Rediscover

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromemco_Cyclops

http://wsudbrink.dyndns.org:8080/cyclops/index.html

Back in the Apple ][ days, using de-capped RAM chips was a thing.

https://hackaday.com/2014/04/05/taking-pictures-with-a-dram-...

I got into the habit of immediately installing gtar on any Solaris box I had root on (damn the leading "/" in the archive).

-----

The 2nd worst part was dealing with SunOS and HP/UX at work and Ultrix outside of work. Worst part was not grokking why MS-DOS wouldn't buffer keystrokes the few times I was exposed to it.

If You have never used Panduit, choose wisely the room where it initially is installed. Start off with the lab or workshop or under kitchen cupboards (ie, places where the other half isn't going to get bothered by it). Also, it helps if the area has many semi-permanent cable runs ("this extension will only be here for a few days..." - unintentional fib). Personally, every time I install a new rack or mounting board (think 1m x 2.5m board on a wall to hold tools or "temporary" power strip/network equipment/test fixtures), I put in a length of F2x3 "narrow slotted duct". I use much smaller under the cabinets. The larger ducts are good for hiding the extra cable length so only what is needed escapes the enclosure.

Initially, it is often ugly. I would not want to live without it. Bonus points for creative mounting (the other half still has not noticed the piece across the lower back of the upright piano but has noticed the lack of cables).

I am one of those who often makes purchase decisions around the internal power circuitry.

I'm not at my lab desk at the moment (so I cannot report on that stuff), but I'm dragging around an old laptop, a small SBC (used as a general-purpose computer) and a monitor that I was employing earlier in cramped quarters for 40 minutes or so. The laptop is happy with 11.5V but doesn't have problems with 11-18V (9V 600mA will still charge the battery, slowly, during very mild use). The SBC has an NB679 buck converter so it's good for 5.5-28V. The monitor (2200 nits baby!) will accept 7-24V. These are older kit I use for crawling around with, but most of my "normal" equipment likewise has large input tolerances.

Non-normal equipment (used for areas at home where tool loss/damage may occur) mentioned: OLPC XO-1 (great screen, kinda tough, freakin' old), FriendlyElec NanoPC-T4 SBC, FeelGood P7 field monitor (compact with a thick aluminum chassis).

I was exposed to usenet and BITnet and FTP in the mid-to-late 1980s and having the Whole Earth dead tree publishings greatly helped guide my opinions on how I wanted the Internet to evolve. They also drove me into the rabbit hole of RFCs and the IETF for a good number of years.

The work of Stewart Brand (+ others involved) and the previously mention individuals provided the major foundation for my career choices and happiness (and a slight frustration at the way the 'net is currently).

vi, cat, or emacs to generate the original text.

I suspect that was really great for my outlook - now I start getting slightly depressed barely knowing about 6-12 neighbors and have to walk over to Belltown to get a mental lift.

Yeah, Oregonians and Washingtonians share some strange behaviors, but there are many things pretty alien between the two.

Handling of minor riots, drunkenness (on your own property, or not -- ok, sleeping on your front lawn), tipping, public transit (in populated areas), shopping, strip clubs, ... Wow.

I often question this. It is something I really don't understand.

Gads, up until a few years ago, I was doing 4000-6000 cals most days. Other days, I was doing four shots of vodka and nothing else. I'm real thin, generally muscular, great health. Great health (to repeat) and quite capable of 20 mile hikes with a 40-70 pound backpack (absolutely no f' joke), at a very fast pace.

I still don't grasp this.

MNT Reform.

Replaceable CPUs...

Nice laptop keyboard.