gemini://larsthebear.me/Lars the BearLars the Bearlars@larsthebear.megemini://larsthebear.me/md2gem.gmiAnnouncing md2gem 0.1 -- a cross-platform, best-effort converter for Markdown to Gemini Gemtext2026-04-27T17:15:22+01:002026-04-27T17:15:22+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/shoplifting.gmiWhy British store staff don't apprehend shoplifters2026-04-24T18:41:20+01:002026-04-24T18:41:20+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/steamroller.gmiSelf-hosting and steamrollers in the small net2026-04-21T20:59:44+01:002026-04-21T20:59:44+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/apostrophe.gmiWhy the grammar snobs have it all wrong about the apostrophe2026-04-20T10:39:11+01:002026-04-20T10:39:11+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/fahrenheit451.gmiIs Fahrenheit 451 becoming relevant again?2026-04-20T09:49:17+01:002026-04-20T09:49:17+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/no_smartphone_2026.gmiTrying to live without a smartphone in 20262026-04-19T19:08:53+01:002026-04-19T19:08:53+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/av_privacy.gmiAge verification and privacy: let's try to be objective2026-04-19T18:00:22+01:002026-04-19T18:00:22+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/why_i_degoogled.gmiWhy I de-Googled2026-04-19T16:22:36+01:002026-04-19T16:22:36+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/caztor.gmiAnnouncing Caztor 1.0 -- a browser for small-net protocols like Gemini and Gopher2026-04-19T14:00:47+01:002026-04-19T14:00:47+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/capital_letters.gmiFun with capital letters2026-04-18T19:12:44+01:002026-04-18T19:12:44+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/embarassing_injuries.gmiEmbarrassing injuries2026-04-18T15:32:39+01:002026-04-18T15:32:39+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/dogs.gmiPets or space exploration: which represent the more egregious waste of resources?2026-04-18T08:18:30+01:002026-04-18T08:18:30+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/centralization.gmiCentralization: wasn't there a baby in that bathwater?2026-04-11T09:10:52+01:002026-04-11T09:10:52+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/bookmarks.gmiMy Gemini bookmarks2026-04-10T17:42:16+01:002026-04-10T17:42:16+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/moon_rocket.gmiDid somebody just launch a Moon rocket?2026-04-02T07:54:36+01:002026-04-02T07:54:36+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/arguing.gmiWhy do even Gemini enthusiasts argue about Gemini?2026-03-26T08:04:28+00:002026-03-26T08:04:28+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/aliens_and_llms.gmiInterstellar communication and LLMs2026-03-26T13:59:24+00:002026-03-26T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/perfect_enemy_good.gmiOn letting perfect be the enemy of good in the small net2026-03-23T11:52:58+00:002026-03-23T11:52:58+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/mandatory_smartphone.gmiMandatory car, mandatory smartphone2026-03-23T08:00:45+00:002026-03-23T08:00:45+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/birdwatching.gmiBirdwatching for fun and no profit2026-03-18T17:43:18+00:002026-03-18T17:43:18+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/graduation_blues.gmiGraduation blues2026-03-17T10:10:40+00:002026-03-17T10:10:40+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/small_web_big.gmiOh, my -- the small web is big2026-03-16T14:54:22+00:002026-03-16T14:54:22+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/what_goes_around.gmiAI and programming jobs: what goes around, comes around2026-03-15T19:07:49+00:002026-03-15T19:07:49+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/how_the_web_has_changed_2.gmiHow the web has changed (II)2026-03-14T09:33:48+00:002026-03-14T09:33:48+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/how_the_web_has_changed_1.gmiHow the web has changed (I)2026-03-13T18:45:43+00:002026-03-13T18:45:43+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/phone_anxiety.gmiPhone anxiety2026-03-12T16:41:22+00:002026-03-12T16:41:22+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/shotgun_retina.gmiDoes firing a shotgun damage your retina?2026-03-12T09:51:11+00:002026-03-12T09:51:11+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/cassandra.gmiJust call me Cassandra2026-03-11T08:35:16+00:002026-03-11T08:35:16+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/rewild.gmiWoods do not re-wild themselves2026-03-10T12:46:30+00:002026-03-10T12:46:30+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/chainsaw.gmiWhy