Happy #8bitday yesterday! It was the 256th day of the year.
See last year’s post for why the 256th day is 8-Bit Day: https://tantek.com/2024/256/t1/happy-8bitday-binary-byte
Since last year, the related Wikipedia article on “Programmer’s Day” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmer%27s_Day) was updated to finally acknowledge worldwide observation of the day.
This year, inspired by the old 5k (bytes) competition (https://the5k.org/about.php), I suggested to a few friends that it may be possible to build an entire website where each resource fits into at most 8-bits worth of bytes. 255 bytes maximum size HTML, and maximum size of any linked external stylesheet, image, or even script file.
Constraints are key to good, creative, and often innovative design.
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2023/06/design-constraints-challenges-opportunities-practical-strategies/
I have some ideas for how to create meaningful HTML documents in ≤ 255 bytes. I also have some experience with creating interesting style sheets under similar constraints with the invention of TSS (Tweet Style Sheets or Text Style Sheets) at the 2010 Twitter Annotations Hackfest (#tanhf). TSS links and details on https://indieweb.org/TSS
Intuitively I think a home page ≤255 bytes may be the most challenging, like displaying and linking to a stream of posts, in addition to basic about info. Post permalinks could display short notes (like old 140 character posts), requiring pagination to view anything longer. Images would be another interesting challenge, since even a 32x32 black & white (1-bit) icon would already be 128 bytes. What can fit into a 255 byte PNG or JPEG?, nevermind SVG, which will be much harder than HTML due to its much longer tags and attributes.
The archived FAQ for the5k competition is a good start for answering various questions about how to build an "8-bit" website: https://web.archive.org/web/20050310075803/http://www.the5k.org:80/2001faq.asp
I would add to that proper use of progressive enhancement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_enhancement), that is, all the content on a page is viewable, and all links, buttons, forms etc. work without loading any scripts.
Besides the5k.org, have there been any similar challenges or competitions for 1k bytes, or 512 bytes? Why did Stewart pick 5k bytes instead of something smaller?
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-14 16:36-0700",
"url": "https://tantek.com/2025/257/t1/happy-8bitday-255-bytes-max",
"category": [
"8bitday"
],
"content": {
"text": "Happy #8bitday yesterday! It was the 256th day of the year.\n\nSee last year\u2019s post for why the 256th day is 8-Bit Day: https://tantek.com/2024/256/t1/happy-8bitday-binary-byte\n\nSince last year, the related Wikipedia article on \u201cProgrammer\u2019s Day\u201d (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmer%27s_Day) was updated to finally acknowledge worldwide observation of the day.\n\nThis year, inspired by the old 5k (bytes) competition (https://the5k.org/about.php), I suggested to a few friends that it may be possible to build an entire website where each resource fits into at most 8-bits worth of bytes. 255 bytes maximum size HTML, and maximum size of any linked external stylesheet, image, or even script file.\n\nConstraints are key to good, creative, and often innovative design.\nhttps://www.smashingmagazine.com/2023/06/design-constraints-challenges-opportunities-practical-strategies/\n\nI have some ideas for how to create meaningful HTML documents in \u2264 255 bytes. I also have some experience with creating interesting style sheets under similar constraints with the invention of TSS (Tweet Style Sheets or Text Style Sheets) at the 2010 Twitter Annotations Hackfest (#tanhf). TSS links and details on https://indieweb.org/TSS\n\nIntuitively I think a home page \u2264255 bytes may be the most challenging, like displaying and linking to a stream of posts, in addition to basic about info. Post permalinks could display short notes (like old 140 character posts), requiring pagination to view anything longer. Images would be another interesting challenge, since even a 32x32 black & white (1-bit) icon would already be 128 bytes. What can fit into a 255 byte PNG or JPEG?, nevermind SVG, which will be much harder than HTML due to its much longer tags and attributes.\n\nThe archived FAQ for the5k competition is a good start for answering various questions about how to build an \"8-bit\" website: https://web.archive.org/web/20050310075803/http://www.the5k.org:80/2001faq.asp\nI would add to that proper use of progressive enhancement (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_enhancement), that is, all the content on a page is viewable, and all links, buttons, forms etc. work without loading any scripts.\n\nBesides the5k.org, have there been any similar challenges or competitions for 1k bytes, or 512 bytes? Why did Stewart pick 5k bytes instead of something smaller?",
