Area Man
@jzelten.bsky.social
Iconoclast. Abyss-starer. Low tolerance for people not acting in good faith. Possible space alien.
Unsolicited DMs will result in instant blocking.
Unsolicited DMs will result in instant blocking.
I just wasted a couple of hours trying to debug an obviously-correct Arduino program and eventually I discovered...
...HelloWorld is not forwards compatible from older Arduino Uno to Uno R4.
What the fuck were they thinking?
...HelloWorld is not forwards compatible from older Arduino Uno to Uno R4.
What the fuck were they thinking?
October 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I just wasted a couple of hours trying to debug an obviously-correct Arduino program and eventually I discovered...
...HelloWorld is not forwards compatible from older Arduino Uno to Uno R4.
What the fuck were they thinking?
...HelloWorld is not forwards compatible from older Arduino Uno to Uno R4.
What the fuck were they thinking?
I hope that the Dems will not be this stupid. Vote first, then shutdown ends.
However, I suspect that they are exactly as dumb as Charlie Brown.
However, I suspect that they are exactly as dumb as Charlie Brown.
October 16, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I hope that the Dems will not be this stupid. Vote first, then shutdown ends.
However, I suspect that they are exactly as dumb as Charlie Brown.
However, I suspect that they are exactly as dumb as Charlie Brown.
I asked a well-known search engine about gods of writing or authors. This was one of the top results:
October 16, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I asked a well-known search engine about gods of writing or authors. This was one of the top results:
Apparently, "nonplus" used to be a verb and a noun, though sadly today we are left only with the adjective nonplussed.
I think we should revive it.
"Read this Trump speech, it will nonplus you. He really brings the nonplus."
I think we should revive it.
"Read this Trump speech, it will nonplus you. He really brings the nonplus."
October 15, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Apparently, "nonplus" used to be a verb and a noun, though sadly today we are left only with the adjective nonplussed.
I think we should revive it.
"Read this Trump speech, it will nonplus you. He really brings the nonplus."
I think we should revive it.
"Read this Trump speech, it will nonplus you. He really brings the nonplus."
Why is accidentally subscribing to some marketing list instantaneous, but unsubscribing takes 7 to 10 days?
October 15, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Why is accidentally subscribing to some marketing list instantaneous, but unsubscribing takes 7 to 10 days?
Reposted by Area Man
Apparently, there is no patron saint of railways.
I would like to nominate Saint Pancras.
I would like to nominate Saint Pancras.
October 15, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Apparently, there is no patron saint of railways.
I would like to nominate Saint Pancras.
I would like to nominate Saint Pancras.
I have never understood the admiration for Diane Keaton's acting. Given the plaudits, I feel like I'm missing something. What should I watch that might change my mind?
Degree of difficulty: no Woody Allen.
Degree of difficulty: no Woody Allen.
October 15, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I have never understood the admiration for Diane Keaton's acting. Given the plaudits, I feel like I'm missing something. What should I watch that might change my mind?
Degree of difficulty: no Woody Allen.
Degree of difficulty: no Woody Allen.
Thomas Paine played important roles in both the American and French revolutions. This is the origin of the expression "No Paine, no gain".
October 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Thomas Paine played important roles in both the American and French revolutions. This is the origin of the expression "No Paine, no gain".
WTF is wrong with website designers who don't show you the password rules until after you've broken them?
October 15, 2025 at 11:04 AM
WTF is wrong with website designers who don't show you the password rules until after you've broken them?
Combine this with refusing to seat Dem representatives, and you've got a quiet coup.
According to CNN, Democrats could lose 19 seats because of Republican Gerrymandering
October 15, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Combine this with refusing to seat Dem representatives, and you've got a quiet coup.
This is literally the saddest thing I can imagine.
Also a sign that OpenAI is getting desperate.
www.theverge.com/news/799312/...
Also a sign that OpenAI is getting desperate.
www.theverge.com/news/799312/...
Sam Altman says ChatGPT will soon sext with verified adults
ChatGPT is about to get flirty.
www.theverge.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This is literally the saddest thing I can imagine.
Also a sign that OpenAI is getting desperate.
www.theverge.com/news/799312/...
Also a sign that OpenAI is getting desperate.
www.theverge.com/news/799312/...
I'm just saying...
"A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand...'" - Revelation 14:9
"A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand...'" - Revelation 14:9
October 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I'm just saying...
