I built a DIY MP3 player by repurposing an old CDâROM drive as the chassis for a small PCB that plays preâconverted MOD files, and I attached a Bluetooth âshutterâ remote to control playback from my RaspberryâŻPi running Linux; after writing code that translates the shutterâs button sequences into simple shell commands (play, stop, shuffle), I can now operate the player with my phone, even routing its traffic through Piâhole for adâfree listening. The project has been a satisfying exercise in tinkering and learning, reflecting my frustration with oversimplified school curricula and my enthusiasm for openâsource hardware that lets me reprogram and extend devices without costly new PCBs.
#0515 published 06:40 audio duration757 words10 linksraspberry pibluetoothmp3linuxpcbelectronicstinkeringpi-hole
The post argues that travelâwhether long adventures, short camping trips, or simple road journeysâoffers a vital escape from overwork and a chance to reconnect with oneâs own mind and hidden creative talents. It notes that while some people view travel skeptically, those who truly âtake to longer travelsâ often feel they are stepping away from themselves; the key is support and encouragement so they can find comfort and grow. The writer explains how overwork oversimplifies life and makes us miss beauty, yet traveling gives new perspectives and helps build personal constellations of ideas. Finally, he shares a personal anecdote: after reading Bill Brysonâs *A Short History of Nearly Everything*, he discovered a love for big books and science, and now wonders if he could write short stories; he encourages readers to take small stepsâcamping, listening to audiobooks, paintingâto become great beings.
#0514 published 05:01 audio duration556 words2 linkstraveladventurecampingvacationoverworkself-discoveryartwritingpaintingsculpturemusicbooksinspirationpersonalgrowth
Iâve spent several years in the United States and have seen a variety of wildlife that I never encountered back homeâpigeons, squirrels, sparrows, storks, deer, boars, rabbits, horses, cows, chickens, and now, American animals that feel more intelligent. My first U.S. sighting was a large possum that looked like an enormous rat but turned out to be sweet and tickâeating; I later met a skunk whose scent lingered long after the encounter. Iâve also seen a rare, big porcupine crossing a road near a store and photographed it, though only in blur. In the woods where black bears have been reintroduced, they usually stay away from people unless curious, whereas raccoons are constantly surprising meâonce stealing hotâdog buns at Jackpine HikeâIn Campgrounds (I dubbed the thief âFridayâ) and another time unzipping my tent at Nordhouse and leaving paw prints on my pillow. My advice to fellow adventurers: keep food out of tents, lock zippers, and be prepared for unexpected animal visits.
#0513 published 05:14 audio duration651 words4 linkswildlifeanimalsencountersusatravel
I built a minimalist portable Linux audio player that runs on battery power and an audio card without a screen or keyboard; I use a cheap Bluetooth âshutterâ remote (normally used for taking photos) as a makeshift button set to control play, stop, next/previous, and volume. After wiring the shutter to my device and writing basic input handling in Node.js, I plan to expand it with a phone UIâpotentially using Svelteâto stream audio or provide onâscreen feedback. The project illustrates how simple Bluetooth peripherals can turn a barebones Linux box into a pocket âserverâ capable of playing music, recording, making internet calls, and serving as a modular platform for future expansions.
#0512 published 04:27 audio duration482 wordslinuxbluetoothnode.jssvelteaudio-playerhardwareopen-source
The post explains how to use the Linux command line for tasks such as playing media, downloading files, and retrieving data from APIs, illustrating with examples like using wget, curl, jq, and xargs or while loops to fetch Hacker News top stories.
#0511 published 24:17 audio duration2,494 words21 linksbashshellcommand-linecurlwgetjqxargslooplinuxjsonscripting
Linux is just the kernel part of an operating system; when combined with GNUâs userâlevel tools (and sometimes a different kernel like Hurd), it forms GNU/Linux, which many distributions (Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, etc.) extend further and can be installed on openâsource hardware such as RaspberryâŻPi or other affordable computers.