"html": "Happy #<span class=\"p-category\">8bitday</span> yesterday! It was the 256th day of the year.<br /><br />See last year\u2019s post for why the 256th day is 8-Bit Day: <a href=\"https://tantek.com/2024/256/t1/happy-8bitday-binary-byte\">https://tantek.com/2024/256/t1/happy-8bitday-binary-byte</a><br /><br />Since last year, the related Wikipedia article on \u201cProgrammer\u2019s Day\u201d (<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmer%27s_Day\">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmer%27s_Day</a>) was updated to finally acknowledge worldwide observation of the day.<br /><br />This year, inspired by the old 5k (bytes) competition (<a href=\"https://the5k.org/about.php\">https://the5k.org/about.php</a>), I suggested to a few friends that it may be possible to build an entire website where each resource fits into at most 8-bits worth of bytes. 255 bytes maximum size HTML, and maximum size of any linked external stylesheet, image, or even script file.<br /><br />Constraints are key to good, creative, and often innovative design.<br /><a href=\"https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2023/06/design-constraints-challenges-opportunities-practical-strategies/\">https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2023/06/design-constraints-challenges-opportunities-practical-strategies/</a><br /><br />I have some ideas for how to create meaningful HTML documents in \u2264 255 bytes. I also have some experience with creating interesting style sheets under similar constraints with the invention of TSS (Tweet Style Sheets or Text Style Sheets) at the 2010 Twitter Annotations Hackfest (#tanhf). TSS links and details on <a href=\"https://indieweb.org/TSS\">https://indieweb.org/TSS</a><br /><br />Intuitively I think a home page \u2264255 bytes may be the most challenging, like displaying and linking to a stream of posts, in addition to basic about info. Post permalinks could display short notes (like old 140 character posts), requiring pagination to view anything longer. Images would be another interesting challenge, since even a 32x32 black & white (1-bit) icon would already be 128 bytes. What can fit into a 255 byte PNG or JPEG?, nevermind SVG, which will be much harder than HTML due to its much longer tags and attributes.<br /><br />The archived FAQ for the5k competition is a good start for answering various questions about how to build an \"8-bit\" website: <a href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20050310075803/http://www.the5k.org:80/2001faq.asp\">https://web.archive.org/web/20050310075803/http://www.the5k.org:80/2001faq.asp</a><br />I would add to that proper use of progressive enhancement (<a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_enhancement\">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_enhancement</a>), that is, all the content on a page is viewable, and all links, buttons, forms etc. work without loading any scripts.<br /><br />Besides <a href=\"http://the5k.org\">the5k.org</a>, have there been any similar challenges or competitions for 1k bytes, or 512 bytes? Why did Stewart pick 5k bytes instead of something smaller?"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Tantek \u00c7elik",
"url": "https://tantek.com/",
"photo": "https://tantek.com/photo.jpg"
},
"post-type": "note",
"_id": "45950738",
"_source": "2460"
}
Made a plan for upgrading the drives in a couple of my NASs. A lot of these 6TB drives are over 5 years old and two of them already failed so I'm sure the rest will be next soon. When I'm done with this migration, I'll end up with 36TB on the primary NAS, and 30TB on the backup NAS.
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-06T13:04:45-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/06/13/",
"category": [
"365"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/f32bf1b0f74a4e4f93f84d734d581b3bde99281f426264be8043f7b1673ac064.jpg"
],
"content": {
"text": "Made a plan for upgrading the drives in a couple of my NASs. A lot of these 6TB drives are over 5 years old and two of them already failed so I'm sure the rest will be next soon. When I'm done with this migration, I'll end up with 36TB on the primary NAS, and 30TB on the backup NAS."
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"post-type": "photo",
"_id": "45946725",
"_source": "16"
}
Did all the prep work for this live edge table and got it cut down to size, but then realized we bought the wrong kind of epoxy so the pour has to start tomorrow.
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-13T16:51:44-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/13/23/",
"category": [
"365",
"triplex"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/2885b26b0ce5a7a004339705831acda3b7aef36b4d95ede24b759ae5270d1485.jpg"
],
"syndication": [
"https://micro.blog/aaronpk/73532975"
],
"content": {
"text": "Did all the prep work for this live edge table and got it cut down to size, but then realized we bought the wrong kind of epoxy so the pour has to start tomorrow."
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"post-type": "photo",
"_id": "45946679",
"_source": "16"
}
Cranking through the old 8mm tapes again! These are so old they don't play back well on the 2001-era camcorder, but this Japanese 8mm tape deck handles them just fine!
