If you don't know what Bobby Tables is: https://xkcd.com/327/

#python #programming #coding

Q for other programmers - do you ever, out of caution, do things to prevent issues that probably won't happen? I'm processing PDFs with #pypdf, don't think I have to worry about a Bobby Tables situation but I'm still hitting it with (pseudo code)

if not base:
base = "file"

if not ext:
ext = ".pdf"

base = re.sub(r"[^A-Za-z0-9_-]+", base).strip()

base = re.sub(r"[ _]+", " ",)

if len(base) > 60:
base = base[:60].rstrip()

Is this a waste of time?

@lonseidman spotted over on Amazon, this no-name portable monitor is $55 https://a.co/d/8THXDRm with a 1080p resolution.

My hot tech take is that #Tegra is the only thing that #Nvidia does right.

Me: *tries*

The universe: Why would you even?

Can't wait for the inevitable AI update to Calculator.

What do you mean there's an update to the Notepad app. You're telling me something new dropped in the Blank text box genre? Actually let me guess it's probably some AI bullshit.

It's nice to see this Labi Siffre song https://youtu.be/XMMP-T3EF8s getting some recognition online. Musically a similar song to me has always been Maggie by Colin Hay https://youtu.be/iDuvFz0WQ-g #music

I'm calling the new Steam Machine the GabeCube.

@lonseidman just now learning these old thermostats run on TI OMAP architecture that was discontinued over a decade ago, it's a wonder Google/Nest hung on as long as they did.

@lonseidman over on GitHub someone has a project to restore smarts to the old Nest thermostats https://github.com/codykociemba/NoLongerEvil-Thermostat but that setup seems pretty complicated

Republicans are like "don't give money to poor people they'll just spend it on drugs instead of food" so the government is like "okay let's give money to poor people that they can only spend on food" and then Republicans are like "food? no way!"

@lonseidman they bring up a good point, why buy a smart thermostat from nest if this can happen again. My Wyze thermostat is thankfully still going strong but if this happens that was a lot cheaper to replace - I think the call to the HVAC guy cost more than the thermostat itself.

@lonseidman Disney and these content companies constantly don't understand the marketplace. The options for content watchers aren't YTTV, Hulu, or Spectrum - the options are YTTV, Hulu, Spectrum, or piracy. If the content is something people want to watch they'll find a way. Disney thinks they're putting pressure on YouTube but really they have no leverage.

Respectfully, what kind of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? ass robbery is this?

@lonseidman on the lower end of mini PCs, I'm seeing ebay has some really cheap used Lenovo thinkcenter m73s. Most of them are coming without a power cable or storage but I was able to pick one of the PCs up for about $25 and a plug and power brick (it takes the Lenovo tip 90watt) for about $11. I'm going to use it for HomeAssistant stuff. That's priced at low-end Raspberry territory even if I bought an SSD, but the performance definitely is going to beat it.

@lonseidman by the way over at AFTV news they have an article on side loading for Vega, you sign up for a developer account and sign your device up as a development device https://www.aftvnews.com/sideloading-is-truly-dead-on-the-fire-tv-stick-4k-select-with-vega-os/ and then you have to send it an app from your computer only. Another piece talks about how a Fire device from a decade ago has more apps available for it than the current Fire device https://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-vega-os-app-report-11-year-old-fire-tvs-support-more-top-apps-than-the-new-fire-tv-stick-4k-select/

@lonseidman the old version I'm trying is real rough around the edges, most apps aren't even fullscreen, so they have their work cut out for them to fix it

@lonseidman interesting question. In the blog post they talk about the distinction between the old version and all the stuff coming to the new version, the old version can still be installed. If you install Kubuntu (Ubuntu with a "K" for KDE) version 24.04 (24.04.3 is the latest point release) specifically - kubuntu.org or Debian 12 (12.12 is the latest point release) "bookworm" KDE edition, and hit either one with the sudo apt install plasma-bigscreen you can see what the old version had going.

@lonseidman you talk about a PC as a streaming system, KDE Plasma (the same desktop that ships on the Steam Deck) has such a project: https://github.com/KDE/plasma-bigscreen it's in very early alpha https://planet.kde.org/devin-lin-espidev-2025-07-10-diving-into-plasma-bigscreen/ but could be cool