@rowancrowe.bsky.social
Crazy idea: what if you probed random internet devices to find out what time it is? If you have enough responses, could you reliably determine the current time by consensus?
Yes. About 1% respond, and the time is mostly correct.
My github link below:
Yes. About 1% respond, and the time is mostly correct.
My github link below:
January 29, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Crazy idea: what if you probed random internet devices to find out what time it is? If you have enough responses, could you reliably determine the current time by consensus?
Yes. About 1% respond, and the time is mostly correct.
My github link below:
Yes. About 1% respond, and the time is mostly correct.
My github link below:
Some pretty wild reverse DNS lookups here, covering an entire /24. Most or all are falsified (eg ac51.ryanairemail.com does not resolve to 173.239.211.150). I noticed because some IPs were flagged for abusive behaviour. VPN? Proxy?
January 4, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Some pretty wild reverse DNS lookups here, covering an entire /24. Most or all are falsified (eg ac51.ryanairemail.com does not resolve to 173.239.211.150). I noticed because some IPs were flagged for abusive behaviour. VPN? Proxy?
Microsoft Teams:
- Open file via search: read only, no explanation why
- Open file manually: editable
- Open file on an org PC: opens in sharepoint/web, changes AUTOSAVED
- Open file outside org: opens in Teams editor, changes NOT SAVED
Integration? Yes.
Consistency? NO!
- Open file via search: read only, no explanation why
- Open file manually: editable
- Open file on an org PC: opens in sharepoint/web, changes AUTOSAVED
- Open file outside org: opens in Teams editor, changes NOT SAVED
Integration? Yes.
Consistency? NO!
December 17, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Microsoft Teams:
- Open file via search: read only, no explanation why
- Open file manually: editable
- Open file on an org PC: opens in sharepoint/web, changes AUTOSAVED
- Open file outside org: opens in Teams editor, changes NOT SAVED
Integration? Yes.
Consistency? NO!
- Open file via search: read only, no explanation why
- Open file manually: editable
- Open file on an org PC: opens in sharepoint/web, changes AUTOSAVED
- Open file outside org: opens in Teams editor, changes NOT SAVED
Integration? Yes.
Consistency? NO!
Facebook just reminded me of a dream I had (and documented) back in 2010. A diverse committee of what we'd now call AI agents, debating to arrive at a consensus.
(The DRM thing seemed dystopian at the time, but now, who knows?)
(The DRM thing seemed dystopian at the time, but now, who knows?)
December 14, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Facebook just reminded me of a dream I had (and documented) back in 2010. A diverse committee of what we'd now call AI agents, debating to arrive at a consensus.
(The DRM thing seemed dystopian at the time, but now, who knows?)
(The DRM thing seemed dystopian at the time, but now, who knows?)
I coded a simple #openproxy checker. It includes a unique key in each test URL.
There's a particular IP that loads up the test URL immediately after my script probes certain proxies.
Is something automatically capturing every page that users request via the proxy? Hmmmmmmm...
There's a particular IP that loads up the test URL immediately after my script probes certain proxies.
Is something automatically capturing every page that users request via the proxy? Hmmmmmmm...
October 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I coded a simple #openproxy checker. It includes a unique key in each test URL.
There's a particular IP that loads up the test URL immediately after my script probes certain proxies.
Is something automatically capturing every page that users request via the proxy? Hmmmmmmm...
There's a particular IP that loads up the test URL immediately after my script probes certain proxies.
Is something automatically capturing every page that users request via the proxy? Hmmmmmmm...
Vibe coding a trading simulation with some random cryptocoins.
A +105.14% return in only 10 days by doing some basic balancing? Impressive. Very nice.
You know how LLMs are prone to hallucinating facts? In this case, the LLM appears to be hallucinating money. It's all BS.
A +105.14% return in only 10 days by doing some basic balancing? Impressive. Very nice.
You know how LLMs are prone to hallucinating facts? In this case, the LLM appears to be hallucinating money. It's all BS.
October 6, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Vibe coding a trading simulation with some random cryptocoins.
A +105.14% return in only 10 days by doing some basic balancing? Impressive. Very nice.
You know how LLMs are prone to hallucinating facts? In this case, the LLM appears to be hallucinating money. It's all BS.
A +105.14% return in only 10 days by doing some basic balancing? Impressive. Very nice.
You know how LLMs are prone to hallucinating facts? In this case, the LLM appears to be hallucinating money. It's all BS.
Um... why is Windows Calculator accessing the network?
September 20, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Um... why is Windows Calculator accessing the network?
Using floats for currency and pricing is never a bad idea
September 17, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Using floats for currency and pricing is never a bad idea
This afternoon's #vibecode battle. I asked it to make a modification at the very start, and the remainder of the prompts were solely to get it to actually run.
In desperation, I asked it to think and reflect, which seemed to improve things drastically - working 2 prompts later.
In desperation, I asked it to think and reflect, which seemed to improve things drastically - working 2 prompts later.
August 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM
This afternoon's #vibecode battle. I asked it to make a modification at the very start, and the remainder of the prompts were solely to get it to actually run.
