@NF6X@oldbytes.space

Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 15, 2026

Replying to @hypolite@friendica.mrpetovan.com

@hypolite @liaizon@social.wake.st @kde@floss.social @IDew@wetdry.world These remind me of the revision control server I set up for the Applications Engineering group at a former employer. I naturally named it "applicator".

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 14, 2026

Replying to @mirth@mastodon.sdf.org

@mirth@mastodon.sdf.org @NanoRaptor@bitbang.social Maybe add some Where's Waldo for variety?

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 11, 2026

Replying to @TechTangents@dialup.space

@TechTangents@dialup.space Just when I think I've seen it all!

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 11, 2026

Replying to @tpolecat@mastodon.social

@tpolecat@mastodon.social @rrmutt@mastodon.social @davbucci@mastodon.sdf.org The surprising thing to many seems to be that you often want a reducing lens (i.e., 0.5X, AKA a "Barlow" lens IIRC) on the objective to increase the working distance.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 09, 2026

Replying to @Datassette_User@oldbytes.space

@Datassette_User@oldbytes.space It kind of reminds me of a Cray.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 04, 2026

Replying to @brouhaha@mastodon.social

@brouhaha@mastodon.social @bitsplusatoms@fosstodon.org Wow!

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 04, 2026

Replying to @bitsplusatoms@fosstodon.org

@bitsplusatoms@fosstodon.org @brouhaha@mastodon.social Did I miss something? Are Pis unavailable and/or expensive again?

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 04, 2026

Replying to @ryan@m29.us

@ryan I can hear this photo.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Apr 20, 2026

Replying to @fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com Both of those approaches also work. But this is pretty neat: https://content.instructables.com/FZV/OQSS/MKOMA9HX/FZVOQSSMKOMA9HX.jpg

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Apr 20, 2026

I'm late to this party.

https://www.instructables.com/Fixing-Breadboards-for-Wide-Microcontrollers-Pico-/

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Apr 15, 2026

Replying to @fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com I see a checkbox to export the silkscreen in v9, too.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Apr 15, 2026

Replying to @fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com Are you using a current version of KiCad? v10 can export the silkscreen. I think that v9 could, too.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Apr 07, 2026

Replying to @tubetime@mastodon.social

@tubetime Ah, yes! Quad high-density Apollo token ring. 🤪

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 28, 2026

Replying to @attoparsec@clacks.link

@attoparsec@clacks.link @forestine@sunny.garden Bonus points if you add the whole marching band.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 28, 2026

Replying to @TechTangents@dialup.space

@TechTangents@dialup.space It’s honest. I like that.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 28, 2026

Replying to @colinstu@birdbutt.com

@colinstu@birdbutt.com @NanoRaptor@bitbang.social Vibrato could only make my code better.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 27, 2026

Replying to @fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com Oh, so you've used Mentor Graphics IC design software recently, I see. :p

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 27, 2026

Replying to @NF6X@oldbytes.space

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com But seriously: The high-end pro tools in the $50k per person per year class are a lot crustier.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 27, 2026

Replying to @fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com Just the way I like it!

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 27, 2026

Replying to @paulrickards@mastodon.social

@paulrickards@mastodon.social I don't know why, but my first reactions were "leaf", followed by "map for a D&D encounter".

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 27, 2026

Replying to @fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com With FREE CAD TOOLS! The exact same ones I use professionally for product development! #LivingInTheFuture

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 24, 2026

Replying to @paulrickards@mastodon.social

@paulrickards@mastodon.social You're not the only one.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 22, 2026

Replying to @NF6X@oldbytes.space

I have daydreamed about (but never found the gumption to implement so far) approaching circuit-level simulations of both my PDP-11/34A and my VAX-11/730 in much the same manner, except implemented in FPGAs because I'm all about touching hardware. It's good to see that somebody actually had the gumption to create a circuit-level simulation like this.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 22, 2026

Replying to @NF6X@oldbytes.space

The circuit level emulator that runs under the hood: https://github.com/dbrll/ll-34

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 22, 2026

Oh, wow. An in-browser PDP-11/34 simulator with a photorealistic and functional front panel emulation!

