Rob Schmitt
@schmitthot.bsky.social
Professional code monkey. (Very) amateur electronics hobbyist. Owns too many vintage computers — mostly DOS, Commodore and Apple ][.
Looking for interesting retro computing folk to follow? Check out my starter pack: https://go.bsky.app/DQLbgsE
Looking for interesting retro computing folk to follow? Check out my starter pack: https://go.bsky.app/DQLbgsE
Pinned
Rob Schmitt
@schmitthot.bsky.social
· Jan 11
Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers [Intro]
YouTube video by Retrowipe
youtu.be
Enjoy the intro to Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers, released by Sierra On-Line in March 1991.
Recorded on my vintage DOS PC. Super Socket 7 AMD K6-III+ 450. L1/L2 cache disabled, 2x multiplier.
The soundtrack is produced by a Roland MT-32 MIDI synthesizer.
youtu.be/S4tXALmaHQM
Recorded on my vintage DOS PC. Super Socket 7 AMD K6-III+ 450. L1/L2 cache disabled, 2x multiplier.
The soundtrack is produced by a Roland MT-32 MIDI synthesizer.
youtu.be/S4tXALmaHQM
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
I’ve been a sole developer for 30 years. The hardest part has never been the code. It’s having no one to talk things through with. I can sit stuck between three perfectly reasonable approaches, unable to commit to any of them. 1/
February 10, 2026 at 11:05 PM
I’ve been a sole developer for 30 years. The hardest part has never been the code. It’s having no one to talk things through with. I can sit stuck between three perfectly reasonable approaches, unable to commit to any of them. 1/
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
TIL there's a word for feeling nostalgic about a time you never experienced: "anemoia." And it got me thinking about synthwave.
February 6, 2026 at 12:55 PM
TIL there's a word for feeling nostalgic about a time you never experienced: "anemoia." And it got me thinking about synthwave.
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
DOS YouTube legend PhilsComputerLab has a pre-release PicoIDE and put it through its paces in optical disc emulation mode in his latest video: youtu.be/KNv3sf-rCAM
PicoIDE CD-ROM IDE ATAPI Emulator
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 2:09 PM
DOS YouTube legend PhilsComputerLab has a pre-release PicoIDE and put it through its paces in optical disc emulation mode in his latest video: youtu.be/KNv3sf-rCAM
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
They said Twitter was an echo chamber. It is now
Trump job approval rating by news platform
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
🟢 Twitter/X: +9
🔴 Facebook: -7
🔴 Cable TV: -10
🔴 Podcasts/YouTube: -14
🔴 Local TV: -17
🔴 Instagram: -21
🔴 Broadcast TV: -28
🔴 TikTok: -28
🔴 Newspapers/news sites: -33
🔴 Reddit: -40
www.theargumentmag.com/p/twitter-is...
February 6, 2026 at 1:42 PM
They said Twitter was an echo chamber. It is now
TIL there's a word for feeling nostalgic about a time you never experienced: "anemoia." And it got me thinking about synthwave.
February 6, 2026 at 12:55 PM
TIL there's a word for feeling nostalgic about a time you never experienced: "anemoia." And it got me thinking about synthwave.
I once again own the first computer I ever owned. Very happy to have this for the collection even though I never loved this thing. In fact, I hated it. I was so envious of my friends with Spectrums.
February 4, 2026 at 12:55 PM
I once again own the first computer I ever owned. Very happy to have this for the collection even though I never loved this thing. In fact, I hated it. I was so envious of my friends with Spectrums.
How is it that Nigel Farage looks exactly like a Spitting Image puppet of Nigel Farage?
January 15, 2026 at 5:24 PM
How is it that Nigel Farage looks exactly like a Spitting Image puppet of Nigel Farage?
I always knew the mercator projection spelled trouble.
“Greenland looks really big on a map. If we were dealing with anyone else, you'd say: oh, come on, don't be ridiculous, no one makes decisions on that basis. But that's just the basis Trump makes decisions on.” @snellarthur.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 9:44 AM
I always knew the mercator projection spelled trouble.
