I began my technical journey by tinkering with audio files in 1996, which led me to explore early DOS graphics programs like Image72 and the first Visual Basic releases, eventually mastering HTML through FrontPage and Photoshop for graphic design; this self‑paced learning continued as I transitioned between jobs—first celebrating a 21st birthday at a bar, then diving into ASP, Perl (via FormMail), PHP, Bash, ActionScript, SQL, and Java before embracing Node.js to unify front‑end, back‑end, and desktop development with Electron; alongside this tech evolution I returned to audio editing and poetry, experimenting with plosive sounds and pop filters, while also switching from Photoshop to GIMP for design work, all driven by a philosophy of uninterrupted self‑education that guided me from college (where I created my own classes in art) to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge without institutional limits.
I’ve been tinkering with a Raspberry Pi Zero W since I switched to Linux in 1998, and recently built a compact music‑player for my bike by powering the Pi from a 15 k mAh Energizer power bank, streaming audio through an external USB SoundBLASTER card and headphones. After setting up ALSA so that `cvlc *.mp3` plays all my workout tracks on boot, I mounted the Pi, sound card, and power bank on the frame of my bicycle; the system runs headlessly in the background and resumes playback automatically when I reconnect to Wi‑Fi after a 10‑mile ride. The project has sparked ideas for adding a small keypad or wireless keyboard for control, a custom enclosure, and eventually a fully networked “Bicycle Linux Server” that could be managed from my phone via Termux. This experiment illustrates how a modest Pi setup can become a portable media hub with minimal wiring and command‑line operation, while keeping the learning curve low and the hardware simple.
I learned how to make a Raspberry Pi button recently, and I researched it my way. [I wanted to see if there was a way to do it on the command line](https://simonprickett.dev/controlling-raspberry-pi-gpio-pins-from-bash-scripts-traffic-lights/) with the simplest kind of programming; there is. The [GPIO header](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PuK9fh3aL8) is represented with files on a Raspberry Pi. I gave some thought to store‑bought devices as they relate to custom‑made ones. I think store‑bought is not that cool anymore; in his funny song “Thrift Shop” Macklemore calls it *getting tricked by a business*, to say the least. Plus the moment you scratch your screen, your new device becomes old. If you made it yourself, then you just get a new $20 screen. And, hey, maybe add some [cool extras](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/keybow-2040) while you're at it. YEEES! It is true that homemade hardware is freaking huge, and sometimes you may need your friend to carry your phone in his backpack. But that is what friends are for… I think. There is just something really weird about not knowing what’s in your pocket versus what’s in your store‑bought phone; criminal phone hacking will only become more elaborate. It has never been a good idea to keep personal things on an internet‑connected device. The phones are going to use cheaper components, become more expensive, and more closed. And it will pretend a lot harder that recommendations are not ads. When you make your own phone, you get to reason about the components; it seems to me that a GPS map should have a huge screen much bigger than a phone, and a bigger battery too. When you use an overpriced off‑the‑shelf phone, you don't get a choice. Anytime you build something, you learn something: be it a reasonably sized Raspberry Pi Zero MP3 player with those amazing slow and soft turning aluminum knobs for volume, treble, and bass; or two or three 8GB Raspberry PIs jammed into a [beautiful vintage brick phone](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=vintage+brick+phone&_sacat=0) with a springy antenna that doubles as a Wi‑Fi hotspot for your 1024 closest friends… and maybe runs a leaked version of old MySpace or Friendster, or just freaking [GeoCities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jYE8VwxunQ) where your whole family can come together and upload some under‑construction content with fancy GIFs. Wouldn’t it be amazing if all the telemarketers had to find their way around a little labyrinth and fight a *Freaking Grue* before they could leave a voicemail? I am pretty sure they would love it. Old is new again; it is hard to explain, it will be somewhat hard to learn, and it will take forever. But not only won’t it cost an arm and a leg, building custom electronics and learning programming paints a pretty
The post argues that studying history and politics is essential for understanding humanity’s present and shaping its future; it reminds readers that past mistakes repeat themselves if we ignore them, cites Kurt Vonnegut’s observation about ordinary people ruling the world to stress the need for proper education, and proposes that each of us must become teachers—learning from great thinkers and applying that knowledge to build a coherent picture of the world so as to avoid future errors.
People often do not fight because they lack a clear cause and this ignorance is deliberately cultivated by the powerful; breaking the cycle of poverty requires real education and universal income, while a simple plastic credit‑card with a daily spending limit—linked to a bank that does not track debt or funds—could eliminate poverty without adding national debt. By providing accessible money, such cards would lift people from hunger, reduce crime and suffering, and help businesses grow, thereby advancing humanity as a unified family that must remove all barriers—including ignorance and poverty—to achieve collective prosperity.
