Liam Proven
@lproven.bsky.social
Tall, dark, black-clad, atheist, skeptic, vegetarian, SF fan; writes (mostly about computers) for a living. All opinions expressed are my own & not those of any employer.
Reposted by Liam Proven
![Steve Hogarty (@misterbrilliant) on twitter: "[gets olympic tickets to 100m butterfly] Oh my god this will be great. [sees the huge stadium] Oh wow that must be where they keep it."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4djfp3b27soxcfkxhirydi6d/bafkreiggabvm73uur4tzdeeskjmre7l6zdobuur4dhlfpi2dc3bczfctwq@jpeg)
UNIX V4 tape successfully recovered: First ever version of UNIX written in C is running again
www.theregister.com/2025/12/23/u...
Crucial early evolutionary step found, imaged, and ... amazingly ... works
<- by me on @theregister.com
www.theregister.com/2025/12/23/u...
Crucial early evolutionary step found, imaged, and ... amazingly ... works
<- by me on @theregister.com
UNIX V4 tape successfully recovered
: Crucial early evolutionary step found, imaged, and ... amazingly ... works
www.theregister.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
UNIX V4 tape successfully recovered: First ever version of UNIX written in C is running again
www.theregister.com/2025/12/23/u...
Crucial early evolutionary step found, imaged, and ... amazingly ... works
<- by me on @theregister.com
www.theregister.com/2025/12/23/u...
Crucial early evolutionary step found, imaged, and ... amazingly ... works
<- by me on @theregister.com
Perry Bible Fellowship: Nautical awards
buff.ly/h2331dW
<- meta jokes:
• octopuses have 8 _arms_ not tentacles
• _but_ squid & cuttlefish have 2 tentacles _and_ 8 arms for a total of 10
• but some brittlestars have hundreds...
It _is_ all just politics.
buff.ly/h2331dW
<- meta jokes:
• octopuses have 8 _arms_ not tentacles
• _but_ squid & cuttlefish have 2 tentacles _and_ 8 arms for a total of 10
• but some brittlestars have hundreds...
It _is_ all just politics.
Nautical Awards
The Perry Bible Fellowship
buff.ly
December 23, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Perry Bible Fellowship: Nautical awards
buff.ly/h2331dW
<- meta jokes:
• octopuses have 8 _arms_ not tentacles
• _but_ squid & cuttlefish have 2 tentacles _and_ 8 arms for a total of 10
• but some brittlestars have hundreds...
It _is_ all just politics.
buff.ly/h2331dW
<- meta jokes:
• octopuses have 8 _arms_ not tentacles
• _but_ squid & cuttlefish have 2 tentacles _and_ 8 arms for a total of 10
• but some brittlestars have hundreds...
It _is_ all just politics.
Reposted by Liam Proven
FFC review: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (2025), by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social). filmfreakcentral.net/2025/12/avat...
Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) - FILM FREAK CENTRAL
ZERO STARS/****starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winsletscreenplay by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silverdirected by James Cameron by Walter Chaw I think, for white ...
filmfreakcentral.net
December 21, 2025 at 2:37 AM
FFC review: AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (2025), by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social). filmfreakcentral.net/2025/12/avat...
Reposted by Liam Proven
New big post about the present and future of #RISC_OS. Open for corrections. First focus the kernel.
@lproven.bsky.social , @nemo20000.bsky.social , @taynappe.bsky.social and anyone who wish to provide corrections please let me know, thx!
riscoscommunity.org/understandin...
@lproven.bsky.social , @nemo20000.bsky.social , @taynappe.bsky.social and anyone who wish to provide corrections please let me know, thx!
riscoscommunity.org/understandin...
RISC OS Today and Tomorrow: What Would Really Benefit the Platform
Author: Paolo Fabio Zaino., RISC OS is a unique operating system with a long and important history. It is relatively fast, elegant, and responsive, and people who use it enjoy it precisely because it ...
riscoscommunity.org
December 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM
New big post about the present and future of #RISC_OS. Open for corrections. First focus the kernel.
@lproven.bsky.social , @nemo20000.bsky.social , @taynappe.bsky.social and anyone who wish to provide corrections please let me know, thx!
riscoscommunity.org/understandin...
