Bèr Kessels 🐝 🚐 🏄 🌱

Artist making #GenerativeArt

Living in the future, building what's missing.

$BTC #software #FLOSS

Public Key

npub1qaqt4qpc83zaszezl2w09gddr8srwd3taykwj9ujpn3q3fpe9hdqctgk6u

NIP-05 Address

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsqws96squrc3wcpv30488j5xk3ncphxc47jt8fz7fqecsg5sujmkspz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0ds60rzz4

Publishing to

relay.ditto.pub

nos.lol

relay.damus.io

Author Public Key

npub1qaqt4qpc83zaszezl2w09gddr8srwd3taykwj9ujpn3q3fpe9hdqctgk6u

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Last Notes

2026-08-17 09:09:42 GMT

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@nprofile…xy3l (Ik ben hierop afgestudeerd)
1. Electrische energie heeft (bijna) geen buffer. Het is letterlijk zo dat als jij je lamp aanklikt, ergens en centrale of windmolen ietsjes harder moet draaien. Niet alle opwekkers kunnen variëren: bijv zonnepanelen leveren wat ze leveren.
2. Op- of afschakelen kost tijd. (Oude) Kern- en kolencentrales hebben soms dagen nodig om van 60% naar 100% of andersom te gaan. Weken om van 0-100 of vv. Gascentrales (WKK) en wind reageert direct.
3. (Oude) kern, kolen en gascentrales hebben geen lineaire efficientie. Als ze op 40% moeten draaien gebruiken ze soms nog 80% van de brandstof. Ze draaien dan met verlies. Werden/worden ontworpen om altijd 100% te draaien.
4. Omdat wind en zon niet te sturen zijn (er is geen "meer wind" of "meer zon" knop) en we wél altijd stroom eisen, moeten er aanbieders zijn die op vraag kunnen reageren. Dat was gas, maar dat is nu duur. Was deels "buitenland" - mn Franse kernenergie en Scandinavische waterkracht, maar door de droogte draaien die nauwelijks meer. Blijft over: Kolen.
Als bijv opeens een bewolkte week eraan komt, moeten kolencentrales soms al de week ervoor opstarten (en willen die week uiteraard geen verlies maken). Of als in de nacht geen wind is, moet dat opgevangen door een kolencentrale die overdag óok winstgevend wil draaien, zelfs als ie dan naar 30% geschakeld moet (en soms nog 60% van de CO2 van volle-kracht, uitstoot).
Oplossing? Buffers! bijv Accus. Veel, duizenden keren wat we nu hebben.
Of groter net: Als bij ons de zon schijnt, is er mss in Denemarken of Luxemburg geen zon en wind en kun je dat verdelen ("exporteren").
Of aanbod-gestuurde vraag: je gebruikt stroom als het er is en krijgt niks als het er niet is. In veel landen gaat uren per dag/nacht gewoon de stroom er helemaal af.
Oplossing is en/en/en.

2026-08-02 08:58:34 GMT

For the sake of the argument, lets presume #agentic_development is the future, will replace humans writing code (almost) entirely.
When we then consider that currently tokens are highly subsidized by investors. Literally trillions a year.
And we see that even with that subsidy, prices are increasing rapidly. But that eventually, these subsidies will be removed and costs will be shifted to the people using the AI.
Then we can only conclude that in future, #softwaredevelopment becomes something for the wealthy only.
A few years ago, everyone with access to a computer and the will to learn, could write the Next Killer App, or get hired to write software. From girls living in a country where $100/month is a solid income, to guys living in the basement of their mom in a country where €2000/month is on the low end. Especially with #opensource goving free access to a solid foundation for everyone, worldwide.
But with the costs of unsubsidized agentic software development, that division will make software development much less accessible to people. When the daily bill for tokens is higher than the common monthly income in your country, it's inaccessible.
We often hear the story that now everyone can "make" software, with AI. Because the skills to write software are no longer a requirement. A barrier removed.
But the barrier isn't removed, it's replaced with a barrier of wealth. A barrier that anyone with a brain and will, could overcome, replaced by a barrier that is set by society and impossible to overcome for a vast majority of the people worldwide.

