I’m definitely an #ai skeptic, but also a #diy #tinkerer. This tool is here to stay and I wanted to learn how it works. I was inspired by https://fecht.cc/personal/local-on-demand-gpu/ and set up a similar stack at home. Basically #ollama backend on my #gaming #pc connected to an #openwebui front end #selfhosted from my media server. The result is that any browser on the LAN can run 7-12B LLMs with full GPU offload and full local control. Learned a lot! :catjam:

@nixCraft To put it with the late #DavidGraeber : #tinkerer

#Introduction

Hello, my name is Christoff.

I live in Illinois, USA, outside the St. Louis area. Below I'll talk about my technology and creative interests, and a bit about me personally. I'm going to hashtag the heck out of this post.

the whole "deadbeef" thing is the magic number from #Solaris for freed memory. I simply chose .monster TLD because it seemed cool and I like "extended" TLDs.

#Technology

I have been using a OpenBSD, #NetBSD, or #GNU/#Linux since the late 1990s as a primary workstation. I used macOS from 2020 to 2025, switching to the #KDE neon distro (KDE plasma is amazing and KDE isn't bloated anymore, yay!).

My current career is as a #pentester where I break into web applications, IP networks, mobile applications (especially #Android), and people to their face or over the phone; code #malware; write documentation; and enjoy helping clients in a third party contractor/consultant role. I started that job change in 2020, when I earned the #OSCP certification at the height of "#infosec twitter" when I did well there.

Previously I worked for about 20 years as a senior-level programmer, and systems, infrastructure, and database administrator. Burnout was very real and I was extremely bored/unfulfilled.

Now that programming and sysadmin stuff isn't my career, I find I enjoy programming and tinkering again.

I am a big fan of NetBSD and always have been. I am not a huge fan of GNU/Linux but I do appreciate things "just working", even if it is full of closed-source binary blobs and other garbage. It was fun in the 1990s.

I know many programming languages but have been paid professionally to code in #C, #Perl, #Python, #PHP, #Java, and #Groovy for big commercial entities like eBay, small companies, and the US government.

I've maintained 99.99% uptime for a 60MM+ platform for years, including failover and backups (that were regularly tested... you test your failover and backups, right?!).

I always wanted to be a cool C and low-level programmer, which I thought for the longest time was being a kernel programmer, but now I know that isn't the life for me.

Emacs is something I've enjoyed since the beginning and I still can't code a #Lisp well. I'd love to be a cool #lisper with #CommonLisp, but haven't gotten there yet. I'm on the #c64 and #embedded #retrocomputing train now.

#Creative

For creative stuff, I aim to do a lot but tend to hop around as interests take me. I could use some discipline there (someday?).

For #music, I have an electric #bass (Fender Jazz) and electric #guitar. I love #jambands (#GratefulDead, #Phish, #Goose) and that's the type of music I like to play along to.

For #art, I like #acrylic and #watercolor painting. I rarely do it, but think about it a lot and love it when I do it. I don't have any skill or talent, but that's not the point. It's for me and no one else.

For #computing, I am venturing into #C64 #demoscene programming and exploration. Not only was I too poor to get one when I was little but I sorta forgot about it over time. The desire to do cool things in a restricted environment where folks are playing in the sandbox, too, is very exciting and attractive to me. I don't know how to code the #Commodore64 stuff yet, but will! Learning the assembly language (I have zero desire to code in BASIC again and I can just code assembly).

#Personal

I live with my soulmate and our five amazing cats in a small town outside St. Louis living a quiet life. Just doing our jobs, taking care of daily life stuff, and enjoying each other and life as much as we can. Ups and downs of life chaos, like anyone else, but we're doing alright!

We enjoy exploring places within driving distance and there are a lot of places to go to.

Currently, we're really into playing two-player games together and just started collecting #boardgames. Right now, we're really digging #SkyTeam, #RoyalGameOfUr, #ForrestShuffle, #SentinelsOfTheMultiverse, and this magnet game I don't know the name of. We have #SpiritIsland and #ArcNova to unwrap and learn. We tried really really hard to get into #ArkhamHorrorTheCardGame but the rules are too complicated and confusing, where it felt like we were doing the wrong thing all the time.

I am 46. I grew up loving Star Wars, Star Trek, #SciFi, reading novels non-stop, horror, and watching movies. I collect classic SciFi books from 1960s and 1970s.

I would perhaps describe myself as an extremely curious person, that loves #puzzles and #mysteries, #exploration, figuring out #HumanBehavior like I'm an alien studying humans (I'm good at it, it turns out), that has a keen eye for detail, remembering random little things, and a good listener. I'm fairly adaptable and fluid in most things, which works well for me. My brain works differently than a lot of people, and while frustrating a lot of the time for things I don't understand fully, it is me and serves me well in niches.

Making people laugh makes me happy. I am a #hacker and #tinkerer.