#0510 published 13:15 audio duration1,550 words12 linkslinuxkernelgnuraspberry-piubuntufedora
I began my technical journey by tinkering with audio files in 1996, which led me to explore early DOS graphics programs like Image72 and the first Visual Basic releases, eventually mastering HTML through FrontPage and Photoshop for graphic design; this selfâpaced learning continued as I transitioned between jobsâfirst celebrating a 21st birthday at a bar, then diving into ASP, Perl (via FormMail), PHP, Bash, ActionScript, SQL, and Java before embracing Node.js to unify frontâend, backâend, and desktop development with Electron; alongside this tech evolution I returned to audio editing and poetry, experimenting with plosive sounds and pop filters, while also switching from Photoshop to GIMP for design work, all driven by a philosophy of uninterrupted selfâeducation that guided me from college (where I created my own classes in art) to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge without institutional limits.
#0509 published 07:05 audio duration816 words4 linksself-learningprogramming-languagesvisual-basicaspperlphpbash-scriptingactionscriptssqljavanodejsgimpphotoshopaudio-editinggraphic-designdos
Iâve been tinkering with a RaspberryâŻPi ZeroâŻW since I switched to Linux in 1998, and recently built a compact musicâplayer for my bike by powering the Pi from a 15âŻkâŻmAh Energizer power bank, streaming audio through an external USB SoundBLASTER card and headphones. After setting up ALSA so that `cvlc *.mp3` plays all my workout tracks on boot, I mounted the Pi, sound card, and power bank on the frame of my bicycle; the system runs headlessly in the background and resumes playback automatically when I reconnect to WiâFi after a 10âmile ride. The project has sparked ideas for adding a small keypad or wireless keyboard for control, a custom enclosure, and eventually a fully networked âBicycle Linux Serverâ that could be managed from my phone via Termux. This experiment illustrates how a modest Pi setup can become a portable media hub with minimal wiring and commandâline operation, while keeping the learning curve low and the hardware simple.
#0508 published 07:43 audio duration917 words10 linksraspberry-piusb-audio-cardalsa-configcvlccommand-linepower-bankaudio-playbacklinux
I learned how to make a RaspberryâŻPi button recently, and I researched it my way. [I wanted to see if there was a way to do it on the command line](https://simonprickett.dev/controlling-raspberry-pi-gpio-pins-from-bash-scripts-traffic-lights/) with the simplest kind of programming; there is. The [GPIO header](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PuK9fh3aL8) is represented with files on a RaspberryâŻPi. I gave some thought to storeâbought devices as they relate to customâmade ones. I think storeâbought is not that cool anymore; in his funny song âThrift Shopâ Macklemore calls it *getting tricked by a business*, to say the least. Plus the moment you scratch your screen, your new device becomes old. If you made it yourself, then you just get a new $20 screen. And, hey, maybe add some [cool extras](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/keybow-2040) while you're at it. YEEES! It is true that homemade hardware is freaking huge, and sometimes you may need your friend to carry your phone in his backpack. But that is what friends are for⌠I think. There is just something really weird about not knowing whatâs in your pocket versus whatâs in your storeâbought phone; criminal phone hacking will only become more elaborate. It has never been a good idea to keep personal things on an internetâconnected device. The phones are going to use cheaper components, become more expensive, and more closed. And it will pretend a lot harder that recommendations are not ads. When you make your own phone, you get to reason about the components; it seems to me that a GPS map should have a huge screen much bigger than a phone, and a bigger battery too. When you use an overpriced offâtheâshelf phone, you don't get a choice. Anytime you build something, you learn something: be it a reasonably sized RaspberryâŻPi Zero MP3 player with those amazing slow and soft turning aluminum knobs for volume, treble, and bass; or two or three 8GB RaspberryâŻPIs jammed into a [beautiful vintage brick phone](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=vintage+brick+phone&_sacat=0) with a springy antenna that doubles as a WiâFi hotspot for your 1024 closest friends⌠and maybe runs a leaked version of old MySpace or Friendster, or just freaking [GeoCities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jYE8VwxunQ) where your whole family can come together and upload some underâconstruction content with fancy GIFs. Wouldnât it be amazing if all the telemarketers had to find their way around a little labyrinth and fight a *Freaking Grue* before they could leave a voicemail? I am pretty sure they would love it. Old is new again; it is hard to explain, it will be somewhat hard to learn, and it will take forever. But not only wonât it cost an arm and a leg, building custom electronics and learning programming paints a pretty
#0507 published 05:46 audio duration588 words9 linksraspberrypigpiobashelectronicshardwarediylinuxprogrammingmp3playerbrickphone
The post argues that studying history and politics is essential for understanding humanityâs present and shaping its future; it reminds readers that past mistakes repeat themselves if we ignore them, cites Kurt Vonnegutâs observation about ordinary people ruling the world to stress the need for proper education, and proposes that each of us must become teachersâlearning from great thinkers and applying that knowledge to build a coherent picture of the world so as to avoid future errors.