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-12T11:15:46-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/12/17/",
"category": [
"365"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/837b988a5bb9359c32df3ac1b117f12183a72131712e72c2b93c13370e8b53d8.jpg"
],
"content": {
"text": "Cranking through the old 8mm tapes again! These are so old they don't play back well on the 2001-era camcorder, but this Japanese 8mm tape deck handles them just fine!"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"post-type": "photo",
"_id": "45946566",
"_source": "16"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-13T12:53:50-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/13/12/",
"category": [
"https://anomalily.world/"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/71c9488b00f2ceedaa3fc45c9d8f9d8d5011440aa60c5ebe927c00b6391c8f7a.jpg"
],
"syndication": [
"https://www.swarmapp.com/user/59164/checkin/68c5cbcee1c1c53826e60ed1"
],
"name": "at Woodcrafters",
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"checkin": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Woodcrafters",
"latitude": "45.52471",
"longitude": "-122.65919",
"url": "https://foursquare.com/v/4ac8ea68f964a52042bd20e3"
},
"post-type": "checkin",
"_id": "45941100",
"_source": "16"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-13T09:15:20-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/13/8/",
"category": [
"https://anomalily.world/"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/d65cc9f029cce1948bd4a1d6a7b170ab7e5b76e8fc80f49dcb4918130a66484f.jpg"
],
"syndication": [
"https://www.swarmapp.com/user/59164/checkin/68c598989236e638a8478445"
],
"name": "at Bernstein\u2019s Bagels",
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"checkin": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Bernstein\u2019s Bagels",
"latitude": "45.540852",
"longitude": "-122.675024",
"url": "https://foursquare.com/v/5c27d1ac3ba767002ceb98e1"
},
"post-type": "checkin",
"_id": "45939658",
"_source": "16"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-13T08:35:48-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/13/5/",
"category": [
"https://anomalily.world/"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/f1666bd17a74fe90d65df2e31b646ecd555b972c925dde2ca7ca7e620c36065f.jpg"
],
"syndication": [
"https://www.swarmapp.com/user/59164/checkin/68c58f54ae888b1503bf560c"
],
"name": "at Pearl Hardware",
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"checkin": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Pearl Hardware",
"latitude": "45.526676",
"longitude": "-122.68752",
"url": "https://foursquare.com/v/4ab7dfddf964a5203b7b20e3"
},
"post-type": "checkin",
"_id": "45939302",
"_source": "16"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-13T08:28:13-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/13/4/",
"category": [
"https://anomalily.world/"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/b5340adf6ac00046428ad6818998762918c48a23b31521b63da1b465987703a7.jpg"
],
"syndication": [
"https://www.swarmapp.com/user/59164/checkin/68c58d8d8084b74280996a8a"
],
"name": "at Broadway Bridge",
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"checkin": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Broadway Bridge",
"latitude": "45.531155",
"longitude": "-122.675535",
"url": "https://foursquare.com/v/4a988cb1f964a520aa2c20e3"
},
"post-type": "checkin",
"_id": "45939259",
"_source": "16"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-12 15:26-0700",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/2025/09/to-read-kitchen-confidential/",
"syndication": [
"https://www.goodreads.com/read_statuses/9910488378"
],
"content": {
"text": "Want to read: Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain (ISBN 9780060899226)",
"html": "<p>Want to read: <span class=\"p-read-of h-cite\"><a class=\"u-url\" href=\"https://gregorlove.com/isbn/9780060899226\">Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly</a> by <span class=\"p-author\">Anthony Bourdain</span> (ISBN <span class=\"p-uid\">9780060899226</span>)</span></p>"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "gRegor Morrill",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/",
"photo": "https://gregorlove.com/site/assets/files/6268/profile-2021-square.300x0.jpg"
},
"post-type": "note",
"_id": "45933971",
"_source": "95"
}
I set up this box to be able to route phone calls from my FreePBX into my studio recording gear. Why? Just to see if I could I guess.
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-11T13:12:03-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/11/13/",
"category": [
"phone",
"voip",
"pbx",
"365"
],
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/539854f67cfb7be1a288ae9c210b9482de286ea22399d3a3a894efc1ed83f71f.jpg"
],
"content": {
"text": "I set up this box to be able to route phone calls from my FreePBX into my studio recording gear. Why? Just to see if I could I guess."
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"post-type": "photo",
"_id": "45931663",
"_source": "16"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"author": {
"name": "Jared White",
"url": "https://jaredwhite.com/",
"photo": null
},
"url": "https://jaredwhite.com/links/20250911/sabrina-carpenter-post-feminist",
"published": "2025-09-11T23:01:59-07:00",
"content": {
