Blake Patterson
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blakespot.bsky.social
Blake Patterson
@blakespot.bsky.social
600 followers 160 following 900 posts
Web dev at American U in D.C., dad, retrocomputing nerd, No Man's Sky explorer. I live in northern Virginia. (He/him)

My blogs:
:: bytecellar.com (vintage computing)
:: nmsspot.com (No Man's Sky)
:: nostalgicvirginian.com (Virginia memories)
Posts Replies Media Videos
blakespot.bsky.social
BBSing on the Tandy, music through the 5x86 + GUS in the #ByteCellar

#Tandy #DOS #BBSing #BBS #trackertunes #chiptunes #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #retrocomputers #retrowave #nostalgia #VUmeter #setups #CRT #GUS #GravisUltrasound #CubicPlayer #MSDOS #DOSPC #Telix #modem #vibe #video
November 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
It is!
November 21, 2025 at 11:19 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Here's a photo I've just taken.
Photo of ACSI2STM in action using an UltraSatan cable to attach to the Atari 520ST
November 21, 2025 at 11:14 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
This is my Gravis Ultrasound. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

#GUS #GravisUltrasound #Ultrasound #chiptune #trackers #demos #demoscene #scenedemo #Gravis #audio #soundcard #DOS #DOS #Ensoniq #ES5504 #wavetable #synth #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #retrocomputers #photo #hardware
Gravis Ultrasound soundcard for PC
November 21, 2025 at 11:07 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Rest in peace, Rebecca Heineman. I wish I had known you more than just as a fan.

#BurgerBecky

#RebeccaHeineman #AppleII #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #vintageapple #Apple #RIP #computing #gaming #retrogaming #retrogames
Photo of Rebecca Heineman in front of Western Design Center HQ
November 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Are you fucking kidding me??!!

This is REAL, put out by the Dept. of Labor. "Project Firewall"

#WTF #DoL #DeptofLabor #AmericanDream #usgovernment #usgov #unnerving #scary #creepy #disturbing #FedGov #photos #Labor #americans #America
Images of the "American Dream" as described by the current U.S. administration, consisting of a literal recreation of the 1950s in all aspects, apparently Images of the "American Dream" as described by the current U.S. administration, consisting of a literal recreation of the 1950s in all aspects, apparently Images of the "American Dream" as described by the current U.S. administration, consisting of a literal recreation of the 1950s in all aspects, apparently Images of the "American Dream" as described by the current U.S. administration, consisting of a literal recreation of the 1950s in all aspects, apparently
November 8, 2025 at 1:03 AM
blakespot.bsky.social
I definitely support this.

#movies #film #brendanfraser #rachelweisz #theMummy #Mummy #entertainment #Hollywood
Image of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz indicating a Mummy 4 movie is on the way
November 5, 2025 at 11:53 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
If only land could vote...

#Virginia #BlueWave #election #Governor #Spanberger #Democrats #victory #election2025 #Government #VA #Winsome #vote
Bill Mitchell tweet with blue/red map of Virginia and his expressed wish that empty land could vote
November 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
We voted. In Virginia.

#Vote #Virginia #VA #NoVA #BLUE #Spanberger #GetOutTheVote #Governor #November
Two people taking a selfie with "I voted" stickers on their shirts
November 4, 2025 at 7:25 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Happy Halloween to all the retro computing folks out there!

#Halloween #retrocomputing #retrocomputers #vintagecomputing #spooky #scary #photo #CRT #computer #Amiga #Commodore #scary #boo
Amiga 1000 computer spookily covered in cobwebs and spiders for Halloween
November 1, 2025 at 3:17 AM
blakespot.bsky.social
#AppleII #vintageapple #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #CRT #Apple #applelogo #photo #nostalgia #eighties #ByteCellar
Apple IIe showing a slideshow
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
blakespot.bsky.social
You hit the same Tahoe bug I did. I found a solution (posted on Masto earlier):

SOLUTION: If you turn desktop widgets OFF, this broken behavior occurs. If you turn them ON but remove (or move) the widgets on your own, the problem disappears. See link:

discussions.apple.com/thread/25613...
Fix for macOS Tahoe's broken icon placement
October 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Thanks.

Tahoe is still very much a beta.

Safari sometimes does this,
macOS Tahoe screenshot showing zero contrast in parts of Safari
October 22, 2025 at 2:18 AM
blakespot.bsky.social
Is there some way to disable macOS Tahoe's Finder's enormously spaced grid that prevents moving icons where I want them? Even at smallest grid setting, placing near edge of screen pushes icons to the neighboring display! It's ridiculous and bad.

#macOS #macOSTahoe #Apple #Mac #Tahoe #macOS26
October 21, 2025 at 10:24 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
A video posted last night by the President of the United States on his own social media platform.

( I have marked it as 'graphic media' so as not to jar the unprepared. )

#NoKings #rally #news #America #nsfw #video #offensive #DC #media #president #USA
October 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Any fans of the GP2X console from GamePark Holdings? Here are some photos of mine taken a little over 15 years ago.

Still works like a charm, ofc. :-)

#GP2X #GamePark #gaming #gamers #gameconsole #console #Linux #mobile #Silpheed #SegaCD #emulation #emulators #retrogaming #retrocomputing
GP2X console running Silpheed under SegaCD emulation GP2X console displaying to a plasma TV Unboxing the GP2X console in 2008
October 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
What is this?
September 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Gonna be a pleasant summer accordin' to Farmer's Almanac...

#theLastStarfighter #Rylos #StarLeague #Nostalgia #eighties #movies #AlexRogan #LanceGuest #CGI #SciFi #video #film #spacemovies #space #movietrailer
September 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Posting this for anyone else who may have patronized Menomale pizza in DC.

Good pizza. Sadly, not good people. I won't be back.

#Menomale #DC #WashingtonDC #fascism #destroyingAmerica #avoid #bewarned #pizza #DMV #NoVA #MD
September 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
A lost Traveller. Alas, where does his future lie? 😢

#NoMansSky #NMS #NoMansSkyVotagers #SpaceGames #SciFi #funny #screenshot #procgen #gaming #games #gamers #exlorationgames #PCgaming #consoles @nomansbsky.bsky.social
Screenshot of a forlorn traveller who lingered too long aboard another's ship in No Man's Sky
September 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
They call me Dr. Worm...

#TMBG #TheyMightBeGiants #music #DrWorm #vintagecomputing #retrocomputing #C64 #Commodore #musicvideo #video
September 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Hah, hey now! :-)

Depending on who you ask, this room may well have quite an error rate!

www.bytecellar.com/siteimages/p...
Panorama of the Byte Cellar -- about 10 years ago, but pretty close to current
August 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
Seems likely re: the REM statement. There's no detail in the Facebook thread on what does what.

Funny, first time I typed it in, with a mistake or two, I got this result...
Apple IIe suffering a GURU Meditation error
August 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
blakespot.bsky.social
The opening day at the Maryland Renaissance Festival was wonderful - perfect weather, nice crowd, and just an awesome time.

My favorite event of the year!

#MDRenFest #MD #RenFest #MarylandRenFest #RenaissanceFestival #video #cosplay #event #fun #outdoors
August 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
blakespot.bsky.social
A placid sea after the storm. #NoMansSky

#NMS #games #gaming #gamers #screenshot #SciFi #spacegames #procgen #gametography #virtualphotography #image #ingame #PCgaming #HelloGames #calm #serene #peaceful
A calm sea mirroring the sky, an island with a loan tree seen in the distance. A screenshot from no man's sky.
August 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM