With Amazon killing off all the old kindles, they’re super-cheap right now. And it turns out that jailbreaking is a minor faff, but not too difficult, really. This one was £10 and is going to somebody who was pondering getting an expensive eink ebook reader just a couple of weeks ago. :D
#permacomputing
Guess I gotta advertise myself a little:
Do you have a task you've wanted to automate/simplify but never known how?
Does your server have an issue or improvement you've been procrastinating on?
Does your polycule, gaming group, extended family, or collective need internet infrastructure that's stable, yours, and won't break because a forced update came out?
Drop me a message! I can give advice, write solutions, host services, or train you.
I offer a humans-first approach. All technical problems are people problems first. Software should be usable, stable, and sustainable - certainly not flashy or reinvented.
Payment is simply per hour of work, plus hosting fees if applicable.
#advertising #permacomputing #hosting #ForHire #FediHire #digitalSolutions
Hyper fier d’annoncer que ma communication « Practical Retrofitting for Obsolete Devices » a été acceptée à la conférence LIMITS2025.
La conférence se tiendra en ligne les 26 et 27 juin, vous pouvez vous inscrire ci-dessous si vous voulez m’entendre parler de Psions, de MiniDiscs, de vieux appareils photo et, évidemment, de mon Olivetti PTP820 :
My #Introduction.
I talk about life in #CambridgeMA and #Boston, #engineering, #science, #radios (#SDR, #HAM, #LoRa, #MeshCore), #pinball, #film, retro computers/video games, and more.
I collect #art, #LaserDiscs, study #horology, visit museums (The Met, MFA, Harvard Art #Museum) and support my local #library.
I read #poetry and books on #architecture, #design, and #urbanism.
I walk or take public #transit everywhere.
I practice #permacomputing and self-hosting, running #BSD where I can.
MAJOR ANNOUCEMENT!!!
I along with @kishy have started Indian Permacomputing Collective called Nodus Tollens, and we are gonna kick things off by presenting "Permacomputing: A Humane Computing Paradigm" talk in the upcomping minidebconf, kanpur² . Please go REGISTER if can visit there.
So I asked @j3s this also want you ask you all the folks here who are more versed into permacomputing than me:
- "How should I introduce `permacomputing` to someone who is fully into current freedom destroying technologies?"
The talk will be around 15 min + 5 min for q&a.
So please give your inputs, how can I condense this very vast topic, I know this will be very hard but still I would want to make atleast someone curious about this via my talk.
1 - https://nodus-tollens.codeberg.page
2 - https://pleroma.debian.social/objects/d07cd5c2-852b-4b25-97f4-20ea33f78fc4
Bogdan, who is sadly not on Mastodon, built a web server from a disposed vape.
On the one hand, what has the world come to, treating 32-bit processors faster than our youth's computers as disposable...
OTOH, the sheer amount of cool we can do by just repurposing the trash shat out by rampant consumerism!
https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/
#Permacomputing FTW
In prep for the Windows 12 rollout, now is a good time to get your town's Linux Install Parties planned and advertised.
Here's my town's https://fxbginstall.party/
Here's a quick how-to guide to spinning one up in your town:
Goals:
- Install Linux on your neighbors' laptops. This preserves older laptops ( #permacomputing #ewaste prevention). This removes people from one part of the surveillance economy. And it saves people money.
- The party should be geared towards NON-TECHIES. This is NOT a Linux Users Group. This is not for enthusiasts. This for folks who just want their computer to work and let them do the basics. Bend the tech to the people, not the people to the tech.
Date and Time:
- Shoot for monthly parties. Try for a specific day of the week. Say the "First Saturday" or "Second Sunday" of every month.
- Easy for folks to remember and if they miss one month, they'll be there the next month
- Try for between two hours to four hours for the event.
- Be consistent. Show up for the full time even if no one shows up. Some times it takes two or three meetings before people start to come regularly.
Location:
- Shoot for a public community area
- The best bet is your local library if they have rooms or conference areas.
- City community centers are good, too
- Also look for religious institutions, civic orgs, or fraternal orgs if need be. It needs to be open to
the public, though, with no requirements to push other agendas on to visitors.
Linux Distro:
- Shoot for a single distro that caters to folks who are new. I usually go for Linux Mint, but go with what you like. Focus on ease of use and familiarity for folks who arent used to Linux or various Desktop Environments.