"html": "<blockquote>\n <h2><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/09/07/sabrina-carpenter-vmas-performance-2025/86031189007/\"></a></h2>\n\n <p>After she made a grand entrance by emerging from a manhole in the stage, the princess of lyrical sexual innuendos sang and danced onstage alongside a cast of backup dancers that seemingly included drag performers, mirroring the song\u2019s music video that featured Colman Domingo in drag.</p>\n\n<p>Before heading into a second round of the chorus, the performers pulled out picket signs with messages such as \u201cprotect trans rights,\u201d \u201cDolls dolls dolls,\u201d \u201cIn trans we trust\u201d and \u201cIf you hate you\u2019ll never get laid.\u201d</p>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>I am <strong>fascinated</strong> by the new album <em>Man\u2019s Best Friend</em> by Sabrina Carpenter, and I have so many thoughts.</p>\n\n<p>Back when she really blew up in pop culture (at least to my knowledge) with the release of her massive hit <em>Espresso</em>, my casual impression was she\u2019s got real talent (I really do dig that song!) but it\u2019s kind of weird that she\u2019s going for the blonde bombshell sex symbol callback to Marilyn Monroe or whatever. Is that still a thing?!</p>\n\n<p>And <a href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/Feminism/comments/1e9mebs/help_me_understand_sabrina_carpenter_and_the/\">comment threads like this on Reddit</a> echo those sorts of questions. This year in particular, I have been dismayed by the sudden lurch into a sort of \u201cwhite (supremacist) cis <a href=\"https://jaredwhite.com/tag/gender\">#gender</a> beauty\u201d aesthetic most epitomized by Sydney Sweeney\u2019s \u201cGot Great Jeans\u201d brouhaha. It <em>could</em> have been the case that Carpenter\u2019s vibe dips a toe into those same nauseating waters.</p>\n\n<p><strong>But nothing could be further from the truth!</strong></p>\n\n<p>As the link above indicates, Carpenter is going out of her way to support drag queens and trans people in an era when both groups are under alarming and vicious attack. Bravo! And you know you\u2019re in good company when <a href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/pedro-pascal-supports-sabrina-carpenter-150132226.html?guccounter=1\">Pedro Pascal</a> comes out in support of you!</p>\n\n<p>But more than that, <em>Man\u2019s Best Friend</em> is itself chock full of subtle digs at toxic masculinity, wrapped up in a very clever package which I think is Carpenter\u2019s superpower: <strong>humorous sexiness</strong>. The song <em>Tears</em> in particular is sheer brilliance. It\u2019s a fun catchy song, but if you pay attention to the lyrics, <strong>it absolutely kicks incel culture in the balls:</strong></p>\n\n<blockquote>\n <p>I get wet at the thought of you<br />Being a responsible guy<br />Treating me like you\u2019re supposed to do<br />Tears run down my thighs</p>\n\n <p>A little respect for women can get you very, very far<br />Remembering how to use your phone gets me oh so, oh so, oh so hot<br />Considering I have feelings, I\u2019m like, \u201cWhy are my clothes still on?\u201d<br />Offering to do anything, I\u2019m like, \u201cOh my God\u201d</p>\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23</p>\n\n<p><strong>Best. Song. Of. The. Year.</strong> \ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f</p>\n\n<p>I think there\u2019s something special about this secret sauce which is that Sabrina Carpenter looks, sounds, and acts like the polar opposite of a \u201cwoke feminist scold\u201d \u2026yet draws some real lines in the cultural sand. <em>Treat LGBTQ+ people well. Respect women. Don\u2019t be a dumbass, or guess what? You\u2019re <a href=\"https://genius.com/Sabrina-carpenter-never-getting-laid-lyrics\">never getting laid</a>!</em></p>\n\n<p>P.S. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9vuCByb6js\">Have you seen her totally unhinged music video yet? (Colman Domingo in drag!)</a></p>",
"text": "After she made a grand entrance by emerging from a manhole in the stage, the princess of lyrical sexual innuendos sang and danced onstage alongside a cast of backup dancers that seemingly included drag performers, mirroring the song\u2019s music video that featured Colman Domingo in drag.\n\nBefore heading into a second round of the chorus, the performers pulled out picket signs with messages such as \u201cprotect trans rights,\u201d \u201cDolls dolls dolls,\u201d \u201cIn trans we trust\u201d and \u201cIf you hate you\u2019ll never get laid.\u201d\n\n\n\nI am fascinated by the new album Man\u2019s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter, and I have so many thoughts.\n\nBack when she really blew up in pop culture (at least to my knowledge) with the release of her massive hit Espresso, my casual impression was she\u2019s got real talent (I really do dig that song!) but it\u2019s kind of weird that she\u2019s going for the blonde bombshell sex symbol callback to Marilyn Monroe or whatever. Is that still a thing?!\n\nAnd comment threads like this on Reddit echo those sorts of questions. This year in particular, I have been dismayed by the sudden lurch into a sort of \u201cwhite (supremacist) cis #gender beauty\u201d aesthetic most epitomized by Sydney Sweeney\u2019s \u201cGot Great Jeans\u201d brouhaha. It could have been the case that Carpenter\u2019s vibe dips a toe into those same nauseating waters.\n\nBut nothing could be further from the truth!\n\nAs the link above indicates, Carpenter is going out of her way to support drag queens and trans people in an era when both groups are under alarming and vicious attack. Bravo! And you know you\u2019re in good company when Pedro Pascal comes out in support of you!\n\nBut more than that, Man\u2019s Best Friend is itself chock full of subtle digs at toxic masculinity, wrapped up in a very clever package which I think is Carpenter\u2019s superpower: humorous sexiness. The song Tears in particular is sheer brilliance. It\u2019s a fun catchy song, but if you pay attention to the lyrics, it absolutely kicks incel culture in the balls:\n\n\n I get wet at the thought of you\nBeing a responsible guy\nTreating me like you\u2019re supposed to do\nTears run down my thighs\n\n A little respect for women can get you very, very far\nRemembering how to use your phone gets me oh so, oh so, oh so hot\nConsidering I have feelings, I\u2019m like, \u201cWhy are my clothes still on?\u201d\nOffering to do anything, I\u2019m like, \u201cOh my God\u201d\n\n\n\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\n\nBest. Song. Of. The. Year. \ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\ud83d\udc4f\n\nI think there\u2019s something special about this secret sauce which is that Sabrina Carpenter looks, sounds, and acts like the polar opposite of a \u201cwoke feminist scold\u201d \u2026yet draws some real lines in the cultural sand. Treat LGBTQ+ people well. Respect women. Don\u2019t be a dumbass, or guess what? You\u2019re never getting laid!\n\nP.S. Have you seen her totally unhinged music video yet? (Colman Domingo in drag!)"
