John Kennedy

LARPing as a manager at a tech company in Redmond, WA. Originally from N. Ireland. Bout ye. I like 8-bit systems and computers built before 1982 and after 2024. MSc Elec. Eng. He/Him BLM.☮️✌️

GitHub: https://github.com/grantmestrength/

Public Key

npub1ptzzcz2jw8l5eq08fknyk5vnsvepd3lg34klzar0re4wk0typ3mscys023

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsq43pvp9f8rl6vs8n5mfjt2xfcxvskcl5g6m03w3h3u6ht84jqcacpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dskryyrt

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relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1ptzzcz2jw8l5eq08fknyk5vnsvepd3lg34klzar0re4wk0typ3mscys023

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Last Notes

2024-07-02 23:26:54

Huh. Thought moving from the UK to the US would be a move away from a king.

2024-07-01 23:06:07

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yeah I mean what the heck?!

2024-07-01 18:01:07

Met an intern today who was studying electronic engineering. He didn’t have a fav between Z80 and 6502 because he hadn’t heard of either. What are they teaching kids these days?!?!

2024-06-14 06:41:19

Possibly the worst front panel design for an S-100 computer ever made. (Don’t worry it was just a test to line up the switches).
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/613/135/131/866/899/original/ba0991aebe65d175.jpeg

2024-06-10 18:26:23

Happy Birthday, Apple ][ !
It first went on sale on this day in 1977.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/593/257/933/130/971/original/2e72b63c49d7d647.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/593/258/280/689/358/original/8eeb565ec097fe99.jpeg

2024-05-30 20:25:43

TFW your progeny is a talented artist with their work on display in a public park.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/531/442/192/862/294/original/019b1d4e6fa6d5e0.jpeg

2024-05-30 17:12:48

Me using the special Vision Pro edition of Xcode coming at WWDC.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/530/683/607/372/771/original/842d54e2c9afefdb.jpeg

2024-05-29 20:07:43

For years, Clippy was seen as a negative brand thing because of how it had annoyed Office users or been a source of jokes. Now it seems MS is coming around to inviting Clippy back as a mascot (other than as the actual badly smelling physical mascot suit at some internal events) - as all the annoyed people have moved on to being annoyed by other things?
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/525/709/115/739/907/original/f086cb43772f95b6.jpeg

2024-05-27 23:25:42

My code is (who says) reporting a threading (you’re not) error and I’m not even using (using them) threads *sob*

2024-05-26 23:32:07

I tried to complete the DazzlerII video card and it’s very close to working: it responds to CP/M and executable code, but isn’t displaying what is expected. Hardware issue, software issue or compatibility issue? Does it require a Z80 or should an 8080 suffice? All good questions.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/509/525/352/160/634/original/54717ca4939e462e.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/509/525/937/224/054/original/8cd51bfef5ee4611.jpeg

2024-05-26 16:21:30

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but do you /really/

2024-05-26 16:20:54

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lol - you think Elon was thinking “oh damn now I own a social media site”

2024-05-26 16:19:37

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congrats :)

2024-05-26 05:41:58

That feeling when you are finally outbid on something you really shouldn’t have bid on in the first place.

2024-05-25 21:46:33

The Bambleweeny 57 Submeson Brain is coming together. Temporary switches are working, LEDs are blinken. Sure, the IMSAI front panel was way cooler but as it isn’t working this will do for now. Almost stable enough to finish up the DazzlerII card.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/503/448/458/459/591/original/38a07ee5ce1dd604.jpeg

2024-05-25 19:05:31

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if there was ever a use case for AI..

2024-05-25 16:45:23

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and the garage needs burned to the ground.

2024-05-25 16:16:22

I found the resistor SIL I dropped on the carpet. After tidying the entire area, overdue, and walking around barefoot, and using the phone flashlight parallel to the floor, and adding a replacement to a Digikey shopping cart, and sweeping with a little magnet, I found it by looking for a second time inside a nearby box that it had jumped into.

2024-05-25 07:11:15

Is there a patron saint of helping find a component you dropped on the carpet?

2024-05-24 21:35:26

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there are “no code” and “low code” PowerApps actions for exactly this kind of thing too, so non-developers can join in. Early days but more and more people can tinker with this stuff.

2024-05-24 21:22:21

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chaining together several AI actions using Python seems to work WAY better than trying to do everything in one go.

2024-05-24 18:03:52

This came out a lot more like a threat than I intended. You don’t HAVE to visit the docs, honestly. https://dotnet.social/@windowsdocs/112496904961577108

2024-05-23 20:52:35

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it’s not NOS it’s still a thing :)

2024-05-23 18:42:42

Got a snack for Break Time. P-p-p-p..
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/491/400/937/599/850/original/da19c2fcc4f9e642.jpeg

2024-05-23 18:22:48

After years of dithering there is some clarity or what Windows development platforms to use: WinUI/WinAppSdk or good old (but refreshed) WPF. Windows devs rejoice!
Also - used my HHGTTG badge. https://dotnet.social/@windowsdocs/112491313184997654

2024-05-23 01:35:46

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🤷you know this feature (a) isn’t out yet (b) will be optional (c) requires specific hardware that isn’t out yet, right?