@lproven.bsky.social , @nemo20000.bsky.social , @taynappe.bsky.social and anyone who wish to provide corrections please let me know, thx!
riscoscommunity.org/understandin...
Reposted by Liam Proven
this year's christmas #1 by @arkady-rose.bsky.social
arkadyrose.bandcamp.com/album/yule
TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW
arkadyrose.bandcamp.com/album/yule
TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW
Yule, by Arkady Rose
7 track album
arkadyrose.bandcamp.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:42 PM
this year's christmas #1 by @arkady-rose.bsky.social
arkadyrose.bandcamp.com/album/yule
TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW
arkadyrose.bandcamp.com/album/yule
TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW
Vultures rake our claws over COSMIC as Pop OS 24.04 LTS with 'Epoch 1' emerges
www.theregister.com/2025/12/22/p...
Even with the latest Gparted Live, it's not easy to dual boot – but it's worth the hassle
<- by me on @theregister.com
www.theregister.com/2025/12/22/p...
Even with the latest Gparted Live, it's not easy to dual boot – but it's worth the hassle
<- by me on @theregister.com
The Reg tests out Pop OS 24.04 with 'Epoch 1' of COSMIC
Hands On: Even with the latest Gparted Live, it's not easy to dual boot – but it's worth the hassle
www.theregister.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Vultures rake our claws over COSMIC as Pop OS 24.04 LTS with 'Epoch 1' emerges
www.theregister.com/2025/12/22/p...
Even with the latest Gparted Live, it's not easy to dual boot – but it's worth the hassle
<- by me on @theregister.com
www.theregister.com/2025/12/22/p...
Even with the latest Gparted Live, it's not easy to dual boot – but it's worth the hassle
<- by me on @theregister.com
Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin , usr/sbin split
buff.ly/XRxnGH9
<- where Unix (including Linux) got the cryptic 3- and 4-letter directory names from. They mostly are not really acronyms, but backronyms: post-hoc justifications for cryptic names that later got repurposed.
buff.ly/XRxnGH9
<- where Unix (including Linux) got the cryptic 3- and 4-letter directory names from. They mostly are not really acronyms, but backronyms: post-hoc justifications for cryptic names that later got repurposed.
Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin , usr/sbin split
buff.ly
December 22, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Understanding the bin, sbin, usr/bin , usr/sbin split
buff.ly/XRxnGH9
<- where Unix (including Linux) got the cryptic 3- and 4-letter directory names from. They mostly are not really acronyms, but backronyms: post-hoc justifications for cryptic names that later got repurposed.
buff.ly/XRxnGH9
<- where Unix (including Linux) got the cryptic 3- and 4-letter directory names from. They mostly are not really acronyms, but backronyms: post-hoc justifications for cryptic names that later got repurposed.
The Uncertain Origins of Aspirin
bit.ly/3L6zK7J
The history of humanity’s pharmacopeia is often muddied by folklore. What can the origins of aspirin teach us about separating fact from fiction?
bit.ly/3L6zK7J
The history of humanity’s pharmacopeia is often muddied by folklore. What can the origins of aspirin teach us about separating fact from fiction?
The Uncertain Origins of Aspirin
The history of humanity’s pharmacopeia is often muddied by folklore. What can the origins of aspirin teach us about separating fact from fiction?
bit.ly
December 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The Uncertain Origins of Aspirin
bit.ly/3L6zK7J
The history of humanity’s pharmacopeia is often muddied by folklore. What can the origins of aspirin teach us about separating fact from fiction?
bit.ly/3L6zK7J
The history of humanity’s pharmacopeia is often muddied by folklore. What can the origins of aspirin teach us about separating fact from fiction?
From devastation to wonder as Kangaroo Island bushfires lead to cave discoveries
buff.ly/cuuhJvz
It was an adventure into the unknown. From the surface all that could be seen was a small opening. Researchers had no idea how deep the hole went, or what was at the bottom.
buff.ly/cuuhJvz
It was an adventure into the unknown. From the surface all that could be seen was a small opening. Researchers had no idea how deep the hole went, or what was at the bottom.
