Social Media Posts From The Archive

Background

Whilst checking my Bluesky feed I noticed someone posting links to, and images from, their blog. Not new posts, but posts from years ago. It struck me this was good use of a blog archive. However, I didn't want to do this manually: even daily posts would soon pall.

In January I removed over one hundred low‑value posts, improved the underlying HTML code, and brought the layout of all the remaining posts up to my current standard. Today there are 464 posts on this blog, which is more than enough for a lengthy series of recycled posts. I just needed a suitable script I could automate.

Thanks to the perplexity.ai, I now have working python scripts, for both bluesky and the fediverse, that produce posts like this:

Read on if you are running Linux (Xubuntu 24.04) and you'd like to try them.

Desk Upgrade

I've replaced my decades old piece of hardboard with a new A2 cutting mat because, no matter what I did, I couldn't stop the hardboard sliding on the glass top of my desk.

I hoped the mat would be non-slip, but it isn't. I ended up using two strips of double-sided sticky tape underneath the mat; so problem solved!

The mat was £10.00 from The Works (UK), but be prepared to ask if they have any in stock. They are too big to be displayed with their regular items. Mine was tucked away at the back of the shop in a dusty corner. Even the staff weren't really sure if they had any. They are available online.

15 mm Medieval Georgians (Essex Miniatures)

Preamble

The genesis of this batch of figures began with a slip of the keyboard. I spotted 52 Essex early medieval riders (no horses) on eBay. At just over £10.00 delivered I couldn't resist.

There were 12 Crusade era figures amongst the job lot of Byzantine figures. Specifically, a couple of Syrians (CRU39a) and ten Georgians (CRU28). Perfect for four units of heavy cavalry for my allied Ilkhanid Mongol army. I've painted these figures twice before: in 2000 and in 2011.