Embeddings raise the possibility of exploring ideas spatially. The central challenge is how to balance between automatically laying out ideas semantically and allowing the user to group or cluster themselves.

User movement mirrors the experience of the best physical brainstorming - cutting up pieces and rearranging, examining, rearranging again.

Embeddings promise automatic clustering and hopefully surfacing new connections.

Background image transition over an MNIST digit spritesheet

Figuring out an MNIST timer.

Countdown timer inspired by Evangelion

Timer project is far enough along that it's time to make more skins.

Was somewhat randomly listening to this podcast about Zig: Zig as a Multi-OS Build System. And was struck by the description of Python's primary use to a lot of people being "bindings for interesting C libraries" (paraphrased). Which is actually a pretty good motivating statement for me to get better at setting up simple Python backends for some of my web experiments.

"In general, when modeling phenomena in science and engineering, we begin with simplified, incomplete models. As we examine things in greater detail, these simple models become inadequate and must be replaced by more refined models."

Clearly stated, from Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. Interesting how best process for learning mirrors the process for discovery. (Although that nice, neat story of discovery is also a useful but inadequate model, that people like Kuhn challenge and refine.)

Focus timer gallery, different kinds of visuals

Trying out a gallery concept to make the point about how the focus timers work.

Did some maintenance work on the blog today. Had to add a timestamp string to the resource calls to fix some cache issues. One of the pitfalls of rolling your own setup I suppose.

Screenshot of my Niri config

Trying out Niri, a scrollable tiling window manager and enjoying it so far.

I've been putting todo lists in project directories lately. I think it would be cool to have a system that searches up parent directories for todos.

So you could do something like a todo command and see todos for your current directory as well as a parent directory like dev. So a natural hierarchy.

I guess search / grep is probably also fast enough you could pretty easily search through child branches as well.

Working on a timer

Coding a timer

It's holiday break and I'm doing some config stuff. I keep thinking about wanting to set my computer up as a "magic terminal". Where it boots into the command line - maybe into some combo of a tmux and neovim session, and everything is magical but through this sort of retro command line interface.

I feel like I'm making progress but also getting caught in the weeds...

Replacing clock sprites

I did a couple of quick improvised desk additions today. Making a hole for a countdown timer to sit and a mounting system for a roll of paper. Real task management tools.

Embedded countdown timer and todo list scroll

Process

First custom digit upload:

hand four as four

More clock work:

custom three

Working on a clock

New keyboard cutout and tray - and keyboard!

I finally got my chocofi keyboard build working and then immediately felt like I wanted it lower - closer to my lap. Part of the idea of keeping my desk in perpetual prototype mode is that I feel empowered to do things like cut a tray out of it - so I did.

The first step was a hole

Teacups with handles added onto them

Bruce Sterling essay on the weird hand-made objects in Alexander Calder's home.

Tools hanging on tool stands hung on a french cleat.

I reorganized the garage space a bit and decided to finally try something I've watched many youtube videos on - a French cleat. In it's simplest form it's a board with one edge cut at a 45 degree angle. You can hang things on it with backers cut at the matching angle.

I love this kind of adjustability mostly because it cuts down on paralysis. I'm not sure how much I'll actually rearrange here (probably some) but the real advantage is I could make these tool holders without feeling like I'm 'locked in' to them or that I should deeply consider and optimize.

Screenshot of the UI for my MP4 converter web app in progress

The frontend to node server to ffmpeg app is basically working. I want to do something fun but also not too rabbit hole-y with the interface though.