"A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand...'" - Revelation 14:9
"A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand...'" - Revelation 14:9
I think it is outrageous that things are being done that require the whistle to be blown.
Again.
Again.
October 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM
I think it is outrageous that things are being done that require the whistle to be blown.
Again.
Again.
A quick note now that the Rapture has come and gone: if you call yourself a Christian and you're still here, maybe you should take inventory of how you practice your beliefs?
October 13, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A quick note now that the Rapture has come and gone: if you call yourself a Christian and you're still here, maybe you should take inventory of how you practice your beliefs?
Lost the encryption key
Four Courts, June 1922
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
I'll go first: Six page commercial lease.
October 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Lost the encryption key
There is a severe absence of acquisitions in the GenAI space*. That's because they are all wildly overpriced and massively unprofitable. The worst of them are too pricey even for Big Tech to swallow.
This is why I firmly expect IBM to acquire Anthropic, right before the bubble collapses.
This is why I firmly expect IBM to acquire Anthropic, right before the bubble collapses.
October 13, 2025 at 12:21 PM
There is a severe absence of acquisitions in the GenAI space*. That's because they are all wildly overpriced and massively unprofitable. The worst of them are too pricey even for Big Tech to swallow.
This is why I firmly expect IBM to acquire Anthropic, right before the bubble collapses.
This is why I firmly expect IBM to acquire Anthropic, right before the bubble collapses.
Changed my handle, for no particular reason other than it amused me.
October 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Changed my handle, for no particular reason other than it amused me.
Cooking, and singing "half an onion" to the tune of "half a sixpence".
But only the first two lines over and over, because that's all I know.
Getting angry stares from my wife, so should probably stop.
But only the first two lines over and over, because that's all I know.
Getting angry stares from my wife, so should probably stop.
October 13, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Cooking, and singing "half an onion" to the tune of "half a sixpence".
But only the first two lines over and over, because that's all I know.
Getting angry stares from my wife, so should probably stop.
But only the first two lines over and over, because that's all I know.
Getting angry stares from my wife, so should probably stop.
I want a tee-shirt that says "I'm not an introvert, it's just you I don't want to talk to"
October 13, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I want a tee-shirt that says "I'm not an introvert, it's just you I don't want to talk to"
In words beginning with "wr", what is the "w" doing? Is there a difference in pronunciation between "wrap" and "rap"?
This must drive people learning English as a second language.
Anyway, that just started bothering me this morning.
This must drive people learning English as a second language.
Anyway, that just started bothering me this morning.
October 12, 2025 at 12:44 PM
In words beginning with "wr", what is the "w" doing? Is there a difference in pronunciation between "wrap" and "rap"?
This must drive people learning English as a second language.
Anyway, that just started bothering me this morning.
This must drive people learning English as a second language.
Anyway, that just started bothering me this morning.
This is going around. According to Snopes, the second sentence is a verbatim quote. The other two are not, but are fair paraphrases of things he said around that time.
October 12, 2025 at 11:12 AM
This is going around. According to Snopes, the second sentence is a verbatim quote. The other two are not, but are fair paraphrases of things he said around that time.
When Cloudflare says it is verifying I am human, what exactly is it doing?
Serious question, but ludicrous answers welcome.
Serious question, but ludicrous answers welcome.
October 11, 2025 at 10:09 PM
When Cloudflare says it is verifying I am human, what exactly is it doing?
Serious question, but ludicrous answers welcome.
Serious question, but ludicrous answers welcome.
I hope Chicago PD pulls them over, then goes "oh, sorry, didn't realize you were ICE."
And then pulls them over again ten minutes later.
Rinse, repeat.
And then pulls them over again ten minutes later.
Rinse, repeat.
Illinois law requires all registered vehicles to display front and back license plates, without exception. But to evade accountability, masked federal immigration agents are driving around in unmarked cars without plates.
chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...?
chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/10...?
Federal immigration officers wear masks, no name tags — now some drive cars without license plates
The Sun-Times has documented four unmarked cars carrying federal officers without required plates, offering another way to shield their identities. Federal officials say they’re meeting regulations.
chicago.suntimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I hope Chicago PD pulls them over, then goes "oh, sorry, didn't realize you were ICE."
And then pulls them over again ten minutes later.
Rinse, repeat.
And then pulls them over again ten minutes later.
Rinse, repeat.