I bought a wood2026-03-07T17:56:10+00:002026-03-07T17:56:10+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/why_a_wood.gmiSome hints on buying and using a chainsaw2026-03-07T16:42:21+00:002026-03-07T16:42:21+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/llms_and_ics.gmiLLMs and integrated circuits2026-03-05T14:33:39+00:002026-03-05T14:33:39+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/good_manners.gmiGoodness and good manners2026-03-04T14:36:14+00:002026-03-04T14:36:14+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/bug_murderer.gmiI am a mass murderer...2026-03-03T15:28:50+00:002026-03-03T15:28:50+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/gemini_vps.gmiHosting a Gemini capsule on a virtual private server2026-04-18T21:01:47+01:002026-03-03T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/calories.gmiThe trouble with Calories2026-03-02T18:50:27+00:002026-03-02T18:50:27+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/cyclemaster.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: the Cyclemaster2026-02-26T14:22:48+00:002026-02-26T14:22:48+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/battery_chainsaw.gmiChainsaws: why I went battery2026-02-25T15:47:54+00:002026-02-25T15:47:54+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/ignoring_problem.gmiIgnoring a small problem eventually leads to a terrible, huge problem2026-02-25T14:55:29+00:002026-02-25T14:55:29+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/retired.gmiRetired a year; still don't know what I want to do for a living2026-02-25T08:35:21+00:002026-02-25T08:35:21+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/js8.gmiSome thoughts on JS8 (amateur radio protocol)2026-02-25T08:24:58+00:002026-02-25T08:24:58+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/statisticsfor.gmiRant: statistics is actually for something2026-02-24T17:02:02+00:002026-02-24T17:02:02+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/kevskabin.gmiKev's Kabin: building my garden office2026-02-24T15:35:11+00:002026-02-24T15:35:11+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/subwoofer.gmiBuilding a monster subwoofer2026-02-24T12:16:00+00:002026-02-24T12:16:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/kendo_terms.gmiA short glossary of terms used in Japanese sword arts2026-02-24T09:02:11+00:002026-02-24T09:02:11+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/back_to_gemini.gmiBack to Gemini2026-02-23T12:55:52+00:002026-02-23T12:55:52+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/nansen_cat.gmiThe koan of Nansen and the cat2026-02-23T12:09:54+00:002026-02-23T12:09:54+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/lung.gmiOn losing a lung2026-02-19T10:22:57+00:002026-02-19T10:22:57+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/coolme.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: Dyson Pure Cool-Me personal air purifier2026-02-15T11:45:33+00:002026-02-15T11:45:33+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/amateurradioterms.gmiAmateur radio terms I wished I'd known2026-02-14T16:48:27+00:002026-02-14T16:48:27+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/not_desktop.gmiRant: 2026 will not be the ‘Year of Linux on the Desktop’ – and I’m glad2026-02-12T17:10:56+00:002026-02-12T17:10:56+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/voice_snooping.gmiDigital voice assistants vs. privacy in 20262026-02-22T18:01:34+00:002026-02-01T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/kagi_ddg.gmiBattle of the privacy-focused search engines: Kagi vs. DuckDuckGo2026-02-22T18:01:09+00:002026-02-01T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/textbook.gmiOn writing a textbook, and why you shouldn't2026-02-23T15:59:19+00:002026-01-20T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/fairy_lights.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: filament fairy lights2026-01-04T10:07:50+00:002026-01-04T10:07:50+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/fingerprinting.gmiThe privacy nightmare of browser fingerprinting2026-02-22T18:00:28+00:002026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/vl-1.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: the Casio VL-1 pocket synthesizer2025-12-21T12:06:23+00:002025-12-21T12:06:23+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/dx7.gmiThey don’t make #em like that any more: the Yamaha DX7 keyboard2025-12-21T12:03:57+00:002025-12-21T12:03:57+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/denshi.