MakerThornhill
@syntheticfuture.bsky.social
• Maker, tinkerer, biscuit lover 🍪
• Electronics, PCBs, CircuitPython, chocolate HobKnobs.
• Riding around on an old bicycle 🚲
https://hackaday.io/Maker.Thornhill
https://instagram.com/maker.thornhill
• Electronics, PCBs, CircuitPython, chocolate HobKnobs.
• Riding around on an old bicycle 🚲
https://hackaday.io/Maker.Thornhill
https://instagram.com/maker.thornhill
Pinned
My latest commission: a tactile Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device!
I was recently tasked with creating a speech-generating communicator for someone who is largely nonverbal and has difficulty using touchscreens.
#AAC #Accessiblity #AccessibleTech
I was recently tasked with creating a speech-generating communicator for someone who is largely nonverbal and has difficulty using touchscreens.
#AAC #Accessiblity #AccessibleTech
Oh hey! I'm B.D., a maker, former geologist, and tinker who loves using electronics, microcontrollers, and 3D printing to make cool little gadgets and things.
E.g... this Augmentative Alternative Communication device
bsky.app/profile/synt...
E.g... this Augmentative Alternative Communication device
bsky.app/profile/synt...
Local newscaster voice: It’s called “Surprise garlic bread”, and some experts believe it could be the next Pokémon Go…
December 1, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Local newscaster voice: It’s called “Surprise garlic bread”, and some experts believe it could be the next Pokémon Go…
Reposted by MakerThornhill
She sees your fandom as affirmation, your money as funding for the harm she causes to trans people.
It doesn't matter how you feel about her work, whether it was a formative touchstone or not. If you still buy the merch or hype up Harry Potter, you are complicit.
It doesn't matter how you feel about her work, whether it was a formative touchstone or not. If you still buy the merch or hype up Harry Potter, you are complicit.
Hey yall not what I wanted to do on my birthday but let it be clear
"Death of the artist" is all well & good but you cannot Seperate the art from the artist when the artist is still alive, a terf & every penny they recieve reinforces their beliefs & is used to actively harm Trans folks!
Let it Go!
"Death of the artist" is all well & good but you cannot Seperate the art from the artist when the artist is still alive, a terf & every penny they recieve reinforces their beliefs & is used to actively harm Trans folks!
Let it Go!
'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling says 'a ton' of fans are 'still with me' after trans remarks
J.K. Rowling addressed her controversial comments about transgender women on 'The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling' podcast, saying many 'Harry Potter' fans were 'grateful that I'd said what I said,' and ...
share.google
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
She sees your fandom as affirmation, your money as funding for the harm she causes to trans people.
It doesn't matter how you feel about her work, whether it was a formative touchstone or not. If you still buy the merch or hype up Harry Potter, you are complicit.
It doesn't matter how you feel about her work, whether it was a formative touchstone or not. If you still buy the merch or hype up Harry Potter, you are complicit.
Rainy autumn days are for cycling to the bakery and only getting 50% drenched.
October 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Rainy autumn days are for cycling to the bakery and only getting 50% drenched.
Pros: Can jump pretty high, have feather fall, claws!
Cons: people keep picking you up because you’re just a baby! Oh my goodness look at him, he’s just a baby! Oh my-
Cons: people keep picking you up because you’re just a baby! Oh my goodness look at him, he’s just a baby! Oh my-
October 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Pros: Can jump pretty high, have feather fall, claws!
Cons: people keep picking you up because you’re just a baby! Oh my goodness look at him, he’s just a baby! Oh my-
Cons: people keep picking you up because you’re just a baby! Oh my goodness look at him, he’s just a baby! Oh my-
Normalise immediately voiding the warranty.
October 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Normalise immediately voiding the warranty.
Normalise carrying big ass boxes on a bicycle.
October 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Normalise carrying big ass boxes on a bicycle.
