Kyle Rankin @kyle@librem.one

I just discovered that at some point the Element Matrix client added keybindings to let you switch more easily to rooms with recent activity. This is an incredibly important feature to me (I try to avoid using my mouse) that's going to dramatically improve every work day.

I've crossed another #weaving milestone: I now have an account on the Scottish Tartans Authority so I can get accurate tartan threadcount information.

Now the scarf is off the loom and I just finished the edges. Now it just needs a hand wash and it will be done. #weaving

Making progress on the scarf. This pattern calls for sparse spacing in the weft (6ppi) with a finer yarn and it's weird seeing these gaps. Apparently it all fills in when off the loom and washed. #weaving

This was after I had to undo half my warping work to center it, and tangled the yarn while rewinding it on the original skein. I spent at least an hour untangling and rewinding all 250 yards into a ball so it wouldn't tangle again.

In a warp zone. #weaving #scarf

Pretty excited to start this book. I've found the quality of translation really matters and this most recent translation of We is supposed to be the best.

"Farmers have already told us that they’re buying older tractors to avoid the software repair restrictions that manufacturers like Deere put in place." https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wxd8wy/the-used-tractor-market-is-far-wilder-than-the-used-car-market

After doing more research it turns out this razor was known as the King Oscillator and is one of the few safety razors out there that require proprietary blades! No wonder you don't see many of these around anymore...

Today's antique store find: a King razor plated in 22 karat gold. The roller on the top rolls against your face and makes the razor blade move back and forth. I'm actually more nervous about shaving with this than my vibrating Stahly razor.

Dragging the chain and hearing the gears click into place is very satisfying--nice tactile feedback. However, carrying a one across the whole register takes some force. It looks nice and is OK as a small desktop calculator, but subtracting w/ it makes me prefer the Addometer.

Multiplication is repeated addition, shifting left for each digit in the multiplier. Here is 12 x 12. Because of the extended complements for subtraction method, division is possible but not ideal.

To clear the register, you turn the knob on the bottom right side anti-clockwise until all the digits say 0.

The chain only moves in one direction, so to subtract you have to use the complements method. To subtract 42 from 31342, I add 9999958.

These are portable, but are bigger and heavier than other pocket calculators of the time and primarily sat in or on a desk using the kickstand, and were used for quick arithmetic. To add a number, insert a stylus at the corresponding digit and drag down to the bottom.

These are known as chain adders. By inserting a stylus and dragging the chain down, you increment the register. You can see the carry mechanism in this video, which uses a spring-loaded tooth that rides along the outside of the gear and engages with the next gear only after 9.

These are Golden Gem portable adding machines made by the Automatic Adding Machine Company. The chrome one on the left was made around 1910 and the black one on the right, which has its original box, case, warranty card and receipt, was purchased in February 1941 for $9.16.