One from my blog archive from 2022.. Unconscious making! Probably my favourite approach! #making #maker #tinkerer https://concretedog.blogspot.com/2022/09/unconscious-making-useful-note-board.html

Found the problem with my new LED solar accent light - bad solder connection.

Operation successful! 😀

#tinkerer #soldering

New #POE switch is in! It’s a lot more functional than the other one and has more ports for future devices.

Also, I think it just looks better/cooler 😎

#sbc #homelab #tinkerer

Are you a #hacker or a #tinkerer, a #GNU #Linux person with a drop of #anarchism? Then join us on #mumble this is how to set it up to connect https://man.sr.ht/~rek2/Hispagatos-wiki/mumble.md you will need the token to join(to remedy abuse Nazis and such) so ask me or anyone from #hispagatos the token to join! We are usually there late night CET 1am until 5 am, 6 hours less for EST time and 9 for PST time ;) #happyHacking #hackers #hacking #ctf #team #hangout #linuxgaming our #matrix space is https://matrix.to/#/#hispagatos:matrix.org

Revised #Permaculture / #Resiliency / #Hackerspace / #Makerspace / #RightToRepair / Solarpunk list. I've included descriptions along with the account names. Sorted by category. Suggestions welcome!

#Agroecology / #Permaculture / #Gardening / #Rewilding / #Forestry / #FoodSovereignty

@Bearhouse
Self-sufficient homesteading in #rural #Småland in #Sweden, but from the UK originally. Pusher of radical simple living. Rewilder.

@IndigenousFoodSov
Posts and reblogs mostly about:
#Indigenous #IndigenousMastodon #IndigenousKnowledge #IndigenousFoodSovereignty

@opensourcegardens
Welcome to #Open #Source #Gardens, where openness is sown and freedom is grown! We grow Open Source #Seeds and use Open Source garden #technologies at home or in #community gardens

@rewildingmag
Join the movement for a wilder world

#Makerspace / #Hackerspace / #RightToRepair / #OpenSource

@lhc
LHC is a Brazilian hackerspace located in Campinas, SP. We maintain an open and community physical space where anyone can develop their projects in the technology area (but not only).

@pws
Former #bicycle mechanic, retired tech worker, repairer of things. Tell me about your bike and I'll try to help you fix it.

@restartproject
Fixing our relationship with electronics. Pro #RightToRepair. Together, let's feel better and waste less - tag us for fixing help!

@RepairCafe_Barry
A #RepairCafe! Reducing Waste. Sharing Skills. Bringing People Together. Held 1st Saturday of the month, 10am til 1pm, in Barry Library - everyone welcome. (Barry #Wales)

@tinker

#Tinkerer | Solarpunk | Hacker

#SolarPunk writers / activists / podcasts / prompts

@derek
Sustainability organizer seeking a #solarpunk world. Writing a book: "Where the Roots are Long" about modern environmentalist themes in The Lord of the Rings.

@rhyseverquill
Journalist, writer, and community organiser. Co-founder of @thegazettecoop. " #ADHD, #Bisexuality, #Polyamory, #CommunityOrganising, #Cooperatives, #Journalism, #Writing, #Witchcraft, #Druidry, #Gardening, #Cooking, #Cartography, #Art, #Thrifting, #Hiking, #Foxes, #NaturePhotography, #VideoGames, #OpenSource #Solarpunk, #anarchism

@solarpunkpresents
Solarpunk Presents is a podcast that explores the people and projects working on bringing us a better world today. Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more than just an aesthetic. Those inspire us, but where do we go from there? Hosts Ariel Kroon and Christina De La Rocha are producing podcast episodes featuring interviews with people working to make the world a better place right now. Join us to explore #solarpunk in the present.

@SolarpunkPrompts
What is Solarpunk? Why does it matter? In this series we discuss Solarpunk as a movement within art, literature, and activism. We explore its themes and talk about what separates it from its genre peers. Each episode explores a writing prompt set in a Solarpunk aesthetic with examples and inspirations from our world today.

#SolarPunkSunday

Here is my updated #Solarpunk / #Permaculture / #Resiliency / #Hackerspace / #Makerspace / #RightToRepair / #LibraryOfThings list. I've included descriptions along with the account names. So many good accounts, I decided to alphasort for this round. Suggestions welcome!

@AgroecologyMap
Agroecology Map is an Open Platform that aims to assist in the mapping and exchange of experiences with the aim of bringing people together to strengthen and create new collaborative networks that enhance the sharing of real (and imaginary) experiences in #Agroecology (#Agroforestry Systems, Permaculture, #FoodSovereignty and Others)

@alxd
Programmer, hacker, #solarpunk, educator, activist and a wannabe writer fascinated by how technology is portrayed in culture - and how that affects human lives. Co-author of @SolarpunkPrompts #podcast , exploring realistic stories of our #CimateFuture with all their traumas and hopes.

