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December 08, 2022

#PDAweek
TI - Graphing Calculators

If you went to school in the US during the 1990s, and in to the early 2000s, you probably owned, or at least used, a Texas Instruments 80s Series calculator.

The TI-81 was released in 1990 and immediately gained ground in schools across America. This z80 based hand-held computer was able to do anything a scientific calculator could do. It even included TI Basic, a Basic language which allowed users to write in programs to solve very complex problems. None of this was really new. Programmable calculators had been out for years. But the new trick up this calculator's sleeve, was the ability to draw graphics; specifically graphs.
This was obviously something that was typically reserved for more capable computers at the time.
For less than $150, you could own a hand held computer.
School districts across the country began purchasing class sets. TI made it easy by bundling sets with a teacher's edition of the calculator. The teacher's edition was specially modified so it could connect to an external lcd screen and be projected on the wall. (More on those another day.)

But the TI-81 had one fatal flaw. Something that really kept it from becoming the defacto standard.
Every single person had to manually enter in thier own programs. This meant that if you came up with something amazing, you couldn't share it. Worse, changing the batteries wiped the full memory.

This limitation didn't last long as Texas Imstruments released the TI-85 in 1992.
This new model used the same z80 processor, bit was somehow now many times faster.
This new calculator corrected many issues with the TI-81 including adding a backup/coin-cell battery (they added this to the TI-81 around the same time. But it wasn't there originally.) And the greatest improvement of all...
TI-Link
This new, little cable, meant that programs could be shared between students and teachers. The cable, which was simply a 3-wire cord with a 2.5mm jack on each end, changed the world for students.
Very soon after the release of the calculator, Texas Instruments released the TI-Graph Link cable, a serial cable allowing users to connect the TI-85 to a windows 3.11 or Mac OS computer, copy files and even write programs on the computer.

This new calculator came at a much higher price, preventing it from gaining mass adoption.

To be continued....

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CachyOS Censors "Radicals" Opposed to Age Verification

In response to concerns about Age Verification features in SystemD, the CachyOS team says, "If you don’t want to use SystemD find another distribution," tells users to "STOP being radical".

More from The Lunduke Journal:
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00:24:55
Michigan OS Age Verification Law Supported by Democrats & Republicans

Michigan's proposed Age Verification law would apply to all Operating Systems (including Linux), and would require commercial Age Verification.

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00:10:52
Slackware Says No to Age Verification, But Fedora Linux Says Yes

Two very different reactions to Age Verification. One says, "I doubt these laws would survive a challenge." While the other says, "It's a matter of hopefully, just adopting a standard API."

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https://lunduke.com/

00:14:19
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

I'm curious, with all this age verification crap...
I have no clue what Elon's stand is on all this but, if I understand the law correctly, then technically, a Tesla would have to verify the age of the driver. So, if he wanted to show malicious compliance, he could require that in order to drive your Tesla, you would have to scan your driver's license before the car will start.
Just take that update and push it to legislators for a few weeks.
I don't use X, so I don't know how to tag him at all. I'm just saying...

The Age Verification Con
https://reclaimthenet.org/the-age-verification-con
How Big Tech and politicians built a digital ID system for everyone while pretending to fight each other.

[from article] The question of whether a 14-year-old can use Instagram becomes the mechanism by which every adult is required to show a government-issued ID to use their own phone.

Three Years Prep About to Pay Off

I saw ChatGPT and began skating to where the puck was going. I’m a consultant who sells his skills for premium rates. There is a challenge to switch to a new technology while maintaining or increasing your value.

No one will pay principal level oracle rates to a consultant for the delivery of Hadoop work the oracle consultant doesn’t know but will learn on the job as you pay him.

So do you ride out the Oracle skill until no one will pay principal rates for that skill anymore? Or do you step down in value to learn the new skill to climb back up?

What I do - is try to detect the tech shift and prepare for that brief time - the hockey stick moment - when demand surges and supply isn’t there.

That time is now for GenAI. It’s no longer new. Adoption is already high and about to explode. And here I am with self developed skills but next to zero stories of “I’ve deployed these systems in enterprises at scale”. Precious few people have - for now.

...

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Lifetime Wall Number 6, Plus How to Access MP4s & Forum

A few quick reminders for all of you amazing Lunduke Journal subscribers:

First: If you have any kind of payed subscription (Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime) there are a bunch of cool perks available to you. MP4 Downloads, PDF eBooks, and access to the Lunduke Journal Forum. All the details on how to gain access to everything is right here.

Enjoy.

Second: At the end of this next week I’ll be unveiling “Lifetime Subscriber Wall of Shame” number Six at the end of all new Lunduke Journal videos.