Phoenix cave 'rises from the ashes' amid discovery after KI bushfires
It was an adventure into the unknown. From the surface all that could be seen was a small opening. The ABC has been given exclusive access to newly-discovered caves on South Australia's Kangaroo…
buff.ly
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
From devastation to wonder as Kangaroo Island bushfires lead to cave discoveries
buff.ly/cuuhJvz
It was an adventure into the unknown. From the surface all that could be seen was a small opening. Researchers had no idea how deep the hole went, or what was at the bottom.
buff.ly/cuuhJvz
It was an adventure into the unknown. From the surface all that could be seen was a small opening. Researchers had no idea how deep the hole went, or what was at the bottom.
UNIX v4, the 1st version rewritten in C, was successfully recovered from tape this weekend — & here it is running in SimH on IRIX.
For children under 50, the amazing bit is the contents of the big window in the middle, *not* the windows themselves.
oldbytes.space/@flexion/115...
For children under 50, the amazing bit is the contents of the big window in the middle, *not* the windows themselves.
oldbytes.space/@flexion/115...
/usr/people/flexion (@[email protected])
Attached: 1 image
The "UNIX v4 tape" running in simh PDP11 emu on IRIX:
oldbytes.space
December 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
UNIX v4, the 1st version rewritten in C, was successfully recovered from tape this weekend — & here it is running in SimH on IRIX.
For children under 50, the amazing bit is the contents of the big window in the middle, *not* the windows themselves.
oldbytes.space/@flexion/115...
For children under 50, the amazing bit is the contents of the big window in the middle, *not* the windows themselves.
oldbytes.space/@flexion/115...
Reposted by Liam Proven
Here's the document release you were waiting for today!
The UNIX V4 tape!
https://archive.org/details/utah_unix_v4_raw
#retrocomputing
The UNIX V4 tape!
https://archive.org/details/utah_unix_v4_raw
#retrocomputing
UNIX V4 tape from University of Utah (raw) : Computer History Museum : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
UNIX V4 tape from the University of Utah, received by Martin Newell circa June 1974 around when he modeled the Utah Teapot.This is the raw analog waveform and...
archive.org
December 19, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Here's the document release you were waiting for today!
The UNIX V4 tape!
https://archive.org/details/utah_unix_v4_raw
#retrocomputing
The UNIX V4 tape!
https://archive.org/details/utah_unix_v4_raw
#retrocomputing
Reposted by Liam Proven
We found a tape containing UNIX V4 - long believed lost - in storage at the University of Utah. Yesterday, the Computer History Museum read it! There's a raw copy of the tape up at archive.org/details/utah... , a .tar at squoze.net/UNIX/v4/ , and much more at discuss.systems/@ricci/11550...
UNIX V4 tape from University of Utah (raw) : Computer History Museum : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
UNIX V4 tape from the University of Utah, received by Martin Newell in June 1974 around when he modeled the Utah Teapot.This is the raw analog waveform and the...
archive.org
December 20, 2025 at 5:24 PM
We found a tape containing UNIX V4 - long believed lost - in storage at the University of Utah. Yesterday, the Computer History Museum read it! There's a raw copy of the tape up at archive.org/details/utah... , a .tar at squoze.net/UNIX/v4/ , and much more at discuss.systems/@ricci/11550...
Reposted by Liam Proven
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
Reposted by Liam Proven
My 14-yo-son has recreated the climax of Back to the Future in gingerbread and I thought you should know.
December 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
My 14-yo-son has recreated the climax of Back to the Future in gingerbread and I thought you should know.
Reposted by Liam Proven
I don’t know who needs to hear this but here goes:
In high school my art teacher told me I didn’t know how to draw because cartooning wasn’t real art.
I have wanted to be in The New Yorker Magazine since I was 19. I’m 53 and this happened yesterday:
In high school my art teacher told me I didn’t know how to draw because cartooning wasn’t real art.
I have wanted to be in The New Yorker Magazine since I was 19. I’m 53 and this happened yesterday:
December 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but here goes:
In high school my art teacher told me I didn’t know how to draw because cartooning wasn’t real art.
I have wanted to be in The New Yorker Magazine since I was 19. I’m 53 and this happened yesterday:
In high school my art teacher told me I didn’t know how to draw because cartooning wasn’t real art.
