Christopher Drum
@christopherdrum.bsky.social
A nerd doing nerdy things that sometimes delight other nerds.
My blog about retro productivity software is at: stonetools.ghost.io
Most of my dev projects are at: christopherdrum.itch.io
Fediverse (Mastodon, et al): @christopherdrum@hachyderm.io
My blog about retro productivity software is at: stonetools.ghost.io
Most of my dev projects are at: christopherdrum.itch.io
Fediverse (Mastodon, et al): @christopherdrum@hachyderm.io
Pinned
🪨 HyperCard on the Macintosh 🛠️
The "software erector set" that launched careers and came close to delivering us the web 6 years early. Our last post of '25 takes a deep look at this important title. Happy holidays!
stonetools.ghost.io/hypercard-mac/
#RetroComputing #hypercard #classicmac #atkinson
The "software erector set" that launched careers and came close to delivering us the web 6 years early. Our last post of '25 takes a deep look at this important title. Happy holidays!
stonetools.ghost.io/hypercard-mac/
#RetroComputing #hypercard #classicmac #atkinson
HyperCard on the Macintosh
How do we approach the challenge of helping non-programmers build software? Do we throw up our hands at today's complexity and say, "Just let an AI do it." Or, do we make tools so *compelling* a novic...
stonetools.ghost.io
How many lives and careers were influenced by #HyperCard?
@cyan.com started life with the HC stack, The Manhole
@worrydream.com built "HyperCard in the World"
@wikipedia.org came out of experiments in it
For my latest post, I get to know HC better and consider English as a development language.
@cyan.com started life with the HC stack, The Manhole
@worrydream.com built "HyperCard in the World"
@wikipedia.org came out of experiments in it
For my latest post, I get to know HC better and consider English as a development language.
I wanted to understand the first AI boom a little better, so I looked at how the #c64 was put to work in the #ai mines.
Japan's Fifth Generation Computing, Campbell's Soup, Sputnik, the movie PI, and a Connection Machine all make appearances.
Enjoy!
#stonetools #retrocomputing #computerhistory
Japan's Fifth Generation Computing, Campbell's Soup, Sputnik, the movie PI, and a Connection Machine all make appearances.
Enjoy!
#stonetools #retrocomputing #computerhistory
🪨 XPER on the Commodore 64🛠️
We draft a #c64 into the #ai wars. This "expert system" software promised it could predict weather, so I took it at its word. Was it more accurate than a coin flip?
Also: Fifth Generation Computers and the first guy to concede his job to AI
stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64
We draft a #c64 into the #ai wars. This "expert system" software promised it could predict weather, so I took it at its word. Was it more accurate than a coin flip?
Also: Fifth Generation Computers and the first guy to concede his job to AI
stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64
XPER on the Commodore 64
Early AI on microcomputers focused heavily on "expert systems," tools to capture domain-specific knowledge and democratize it amongst the plebians. In a supreme act of hubris, I'm going to use that sa...
stonetools.ghost.io
January 2, 2026 at 11:47 PM
I wanted to understand the first AI boom a little better, so I looked at how the #c64 was put to work in the #ai mines.
Japan's Fifth Generation Computing, Campbell's Soup, Sputnik, the movie PI, and a Connection Machine all make appearances.
Enjoy!
#stonetools #retrocomputing #computerhistory
Japan's Fifth Generation Computing, Campbell's Soup, Sputnik, the movie PI, and a Connection Machine all make appearances.
Enjoy!
#stonetools #retrocomputing #computerhistory
Reposted by Christopher Drum
🪨 XPER on the Commodore 64🛠️
We draft a #c64 into the #ai wars. This "expert system" software promised it could predict weather, so I took it at its word. Was it more accurate than a coin flip?
Also: Fifth Generation Computers and the first guy to concede his job to AI
stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64
We draft a #c64 into the #ai wars. This "expert system" software promised it could predict weather, so I took it at its word. Was it more accurate than a coin flip?
Also: Fifth Generation Computers and the first guy to concede his job to AI
stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64
XPER on the Commodore 64
Early AI on microcomputers focused heavily on "expert systems," tools to capture domain-specific knowledge and democratize it amongst the plebians. In a supreme act of hubris, I'm going to use that sa...
stonetools.ghost.io
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 PM
🪨 XPER on the Commodore 64🛠️
We draft a #c64 into the #ai wars. This "expert system" software promised it could predict weather, so I took it at its word. Was it more accurate than a coin flip?
Also: Fifth Generation Computers and the first guy to concede his job to AI
stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64
We draft a #c64 into the #ai wars. This "expert system" software promised it could predict weather, so I took it at its word. Was it more accurate than a coin flip?
