Wade Brandis
@wb8979.bsky.social
Self learning artist, story maker, and computer/electronics hobbyist. Join me as I tell stories, ramble about technology and other stuff!
I'll still keep my 2020 iMac around for art creation, but I'll daily drive Xubuntu Linux everywhere else, on a 2014 iMac and a cheap Lenovo laptop. More info is in the ALT text below, but so far, it's been quite an interesting, and refreshing experience. Linux isn't for everyone though. 2/end
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I'll still keep my 2020 iMac around for art creation, but I'll daily drive Xubuntu Linux everywhere else, on a 2014 iMac and a cheap Lenovo laptop. More info is in the ALT text below, but so far, it's been quite an interesting, and refreshing experience. Linux isn't for everyone though. 2/end
Here it is again with the correct drawing number. It's honestly not that big of a mistake but these go up on Insta as well. :)
November 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Here it is again with the correct drawing number. It's honestly not that big of a mistake but these go up on Insta as well. :)
Catching up on art posts. From trick or treating, to unintentional intoxication, to Truffula trees, it's quite the smorgasbord of art ideas. 😁
November 3, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Catching up on art posts. From trick or treating, to unintentional intoxication, to Truffula trees, it's quite the smorgasbord of art ideas. 😁
So I've returned to drawing, and here is tonight's work! Third in a hopefully continuing daily drawing routine. I'll post the other two tomorrow morning!
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This bear and mouse are really good friends! 😁
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This bear and mouse are really good friends! 😁
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 AM
So I've returned to drawing, and here is tonight's work! Third in a hopefully continuing daily drawing routine. I'll post the other two tomorrow morning!
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This bear and mouse are really good friends! 😁
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This bear and mouse are really good friends! 😁
So I found a little HP Mini netbook at the pawn shop for 20 bones today. Hoo boy... I'm in for quite a night of exploration and restoration!
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I ultimately plan on installing Debian on this solely for Linux stuff. But wow... remember when you could install third-party toolbars in your browser? 😂
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I ultimately plan on installing Debian on this solely for Linux stuff. But wow... remember when you could install third-party toolbars in your browser? 😂
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 PM
So I found a little HP Mini netbook at the pawn shop for 20 bones today. Hoo boy... I'm in for quite a night of exploration and restoration!
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I ultimately plan on installing Debian on this solely for Linux stuff. But wow... remember when you could install third-party toolbars in your browser? 😂
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I ultimately plan on installing Debian on this solely for Linux stuff. But wow... remember when you could install third-party toolbars in your browser? 😂
What kind of watch do you have, if you wear one? Mine is this Casio I've had for a little over 4 years. Atomic timekeeping and solar battery. I have no use for any smart watch because of their complete dependency on phones.
October 15, 2025 at 1:06 AM
What kind of watch do you have, if you wear one? Mine is this Casio I've had for a little over 4 years. Atomic timekeeping and solar battery. I have no use for any smart watch because of their complete dependency on phones.
So this is a wonderful surprise. My internet speed just got bumped up from 200mbps to 500mbps... at no cost! Found out via an email from my ISP this morning!
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Woohoo! 🎉
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Woohoo! 🎉
September 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
So this is a wonderful surprise. My internet speed just got bumped up from 200mbps to 500mbps... at no cost! Found out via an email from my ISP this morning!
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Woohoo! 🎉
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Woohoo! 🎉
I'll get mine cancelled before bedtime. Until then, decided to check out what the replacement programming was.... it's Celebrity Family Feud. 🤬
September 18, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I'll get mine cancelled before bedtime. Until then, decided to check out what the replacement programming was.... it's Celebrity Family Feud. 🤬
I finally left that horrible place that used to have a bird icon. 😊 I should have done so a long while back, but with this horrible week it all just became too much to bear. Maybe without it, I can try to motivate myself to draw, even if it's just little doodles in my sketchbook.
September 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I finally left that horrible place that used to have a bird icon. 😊 I should have done so a long while back, but with this horrible week it all just became too much to bear. Maybe without it, I can try to motivate myself to draw, even if it's just little doodles in my sketchbook.
@consumertc.bsky.social I was wondering if you could help with something. I have this lovely Wintery themed Pepsi glass from the 90s. I found it at a thrift shop over a decade ago, and the artwork still holds up great. Would you know where this particular glass may have come from, like a promotion?
September 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
@consumertc.bsky.social I was wondering if you could help with something. I have this lovely Wintery themed Pepsi glass from the 90s. I found it at a thrift shop over a decade ago, and the artwork still holds up great. Would you know where this particular glass may have come from, like a promotion?
All I can say is it has finally driven me to do something that I should have done a loooong time ago... *hint*hint* 😉
September 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
All I can say is it has finally driven me to do something that I should have done a loooong time ago... *hint*hint* 😉
You never know what great deals you can find at your local thrift/consignment/second-hand shop! 😁
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Samsung 46'' Smart TV, from 2012. When Frutiger Aero UX was still hanging on, and smart features stayed out of the way unless you brought them up. Works good so far. Further info in Alt Text.
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Samsung 46'' Smart TV, from 2012. When Frutiger Aero UX was still hanging on, and smart features stayed out of the way unless you brought them up. Works good so far. Further info in Alt Text.
September 1, 2025 at 3:21 AM
You never know what great deals you can find at your local thrift/consignment/second-hand shop! 😁
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Samsung 46'' Smart TV, from 2012. When Frutiger Aero UX was still hanging on, and smart features stayed out of the way unless you brought them up. Works good so far. Further info in Alt Text.