@BrightFlame
Writes, teaches & makes magic for a just, regenerating world. Reclaiming Trad priestex. My debut speculative novel, THE WORKING, launched summer 2024! Sustainability Ed at Columbia U. #solarpunk #CliFi in various outlets. #Witch #SFWA #ClimateFictionWritersLeague #BSFW

@LabB
We're #BTV's membership-based community #HackerSpace located at 12-22 North Street. Open for public hours every Thursday from 7-9pm, and we put on the Old North End Repair Cafe on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 11-3pm. (In #BurlingtonVermont)

@lex
educator. activist. #solarpunk . father. #startrek lover. not necessarily in that order.

@makerspace
At #MakerSpace, we are all about technology you can use to build your own stuff. Our goal is to help you turn your ideas into reality with hands-on projects for makers.
#HackYourWorld

@onecommunity
Our mission at One Community is to help people create a better world by demonstrating a more #sustainable and enriching way of living and #OpenSource everything required for replication.

@OWGF
Celebrating the potential for a #WonderfulGreenFuture in a #PostFossilFuels world.

@PINA_na
Bringing Permaculture to the forefront in North America

@ProdigalFrog
A frog who wants the objective truth about anything and everything.
Admin of #SLRPNK.net

@pws
Former #bicycle mechanic, retired tech worker, repairer of things. Tell me about your bike and I'll try to help you fix it.

@RepairCafe_Barry
A #RepairCafe! Reducing Waste. Sharing Skills. Bringing People Together. Held 1st Saturday of the month, 10am til 1pm, in Barry Library - everyone welcome. (Barry #Wales)

@rhyseverquill
Journalist, writer, and community organiser. Co-founder of @thegazettecoop. " #ADHD, #Bisexuality, #Polyamory, #CommunityOrganising, #Cooperatives, #Journalism, #Writing, #Witchcraft, #Druidry, #Gardening, #Cooking, #Cartography, #Art, #Thrifting, #Hiking, #Foxes, #NaturePhotography, #VideoGames, #OpenSource #Solarpunk, #anarchism

@solarpunkpresents
Solarpunk Presents is a podcast that explores the people and projects working on bringing us a better world today. Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more than just an aesthetic. Those inspire us, but where do we go from there? Hosts Ariel Kroon and Christina De La Rocha are producing podcast episodes featuring interviews with people working to make the world a better place right now. Join us to explore #solarpunk in the present.

@SolarpunkPrompts
What is Solarpunk? Why does it matter? In this series we discuss Solarpunk as a movement within art, literature, and activism. We explore its themes and talk about what separates it from its genre peers. Each episode explores a writing prompt set in a Solarpunk aesthetic with examples and inspirations from our world today.

@tinker
#Tinkerer | Solarpunk | Hacker

#SolarPunkSunday

Uh-ho.

I can feel myself teetering on the top of the mountain slope that is the desire to wipe and re-flash my phone.

#Tinkerer #Android #TechNerd

Does anyone have a soldering flux they'd recommend?

#electronics #repair #ElectronicsRepair #tinkerer

I'm Lina, a #devops engineer and #hacker / #tinkerer based in Japan although I'm not native.

Linux extremist and former hardware hacker (Back when I had space and time 😔 ).

I joined wetdry.world as it seemed like a great tech/gaming community. Looking forward to spending time with y'all!

Cleaning and streamlining the home-office since there are only 24 hrs in a day.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1V9P267hGnqlLeZ--cBW8JCpjTjwOni07v83aaYXVyS4/

If you are getting started in #lora #lorawan #raspberrypi #arduino #iiot #iot or #bluetooth development and there's something on the list contact me.

Preferable Australia for postage. Any reasonable offer considered. Rest will go to a school or tinkerer group.

#tinkerer #iot_board

Using #thunderbird to read and post to #usenet https://www.i2pn2.org/common/Thunderbird/Usenet-Thunderbird.html
new #howto with updated features. for a list of usenet servers: https://sybershock.com/#usenet if you are a #hacker a #tinkerer a #selftaught #maker etc
you can ask @nerdrat@hispagatos.org for help in creating an usenet account with #hispagatos we block google and run only text #newsgroups

Pad
Soft, locally grown
Agave fibers, tinkered
Comfort and care made easy
Hope

#kenya #periodpoverty #agavefibers #stanford #tinkerer #cinquain #poetry

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/12/a-locally-grown-solution-for-period-poverty/

A #Dwarf #Tinkerer character design I developed with @Zarfling for their #fantasy project New Relica.

This is a finalized sketch that will lead up to making a full colour illustration.

#fantasyart #gaming #worldbuilding #commission #noai

Interested piece about how Top Gear offered something to both #Tinkerer and #Petrolhead . The two main class's of car nerd. It goes on to explore why the author feels both those groups are in decline.
If I had to pick one of those groups I guess I am more wantabe tinkerer than Petrolhead. I like the idea of tinkering, I am just not very good at it 🙄

Top Gear's Britain no longer exists - UnHerd
https://unherd.com/2023/10/top-gears-britain-no-longer-exists/
#WeirdCarMastodon #TopGear #CarCulture