Also: Fifth Generation Computers and the first guy to concede his job to AI
stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64
Reposted by Christopher Drum
Strange takes on Mayor Zamdani swearing his oath on the Qu’ran. It has nothing to do with church & state. The point of the oath is for the person swearing in to do so upon some text that is sacred TO THEM. Some Presidents swore in w/o any book. John Quincy Adams was sworn on a law book. His choice.
January 1, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Strange takes on Mayor Zamdani swearing his oath on the Qu’ran. It has nothing to do with church & state. The point of the oath is for the person swearing in to do so upon some text that is sacred TO THEM. Some Presidents swore in w/o any book. John Quincy Adams was sworn on a law book. His choice.
I had to write about Cheifet.
christopherdrum.github.io/posts/2026/0...
christopherdrum.github.io/posts/2026/0...
On Learning of the Passing of Stewart Cheifet
There are people whose impact on our life is not understood until we hear of that person’s passing. Time keeps ticking, we know rationally that everyone dies, and yet there are those whom we hear the ...
christopherdrum.github.io
January 1, 2026 at 2:32 AM
I had to write about Cheifet.
christopherdrum.github.io/posts/2026/0...
christopherdrum.github.io/posts/2026/0...
Sad to hear that #stewartcheifet, host of #computerchronicles and #netcafe, has passed
Tiny influences on a pivot point can exert large effects on the trajectory of a projectile, or a life. Stewart was one such influence on the trajectory of my own life.
obits.goldsteinsfuneral.com/stewart-chei...
Tiny influences on a pivot point can exert large effects on the trajectory of a projectile, or a life. Stewart was one such influence on the trajectory of my own life.
obits.goldsteinsfuneral.com/stewart-chei...
Stewart Cheifet Obituary December 28, 2025 - Goldsteins Funeral
View Stewart Cheifet's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
obits.goldsteinsfuneral.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Sad to hear that #stewartcheifet, host of #computerchronicles and #netcafe, has passed
Tiny influences on a pivot point can exert large effects on the trajectory of a projectile, or a life. Stewart was one such influence on the trajectory of my own life.
obits.goldsteinsfuneral.com/stewart-chei...
Tiny influences on a pivot point can exert large effects on the trajectory of a projectile, or a life. Stewart was one such influence on the trajectory of my own life.
obits.goldsteinsfuneral.com/stewart-chei...
Reposted by Christopher Drum
Anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention could see that was happening.
December 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention could see that was happening.
Reposted by Christopher Drum
CBS filed a copyright claim against my YouTube channel for posting Canada's version of the CECOT story that Bari Weiss killed—SO—I downloaded the transcript and read the transcript verbatim. Here it is.
Please watch & share to fight fascism & censorship. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uRf...
Please watch & share to fight fascism & censorship. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uRf...
Listen to the Full CECOT Episode CBS Tried to Ban
YouTube video by Qasim Rashid
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
CBS filed a copyright claim against my YouTube channel for posting Canada's version of the CECOT story that Bari Weiss killed—SO—I downloaded the transcript and read the transcript verbatim. Here it is.
Please watch & share to fight fascism & censorship. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uRf...
Please watch & share to fight fascism & censorship. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uRf...
How many lives and careers were influenced by #HyperCard?
@cyan.com started life with the HC stack, The Manhole
@worrydream.com built "HyperCard in the World"
@wikipedia.org came out of experiments in it
For my latest post, I get to know HC better and consider English as a development language.
@cyan.com started life with the HC stack, The Manhole
@worrydream.com built "HyperCard in the World"
@wikipedia.org came out of experiments in it
For my latest post, I get to know HC better and consider English as a development language.
🪨 HyperCard on the Macintosh 🛠️
The "software erector set" that launched careers and came close to delivering us the web 6 years early. Our last post of '25 takes a deep look at this important title. Happy holidays!
stonetools.ghost.io/hypercard-mac/
#RetroComputing #hypercard #classicmac #atkinson
The "software erector set" that launched careers and came close to delivering us the web 6 years early. Our last post of '25 takes a deep look at this important title. Happy holidays!
stonetools.ghost.io/hypercard-mac/
#RetroComputing #hypercard #classicmac #atkinson
HyperCard on the Macintosh
How do we approach the challenge of helping non-programmers build software? Do we throw up our hands at today's complexity and say, "Just let an AI do it." Or, do we make tools so *compelling* a novic...
stonetools.ghost.io
December 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
How many lives and careers were influenced by #HyperCard?
@cyan.com started life with the HC stack, The Manhole
@worrydream.com built "HyperCard in the World"
@wikipedia.org came out of experiments in it
For my latest post, I get to know HC better and consider English as a development language.
@cyan.com started life with the HC stack, The Manhole
@worrydream.com built "HyperCard in the World"
@wikipedia.org came out of experiments in it
For my latest post, I get to know HC better and consider English as a development language.
