishiguro. Sort of like Nineteen Eighty-Four but not. (I first heard it recommended in comparison to that work.)
Subcutanean by Aaron Reed; https://subcutanean.textories.com/ . Every copy of the book is different, which is a cool idea. I read two of them (one from the library, actually not different from the other printed copies, and one personalized e-book). I don’t read much horror so managed to be a little creeped out by it, which was fun.
The Wind from Nowhere, a 1962 novel by J. G. Ballard. A random pick from the sci-fi section; I think I picked it up because it made me imagine some weird 4-dimensional effect (“from nowhere” meaning not in a normal direction) but actually (spoiler) it was just about a lot of wind for no reason. The book was moderately entertaining but there was nothing special about it.
Currently reading Scale by Greg Egan and Inversion by Aric McBay.
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aumyr, part 3 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/09/21/aumyr-3.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aumyr, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/09/14/aumyr-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aumyr, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/09/07/aumyr-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
** September summer **
I finished reading Robin Sloan’s Moonbound today. It was fun, and light. The blurb likens it to Narnia, and, while a bold claim, I think that was a correct assertion, but more about the intended audience than the book’s subject matter. If a sequel is ever written I’d most certainly give it a look. It seems like a great gift book for a kid between like 8 and 15…or you know, perhaps, anyone who likes fun stories that aren’t scared of bein … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Geiko Eien Ni https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/08/31/geiko-eien-ni.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Morrisa Jeanine https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/08/24/morrisa-jeanine.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Antumbra, chapter 0 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/08/17/antumbra.html #freeculture #bookclub
If some of you budding fathers want to know how I created a computer nerd to one day work for Facebook in the big USA, well you purchase a $1000 Xmas present, an enormous thick book with C++ programming, and say, you can play as many games as you like kids, but James has to create them using computer software.
SO James created once a 3D chess program with sound, took 6 months or so, really hard to beat, not based on logic moves point by point like other chess programs, this one was based on the depth of looking for patterns, set it to 5 moves ahead and you were toast every time. Nice program too, sadly gone over the years, computers suffer from bit rot. We used to try and mark rotten hard drive discs once as bad sectors, not sure how UBuntu does this these days, I see a dozen errors on the screen every time I load.
Today I would purchase for my kids AI CAD simulation software with metal 3D printer and get your child to build fancy 3D models and engines from scratch. This will make them an expert in the CAD AI industry by the time they are 14 years old. Sadly AI is here to stay and will spoil the Internet.
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Viaje a la Tierra del Quebracho https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/08/10/quebracho.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aether Age Codex - Helios, part 3 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/08/03/helios-3.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aether Age Codex - Helios, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/07/27/helios-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
We went to a new dog park today (1.5hr drive), booked the biggest of 3 parks for 2 hours, we had a really nice time there :) us and kids + dog had a blast :)
Does anyone else digitize their print books like I do? Scanning and OCR (Tesseract) is tedious, but I still like digital copies.
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Aether Age Codex - Helios, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/07/20/helios-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Raiders of the Unix Seas https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/07/13/raiders-unix-seas.html #freeculture #bookclub
I’ve been thinking about a new term I’ve come across whilst reading a book. It’s called “Complexity Budget” and I think it has relevant in lots of difficult fields. I specifically think it has a lot of relevant in the Software Industry and organizations in this field. When doing further research on this concept, I was only able find talks on complexity budget in the context of medical care, especially phychiratistic care. In this talk it was describe as, complexity:
- Complexity is confusing
- Complexity is costly
- Complexity kills
When we think of “complexity” in terms of software and software development, we have a sort-of intuitive about this right? We know when software has become too complex. We know when an organization has grown in complexity, or even a system. So we have a good intuition of the concept already.
My question to y’all is; how can we concretely think about “Complexity Budget” and define it in terms that can be leveraged and used to control the complexity of software dns ystems?
Picked up Altered Carbon again on Netflix. Really need to read those books.
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Nevada, part 5 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/07/06/nevada-5.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Nevada, part 4 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/06/29/nevada-4.html #freeculture #bookclub
John Searle and Daniel Dennett on Consciousness
Below I am here giving voice to a conversation in articles on the subject of consciousness originally published by the New York Review of Books and in John Searle’s book The Mystery of Consciousness.
I find these hilarious.