2026-07-10 20:46:29 GMT

If there ever was a good use-case for generative AI, it would be to (live) turn the ridiculously boring tone of Dutch or English football commentary into Spanish style commentary.
https://youtube.com/shorts/f1hKy5Kblgg?is=47RVPoCJKMTN7or_

2026-06-29 05:45:28 GMT

I travel through Europe in my Volkswagen T3 van. What we don't often see, on social media is the dark side, the grind-side of #vanlife. I'll be posting some #vanlifegrind.
It almost always looks romantic, Instagram-polished, happy and clean. The bulk, however, is boring, hot, packed asphalt, stressed, depressing and grimy.
https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/116/831/785/728/316/954/original/d2d1ab0e83dbb59a.jpg

2026-06-13 14:14:31 GMT

What have these stones done, that they must be caged?
https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/116/743/213/436/768/155/original/94b1c657eed933b2.jpg

2025-07-31 08:36:47 GMT

I powered off the server on which @nprofile…uzpq was running.
I don't use #mastodon or the #fediverse that often anymore. Certainly not enough to warrant running & paying for my own instance.
I'm just not excited about mastodon, #activitypub or the fediverse.I don't see it working out.

2025-07-06 10:07:40 GMT

I find "the #Fediverse" an ever more depressing and negative place. It's probably partly my social graph. But I fail to find people that change this.
A majority of posts are ideological or political. Where's the fun, whimsical, creative, joyful content?
There's almost only content about what people oppose. Stop X, cancel Y or fight against Z. Where are the visions, the inspiration, the efforts moving forward?
Yes, the world is a bleak place, today. But:
1/2

2025-07-03 12:04:12 GMT

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@nprofile…n6dw Yes. And that's double bad. Because it stalls progress, while the "actual bad options" like Twitter, Linkedin, Meta etc continue to lock in users, roll out features and become "better".
And in the mean time it takes energy away, discourages, burns-out or even halts those that work on these projects.
And thirdly, ppl that send this hate, campaigns and etc onto the people working on the "good projects" are wasting their own energy

2025-06-04 11:51:30 GMT

At this point we, the #Dutch, should just rename "Stroopwafels" to "stroepwafels".
That way all the tourists and expats, at least pronounce it right.

2025-05-29 16:42:47 GMT

The history of the trash icon
https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/114/592/118/000/224/070/original/f238a4da30d68551.png

2025-05-13 06:52:12 GMT

This great rant by Rutger Bregman, applies entirely and fully to the #OpenSource community.
And is, I'm convinced , the primary reason why e.g. the #Fediverse isn't growing into that alternative for big-tech (or why Linux desktop never replaced Windows)
In-fighting. Binary purism. Religious fanatism and bullying of allies.
We shouldn't fight #bluesky, boycott #nostr or bully instances that federate with #threads. They are allies. Today. To get to the next step.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJefQ-PtpDG/?igsh=MWRvNzQzOTZpeG1jeQ==

2025-03-17 13:24:45 GMT

I see a lot of misinformation, naive or even deliberate lies, but also alarming details on the " #energy use of #AI ", specifically the LLM type of AI.
Do you have well-founded, possibly peer-reviewed and balanced sources on the actual energy (ab)use of "AI"?

2025-03-10 08:47:28 GMT

This honestly makes #AI more useful.
We need "Dutch" AI: blunt, rude, honest, pushing back.
Not "American" AI, tuned to "the customer is always right", inventing stuff just to not let you down, always willing to help even if that makes things worse.
https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/114/137/254/185/751/017/original/0879499e5db81b6c.png

2025-02-07 23:40:37 GMT

I made a #generativeart app. It creates a unique maze for you and your love. Perfect little digital Valentines message.
Lost in Love for Romeo and Juliet
https://love.berk.es/?me=Romeo&you=Juliet
What should I change, fix or add? Would you use it? (Boost = More ❤️ to share)
https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/113/965/233/046/824/672/original/ed2f6386992a0583.png

2025-01-12 14:13:35 GMT

I can spot the pregnant and the person less able to stand. So I guess a woman carrying a child in her arms is then the disabled one?
https://mastodon.nl/system/media_attachments/files/113/815/784/807/330/490/original/d4f163015eef5d29.jpg

2024-12-20 14:19:14 GMT

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@nprofile…4az6 jamaar als iets in de hoofden en ervaringen van mensen zit, kun je het niet meten. En is het niet eigendom van de organisatie. En kun je managers er niet op afrekenen. /s
> What gets measured, gets managed
> If you can't measure it, you can't improve it
Zachte & vage waarden als "kennis vd buitenwereld" is onmeetbaar. Dus komen er vormen waarin ze gemeten kunnen worden. En waarmee ze "van de organisatie" worden. Rapporten. Dat daarmee alle nut verloren gaat, ziet niemand.

2024-10-09 13:13:05 GMT

Seriously. How do #Python devs get any work done?
I'm only working in it occassionally. In a broad range of projects/versions.
I honestly spend at least half my time on resolving version stuff, getting pip to work in this venv/pipenv/whateverenv, fixing pyright again.
I mean, this is bad with Ruby and insane in JavaScript. But Python pushes it to another level alltogether for me.
Is it because I'm on Ubuntu LTS? Is it that I only occasionally work on Python projects?