The author writes a poetic letter to Sir Ken Robinson reflecting on humanity’s evolution: we have always improved but started badly with unforgivable mistakes. He proposes shifting from “We the People” to “The Human,” urging every sector—judges, police, corporations, teachers, lawmen, military—to examine its impact and ask whether we’re helping or hurting. He calls for continuous questioning across ages and cultures until the answer is clear, and envisions future generations as mature, wise humans who will repair economies through mental health, real education, knowledge, and contribute positively to Earth.
In this post the author argues that two common human errors—accepting things without questioning and underestimating ourselves—can be overcome with a simple double‑word mantra: “Question Everything” and “Beautiful Opposite.” The first encourages active inquiry, turning professors into teachers of questions and prompting us to ask whether war, weapons or disease truly enrich nations. The second asks us to find the beautiful opposite of our perceived shortcomings so that we can recognize our strengths (e.g., a heavy person finding his muscular side). Together these practices refocus learning on what we want to know, strengthen authenticity, and open the way for adventures and self‑realization.
The post reflects on the idea that true wisdom comes from within and grows through continual learning, experience, and immersion in nature—fresh air, colors, sounds—and through breaking down self‑made “walls” such as habits, expectations, or superficial measures like grades. It stresses that life’s value lies in pursuing knowledge, health, and freedom rather than routine work or formal accolades; by caring for mind and body, embracing courage, and letting the world’s sunshine of experience illuminate us, we become truly unique and capable of contributing to a wiser planet.
In this poetic post the author celebrates growth through adventure and inherited wisdom from literature, urging readers to measure themselves by knowledge rather than birth or ego; they describe ascending as a continual climb toward greatness, with nature as our true home, and emphasize that youth’s energy fuels this pursuit—ending with a call to awaken and pursue wisdom so we may become great beings.
The post portrays our hobbies, interests, and curiosities as a star chart guiding us toward the “call” that shapes our lives; as we mature this call becomes more sophisticated, inspiring us to pursue creative pursuits—painting, sculpture, music—and ultimately to become great beings. Ignoring it slows growth, while embracing it fuels passion, laughter, and a willingness to confront fear; through this journey we can produce poetry, books, and audiobooks that share discoveries and help others become coherent, integrated, and easy to understand. The author cites orator videos and Socrates’ lessons as examples of how wisdom can be shared, and concludes that science, politics, and culture must all grow in mind and heart by answering the call to greatness.
The post explains how creating an oil painting is a multi‑day process that benefits from careful color planning, pre‑mixing, and iterative sketching—using tools such as GIMP, projectors, miniatures on plywood, and underpainting in gray to guide composition—while also exploring music composition through LMMS, code generators built with Tone.js and OOP concepts, which automate random button clicks and sample selection, yet still require manual editing for a polished track; finally it stresses that both painting and programming demand multiple drafts and long‑term experimentation, just as much time is needed to develop a song or a canvas into a finished masterpiece.
I wandered into an antique shop and spent the day hunting treasures—pets, books, guitar picks, pocket knives, VHS tapes, a large backpack for firewood, and an ammo box perfect for fossils—and found a free box of seashells that I happily scattered on the beach, turning my quirky shopping spree into a joyful adventure of collecting odd little things.
The post argues that the world is not ending but simply out of sync, and this misalignment stems largely from how we structure education: institutions charge for knowledge, create overwork and poverty, and let GPA‑controlled grading lock students into a cycle of debt and shallow achievement. The author claims real graduation should showcase each student’s own creations, lasting beyond four years, and that brand‑name schooling only opens doors while true learning is lifelong. He invokes Socrates to emphasize teaching wisdom to future generations so they can avoid repeating past mistakes, and urges individuals to become “Great Beings” who inspire others with integrated knowledge, thereby restoring hope and driving humanity toward a wiser, more united future.
The author reflects on how an early idea to build an MP3 player with a Raspberry Pi sparked a lifelong passion for electronics and programming, showing that small, personally driven projects—from repairing bikes to designing custom enclosures—build a rich self‑education that goes beyond formal schooling.
After repeatedly dealing with flats and mechanical mishaps on several bicycles, the author learns to carry all repair tools and keep a spare bike ready for smooth rides.
The post recounts the author's personal approach to wilderness camping, emphasizing that being a “Real Mountain Man” involves meticulous preparation—always bringing a second tent, a battery‑powered fan, mirror, toiletries, and even a hand saw mounted on his pack—and careful gear choices such as a fire starter, sleeping bag rated for low temperatures, and an inflatable pad. He explains how to stay safe in bear country: cut‑proof gloves, first‑aid kit, and a rifle or sidearm, while noting that black bears can be deterred by size and noise. The author also shares practical tips on building fires, checking ticks with repellents, and staying on trails, then recounts two anecdotes: watching a distant thunderstorm from a dune and hearing fox cries at night, and another evening where he woke to partygoers’ footsteps after a storm, illustrating the blend of adventure and everyday camp life.
Artists often feel they lack skill, but the key is drawing concepts—such as using an L‑shaped nose for modern graphics—and mastering color schemes and proportions. To capture a portrait accurately, photograph the subject with proper lighting, project that image onto paper, and sketch multiple drafts in charcoal or pencil to refine shadows and highlights. Oil painting thrives on layered washes and color mixing, while acrylics dry quickly and can be painted over, and watercolors allow successive layers for adjustment. Projectors (even cheap pico models) and tools like GIMP help transfer outlines and simplify colors, enabling artists to practice the same subject repeatedly—be it people, pets, or landscapes—to build confidence and skill.
The essay argues that poverty is a global “virus” that hinders individual and collective progress, and proposes a single, nation‑wide program to eradicate it: a central bank that issues every citizen an unlimited credit card covering food, housing, transportation, education, healthcare, and other basic needs. By guaranteeing these essentials without debt or restrictions, the plan aims to lift people out of fear, reduce crime, stimulate economies, and free minds to tackle larger challenges like climate change—all while uniting nations under a shared, borderless identity of humanity.
A cyclist narrates an amusing encounter with a flock of birds while riding his bike; after noticing the birds’ startled flight when he waved a twig in front of him, he discovers that the simple gesture keeps the birds at bay. The rider explains how the birds react—flapping and flying away—and concludes that waving a twig above one’s head is an effective way to keep birds from bothering you during a ride.
I recently compared an hour of shuffle dancing to a slow 10 K run—what I called a “Cold Turkey” because I jumped straight into jogging without prior warm‑up—and found the dance routine at least as effective, if not better. The post details my gear choices (bandannas and wrist bracers to blot sweat, wool socks for foot cushioning, a headlamp for night visibility), the missteps of forgetting phone and water, and my use of dumbbells that weighed 7½–10 lb each. I also discuss hydration preferences—caffeine‑free sugary drinks like ginger soda versus plain water—and note how coffee can add headaches. Throughout, I highlight practical tips: proper sweat management, footwear, music, and the importance of light, caffeine‑free beverages for endurance work. After finishing the run, my breathing felt steady, aches minimal, leading me to conclude that an hour of shuffle dancing provides comparable benefits to a slow 2‑hour 10 K.
The post presents an eclectic reflection on humanity’s future, weaving together ideas from combinatorial genomics, the “Protocols” (a set of global guidelines), and personal anecdotes to argue that a unified vision—rooted in peace, love, prosperity, and universal knowledge—is essential for overcoming past mistakes. It traces how breakthroughs in genetics and technology have revealed new ways to model human development, while noting the societal impacts of pandemics, economic hardship, and mental strain. The author emphasizes that misled leaders and false narratives threaten progress, urging a return to authentic, fact‑based education and universal access to information as remedies. Through storytelling and references to past cultural icons, he stresses that remembering declarations like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will shape future generations, and that only by learning from history can humanity avoid repeating its errors and truly grow.
I first discovered the idea of “Trail Magic” while listening to Bill Bryson’s audiobook *A Walk in the Woods* (later adapted into a film starring Robert Redford), and it is this spirit that guided my recent trip to Nordhouse Dunes in Michigan. There, a small wilderness with a $15 weekly car permit and water pumps, I spent nights on dunes overlooking Lake Michigan, basking in sunsets and the scent of pine and fresh rain. While exploring, I met three young hikers who had set up camp near the lake but were too far to reach the beach; I offered to carry their gear for them, explained the concept of Trail Magic—helping without expecting thanks—and guided them to a beautiful spot on the dunes before heading back to my own campsite. The experience reaffirmed that sharing a trail and a story is enough reward.
In this whimsical post the author recounts a bicycle ride that inspires a foray into Linux and audio processing; he sets up a Raspberry Pi as an inexpensive workstation, installs ffmpeg via apt, and explains how to speed‑up an MP3 by 125 % using the atempo filter in the command line: `ffmpeg -i original-song.mp3 -af atempo=1.25 spedup-song.mp3`. He walks through each flag (-i for input, -af for audio filter) and notes that atempo=1.25 means 125 % tempo. The post ends with a short demo of the before‑and‑after audio and a brief reflection on how the command line can be efficient once you learn its syntax.
The post begins by framing adventure as an inner state rather than a physical journey; the author emphasizes that being ready for an outing is simply having one’s curiosity and possessions at hand, and then illustrates this idea through personal biking trips—always prepared with water, ear plugs, or a mudguard—and capturing moments on camera. From these experiences he moves to a lesson in poetry: just as a cyclist plans routes, a poet should plan verses by first writing a longer line that ends on a rhyming word and then adding a brief second line that completes the rhyme; he supplies an example poem about rainy rides and playful animals. The piece concludes with the notion that embedding a small narrative around the rhyme makes the poem vivid, mirroring how the author’s own cycling adventures inform his poetic practice.
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