Here, Searle’s adversary, well-known and now late “philosopher” Daniel Dennett follows the logical train of verificationist modern science to its logical conclusion: the denial of the subjective—the consciousness itself—the thing, the … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Nevada, part 3 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/06/22/nevada-3.html #freeculture #bookclub
Experiment in Digital minimalism
I recently read Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism. It really
resonated with me, despite (or because of?) being glued to my computer
many hours of the day.
Cal suggests a month of digital decluttering, at first cutting off
everything that your job and other obligations don’t depend on. At the
end of the month you evaluate what, if anything, is to be let back
inside.
I did a decluttering plan for April. It ended up being an ongoing
project when I’m writing this in June.
Sipeed Lichee Book 4A: Affordable RISC-V Laptop with Upgradeable Computer Module
The Sipeed Lichee Book 4A is a cost-effective laptop utilizing RISC-V architecture, designed primarily for developers interested in exploring this platform. It merges standard laptop features with functionalities tailored to RISC-V, offering a practical tool for both software development and general use. According to recent updates on the company’s social media, the Sipeed Lichee Book … ⌘ Read more
MuseBook RISCV-V Laptop with SpacemiT SoC Starts Pre-orders at $299.00
The MUSE Book is a laptop that features a RISC-V-based architecture, presumably powered by the SpacemiT K1, an 8-core AI CPU built on the RISC-V X60 architecture. The MUSE Book is available for pre-order in three configurations, which include up to 16GB of RAM and two SSD storage capacities. The product details for the MUSE […] ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Nevada, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/06/15/nevada-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
I wrote a letter to the owner asking him to restore the guest book so that I could continue read the gossip. But instead, Gopher disconnected. Bad…
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Nevada, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/06/08/nevada-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — There Is No Antimemetics Division https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/06/01/antimemetics.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Unprintable https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/05/25/unprintable.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Catburglar https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/05/18/catburglar.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Cistemfailure https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/05/11/cistemfailure.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — The Lost Universe https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/05/04/lost-universe.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Noir & Blanc, part 3 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/04/27/noir-blanc-3.html #freeculture #bookclub
Multi-hued e-reader brings more colour, but less clarity
Book covers, magazines, comics and notes benefit greatly from a colour screen but, for reading, black-and-white technology is still superior. ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Noir & Blanc, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/04/20/noir-blanc-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
** books, the end of winter, video games and javascript **
Since my last update I’ve read a handful of books. Some standout reads include Tales from Earthsea, The Other Wind and The Left Hand of Darkness, all by Ursula K. Le Guin. I’d read them all before, accepted for The Other Wind. I thought I’d read The Other Wind, but hadn’t! Chaos: Making a New Science by James Gleick was also a fun read. I liked it for the rabbit holes it invited me down; I’ve been thinking a lot … ⌘ Read more
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Noir & Blanc, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/04/13/noir-blanc-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — In Unexpected Places https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/04/06/unexpected.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Airlock Bound, part 2 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/03/30/airlock-bound-2.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Airlock Bound, part 1 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/03/23/airlock-bound-1.html #freeculture #bookclub
UDF is where its at. Not some silly red or blue book that cant even have more than 8+3 filenames!
UDF is where its at. Not some silly red or blue book that cant even have more than 8+3 filenames!
More basement:
I completely forgot that DVD-RAM was a thing once. Found my old disks and they still work. 🤯 The data on them is from 2008, so they’re not that old. Still impressive.
The disks are two-sided. On the photo, that particular side of the disk on the left appears to be completely unused. 🤔
And then I read on Wikipedia that DVD-RAMs aren’t produced anymore at all today. Huh.
(I refuse to tag this as “retrocomputing”. Read/write DVDs that you can use just like a harddisk, thanks to UDF, are still “new and fancy” in my book. 😂)
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — Cauac Ox https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/03/16/cauac-ox.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — WNV Universe — Other https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/03/09/wnv-universe-4.html #freeculture #bookclub
On my blog: Free Culture Book Club — WNV Universe — Woethief 3 https://john.colagioia.net/blog/2024/03/02/wnv-universe-3.html #freeculture #bookclub
Asked an “AI Assistant” (Perplexity) to summarize my introduction of my homepage and then I asked it to give me some book recommendations I might like, and the thing actually nailed it.
My assistant book us seat on the plane that are meant for the crew
‘I would rather walk to my destination’ ⌘ Read more
