> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.autodidacts.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Autodidacts Newsletter #26 - URL: https://www.autodidacts.io/autodidacts-newsletter-26/ - Published: 2026-06-29T06:28:19.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-29T06:28:19.000Z - Description: Twenty-four new posts to hitch your mind to - Author: Curiositry - Tags: 100DaysToOffload, Newsletter We’ve been distracted these past few months by getting certified as wildland firefighters, learning to drive excavators, competing in running races, and suffering from technological breakdowns. Now, these activities have abated, allowing us to spend enough time staring into space to produce another batch of articles. These articles are still part of [#100DaysToOffload](https://www.autodidacts.io/100daystooffload/), but a few of them are more in-depth. My favourites are probably [*Curation and Its Side Effects*](https://www.autodidacts.io/curators-skim/) and [*Treat People as Flowers*](https://www.autodidacts.io/treat-people-as-flowers/). Runners up: my list of [petty (and not so petty) grievances with AI](https://www.autodidacts.io/underrated-reasons-to-dislike-ai/), and the story of my lifelong, Sisyphean struggle with [bookworm pronunciation syndrome](https://www.autodidacts.io/bookworm-pronunciation-syndrome/). There are several others that I really enjoyed writing, which I’ll let you discover for yourself. [Underrated reasons to dislike AIThe big arguments for and against AI have been endlessly discussed, and I don’t feel I have much to add. AGI and existential risk; human obsolescence; power use; cybersecurity; safety + censorship; slop; misinformation. Also, I’m kind of tired of everything being about AI, which is why I have![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-2c1e3235-6a96-426a-a41a-100a3bff1668.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/qwen3-vl-handwriting-ai-ocr-quality-326ab966-1979-44ef-8c9e-223276fc69d9.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/underrated-reasons-to-dislike-ai/) [How I find the email addresses of public figures 🔒This post is for paid members only![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2025-11-27-at-13-43-18-The-Autodidacts-de2692a687b3e982ca8ead15069bf9f73dcca58b30d9d9f737b6c9eb1cd96724.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/how-to-find-contact-information-of-public-figures/) [An indie blog’s directory of indie blog directoriesBlogs are back. RSS is cool again. (Said the blogger to his RSS feed.) Here is a collection of small, independent directories of blogs, personal websites, and smol/indie/slow/human web sites that I’ve run across and bookmarked. Most of them accept submissions. Some of them have RSS![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/escher_stairs-c689b3ebb72399f7252031ab5a39f9e5d33003584d2e8a8a01c5f8f695d293f2.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/indie-blog-directory-directory/) [Ideas Evolve in DialogueYou can sort of have a conversation with a book. I sometimes write rude comments in the margins when I disagree with the author. But the Stoics recommend that when you’re insulted, you just ignore it. Books are incredibly advanced stoics in this regard. And it’s kind of![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Holbein-_Hans_-_Desiderius_Erasmus_-_Kunstmuseum_Basel-1000px-70bea2a4a332d8afb88616ea8cfe28a557cf4bfa42b083f38ee8e24aa27477a2.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/ideas-evolve-in-dialogue/) [Old site, new site bookmarkletsA small utility that’s surprisingly useful during website migrations![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2025-11-27-at-13-43-18-The-Autodidacts-de2692a687b3e982ca8ead15069bf9f73dcca58b30d9d9f737b6c9eb1cd96724.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/old-site-new-site-bookmarklets/) [Sheep Music & Wedding BandsOn knowledge gaps and bookworm pronunciation syndrome![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Reuter-_Paul_Julius_von-_Nadar-_Gallica-b34370dacc3c9f180b4fc4eac2ba82c543eac03c6dcd33ec24e029318498ee0b.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/bookworm-pronunciation-syndrome/) [Some thoughts about backing up, which occurred to me after my laptop abruptly expiredI had other plans for what to write about, and also plans for the day that didn’t involve disassembling my connection to the outside world with a screwdriver![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2025-11-27-at-13-43-18-The-Autodidacts-de2692a687b3e982ca8ead15069bf9f73dcca58b30d9d9f737b6c9eb1cd96724.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/thoughts-on-digital-fragility/) [My criteria for a good Linux developer laptopWell-built, cheap, and fast: I pick all three.![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-97e78deb-acaa-4da9-a085-0eea4e97cb6a.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/framework-16-98323d34-02c5-4747-b56e-e350864b2d1a.webp)](https://www.autodidacts.io/my-criteria-for-a-good-linux-developer-laptop/) [The butterfly effect of revenge bedtime procrastinationWasting time isn’t bad because it wastes time![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-a4a1b73d-562d-41af-9530-0f6f225605ad.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Eduard_von_Gr--tzner_Studierender_M--nch_1890-d78762f1-c0e4-4bb5-b44d-71846affcf86.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/the-butterfly-effect-of-revenge-bedtime-procrastination/) [Curation and its side effectsSome fundamentals about how it works, and what to do when it doesn’t![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/service-pnp-fsa-8c34000-8c34700-8c34729v-9b966a6db3da178cf5aa535588bd141bc76ef0ea4a18999dda3c1ce12307c220.