#0506 published 04:06 audio duration481 words3 linkshistorypoliticseducationlearningteachersphilosophy
People often do not fight because they lack a clear cause and this ignorance is deliberately cultivated by the powerful; breaking the cycle of poverty requires real education and universal income, while a simple plastic creditâcard with a daily spending limitâlinked to a bank that does not track debt or fundsâcould eliminate poverty without adding national debt. By providing accessible money, such cards would lift people from hunger, reduce crime and suffering, and help businesses grow, thereby advancing humanity as a unified family that must remove all barriersâincluding ignorance and povertyâto achieve collective prosperity.
#0505 published 04:48 audio duration466 words1 linkpovertyeducationcredit cardmoneyfamily
The author writes a poetic letter to Sir Ken Robinson reflecting on humanityâs evolution: we have always improved but started badly with unforgivable mistakes. He proposes shifting from âWe the Peopleâ to âThe Human,â urging every sectorâjudges, police, corporations, teachers, lawmen, militaryâto examine its impact and ask whether weâre helping or hurting. He calls for continuous questioning across ages and cultures until the answer is clear, and envisions future generations as mature, wise humans who will repair economies through mental health, real education, knowledge, and contribute positively to Earth.
#0504 published 10:16 audio duration1,011 words3 linkspoetryessayhumanitycultureeducationfuturereflection
In this post the author argues that two common human errorsâaccepting things without questioning and underestimating ourselvesâcan be overcome with a simple doubleâword mantra: âQuestion Everythingâ and âBeautiful Opposite.â The first encourages active inquiry, turning professors into teachers of questions and prompting us to ask whether war, weapons or disease truly enrich nations. The second asks us to find the beautiful opposite of our perceived shortcomings so that we can recognize our strengths (e.g., a heavy person finding his muscular side). Together these practices refocus learning on what we want to know, strengthen authenticity, and open the way for adventures and selfârealization.
#0503 published 07:56 audio duration857 words1 linkself-improvementlearningphilosophyquestion-everythingbeautiful-opposite
The post reflects on the idea that true wisdom comes from within and grows through continual learning, experience, and immersion in natureâfresh air, colors, soundsâand through breaking down selfâmade âwallsâ such as habits, expectations, or superficial measures like grades. It stresses that lifeâs value lies in pursuing knowledge, health, and freedom rather than routine work or formal accolades; by caring for mind and body, embracing courage, and letting the worldâs sunshine of experience illuminate us, we become truly unique and capable of contributing to a wiser planet.
#0502 published 07:59 audio duration778 wordspoetryfree-versenaturewisdomself-developmenttravel
In this poetic post the author celebrates growth through adventure and inherited wisdom from literature, urging readers to measure themselves by knowledge rather than birth or ego; they describe ascending as a continual climb toward greatness, with nature as our true home, and emphasize that youthâs energy fuels this pursuitâending with a call to awaken and pursue wisdom so we may become great beings.
#0501 published 03:50 audio duration291 words1 linkgrowthwisdomadventureculturenaturepoetryinspirationlife
The post portrays our hobbies, interests, and curiosities as a star chart guiding us toward the âcallâ that shapes our lives; as we mature this call becomes more sophisticated, inspiring us to pursue creative pursuitsâpainting, sculpture, musicâand ultimately to become great beings. Ignoring it slows growth, while embracing it fuels passion, laughter, and a willingness to confront fear; through this journey we can produce poetry, books, and audiobooks that share discoveries and help others become coherent, integrated, and easy to understand. The author cites orator videos and Socratesâ lessons as examples of how wisdom can be shared, and concludes that science, politics, and culture must all grow in mind and heart by answering the call to greatness.
#0500 published 04:42 audio duration469 words4 linkslifepersonal developmentpoetrywritingcreativitymotivationphilosophy
The post explains how creating an oil painting is a multiâday process that benefits from careful color planning, preâmixing, and iterative sketchingâusing tools such as GIMP, projectors, miniatures on plywood, and underpainting in gray to guide compositionâwhile also exploring music composition through LMMS, code generators built with Tone.js and OOP concepts, which automate random button clicks and sample selection, yet still require manual editing for a polished track; finally it stresses that both painting and programming demand multiple drafts and longâterm experimentation, just as much time is needed to develop a song or a canvas into a finished masterpiece.
