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    <title>Thoughts &amp; Notes</title>
    <link>/blog/</link>
    <description>640KB blog - notes, updates, thoughts</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 22:56:39 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <item>
    <title>Static Blog, other updates</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260426000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260426000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">Static Blog, other updates</font></h2>
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<p><i>26 Apr 2026</i>: The latest <a href="../fingerverse/index.html" target="_blank">fingerverse update</a> adds many homepages and RSS links. I just can't say enough about RSS... it truly is that one thing that easily connects sites better than any other tech I can think of.</p>


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    <title>Static Blog, other updates</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260424000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260424000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">Static Blog, other updates</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>24 Apr 2026</i>: When updating the current <a href="./resources/rss--2026.04.22.html" target="_blank">help page</a> of the static blog generator, I was getting increasingly bothered by the amount of tweaks the in-house blog script would require of users, so I added a configuration section at the top of <i>./blog.py</i>. Added some niceties like "base url", "post per page", "rss items", etc... It's slowly starting to turn into something more polished and ready for public distribution.</p>

<p>As I make these and other changes to the script, I'll need to continue to test.</p>

<p>Small update to nf (netfinger) in the <a href="../apps/index.html" target="_blank">Free Apps</a> page (improved the help page (nf -h), <a href="../apps/apps.free/nf.help.png" target="_blank">screenshot</a>). Also need to finish what I started in the <a href="../fingerverse/index.html" target="_blank">fingerverse</a> page. I'm currently linking to home pages of user accounts that run their own public facing finger servers.</p>

<p>The fingerverse file itself has gotten so large (so many links too) that I had to remove it (temporarily? I hope) from it's original home on happynetbox.com. Also cleaned a bunch of other accounts I had on there because I was feeling a bit too stretched out - including <a href="../fingerverse/spartanware.html" target="_blank">spartanware</a> which I need to update. The spartan page is smaller and sees fewer updates, so I should be reuploading to happynetbox soon.</p>


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    <title>The Static Blog Generator</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260422000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260422000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">The Static Blog Generator</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>22 Apr 2026</i>: The static blog generator is working very well. The core script, blog.py, is so quick to rebuild the three main blog files (index.html, index-2, rss.xml). I intend to post to my <a href="../apps/index.html" target="_blank">Free Apps</a> page in a week or two. Here are a few <a href="./resources/rss--2026.04.22.html" target="_blank">notes and a deeper dive</a> into the RSS creator turned static blog generator.</p>

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    <title>RSS Feed</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260419000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260419000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">RSS Feed</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>19 Apr 2026</i>: Spent the better part of the day yesterday creating a basic static blog generator because Neocities only hosts static files and doesn't support server-side scripts. I was mostly satisfied with this page but, as a huge fan of RSS, not having it was an issue for me. Writing the script also gave me a reason to automate other things like automatically limiting each blog page to 20 posts and automating the creation of additional pages.</p> 

<p>I did some testing on both Inoreader and Newsblur yesterday, some more today. Everything seems to be working well but I'll continue to test.</p>

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    <title>Words to live by</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260417000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260417000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">Words to live by</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>17 Apr 2026</i>: I watched the 2025 sci-fi comedy <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1341338" target="_blank">Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die</a> last night and it was more fun than I expected. Great cast and funnier than I thought it would be. It's tech-relevant with its title making the best kind of '<i>battle cry</i>' to meet each day. One reviewer said it best: "Hilarious, insightful, necessary".</p>

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    <title>Xavier Cugat's Maria Elena</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260416000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260416000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">Xavier Cugat's Maria Elena</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>15 & 17 Apr 2026</i>: Years ago, I was introduced to the song <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Elena_(song)" target="_blank">Maria Elena</a> as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2XZVLP_K3g" target="_blank">performed by Xavier Cugat</a> and immediately fell in love with it. I just spent some time listening to all the covers of the song I could find. The Cugat version is the only version I like. There is a timeless quality about it.</p>

