iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bob @bobappleyard.me · 02/10/2026

anthropomorphism is fairly well-established within the field. e.g. this passage from what used to be the introductory computer science course of MIT it's fairly tongue-in-cheek here... but there is a reason this metaphor is so available to the authors

We are about to study the idea of a computational process. Computational processes are abstract beings that inhabit computers. As they evolve, processes manipulate other abstract things called data. The evolution of a process is directed by a pattern of rules called a program. People create programs to direct processes. In effect, we conjure the spirits of the computer with our spells.

A computational process is indeed much like a sorcerer's idea of a spirit. It cannot be seen or touched. It is not composed of matter at all. However, it is very real. It can perform intellectual work. It can answer questions. It can affect the world by disbursing money at a bank or by controlling a robot arm in a factory. The programs we use to conjure processes are like a sorcerer's spells. They are carefully composed from symbolic expressions in arcane and esoteric programming languages that prescribe the tasks we want our processes to perform.

A computational process, in a correctly working computer, executes programs precisely and accurately. Thus, like the sorcerer's apprentice, novice programmers must learn to understand and to anticipate the consequences of their conjuring. Even small errors (usually called bugs or glitches) in programs can have complex and unanticipated consequences.

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 01/10/2026

my son os way ahead of them here. he knows exactly what he's going to be when he grows up. supertato!

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 29/09/2026

a practice pioneered by slavoj zizek

Every reader has for sure noticed that, in my description of the movie, I rely quite heavily on a multitude on reviews, which I extensively quote. The reason is now clear: in spite of its occasional brilliance, the film is ultimately not worth seeing, which is why I also wrote this review without seeing it.

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 23/09/2026

reminds me of when miliband and corbyn were in a darksynth band

corbyn and miliband, shot from a low angle, with hi vis jackets on, looking in different directions. like they're out of a namnambulu promotional photoshoot

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 22/09/2026

if you weren't already aware

Exclusive: Restore’s rising star quit after supporters branded her a ‘mudblood’
Women’s safety spokesman abandoned party following abuse from members over her Irish roots

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 20/09/2026

first time i've seen your screen name in the browser rather than the app. this is a genuinely shocking betrayal

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 19/09/2026

contract opportunity for this guy

bryan johnson, the immortal billionaire, talking about monitoring his son's erections in a normal way

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 19/09/2026

my cutlery draw is extremely unbalanced

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 17/09/2026

picture of myself dressed up

me in black tie, stood in front of a christmas tree

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 16/09/2026

especially given how this little fucker looks

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 06/09/2026

right, but you can see that it's based on her personal interactions with people from the agency

"I had the conventional liberal's view of the CIA as a right-wing incendiary group, and I was amazed to discover that this was far from the case, that they were enlightened, liberal nonpartisan activists," she said (at 2:17).

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 03/09/2026

me and the boys listening to the statutorily mandated broadcast of @bloodwork.show on a friday night

sochi discogoers listening to a political speech before the music starts. ussr 1981

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 03/09/2026

i've just had a great idea. why don't we tack to the right of reform on immigration? that will definitely take the wind out of their sails

a woman presenting a successful business idea to the board

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 28/08/2026

probably something like this

peter griffin race meme

white - vote
nonwhite - no vote

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Bob @bobappleyard.me · 26/08/2026

in the more cringey end of british culture, the grim reaper has actually already been fired. paddington bear has taken over the role largely as a result of this image