I have wanted to be in The New Yorker Magazine since I was 19. I’m 53 and this happened yesterday:
Reposted by Liam Proven
this is a good reminder of how things that are shitty but have been accepted as normal and inevitable can actually turn out to be abnormal and evitable with some science, time, education and political will
December 19, 2025 at 8:44 PM
this is a good reminder of how things that are shitty but have been accepted as normal and inevitable can actually turn out to be abnormal and evitable with some science, time, education and political will
Were classical statues painted horribly?
buff.ly/fS78ULM
It is often suggested that modern viewers dislike painted reconstructions of Greek and Roman statues because our taste differs from that of the ancients. This essay proposes an alternative explanation.
buff.ly/fS78ULM
It is often suggested that modern viewers dislike painted reconstructions of Greek and Roman statues because our taste differs from that of the ancients. This essay proposes an alternative explanation.
Were classical statues painted horribly? - Works in Progress Magazine
Many claim that modern viewers dislike painted reconstructions of Greek and Roman statues because our taste differs from theirs.
buff.ly
December 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Were classical statues painted horribly?
buff.ly/fS78ULM
It is often suggested that modern viewers dislike painted reconstructions of Greek and Roman statues because our taste differs from that of the ancients. This essay proposes an alternative explanation.
buff.ly/fS78ULM
It is often suggested that modern viewers dislike painted reconstructions of Greek and Roman statues because our taste differs from that of the ancients. This essay proposes an alternative explanation.
Reposted by Liam Proven
In lovely science news, it is now official: I am the inaugural Writer in Residence at the Royal Institution to mark 200 years of the Christmas Lectures: www.rigb.org/explore-scie...
Tracy King announced as Writer in Residence to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES
Critically acclaimed author appointed as Writer in Residence to the 2025 CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution.
www.rigb.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:50 PM
In lovely science news, it is now official: I am the inaugural Writer in Residence at the Royal Institution to mark 200 years of the Christmas Lectures: www.rigb.org/explore-scie...
Reposted by Liam Proven
Using gen AI doesn't make you "productive" or smart. It just shows that you didn't have the talent or ability in the first place.
The AI bubble will pop with a sound heard across the world. A louder sound will be us cheering when it does.
The AI bubble will pop with a sound heard across the world. A louder sound will be us cheering when it does.
ALL you have to do is just not use it, tell these companies you aren't using it, and make fun of people who do. We need a mass collective effort to make genAI extremely uncool, lame, embarrassing, cringe. Everyone needs to react to it with a MOUNTAIN of hostility until they run out of steam.
December 4, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Using gen AI doesn't make you "productive" or smart. It just shows that you didn't have the talent or ability in the first place.
The AI bubble will pop with a sound heard across the world. A louder sound will be us cheering when it does.
The AI bubble will pop with a sound heard across the world. A louder sound will be us cheering when it does.
Reposted by Liam Proven
To quote @lproven.bsky.social, "automated plagiarism as a service".
(Ref: www.theregister.com/2025/12/18/f...)
(Ref: www.theregister.com/2025/12/18/f...)
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
To quote @lproven.bsky.social, "automated plagiarism as a service".
(Ref: www.theregister.com/2025/12/18/f...)
(Ref: www.theregister.com/2025/12/18/f...)
Reposted by Liam Proven
Reposted by Liam Proven
Americans in our heads: Fuck you i won't do what you tell me
Americans IRL: yes boss
Americans IRL: yes boss
December 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Americans in our heads: Fuck you i won't do what you tell me
Americans IRL: yes boss
Americans IRL: yes boss
pearOS is a Linux that falls rather close to the Apple tree
www.theregister.com/2025/12/19/p...
Revived distro returns on Arch with KDE Plasma, global menus, and a familiar macOS-style sheen
<- by me on @theregister.com
www.theregister.com/2025/12/19/p...
Revived distro returns on Arch with KDE Plasma, global menus, and a familiar macOS-style sheen
<- by me on @theregister.com
pearOS is a Linux that falls rather close to the Apple tree
: Revived distro returns on Arch with KDE Plasma, global menus, and a familiar macOS-style sheen
www.theregister.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:24 PM
pearOS is a Linux that falls rather close to the Apple tree
www.theregister.com/2025/12/19/p...
Revived distro returns on Arch with KDE Plasma, global menus, and a familiar macOS-style sheen
<- by me on @theregister.com
www.theregister.com/2025/12/19/p...
Revived distro returns on Arch with KDE Plasma, global menus, and a familiar macOS-style sheen
<- by me on @theregister.com