 

At that same time I will be updating and permanently locking down Walls 1 through 5.

If you are already a Lifetime Subscriber, and would like to be added to the new Wall number 6 (or to one of the couple remaining spots on Walls 4 and 5), email me (bryan at lunduke.com) with how you would like your name to be displayed (full name, first name only, nick name… any way you like).

  1. CRT Linux Pico Wall: Full

  2. DOS Word Wall: Full

  3. Win 3.11 Notepad Wall: Full

  4. MacOS 9 Wall: 2 Spots Left

  5. PalmOS Wall: 1 Spot Left

  6. Mystery Wall: Open

Those final spots on the MacOS and PalmOS Walls are first come first served. The first people to request those spots get them.

Everyone else will roll over into Wall 6. Which is a secret, retro computer platform. You’ll dig it.

If you have already contacted me regarding being added to one of these walls (or changing the way your name is displayed), I’ve already got you on the list for the changes later this next week.

If you don’t already have a Lifetime Subscription, grab one and get yourself on the wall.

It’s pretty sweet.

-Lunduke

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February 12, 2026
4th Wall Almost Full, $89 Lifetime Deal Ends Very Soon

Woo-hoo! The 4th Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber Wall of Shame Awesomeness is almost full!

  • That means that, within the next day or two, the massively discounted Lifetime Subscriptions will go back to their normal price. So if you wanted to snag the $89 / $99 Lifetime Sub (instead of paying $300), now’s your last chance.

  • If you are already a Lifetime Subscriber and want to be added to the 4th (or the start of the 5th) wall, email me (bryan at lunduke.com). There are only a couple of spots left on Wall 4.

  • The new Lifetime Wall designs are locked and loaded, and will make their grand debut at the end of all new shows starting either Friday or Monday.

I also wanted to take a moment to thank all of the non-Lifetime Subscribers. The Lifetime Subs may get a little extra attention at the end of the shows… but every subscriber (Monthly & Yearly) helps to make this work possible.

All of you rule.

-Lunduke

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February 08, 2026
79 Million Views in 6 Months for The Lunduke Journal

Welcome to February, all of you amazing nerds!

January was a fun month for The Lunduke Journal (thanks to all of you). For those interested in a little Inside Baseball, I’ve pulled together some stats and charts below.

The short version: Great month. Crazy news stories. Solid growth. Can’t complain!

Revamped Lifetime Wall

Oh! And the “Lifetime Subscriber Wall” is getting a “retro” facelift.

This is what the four Lifetime Walls currently look like:

 

Once that 4th Wall is filled (a little over 75% of the way there as of this morning), I’ll be introducing the new designs (for all the walls) along with the starting of Wall Number 5.

Each Wall now has its own, distinct look and theme. Very Retro Computer-y. You’re going to dig it.

To make that “Wall Number 5” get here as fast as possible, I’ve gone ahead an reinstated the “$89 Lifetime Subscriber” deal. But only until Wall Number 4 is full.

Want to be on the Wall? If you don’t have a Lifetime Subscription, grab one. If you already have one, email me (bryan at lunduke.com) to let me know how you want your name to be displayed.

Once Wall 4 is full, the Super-Mega-Ultra Discounted Lifetime Subscription goes back to regular price. And, the next day, the new Lifetime Wall design appears at the end of new shows.

At the current rate, I expect that to happen in the next couple days.

Stats for January, 2026

Now let’s look at the stats for January.

Can’t lie. I’m pleased.

  • 30 new shows (just shy of one new show every day)

  • 15.2 Million views (including podcast downloads)

  • 2,326 new subscribers

The most popular story of January, 2026:

Taking a high level view: This means that, in the last 6 months (Aug ‘25 - Jan ‘26), The Lunduke Journal has had:

  • 79.4 Million views

  • 21,694 new subscribers

Bonkers, right?

Here’s a chart of “views” for last 6 months:

Image
 

The long-term trend continues to be solidly upward, with February (in the first 7 days, so far) currently tracking slightly ahead of January.

For those interested in the specific platforms: The Lunduke Journal is seeing the most growth on X and the Audio Podcast.

Here’s a combined subscriber chart for January (up 2,326 subscribers from the month prior):

Image
 

Wild. It is truly amazing to me how widely these stories are spreading nowadays.

Over 15 million. In one month.

These are numbers that most of the big, “Main Stream” Tech Journalists could only dream of.

The reach of The Lunduke Journal, thanks to all of you, is now wildly exceeding any other publication I have ever worked with.

Even though most “Main Stream” Tech Journalists are refusing to cover some of the biggest stories in Tech… those stories are still getting out there.

They are being seen. Far and wide.

Thanks to all of you.

-Lunduke

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