WeakShock
@weakshock.bsky.social
Tech worker and sometimes writer. Cryptography (not crypto), photonics and computing.
if the primary objection Andrew can muster is that nobody should be profiting from our power generation then it sounds like a decent argument for socialising it
February 11, 2026 at 1:26 PM
if the primary objection Andrew can muster is that nobody should be profiting from our power generation then it sounds like a decent argument for socialising it
In addition to the examples below, I know that at least one fusion research facility (Culham Center for Fusion Energy) uses a flywheel to store up energy for test shots, as they need to generate a million-amp plasma current via RF coupling, and you can't exactly pull that straight from the grid
January 31, 2026 at 12:02 PM
In addition to the examples below, I know that at least one fusion research facility (Culham Center for Fusion Energy) uses a flywheel to store up energy for test shots, as they need to generate a million-amp plasma current via RF coupling, and you can't exactly pull that straight from the grid
Definitely a thing in the UK at least: www.neso.energy/news/how-gri...
How Grid Forming Technology is changing | National Energy System Operator
Grid Forming technology is a control technique that enables inverter-based resources (e.g. wind, batteries, solar photovoltaic systems etc) to act as a voltage source behind an impedance, or in simple...
www.neso.energy
January 31, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Definitely a thing in the UK at least: www.neso.energy/news/how-gri...
I believe this is something that people are starting to consider - "grid forming" inverters that do some clever stuff with power ICs to provide "simulated" grid behaviours (inertia, phase unification etc) from domestic battery storage.
January 31, 2026 at 11:55 AM
I believe this is something that people are starting to consider - "grid forming" inverters that do some clever stuff with power ICs to provide "simulated" grid behaviours (inertia, phase unification etc) from domestic battery storage.
That's a grand total of 8 64-bit RISC-V cores, almost certainly built on a fab process that is extremely mature (read:old) because node feature sizes matter in radiation-dense environments. You are not sending an Nvidia card built on a TSMC 3NM process anywhere that doesn't have a magnetosphere.
January 30, 2026 at 6:45 PM
That's a grand total of 8 64-bit RISC-V cores, almost certainly built on a fab process that is extremely mature (read:old) because node feature sizes matter in radiation-dense environments. You are not sending an Nvidia card built on a TSMC 3NM process anywhere that doesn't have a magnetosphere.
Leaving aside the incredibly incorrect assumptions about heat+power, what about the radiation? Do you know what typical space-rated electronics look like, and *why* they look like that? For reference, this is a contemporary space-rated chip for edge AI applications www.microchip.com/en-us/produc...
www.microchip.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Leaving aside the incredibly incorrect assumptions about heat+power, what about the radiation? Do you know what typical space-rated electronics look like, and *why* they look like that? For reference, this is a contemporary space-rated chip for edge AI applications www.microchip.com/en-us/produc...
This is just sweet chilli revanchism
January 28, 2026 at 12:53 PM
This is just sweet chilli revanchism
I really love that they have the lil bioshield riding the explosion upwards, that's a level of attention to detail that I wasn't expecting
January 27, 2026 at 8:09 PM
I really love that they have the lil bioshield riding the explosion upwards, that's a level of attention to detail that I wasn't expecting
It reminds me of all the weird tradeoffs software devs have to make behind the scenes. We didn't complete the "remove MP" feature to spec so instead we stick them in an array that gets purged periodically, but to do that they have to be converted to ofType:Steward first
January 23, 2026 at 5:35 PM
It reminds me of all the weird tradeoffs software devs have to make behind the scenes. We didn't complete the "remove MP" feature to spec so instead we stick them in an array that gets purged periodically, but to do that they have to be converted to ofType:Steward first
Contemporary Xbox controllers have solid build quality and are supported by everything on PC that has controller support. They aren't the cheapest (running around £50) but they're also not the priciest by far, and are probably the best you can get r.e cost/benefit.
December 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Contemporary Xbox controllers have solid build quality and are supported by everything on PC that has controller support. They aren't the cheapest (running around £50) but they're also not the priciest by far, and are probably the best you can get r.e cost/benefit.
