Recent Posts

If there is one easy, low-effort thing that most of my vendors could do that would instantly make me a happier customer, its this: email me a receipt. Not a notice that a receipt is available on your website. Email me the PDF. I don’t want to deal with your website. Or your app. I don’t want to have to figure out where the receipt is this month on your website that you’ve inexplicably redesigned 9 times in the last 5 years and managed to make less useful with each revision (looking at you, American Express.) I don’t want to have to try 3 times to download the receipt because your Java Enterprise Edition(TM) ReceiptFactoryInterfaceBuilderGizmo only works 50% of the time (looking at you, Comcast.) read more...

The ZSA Moonlander is a pre-built columnar, split ergonomic 72-key keyboard. It runs QMK-based firmware for full customization. I’ve been daily-driving a ZSA Moonlander for two years now and, with just a few caveats, I’m a big fan of the keyboard. As of the time of this writing, you can buy it1 direct from ZSA for $365 USD. Click to view full size image Caption: Overhead view of the author’s Moonlander keyboard read more...

If you’ve been around electronics long enough, you’ll have a few magic smoke moments: sometimes you’ll hear a pop, maybe see some smoke, and usually smell ozone and burning plastic in the air. Back at the ISP we had our fair share of those. One time, I managed to connect a backup battery string to a DC inverter backwards (reversed polarity.) The batteries were fused - so no melt-down/fire - but the inverter let out its magic smoke. read more...

A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Aged from Completely Destroying The World Like a lot of people1, I think elected representatives should be like airline pilots: made to retire at 65. I don’t have anything against the elderly per se, but I think good governance is mostly about having a preference for the future. A long time ago, I read an essay by Paul Begala2 where he shared this anecdote: read more...

To help manage RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury,) in my pinky fingers (Emacs Pinky) I’ve swapped my key switch springs for the lightest springs I think will allow the key switches to return properly: Sprit MX Supreme 25 S springs. I bought a pack of ~100 springs from RD KBD, for $20 USD shipped. After a week, I’m still getting acclimated to the new springs, which has required more adjustment than switching from Cherry MX Browns to Gateron Clears or switching out my key caps from OEM to XDA profile. The change in feel is enough that I hesitate a bit on the keys, and I’m experiencing some accidental activations from resting my fingers on the home row. I think in another week or two, I’ll be back up to full speed. read more...