Marius Loots
@mariusloots.bsky.social
eat:sleep:exercise| live learn http://chaos.co.za he/him
university of pretoria
Histology, 3D printing, photography, anthropology
For what it's worth - my data is not allowed to train AI.
university of pretoria
Histology, 3D printing, photography, anthropology
For what it's worth - my data is not allowed to train AI.
Pinned
Marius Loots
@mariusloots.bsky.social
· Aug 21
It seems I've earned myself the title of the Afrikaner reply guy, receiving multiple block awards. Some random thoughts on the matter.
A thread. For footnotes, see end of same.
A thread. For footnotes, see end of same.
Reposted by Marius Loots
The idea that someone who gets around with a $2000 piece of equipment is "elitist" while someone who uses a $30,000+ piece of equipment that costs hundreds of dollars per month to operate is "normal" is quite the brainwashing.
February 17, 2026 at 3:24 PM
The idea that someone who gets around with a $2000 piece of equipment is "elitist" while someone who uses a $30,000+ piece of equipment that costs hundreds of dollars per month to operate is "normal" is quite the brainwashing.
Reposted by Marius Loots
Got called a bike elitist by someone in a Mercedes SUV for doing grocery pickup on my cargo bike.
Just like... casually rolled down their window and called me an elitist bike asshole while I was entering the parking spot number.
Just like... casually rolled down their window and called me an elitist bike asshole while I was entering the parking spot number.
February 17, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Got called a bike elitist by someone in a Mercedes SUV for doing grocery pickup on my cargo bike.
Just like... casually rolled down their window and called me an elitist bike asshole while I was entering the parking spot number.
Just like... casually rolled down their window and called me an elitist bike asshole while I was entering the parking spot number.
Reposted by Marius Loots
Reposted by Marius Loots
This is capitalism functioning as intended
February 17, 2026 at 6:39 PM
This is capitalism functioning as intended
Waiting for my solar to radiate my garden to the extent I can't leave the house anymore...
#nuclear #renewables
www.thenational.scot/news/2585447...
#nuclear #renewables
www.thenational.scot/news/2585447...
Major leak at Highland nuclear site triggers hunt for mystery underground bunkers
A 1960s bunker at Scotland’s Dounreay nuclear site quietly leaked radioactive water for at least a year before the alarm was raised – and…
www.thenational.scot
February 18, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Waiting for my solar to radiate my garden to the extent I can't leave the house anymore...
#nuclear #renewables
www.thenational.scot/news/2585447...
#nuclear #renewables
www.thenational.scot/news/2585447...
Sparkles.
The fire had some nice natural sparks exploding up through the grill.
The fire had some nice natural sparks exploding up through the grill.
February 17, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Sparkles.
The fire had some nice natural sparks exploding up through the grill.
The fire had some nice natural sparks exploding up through the grill.
Kuro being herself.
Kuro is a white and black cat with a very relaxed chilled demeanor. She is lying on her side with her head tilted in different directions. In the one image, Spooks is standing over her, and she gives him the paw.
#cat #catsofbluesky
Kuro is a white and black cat with a very relaxed chilled demeanor. She is lying on her side with her head tilted in different directions. In the one image, Spooks is standing over her, and she gives him the paw.
#cat #catsofbluesky
February 17, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Kuro being herself.
Kuro is a white and black cat with a very relaxed chilled demeanor. She is lying on her side with her head tilted in different directions. In the one image, Spooks is standing over her, and she gives him the paw.
#cat #catsofbluesky
Kuro is a white and black cat with a very relaxed chilled demeanor. She is lying on her side with her head tilted in different directions. In the one image, Spooks is standing over her, and she gives him the paw.
#cat #catsofbluesky
Partial solar eclipse.
17 February 2026, Pretoria, South Africa.
Clouds create "shadows" over the disc of the sun.
Not the proper lens to make the best of the opportunity. More of a problem is a filter much smaller than the full size of the lens. I have a big filter - somewhere in my office :-)
17 February 2026, Pretoria, South Africa.
Clouds create "shadows" over the disc of the sun.
Not the proper lens to make the best of the opportunity. More of a problem is a filter much smaller than the full size of the lens. I have a big filter - somewhere in my office :-)
February 17, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Partial solar eclipse.
17 February 2026, Pretoria, South Africa.
Clouds create "shadows" over the disc of the sun.
Not the proper lens to make the best of the opportunity. More of a problem is a filter much smaller than the full size of the lens. I have a big filter - somewhere in my office :-)
17 February 2026, Pretoria, South Africa.
Clouds create "shadows" over the disc of the sun.