Waivers & Backups:
- Everyone should sign a waiver. You keep the signed waiver. They can have a copy of the waiver
- Explain that while you and other volunteers will make your best attempt to install Linux, you make no guarantees. You may brick their machine accidentally. And no files that were on the harddrive will remain. Everything will be deleted.
- They should make backups of their files before you start the install process (either online/cloud, or local on a USB)
- Some folks want you to try for a dual-boot, but thats up to you if you want to offer it. Still let them know that you might brick the machine even (especially?) if you try for a dual boot install.
- Example Waiver: https://tldp.org/HOWTO/Installfest-HOWTO/legalprotection.html
Advertisements:
- Create a simple brochure website and fliers with info and time and date
- Use words like "Update to a modern, private, and fast operating system. No monthly subscription. No cost. Volunteers will install for you." Appeal to folks whose laptops cant upgrade. "Can't install Windows 11 or 12? Don't throw your laptop away, install Linux. It's free, up to date, and secure" Etc etc.
- Use your town's local social media (eg Town Subreddit, Online/Offline Classifieds, Library Announcements, Town Events Page)
- Post fliers in various coffee shops, libraries, bars, restrooms, and community centers
- Tell other similar groups (hacker spaces, maker spaces, linux groups, etc) both to spread the word and get volunteers
- Word of Mouth: Just tell everyone you run into. And tell them to tell everyone they know.
What to bring:
- Multiple install media/USBs with your Distro on it to install on the laptops
- A couple "Demo Laptops" with your distro of choice installed for people to try out (install games, office suites, common programs for folks to try it out - aim for what people use so various browsers including Firefox and Chrome, Zoom / Teams, LibreOffice, MS Office on browser, browser games, desktop games, etc)
- Your own laptops to do internet lookups and specialized downloads (weird stuff happens - its good to be prepared)
- Extension cables and power strips
- Cheap USBs for last minute backups prior to installation that folks can take home with them
- Some screwdrivers or tools to open up laptops for light repair if you like
What to do:
- Greet folks as they come in and invite them to try out the demos
- Encourage questions and discussions (AVOID DISTRO FLAME WARS OR WHICH WINDOWS MANAGER BEATS WHAT DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT FOR FUCKS SAKE! THESE ARE NORMAL PEOPLE DONT SCARE THEM AWAY WITH YOUR NERD SHIT!!!!)
- If folks brought laptops for installation explain and have them sign their waivers, make sure they know all files will be deleted, ask if they've made backups, and then install!
- Help folks troubleshoot issues or install programs for those that already have Linux installed and need community support
That's it. Make it a regular occurrence and you'll get folks coming in for fresh installs monthly and to ask for help with previous installs. Also a really chill way to meet other folks and have a lovely afternoon.
If you have any questions, post up in this thread.
If you have any suggestions or tips and tricks that have worked at your own Linux Install Party, share with us as well!
Edit to add: The Windows 12... scare?... seems to be a hoax brought upon by AIslop. But there will be a Win12 at some point, and a 13, and so on. And the recent Win11 forced upgrade is what spurred my group to create a Linux Install Party in the first place. It's always best to have a place for folks to land, one that is already running and well established. So, honestly, still in prep for the Windows12 rollout, whenever it comes, get a Linux Install Party going now.
#ewaste #linuxinstallparty #installparty #solarpunk #windows12 #windows11 #linux
Is there such a thing as high-performance #permacomputing ? 
On one hand, HPC implies centralization. On the other hand, some important tasks like weather prediction or build farms benefit everyone and require centralized infrastructure.
#lispyGopherClimate #live #technology #weekly #podcast https://communitymedia.video/w/8RAj7j4mdxEXrZwn6EFei1
#climateCrisis #haiku by @kentpitman
And The Netherlands' #solar power crisis - @vnikolov
Lots of community news today.
- I have an unuploaded hour of interview with @shizamura about making her #webcomic https://sarilho.net/en/
- speaking of, @prahou https://analognowhere.com/
- #lisp constraint satisfaction and my vision of #permacomputing
- #gopher -s, featuring @Cat live
- @sacha #emacsnews + #emacsconf deadline
UPDATE: Thanks to @doriane we now have a section that quickly summarizes what is permacomputing and *also* a printable PDF zine of the score/guide. 🎉 🖨️
Do you want to start a permacomputing collective? 