},
"name": "Link: Sabrina Carpenter is the Post-Feminist Icon We Need",
"post-type": "article",
"_id": "45925659",
"_source": "2783"
}
I watched Local Hero for the August IndieWeb Movie Club. I went into it knowing nothing about it and quite enjoyed it. There was some great, subtle humor in it and a surprisingly young Peter Capaldi (25!). It unfolded slowly but never felt slow or boring. I think it is one I would definitely re-watch sometime. Thanks for the recommendation, Thomas!
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-11 18:52-0700",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/2025/09/i-watched-local-hero/",
"category": [
"indieweb",
"movies"
],
"syndication": [
"https://bsky.app/profile/gregorlove.com/post/3lym6dcgrdu2t"
],
"content": {
"text": "I watched Local Hero for the August IndieWeb Movie Club. I went into it knowing nothing about it and quite enjoyed it. There was some great, subtle humor in it and a surprisingly young Peter Capaldi (25!). It unfolded slowly but never felt slow or boring. I think it is one I would definitely re-watch sometime. Thanks for the recommendation, Thomas!",
"html": "<p>I watched <i><a href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Hero_(film)\">Local Hero</a></i> for the <a href=\"https://www.vanderwal.net/random/entrysel.php?blog=2128\">August IndieWeb Movie Club</a>. I went into it knowing nothing about it and quite enjoyed it. There was some great, subtle humor in it and a surprisingly young Peter Capaldi (25!). It unfolded slowly but never <em>felt</em> slow or boring. I think it is one I would definitely re-watch sometime. Thanks for the recommendation, Thomas!</p>"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "gRegor Morrill",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/",
"photo": "https://gregorlove.com/site/assets/files/6268/profile-2021-square.300x0.jpg"
},
"post-type": "note",
"_id": "45924659",
"_source": "95"
}
Have we come up with a better question than “how are you?” I haven’t known how to answer that for a while now; it changes frequently.
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-11 15:37-0700",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/2025/09/have-we-come-up/",
"syndication": [
"https://bsky.app/profile/gregorlove.com/post/3lylsvyuvi62c"
],
"content": {
"text": "Have we come up with a better question than \u201chow are you?\u201d I haven\u2019t known how to answer that for a while now; it changes frequently.",
"html": "<p>Have we come up with a better question than \u201chow are you?\u201d I haven\u2019t known how to answer that for a while now; it changes frequently.</p>"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "gRegor Morrill",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/",
"photo": "https://gregorlove.com/site/assets/files/6268/profile-2021-square.300x0.jpg"
},
"post-type": "note",
"_id": "45923316",
"_source": "95"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-09T11:21:16-07:00",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/2025/09/09/6/",
"photo": [
"https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/0487785e887f8e21afe220edda46928a1d1cd7b24836e7b07bf22f1746ccaf8a.jpg"
],
"syndication": [
"https://www.swarmapp.com/user/59164/checkin/68c0701c3f6e9a6a83bbd5b7"
],
"name": "at US Post Office",
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Aaron Parecki",
"url": "https://aaronparecki.com/",
"photo": "https://aperture-media.p3k.io/aaronparecki.com/41061f9de825966faa22e9c42830e1d4a614a321213b4575b9488aa93f89817a.jpg"
},
"checkin": {
"type": "card",
"name": "US Post Office",
"latitude": "45.535975",
"longitude": "-122.657256",
"url": "https://foursquare.com/v/4ace0f96f964a52021ce20e3"
},
"post-type": "checkin",
"_id": "45922196",
"_source": "16"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"author": {
"name": "Jared White",
"url": "https://jaredwhite.com/",
"photo": null
},
"url": "https://jaredwhite.com/links/20250910/strange-bedfellows",
"published": "2025-09-10T23:38:00-07:00",
"content": {
"html": "<blockquote>\n <h2><a href=\"https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/09/ai-vs-maga-populists-alarmed-by-trumps-embrace-of-ai-big-tech/\"></a></h2>\n\n <p>Flanked by Silicon Valley\u2019s most powerful executives in the White House last week, Melania Trump hailed artificial intelligence as potentially \u201cthe greatest engine of progress in the history of the United States of America.\u201d</p>\n\n<p>Less than a mile from the first lady, in a hotel ballroom packed with MAGA faithful, top Republican Josh Hawley had a different message.</p>\n\n<p>AI \u201cthreatens the common man\u2019s liberty\u201d and could even undermine the Republic itself, the senior US senator from Missouri said.</p>\n\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>It is <strong>fascinating</strong> just how different the <a href=\"https://jaredwhite.com/tag/politics\">#politics</a> of the various corners of American society which are taking a stand against the unchecked power of Big Tech are. People from the far left and the far right, who normally wouldn\u2019t agree on virtually <em>anything</em>, suddenly find themselves in uncomfortable alignment when speaking out against the current and future horrors of <a href=\"https://jaredwhite.com/tag/generativeai\">#generativeAI</a> and the concentration of power in Silicon Valley. I can\u2019t say I\u2019m too keen on this development\u2014finding myself nodding at any sentence uttered by Josh Hawley <strong>makes my stomach churn</strong>\u2014but the ways in which both die-hard Trumpists and mushy moderate Democratic corporatists have both given Big Tech/Big AI undeserved leeway to peddle these Torment Nexus freakshows means <strong>we need to cheer a dash of common sense wherever we may find it.</strong></p>",