It's so goddamn good - it doesn't just stick the landing on the high-concept technothriller side of things, it also manages to carry a commentary on venture capitalist/startup hubris that still feels fresh today
December 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
It's so goddamn good - it doesn't just stick the landing on the high-concept technothriller side of things, it also manages to carry a commentary on venture capitalist/startup hubris that still feels fresh today
I think they're doing this with Tomb Raider Catalyst
December 13, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I think they're doing this with Tomb Raider Catalyst
I'm in the same boat r.e not keeping up and I had the same assumptions referenced in the article r.e the challenges of energy density for large trucking. I suspect we'll one day look back at battery technology progress in the same way we look back at the gap between Apollo 11 and the Wright brothers
December 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I'm in the same boat r.e not keeping up and I had the same assumptions referenced in the article r.e the challenges of energy density for large trucking. I suspect we'll one day look back at battery technology progress in the same way we look back at the gap between Apollo 11 and the Wright brothers
Breakaways. They used to have so much chocolate on them that they'd make a distinctive "snap" when you bit them and now they're just shit shortbread. Pretenders to the throne. Choco Leibniz still hits the spot though.
December 10, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Breakaways. They used to have so much chocolate on them that they'd make a distinctive "snap" when you bit them and now they're just shit shortbread. Pretenders to the throne. Choco Leibniz still hits the spot though.
I made the dreadful mistake of watching Silicon Valley before a career in tech (in a startup no less) so I have retrospective moments of "ohhhhh, so that's.... they weren't being hyperbolic about that"
December 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I made the dreadful mistake of watching Silicon Valley before a career in tech (in a startup no less) so I have retrospective moments of "ohhhhh, so that's.... they weren't being hyperbolic about that"
I saw this and said "wait *Textron*? The people who make Cessna and Beechcraft?" and yup, it's a real Yamaha situation where the parent company of Textron aviation also has a hand in making tanks
December 10, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I saw this and said "wait *Textron*? The people who make Cessna and Beechcraft?" and yup, it's a real Yamaha situation where the parent company of Textron aviation also has a hand in making tanks
Iirc The Silver Sevens casino and resort in Vegas also used to be called Terribles - owned by the same guy, I believe
November 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Iirc The Silver Sevens casino and resort in Vegas also used to be called Terribles - owned by the same guy, I believe
But who would be her second (kaishakunin) to deliver the killing blow (daki-kubi) at the moment of greatest agony (having to not be chancellor anymore)
November 26, 2025 at 1:27 PM
But who would be her second (kaishakunin) to deliver the killing blow (daki-kubi) at the moment of greatest agony (having to not be chancellor anymore)
It's not perfect minmaxing r.e price but full points for maximally disgusting, evocative enough that I can *feel* the queasy heartburn that comes after
November 21, 2025 at 10:36 AM
It's not perfect minmaxing r.e price but full points for maximally disgusting, evocative enough that I can *feel* the queasy heartburn that comes after
It's like one of those accidents they have with pig slurry pits where someone gets knocked out by methane and someone else runs in to help them and also gets knocked out (repeat X times until someone calls an ambulance) except that in this case the pig slurry keeps making people horny for slop
November 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
It's like one of those accidents they have with pig slurry pits where someone gets knocked out by methane and someone else runs in to help them and also gets knocked out (repeat X times until someone calls an ambulance) except that in this case the pig slurry keeps making people horny for slop
Apollos are legitimately shit but they're also even more bargain basement - 300+ is more the domain of the Carrera lineup and while it's certainly possible to pick a dud from amongst them, they are on average considerably better. Point taken r.e hub gears though.
November 12, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Apollos are legitimately shit but they're also even more bargain basement - 300+ is more the domain of the Carrera lineup and while it's certainly possible to pick a dud from amongst them, they are on average considerably better. Point taken r.e hub gears though.
I'd dispute this - I bought a fairly basic rigid frame hybrid bike in that exact price range for use as a commuter and with regular maintenance it's absolutely fine. It's the stuff sold with features that don't fit the price range (e.g full suspension mtbs for £250) where things get dire.
November 11, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I'd dispute this - I bought a fairly basic rigid frame hybrid bike in that exact price range for use as a commuter and with regular maintenance it's absolutely fine. It's the stuff sold with features that don't fit the price range (e.g full suspension mtbs for £250) where things get dire.
I'm not entirely sure how helpful this is r.e your requirements, but so far I've been using PocketCasts (pocketcasts.com) and I haven't had an issue either finding a podcast directly on it, or linking a podcast RSS feed to it
Discover - Pocket Casts
Listen to your favorite podcasts online, in your browser. Discover the world's most powerful podcast player.
pocketcasts.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I'm not entirely sure how helpful this is r.e your requirements, but so far I've been using PocketCasts (pocketcasts.com) and I haven't had an issue either finding a podcast directly on it, or linking a podcast RSS feed to it
Just develop a sense of proprioception that extends beyond your body. Merge with the machine and become one. I am only ~5% joking.
October 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Just develop a sense of proprioception that extends beyond your body. Merge with the machine and become one. I am only ~5% joking.