Stephen Illingworth
@jetsetilly.bsky.social
lapsed software engineer. living 10 minutes into the future. now creating emulators and tools for the modern Atari2600 developer https://github.com/JetSetIlly/Gopher2600
Fair. It depends on the nature of the collapse I suppose. But I do know if we were to be using ebooks in those scenarios then the tech we use to access them has to be less complex and more maintainable. I would do business today with a company that specialised in future post-apocalyptic computing.
November 19, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Fair. It depends on the nature of the collapse I suppose. But I do know if we were to be using ebooks in those scenarios then the tech we use to access them has to be less complex and more maintainable. I would do business today with a company that specialised in future post-apocalyptic computing.
Correct. The biggest problem in that scenario, is survival and rebuilding a society as best we can. Books convey ideas and information about how to do that.
November 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Correct. The biggest problem in that scenario, is survival and rebuilding a society as best we can. Books convey ideas and information about how to do that.
I meant "useless" in the context of a world without energy generation to power computers or other electronic devices.
November 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I meant "useless" in the context of a world without energy generation to power computers or other electronic devices.
Okay. I've not come across anybody who thinks that. But now that I know such people exist then I agree, it is very silly distinction. Of course ebooks and audiobooks are as valuable as physical books.
November 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Okay. I've not come across anybody who thinks that. But now that I know such people exist then I agree, it is very silly distinction. Of course ebooks and audiobooks are as valuable as physical books.
That would be a concern if that was the only copy of the book.
I'm imagining a scenario where civilisation has collapsed and all technology has ceased to function. If the purpose of a book is to convey ideas (as the OP correctly states) then ebooks and audiobooks are then useless for that purpose.
I'm imagining a scenario where civilisation has collapsed and all technology has ceased to function. If the purpose of a book is to convey ideas (as the OP correctly states) then ebooks and audiobooks are then useless for that purpose.
November 18, 2025 at 12:07 PM
That would be a concern if that was the only copy of the book.
I'm imagining a scenario where civilisation has collapsed and all technology has ceased to function. If the purpose of a book is to convey ideas (as the OP correctly states) then ebooks and audiobooks are then useless for that purpose.
I'm imagining a scenario where civilisation has collapsed and all technology has ceased to function. If the purpose of a book is to convey ideas (as the OP correctly states) then ebooks and audiobooks are then useless for that purpose.
But e-books and audiobooks require technology to access. A physical book only requires technology during its creation. Once it exists it continues to exist until destroyed. There's no guarantee I can access an e-book or an audiobook in years to come no matter how careful I am.
November 18, 2025 at 11:23 AM
But e-books and audiobooks require technology to access. A physical book only requires technology during its creation. Once it exists it continues to exist until destroyed. There's no guarantee I can access an e-book or an audiobook in years to come no matter how careful I am.
What is it about?
November 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
What is it about?
From condemned to commended. What a transformation!
October 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
From condemned to commended. What a transformation!
Jar Jar Hijinks
October 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Jar Jar Hijinks
In the UK, coriander usually refers to the leaves of the plant, not the seeds. If a recipe asked for "coriander" I would never think about using coriander seeds. But maybe I'm wrong in that assumption and I should be using the seeds.
October 13, 2025 at 1:13 PM
In the UK, coriander usually refers to the leaves of the plant, not the seeds. If a recipe asked for "coriander" I would never think about using coriander seeds. But maybe I'm wrong in that assumption and I should be using the seeds.
I like DDOC (distributed denial of cancellation)
October 2, 2025 at 6:31 AM
I like DDOC (distributed denial of cancellation)
Walkie Talkies
October 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Walkie Talkies
The distrust of a digital ID system extends beyond X and the right wing.
I'll accept that those in poverty require reliable ID the most. But why does that mean it has to be compulsory for everyone?
Moreover, once again, there's an assumption that everyone has a cellphone.
I'll accept that those in poverty require reliable ID the most. But why does that mean it has to be compulsory for everyone?
Moreover, once again, there's an assumption that everyone has a cellphone.
September 26, 2025 at 10:35 AM
The distrust of a digital ID system extends beyond X and the right wing.
I'll accept that those in poverty require reliable ID the most. But why does that mean it has to be compulsory for everyone?
Moreover, once again, there's an assumption that everyone has a cellphone.
I'll accept that those in poverty require reliable ID the most. But why does that mean it has to be compulsory for everyone?
Moreover, once again, there's an assumption that everyone has a cellphone.
I think it's because they mix with the assumption that the listener has 5.1 or higher (ie. something with a good central speaker) and can tolerate a high dynamic range. Unfortunately, most domestic systems have a hard time with this.
September 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I think it's because they mix with the assumption that the listener has 5.1 or higher (ie. something with a good central speaker) and can tolerate a high dynamic range. Unfortunately, most domestic systems have a hard time with this.
I once heard someone refer to the 'electric telephone' and I have to admit that I loved it.
August 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I once heard someone refer to the 'electric telephone' and I have to admit that I loved it.
I'm disappointed her name isn't Juanita
August 27, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I'm disappointed her name isn't Juanita
The blog author is way too forgiving of the LLM. Changing a break to a continue is a massive change in almost any context, and I'm concerned that these LLMs are prepared to do that without an explicit reason. A comment is not a good reason and if anything, the LLM should have changed the comment.
August 1, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The blog author is way too forgiving of the LLM. Changing a break to a continue is a massive change in almost any context, and I'm concerned that these LLMs are prepared to do that without an explicit reason. A comment is not a good reason and if anything, the LLM should have changed the comment.
Extra strong response there, Dave.
July 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Extra strong response there, Dave.
I saw a fun video about the B3 this morning. Always good to learn a bit more about it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27T...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27T...
Jazz Pianist Has To Learn Organ In 14 Minutes
YouTube video by Open Studio
www.youtube.com
June 28, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I saw a fun video about the B3 this morning. Always good to learn a bit more about it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27T...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27T...