Reposted by Christopher Drum
Trying stuff out in Deluxe Poly.
Vector/frame animation is gonna be so good :D
Vector/frame animation is gonna be so good :D
December 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Trying stuff out in Deluxe Poly.
Vector/frame animation is gonna be so good :D
Vector/frame animation is gonna be so good :D
Reposted by Christopher Drum
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
Reposted by Christopher Drum
Sneering douchebag: "You're gonna be famous on the internet!"
The Internet:
The Internet:
December 5, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Sneering douchebag: "You're gonna be famous on the internet!"
The Internet:
The Internet:
Reposted by Christopher Drum
🪨 Bank Street Writer on the Apple 2 🛠️
The "Oregon Trail" of word processors. Ostensibly built for children, it also hooked adults, including at least one lawyer who refused to give it up. I find out why!
stonetools.ghost.io/bankstreetwriter-apple2
#RetroComputing #apple2 #wordprocessing #bankstreet
The "Oregon Trail" of word processors. Ostensibly built for children, it also hooked adults, including at least one lawyer who refused to give it up. I find out why!
stonetools.ghost.io/bankstreetwriter-apple2
#RetroComputing #apple2 #wordprocessing #bankstreet
Bank Street Writer on the Apple II
There was a time when society was hell-bent on getting "computers in the classroom." It was going to utterly transform learning! The drive fell short of that goal, but it did deliver us a sharp little...
stonetools.ghost.io
December 5, 2025 at 10:45 PM
🪨 Bank Street Writer on the Apple 2 🛠️
The "Oregon Trail" of word processors. Ostensibly built for children, it also hooked adults, including at least one lawyer who refused to give it up. I find out why!
stonetools.ghost.io/bankstreetwriter-apple2
#RetroComputing #apple2 #wordprocessing #bankstreet
The "Oregon Trail" of word processors. Ostensibly built for children, it also hooked adults, including at least one lawyer who refused to give it up. I find out why!
stonetools.ghost.io/bankstreetwriter-apple2
#RetroComputing #apple2 #wordprocessing #bankstreet
Reposted by Christopher Drum
Frank Gehry No Longer Allowed To Make Sandwiches For Grandkids
December 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Frank Gehry No Longer Allowed To Make Sandwiches For Grandkids
Reposted by Christopher Drum
Addressing the claim that America was built by "hard working people" by reminding everyone that America was *actually* built on the backs of enslaved Africans and on the genocide of Indigenous people.
Support my advocacy: www.qasimrashid.com/subscribe
Support my advocacy: www.qasimrashid.com/subscribe
December 5, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Addressing the claim that America was built by "hard working people" by reminding everyone that America was *actually* built on the backs of enslaved Africans and on the genocide of Indigenous people.
Support my advocacy: www.qasimrashid.com/subscribe
Support my advocacy: www.qasimrashid.com/subscribe
Reposted by Christopher Drum
My childhood computing path never crossed with Bank Street Writer, though I've met many over the years who hold very fond memories of it. It wasn't just popular with kids, adults loved it too. I spent some time getting to know it, and explored the whole "classroom of tomorrow" a bit as well.
November 28, 2025 at 10:12 PM
My childhood computing path never crossed with Bank Street Writer, though I've met many over the years who hold very fond memories of it. It wasn't just popular with kids, adults loved it too. I spent some time getting to know it, and explored the whole "classroom of tomorrow" a bit as well.
Reposted by Christopher Drum
November 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Christopher Drum
I already have it shared everywhere and commented on Mastofon. But again, what a great article ! Thanks for the kind update about pydpainter, it means a lot to the dev team.
November 19, 2025 at 6:39 AM
I already have it shared everywhere and commented on Mastofon. But again, what a great article ! Thanks for the kind update about pydpainter, it means a lot to the dev team.
I've never gotten into "outliners" and other, similar "knowledge management" software. More to the point, I've never *allowed* myself to get into them, for reasons I cannot articulate. For Stone Tools, I spent a couple of weeks getting to know ThinkTank, the first outliner, to see what it can do.
🪨 ThinkTank on the PC w/DOS 🛠️
Before we process words, we must first process ideas! So says "idea processor" ThinkTank's creator, Dave Winer. A veritable religion has formed around this genre. Did I see the light?
stonetools.ghost.io/thinktank-dos/
#RetroComputing #thinktank #dos #outliner #pkm
Before we process words, we must first process ideas! So says "idea processor" ThinkTank's creator, Dave Winer. A veritable religion has formed around this genre. Did I see the light?
stonetools.ghost.io/thinktank-dos/
#RetroComputing #thinktank #dos #outliner #pkm
ThinkTank on the PC w/DOS
Obsession takes many forms. Some of us sift through decades of ancient software for a blog, while others spend decades reinventing the same software repeatedly. Outliner software seems to attract the ...
stonetools.ghost.io
November 15, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I've never gotten into "outliners" and other, similar "knowledge management" software. More to the point, I've never *allowed* myself to get into them, for reasons I cannot articulate. For Stone Tools, I spent a couple of weeks getting to know ThinkTank, the first outliner, to see what it can do.