Not the proper lens to make the best of the opportunity. More of a problem is a filter much smaller than the full size of the lens. I have a big filter - somewhere in my office :-)
Reposted by Marius Loots
Reminder that the solar eclipse is today:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_e...
If you're in Cape Town it:
starts at 14:01:05,
hits its max at 14:43:47, and
finishes at 15:24:21.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_e...
If you're in Cape Town it:
starts at 14:01:05,
hits its max at 14:43:47, and
finishes at 15:24:21.
Solar eclipse of February 17, 2026 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 17, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Reminder that the solar eclipse is today:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_e...
If you're in Cape Town it:
starts at 14:01:05,
hits its max at 14:43:47, and
finishes at 15:24:21.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_e...
If you're in Cape Town it:
starts at 14:01:05,
hits its max at 14:43:47, and
finishes at 15:24:21.
Reposted by Marius Loots
Adaptation is 100% necessary
Most adaptation plans are way behind schedule
This is all coming at us faster than expected
We are completely unprepared
And there is also this
ALL adaptation has limits
At 3ºC most of life on earth will be hitting those limits
#ClimateCrisis
Most adaptation plans are way behind schedule
This is all coming at us faster than expected
We are completely unprepared
And there is also this
ALL adaptation has limits
At 3ºC most of life on earth will be hitting those limits
#ClimateCrisis
‘Daunting but doable’: Europe urged to prepare for 3C of global heating
Advisory board member says adapting is ‘not rocket science’ but Europe already paying price for lack of preparation
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Adaptation is 100% necessary
Most adaptation plans are way behind schedule
This is all coming at us faster than expected
We are completely unprepared
And there is also this
ALL adaptation has limits
At 3ºC most of life on earth will be hitting those limits
#ClimateCrisis
Most adaptation plans are way behind schedule
This is all coming at us faster than expected
We are completely unprepared
And there is also this
ALL adaptation has limits
At 3ºC most of life on earth will be hitting those limits
#ClimateCrisis
Reposted by Marius Loots
Ah yes, commercial aviation, an industry ravaged by DEI, where 1 in 10 pilots might not be a white man
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
FAA orders merit-based pilot hiring as Trump DEI crackdown continues
The FAA is mandating merit-based pilot hiring, citing 'allegations of airlines hiring based on race and sex' to comply with Trump's DEI policies.
www.usatoday.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Ah yes, commercial aviation, an industry ravaged by DEI, where 1 in 10 pilots might not be a white man
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
www.usatoday.com/story/travel...
Reposted by Marius Loots
February 16, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Marius Loots
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
The secret to engaging in social media debate is knowing you will never win anyone over. The best you can hope for is to have people who already agree with tell you you're awesome. You might great a dopamine thrill from the righteousness of your anger! Fine benefits, all. But you will never win.
February 16, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
Reposted by Marius Loots
March 3rd!
Blood Moon March 2026: Total lunar eclipse times and viewing guide
A rare total lunar eclipse — often called a Blood Moon — will be visible in the early morning hours of March 3, 2026. Here’s what East Coast skywatchers need to know.
www.fox5ny.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:52 PM
March 3rd!
Reposted by Marius Loots
Sad to say, but children are expensive, and if you have more than one, you cannot give them anything close to what they need to compete in the world with the rich. One child per community? The Epstein class rules everything.
youtube.com/shorts/wqduT...
youtube.com/shorts/wqduT...
Why rich kids always win at life
YouTube video by New Parenting Toolkit
youtube.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Sad to say, but children are expensive, and if you have more than one, you cannot give them anything close to what they need to compete in the world with the rich. One child per community? The Epstein class rules everything.
youtube.com/shorts/wqduT...
youtube.com/shorts/wqduT...
Reposted by Marius Loots
"Cognitive Debt" is the same thing as Stanislaw Ulam's original "Singularity," and it's quite interesting to see that expressed as a "debt"
*You've got technical advancement you didn't humanly think about, so now you owe, owe, owe
*With interest
margaretstorey.com/blog/2026/02...
*You've got technical advancement you didn't humanly think about, so now you owe, owe, owe
*With interest
margaretstorey.com/blog/2026/02...
How Generative and Agentic AI Shift Concern from Technical Debt to Cognitive Debt
The term technical debt is often used to refer to the accumulation of design or implementation choices that later make the software harder and more costly to understand, modify, or extend over time...
margaretstorey.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:15 AM
"Cognitive Debt" is the same thing as Stanislaw Ulam's original "Singularity," and it's quite interesting to see that expressed as a "debt"
*You've got technical advancement you didn't humanly think about, so now you owe, owe, owe
*With interest
margaretstorey.com/blog/2026/02...