In desperation, I asked it to think and reflect, which seemed to improve things drastically - working 2 prompts later.
In desperation, I asked it to think and reflect, which seemed to improve things drastically - working 2 prompts later.
Vibe coding:
I asked Qwen3 coder to come up with a virtual girlfriend site. Floating lovehearts!
Then I requested we flip it around, and make it a virtual boyfriend. Now we have lightning bolts, and fish darting around...
Half tempted to ironically make this live
I asked Qwen3 coder to come up with a virtual girlfriend site. Floating lovehearts!
Then I requested we flip it around, and make it a virtual boyfriend. Now we have lightning bolts, and fish darting around...
Half tempted to ironically make this live
August 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Vibe coding:
I asked Qwen3 coder to come up with a virtual girlfriend site. Floating lovehearts!
Then I requested we flip it around, and make it a virtual boyfriend. Now we have lightning bolts, and fish darting around...
Half tempted to ironically make this live
I asked Qwen3 coder to come up with a virtual girlfriend site. Floating lovehearts!
Then I requested we flip it around, and make it a virtual boyfriend. Now we have lightning bolts, and fish darting around...
Half tempted to ironically make this live
Why does #Windows10 currently have 2973 files open on my NAS!?
The open files include:
- A phone bill from 2020
- A newsletter from 2017
- A ZIP file from 2007
- A folder from 2004
Why does Windows quietly open these "resting" files, and then *keep* them open?
The open files include:
- A phone bill from 2020
- A newsletter from 2017
- A ZIP file from 2007
- A folder from 2004
Why does Windows quietly open these "resting" files, and then *keep* them open?
August 9, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Why does #Windows10 currently have 2973 files open on my NAS!?
The open files include:
- A phone bill from 2020
- A newsletter from 2017
- A ZIP file from 2007
- A folder from 2004
Why does Windows quietly open these "resting" files, and then *keep* them open?
The open files include:
- A phone bill from 2020
- A newsletter from 2017
- A ZIP file from 2007
- A folder from 2004
Why does Windows quietly open these "resting" files, and then *keep* them open?
Google AI is cheerfully stupid, and can apparently be heavily influenced by the search query.
At least it noticed that the IP 142.250.70.228 belongs to Google
At least it noticed that the IP 142.250.70.228 belongs to Google
June 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Google AI is cheerfully stupid, and can apparently be heavily influenced by the search query.
At least it noticed that the IP 142.250.70.228 belongs to Google
At least it noticed that the IP 142.250.70.228 belongs to Google
I started at a new campus this week. Didn't have my security pass yet, only a basic lanyard ID.
Several times, I had to loiter quietly at the secured staff entrance, and follow others in.
Some staff members - who don't know me - even offered to let me in.
No one checked my ID.
Several times, I had to loiter quietly at the secured staff entrance, and follow others in.
Some staff members - who don't know me - even offered to let me in.
No one checked my ID.
May 29, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I started at a new campus this week. Didn't have my security pass yet, only a basic lanyard ID.
Several times, I had to loiter quietly at the secured staff entrance, and follow others in.
Some staff members - who don't know me - even offered to let me in.
No one checked my ID.
Several times, I had to loiter quietly at the secured staff entrance, and follow others in.
Some staff members - who don't know me - even offered to let me in.
No one checked my ID.
I joke to my offspring that The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack has probably been re-released on vinyl, artificially inflating the price of the CD.
So I look on ebay, and:
The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack has been re-released on vinyl, artificially inflating the price of the CD.
So I look on ebay, and:
The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack has been re-released on vinyl, artificially inflating the price of the CD.
March 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I joke to my offspring that The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack has probably been re-released on vinyl, artificially inflating the price of the CD.
So I look on ebay, and:
The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack has been re-released on vinyl, artificially inflating the price of the CD.
So I look on ebay, and:
The Return of the Living Dead soundtrack has been re-released on vinyl, artificially inflating the price of the CD.
When I power on my laptop after a few weeks:
Windows 8.1: Hey, there's some important updates you may want to install. Your choice?
Windows 10: I'm installing updates and checking for malware in the "background", but your PC is effectively unusable for now. Come back in a couple of hours.
Windows 8.1: Hey, there's some important updates you may want to install. Your choice?
Windows 10: I'm installing updates and checking for malware in the "background", but your PC is effectively unusable for now. Come back in a couple of hours.
March 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
When I power on my laptop after a few weeks:
Windows 8.1: Hey, there's some important updates you may want to install. Your choice?
Windows 10: I'm installing updates and checking for malware in the "background", but your PC is effectively unusable for now. Come back in a couple of hours.
Windows 8.1: Hey, there's some important updates you may want to install. Your choice?
Windows 10: I'm installing updates and checking for malware in the "background", but your PC is effectively unusable for now. Come back in a couple of hours.
There's something unsettling loading a site after a month, and seeing the requested page - with personal info - show briefly, before the site demands that you log in to access that info.
My Windows laptop occasionally flashes content hidden behind a lock, when it's asking for the unlock password...