"text": "Flanked by Silicon Valley\u2019s most powerful executives in the White House last week, Melania Trump hailed artificial intelligence as potentially \u201cthe greatest engine of progress in the history of the United States of America.\u201d\n\nLess than a mile from the first lady, in a hotel ballroom packed with MAGA faithful, top Republican Josh Hawley had a different message.\n\nAI \u201cthreatens the common man\u2019s liberty\u201d and could even undermine the Republic itself, the senior US senator from Missouri said.\n\n\n\nIt is fascinating just how different the #politics of the various corners of American society which are taking a stand against the unchecked power of Big Tech are. People from the far left and the far right, who normally wouldn\u2019t agree on virtually anything, suddenly find themselves in uncomfortable alignment when speaking out against the current and future horrors of #generativeAI and the concentration of power in Silicon Valley. I can\u2019t say I\u2019m too keen on this development\u2014finding myself nodding at any sentence uttered by Josh Hawley makes my stomach churn\u2014but the ways in which both die-hard Trumpists and mushy moderate Democratic corporatists have both given Big Tech/Big AI undeserved leeway to peddle these Torment Nexus freakshows means we need to cheer a dash of common sense wherever we may find it."
},
"name": "Link: Strange Bedfellows",
"post-type": "article",
"_id": "45917653",
"_source": "2783"
}
“Aziz, light!” Time for a re-watch of The Fifth Element.
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-10 20:14-0700",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/2025/09/aziz-light/",
"syndication": [
"https://bsky.app/profile/gregorlove.com/post/3lyjrvngvtr2o"
],
"content": {
"text": "\u201cAziz, light!\u201d Time for a re-watch of The Fifth Element.",
"html": "<p>\u201cAziz, light!\u201d Time for a re-watch of The Fifth Element.</p>"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "gRegor Morrill",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/",
"photo": "https://gregorlove.com/site/assets/files/6268/profile-2021-square.300x0.jpg"
},
"post-type": "note",
"_id": "45914817",
"_source": "95"
}
“Happy” March 2020, 2020. Year 5½ of “two weeks to flatten the curve”. 🫠
I was able to get the updated COVID-19 booster, today. Nice to see some systems are working.
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-10T11:09:44-0400",
"url": "https://martymcgui.re/2025/09/10/110944/",
"content": {
"text": "\u201cHappy\u201d March 2020, 2020. Year 5\u00bd of \u201ctwo weeks to flatten the curve\u201d. \ud83e\udee0\nI was able to get the updated COVID-19 booster, today. Nice to see some systems are working.",
"html": "<p>\u201cHappy\u201d March 2020, 2020. Year 5\u00bd of \u201ctwo weeks to flatten the curve\u201d. \ud83e\udee0</p>\n<p>I was able to get the updated COVID-19 booster, today. Nice to see some systems are working.</p>"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Marty McGuire",
"url": "https://martymcgui.re/",
"photo": "https://martymcgui.re/images/logo.jpg"
},
"post-type": "note",
"_id": "45910446",
"_source": "175"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-10T05:11:13+00:00",
"url": "https://cleverdevil.io/2025/birdhouse-20-done-next-an-eichler-inspired-birdhouse-for-our-la",
"photo": [
"https://cleverdevil.io/file/9e0365799530af50c1f1e34b88026a67/thumb.jpg",
"https://cleverdevil.io/file/28442438c0879a0cd5da3d7b7390ed0e/thumb.png"
],
"syndication": [
"https://cleverdevil.club/@jonathan/115178279720851141",
"https://bsky.app/profile/cleverdevil.io/post/3lyhhtosuay2n"
],
"name": "Birdhouse 2.0 done! Next, an Eichler-inspired birdhouse for our LA Home",
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "Jonathan LaCour",
"url": "https://cleverdevil.io/profile/cleverdevil",
"photo": "https://cleverdevil.io/file/e37c3982acf4f0a8421d085b9971cd71/thumb.jpg"
},
"post-type": "photo",
"_id": "45904841",
"_source": "10"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"published": "2025-09-09 17:53-0700",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/2025/09/lessons-custom-wordpress-plugins/",
"category": [
"WordPress",
"dev"
],
"syndication": [
"https://news.indieweb.org/en",
"https://bsky.app/profile/gregorlove.com/post/3lyh2onz5lv2s"
],
"name": "Lessons for custom WordPress plugins and themes",
"content": {