15 years ago I launched Darkadia, a little hobby app for tracking your game collection. Thousands of others have found it useful since. Sadly, it's shutting down — here's why.
blog.darkadia.com/post/8050931...
blog.darkadia.com/post/8050931...
Darkadia is closing down 😢
Giant Bomb has recently separated from Fandom, and unfortunately the API that Darkadia relies on has been shut down. Without access to Giant Bomb's game data, there's no way to keep the site...
blog.darkadia.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:48 PM
15 years ago I launched Darkadia, a little hobby app for tracking your game collection. Thousands of others have found it useful since. Sadly, it's shutting down — here's why.
blog.darkadia.com/post/8050931...
blog.darkadia.com/post/8050931...
I shouldn’t disappointed, but I bought a cheap and faulty Roland MT-32 recently and turns out it works perfectly! My repair plans have been foiled.
October 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I shouldn’t disappointed, but I bought a cheap and faulty Roland MT-32 recently and turns out it works perfectly! My repair plans have been foiled.
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
Seeing as "Segatember" is upon us, what better way for me to begin it than with a thread 🧵documenting my efforts to repair and overhaul my #Sega #Dreamcast? 😁 🎮
1/9
#gaming #retro #electronics
@nigecube.bsky.social @aggrobeard.bsky.social @expletivedeleted.bsky.social @fuzzweed.co.uk
1/9
#gaming #retro #electronics
@nigecube.bsky.social @aggrobeard.bsky.social @expletivedeleted.bsky.social @fuzzweed.co.uk
September 1, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Seeing as "Segatember" is upon us, what better way for me to begin it than with a thread 🧵documenting my efforts to repair and overhaul my #Sega #Dreamcast? 😁 🎮
1/9
#gaming #retro #electronics
@nigecube.bsky.social @aggrobeard.bsky.social @expletivedeleted.bsky.social @fuzzweed.co.uk
1/9
#gaming #retro #electronics
@nigecube.bsky.social @aggrobeard.bsky.social @expletivedeleted.bsky.social @fuzzweed.co.uk
¡Ay, caramba!
BBC Breakfast this morning had a long segment about the 30th anniversary of Windows 95. So what vintage computer did they put in the studio as a handy prop?
#windows95
#windows95
August 29, 2025 at 11:26 AM
¡Ay, caramba!
Slowly but surely filling out my retro corner.
August 28, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Slowly but surely filling out my retro corner.
"Thing fails at thing it wasn't designed for"
June 11, 2025 at 11:16 AM
"Thing fails at thing it wasn't designed for"
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
It saddens me when I see what are probably perfectly repairable TVs at our local recycling centre. And, unfortunately, they have CCTV, so it is not possible to just make off with one. Anyway, Rob's done a nice write-up of a repair he did, and got a pretty decent TV for a fraction of the normal cost.
Recently picked up a *faulty* LG C2 55" OLED TV off FB Marketplace.
Assured by the seller that the screen was perfect, I negotiated a price of £70, which I was pretty happy with. But still, there are no guarantees you can ever get this (economically) repaired.
So let me tell you how it went...
1/
Assured by the seller that the screen was perfect, I negotiated a price of £70, which I was pretty happy with. But still, there are no guarantees you can ever get this (economically) repaired.
So let me tell you how it went...
1/
May 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
It saddens me when I see what are probably perfectly repairable TVs at our local recycling centre. And, unfortunately, they have CCTV, so it is not possible to just make off with one. Anyway, Rob's done a nice write-up of a repair he did, and got a pretty decent TV for a fraction of the normal cost.
Recently picked up a *faulty* LG C2 55" OLED TV off FB Marketplace.
Assured by the seller that the screen was perfect, I negotiated a price of £70, which I was pretty happy with. But still, there are no guarantees you can ever get this (economically) repaired.
So let me tell you how it went...
