Ben Z
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bzotto.bsky.social
Ben Z
@bzotto.bsky.social
Forensicphile
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Thanks to all the lovely people out there who have supported the Sphere book project, the campaign has cleared its goal. I am immensely appreciative.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...
Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers
A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.
www.kickstarter.com
Reposted by Ben Z
Everybody thinks 'https://' stands for 'hypertext transfer protocol secure' but it actually stands for 'head to this place, sucka' followed by a colon and two laser sounds
January 13, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Unfair to Alien Golfers
January 9, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Great Lakes Computer Expo '82
Saginaw Civic Center
January 8, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
@rollovereasy.org it’s time for everyone to remember @jefposk.bsky.social’s SF sunset time technique! we’re gaining aa out minute a day, so

In January, add the date to 5 pm
In Feb, add the date to 5:30
in March, add the date to 6

(offer not valid in other cities. states or provinces)
January 8, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
If you have the space, means and collection: a northern Texas warehouse full of proto-Redbox VHS vending machines from the mid-1980s is being evicted. The machines are free and whatever isn't taken will imminently be scrapped.

www.facebook.com/commerce/lis...
January 7, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
From a 1990 Electronic Boutique catalog scanned by VGHF - https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/d1088621-1609-4795-ae9c-0d3f4c5e446e - 'Fall's Most Wanted' included Super Mario Bros 3 & the Game Boy.
January 5, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
Heartbreaking exclusive landed by the brilliant @emmaruthless.bsky.social. Bottom of the Hill is closing later this year. The reason? It's complicated, sort of. Read it here:
Beloved SF Club Bottom of the Hill to Close at the End of 2026
One of the city’s last independent music venues, Bottom of the Hill has survived waves of gentrification, COVID closures, and more throughout its 35 years. Now, owners say it’s last call — on their ow...
www.coyotemedia.org
January 3, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
Welcome to the Public Domain, THE MALTESE FALCON (1930) 🦅💎

🕵️ Sam Spade is on the Case of the Disappearing Copyright as The Maltese Falcon novel joins the public domain.

Learn more ➡️ blog.archive.org/public-domai...

#PublicDomainDay #CopyrightFree
January 1, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
At Christmas time, I always remember how wonderful, pure and exciting it was in 2001 when Xbox launched (also the blue screen of death jokes).

The Ancient Greeks correctly understood nostalgia to be a disease, so instead of dwelling on the past, we work to bring even better things to life soon!
December 24, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
I don't mean to be divisive but to call it a computer's "natural scrolling"--which mimics the despicable Phone--and then to make it default? An outrage. Swiping down should scroll down, as was true since the dawn of time on the noble mouse scroll wheel
December 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
<tap tap tap> is this thing on
December 20, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
OMG quite unexpected, we won a Boston Music Award last night! We won the Dance/Electronic category (among some outstanding nominees), and it's nice to get the recognition in a year that we have been pretty actively putting out new music and playing some shows! Huge thanks to all who voted for us 💜💜🎹
December 18, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
I wonder if the LINC computer from 1962 is the first pixel font on a display, ever.

The font was 4x6, and the small screen seems to hold only 25x12 characters.

I’m curious if it was designed by Mary Allen Wilkes?
December 7, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
NEW SHRIT dashare.zone I WILL NEVER PASTE WITH FORMATING ,DO NOT FORMAT MY PASTE!!!!!!! - dashare.zone ADMIN
July 9, 2024 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
Joseph Weisbecker's Polaroid snapshots of the unreleased RCA Studio III's color graphics, with the CDP1862 color generator IC (1977)

Featuring Pinball, a planned RCA Studio III game (2nd pic)

From the Hagley Digital Archives
December 14, 2025 at 7:05 AM
“George Lucas space movies” (Moritz 1984)
December 5, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
It's with heavy hearts that we share that Claude, our beloved albino alligator, has passed away at the age of 30. Claude brought joy to millions of people at the Academy and across the world during his 17 year tenure. We will miss him dearly. 🤍
December 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
But not quite
December 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I gave a talk at VCF West this past summer: a little about Sphere, a lot about the early history of floppy disks. Enjoy! youtu.be/NoXtIR_Edgk?...
VCF West: The Minifloppy Revolution, and a Disk Controller for the Sphere 6800
YouTube video by Vintage Computer Federation
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
Man Who Thought Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ Was Over In For Thrill Of His Fucking Life https://theonion.com/man-who-thought-fleetwood-macs-the-chain-was-over-in-for-thrill-of-his-fucking-life/
November 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
One of the best san francisco history episodes and doesn’t get much play these days. The farallon egg wars!!
Here's a🧵about the San Francisco Egg Wars of the 1800s. It has bloody gunfights, marauding pirates, a bunch of (literally) batshit deaths & some nasty looking eggs...
November 22, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
Bay Area tech history nerd friends: Paul Terrell, the founder of the Byte Shop–Apple’s first dealer—is holding a 50th anniversary party next month. It’s open to all and I’ll be there! byteshop50thyearbirthdayp.rsvpify.com
Byte Shop 50th Year Birthday Party • RSVPify
December 6, 2025 @ 5:00 PM - Double Tree by Hilton 2050 Gateway Place San Jose, Ca. 95110
byteshop50thyearbirthdayp.rsvpify.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Thanks to all the lovely people out there who have supported the Sphere book project, the campaign has cleared its goal. I am immensely appreciative.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...
Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers
A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.
www.kickstarter.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM