May 2026

I boosted this a minute ago, but this is why the fediverse is the best. This is the nerdiest, funniest, and most informative rant/thread/comedic essay you will ever read about solar power. It’s the best!

https://retro.social/@ifixcoinops/116376143702970418

I got 8 solar panels today, gonna go back for the others tomorrow.

The panels were in the woods.

Just, like, big piles of them in the woods. Full of rain and leaves and twigs and creatures.

I mean I guess it makes sense and I don't know what I expected, these machines are weatherproof, they're meant to live outside.

Dude wasn't there when I turned up so I got the car ready and had a look around and got my meter on some wires and yup, they work. These mossy dirty sleeping machines in the woods are silently pushing electrons trying to find something to push them through, not asleep after all, just waiting.

These were just the first people I saw who I thought should have a bit of a spotlight, but honestly - don't just follow those who have thousands of followers. Fedi is a rich vein of some of the best of humanity. Art, Science, Beauty. It doesn't have to be anger and vitriol. There is so much more. And it's all here! X

OH MY GOD 🤣

Just in time for Pride, these are some of the most badass Pride T shirts I've ever seen!

https://vasaricore.com/

#LGBT #Pride

I don't know why I thought of it, but I remembered that this was a thing today and got a little nostalgic: https://barackobamaisyournewbicycle.com

RE: https://mstdn.social/@GayDeceiver/116659019726785561

Hell, I want to be the reason any authority figures gives up and starts wearing crocs all the time.

The scale of the New Glenn explosion is a reminder of the staggering amount of energy locked up within a rocket, and the extreme engineering it takes to release that energy in a precisely controlled way.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/05/29/blue-origins-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-during-prelaunch-testing-at-cape-canaveral/ #space #technology

My favorite comment to leave when I approve a PR is "SHIP IT". When I'm tired, I spoonerize it and it sometimes becomes "SHIT IP" which is not what I mean at all.

Today's artist is... INXS, maybe Australia's greatest musical export: https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260529

In other news, I am writing a love story about OAuth: "When a client and server love each other very much, they ask a user for a grant, and then the client asks the server to exchange a code for a token... and y'all, that's LOVE."

Ummm, I think this place has radicalized me. I just went on an epic rant about "legacy social media" in a thread on the work Slack. Way to go, Fediverse, you magnificent bastards.

I blogged because it's almost halfway through 2026 and I figured it was time to check in on my intentions for the year: https://lawver.net/2026/05/how-is-2026-going-anyway/

So much webinar spam, so few delete buttons.

No new artist today, so you get more Air! This song is practically a lullaby, in the best way: https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260528

It's weird that I'm now down to just one machine I ssh into, not counting things that do git things via ssh. I used to have dozens... hundreds? Yeah, hundreds when I was at the devops company. No longer! Just my one happy little linux machine that runs plex and some other nonsense.

RE: https://mastodon.social/@CatsOfYore/116648401956870406

But I’m allergic to shoulders!

I need to cut myself some slack. I've already merged 5 PRs today, and did a webinar. I am one productive lazy guy.

Who here uses Ruby without using Ruby on Rails (except me)? #ruby #rails

Inspired by my little rant yesterday, today's artist is Air! This song is from Blue Moon Safari, the aforementioned INCREDIBLE remix album. https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260527

Slack reset my frequently used emoji today for some reason, which means my entire personality is missing. I don't even know who I am anymore.

How do I know the nerds have won? Spellcheck didn't even BLINK when I used "borked" this morning, and I'm sure I didn't add it to my custom dictionary (this is my work laptop and it's too new).

GitHub is broken again. I've already broached leaving at work, and it's way past time to move my personal stuff off of it. Codeberg is where we're all going, right?

I think there's only one album this ISN'T true for, and it's Air's Moon Safari. It's spawned a billion mashups, a ton of remixes, and Blue Moon Safari, which came out last year, is basically a reimagined version of the whole thing, and is INCREDIBLE. I would recommend listening to pretty much any remix "blessed" by the band.

A couple of folks fell in love with Zero 7, and wanted to know where to start, and of course I always say to start at the beginning (especially true for Zero 7).

The problem is that if you look at Apple Music, their albums are out of order because of the Deluxe and Special editions, so no one would know that Simple Things and When It Falls are where they SHOULD start. Also, if you're new to an artist, never start with the special edition of an album, because you absolutely don't care about rare b-sides and demos. You don't even know if you like them yet!

Dear music services, sort yourselves (literally) out!

I ordered ramen powder that should be here tonight. My first experiment is putting it on popcorn, and... I am more excited about it than I should be. #stupidFoodTricks #food #playWithYourFood

Today's artist is Zero 7! If you haven't heard them, well, you probably have and just don't know it. Also, I'm jealous, because you're in for a treat! https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260526

I think I’ve got a case of that junta virus. I’m itching to stage a rash of coups. I’ve got that insurrection infection.

Lemon Spindrift and Rye: also very good. I wish I had some mint.

Spindrift Raspberry Lime with a splash of Rye? It’s good. I might try it with another flavor in a bit.

If you're #trans and feeling lonely, repost this.

If you are an ally and care about trans people, repost this.

You may be feeling lonely. But, you're not alone.

DUE TODAY

The public has until May 22 to submit comments and tell the FCC that LGBTQ characters and stories on television do not harm anyone – our lives should not be compared to content that is violent, coarse, sexual, or includes drug use.

It’s time to tell the FCC that LGBTQ people do not need warning labels.

https://glaad.org/fcc

#LGBT #Queer #FCC

It's Friday before a long weekend here in the US, which means... let's ease into it. https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260522

Are you an interesting person?

#poll

The $1.8 billion "weaponization" fund just reminds me that the only people that received reparations after the Civil War were slaveowners. History repeats, and usually not the good parts.

I thought I couldn't get angrier, but... it turns out, my anger is a renewable resource.

Another band that's got one song on my Coding Music playlist that's now my artist of the day: Tourist! Let's see what else they've got for me! https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260521

I think my disappointment is now chronic and I’m not sure there’s a pill for it.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

I am good and grumpy this morning, teetering on morose. Probably a good day to stay off the internet. I'll be sitting in the dark listening to coding music if you need me. Reach out via carrier pigeon or email - you know, the usual method.

Hey, Southeast GA folks, Amanda Hollowell is in a runoff against Joyce Griggs for Buddy Carter's old seat! Joyce has tried twice, never raised money, never campaigned, and never even tried to win. Amanda is a fighter. Amanda will raise money.

We have a chance to win this time, in a district dems haven't won since it was gerrymandered into existence.

Donate!

https://www.amandaforga.com/ #politics #georgia #uspol #votedammit

Today's artist is Boards of Canada (full disclosure, I still have one Clem Snide album to listen to) because this song came on while I was doing the dishes last night and well, it's great! https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260520

HELL YEAH GAMECHANGER IS BACK.

More hardcore political stuff…

Today's artist is Clem Snide - and the song that introduced me to them, Roger Ebert: https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260519

Tag yourself! I'm jug-playing granny! (Seriously, this is great - hooray for grannies!). https://youtu.be/ARPsFk77uEc?si=D8yhtLByF-BHCHNl

I didn't finish listening to Junip on Friday so here's one of their songs for today's track: https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260518

How much do I love my omg.lol account? It doesn't expire for TWELVE more years. I think I added more time during a big sale a couple of years, but, it's great. I'm not even SUPER involved in everything (not on Discord, for example) but everything I am involved in is great, and everyone I've met, up to and including @neatnik, has been lovely.

If you want to join a lovely little corner of the internet, not sure you'll find a better one than https://omg.lol.

I made a darn good salad for lunch today. Searing tuna in butter, and then basting it in soy sauce, and then putting it on a salad with some leftover quick pickles? Great idea.

OMG, if you listen to just one section, start it around 16:45 as loud as you can handle in your favorite headphones. I've got all the music chills. Happy Friday to me.

Taking a break from José González for this new-to-me Underworld live show: https://youtu.be/rAOHJqJMYDA?si=ig0TB4HQNAKdUUjF

Today's artist is José González! Great voice, great guitar player, and this cover is excellent. Can't lose. https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260515

Work smarter not harder isn't possible if you don't first work harder and learn how to work smarter.

Today's artist is TV on the Radio! One of the 2000-2010's best headphone bands! Enjoy! https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260514

RE: https://mastodon.social/@michelestrider/116567515137289412

It's called the TURDIS: Totally Unreliable: Radically Driving In Space (and time, duh).

Also, damn, Yard Act's new single is a banger. This is the most straightforward rock song I think I've heard from them. I'm not complaining: https://youtu.be/QztGR2DGnso?si=46yD4o87NW2lbzvq

Today's artist is... THE BETHS!!! I _love_ them, and this is the song that introduced me to the band. Enjoy! https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260513

Finally got around to picking a Dean & Britta song! This one's a cover, and it rocks: https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260512

I'm so grumpy, I might have to make breakfast for dinner.

Wow, I am Mr. Grumpy Pants today... and I'm not even wearing pants! (shorts, I'm wearing my traditional remote work "Business Mullet": nice t-shirt up top and workout shorts)

Dudes, it's not up to women (OK, it SHOULDN'T BE) to remind us to have basic human decency, but, this is a good reminder. Don't be an asshole. Be kind. When a guy at work does something unacceptable - CALL IT OUT, right then and there. https://ohhelloana.blog/woman-in-tech/

"Trans Americans with Canadian ancestry have been receiving expedited processing of their applications for Canadian citizenship certificates."

https://www.cicnews.com/2026/05/canada-is-fast-tracking-citizenship-certificates-for-trans-americans-0575258.html

#goodnews #transrightsarehumanrights #canada #uspol

hey that's my emotional support Untitled spreadsheet

I'm not done with Luna yet (_four_ albums to go!), but I've decided that I've had so much fun with them that I'm going to keep going on the theme and today's artist is Dean & Britta - which is made up of two folks from Luna. I don't know their work well enough to pick a crucial track so that'll have to wait until later.

