Author | Lightnews

Don Wells

@jdonwells.bsky.social

3.1K followers 2.8K following 120 posts

Retired computer programmer. Volunteer teacher at Wayne Memorial High School. Teaching Computer Science to teenagers. #microbit micro:bit Champion 2025 #microbitChampion http://www.extremeprogramming.org Героям слава!

www.extremeprogramming.org

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · 11h

This puts the East Ballroom at the same size as the White House.

The WH is 168ftx85.5ft = 14,364 sq ft. The ballroom with one level is 90k sq ft, 6x as big.

Example ballrooms that seat 1k have 17k to 28k sq ft.

Minimize by adding 3 levels of offices: (90k-17k)/3+17k = 41k sq ft. Still 3x as big.

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · 7d

Why is the government shutdown?

Republicans need Democrats to vote for rolling back ACA money, food stamps, and other terrible things.

Republicans need some way to blame the crashing economy on Democrats.

Republicans can open the government without Democrats, but they need it to be closed.

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · 7d

Treasury bills currently have an inverted yield curve.

Historically such a curve is followed by a recession.

Trump believes his economic policies are working so he plans to do nothing.

Congress plans to do nothing because Trump controls them.

If we don't act soon we will have a recession.

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · 7d

A truck swerved towards a group of protesters. Not to hit them, just scare them. The police arrested him and impounded his truck. The crimes committed include assault, assault with a deadly weapon, and reckless endangerment.

Trump has made being an ass hole popular, but not always legal.

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · 13d

EMTALA was signed by Republican Ronald Reagan 4/7/86. It says hospitals must treat people who are dying regardless of ability to pay. It never said just US citizens. Immigrants by law must be treated.

Immigrants can NOT get Medicare nor ACA benefits. But they can rely on EMTALA to save their lives.

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · 19d

Now, through the application of Generative AI, you can write 2 sentences and have that turned into a 2 page email.

Upon receipt, that two page email can be summarized by AI into 2 sentences that everyone can then read.

Brilliant!

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · 21d

Here is a slide I have been showing my students for a few years.

Generative AI prompting is just another programming language. Professional level classes are already advising us to include "think deeply" or "let's think step by step" in our prompts.

The real question is: Will they pay us more?

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Sep 25

youtube.com/shorts/-pHrS...

What Prompt Engineers *actually* do #ai #softwareengineer

YouTube video by Alberta Tech

youtube.com

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Sep 25

I saw the garden show today. These shows are so engaging. The Elby world is created from cardboard and paint. Students will be inspired by how much can be created with so little. I am looking forward to Robot Haunted House in October.

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Sep 25

I went to the @codejoyedu.bsky.social Robot Garden interactive class today. Another great show for younger kids and adults who never grew up like me. I was inspired by the "BatteryFly". I am going to have to think about making one for myself. These shows always get me thinking. Try one. #microbit

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Sep 21

I just finished another good webinar from @codejoyedu.bsky.social. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about teaching and AI. Go to pathfinders.onwingspan.com and look for Practical AI for Educators.

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Sep 15

There is some basis in science here. If God made man in his image and the first men were black...

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Sep 14

A brief history of Artificial Intelligence:
1955 Dartmouth conference
1960s Heuristics, symbolic reasoning
1975 AI winter
1980s Rules, knowledge engineering
1988 AI winter
2000s Neural networks, CUDA GPUs
2020s Large Language Models, generative AI

An AI winter is over due.

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Reposted by Don Wells

🍂k a r e n @andthenisleep.bsky.social · Sep 13

40 380 970

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Aug 15

Trump has been justifying the tariffs by saying China manipulates prices to artificially lower them. If you want them to stop that then you cannot expect them to eat the tariffs too.

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Aug 15

Thank you. Now I know what parts to get.

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Aug 12

@elecfreaks.bsky.social I am looking at some building brick motors. I have seen these. The problem is that at no time has a photo of the cable and connection ever been taken.

We have this photo. It shows that it will be plugged in, but no notes on what cable will do that.

#microbitchampion

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Aug 12

I got these magnets from Amazon for a reasonable price. They work well. If you need more magnetic power you can get those too. www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS34QTB...

Neosmuk 22lb Heavy Duty Neodymium Cup Magnet with Screw, Round Base Disc Magnet, 4 Pack

Neosmuk 22lb Heavy Duty Neodymium Cup Magnet with Screw, Round Base Disc Magnet, 4 Pack: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Aug 11

youtube.com/shorts/RJver...

YouTube video by Spiral Mantra Pvt Ltd

youtube.com

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Aug 4

I have a new playlist. I will help you make an #animatronic cardboard robot. Videos include construction and programming of the robot. #microbit #microbitchampion @microbit.org

youtube.com/playlist?lis...

With special thanks to @codejoyedu.bsky.social for the inspiration to make this series.

Pet Robot Project #microbit #education #animatronics #robot #embracethecardboard - YouTube

In this project we will make a pet robot to live on our desks.

youtube.com

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Jul 27

I would not have chosen pink as a shirt color. Putting that on black would be great.

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Jul 19

"I'm going to just randomly click around here because you know kids do that."
-Kelsey Derringer @codejoyedu.bsky.social

Yes, yes they do.

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Jul 19

I was not aware those were open to the public. I was of the impression they are for the professional development gang. Is that wrong?

Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Jul 17

@codejoyedu.bsky.social just posted a free video course. Click below. Click on the Pathfinders link. Create an account. Find micro:bit in the wild by scrolling down. Click that. In the blue graphic is a camouflaged Start button. Click it to start. #microbit @microbit.org

CodeJoy Announces New Micro:bit Video Course!

CodeJoy Partners with Infosys Foundation USA to Produce Micro:bit in the Wild

go.codejoy.org

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Don Wells @jdonwells.bsky.social · Jul 6

youtube.com/shorts/Ah_LM...

Elon Musk vs SQL 😭

YouTube video by Alberta Tech

youtube.com