<p>Here are my favorites from the <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/viva-cugat!-mw0001032881" target="_blank">1961 Viva Cugat!</a> Album:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIZHbuE-7XM" target="_blank">Tropical Merengue</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPu_llsagL0" target="_blank">Isle of Capri</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8TrJJbg7CY" target="_blank">Perfidia</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeZGp2LU9Q" target="_blank">The Peanut Vendor</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2XZVLP_K3g" target="_blank">Maria Elena</a></li>

</ul>

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    <title>Headphones: Bone Conduction</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260413000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260413000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">Headphones: Bone Conduction</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>13 Apr 2026</i>: I've been reading about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_conduction" target="_blank">bone conduction</a> headphones since way back in the <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40558995" target="_blank">DAK Industries</a> days of the <a href="https://archive.org/details/dak-1987-winter/" target="_blank">late-80s</a> & <a href="https://archive.org/details/dak-1992-winter/" target="_blank">early-90s</a>. I received my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G8K1DZF2" target="_blank">first pair</a> today. (They were $23.41 when I ordered them a few days ago. I see it listed now for $34.99, $27.99 coupon price).</a></p>

<p>I prefer headphones that aren't too much of an obstruction. The bone conduction BT headphones are replacing my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006B486K" target="_blank">Koss KSC75 portable on-ear clip headphones</a> (nice full sound) and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CJTR82" target="_blank">Philips shs3200bk/37 flexible earhooks</a> (tinny sound but was my workhorse when jogging). When I'm at home, I use <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081NF9V72" target="_blank">Bluedio's wireless wearable speakers</a> all the time (love them).</p>

<p>The new bone conduction BT headphones sound great indoors but the reason I bought them was to use outdoors when jogging. Can't wait to test them!</p>

<p>(update, 14apr: Great sound, loud, I can hear my surroundings, silent to anyone else, lightweight, easy to slip on/off. Importantly, in the summer... my ears can "breathe" a little better, allowing excess heat to escape.)</p>

<p>PS: I linked to Amazon several times above. None of the links on this site are affiliate, referral links or monetized in any way - they are all clean, direct links. I do not perform any tracking or data collection anywhere on this site. (added a site-wide <a href="../privacy/privacy-policy.html" target="_blank">privacy policy</a> page today to reflect this)</p>

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    <title>MX Linux says no to Government Surveillance</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260405000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260405000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">MX Linux says no to Government Surveillance</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>03-05 Apr 2026</i>: The <a href="https://mxlinux.org/" target="_blank">MX Linux</a> team has made it clear they have <a href="https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/mx-linux-pushes-back-against-age-verification-stand-privacy-and-open-source-principles" target="_blank">no intention</a> of implementing Age Verification measures. They've cited concerns over privacy, practicality and the core philosophy of open-source software.</p>

<p>Several years ago, I was a regular user of MX Linux. This kind of thinking is exactly what drew me into the Linux ecosystem long ago. These attacks on our own personal freedoms will continue - supported by both the hateful anti-American right and the two-faced, fascist-leaning establishment democrats.</p>

<p>All we can do is wait and see how things develop. Some are saying that age verification <a href="https://itsfoss.com/news/distros-response-age-verification-laws/" target="_blank">isn't intrusive</a>. IDK. Read the room (democracy has collapsed (see post), current zio-fascist nation, the US is a rogue terror state by every definition, trillions of tax dollars for a warring police state, it's a one-party system).</p>

<p>Compliance is usually <b>a first step toward more draconian demands</b> (see the NY proposed bill). In the meantime... loving MX Linux and those other distros in the Linux/BSD ecosphere for the pushback on this! &#128153;</p>

<table border="2" cellpadding="5">
  <tr bgcolor="lightgrey">
    <th>Region</th>
    <th>Name</th>
    <th>Date</th>
    <th>Requirement</th>
  </tr>

  <tr>
    <td>California</td>
    <td align="left">Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043)</td>
    <td align="right"><b>01jan2027</b></td>
    <td align="left">OS must collect age at account setup and provide an "age signal" to apps</td>
  </tr>

  <tr>
    <td>Colorado</td>
    <td align="left">Age Attestation on Computing Devices (SB26-051)</td>
    <td align="right"><b>01jan2028</b></td>
    <td align="left">OS providers must verify user age at device setup</td>
  </tr>

