Aaron Mahler

Zork I, II and III now open source! Very cool. #retrocomputing https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/11/microsoft-makes-zork-i-ii-and-iii-open-source-under-mit-license/

This 1970 video from RCA declaring war on IBM’s mainframe market is a complete riot. It’s historically interesting, of course, but the many 70s era puzzling production and marketing choices are a sight to behold. @LibrarianRA@worldkey.io @tankgrrl@hachyderm.io https://youtube.com/watch?v=GygR1Nbrhfc&si=0TwVD5VO0yMpdVIW #retrocomputing #retro

@michaelmeckler@mastodonapp.uk @LibrarianRA@worldkey.io @tankgrrl@hachyderm.io Your summary is spot on in every way and I couldn’t agree more. And thanks for the background on Frank - I had meant to try to look into who he was. Note that this was made four years before I was born. Also, being 1970, it is definitely a late 60s vibe and not yet the full on bonkers 70s aesthetic. I wonder what this would have been had it been, say, 1975.

@flargh@mastodon.social @tankgrrl@hachyderm.io Agreed - they both appeal in their own ways (and, of course, just the fun of building them).

@flargh@mastodon.social I put strong odds on autocorrect. For the record, was in agreement with you. :)

@flargh@mastodon.social The phrase "Ongoing Snacks Network Optimization Strategy" is vomit-inducing.

@flargh@mastodon.social Have you seen the two part documentary on Carlin that HBO put out a few years ago? Thinking of watching it again soon.

@flargh@mastodon.social oh, I totally believe it. My mother-in-law had some paper medical form a year or so ago that I actually had to FAX for her. It involved me pulling out a multifunction printer I only keep around for the rare chance I ever have a pile of double sided pages to scan and placing it on top of the washing machine to get it close enough to my very-near-the-ceiling network rack that has the only telephone jack I bothered to install in our loft (I don’t have 50 foot telephone cables anymore).

@flargh@mastodon.social closing on a real estate purchase tomorrow and expected to go to the agency (local) for the ceremonial passing around of thick stacks of paper. Nope. All e-sign. I got the impression they prefer it over having to host things in their offices, in fact.

@flargh@mastodon.social more honest than Ariana Venti, I suppose.

@flargh@mastodon.social I have literally been waiting for someone in this admin to make this mistake since the redactions started. Box checked. Now waiting to see if they will repeat the mistake.

@flargh@mastodon.social yeah, sounds like a nasty spiral into physical failure. Bummer.

@flargh@mastodon.social The eMate would definitely be amazing and with some historical roots. Done any research yet to see if anyone has done a project around it? Is it a working unit or ready for sacrifice on the altar of retro-modernism? ;) I think I saw the Model 100-esque project as well, but would love a link some time if you have it around.

@flargh@mastodon.social I saw the TypeFrame the other day and it shot to the top of my already burgeoning nerd projects list. I promptly did a quick inventory to see what I didn’t already have on hand. Shout if you need parts printed or something. Glad to help you get the Maker virus. :)

@flargh@mastodon.social somewhere in the world, a person is having their first bite of chicken and saying “tastes like…”

@flargh@mastodon.social and another statue for the person who made the first smoked version.

@samw @jarkman This thread is somewhat surreal. :)

@flargh@mastodon.social Curious how its death has manifested. I’ve run into a few similar seeming interface deaths over the years only to find an unexpected unrelated cause and an otherwise still working port. On a related note, I do find my Mac will periodically reorient interface priority even without the actual defined order changing. “Why is this transfer to my synology running like trash? Oh, it’s arbitrarily using WiFi this time.” Toggle on/off and back to gig speeds. Irksome.

@flargh@mastodon.social I tend to select it with renewed vigor when it’s phrased like that. The click sounds earily line “damn straight” to my ears.

@flargh@mastodon.social Ah... I gave in too easily and my suspicions had merit. Glad you dug deeper!

@flargh@mastodon.social Well, John Maynard Keynes anyway... I suspect the folks in Milton Keynes (and Bletchley Park) don't want to be associated. ;)

@kagihq@mastodon.social would love an option to randomly get any of the options on each page load. ;)