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: Denshi block electronics kits2025-12-21T12:01:37+00:002025-12-21T12:01:37+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/pixel_xperia.gmiGoogle Pixel and Sony Xperia handsets for budget de-Googling2026-04-19T14:10:54+01:002025-12-21T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/lineage-vs-package-removal.gmiCustom ROM versus extensive package removal, for de-Googling a Samsung cellphone2026-04-19T14:08:06+01:002025-11-25T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/degoogled-two-years.gmiTwo years without Google, et al. -- has it been worth it?2026-04-18T19:42:57+01:002025-11-07T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/nokia105.gmiThe 2nd-generation Nokia 105: a smarter dumb phone2026-04-18T21:07:18+01:002025-11-05T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/canta.gmiDe-bloating and de-Googling an Android device using Canta2026-02-22T17:58:03+00:002025-11-01T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/samsung-no-more-lineage.gmiNo more Lineage OS on Samsung cellphones2026-04-18T19:42:03+01:002025-11-01T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/usb-c-headphone-dongles.gmiUSB-C headphone dongles: still sucking after all these years2025-10-14T18:31:25+01:002025-10-14T18:31:25+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/playmobil_rc.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: Playmobil RC model trains2025-10-12T09:42:13+01:002025-10-12T09:42:13+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/atc110.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: Honda's ATC110 all-terrain cycle2025-09-30T14:21:51+01:002025-09-30T14:21:51+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/failed_cooling.gmiA failed experiment in laptop cooling2026-04-18T19:50:01+01:002025-09-03T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/thinkfan.gmiUsing thinkfan for fan control on Lenovo (Linux) laptops2026-04-18T21:09:33+01:002025-08-26T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/cpap.gmiOn living with CPAP2025-07-21T07:51:22+01:002025-07-21T07:51:22+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/diylaw.gmiDIY and the law of negligence and occupier's liability2025-07-21T07:27:17+01:002025-07-21T07:27:17+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/ebay_not_free.gmiNo, eBay: it isn't "free to sell"2026-04-19T14:13:42+01:002025-07-20T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/fastmail.gmiFastMail – still good value in 2025?2026-02-22T17:58:22+00:002025-07-01T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/woodland-law.gmiEnglish law and small woodlands2025-06-27T09:52:02+01:002025-06-27T09:52:02+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/dtc-700.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: Sony DTC-700 audio DAT player/recorder2025-06-20T16:00:06+01:002025-06-20T16:00:06+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/meshtastic.gmiSome thoughts on LoRa-based mesh radio technologies2025-06-18T16:56:24+01:002025-06-18T16:56:24+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/c1.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: the BMW C12025-05-23T18:42:42+01:002025-05-23T18:42:42+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/3dmovies.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: 3D movies2025-05-20T15:33:08+01:002025-05-20T15:33:08+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/chopper.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: the Raleigh Chopper2025-05-20T14:37:15+01:002025-05-20T14:37:15+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/its_not_me_its_you.gmiSocial media: it’s not me, it’s you2025-02-21T09:09:34+00:002025-02-21T09:09:34+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/open_source_liability.gmiNo good deed goes unpunished: can we now be sued over software we give away?2026-04-18T21:12:33+01:002025-02-15T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/style_rules_in_technical_writing.gmiTechnical writing: what do we lose, when we write more readably?2026-04-18T21:15:01+01:002025-01-08T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/garmin-degoogled.gmiUsing a Garmin fitness watch completely offline -- no accounts, no app2026-04-18T19:55:54+01:002025-01-04T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/usb_psu.gmiA USB power supply with a real on-off switch2025-01-01T09:23:23+00:002025-01-01T09:23:23+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/prs-500.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: Sony PRS-500 e-reader2024-12-09T20:22:08+00:002024-12-09T20:22:08+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/switchoff.gmiWhy can't we switch things off any more?2024-12-08T14:57:20+00:002024-12-08T14:57:20+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/mx80.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: Epson MX-80 dot matrix printer2024-12-04T19:08:58+00:002024-12-04T19:08:58+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/windows_smoking.gmiRant: Using Windows is like smoking (?)2024-12-03T15:09:06+00:002024-12-03T15:09:06+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/linux_snob.gmiTen steps to becoming a Linux snob2026-04-18T21:20:37+01:002024-12-03T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/systemd_embedded.gmiWhy systemd is a problem for embedded Linux2026-04-19T14:16:28+01:002024-11-05T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/gentoo_mx.gmiGentoo vs. MX Linux on old-ish laptops2024-10-04T09:50:52+01:002024-10-04T09:50:52+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/no_nvme.gmiFitting an NVMe disk in a computer with no NVMe support2026-04-19T14:03:48+01:002024-09-21T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/linux_offsite_storage.gmiComparing Dropbox, pCloud, and rsync.net for off-site storage for Linux users2024-09-09T13:22:39+01:002024-09-09T13:22:39+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/headphonejack.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: the 3.5mm headphone jack socket2024-09-05T18:59:30+01:002024-09-05T18:59:30+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/install_lineageos.gmiSome notes on installing Lineage OS on modern-ish Samsung Android devices2026-02-22T18:00:51+00:002024-08-01T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/quad-306.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: the Quad 306 amplifier2024-07-28T13:55:27+01:002024-07-28T13:55:27+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/rex.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: the Xircom REX 6000 PDA2024-07-17T11:52:12+01:002024-07-17T11:52:12+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/gentoo_one_month.gmiOne month with Gentoo2024-07-05T15:21:26+01:002024-07-05T15:21:26+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/back_to_alsa.gmiGoing back to ALSA in 20242026-04-18T19:46:48+01:002024-06-30T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/alsa_bitperfect.gmiCan you use ALSA to get 'bit-perfect' audio playback on Linux?2026-04-18T19:46:39+01:002024-06-24T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/wipe_disk.gmiDo you need to wipe that hard drive? And can you?2026-04-18T21:23:28+01:002024-05-20T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/vectrex.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: The Vectrex video game console2024-04-14T10:41:37+01:002024-04-14T10:41:37+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/tpwin.gmiThey don’t make ’em like that any more: Borland Turbo Pascal 72024-02-13T14:17:52+00:002024-02-13T14:17:52+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/nuvi300.gmiThey don’t make 'em like that any more: Garmin's Nuvi 300 satnav2024-01-17T08:24:31+00:002024-01-17T08:24:31+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/bb_bold.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: Blackberry Bold 97002024-01-01T10:58:58+00:002024-01-01T10:58:58+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/archos605.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: Archos 605 media player/recorder2023-11-29T20:53:39+00:002023-11-29T20:53:39+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/sliderule.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: the slide rule2023-10-22T15:53:37+01:002023-10-22T15:53:37+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/k1.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: NVIDIA Shield K1 tablet2023-09-05T08:22:54+01:002023-09-05T08:22:54+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/degoogle.gmiWhat you give up, when you opt out of the surveillance economy2026-02-22T18:41:16+00:002023-08-01T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/d2.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: The Cowon D2 DAB2023-07-21T09:41:47+01:002023-07-21T09:41:47+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/pronto.