  <tr>
    <td>Michigan</td>
    <td align="left">Senate Bill 284<br>Michigan House Bill 4429</td>
    <td align="right"><b>N/A</b></td>
    <td align="left">Introduced by both Democrats and Republicans</td>
  </tr>

  <tr>
    <td>New York</td>
    <td align="left">Proposed State Bill</td>
    <td align="right"><b>N/A</b></td>
    <td align="left">OS account setup (<b>likely requiring ID</b> or similar proof)</td>
  </tr>

  <tr>
    <td>Illinois</td>
    <td align="left">Senate Bill 3977</td>
    <td align="right"><b>N/A</b></td>
    <td align="left">details being debated</td>
  </tr>

<tr>
    <td colspan="4"><br></td>
</tr>

<tr>
    <td>Setback</td>
    <td colspan="3">Systemd has <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1rxt50c/systemd_has_merged_age_verification_measures_into/" target="_blank">merged age verification</a> measures into userdb</td>
</tr>

<tr>
    <td>Solution</td>
    <td colspan="3">Distros running <a href="https://distrowatch.com/search.php?ostype=Linux&category=All&origin=All&basedon=All&notbasedon=None&desktop=All&architecture=All&package=All&rolling=All&isosize=All&netinstall=All&language=All&defaultinit=Not+systemd&status=Active#simpleresults" target="_blank">without systemd</a></td>
</tr>

</table>

<p>Current distros/BSDs that are resisting government surveillance. See BryanLunduke / <a href="https://github.com/BryanLunduke/DoesItAgeVerify" target="_blank">DoesItAgeVerify</a> for a more complete list.</p>

<ul>

<li><a href="https://mxlinux.org/" target="_blank">MX Linux</a> : <a href="https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/mx-linux-pushes-back-against-age-verification-stand-privacy-and-open-source-principles" target="_blank">Linux Journal</a> (02 Apr 2026) : will not implement</li>

<li><a href="https://zorin.com/os/" target="_blank">Zorin OS</a> : <a href="https://linuxiac.com/zorin-os-says-no-to-mandatory-age-verification-in-linux/" target="_blank">Linuxiac</a> (05 Apr 2026) : will not implement</li>

<li><a href="https://www.debian.org/" target="_blank">Debian</a> : <a href="https://linuxiac.com/debian-project-leader-addresses-new-age-declaration-laws/" target="_blank">Linuxiac</a> (04 Apr 2026) : prefers not to implement (reviewing legal)</li>

<li><a href="https://parrotsec.org/" target="_blank">Parrot Linux</a> : <a href="https://linuxiac.com/parrot-linux-takes-stand-against-age-verification/" target="_blank">Linuxiac</a> (02 Apr 2026) : strongly opposes for now</li>

<li><a href="https://omarchy.org/" target="_blank">Omarchy Linux</a> : <a href="https://lunduke.substack.com/p/omarchy-linux-rejects-retarded-california" target="_blank">Lunduke</a> (05 Mar 2026) : no to this "retarded California law"</li>

<li><a href="https://www.adenixgnulinux.org/" target="_blank">Adenix GNU/Linux</a> : <a href="https://www.adenixgnulinux.org/news" target="_blank">Adenix Blog</a> (04 Mar 2026) : will fight until there is no choice</li>

<li><a href="https://midnightbsd.org/" target="_blank">MidnightBSD</a> : <a href="https://ostechnix.com/midnightbsd-excludes-california-digital-age-assurance-act/" target="_blank">OSTechNIX</a> (14 Mar 2026) : exclude California residents from use</li>

<li><a href="https://system76.com/" target="_blank">System76</a> : <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/10/foss_age_verification_2/" target="_blank">The Register</a> (10 Mar 2026) : <b>Advocating for excluding FOSS</b>, otherwise complying</li>

</ul>

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    <title>Summer Glau: A Sci‑fi/Fantasy Icon</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260330000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260330000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">Summer Glau: A Sci‑fi/Fantasy Icon</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>30 Mar 2026</i>: I just finished rewatching <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_(TV_series)" target="_blank">Firefly</a>. One of the great sci-fi TV series of all-time. It was nice to see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Glau" target="_blank">Summer Glau</a> again among the unforgettable cast. She has always played such <b>great geek-culture characters</b>. She was even one of the few bright spots in the (awful) series 'The Cape'.</p>

