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December 08, 2022

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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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December 01, 2025
Bazaar Linux App Store Rejects All "Non-Gay" Themes

The team for the Bazaar Linux App Store for GNOME rejects multiple code changes, for non-LGBT themes, as "racist". Calls Lunduke a "Nazi" and suggests "we beat this guy with hammers".

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:18:24
December 01, 2025
The "MAGA/Linux" Conspiracy Theory

Red Hat employees, & other Open Source leaders, promote theory that "MAGA/Linux" agents are using concepts like "tolerance" and "everybody is welcome" as weapons.

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:15:16
December 01, 2025
Lunduke Journal Hits 16 Million Views in November, Gets YouTube 100k Award

16 Million. For November alone. No big deal. Just real, Big-Tech-free, non-Woke Tech News spreading across the Internet.

$89 Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscriptions Through Monday, Dec 1st:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/89-lifetime-lunduke-journal-subscriptions

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:17:04
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

🍭 Sometimes, Children Show the Most Compassion of All.
😵
Merry Christmas!
(check that browser history)

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16 hours ago

Ok I tried Omarchy on a new computer, overall it's pretty nice, but I wouldn't call heaving to edit a config file to change screen resolution beginner friendly just yet. I also haven't figured out yet how to install multiple input languages.

December 01, 2025

Might be a delay in posting the video for the latest show, "Bazaar Linux App Store Rejects All Non-Gay Themes", as Locals is erroring out when uploading videos.

Was working well earlier today, so probably just a hiccup. Video is everywhere else already and will be on Locals as soon as it's working again.

December 02, 2025
$89 Lifetime Sub extended through Tuesday. Final reminder.

Super quick updates from The Desk of Lunduke:

  • Everyone who snagged a Lifetime Lunduke Journal subscription over the weekend (and up until just a few moments ago on Monday), should all be properly setup — and should have received a confirmation email. If not, or if you have questions, just email me and I’ll take care of you.

  • The $89 Lifetime Sub deal has been extended by just one day (through December 2nd). I mentioned the discount in a show published just a few hours ago… and it seemed mean to have the deal expire before most people even got a chance to watch that show. I figure one day is plenty of extra time.

  • There won’t be any further reminders of that deal. If you want it, snag it. Either way prices go back to normal promptly at midnight as it becomes Wednesday on the East Coast of the USA.

A huge thank you to everyone who picked up a subscription (both now and in the past). Because of you, the future of The Lunduke Journal is going to be around for a very, very long time to come.

We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

-Lunduke

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November 30, 2025
$89 Lifetime Subs Through Monday, Second Lifetime Wall

Holy tidal wave of subscriptions, Batman! I was not fully prepared for the flood of people taking advantage of the $89 Lifetime Sub deal!

But, hey! That’s a good thing! Welcome, new Lunduke Journal subscribers!

A few quick reminders and bits of info on this glorious Sunday:

  • The $89 Lifetime Subscription deal is good through Monday, Dec 1st. That’s tomorrow. All prices go back to normal on Tuesday.

  • For everyone who has already snagged the $89 Lifetime Sub this weekend, you will be receiving a confirmation email by sometime on Monday.

  • For every Lifetime Subscriber who wants to be added to the “Lifetime Wall” at the end of the shows (but isn’t already), toss me an email and let me know how you want your name to be displayed. I’m adding a second wall which will debut in tomorrow’s show (ran out of space on the first wall).

  • Same goes for Lifetime Subscribers who want the Lunduke Journal X account to follow your X account. Email me. Let me know what your X handle is. I’ll take it from there.

  • For the new subscribers: You can find links and details on the various perks (regardless of where you subscribe from) right here.

Monday should be fun. We’ve already got quite a few stories to cover for this week… and it’s not even Monday yet!

I took off a couple days, last week, to celebrate Thanksgiving. I figured, “There won’t be too many new stories breaking during Thanksgiving!” Boy, was I wrong!

See all of you on Monday!

-Lunduke

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November 26, 2025
Happy Thanksgiving, you amazing nerds!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I’ll be taking off the next few days to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. You may still find me posting a few tidbits over on X, in between food comas, but no new shows until Sunday.

To all of you amazing nerds who make The Lunduke Journal possible: Thank you.

To say I am grateful for your support, over the last several years, would be the understatement of the century.

Over the last few months, the audience size of The Lunduke Journal has absolutely exploded. Thanks, in large part, to all of you. You not only funded the coverage of these “Free from Big-Tech influence” stories… you helped spread them as well. Far and wide.

Because of you, stories are being told which would otherwise fly under the radar, hidden by the mainstream Tech Press.

You are, in a word, awesome. And I am thankful, every day, for the trust and support you have shown to The Lunduke Journal.

To all of my fellow Americans, Happy Thanksgiving. May your hearts and your stomaches be full.

To all of my non-American friends, I wish the same. Because there’s never a bad time to have a ridiculously big meal.

-Lunduke

Oh, lest I forget: For those who don’t have a Lunduke Journal subscription yet, there’s a Black Friday sale. Half off. Good stuff. For those of you who have already picked up your subscription, recently or years in the past, you have my thanks.

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