1/
Assured by the seller that the screen was perfect, I negotiated a price of £70, which I was pretty happy with. But still, there are no guarantees you can ever get this (economically) repaired.
So let me tell you how it went...
1/
May 15, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Recently picked up a *faulty* LG C2 55" OLED TV off FB Marketplace.
Assured by the seller that the screen was perfect, I negotiated a price of £70, which I was pretty happy with. But still, there are no guarantees you can ever get this (economically) repaired.
So let me tell you how it went...
1/
Assured by the seller that the screen was perfect, I negotiated a price of £70, which I was pretty happy with. But still, there are no guarantees you can ever get this (economically) repaired.
So let me tell you how it went...
1/
Oh man, that's a cracking deal on an Amiga 600... Which I'm going to have to leave for someone else. Combination of a lack of time and just too large a backlog of projects.
March 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Oh man, that's a cracking deal on an Amiga 600... Which I'm going to have to leave for someone else. Combination of a lack of time and just too large a backlog of projects.
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
ScummVM opens testing for Willy Beamish and Heart of China:
www.scummvm.org/news/20250319/
www.scummvm.org/news/20250319/
ScummVM :: Latest Developments :: The Dynamix duo of Willy Beamish and Heart of China are ready for testing
We are excited to announce the classic Dynamix adventure games The Adventures of Willy Beamish and Heart of China are now ready for testing in ScummVM! As the titular Willy Beamish, you play a 9-year-...
www.scummvm.org
March 21, 2025 at 6:40 PM
ScummVM opens testing for Willy Beamish and Heart of China:
www.scummvm.org/news/20250319/
www.scummvm.org/news/20250319/
Reading James Randi as a teenager was formative for me, and I've been proudly skeptical of all manner of bullshit ever since.
Unfortunately the term "skeptic" has now been co-opted by anti-vaxers and conspiracy theorists who reject scientific consensus while masquerading as critical thinkers.
Unfortunately the term "skeptic" has now been co-opted by anti-vaxers and conspiracy theorists who reject scientific consensus while masquerading as critical thinkers.
That time The Amazing James Randi overdosed on homeopathy and lived to tell about it.
March 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Reading James Randi as a teenager was formative for me, and I've been proudly skeptical of all manner of bullshit ever since.
Unfortunately the term "skeptic" has now been co-opted by anti-vaxers and conspiracy theorists who reject scientific consensus while masquerading as critical thinkers.
Unfortunately the term "skeptic" has now been co-opted by anti-vaxers and conspiracy theorists who reject scientific consensus while masquerading as critical thinkers.
I'm always thrilled when idiots out themselves.
Over on X-Twitter, a number of accounts including Russell Brand fell for a hoax page from the JFK Files which identified Penelope Keith as the shooter in 1963.
Far too many people have taken this seriously.
Far too many people have taken this seriously.
![s/s of tweet by Russell Brand @rustyrockets (swiftly deleted and not mentioned again)
JFK FILES: "We are sure, without uncertainty, that the assassination of President Kennedy was NOT carried out by Mr. Lee Harvey Oswald or any member of any organized crime syndicate."
[image of typewritten page]
(1) (s) We are sure, without uncertainty, that the assassination of President Kennedy was NOT carried out by Mr Lee Harvey Oswald or any member of any organized crime syndicate.
(b) Although the assassin is a British citizen, it is clear that they were not acting on the instructions of any nation state.
(2) By the clear evidence supplied we are sure, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the assassin in Dallas was acting alone.
(3) Naming this assassin is a matter of national security, as it would likely risk the global reputation of the United States of America.
(4) We can hereby name the assassin.
The lone shooter in Dallas, Texas on 22 November 1963 was Miss Penelope Keith, star of the BBC television program The Good Life.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreieb7ifgou33dzuc5szl5ro3dnd6nhqgoojnix3jltjbp7mkhflswu@jpeg)
![s/s of tweets
Russell Brand @rustyrockets
·
Mar 19
Soooo…
Who was JFK’s killer?