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/curators-skim/) [Bothering to understandFirst it makes you slow, then it makes you fast (maybe)![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-6edcb250-06db-4d6a-8d09-aa607fb5d842.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Feynman_lecture_1964_-10481714045--067651d4-fcdc-4987-9217-36169878541b.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/bothering-to-understand/) [Delusional Optimism & the Art of Sneaking Up on Your GoalsYou can succeed, but you can’t fail — because you aren’t officially trying![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1637904111135-1339365de61a-c387ec9e9b4d81b711b6a6c8f02625269c2cd03da83f58c7035e9d069f71c82f)](https://www.autodidacts.io/sneaking-up-on-your-goals/) [The art of getting back on one’s horseIt’s a long process![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-3b9dc757-6414-48b3-87ba-7fa01898a253.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Weiss-Paul---s-Horse-Herman-Pl.10-b3494653-c560-4297-b149-6517ee1c4d53.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/the-art-of-getting-back-on-one-s-horse/) [The bid-ask spread on used physical goodsFor most of my life I fundamentally misunderstood buy & sell prices![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-a433cff8-a6a2-42ed-ad9a-48020a6a854f.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Order_book_depth_chart-optimized-391aa873-82bf-477c-a4dc-85404680cbcd.gif)](https://www.autodidacts.io/the-bid-ask-spread-on-used-physical-goods/) [All Polymarket temperature markets missing, along with the money bet on themAlong with the money bet on them?![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-05-18-at-11-51-21-Polymarket-The-World-s-Largest-Prediction-Market----bb69166265d84cd5bc4e7b28c985ee74117b560191e1aa297fee7fc58d9ca14e.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/polymarket-temperature-markets-dissappear/) [How to drain pasta without a colander, without burning yourselfA cooking tip for unusually bright cave people![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/wind-1295105_1280-7b0e999d6a9204b79ce755518699c87cd12935e079d0407d106cfae9efcbf63d.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/how-to-drain-pasta-without-a-colander-without-burning-yourself/) [20 years of Linux and I finally started using job controlAnd it’s amazing![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2025-11-27-at-13-43-18-The-Autodidacts-de2692a687b3e982ca8ead15069bf9f73dcca58b30d9d9f737b6c9eb1cd96724.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/20-years-of-linux-and-i-finally-started-using-job-control/) [Backpack Activation EnergyPortrait of a gumption trap![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-593b54eb-0b43-4f28-9ca1-a51dcc50d765.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Mali_-_local_transport-16d274d7-9a27-46c0-8cec-d9eea0191d2d.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/backpack-activation-energy/) [Bookmarklet: Copy Ghost Post ID to ClipboardSave several milliseconds with two lines of JavaScript![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-f363d90b2aa079b3e3ab325da7dc02ac8c47f95abcc19608a5a5924ecd961af0.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2025-11-27-at-13-43-18-The-Autodidacts-de2692a687b3e982ca8ead15069bf9f73dcca58b30d9d9f737b6c9eb1cd96724.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/copy-ghost-post-id-to-clipboard-bookmarklet/) [The search for a good offline dictionary for Linux… proved longer than expected![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-639070e6-493d-4e97-adc9-a83f52c5a1a8.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/goldendict-wordnet-e522233b-818a-4ebb-b1b0-9b508711f9c8.png)](https://www.autodidacts.io/good-offline-linux-dictionaries/) [Treat People as FlowersSometimes people say goodnight by saying, see you in the morning, if that’s expected. This bugs me.\[1\] While I certainly hope to see them in the morning, and consider it highly probable, even in a modern world, it isn’t guaranteed. To me, all goodbyes are an acknowledgement![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-d3a62cf2-597c-4b9d-abf8-ea424c37ea44.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/Poppies_bouquet_2017_G1-00ca0f9b-5a7a-4580-8eed-8d06a095524c.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/treat-people-as-flowers/) [Let’s call ’em “aigents”The portmanteau is overdue![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-85b0fd2d-b7c2-4570-96ba-bc7e9238f71d.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/tumblr_njf3a6rFpO1tm6vq4o1_1280-a8cecd4a-adc8-4d1c-b3e3-f290fe170cb5.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/aigents/) [How to fit Qwen 3.6 35B A3B into 16GB of VRAM, & run it with Llama.cpp on an RTX 3080The belly hangs over the belt, but it fits![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-0a303429-cda1-4045-9c46-867f2b846e2c.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/llama-cpp-llama-server-web-ui-qwen-3-6-35b-a3b-572bb6d3-44f4-45c3-aba4-14932fdf5240.gif)](https://www.autodidacts.io/how-to-fit-qwen3-6-35b-a3b-into-16gb-vram-run-with-llama-cpp-rtx-3080/) [What Should We Optimize Away?Optimize away optimizing away![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/icon/autodidacts-logo-small-6240c6b8-54fa-4ac7-ba68-4743b28f202a.png)The AutodidactsCuriositry![](https://www.autodidacts.io/content/images/thumbnail/cutting-firewood-at-side-camp-in-magalloway-township-maine-orig-9ebd771d-11f8-42a9-898d-0e92e81828e4.jpg)](https://www.autodidacts.io/holistic-optimization/) Thanks for reading — some of you, for over a decade! The Autodidacts