scifidad
@scifidad.com
Father, futurist, sci-fan, technologist, board- and video-gamer. Makes robots, mechanical keyboards, and retro computing devices. Falling through spacetime at the speed of causality like all the rest.
Took the day off work today, "chucked a sickie" as they 'round these parts, and did basically nothing. Worth it. I've been working pretty hard (for a technologist) and it's nice to take a moment to de-stress and unwind a little. Genuinely trying to live mindfully.
Plans for the weekend?
Plans for the weekend?
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Took the day off work today, "chucked a sickie" as they 'round these parts, and did basically nothing. Worth it. I've been working pretty hard (for a technologist) and it's nice to take a moment to de-stress and unwind a little. Genuinely trying to live mindfully.
Plans for the weekend?
Plans for the weekend?
Think I know why this laptop is running hot: Trying MX Linux, which can select GPU on boot ... then carelessly selected the USB drive as installation target. Left it running while I reimaged and noticed that even with the iGPU its getting toasty.
Need a can of air and some antihistamines.
Need a can of air and some antihistamines.
November 13, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Think I know why this laptop is running hot: Trying MX Linux, which can select GPU on boot ... then carelessly selected the USB drive as installation target. Left it running while I reimaged and noticed that even with the iGPU its getting toasty.
Need a can of air and some antihistamines.
Need a can of air and some antihistamines.
Jackson Lamb may be my favourite of Gary Oldman's characters: brilliant and cynical, positively grotty, downright despicable at times. Brilliantly played.
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Jackson Lamb may be my favourite of Gary Oldman's characters: brilliant and cynical, positively grotty, downright despicable at times. Brilliantly played.
I often accuse my wife of being "extra" when it comes to gifts, but when she bought a cryptex for our friends' son I was 100% on board. Do I recognise similar neurospicy traits? Would I have loved this as a teen? Did I keep a diary in a cipher I made up for the purpose (& could I still read it)? Yep
November 8, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I often accuse my wife of being "extra" when it comes to gifts, but when she bought a cryptex for our friends' son I was 100% on board. Do I recognise similar neurospicy traits? Would I have loved this as a teen? Did I keep a diary in a cipher I made up for the purpose (& could I still read it)? Yep
Drinking yuzu sake and trying to install Debian on my 2018 Intel MBP, but struggling to either get the discrete GPU to run without crashing OR to use the integrated GPU. So far I've added the t2 kernel and extracted firmware from a recovery image, so it is time to install xfce4 and see what happens.
November 8, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Drinking yuzu sake and trying to install Debian on my 2018 Intel MBP, but struggling to either get the discrete GPU to run without crashing OR to use the integrated GPU. So far I've added the t2 kernel and extracted firmware from a recovery image, so it is time to install xfce4 and see what happens.
Never got far in #OuterWorlds, but turns out I just needed to play #OuterWorlds2 on Cloud Gaming ... and let my wife have a turn. Way more commitment than me (she finished Cuphead after all) but I can have a little dabble from time to time. Good fun, even if I have no idea what planet we're even on!
November 6, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Never got far in #OuterWorlds, but turns out I just needed to play #OuterWorlds2 on Cloud Gaming ... and let my wife have a turn. Way more commitment than me (she finished Cuphead after all) but I can have a little dabble from time to time. Good fun, even if I have no idea what planet we're even on!
We bundled our son off to an overnight school art excursion this morning, so partner and I may go out for dinner tonight—or stay home for a "carpet picnic", which is probably more our speed—but I think I want to take things real easy today. Amazing weather too, so I'm working outside.
November 5, 2025 at 11:31 PM
We bundled our son off to an overnight school art excursion this morning, so partner and I may go out for dinner tonight—or stay home for a "carpet picnic", which is probably more our speed—but I think I want to take things real easy today. Amazing weather too, so I'm working outside.
Realising I don't use my PC enough to see utility value from an RTX 4070, I've swapped with my son's 2070. "I'm not giving it to you," I have to clarify (lest he turns around and sells it). But a good modern bonding experience.