2024-05-23 00:26:21

Looking forward to trying Recall on Windows on my work computer. LLMs are great at making “fuzzy” searches to help find that thing you have a vague memory of seeing, in one of the many many places I communicate with every day. Was it an email? Teams? Web issue tracking tool? I’m not worried about the security aspect. I want help not losing things in the current state of informational overload. This might be it.

2024-05-22 22:21:10

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I believe Hot Dog was created not to destroy your eyes but as some kind of debug mode. I need to ask.

2024-05-22 21:50:57

Was this really in 1990? Seems longer ago. And less long ago. Also it looked pretty rough. :)
https://dotnet.social/@windowsdocs/112486342598601258

2024-05-22 20:54:05

Reading about ITS, the OS used by AI researchers at MIT. The philosophy behind was amazing and it’s sad how far we’ve strayed from it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incompatible_Timesharing_System
Can you imagine a system that didn’t require passwords? And let anyone log in over the network?
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/486/255/251/726/980/original/dbf8e319402836ab.jpeg

2024-05-22 20:15:00

Been busy..
https://dotnet.social/@windowsdocs/112485679049728116

2024-05-22 00:39:23

I just got to hands-on with the new range of copilot+ windows laptops from Microsoft, HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, ASUS and Samsung.
Physically they were nice laptops.
Felt very snappy and the preview of the NPU accelerated stuff was fun to play with, and was definitely faster.
Does feel like a new generation of computer.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/481/478/873/927/380/original/a8c7435ed2c10987.jpeg

2024-05-21 21:05:08

Well it’s been a morning!!
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/480/636/429/285/320/original/c4850d94086804ac.png

2024-05-20 01:06:41

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yes all new. Turns out the front panel may have some design issues.

2024-05-19 16:28:03

I guess the only upside if trump wins and all his current criminal charges go away: he will soon commit an entirely new set of crimes.

2024-05-19 04:25:29

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documentation FTW!

2024-05-19 04:16:16

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worse than my mum’s old fridge.

2024-05-19 04:15:55

Strong Mario vibes.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/465/343/323/962/155/original/9eb3453fa474f0de.jpeg

2024-05-19 04:10:51

E? I’m in.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/465/323/475/925/885/original/09dee907849502ca.jpeg

2024-05-18 23:59:19

I laser cut and painted some acrylic for the front panel of this IMSAI 8080 recreation and it makes all the difference. Still some issues with the electronics but also added a fan mostly to stop me reaching my fingers in while turning it on and electrocuting myself.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/464/334/268/486/194/original/b93c8bb5cc3c4712.jpeg

2024-05-18 06:39:51

Hmm.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/460/247/051/571/029/original/4e17dcb0e4de1829.jpeg

2024-05-16 01:18:56

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alternatively go outside at night and look up. Voila! Space! No rocket required.

2024-05-16 00:36:18

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looks like Cat Fight Club was in season. But you know the rule..

2024-05-15 20:36:21

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:-o

2024-05-15 18:43:23

I worked at Microsoft Dublin for a while ten years ago, and while there suggested we create a video portal linking MS campuses across the world.
The news that the public art installation video portal linking Dublin with New York has had to be closed -again- due to lewd behaviour from the Irish side proves I was definitely onto something.

2024-05-15 18:33:03

Combining ChatGPT-4o’s voice interface with Apple’s voice recreation system means you could have a conversation with a synthetic version of anyone. Spooky.

2024-05-15 16:12:30

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yes loved my quarantine “c” project too. Not sure on the availability of this one - took > year for parts to show up.

2024-05-15 15:39:13

Happy “Kill the Bit” day to those who celebrate! Back in 1975 this was one of the first “type ins” for home computers, specifically the Altair 8800. Toggle in the code and you can play a little reaction timer game on the LEDs.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/445/380/301/375/059/original/e7db25639348963d.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/445/380/938/934/309/original/d13d6ccc9daf4a33.jpeg

2024-05-15 15:35:32

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http://s100chassis.pbworks.com/w/page/148514070/S-100%20Computer%20Chassis

2024-05-15 15:35:00

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so far i am trying a bunch of things to test it (something isn’t right) from ZPU Z80 to IMSAI CPU to JAIR 8080. It’s not 100% yet. Maybe 50%. There are lots of settings to tinker with.

2024-05-15 15:32:56

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it’s brand new (rather than an original) hence the shininess!

2024-05-15 15:32:18

When it’s the people who say “customer journey flywheels” who get promoted, you know you’re in the wrong org.

2024-05-15 13:02:51

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modern recreation

2024-05-15 13:02:21

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I had it too!

