Posts by mattblaze@federate.social
(DIR) Post #B5ftygr4GJkoeUZIpM by mattblaze@federate.social
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@azonenberg I have no idea. why would you try to assassinate the president at a heavily controlled event with limited entrances? Anyone doing this, no matter the target, is very likely to be stopped.
(DIR) Post #B5rVAPbg3BOrfwNhsu by mattblaze@federate.social
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My first piece of advice for people whose earth-shattering theories are being being ignored and dismissed by the scientific establishment is to stop acting and sounding like a lunatic who no one wants to sit next to on the bus.
(DIR) Post #B5rVAQb0NASMk94gTY by mattblaze@federate.social
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(Now, of course, I get the "you are obviously referring to me and how DARE you call me a lunatic" replies.
(DIR) Post #B6A4Yy94HZeizBiv1k by mattblaze@federate.social
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AT&T Long Lines "Oak Hill" Tower, San Jose, CA. 2021.All the pixels, each hardened against an enemy attack, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/51261791084#photography
(DIR) Post #B6A4Yz2MxxtLkhb5E0 by mattblaze@federate.social
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Captured with the Rodenstock 50mm/4.0 HR Digaron-W lens (@ f/4.5) on a Cambo WRS-1600 camera (with about 15mm of vertical shift to preserve the geometry), the Phase One IQ4-150 back (@ ISO 50) in dual exposure mode (which preserves a couple stops of additional dynamic range into the shadows).The tower's shape is irregular; it tapers slightly.The wide angle and panoramic orientation give a bit of context, alone on a hill (which is being rapidly encroached by adjacent residential development).
(DIR) Post #B6A4YzTJLnRV6GCbDc by mattblaze@federate.social
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For much of the 20th century, the backbone of the AT&T "Long Lines" long distance telephone network consisted primarily of terrestrial microwave links (rather than copper or fiber cables). Towers with distinctive KS-15676 "horn" antennas could be seen on hilltops and atop switching center buildings across the US; they were simply part of the American landscape.Most of the relay towers were simple steel structures. This brutalist concrete platform in San Jose was, I believe, of a unique design.
(DIR) Post #B6A4YzubiJHESuyOlU by mattblaze@federate.social
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The San Jose Oak Hill Tower is unique in a number of ways. This particular concrete brutalist design appears not to have been exactly replicated elsewhere; it was site-specific. It sits atop an underground switching center (that was partly used for a military contract), which explains the relatively hardened design.Today the underground switch is still there, owned by AT&T, but the tower space is leased to land mobile and cellular providers. The old horn antennas at top are disconnected.
(DIR) Post #B6A4Z0O1wuoRwAjtcu by mattblaze@federate.social
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With a few exceptions (mostly towers atop downtown switching offices in populated areas), no one was trying to make any of this utilitarian communications infrastructure beautiful. It was form strictly following function, built to be reliable and rugged.But there was, I think, quite a bit of beauty to find in it. Perhaps we'll look at our current neighborhood cellular towers, now often regarded as visual blight, the same way decades after they're (inevitably) gone.Infrastructure is heroic.
(DIR) Post #B6Ck4fchAS7HFBjhsO by mattblaze@federate.social
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No, not “maybe later”. Never.I do not want notifications from your app, and I am completely confident that I never, ever, will in the future. Also, it’s not about me, it’s about you, app. You’re creepy and controlling.
(DIR) Post #B6Ck4g5lQNMuhLKvBY by mattblaze@federate.social
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@me_valentijn The app and I are not a couple. The app is a stalker.
(DIR) Post #B6CqWgxSOi2nDXByym by mattblaze@federate.social
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One students paper included footnotes for each "fact that ChatGPT got wrong" that was relevant. Interesting flex!
(DIR) Post #B6El4mh1N3QZROIWDA by mattblaze@federate.social
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One of the less endearing things about this website is that whenever I mention something interesting a student did, some stranger tells me how that indicates what a terrible teacher I must be.It’s a close cousin of the people who habitually inform the posters of cute animal videos that their pet’s behavior is a sign that they’re being abused.
(DIR) Post #B6El4muqXeUE8GlYlE by mattblaze@federate.social
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Now of course, I also get the huffy explanations of how this isn’t merely a website, but a federation, and also a Way of being.
(DIR) Post #B6GZg40l8NZkjXSYam by mattblaze@federate.social
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My entire platform for president is to make it a felony to put a USB-C connector on a device that can only charge from a USB-A power supply.
(DIR) Post #B6GZg4sHvMOTPYVJ1k by mattblaze@federate.social
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I'm talking to you, Philips rechargeable worklight.
(DIR) Post #B6GZn5iPCHxS2sE3W4 by mattblaze@federate.social
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@20002ist Right. They ship a device with a USB-C connector and a USB-C to USB-A cable, and warn you only their cable works.
(DIR) Post #B6GZn67vfONHK2ARIe by mattblaze@federate.social
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@SteveBellovin @20002ist Yes, I understand you can get the cables. I have cables.The problem is that if I see a USB-C connector, I should reasonably expect to be able to charge it with a USB-C charger.
(DIR) Post #B7wZMNLHAX0NjNjD2e by mattblaze@federate.social
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@dangillmor not the first time the Intercept screwed up tech for protecting sources.
(DIR) Post #B8WNCokc2BBRGRNRxI by mattblaze@federate.social
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@dangillmor What's a block post?
(DIR) Post #B8WNQxOyfNyY9J03UW by mattblaze@federate.social
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@dangillmor Ah! That makes so much more sense! Working on it.