CPU was still running hot, so upgraded from the stock cooler. Better!!
CPU was still running hot, so upgraded from the stock cooler. Better!!
October 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Realising I don't use my PC enough to see utility value from an RTX 4070, I've swapped with my son's 2070. "I'm not giving it to you," I have to clarify (lest he turns around and sells it). But a good modern bonding experience.
CPU was still running hot, so upgraded from the stock cooler. Better!!
CPU was still running hot, so upgraded from the stock cooler. Better!!
Respond with the same actor as a hero and a villain.
October 28, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Respond with the same actor as a hero and a villain.
An "innovation award" evening for work–we didn't win–meant drinking games every time the MC said "AI”, so I'm drunk on public transport for the first time in a long time. A fun night, actually, even for one as awkward as me.
October 28, 2025 at 11:13 AM
An "innovation award" evening for work–we didn't win–meant drinking games every time the MC said "AI”, so I'm drunk on public transport for the first time in a long time. A fun night, actually, even for one as awkward as me.
So things are pretty good for me personally at the moment, even as other places on this single planet we share face absolutely heartbreaking horrors: war, starvation, genocide, the rise of fascism. In fact, it's the comparison that puts me in this frame of mind.
I hope you're safe and well.
5/5
I hope you're safe and well.
5/5
October 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
So things are pretty good for me personally at the moment, even as other places on this single planet we share face absolutely heartbreaking horrors: war, starvation, genocide, the rise of fascism. In fact, it's the comparison that puts me in this frame of mind.
I hope you're safe and well.
5/5
I hope you're safe and well.
5/5
I put a *lot* into my work, but it finally starts to feel like maybe I can take the foot off the gas for a bit ... because I think we have the team that can get it done? I can step up to a higher abstraction and be strategic rather than tactical?
That could be fun?
4/5
That could be fun?
4/5
October 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
I put a *lot* into my work, but it finally starts to feel like maybe I can take the foot off the gas for a bit ... because I think we have the team that can get it done? I can step up to a higher abstraction and be strategic rather than tactical?
That could be fun?
4/5
That could be fun?
4/5
My treasured OnePlus 9 Pro has failed, so replaced with a Nothing Phone3. The OS is so clean it inspired me to delete most of my contacts, which I'd been data-hoarding, and I'm not rushing to reinstall every app I had before.
Feeling more mindful already.
3/5
Feeling more mindful already.
3/5
October 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
My treasured OnePlus 9 Pro has failed, so replaced with a Nothing Phone3. The OS is so clean it inspired me to delete most of my contacts, which I'd been data-hoarding, and I'm not rushing to reinstall every app I had before.
Feeling more mindful already.
3/5
Feeling more mindful already.
3/5
Beach was fun, although the water was chilly enough to keep sensible people out—only the boy and I swam. Did a little "house" shopping, cushions and more plants, slowly building our tiny haven.
Got some kitchen herbs for the sill today. Hope they survive the sun, and our grazing.
2/5
Got some kitchen herbs for the sill today. Hope they survive the sun, and our grazing.
2/5
October 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Beach was fun, although the water was chilly enough to keep sensible people out—only the boy and I swam. Did a little "house" shopping, cushions and more plants, slowly building our tiny haven.
Got some kitchen herbs for the sill today. Hope they survive the sun, and our grazing.
2/5
Got some kitchen herbs for the sill today. Hope they survive the sun, and our grazing.
2/5
How was everyone's weekend?
Feels like a busy one for us: beach day yesterday and "prep the week" today. I feel like I've barely kept my head above water for the last few years (decades?), spending too much time and energy on work, but I might be turning a corner on that now?
1/5
Feels like a busy one for us: beach day yesterday and "prep the week" today. I feel like I've barely kept my head above water for the last few years (decades?), spending too much time and energy on work, but I might be turning a corner on that now?
1/5
October 26, 2025 at 8:44 AM
How was everyone's weekend?
Feels like a busy one for us: beach day yesterday and "prep the week" today. I feel like I've barely kept my head above water for the last few years (decades?), spending too much time and energy on work, but I might be turning a corner on that now?
1/5
Feels like a busy one for us: beach day yesterday and "prep the week" today. I feel like I've barely kept my head above water for the last few years (decades?), spending too much time and energy on work, but I might be turning a corner on that now?
1/5
Extremely satisfying build. Feels about the right size for a chunky, adult-sized handheld.
October 14, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Extremely satisfying build. Feels about the right size for a chunky, adult-sized handheld.
My beautiful family knows me well: happy birthday, me! (Yes, I'm immediately on the waiting list for the Brick Boy kit from @nataliethenerd.com of course.)
October 14, 2025 at 3:16 AM
My beautiful family knows me well: happy birthday, me! (Yes, I'm immediately on the waiting list for the Brick Boy kit from @nataliethenerd.com of course.)
Heading back towards home, and back to work tomorrow. I didn't really get to disconnect as much as I'd like, as we have an internal beta release this week and some seem to think I'm needed for it (I'm really not). Glad we came somewhere remote and tried to stay offline, should do again soon.
October 6, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Heading back towards home, and back to work tomorrow. I didn't really get to disconnect as much as I'd like, as we have an internal beta release this week and some seem to think I'm needed for it (I'm really not). Glad we came somewhere remote and tried to stay offline, should do again soon.
We've spent the last couple of days in Wilyakali country, and last night watched sunset over a land that's had 50,000 years of human civilisation. It's been a good chance to relax, even if I can't put work down, and we've done all the touristy things, including eating and drinking way too much.
1/3
1/3
October 4, 2025 at 4:55 AM
We've spent the last couple of days in Wilyakali country, and last night watched sunset over a land that's had 50,000 years of human civilisation. It's been a good chance to relax, even if I can't put work down, and we've done all the touristy things, including eating and drinking way too much.
1/3
1/3
Finally started Foundation.
September 27, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Finally started Foundation.
Further adapting to the constraints of apartment living, we've reorganised our storage cage. Not perfect, but I know where everything is—tested almost immediately by my son—and there's even room to stand and rifle through toolboxes. We might go camping soon too!
August 17, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Further adapting to the constraints of apartment living, we've reorganised our storage cage. Not perfect, but I know where everything is—tested almost immediately by my son—and there's even room to stand and rifle through toolboxes. We might go camping soon too!
I didn't NEED to buy a 1st edition copy of @gregegansf.bsky.social's "Diaspora", just like I don't NEED to buy his latest "Morphotropic" (although I will), but I DID need to take the book down, wipe off the dust, then crack its spine and feed my galaxy-scale wanderlust. With xenoducky for company.
August 15, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I didn't NEED to buy a 1st edition copy of @gregegansf.bsky.social's "Diaspora", just like I don't NEED to buy his latest "Morphotropic" (although I will), but I DID need to take the book down, wipe off the dust, then crack its spine and feed my galaxy-scale wanderlust. With xenoducky for company.
Totally wiped out by a sudden-onset viral infection, I've slept 20 hours at a stretch for the last two days. Feeling better today, which gave me a chance to install the new print-bed springs, level everything again, and print a couple of SKÅDIS accessories. Now waiting for something more fun.
1/2
1/2
August 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Totally wiped out by a sudden-onset viral infection, I've slept 20 hours at a stretch for the last two days. Feeling better today, which gave me a chance to install the new print-bed springs, level everything again, and print a couple of SKÅDIS accessories. Now waiting for something more fun.
1/2
1/2
Spent much of today trying to calibrate my (now ancient) Anycubic Mega Pro, and finally decided to replace the hotend—and luckily it came with two! Got a good feeling about this, but need some replacement springs (ordered) for the print bed before I go through the process all over again.
August 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Spent much of today trying to calibrate my (now ancient) Anycubic Mega Pro, and finally decided to replace the hotend—and luckily it came with two! Got a good feeling about this, but need some replacement springs (ordered) for the print bed before I go through the process all over again.