Reposted by MakerThornhill
It's Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) migration season in Texas. At least 90% of all southward migration passes through Texas, either along the coast, or through central Texas.
They'll overwinter in Mexico, then return.
Let's talk about the utter weirdness of generational migration.
They'll overwinter in Mexico, then return.
Let's talk about the utter weirdness of generational migration.
September 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It's Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) migration season in Texas. At least 90% of all southward migration passes through Texas, either along the coast, or through central Texas.
They'll overwinter in Mexico, then return.
Let's talk about the utter weirdness of generational migration.
They'll overwinter in Mexico, then return.
Let's talk about the utter weirdness of generational migration.
It’s a cycle to the bakery kind of morning
September 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
It’s a cycle to the bakery kind of morning
Reposted by MakerThornhill
A rare practical project from me. I live in a building with ~16 units and we all share 2 washers/2 dryers. Very annoying to go all the way down to basement just to find out they're in use. So I'm putting together a low maintenance, non-invasive monitoring setup we can all use 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A rare practical project from me. I live in a building with ~16 units and we all share 2 washers/2 dryers. Very annoying to go all the way down to basement just to find out they're in use. So I'm putting together a low maintenance, non-invasive monitoring setup we can all use 🧵
Reposted by MakerThornhill
Got some nature happening over here today
August 26, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Got some nature happening over here today
Reposted by MakerThornhill
So much time is wasted with:
1) trying to detect if something is real or was ai-generated
2) trying to explain to folks why their ai-generated solution is bad
3) having to fix problems created by the hallucination-machines
👏 AI (llms) 👏 WASTES 👏 TIME
1) trying to detect if something is real or was ai-generated
2) trying to explain to folks why their ai-generated solution is bad
3) having to fix problems created by the hallucination-machines
👏 AI (llms) 👏 WASTES 👏 TIME
So, in my day job I have finally run face first into the absolute fucking scourge that is AI.
AI is now wasting about eight to sixteen hours of every work week for me. I expect that number will only grow.
AI is now wasting about eight to sixteen hours of every work week for me. I expect that number will only grow.
August 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
So much time is wasted with:
1) trying to detect if something is real or was ai-generated
2) trying to explain to folks why their ai-generated solution is bad
3) having to fix problems created by the hallucination-machines
👏 AI (llms) 👏 WASTES 👏 TIME
1) trying to detect if something is real or was ai-generated
2) trying to explain to folks why their ai-generated solution is bad
3) having to fix problems created by the hallucination-machines
👏 AI (llms) 👏 WASTES 👏 TIME
Reposted by MakerThornhill
the intensity of my anger at those who would criminalize the homeless — a population literally created by the greed and callousness of the ruling class — is very hard to contain. it was you who dismantled the safety net. if you don’t like the results, put it back
August 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
the intensity of my anger at those who would criminalize the homeless — a population literally created by the greed and callousness of the ruling class — is very hard to contain. it was you who dismantled the safety net. if you don’t like the results, put it back
Celebrate the 18th anniversary of getting your bicycle by cycling it around a lake.
August 8, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Celebrate the 18th anniversary of getting your bicycle by cycling it around a lake.
Reposted by MakerThornhill
Rowling's 24/7 commitment to being an absolute nightmare ghoul is sort of extraordinary. She has every option in the world for how to spend her life and she commits herself entirely to hatred and self-righteous mean-spiritedness; some are more effective at evil but nobody puts in the hours like her.
August 7, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Rowling's 24/7 commitment to being an absolute nightmare ghoul is sort of extraordinary. She has every option in the world for how to spend her life and she commits herself entirely to hatred and self-righteous mean-spiritedness; some are more effective at evil but nobody puts in the hours like her.
Now I’m not a morning person… but I WILL get up to cycle to the bakery for bread.
I love cycling.
I love bread.
I love cycling.
I love bread.
August 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Now I’m not a morning person… but I WILL get up to cycle to the bakery for bread.
I love cycling.
I love bread.
I love cycling.
I love bread.