Repost with an iconic fictional band.
November 13, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Repost with an iconic fictional band.
Reposted by Christopher Drum
This article from the excellent Stone Tools blog illustrates something that I think is really missing in modern tech life. The author calls it "friction," which I think is a great descriptor. Friction isn't bad in and of itself. We need friction to make fire, for example.
🪨 CAD-3D on the Atari ST 🛠️
Examining the grandfather to #3DSMax also gave me my first experience with the GEM environment. Plus, I learn the surprising ties to #DeluxePaint and
...is this right?
#Starfox for the #SNES?!
stonetools.ghost.io/cad3d-atarist
#RetroComputing #cad3d #atarist #3dsoftware
Examining the grandfather to #3DSMax also gave me my first experience with the GEM environment. Plus, I learn the surprising ties to #DeluxePaint and
...is this right?
#Starfox for the #SNES?!
stonetools.ghost.io/cad3d-atarist
#RetroComputing #cad3d #atarist #3dsoftware
CAD-3D on the Atari ST
Computing history is full of "what if" scenarios. What if Babbage built a working analytical engine? What if IBM adopted CP/M over DOS? What if Atari delivered their promised TT line on time and becam...
stonetools.ghost.io
November 8, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This article from the excellent Stone Tools blog illustrates something that I think is really missing in modern tech life. The author calls it "friction," which I think is a great descriptor. Friction isn't bad in and of itself. We need friction to make fire, for example.
Reposted by Christopher Drum
Hey!
Calling all Wonder Women!
We all are sisters…pulling together with one spirit.
50 years ago today the first episode of the series Wonder Woman aired.
Calling all Wonder Women!
We all are sisters…pulling together with one spirit.
50 years ago today the first episode of the series Wonder Woman aired.
November 8, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Hey!
Calling all Wonder Women!
We all are sisters…pulling together with one spirit.
50 years ago today the first episode of the series Wonder Woman aired.
Calling all Wonder Women!
We all are sisters…pulling together with one spirit.
50 years ago today the first episode of the series Wonder Woman aired.
Back in my magazine publishing days I used Infini-D on the Mac to illustrate articles. I can't say I was good, but it was fun and helped me meet the tight budget of our struggling company. Recently I explored an early #3D modeler and mused on the value of friction when making art.
#retrocomputing
#retrocomputing
🪨 CAD-3D on the Atari ST 🛠️
Examining the grandfather to #3DSMax also gave me my first experience with the GEM environment. Plus, I learn the surprising ties to #DeluxePaint and
...is this right?
#Starfox for the #SNES?!
stonetools.ghost.io/cad3d-atarist
#RetroComputing #cad3d #atarist #3dsoftware
Examining the grandfather to #3DSMax also gave me my first experience with the GEM environment. Plus, I learn the surprising ties to #DeluxePaint and
...is this right?
#Starfox for the #SNES?!
stonetools.ghost.io/cad3d-atarist
#RetroComputing #cad3d #atarist #3dsoftware
CAD-3D on the Atari ST
Computing history is full of "what if" scenarios. What if Babbage built a working analytical engine? What if IBM adopted CP/M over DOS? What if Atari delivered their promised TT line on time and becam...
stonetools.ghost.io
October 31, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Back in my magazine publishing days I used Infini-D on the Mac to illustrate articles. I can't say I was good, but it was fun and helped me meet the tight budget of our struggling company. Recently I explored an early #3D modeler and mused on the value of friction when making art.
#retrocomputing
#retrocomputing
Reposted by Christopher Drum
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
October 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
Reposted by Christopher Drum
In the audience tonight is Charlotte Bennett, one of the 13 women that Andrew Cuomo is credibly alleged to have sexually harassed while they worked in his government.
She can't speak for herself because Cuomo's lawyers have hounded her.
So I confronted him.
She can't speak for herself because Cuomo's lawyers have hounded her.
So I confronted him.
October 23, 2025 at 12:27 AM
In the audience tonight is Charlotte Bennett, one of the 13 women that Andrew Cuomo is credibly alleged to have sexually harassed while they worked in his government.
She can't speak for herself because Cuomo's lawyers have hounded her.
So I confronted him.
She can't speak for herself because Cuomo's lawyers have hounded her.
So I confronted him.