2024-07-29 07:02:28 GMT

AI is not going to take our jobs.
As long as customers come with mails like "the website doesn't work. please fix" to describe the fact some link doesn't open a new tab, but rather in the same tab. Or "we need a new menu item 'social' in the main nav". "Where it links to? Well, some social media like Facebook or LinkedIn that you must build there". Computers will fail just as hard as humans on this stuff.
AI might be "smart", or becoming that, but customers will never be.

2024-06-20 22:56:47 GMT

I've been a #vegetarian for over 26 years now. And boy, have I gotten a bunch of stupid responses.
Always unasked for. I'll never "preach". All I ever do is politely mention my options: Sorry, but I cannot eat that/there.
The most common response is one that asks me to defend my choice: not just explain it, but defend.
But a while ago I heard the stupidest of them all:
"There was a study that shows some plants have feelings too. So..."

2024-03-14 23:37:05 GMT

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@npub1se6…cmph I do the same.
But my veggies get the "clean" compost. And my trees the compost filled with weeds, once they reach over 2meter. Weeds over here are nettles (nitro hoarders), brambles (deep roosters) and elderflower. Though Bastards, but no enemy to an actual tree.
Allows us to put anything on the for-tree compost heap. The richest compost, yet filled with aggressive weeds

2024-03-06 09:05:11 GMT

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@npub1d8d…tpyc waarom zijn Auto's niet verboden? Waarom zijn wegwerp barbeques niet verboden? Waarom zijn frikadel broodjes niet verboden? Waarom zijn all inclusive vakanties naar Turkije niet verboden? Waarom is alcohol niet verboden? Waarom zijn Jet-skis niet verboden?
Ik kan zo uren doorgaan, maar mn toot raakt vol.
Allemaal hetzelfde antwoord: vrije samenleving.
Ik zou prima kunnen leven in een samenleving zonder Jet-skis. Maar zou niet willen wonen in een samenleving die ze verbied.

2024-03-06 08:54:32 GMT

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@npub1d8d…tpyc om dezelfde reden voor vrijwel alle "waarom is X niet verboden, eigenlijk?" vragen.

2024-02-16 09:21:14 GMT

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@npub1mnp…k9zl @npub18sj…kmjt @npub1tc6…mhfm what even is a "third party' on an open , free network?

2024-02-16 09:20:19 GMT

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@npub1mnp…k9zl @npub18sj…kmjt @npub1tc6…mhfm actibityPub is a send protocol too. Exactly like mail.
Your instance sends your content to other instances. To a list of accounts that you control.
It's exactly like email.

2024-02-16 08:38:10 GMT

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@npub18sj…kmjt @npub1mnp…k9zl @npub1tc6…mhfm you cannot retroactively opt out of already federated content.
When you pushed it to server M (someone on server M was following you), that's it.
All you can do is hope they'll too delete it when you do. And not do evil stuff with it.
It's really like email. The moment you sent it, it's out of your hands. So if you hate google, never send to any gmail address. But there's nothing to protect you against someone forwarding, printing or storing it forever.

2024-02-16 08:32:15 GMT

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@npub1mnp…k9zl @npub18sj…kmjt @npub1tc6…mhfm no. This is the same with any instance. If I follow you from my instance, then from that moment on, your instance pushes your posts to mine.
I can easily configure my instance to keep your data. Send it to Bezos. Mine it for AI and so on.
The only power you have, is to not push it to me.

2024-02-15 23:42:37 GMT

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@npub1mnp…k9zl @npub1tc6…mhfm let me rephrase: do you want to opt out of people reading content that you publish on the web? Or do you want opt out of servers accepting content that your server pushes to them?

2024-02-15 23:28:10 GMT

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@npub1mnp…k9zl @npub1tc6…mhfm what must be opt in?

2024-02-09 23:21:56 GMT

A bird on a wire seems clear. But what the hell is a drunken midnight choir?
#cohen

2023-12-21 09:34:07 GMT

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@npub12ty…vnqc I can imagine that hard data can strengthen, or sway, your stance on this.

2023-12-21 09:33:10 GMT

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@npub12ty…vnqc will you be reviewing your consideration when you have data?
E.g. the amount of your users that manually unblock. Or amount of interactions with threads? Or when you have a statistical significant amount of "reports" or "flags" over various domains, incl Threads?

2023-12-19 11:12:41 GMT

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@npub1kpw…xzz4 @npub1srm…smxm You have a completely different (wrong?) definition of ergonomics in software. Aesthetics is *part of* ergonomics.
As is a **readable and expressive syntax, an effective standard library**, good tooling, and so on.
having to read backwards from deeply nested function calls is neither of these. And, indeed, it also looks ugly, but that's the least of the concerns.

