Kottke’s social media fast
“Mostly, I’ve resolved to use my phone less. Being on my phone was my fidget spinner…this thing that I would do when there was nothing else to do or that I would use to delay going to bed or delay getting out of bed in the morning. Going forward, I’m going to be more mindful about its use. If nothing else, my hands and thumbs might start feeling better.”
Kottke joins the list of people quitting social media and writing about it. He left social media for a week, and the above quote is where he landed. Pretty much the same ending as the others. I’m not sure a week without social media is enough to have any determinable effect, but still.
Spending less time with our phones would be good for everyone.
No one really notices if a particular person goes missing because they’re just one interchangeable node in a network.
That’s not my worry. I don’t interact much on social media, so I wouldn’t expect anyone to miss me. I’d sure miss them, though.
Silicon Valley: A Reality Check - Slate Star Codex
“Here’s my theory. If you’re an average well-off person, leading your average well-off life, consuming average well-off media and seeing ads targeted at the average well-off demographic, and going over to your average well-off friends’ houses and seeing their average well-off products, which are you more likely to hear about? A structured-light optical engine for cytological research? Or a juicer?”
Everyone piled on the Juicero thing, including me. The fiasco became a poster child of Silicon Valley vapidness. Alexander reminds us that there’s usually more going on than what we are exposed to in our little social network bubbles.
Moom removed from sale
“Tonight we received notice that Moom is in violation of US patent number 8434019, Apparatus and method for positioning windows on a display. Yes, someone has patented positioning windows on a screen via a grid. Given we’ve been notified of a patent violation, we have no choice but to remove Moom from sale, effective immediately.”
I try every window manager that comes along and I always go back to Moom. I hope someone helps them bury the patent troll behind the takedown notice.
I Don’t Believe in Blockchain - Tim Bray
“First off, I should say that I like blockchain, conceptually. Provably-immutable append-only data log with transaction validation based on asymmetric crypto, and (optionally) a Byzantine-generals solution too! What’s not to like? But I still don’t think the world needs it.”
I don’t know enough about blockchain to have a valid opinion, but I dismissed it outright anyway.
When introversion collides with the desire to connect
“I don’t know about you, but my inner dialogue is fucking weird and sometimes not fit for sharing with others.”
I can’t tell you how much being a capital-I Introvert messes with me every day. You don’t want to know what I’m thinking, either.
Polaroid Type 108 - Expired August 1977
Photo
Polaroid type 108. Expired August 1977. What are the odds of getting anything at all out of it?
via Instagram
First time printing with the Focomat IIc
I’m still working on restoring a Focomat IIc. It’s been a bit of a struggle, but I reached a milestone this week: I made some prints!
Focomat IIc
So for I’ve only gotten the 60mm Focotar to work, but after adjusting the autofocus I was able to make a couple of prints from 35mm negatives.
I’ve always read that condenser light sources make sharp prints, but dust can be a problem. That is an understatement. With the glass carrier, there are six surfaces that can carry dust, and I think I’ve gotten dust on every one of them. I need to learn to be careful and extra clean.
Next step is to find some contrast filters. I’d also like to get the built-in lightbox working but that looks to be quite a project.
It’s all fun, though.
The Lure (2015) - ★★★★★
The best horror-musical-comedy-mermaid movie you’ll see this year!
“The Lure” was nuts, in the best possible way. I loved it. Can I have more like this, please?