My first No Kings protest downtown and it was exciting. Live performance, crazy characters, great signs and lots of camaraderie. i gave out stickers and made friends as we idled and marched. Unlike the first and second march, this time i traveled to downtown los angeles to participate in a much larger gathering. i couldn’t get pictures of all the incredible costumes. Everyone was so friendly and curious. i lost count of how many times i bumped into or stepped on the foot of a fellow protestor.
It’s that time of year again, and the Vintage Computer Festival. When i clean out my garage and marvel at all the incredible past computing and electronics that are kept working with love and proficient attention to maintenance. not my first visit, or even my second.
This year i brought three carloads, with xServes, xRAIDs, and fiber channel gear! Time Capsules in original packaging. iMacs and laptops from many generations and many operational statuses.
There was a demo of adult themed “dirty” original nintendo games. i never knew. custom cases, or custom lights, here was an Amiga 500 made clear. looking good.
Two of my dream systems were in the consignment room. i was proud that i didn’t go home with a 20th Anniversary Mac nor a MacTV. it was hard, but had to be done.
Launched at Defcon 33 and eagerly awaited by wifi tinkerers and technologists. i finally received mine. i’m still figuring out the functionality from potential. As a handheld device, unlike the rest of the pineapple line, it is designed to be used from the device. i was looking for an always monitoring device with audio and haptic alerts. it’s handheld nature makes extracting logs a novel concept, but it is already providing insight into my wireless space. 
I love the default look with all it’s retro elements. From war games to classic MacOS, out of the box it has more retro style than it’s 90s pager reveals. it operates on 3 wifi bands! (2,5,6) and maybe bluetooth as well eventually. This is just the beginning as the firmware gets more mature and additional content is added by the users. this is with the stock hardware. Hak5 is already selling USB modules for ethernet, GPS, and LoRa for even more functionality. i’ll update as i get more capable with the gadget. currently it does eat it’s battery very enthusiastically. i don’t think i’ve gotten more than 2-3 hours of use on a charge. (but i don’t yet know what i am doing)
Better weather, funnier signs, and even more engaged neighbors! At the second No Kings rally, everyone was delightful and excited about positive change in the USA.
Not one of the big marches in Los Angeles, but there must be well over 250 people of all ages!
Originally built in 766 Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji Temple was rebuilt a few times since then, most notably by Kocho Nishimura, a statue sculptor and restorer who himself became a Buddhist monk. Over 10 years stating in 1981 reconstruction was in full swing. The main project was the construction of the 1200 carved statues that now cover the hillsides. These are rakan, the followers of Buddha, created individually by everyday followers who made the pilgrimage to learn carving from Kocho Nishimura. you can see the individuality and even elements of personality in each carving.
There are many bamboo forests in Japan, many of the most famous are in the outskirts of Kyoto. This was one of the less popular ones, but none the less beautiful or majestic.
The famous Shibya crossing is one of the busiest intersections in the world. It is surrounded by some incredible shopping and archictctte! What a wonderful day.
I got to visit the sphere. it’s got some amazing tech.