2023-12-19 10:08:15 GMT

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@npub1kpw…xzz4 @npub1srm…smxm You make it sound as if ergonomics aren't important.

2023-12-19 09:21:52 GMT

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@npub1kpw…xzz4 @npub1srm…smxm it hardly makes theoretical difference.
But the ergonomics and the communication are very different.
Ergonomics: Many other methods in python act 'on the thing' (str.capitalize() etc). So it's inconsistent.
Chaining isn't possible: thelist.map().filter().sort().reduce() vs reduce(sort(filter(map(thelist))). Gets worse with multiline lambdas.
Comms: custom classes can have iterator methods implemented (ie a custom .sort()) But they cannot introduce global methods.

2023-12-18 17:28:40 GMT

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@npub1kpw…xzz4 I was referring to that. The insanity being that they are global functions and not something you call on a iterator like every other language has.

2023-12-18 17:11:02 GMT

I'm truly baffled by how insane the `map/reduce/filter` iterator API for #Python is. Most languages, even JavaScript, have some sort of "other_list = the_list.map().filter()" API. Except Python (and PHP?).
Now, I can imagine that a language that primarily deals with string manipulation or DOM management or so, to have a crappy API for handling large lists of data. But python's entire success comes from "handleing large lists of data", yet the tools to do so are infuriating.

2023-10-18 08:13:24 GMT

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@npub1gmg…q2qw @npub1d8d…tpyc @npub145q…j5fq jack heeft niets met Bluesky van doen meer. Bovendien is het een open protocol, dus wie "aan het roer staat" is irrelevant.
Om de originele vraag te beantwoorden: nee, Op BlueSky zitten 'de organisaties' waarschijnlijk ook niet. Wel meer journalisten daar, die zijn op de fediverse vaak weggepest. En meer influencers en celebs op BS.
(Ps, ik heb nog BS invites, PM me)

2023-10-12 11:58:04 GMT

Dear North American Web developers.
The majority of the people in the word don't use AM/PM.
Having all your times in AM PM sucks for almost everyone but Americans. We have to look up and often correct times. At least consider a setting.
But probably best is to have everyone use a 24 hour clock. Every American understand when 22:30 is. But hardly anyoneunderstands if 10:30 AM is in the morning or evening. Or now many hours are between 08:00 and 18:00.
Kind regards, Everyone except Americans.

2023-08-30 16:39:59 GMT

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@npub1tpj…fmcs I saw a large and very prominent moon yesterday. I told my wife: look outside the moon is beautiful and bright tonight. Only today did I learn there's a supermoon.
The logical explanation is recency or selection bias here.
I was just wondering that when we perceive the size of the moon different than what is measured, we might perceive what is measured as small diff, amplified too. Our brain is clearly exaggerating the size, so could it be that it exaggerates size-differences too?

2023-08-30 11:04:17 GMT

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@npub1tpj…fmcs yes. But that is looking at images.
My point is that our brains distort the size of the actual moon very much. And that this distortion may amplify the relative size of a "supermoon" significantly. In your mind.

2023-08-30 07:59:06 GMT

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@npub1tpj…fmcs I wonder if there's not a perceptive difference at play too.
Ask anyone to draw the sun or the moon, and they'll greatly overestimate the actual size (or, reverse, on photos the sun and moon look tiny). This perception is a well known and studied effect.
Maybe our brains greatly exaggerate a difference in size and luminosity too? So that we perceive it as 'much bigger and brighter' than the actual measured difference?

2023-07-19 19:21:01 GMT

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@npub19lt…qfjk is it a blonde?

2023-07-02 17:23:55 GMT

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@npub1kja…e5gq sure. You can use it for that. But it isn't optimised for that use. There's loads of features you won't use, but that are loaded. Rails is tough to host, and mastodon needs lots of moving parts to be running.
Gotosocial for example isn't (even close to) feature complete, but it can run on a tenth of the server with far less hassle.

2023-07-02 16:39:14 GMT

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@npub12ty…vnqc there's different vectors in performance.
Mastodon performs well for large (and huge) communities. But it performs terrible for single person setups. E.g. #gotosocial is the reverse. It performs very well for a tiny community, but far worse for a (ten) thousand user instance.
I'm still convinced the fediverse should push for many small instances.

2023-06-25 13:32:55 GMT

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@npub1psy…pasy what I would love is an easy flow to upload and share vids on mastodon from Android.
This currently sucks. Partly because format incompatibilities, mostly because instances impose 'arbitrary' limits (to keep hosting costs down, understandable).
I'd love tusky or anything to upload vids elsewhere, embed the link, so I can share longer, heavier vids in my mastodon transparatly.
Is that in scope? What would be needed?