jjv.sh

What I'm Doing Now

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Lately I’ve been up to: getting rid of 1 thing per day unpacking physically and mentally from a trip a site where u can order custom stickers: waldo.jjv.sh a multi-livestream bot - currently migrating the k8s cluster from digitalocean to oracle cloud free tier Inspired by: https://gergely.imreh.net/now/ https://sive.rs/nowff https://nownownow.com/ https://slashpages.net/#now

Are Computers Binary or Non-Binary?

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 15:26:12 -0500

Are computers binary or non-binary? Depends if the “or” is exclusive or not. Now that I’ve gotten the instinctive pun out of my system… The question kinda sounds paradoxical at first, but after you think about it for 2 seconds, you realize it is a bit non-sensical and maybe invalid because the things being compared have completely different definitions despite their linguistic similarities. But in thinking about it, I found some interesting concepts to explore.

Fridge Puns

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 16:13:04 -0500

Stop trying to catch your smart refrigerator. That sam has sung. When you trusted it to keep a tough but flavorful cut of meat, all it gave you was the cold shoulder. You let the beef stew and things slowly got heated, but it just wanted to save it for another time. When the spark shut off, you saw it was a spoiled brat inside. But the energy came back, it always does, and you bought new stuff for it like nothing happened.

How I Created jjv.sh

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 02:31:00 -0500

Here We Go Again… Time for the biennial (which I just learned is a word meaning every two years) migrating my website to a new domain name! I haven’t done distro hopped in several years. I haven’t browser hopped in twice that time (yes, I copied my browser files over to the next distro). But I HAVE server hopped my website every few months, mostly keeping the same domain name, but every two years now I have changed the domain name the same time I change the server.

Stories from 2023

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 17:09:08 -0400

Found some stories in my notes that I wrote down but was too embarrased to put on my blog… until now. Aug 19, 2023 - Trouble Parking? Join the Club After doing my makeup for the 2nd time ever, I felt like it would be a waste to just remove it right after, so I decided to go out to a club I had been to before. (Some might say it was the only club I had been to before…)

Foam Stacker

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 23:14:54 -0400

A mini replica of the arcade stacker game! Uses a knockoff arduino nano (which actually turned out to be a pro mini with USB duct taped on), a 128x64 OLED display, a lighted pushbutton switch, and of course a foam stress toy. Since this arduino can operate from 3-6V, I ran it at 6V by connecting two CR2032 coin cell batteries, of which I have lots of extras for some reason…

Label Printer Fun for the Framework 16

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:43:51 -0400

TL;DR The framework 16’s six expansion card slots have different capabilities, for example some can do display out, and some draw more power with a USB-A expansion card. I kept having to look up the compatibility info in the user guide, so instead I printed some handy-dandy stickers with my label printer and attached them to the bottom of the laptop. the bottom side of my framework 16 laptop with compatibility label stickers added next to all 6 expansion card slots to indicate which ones support USB4, Display output, 240W Charge, and which ones have high power consumption for USB-A Adapting the Images The official framework 16 guide has an image of what expansion card slots support what features.

I See Myself

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 02:21:54 -0500

I look in the mirror and I do not see myself. I put on makeup and I do not see myself. I look at old pictures and I do not see myself. I look at devices I’ve made and I see myself. I lose myself in code and I am myself. I search my files and I find myself. My neural pathways mirror the shape of the runtime environment. My intentions externalized as silicon.

Dressember 2023 - Stop Human Trafficking

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:03:20 -0500

Dressember is an organization that raises awareness and money to end human trafficking by encouraging people to wear a dress (or tie) every day in December and spread the word. When I started doing Dressember a few years ago, I was afraid of what people would think if I wore a dress, so I opted to wear a tie every day in December instead, and used it as a conversation starter to raise awareness and money to stop human trafficking.

Poems from October 2023

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 19:57:08 -0400

i find myself in the cycle again, at a high point but wondering when, it all crashes, ruins, begin again. how can i enjoy what is fleeting, when what is coming will be devasatating why risk trying, scrutinized by eyes prying, just keep lying. caught in a local minimum, feeling stretched thin again, dopamine to the maximum, stuck in my head again mind reduced to sparks and juice, reactive never proactive.

Encoding Text in Boot Laces as Binary Data

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:39:08 -0400

TL;DR I found a way to encode text as binary data in boot laces, based on which lace crosses over the other. Read the image below, starting on the bottom left, going up the boot on the left, then back down the boot on the right, and decode it with this tool. boots with laces encoding data: 01010011 01010101 01010011 What?? Here I am, with a pair of boots on my desk, Ian’s Shoelace Site open in one tab, and ASCII to Binary Converter open in another tab.

Poems from July 2023

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 23:53:08 -0400

Dreams achieved, powerless to pursue them. Potential unlimited, kinetic unreachable. Care what you think, no thought for self-care. Time passing me, me passing up moments time and time again. Genuine laughter, deeply unsatisfied. Once again I find myself Disturbed by the fact that Cause leads to Effect Leads to past set in Stone. Desire for care-freeness Leads to policing desires Leads to care-fullness Leads to shame. Hunger for idealism Chasing the illusion Never letting it be What it is.