[Reply]
Tone3Stark 🇮🇱 @ToneThreeStark
So, I quickly copied the document you shared about JFK's killer and I went back to your post to try to make a comment but for some reason I can't find it. I am including the document you posted along with my reply that I was going to post:
Interesting, is this a joke?
Out of curiosity I asked Grok If this was credible coming from Russell Brand when after I had asked if this particular actor was the assassin it climbed there was no credible evidence until I posted a picture of the results that you posted. It took 38 seconds, the longest I've ever seen Grok writer process and give a reply to. There's a lot to break down but this is part of the answer...
"1. Penelope Keith and The Good Life
The document claims that Penelope Keith was a "star of the BBC television program The Good Life" in 1963. This is factually incorrect. The Good Life (known as Good Neighbors in the U.S.) aired from 1975 to 1978, more than a decade after JFK’s assassination in 1963. Penelope Keith did indeed star in the show as Margo Leadbetter, but in 1963, she was still early in her career, primarily working in theater and small television roles. She wasn’t a "star" at that time, and The Good Life didn’t exist yet. This anachronism alone raises a major red flag about the document’s authenticity."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2kf2qj56o2vq7jfaq4x4ogp6/bafkreiampz4w3p7vja24b3p3hhskm56lelf5kxgctmpv2h32hjucq2pp4q@jpeg)
March 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I'm always thrilled when idiots out themselves.
Merrily on humanity's continued slide towards oblivion.
DoorDash and Klarna have signed a deal where customers can choose to pay for food deliveries in interest-free installments or deferred options aligned with payday schedules.
March 20, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Merrily on humanity's continued slide towards oblivion.
When I took this picture, I didn't know my little Lucy Cat would only be with me for another month. We all still really miss her.
I guess that’s the end of filming game intros for today.
March 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
When I took this picture, I didn't know my little Lucy Cat would only be with me for another month. We all still really miss her.
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
Papernaut brings you news in real-time from 25 mainstream sources across the UK, providing concise, accurate summaries without sensationalism.
Follow us for clear, factual updates.
Follow us for clear, factual updates.
March 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Papernaut brings you news in real-time from 25 mainstream sources across the UK, providing concise, accurate summaries without sensationalism.
Follow us for clear, factual updates.
Follow us for clear, factual updates.
Reposted by Rob Schmitt
There was no TMNT Theme on the C64, until I made it🐢🐢🐢🐢 🐀🎵🎶🎵
FULL VIDEO: youtu.be/rkAPHPZArl8?... ▶️
#TMNT #Turles #C64 #Commodore64 #80scartoon #80s #8bit #Chiptune
FULL VIDEO: youtu.be/rkAPHPZArl8?... ▶️
#TMNT #Turles #C64 #Commodore64 #80scartoon #80s #8bit #Chiptune
March 20, 2025 at 5:10 AM
There was no TMNT Theme on the C64, until I made it🐢🐢🐢🐢 🐀🎵🎶🎵
FULL VIDEO: youtu.be/rkAPHPZArl8?... ▶️
#TMNT #Turles #C64 #Commodore64 #80scartoon #80s #8bit #Chiptune
FULL VIDEO: youtu.be/rkAPHPZArl8?... ▶️
#TMNT #Turles #C64 #Commodore64 #80scartoon #80s #8bit #Chiptune
Really interesting thread on HeroQuest, the board game and eventual PC game adaptation.
Its existence is also why Sierra ultimately were forced to change the name of Hero’s Quest to Quest For Glory.
Its existence is also why Sierra ultimately were forced to change the name of Hero’s Quest to Quest For Glory.
March 20, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Really interesting thread on HeroQuest, the board game and eventual PC game adaptation.
Its existence is also why Sierra ultimately were forced to change the name of Hero’s Quest to Quest For Glory.
Its existence is also why Sierra ultimately were forced to change the name of Hero’s Quest to Quest For Glory.