It's not complicated.

From self-dealing, to international backroom deals, to rigging elections, to expensive wars, to pardons for sale, to ballrooms and statues and everything else...

Tie the administration's corruption to the economic hardship individuals are feeling.

Over and over and over.

The @mimestream iOS beta is just about the most solid beta I've ever used. It's so good. Insert the Fry "take my money" meme here.

Today's artist is Luna! I think this is their only song in French? https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260511

@chu

Happy Mother's Day.

(one of my shirt designs on sophielabelle.dashery.com)

Everything bagel seasoning is really good on popcorn. Not as good as putting chili crisp in the butter tray of your oil popper, but it’s a good way to jazz up a bag of the grocery store stuff.

Thing I've been pondering:

Would you be less afraid of becoming disabled (or if you are already sick and burned out, less afraid of accepting you are disabled) if you frequently saw disabled people in your community getting good care, being included, and living meaningful lives?

Boosts appreciated for diverse reach. 🔄

Do you use Mimestream? CHECK YOUR DAMN EMAIL!! #mimestream #HappyFriday

One day, I will write the perfect configuration system ... today isn't that day. It's pretty good, but it's not perfect.

Today's track is from the soundtrack to a western that DOESN'T exist from my artist for today: SUSS. I love them. If you like your instrumental deep work music with a twang, this is the band for you!

https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260508

RE: https://eupolicy.social/@AliceStollmeyer/116538663216008744

This feels like a really big deal to me.

I was in a meeting today and someone said, "you're not old unless you saw Return of the Jedi in the theater."

My good man, I not only saw Return of the Jedi in the theater, I saw Empire Strikes Back in the theater. There is also a photo of me around the age of two and a half in Piccadilly Circus with my parents in front of a GIGANTIC Star Wars billboard.

I am so old, I remember when movies would COME BACK TO THEATERS (especially on military bases), so I saw Star Wars in the theater AT LEAST twice when it came back around BEFORE the stupid "George Lucas Midlife Crisis" version before the prequels came out.

#GetOffMyLawn #old #greyAndLovingIt #grayAndLovingIt?

Also, new Boards of Canada that they dropped 15 minutes ago! https://youtu.be/74NluS3jzTo?si=5IPXxdNOfrMz8CMv

Today's song is meant for falling to sleep to. I use this album for deep work and procrastinating.

https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260507

I think my #NerdQuest this weekend is finally Steam Decking it from my couch (with the deck in its dock plugged into the TV and me on the couch w/ a bluetooth controller). I don't think this is too much to ask. I'm sure it's not that hard, I've just never attempted it.

My company is hiring (remote, but US only, sorry)! I've been at Bonusly since December and it's been a lot of fun so far. Happy to put and fediverse pals in as a referral if you're interested and think you're qualified!

https://ats.rippling.com/en-GB/bonusly/jobs/cccbf035-f5e6-4185-89f0-c90e666edeb7?utm_source=mastodon

Hammock has so many albums that they're carrying over to today, which is just as well, because I now have to build the thing I planned out yesterday. Stupid planning... always leads to building.

It's funny how much maintenance I can get done while thinking about possibly starting something else.

You know what I did today? Swore at OAuth some more. But, all that swearing paid off. I think I finally conquered it (well, our weeeeeiiiiiiird implementation of it anyway). Feels good. The swearing part.

Today's crucial track is from Hammock. https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260506

I've got brain thinky shenanigans to do tomorrow, which means tomorrow's band is definitely going to be Hammock.

The Delgados were a great idea for today's artist. It's been years since I've listened to their earlier stuff. This song is fantastic (as are most of their songs): https://youtu.be/AHfOubEmtL8?si=qm0NyYNUPh1SB1RI

OAuth is so fun. I haven't blasphemed this much in ages. I've slandered gods I've never even worshipped.

My artist for today is Scotland's own The Delgados. Here's my favorite song of theirs: https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260505

I love reading things like this is specs. Have you ever seen BOTH parties handle ANYTHING gracefully?

"Both parties MUST handle these race conditions gracefully."

May the Fourth around and find out.

I keep seeing @wq's tracks and decided to join in the fun. Here's mine for today: https://www.crucialtracks.org/profile/kpl/20260504

Widow’s Bay is as fun as the reviews say it is. The cast is incredible. There’s another “oh, it’s them; I love them!” Character actor around every corner, and it’s really funny. It hasn’t really gotten scary yet (halfway through episode two), but it’s setting the stage for it nicely. #tv #minireview

Nongshim’s spicy vegan instant ramen is the best thing ever. It’s not stupid spicy. It’s full of veggies, and delicious.

we can have a better world

we literally just have to TRY

#climatechange #solar #rewilding

Culinary Class Wars on Netflix is Iron Chef mixed with Professional MasterChef, with the shmoop of MasterChef Australia. Season two really gets the formula right. It’s great so far (I’m on episode three).