https://dbrll.github.io/ll-34/

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 03, 2026

Replying to @haineux@mastodon.social

@haineux @NanoRaptor Any physicist can tell you that assuming a spherical bun of uniform density makes the math a lot easier.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 02, 2026

Replying to @soaproot@sfba.social

@soaproot @colinburgess @dantheclamman @billgoats New song time! You say You say clam-eh-toe I say clam-ah-toe Let's call the whole thing off I say O ye'll say cla-may-toh and I'll say cla-mah-to And I'll be in checkout afore ye Resistance is futile

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 02, 2026

Replying to @billgoats@bitbang.social

@billgoats @soaproot @dantheclamman @colinburgess Ok, everybody sing together! O ye'll say cla-may-toh and I'll say cla-mah-to And I'll be in checkout afore ye

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Mar 01, 2026

Replying to @brouhaha@mastodon.social

@brouhaha@mastodon.social I never bother to get an FMRI because the idea that I am functional is absurd.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Feb 28, 2026

Replying to @paulrickards@mastodon.social

@paulrickards@mastodon.social @NanoRaptor@bitbang.social Ok, now who else wants a gigantic mouse to pose next to their regular sized computers? I'd personally like a giant Amiga 1000 mouse, and that reminds me that I'd also like a giant Amiga 1000 shaped house where the keyboard garage is where I park my vehicles.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Feb 28, 2026

Replying to @colinburgess@mastodon.nz

@colinburgess @billgoats Oh, like that song about Clamato?

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Feb 27, 2026

Replying to @fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com

@fozztexx@mastodon.fozztexx.com You can tell it's a prototype because it is purple and has blue wires! If it was green and had blue wires, then it could either be a prototype or a Tandy/Radio Shack/TRS-80 commercial product.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Feb 16, 2026

Replying to @tubetime@mastodon.social

@tubetime That is almost as evil as cables with USB type A male plugs at each end.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Feb 16, 2026

Replying to @JennyFluff@chitter.xyz

@JennyFluff@chitter.xyz @lillian@social.treehouse.systems @tendstofortytwo@social.treehouse.systems I can’t wait until I can power my lathe from USB!

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Jan 29, 2026

Replying to @nixCraft__dup_2318@mastodon.social

@nixCraft@mastodon.social Oh, she's a keeper.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Jan 29, 2026

Replying to @tubetime@mastodon.social

@tubetime It's so cool that the necessary diagnostic instrument is built right in! I'd imagine that the field service engineers appreciated not having to drag it around with them.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Dec 15, 2025

Replying to @NanoRaptor__dup_1737@bitbang.social

@NanoRaptor@bitbang.social Soldering skill tests for technician job interviews are getting weird.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Nov 20, 2025

Replying to @henk@waag.social

@henk@waag.social Having worked at Qualcomm through acquisition and seen it from the inside, this does not surprise me. Still, the mask came off more quickly than I expected. I'm interested in seeing what platform ends up filling the niche that Arduino just abandoned?

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Nov 16, 2025

Replying to @jmax@mastodon.social

@jmax @tubetime Certainly.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Nov 15, 2025

Replying to @nyquildotorg@gts.nyquil.org

@nyquildotorg @tubetime My weird brain just imagined the AOL "You've got mail!" voice announcing "You've got cancer!"

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Nov 15, 2025

Replying to @tubetime@mastodon.social

@tubetime whyyyyyyy! 😭

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Nov 15, 2025

Replying to @tubetime@mastodon.social

@tubetime It really irks me that so much hardware is stuffed into a short-term use disposable product. ISTR Big Clive demonstrating that even disposable one-time use e-cigs have rechargeable cells (without the charge circuitry) because they're cheaper than Li primary cells.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · May 30, 2025

Replying to @attoparsec@clacks.link

@attoparsec@clacks.link Don’t even get me started on the unslashed zero.

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Mark J. Blair @NF6X@oldbytes.space · Feb 12, 2025

Replying to @mcfly@milliways.social

@mcfly@milliways.social @transworldexpress@milliways.social USA person here: I am so sorry that we, as a nation, are letting everybody down right now.

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Mark J. Blair

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