"text": "I was reminded of this WordPress issue that has bitten me twice now, so it\u2019s definitely time to document it.\n\nShort version: If you write a custom WordPress theme or plugin only for your site, you probably want to include Update URI: false in the header comment. This stops WordPress from checking for updates against the official directories and potentially overwriting your code. Read more in the official blog post.\n\nLonger version: When WordPress checks for updates to plugins and themes, it is basically checking the name and the version number against the official directories. If there is a newer version, then it prompts you to install the update. This generally works fine until you consider more generically-named things. For example, years ago for a work client, we set up a member directory plugin that we very aptly named... \u201cmember directory.\u201d Later, the client saw there was a new version available so clicked \u201cupdate\u201d and suddenly the directory stopped working.\n\nYep, the WordPress update system didn\u2019t really have a way to differentiate generically-named plugins. The update process replaced our custom plugin with the one in the official plugin list. We have backups so it was an easy fix, but it was baffling to find out that could even happen. I tracked down a WordPress issue discussing it and chimed in with my +1.\n\nThankfully there was an update in version 5.8, but it still requires developers to opt-out by adding a line to the header comment. We were bitten by this again today with a third-party plugin called \u201ccustom post types.\u201d No, not that one.\n\nLessons for custom plugins and themes:\n\nUse Update URI: false in the header comment to disable update checks\n\tOptional, but a good practice: use more specific names. Prefixing the name with the client/organization goes a long way to making unique names.",
"html": "<p>I was reminded of this WordPress issue that has bitten me twice now, so it\u2019s definitely time to document it.</p>\n\n<p><b>Short version:</b> If you write a custom WordPress theme or plugin only for your site, you probably want to include <code>Update URI: false</code> in the <a href=\"https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/plugin-basics/header-requirements/\">header comment</a>. This stops WordPress from checking for updates against the official directories and potentially overwriting your code. Read more in <a href=\"https://make.wordpress.org/core/2021/06/29/introducing-update-uri-plugin-header-in-wordpress-5-8/\">the official blog post</a>.</p>\n\n<p><b>Longer version:</b> When WordPress checks for updates to plugins and themes, it is basically checking the name and the version number against the official directories. If there is a newer version, then it prompts you to install the update. This generally works fine until you consider more generically-named things. For example, years ago for a work client, we set up a member directory plugin that we very aptly named... \u201cmember directory.\u201d Later, the client saw there was a new version available so clicked \u201cupdate\u201d and suddenly the directory stopped working.</p>\n\n<p>Yep, the WordPress update system didn\u2019t really have a way to differentiate generically-named plugins. The update process replaced our custom plugin with the one in the official plugin list. We have backups so it was an easy fix, but it was baffling to find out that could even happen. I tracked down a <a href=\"https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/32101\">WordPress issue</a> discussing it and <a href=\"https://gregorlove.com/2020/06/issue-ability-to-mark-plugin/\">chimed in with my +1</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Thankfully there was an update in version 5.8, but it still requires developers to opt-out by adding a line to the header comment. We were bitten by this again today with a third-party plugin called \u201ccustom post types.\u201d No, <a href=\"https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-post-types/\">not that one</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Lessons for custom plugins and themes:</p>\n\n<ul><li>Use <code>Update URI: false</code> in the header comment to disable update checks</li>\n\t<li>Optional, but a good practice: use more specific names. Prefixing the name with the client/organization goes a long way to making unique names.</li>\n</ul>"
},
"author": {
"type": "card",
"name": "gRegor Morrill",
"url": "https://gregorlove.com/",
"photo": "https://gregorlove.com/site/assets/files/6268/profile-2021-square.300x0.jpg"
},
"post-type": "article",
"_id": "45904615",
"_source": "95"
}
{
"type": "entry",
"author": {
"name": "Jared White",
"url": "https://jaredwhite.com/",
"photo": null
},
"url": "https://jaredwhite.com/20250909/splitsville-should-have-been-better",
"published": "2025-09-09T22:22:24-07:00",
"content": {
"html": "<p>Most disappointing film of the year for me so far; <em>Splitsville</em> is a project which looks absolutely incredible on paper. The \u201cbones\u201d of the story are certainly compelling. And what\u2019s not to love about seeing Dakota Johnson AND Adria Arjona on screen at the same time?! In a madcap screwball comedy about the confusing complexities of modern love, hard breakups, and \u201copen relationships\u201d no less!</p>\n\n<p>Unfortunately, while the execution of the filmmaking is generally quite good (direction, acting, wild antics, laugh-out-loud moments), the story suffers greatly from a sense of self-indulgence (they could have easily trimmed 15-20 minutes off of this\u2026it weirdly felt much longer than <em>Materialists</em> even though it was actually shorter than the latter\u2014a far superior film I might add). But not just that, I found the \u201csexual politics\u201d of the plot to be <strong>shockingly regressive.</strong> In an era when I am very sensitive to the rolling back of progressive ideas around relationships, identity, sexuality, and family structures, it is disheartening to watch a film that\u2014again on paper appears pretty bold and envelope-pushing\u2014falls back on oh-so-familiar tropes which are so outdated I felt emotionally manipulated.