*You've got technical advancement you didn't humanly think about, so now you owe, owe, owe
*With interest
margaretstorey.com/blog/2026/02...
Reposted by Marius Loots
We are officially in the Age of Climate Chaos at ~1.5ºC
At the current decadal heating trajectory we will reach 2ºC in the next ~12 years.
We are completely and UTTERLY unprepared.
#ClimateCrisis
At the current decadal heating trajectory we will reach 2ºC in the next ~12 years.
We are completely and UTTERLY unprepared.
#ClimateCrisis
February 16, 2026 at 6:53 AM
We are officially in the Age of Climate Chaos at ~1.5ºC
At the current decadal heating trajectory we will reach 2ºC in the next ~12 years.
We are completely and UTTERLY unprepared.
#ClimateCrisis
At the current decadal heating trajectory we will reach 2ºC in the next ~12 years.
We are completely and UTTERLY unprepared.
#ClimateCrisis
Reposted by Marius Loots
Remember: Your dept. or organization is a culture that you create by the tone you take and the people you curate to be a part of it.
When hiring you need to plan for next year, five, ten, twenty years from now.
You are curating your culture.
Be smart about what environment you want to work in.
When hiring you need to plan for next year, five, ten, twenty years from now.
You are curating your culture.
Be smart about what environment you want to work in.
February 15, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Remember: Your dept. or organization is a culture that you create by the tone you take and the people you curate to be a part of it.
When hiring you need to plan for next year, five, ten, twenty years from now.
You are curating your culture.
Be smart about what environment you want to work in.
When hiring you need to plan for next year, five, ten, twenty years from now.
You are curating your culture.
Be smart about what environment you want to work in.
Reposted by Marius Loots
Reposted by Marius Loots
Speaking of DREAMM, after a few unfortunate delays, I'm pushing to finish up DREAMM 4.0 for the end of the month. If you're into LucasArts/LucasFilm/Lucas Learning games and want to help make sure this release is solid, please check out the latest beta! dreamm.aarongiles.com/beta/
DREAMM Beta Releases
DREAMM is a DOS Retro-Emulation Arena for Maniac Mansion and other LucasArts games.
dreamm.aarongiles.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Speaking of DREAMM, after a few unfortunate delays, I'm pushing to finish up DREAMM 4.0 for the end of the month. If you're into LucasArts/LucasFilm/Lucas Learning games and want to help make sure this release is solid, please check out the latest beta! dreamm.aarongiles.com/beta/
Reposted by Marius Loots
These files didn’t expose one man. They exposed a caste system. Wealth is immunity. Education, immigration, courts, media — all negotiable if you sit high enough. He didn’t have connections. He had ownership of access. The rich don’t bend systems. They design them, then call it merit. #Pinks #Momsky
February 15, 2026 at 1:13 AM
These files didn’t expose one man. They exposed a caste system. Wealth is immunity. Education, immigration, courts, media — all negotiable if you sit high enough. He didn’t have connections. He had ownership of access. The rich don’t bend systems. They design them, then call it merit. #Pinks #Momsky
Currently playing R-Type. Finally got on the score board. Not spectacular, but early days. Dropped many coins in a machine in Sunnypark Shopping Centre, Arcadia. Walked there from campus for lunch time. Also shoulder surfed many hours, picking up tips.
#arcade #mame #r-type #irem #emulation
#arcade #mame #r-type #irem #emulation
February 14, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Currently playing R-Type. Finally got on the score board. Not spectacular, but early days. Dropped many coins in a machine in Sunnypark Shopping Centre, Arcadia. Walked there from campus for lunch time. Also shoulder surfed many hours, picking up tips.
#arcade #mame #r-type #irem #emulation
#arcade #mame #r-type #irem #emulation
Reposted by Marius Loots
Boss: Dobkeratops
Game: R-Type
Developer: Irem
System: Arcade
Video: Courtesy of longplays.org
Played by: T-0815
Game: R-Type
Developer: Irem
System: Arcade
Video: Courtesy of longplays.org
Played by: T-0815
April 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Boss: Dobkeratops
Game: R-Type
Developer: Irem
System: Arcade
Video: Courtesy of longplays.org
Played by: T-0815
Game: R-Type
Developer: Irem
System: Arcade
Video: Courtesy of longplays.org
Played by: T-0815