Big Attic House

12/18/2025

When is a heap of sand a heap of sand? The answer isn't in the heap of sand, it's in the observer. LLMs are a VERY heap-like pile of sand, and people are starting to see a mind where one might not yet be. I'm trying out a new word for this phenomenon...

The 2400 year old Sorites Paradox has never been more relevant. Imagine a grain of sand. Is that a heap? No? Now, imagine a heap of sand…

11/18/2025

I started writing this years ago, and a couple years ago an old friend started helping me turn it into an audio book. I figured I'd start releasing what we did, and if enough people dig it, I'll see if we can continue.

Originally set in a far future that seems to be rushing toward us a little too quickly, Tony and Jesse are a couple of handymen leaving the service and enter...

09/11/2025

Hanging out in a discord chat feed discussion among some researchers, I realized I might have a solution to a problem being discussed and whipped up a prototype this morning before starting my day.

Sometimes you get to use some hard-earned experience for something outside your normal purview. This week, while lurking in the group…

07/22/2025

I still think this is the coolest looking thing I've ever built, 13 years ago, probably time to try it again. (senses magnetic fields and provides haptic feedback so you can "feel" them)

07/15/2025

We are human. Tools are our wealth. In the firelight of caves we decorated our skin with Red Ochre, and told stories to keep the darkness at bay. We played games, sang songs, and ate together. Art and stories are how we define our humanity. Tools are an offshoot of that art...

Pick up the figurative femur and start building stuff. (Image from 2001: A Space Odyssey )

06/09/2025

https://bigattichouse.medium.com/attaching-wood-and-acrylic-to-80-20-aluminum-t-slot-6f256b157f51?sk=36a261c4c0a11e0423c9e852ab7d725a

Aluminum 2020 T-Slot connectors (“80/20” T-Slot), commonly seen in desktop 3D printers and CNC machines, allow you to build a chassis…

03/15/2025

Slowly getting there! Lotta lessons learned this time.

I learn best by doing things myself, making mistakes, and taking notes. In gaming terms: Grind XP, Level Up. My usual strategy is to try…

01/26/2025

Got some problems with one of the Peltier layers, so I'll need to drain the system, pull the Peltier unit and replace the 2nd layer (hot side). Otherwise the new configuration works well.

Solar A/C version 2.0. Upgraded external radiators X 2, increased Peltiers. I have a problem with one of the peltier layers - not sure if the higher voltage...

01/25/2025

NASA splice, so hot right now. I did learn recently that the NASA splice is actually the westinghouse splice. 2X 15A Peltier module is ready to roll!

01/24/2025

All fans in place, pumps and fans checked (one pump was dead), and super groovy new 2 layer Peltier constructed. The blue one is the old single layer 6A, then new one is 2 layer 15A cells, which should push my efficiency close to a normal small room A/C. Gotta love laser cutters... went with clear acrylic.

01/23/2025

The start of my Solar powered A/C upgrade. This one doubles the heat rejection, and upgraded Peltiers should push the COP/Efficiency up into the 2.0+ range (equivalent to a normal window unit A/C) by running them at 10-20% max current.

Read more about the Re-Engineering:
https://medium.com//diy-solar-powered-window-air-conditioner-part-6-reengineering-0a3d4d41032b?sk=86ac83203adf1f57383fdb1bdc9b40a0

12/15/2024

Repaired/Upgraded 6v Flashlight - with only a LITTLE magic smoke released. Works great now ;)

My spouse and I have had this old Lumilite Alkaline flashlight for at least 20 years. I believe it may have come from one of our parents’ —…