</p>\n\n<p>So many beats came across as \u201cwe don\u2019t understand what makes any of those progressive millennial hippies tick but it seems funny so we\u2019ll riff on that\u201d sort of humor, which ends up making the whole thing feel\u2026ignorant. Without giving too much away, one of the lead characters at one point is temporarily dating someone of the same gender. And at first, I\u2019m impressed to see bisexuality depicted on screen where it\u2019s not immediately the butt of jokes. And yet! That moment is gone nearly as quickly as it began and <em>nobody ever addresses it or references it ever again</em>. Ever. Not even the slightest comment of like \u201coh, I never realized you were bi\u201d or even \u201chey, I thought you\u2019d decided that wasn\u2019t for you, but sure OK I\u2019m cool with it.\u201d <strong>Nothing.</strong></p>\n\n<p>And that sort of clueless treatment of potentially complex and even contentious topics is rife throughout the whole movie. It\u2019s always how do we get to the next really dumb, completely over-the-top joke (but very cleverly timed and executed so it provides the illusion of being clever). Again, this feels to me like one of those <a href=\"https://jaredwhite.com/tag/movies\">#movies</a> that at its core is culturally conservative and regressive yet wraps itself in a cloak of modern edginess. Which is truly a shame because we <em>need</em> more retro-inspired screwball comedies in cinema that can good-naturedly poke fun at how silly we humans are even in a culture of earnest enlightenment.</p>\n\n<p>I know next to nothing about the filmmakers behind <em>Splitsville</em>, but if they were to ask me how they could have made this better (not that they would ever have reason to!), I would have suggested they spend more time observing real relationships in open marriages, real polyamory, queer relationships, BDSM relationships (learn a thing or two about <em>informed consent</em> ya dorks!), and just basically anything other than <em>he-hawing</em> over who has a bigger dick and which girl is pining for which man now. \ud83d\ude44</p>",
"text": "Most disappointing film of the year for me so far; Splitsville is a project which looks absolutely incredible on paper. The \u201cbones\u201d of the story are certainly compelling. And what\u2019s not to love about seeing Dakota Johnson AND Adria Arjona on screen at the same time?! In a madcap screwball comedy about the confusing complexities of modern love, hard breakups, and \u201copen relationships\u201d no less!\n\nUnfortunately, while the execution of the filmmaking is generally quite good (direction, acting, wild antics, laugh-out-loud moments), the story suffers greatly from a sense of self-indulgence (they could have easily trimmed 15-20 minutes off of this\u2026it weirdly felt much longer than Materialists even though it was actually shorter than the latter\u2014a far superior film I might add). But not just that, I found the \u201csexual politics\u201d of the plot to be shockingly regressive. In an era when I am very sensitive to the rolling back of progressive ideas around relationships, identity, sexuality, and family structures, it is disheartening to watch a film that\u2014again on paper appears pretty bold and envelope-pushing\u2014falls back on oh-so-familiar tropes which are so outdated I felt emotionally manipulated.\n\nSo many beats came across as \u201cwe don\u2019t understand what makes any of those progressive millennial hippies tick but it seems funny so we\u2019ll riff on that\u201d sort of humor, which ends up making the whole thing feel\u2026ignorant. Without giving too much away, one of the lead characters at one point is temporarily dating someone of the same gender. And at first, I\u2019m impressed to see bisexuality depicted on screen where it\u2019s not immediately the butt of jokes. And yet! That moment is gone nearly as quickly as it began and nobody ever addresses it or references it ever again. Ever. Not even the slightest comment of like \u201coh, I never realized you were bi\u201d or even \u201chey, I thought you\u2019d decided that wasn\u2019t for you, but sure OK I\u2019m cool with it.\u201d Nothing.\n\nAnd that sort of clueless treatment of potentially complex and even contentious topics is rife throughout the whole movie. It\u2019s always how do we get to the next really dumb, completely over-the-top joke (but very cleverly timed and executed so it provides the illusion of being clever). Again, this feels to me like one of those #movies that at its core is culturally conservative and regressive yet wraps itself in a cloak of modern edginess. Which is truly a shame because we need more retro-inspired screwball comedies in cinema that can good-naturedly poke fun at how silly we humans are even in a culture of earnest enlightenment.\n\nI know next to nothing about the filmmakers behind Splitsville, but if they were to ask me how they could have made this better (not that they would ever have reason to!), I would have suggested they spend more time observing real relationships in open marriages, real polyamory, queer relationships, BDSM relationships (learn a thing or two about informed consent ya dorks!), and just basically anything other than he-hawing over who has a bigger dick and which girl is pining for which man now. \ud83d\ude44"
},
"name": "\u201cSplitsville\u201d Could & Should Have Been Much Better",
"post-type": "article",
"_id": "45904560",
"_source": "2783"
}