In the past months, and with support from @Error417 we have developed a small score/guide/recipe that can hopefully inspire you to get started with this topic.
https://brewing.permacomputing.net
The text of the guide was written by anna andrejew (https://annaandrejew.com), @praxeology and @latentspace based on interviews with @anmeisel (London Permacomputing Club), @archipielago (Middle America Archipiélago I community servers), @colm (Wilderland permacomputing group), @cmos4040 and @decentral1se (rotterdam.permacomputing.net), @praxeology (Berlin Permacomputing Meet Up), @michal (Node9), @sister0 (Autoluminescence Institute), @freebliss (permacomputing Vienna), and Steve McLaughlin (Philly permacomputing + solar punk meetups at @iffybooks hosted together with Dave Slinger).
Copy editing and advice by @l03s and myself. Design for the dedicated website and PDF by @doriane with illustrations from @raquelmeyers
Aquest dissabte celebrem l’HTML Day 2026 a Barcelona: una tarda per crear pàgines web a mà, amb un editor de text, un navegador i HTML. Sense frameworks, sense npm i oberta a tots els nivells.
lloc: AKASHA Hub, Nau 1
de 18.00–21.30
Accés gratuït
https://
permacomputing.barcelona/html-day-2026
Hey Berlin #PermaComputing people!
# BYOD - BRING YOUR OLD DEVICE #
Go open that drawer where you put those old electronics that you saved because they "might be useful" some time in the future. That day has come! Gather your gadgets join us in a collective hacking and tinkering session. We can put our collective knowledge and skills together to see if some of the old techniques might be pleasant or profitable in our modern era. Or try to teach an old dog new tricks.
23. June. at 19:00h
Ultrabold, Blücherstr. 22
Court 3 – Entrance no. 6, 2nd level
10961 Berlin
https://berlin.permacomputing.net/
https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/267028344#map=17/52.492992/13.398761
LOOKING FOR OLD ANDROID SMARTPHONES 📱📱📱
For educational workshops about technology and Internet,
I'm looking for old/retired Android smartphones that I'm willing to purchase for cheap.
- Do you have a old smartphone...
- in #brussels, #bxl
- Android only
- from 2014-2022
- hidden in a drawer
- the battery / screen is damaged (but still boots up)
... that you'd be willing to gift / sell for cheap?
If yes »»» 📩📩 [email protected]
#smartphone #ewaste #bruxelles #belgium #permacomputing
Starting a thread to document finding vapes with rechargable batteries on the street #permacomputing
Vozel (Love 777)
52.4754127, 13.3681683
if you're in #berlin, come say hi tomorrow at the #permacomputing picnic!
on aug, 15th 2026 15h30 at
treptower park, on the
meadow between puschkinallee and the soviet war memorial
entry at lat 52.489 / lon 13.471
https://www.openstreetmap.org/query?lat=52.489&lon=13.471
you're welcome to pass along with food, drinks, topics, friends or devices. or just come as you are!
original announcement: https://we.lurk.org/archives/list/pmcb[email protected]/thread/FFLTDKZRLWD4AVKXFSIFISTTJM6PTHVC/
Permacomputing Berlin Picnic: Sat, Aug 15th at Treptower Park
RE: https://post.lurk.org/@praxeology/116359342933769761
the next #berlin #permacomputing meetup is coming up featuring @exquisitecorp and its happening at @xHain_hackspace!
hi @johl, i found the definition of #permacomputing really well put that you gave in https://blog.johl.io/permacomputing/:
> Permacomputing is a term that combines “perma” — as in permaculture — with “computing,” signaling an effort to rethink digital technology not as a disposable commodity but as a domain that can be part of sustainable, cyclical, and regenerative practices. Instead of equating technological progress with ever-increasing performance, bigger infrastructures, and rapid replacement cycles, permacomputing asks how digital systems can exist within ecological and planetary limits and still remain meaningful and functional.
I appreciate you publish your posts as cc0 and I think this can be a good description to succinctly introduce people to the concept. Thank you!
please boost.
been running this 45 TB disk array for some time now.
the intention behind it was to provide services to the community.
i was thinking, what sort of services do you want to see or use?
some ideas:
- IRC
- gemini/gopher, there are some forum softwares
- neocities instance
i'd like there to be some way to share this disk space in a useful way.
Reminder that there'll be a #permacomputing meetup in Berlin next Sunday, 19.4 starting around 16:00. Come say hi, it's going to be fun!