#0499 published 06:58 audio duration757 words8 linksoil paintingcolor mixingcompositiongimplmmsmusic theoryjavascriptooptone.jsyeoman
I wandered into an antique shop and spent the day hunting treasuresâpets, books, guitar picks, pocket knives, VHS tapes, a large backpack for firewood, and an ammo box perfect for fossilsâand found a free box of seashells that I happily scattered on the beach, turning my quirky shopping spree into a joyful adventure of collecting odd little things.
#0498 published 02:53 audio duration368 wordsstoryantiqueshoppingvintagecollectibles
The post argues that the world is not ending but simply out of sync, and this misalignment stems largely from how we structure education: institutions charge for knowledge, create overwork and poverty, and let GPAâcontrolled grading lock students into a cycle of debt and shallow achievement. The author claims real graduation should showcase each studentâs own creations, lasting beyond four years, and that brandâname schooling only opens doors while true learning is lifelong. He invokes Socrates to emphasize teaching wisdom to future generations so they can avoid repeating past mistakes, and urges individuals to become âGreat Beingsâ who inspire others with integrated knowledge, thereby restoring hope and driving humanity toward a wiser, more united future.
#0497 published 09:09 audio duration878 words1 linkeducationschoolstudentsgraduationlearningwisdomphilosophysocratesfuture
The author reflects on how an early idea to build an MP3 player with a RaspberryâŻPi sparked a lifelong passion for electronics and programming, showing that small, personally driven projectsâfrom repairing bikes to designing custom enclosuresâbuild a rich selfâeducation that goes beyond formal schooling.
After repeatedly dealing with flats and mechanical mishaps on several bicycles, the author learns to carry all repair tools and keep a spare bike ready for smooth rides.
#0495 published 17:56 audio duration2,298 wordsbicycleflat tirebike repairtoolscyclingmaintenanceDIYtirespedalschain
The post recounts the author's personal approach to wilderness camping, emphasizing that being a âReal Mountain Manâ involves meticulous preparationâalways bringing a second tent, a batteryâpowered fan, mirror, toiletries, and even a hand saw mounted on his packâand careful gear choices such as a fire starter, sleeping bag rated for low temperatures, and an inflatable pad. He explains how to stay safe in bear country: cutâproof gloves, firstâaid kit, and a rifle or sidearm, while noting that black bears can be deterred by size and noise. The author also shares practical tips on building fires, checking ticks with repellents, and staying on trails, then recounts two anecdotes: watching a distant thunderstorm from a dune and hearing fox cries at night, and another evening where he woke to partygoersâ footsteps after a storm, illustrating the blend of adventure and everyday camp life.
#0494 published 10:11 audio duration1,266 words4 linkscampingtentsleepingbagfirewoodsawgearbearticks
Artists often feel they lack skill, but the key is drawing conceptsâsuch as using an Lâshaped nose for modern graphicsâand mastering color schemes and proportions. To capture a portrait accurately, photograph the subject with proper lighting, project that image onto paper, and sketch multiple drafts in charcoal or pencil to refine shadows and highlights. Oil painting thrives on layered washes and color mixing, while acrylics dry quickly and can be painted over, and watercolors allow successive layers for adjustment. Projectors (even cheap pico models) and tools like GIMP help transfer outlines and simplify colors, enabling artists to practice the same subject repeatedlyâbe it people, pets, or landscapesâto build confidence and skill.
#0493 published 09:09 audio duration1,127 words5 linksdrawingsketchingportraitphoto-realismoil paintingacrylicswatercolorscolor mixingprojectorsgimppencilcharcoalcompositionillustration
The essay argues that poverty is a global âvirusâ that hinders individual and collective progress, and proposes a single, nationâwide program to eradicate it: a central bank that issues every citizen an unlimited credit card covering food, housing, transportation, education, healthcare, and other basic needs. By guaranteeing these essentials without debt or restrictions, the plan aims to lift people out of fear, reduce crime, stimulate economies, and free minds to tackle larger challenges like climate changeâall while uniting nations under a shared, borderless identity of humanity.