Reposted by MakerThornhill
Health research cuts are terrible for the economy; these are productive jobs. Economy-stimulating jobs. In 2024, every $1 spent by NIH generated $2.56 in economic activity. The repercussions of decreasing academically free health research funding will be widespread.
August 6, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Health research cuts are terrible for the economy; these are productive jobs. Economy-stimulating jobs. In 2024, every $1 spent by NIH generated $2.56 in economic activity. The repercussions of decreasing academically free health research funding will be widespread.
Me whenever I’m in the crawlspace: Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs…
July 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Me whenever I’m in the crawlspace: Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs…
Wildflowers finally appearing in the field! I spread some of their seeds last year, in areas where I removed invasive Russian/Autumn olive
July 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Wildflowers finally appearing in the field! I spread some of their seeds last year, in areas where I removed invasive Russian/Autumn olive
Reposted by MakerThornhill
Happy #BogDay. The most misunderstood ecosystems on our planet have been ridiculed, drained, burned, and destroyed throughout modern history. These water purifiers, carbon keepers, storytellers, and beautiful places deserve our respect, today and every day.
July 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Happy #BogDay. The most misunderstood ecosystems on our planet have been ridiculed, drained, burned, and destroyed throughout modern history. These water purifiers, carbon keepers, storytellers, and beautiful places deserve our respect, today and every day.
I have a door bell plate and no button.
But that’s ok because I also have a switch, a brass thing, a spring, and a marble I found in the garden.
But that’s ok because I also have a switch, a brass thing, a spring, and a marble I found in the garden.
July 24, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I have a door bell plate and no button.
But that’s ok because I also have a switch, a brass thing, a spring, and a marble I found in the garden.
But that’s ok because I also have a switch, a brass thing, a spring, and a marble I found in the garden.
Reposted by MakerThornhill
This is certainly the tism talking but I find so much joy in curiosity and the process of learning that the idea of wanting to outsource thinking to a machine is unfathomable to me
That’s the fun part! Why wouldn’t you want to do that?
That’s the fun part! Why wouldn’t you want to do that?
July 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
This is certainly the tism talking but I find so much joy in curiosity and the process of learning that the idea of wanting to outsource thinking to a machine is unfathomable to me
That’s the fun part! Why wouldn’t you want to do that?
That’s the fun part! Why wouldn’t you want to do that?
At some point I went from researching the history of my house, to doing a deep dive on someone’s long dead family
July 20, 2025 at 11:51 PM
At some point I went from researching the history of my house, to doing a deep dive on someone’s long dead family
Reposted by MakerThornhill
I want to make a personal request to those of you who use a bike for transportation purposes to start taking more photos and posting them.
You can do so much by showing even the most mundane errands with a bike to educate and inspire others. They're often more effective than words. 📸
You can do so much by showing even the most mundane errands with a bike to educate and inspire others. They're often more effective than words. 📸
November 21, 2024 at 12:46 AM
I want to make a personal request to those of you who use a bike for transportation purposes to start taking more photos and posting them.
You can do so much by showing even the most mundane errands with a bike to educate and inspire others. They're often more effective than words. 📸
You can do so much by showing even the most mundane errands with a bike to educate and inspire others. They're often more effective than words. 📸
Reposted by MakerThornhill
With how many layoffs we’ve had over the past several years, remote work should be the default. Requiring relocation at this point is unreasonable for the risk that we’re just going to get laid off two months, six months, a year in.
July 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
With how many layoffs we’ve had over the past several years, remote work should be the default. Requiring relocation at this point is unreasonable for the risk that we’re just going to get laid off two months, six months, a year in.
Reposted by MakerThornhill
Dog Meets Owner At Door In Desperate Attempt To Get Ahead Of Diarrhea-Rug Scandal theonion.com/dog-mee...
July 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Dog Meets Owner At Door In Desperate Attempt To Get Ahead Of Diarrhea-Rug Scandal theonion.com/dog-mee...