Mark J. Blair

A feral engineer lurking near Riverside, CA, USA

Public Key

npub19q207cg4m6ge0eluat87z500cr3493528verwjy5af6crqv53jzshwpfda

NIP-05 Address

NF6X_at_oldbytes.space@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqszs98lvy2aayvhul7w4nlp28hupc6jc69rkv3hfz2w5avpsx2gepgpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxglqkkmv

Publishing to

relay.nostr.band

Author Public Key

npub19q207cg4m6ge0eluat87z500cr3493528verwjy5af6crqv53jzshwpfda

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Last Notes

2025-04-05 22:58:38

Just got this vintage casino loyalty card from eBay (I previously posted the eBay listing photos). I haven’t seen a card like this before. My dad speculated that maybe the punched holes are just decoration to look all high tech (in the 1970s, that is). He might be right? I don’t see an obvious correlation between the holes and printed numbers. Any ideas, my nerdy friends?
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/114/287/818/993/337/126/original/f9ab9df041533160.jpeg
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/114/287/818/993/337/127/original/b2b5f2bb26cb6dc7.jpeg

2025-03-16 23:20:38

On my way home from an eBay pickup. Here is my front seat passenger.
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/114/174/542/536/868/325/original/5e149301d3595850.jpeg

2025-03-09 18:20:51

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@nprofile…lpyw DST hits me differently, because my personal hangup is "everything doesn't need a clock, dagnabbit!". I generally turn off the clock displays on appliances where I can, and never bother setting them in the first place.

2025-02-16 21:18:24

It was already difficult enough to distinguish @nprofile…pqrf world from reality, but fortunately it's getting more difficult.
https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/comments/1iqth07/1_of_1_c64t_commodore_64_tower_spotted_at_vcf/
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/114/015/649/976/906/856/original/9f35bd8c12c3a8f1.png

2024-09-10 15:54:33

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@npub13le…6saf I see a mat of backplane wiring on a minicomputer or supercomputer. I kind of have a one track mind.

2024-08-29 15:05:47

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@npub1n3h…uwgc Making better coffee brings a tear of joy to my eye!

2024-08-25 18:03:39

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@npub13le…6saf Have you done any generative plotter art inspired by Amiga checkmarks?

2024-08-25 18:03:39

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@npub13le…6saf Have you done any generative plotter art inspired by Amiga checkmarks?

2024-07-28 17:56:21

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@npub13le…6saf Maybe you need an ImageWriter I to properly render that one?

2024-07-28 17:56:21

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@npub13le…6saf Maybe you need an ImageWriter I to properly render that one?

2024-07-28 01:20:15

Why did old portable typewriter cases have key locks? Were there organized crime groups specializing in typewriter ribbon theft? Communist spies stealing the E key caps to foil the US military might? Saboteurs turning the red+black ribbons upside down?

2024-07-07 18:37:12

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Autotrol still seems to be around. I wonder...

2024-07-06 19:19:17

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Bummer. I'll still probably order one, after I take a pro forma peek into the forum. 👍

2024-07-06 19:16:30

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@npub1rp6…wzqe I think I'll get one. Just signed up for their forum. It's not open source, is it?

2024-07-06 19:12:25

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Does that chip tester work well? Do I need one?

2024-07-04 15:16:27

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Maybe Miles borrowed it?

2024-06-23 21:20:32

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@npub13le…6saf Nice PCB surgery!

2024-06-23 21:20:32

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@npub13le…6saf Nice PCB surgery!

2024-06-15 21:06:00

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Don’t worry, this hallucinating AI will solve your problem.

2024-06-05 18:55:50

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@npub1rp6…wzqe The easter bunny must be tired after laying all of those eggs!

2024-05-29 20:29:02

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Maybe a little dimple, narrower than the width of the bearing?

2024-05-27 15:43:29

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@npub13le…6saf I wish I could find a moving-head thermal printer mechanism still in production than uses thermal FAX roll paper. I could use it to make a portable teletype emulator.

2024-05-24 02:11:00

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Cool coincidence! I just ordered some DC loads for working on my PDP-8/M power supply. I use them at work, but I never got any for my home lab until just now.

2024-04-26 00:59:26

Does anybody in southern California have an extra DECtape drive? How about an RK05? Yeah, probably not, and probably out of my price range, but a guy can dream.

2024-04-06 23:01:12

Anybody here know how to make multi track tape heads from scratch? 10 tracks across 3/16” tape would let us make 1/4 scale DECtape drives for 1/4 scale minicomputers.

2024-03-24 17:27:05

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Are you sure you’re awake? That sounds like a nightmare.

2024-03-23 23:59:33

What’s in the box? (easy mode) #MARCHintosh
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/112/147/717/360/607/337/original/1fe3358a1df05692.png

2024-03-16 20:56:27

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@npub13le…6saf That's a handsome plotter!

2024-02-27 22:02:48

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@npub1rp6…wzqe Oooh, do you have a Model 200? Twice as much screen!

2024-02-27 21:34:12

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@npub1rp6…wzqe I suggest making your own retro Apple Vision Pro out of an SX-64. Do some neck exercises before trying it on.

2024-02-12 19:02:51

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@npub1rp6…wzqe I like the drive mounting popsicle sticks.

2023-04-22 19:39:10

I didn’t really want to spend Thursday and Friday buying and installing Water Heater IIc Plus, but here we are.
https://assets.oldbytes.space/assets.oldbytes.space/media_attachments/files/110/244/157/160/596/210/original/d8563f45fb483d5f.png