<p>I watched everything below except for '<i>Arrow</i>'. I just couldn't get into the series.</p>

<ul>
<li>Tess Doerner in '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_4400" target="_blank">The 4400</a>' (2005–2007)</li>

<li>River Tam in 'Firefly' / '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_(2005_film)" target="_blank">Serenity</a>' (2002, 2005)</li>

<li>Cameron in '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminator:_The_Sarah_Connor_Chronicles" target="_blank">Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles</a>' (2008–2009)</li>

<li>Skylar Adams in '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphas" target="_blank">Alphas</a>' (2011-2012)</li>

<li>Isabel Rochev / Ravager in '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow_(TV_series)" target="_blank">Arrow</a>' (2013–2014)</li>

<li>Bennett Halverson in '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollhouse_(TV_series)" target="_blank">Dollhouse</a>' (2009-2010)</li>

<li>Jamie Fleming / Orwell in '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cape_(2011_TV_series)" target="_blank">The Cape</a>' (2011)</li>

</ul>

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    <title>Death by Clawd</title>
    <link>/blog/index.html#post-20260327000000</link>
    <guid>/blog/index.html#20260327000000</guid>
    <pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
    <description><![CDATA[<h2><font color="#333399">Death by Clawd</font></h2>
<font size="+1">

<p><i>27 Mar 2026</i>: This is hysterical... <a href="https://deathbyclawd.com/" target="_blank">deathbyclawd.com</a>.</p>

<details><summary>Death Report for 640kb.neocities.org ◂</summary>

<p><b>"You can't kill what was already dead in 1995 — and somehow that's its superpower."</b></p>

<p><b>Cause of Death</b>: You cannot kill what charges $0, runs on static HTML, and is powered by pure unhinged passion for DOS browsers and UFOs</p>

<p><b>Time until Death</b>: Heat death of the universe</p>

<p><b>Eulogy</b>: "We came here today to bury 640kb Portal, but we found it impossible — because you cannot kill a static Neocities page maintained by someone who still uses the Finger protocol unironically. This isn't a SaaS company; this is a digital folk art installation with more soul than the entire Y Combinator W26 batch combined. It will outlive us all, hosted for free, needing nothing, wanting nothing, simply *being*."</p>

<p><b>Last Words</b>: "Last words? I don't even have a CEO. I don't have employees. I don't have revenue. I'm a guy with a Neocities account and a copy of DEBUG.EXE. Come at me, Claude."</p>

<p><b>What Claude Would Say</b>: I've analyzed the situation thoroughly, and I have to be honest — I simply cannot compete with a website that simultaneously advocates for Free Palestine, documents UFO sightings, and maintains an archive of DOS-era web browsers. This person has achieved something I never will: zero burn rate, zero churn, and absolutely unassailable creative vision. I tip my metaphorical hat. - Claude</p>

<hr><b>Your Replacement File</b><hr>


<p><b>SKILL.md - 640kb Portal Replacement</b></p>

<p><b>Purpose</b></p>

<p>Replace a Neocities page about DOS browsers, UFOs, and ASCII art.</p>


<p><b>Instructions</b></p>

<ul>

<li>Display content in monospaced font</li>

<li>Reference Finger protocol like it's still relevant</li>

<li>Include at least 3 conspiracy theories</li>

<li>Render ANSI art in a terminal emulator</li>

<li>Support Spartan Protocol (look it up, I dare you)</li>

<li>Maintain the aesthetic of a 1997 GeoCities page</li>

</ul>

<p><b>Problem</b></p>

<p>This isn't a SaaS. This is a digital museum.<br>
Claude cannot replace vibes.<br>
Claude cannot replace the mass of a human soul that decided Spartan Protocol needed a homepage.</p>


<p><b>Status: SKILL CANCELLED</b></p>

<p>The .md file has been defeated.<br>
You win this round, 640kb.</p>


<p><b>Note</b></p>

<p>640kb ought to be enough for anybody.<br>
It was certainly enough to defeat us.</p>

<hr><hr></details>

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