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: The Philips Pronto remote control2026-02-16T14:02:03+00:002023-07-21T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/collapseos.gmiIs Collapse OS really a practical proposition?2023-05-18T14:46:04+01:002023-05-18T14:46:04+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/darktable.gmiYet another Darktable/Lightroom comparison2023-03-15T15:11:48+00:002023-03-15T15:11:48+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/vinylrevival.gmiWhy is there a vinyl revival?2022-08-18T11:40:57+01:002022-08-18T11:40:57+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/hiresaudio.gmiIs "high resolution" audio really worth the effort?2022-08-18T11:24:38+01:002022-08-18T11:24:38+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/tt-safety.gmiWhy your vintage turntable could kill you2022-08-18T11:23:32+01:002022-08-18T11:23:32+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/flatpak.gmiAre Flatpak, et al., saving or drowning the Linux desktop?2022-08-06T15:40:22+01:002022-08-06T15:40:22+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/palmtop.gmiHow Microsoft Windows killed the palmtop computer2026-02-20T09:35:35+00:002022-07-01T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/w520.gmiThey don't make 'em like that any more: the Lenovo W5202022-06-01T15:20:36+01:002022-06-01T15:20:36+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/dab-power.gmiWhy the energy cost or benefit of switching to DAB digital radio is hard to assess2022-04-01T19:26:00+01:002022-04-01T19:26:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/amateurradio.gmiDoes it matter if amateur radio dies out?2021-11-30T21:23:37+00:002021-11-30T21:23:37+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/gemini.gmiCan Project Gemini rewind the Web thirty years?2026-02-23T08:55:55+00:002021-08-01T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/cpm40.gmiCP/M forty years on -- what it was, and why it still matters2021-05-16T11:10:38+01:002021-05-16T11:10:38+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/perspective.gmiThe myth of perspective compression in photography2021-03-23T11:33:07+00:002021-03-23T11:33:07+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/hyperfocal.gmiHyperfocal distances and Merklinger's method in landscape photography2021-03-22T15:50:26+00:002021-03-22T15:50:26+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/piracy.gmiPiracy does remove the original2021-03-22T09:49:48+00:002021-03-22T09:49:48+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/breadbot16.gmiBreadBot 16 -- an autonomous, six-wheeled rover based on the Raspberry Pi2021-03-20T15:08:04+00:002021-03-20T15:08:04+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/sleaze.gmiA brief history of sleaze in British politics2021-03-17T13:53:44+00:002021-03-17T13:53:44+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/duck_or_glory.gmiHow to build an inexpensive, sturdy plywood boat. Or not.2021-03-17T12:39:29+00:002021-03-17T12:39:29+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/university.gmiBeing a university lecturer, and why you shouldn't2021-03-17T09:57:39+00:002021-03-17T09:57:39+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/iaido.gmiIaido: yoga with menaces2021-03-16T21:42:58+00:002021-03-16T21:42:58+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/karate_myths.gmiTen karate myths debunked2021-03-16T21:29:59+00:002021-03-16T21:29:59+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/handgunuk.gmiHow to legally own a handgun in the UK2021-03-16T15:25:14+00:002021-03-16T15:25:14+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/inverted_v.gmiModelling the effect of height on a simple inverted-V antenna2026-02-23T09:01:52+00:002019-02-20T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/diyhints.gmiA few DIY hints2026-02-23T09:04:28+00:002016-08-01T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/sanding.gmiSome notes on sanding and varnishing old wooden floors2026-02-19T15:24:51+00:002016-01-01T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/rot.gmiA load of old ROT — an exploration of the Rule of Thirds2026-02-23T08:59:32+00:002015-08-01T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/doing_karate.gmiWhat practising karate is really like2026-02-23T09:01:02+00:002014-06-12T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/the_problem_with_precedent.gmiThe problem with precedent2026-02-24T17:37:57+00:002010-05-14T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/crossbow.gmiBow and crossbow -- power, accuracy, and utility compared2026-02-23T17:26:37+00:002010-01-01T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/the_titles_game.gmiThe titles game2026-02-23T09:05:15+00:002009-02-24T00:00:00+00:00gemini://larsthebear.me/traditional_archery_faq.gmiTraditional archery FAQ2026-02-23T17:04:12+00:002007-08-03T00:00:00+01:00gemini://larsthebear.me/doing_archery.gmiA beginner's guide to archery2026-02-23T17:23:05+00:002007-08-03T00:00:00+01:00