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Samsung 46'' Smart TV, from 2012. When Frutiger Aero UX was still hanging on, and smart features stayed out of the way unless you brought them up. Works good so far. Further info in Alt Text.
Post a random picture, or else everything will go bad in September.
August 30, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Post a random picture, or else everything will go bad in September.
As for me, I have a new-ish AM/FM Radio, an Eton Elite Field. Yes, FM radio can get repetitive, but my area was skipped by the big corporate giants like Audacy or iHeart. There are still really good stations I can pick up, along with NPR of course. 😉
August 22, 2025 at 10:06 PM
As for me, I have a new-ish AM/FM Radio, an Eton Elite Field. Yes, FM radio can get repetitive, but my area was skipped by the big corporate giants like Audacy or iHeart. There are still really good stations I can pick up, along with NPR of course. 😉
Brother Bear, Sister Bear, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, Benjy (the little dog created by Margaret Bloy Graham), Poky, Scuppers, Nate, Baxter, Danny, Pearl and Wagner, Paddington, Kissyfur, Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig, and best honor, Joey, shown below! 😁
August 3, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Brother Bear, Sister Bear, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Clifford, Emily Elizabeth, Benjy (the little dog created by Margaret Bloy Graham), Poky, Scuppers, Nate, Baxter, Danny, Pearl and Wagner, Paddington, Kissyfur, Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig, and best honor, Joey, shown below! 😁
No cheating: post your lock screen!
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I don't use my phone for social stuff, so here is one of my iMac screen instead! 😁
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I don't use my phone for social stuff, so here is one of my iMac screen instead! 😁
August 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
No cheating: post your lock screen!
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I don't use my phone for social stuff, so here is one of my iMac screen instead! 😁
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I don't use my phone for social stuff, so here is one of my iMac screen instead! 😁
This is pretty cool! 😊 Is the lock screen on your computer the same, or a different artwork/photo? Here's mine, a screenshot of a night scene from the obscure German animated movie "Laura's Star".
August 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM
This is pretty cool! 😊 Is the lock screen on your computer the same, or a different artwork/photo? Here's mine, a screenshot of a night scene from the obscure German animated movie "Laura's Star".
I may very well get the Series 1 set because this looks so fun! But I only have two GBA SPs currently, which won't work with the E-Reader. 🫤 Though OG GBAs aren't too expensive second hand. (btw, is the GBA in your photo your original from back in the day?)
August 1, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I may very well get the Series 1 set because this looks so fun! But I only have two GBA SPs currently, which won't work with the E-Reader. 🫤 Though OG GBAs aren't too expensive second hand. (btw, is the GBA in your photo your original from back in the day?)
New art tonight! This time, the little squirrel goes to Rita Rabbit and brings the glasses he found. Rita looks surprised though! But for what?
July 25, 2025 at 3:10 AM
New art tonight! This time, the little squirrel goes to Rita Rabbit and brings the glasses he found. Rita looks surprised though! But for what?
I recently scored a free CRT TV from a co-worker, which was perfect timing as I've been rebuilding my retro game library too. Below is my old FC Twin clone system circa 2008, along with a newer "GN Twin" for Sega Genesis. Clone hardware will never be perfect, but I find them fascinating. 😁
July 18, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I recently scored a free CRT TV from a co-worker, which was perfect timing as I've been rebuilding my retro game library too. Below is my old FC Twin clone system circa 2008, along with a newer "GN Twin" for Sega Genesis. Clone hardware will never be perfect, but I find them fascinating. 😁
It is done.
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And yes, the black case on top has even more games. Thank you semi-new day job for making this possible!
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Time to spend the afternoon cleaning them all up. They are quite dusty.
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And yes, the black case on top has even more games. Thank you semi-new day job for making this possible!
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Time to spend the afternoon cleaning them all up. They are quite dusty.
June 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It is done.
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And yes, the black case on top has even more games. Thank you semi-new day job for making this possible!
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Time to spend the afternoon cleaning them all up. They are quite dusty.
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And yes, the black case on top has even more games. Thank you semi-new day job for making this possible!
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Time to spend the afternoon cleaning them all up. They are quite dusty.
Now, time to continue that story...
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Rita Rabbit is feeling blah! This day just isn't going right. And now she can't see clearly.
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But wait a second! 🦊 🐿️
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Rita Rabbit is feeling blah! This day just isn't going right. And now she can't see clearly.
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But wait a second! 🦊 🐿️
June 14, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Now, time to continue that story...
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Rita Rabbit is feeling blah! This day just isn't going right. And now she can't see clearly.
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But wait a second! 🦊 🐿️
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Rita Rabbit is feeling blah! This day just isn't going right. And now she can't see clearly.
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But wait a second! 🦊 🐿️
The McDonald's is still there, but unlike the Milky Way, it appears to have been rebuilt at some point. In 2011, it was still in the mansard roof design, but it is further away from 12th Street, and there is now a big parking up front. Image from Google Street View.
June 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The McDonald's is still there, but unlike the Milky Way, it appears to have been rebuilt at some point. In 2011, it was still in the mansard roof design, but it is further away from 12th Street, and there is now a big parking up front. Image from Google Street View.
Here it is. The station says this photo is from 1975, showing both the Milky Way and McDonald's on West 12th Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Milky Way hasn't changed much since '75, but the McDonald's has. Fast forward to 2011... 2/
June 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Here it is. The station says this photo is from 1975, showing both the Milky Way and McDonald's on West 12th Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Milky Way hasn't changed much since '75, but the McDonald's has. Fast forward to 2011... 2/