My Windows laptop occasionally flashes content hidden behind a lock, when it's asking for the unlock password...
February 22, 2025 at 5:23 AM
There's something unsettling loading a site after a month, and seeing the requested page - with personal info - show briefly, before the site demands that you log in to access that info.
My Windows laptop occasionally flashes content hidden behind a lock, when it's asking for the unlock password...
My Windows laptop occasionally flashes content hidden behind a lock, when it's asking for the unlock password...
I've recently discovered that if my cat is doing something objectionable, like clawing the carpet, I can roll him onto his side then gently fold his back end towards his front.
He's so confused that he starts kicking his own head
He's so confused that he starts kicking his own head
February 20, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I've recently discovered that if my cat is doing something objectionable, like clawing the carpet, I can roll him onto his side then gently fold his back end towards his front.
He's so confused that he starts kicking his own head
He's so confused that he starts kicking his own head
TIL: If you accidentally hit maximise instead of close, you end up with a gigantic full screen calculator.
This is a 1920x1080 monitor
This is a 1920x1080 monitor
February 9, 2025 at 4:50 AM
TIL: If you accidentally hit maximise instead of close, you end up with a gigantic full screen calculator.
This is a 1920x1080 monitor
This is a 1920x1080 monitor
a fly landed on my screen as i was doomscrolling.
it has barely moved since, even once i resumed doomscrolling. it's like it's absorbing all the pixels flying past, through its thousands of lenses
(i think it's time to close bsky and go to bed)
it has barely moved since, even once i resumed doomscrolling. it's like it's absorbing all the pixels flying past, through its thousands of lenses
(i think it's time to close bsky and go to bed)
January 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
a fly landed on my screen as i was doomscrolling.
it has barely moved since, even once i resumed doomscrolling. it's like it's absorbing all the pixels flying past, through its thousands of lenses
(i think it's time to close bsky and go to bed)
it has barely moved since, even once i resumed doomscrolling. it's like it's absorbing all the pixels flying past, through its thousands of lenses
(i think it's time to close bsky and go to bed)
"Sign in to turn on offline mode again"
The further you read, the more confusing and illogical this sentence seems.
Huh?
The further you read, the more confusing and illogical this sentence seems.
Huh?
January 12, 2025 at 8:39 AM
"Sign in to turn on offline mode again"
The further you read, the more confusing and illogical this sentence seems.
Huh?
The further you read, the more confusing and illogical this sentence seems.
Huh?
Feral #cat update:
She's comfortable enough to stalk me when I'm preparing her food.
If I wander around the corner when she's chilling in the yard, she'll be scared, but won't dart off.
Today, I called out her name, and she poked her head out from under the hut. She responded when I called. 🥹 🥹
She's comfortable enough to stalk me when I'm preparing her food.
If I wander around the corner when she's chilling in the yard, she'll be scared, but won't dart off.
Today, I called out her name, and she poked her head out from under the hut. She responded when I called. 🥹 🥹
January 6, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Feral #cat update:
She's comfortable enough to stalk me when I'm preparing her food.
If I wander around the corner when she's chilling in the yard, she'll be scared, but won't dart off.
Today, I called out her name, and she poked her head out from under the hut. She responded when I called. 🥹 🥹
She's comfortable enough to stalk me when I'm preparing her food.
If I wander around the corner when she's chilling in the yard, she'll be scared, but won't dart off.
Today, I called out her name, and she poked her head out from under the hut. She responded when I called. 🥹 🥹
Replace a word in a movie with ‘butthole’
Speed 2: Butthole Control
Speed 2: Butthole Control
Replace a word in a movie with ‘butthole’
Willie Wonka and the Butthole Factory
Willie Wonka and the Butthole Factory
December 15, 2024 at 7:58 AM
This beautiful feral #cat lives under a hut in my back yard.
She had two #kittens a few months ago. They're now with a foster carer.
She's been trapped, neutered, vaccinated, chipped, so she's now officially part of our family. She still keeps her distance, but the trust is slowly growing. ❤️
She had two #kittens a few months ago. They're now with a foster carer.
She's been trapped, neutered, vaccinated, chipped, so she's now officially part of our family. She still keeps her distance, but the trust is slowly growing. ❤️
December 15, 2024 at 12:51 AM
Feral #cat update: she initially sniffed the trap then ran off, but within a couple of hours she was in there.
She's going to be desexed today, then released back into my yard. Slowly making friends with her; I hope she'll forgive me for today. ❤
Next up: trapping and socialising her tux kittens.
She's going to be desexed today, then released back into my yard. Slowly making friends with her; I hope she'll forgive me for today. ❤
Next up: trapping and socialising her tux kittens.
November 26, 2024 at 8:25 PM
Feral #cat update: she initially sniffed the trap then ran off, but within a couple of hours she was in there.
She's going to be desexed today, then released back into my yard. Slowly making friends with her; I hope she'll forgive me for today. ❤
Next up: trapping and socialising her tux kittens.
She's going to be desexed today, then released back into my yard. Slowly making friends with her; I hope she'll forgive me for today. ❤
Next up: trapping and socialising her tux kittens.