2024-05-15 06:30:13

Two 1975 things.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/443/221/660/611/600/original/4c4fa4ede7f4077b.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/443/222/104/613/927/original/521756688e5142a9.jpeg

2024-05-15 05:11:53

Looking fancy. Now need an acrylic front panel to finish it. That’ll happen.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/442/914/033/551/754/original/6e8c8651de584252.jpeg

2024-05-15 04:36:21

Fuse in place, voltage creating the necessary potential difference and current flowing. So yeah.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/442/774/273/163/912/original/34ede744cb87353a.jpeg

2024-05-14 23:49:45

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came with an IMSAI-alike cabinet I bought from another S100 devotee.

2024-05-14 23:43:23

It’s been so long since I’ve used fuses in American electrics that I forgot I might have needed one for this system. Nice to see it though, especially given my rad skills. Will hopefully find one today.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/441/622/094/002/878/original/f453df55569e5a26.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/441/622/474/499/958/original/25c1186c909bf7a5.jpeg

2024-05-14 22:37:52

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when I first moved to the US and still answered my phone, I got a call from the local Fire Department raising money to buy equipment like oxygen masks. I couldn’t believe it. But it was a real thing.

2024-05-14 22:19:15

There is certain hubris in deciding that you as a billionaire are better suited to deciding where society needs help via your donations.

2024-05-11 23:33:40

Enough progress that I earned an ice cream. It’s clocking through memory, stopping and starting.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/424/597/342/835/053/original/f35b6a7c79795ee6.jpeg

2024-05-10 19:35:44

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https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/417/999/425/347/890/original/c12db6384e42d3a2.jpeg

2024-05-10 19:32:52

Lots of talk this week about how awesome the new iPad is with amazing hardware BUT eww it has iPad OS and no powerful apps to push the M2/M4.
1. What is eew about iPad OS? It’s a great OS. Lots of APIs.
2. Apple makes two amazingly powerful, well specced pro apps. So it sounds that you want powerful 3rd party apps. That you probably want for free? Powerful apps cost money to develop.

2024-05-09 00:58:03

In 2024 I would like the ability to paste a piece of text that happens to be bold or in another type size into my doc AND NOT HAVE EVERYTHING I TYPE AFTER IT ALSO BOLD OR IN A DIFFERENT SIZE. Thank you.

2024-05-05 00:26:05

As I was cleaning this keyboard (top marks if you can guess which 80’s British system it was from) I found the perfect ChatGPT key.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/385/167/268/107/714/original/518d060eddbd2a48.jpeg

2024-05-01 14:09:43

BASIC is 60 years old today!
Happy Birthday to a programming language that introduced millions to software development. 🎉
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/365/756/720/582/531/original/d088ffff3532aef2.jpeg

2024-04-30 02:16:52

It’s not the fastest..
Calculating Pi using a Microsoft BASIC program running under CP/M on an Arduino based Altair 8800.
Yes I type that it does seem a bit crazy.
But it’s fun!
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/357/291/377/869/199/original/55c180d1d23c9660.jpeg

2024-04-28 05:45:46

Wonder what these would be good for..
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/346/788/167/770/866/original/9655b493b59b0add.jpeg

2024-04-28 01:11:27

This new sound card for the #RC2014 features a socket to house the fake AY chips that proliferate on Amazon and eBay.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/345/708/444/038/856/original/9ed8763a2aae0e90.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/345/708/962/948/690/original/a72ea8590cfe3734.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/345/709/485/355/999/original/27214bfab4ed11c1.jpeg

2024-04-26 17:50:58

What a colossal ignorant jerk.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/338/315/111/943/933/original/95945c0f82d4b2ac.jpeg

2024-04-17 17:57:19

Plenty in “The New Hackers Dictionary” (1983) has not aged well, or would be considered appropriate today, but it’s a wonderful snapshot of a specific time in computer history.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/287/379/266/618/423/original/6a2e1287ce0d55ac.jpeg

2024-04-09 23:39:07

Uh-oh..
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/243/424/823/868/034/original/a56221d97e81a06a.jpeg

2024-04-08 04:36:19

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tell kids today you stored data on the surface of a vacuum tube and read it back by measuring small changes in the charge causing fluctuations in the capacitance and they’ll say “dad.. please stop talking about old computers”

2024-04-07 02:48:33

So much going on in this book cover. Not sure if it’s Easter eggs or just..
Random?
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/227/182/701/057/221/original/7efb1e18234975f2.jpeg

2024-04-06 18:52:48

Ok I’ve finally got the proper kit - including the peril-sensitive sun glasses - so I’ve no excuse not to be able to make progress.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/225/311/336/099/568/original/401213f25bd31a1e.jpeg
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/225/312/073/399/998/original/403f553b37238e8e.jpeg

2024-04-05 22:09:39

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Oh no how sad
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/220/423/797/660/660/original/1c815b6ceed74c3a.jpeg

2024-04-04 21:30:48

My personal enjoyment of this graph is an inverse relationship.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/214/608/756/474/585/original/b97671d02eed71df.jpeg

2024-03-26 22:34:12

How I wanted an Atari! At least I got this brochure which I stuck on my wall.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/164/133/173/026/896/original/31a7328cfef4ba26.jpeg