How I Created johanv.net: Personal Website with Seamless Livestream

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 19:39:55 -0400

Update 2024-11-03 I have since moved to jjv.sh, read about it here. Keep reading if you want, but most of the links in this article are old. The Backstory Ever since I moved my site to johanv.xyz, some things have been slightly off. When I texted someone a link, they didn’t get it. When I visited it at work, it was blocked (and so I couldn’t link to it on my “about me” page).

ATinyGame: A Tiny Inexpensive Nugget for Your Gaming and All Manner of Entertainment

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 06:53:44 -0400

[updated 2026-05-20T23:54:33-4:00] Instructions: Download as SVG or PDF (for v1: old PDF) ATinyGame is a game console that fits in 1 hand, with a program smaller than 1kB, all for $1 ($1.50 now, thanks chip shortage). Read the harrowing tale of its development: The Assembly Instruction that Saved Christmas. Take a look at the circuit diagram and printed circuit board layout on the OSHWLab project. See the assembly code (with lots of fun comments on how I golfed it down to 1kB) in this repo.

The Assembly Instruction that Saved Christmas

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 06:22:11 -0400

Christmas Eve, 5pm-ish. The gifts I’m making for my family are still not done. I’m hunched over my laptop, desperately code-golfing to try and shave 20 bytes off my assembly code to fit within the 1kB of program memory on the ATTiny9. How did we get here? About 5 years ago (I had just graduated high school (I’m done with college now)), I started a project that I thought would be fun: buying a 25 cent computer and some LEDs, and creating handheld games for less than a dollar each.

Linux: Remap Right Alt & Ctrl to Home & End (and Caps to Ctrl)

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 12:09:11 -0400

I recently got a framework laptop and I have been customizing it, including changing the touchpad swipe gestures and the keyboard layout. I couldn’t find an easy guide on how to re-map the right Alt and Ctrl keys to Home and End, so once I figured it out I decided I’d post it here. I also map Caps Lock to Ctrl, so I have included an optional step here to do that as well.

Videos: Where I Post Them and Why

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 23:01:08 -0400

Here are some of my videos! Since YouTube is very invasive of privacy and tends to censor people, I instead upload my videos to Odysee (also known as LBRY), an awesome video platform that more and more YouTubers are moving to. Odysee is open source, decentralized, privacy-respecting, has a decent and growing user base, and even has a good system for monetization. It doesn’t require a minimum subscriber count like YouTube does, which means I’m making money already!

Sabbath Podcast: Rethink the Cycle of Work and Rest

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 10:47:44 -0400

My friend recently recommended a series on the sabbath from the Bridgetown Audio Podcast which I have been listening to for the past few weeks and trying to put into practice. Even so far it has been very helpful in improving my mental and spiritual health, and as a result of this I am able to function better on the other 6 days of the week. (Reduced stress can lengthen your life, so I am getting the time back too.

Raspberry Pi Dual Audio Output (or: Walmart JACK Audio)

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 03:32:24 -0400

Background (skip if you want) I use the raspberry pi to connect to my thrift store keyboard with a USB MIDI cable so that I can use better software instruments than the crappy ones built in to the keyboard. I have made 2 songs using this so far: MIDI Cable Is Here & Magically Infinite Dank Inspiration In addition to plugging in some headphones to the Pi and hearing the sound, I also wanted the option to pipe the audio to another device at the same time.

How to send MMS messages on the Pinephone with vgmms

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 01:00:45 -0400

Update! While vgmms is not working yet, you can use jmms in the meantime: https://git.sr.ht/~amindfv/jmms Just head to that link and read the instructions for installation. Right now jmms only supports receiving MMS messages (group texts and pictures), not sending. NOTE: this guide is still a work in progress and while installing vgmms works, sending MMS does not work yet. (although you can send SMS through vgmms). open bug report for group messages: #23 open bug report for sending photos: #39

Beginners Guide to Online Data Privacy

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 02:56:49 -0400

Why? Why should we care about privacy? Most importantly, privacy fosters freedom of thought and speech, which greatly strengthens democracy. It does this by allowing us to hold unpopular opinions without fear of being punished or even killed by those in power, something which has happened many times throughout history and continues today. Being free to express discontent with the current elected officials is necessary to keep their power in check.

How To Win Hackathons and Influence Prizes by Andrew Carnegie

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 14:26:36 -0400

I just got back from Hoya Hacks, a hackathon a Georgetown this past weekend. Someone asked me by email what tips I had to win hackathons (since I have won multiple prizes heh heh :), and I responded: Incorporate some hardware, such as Raspberry Pi or Arduino. Hoya Hacks didn’t have a prize for best hardware, but some do and either way, hardware usually makes your project stand out. I like to bring my own hardware because the MLH hardware lab sometimes doesn’t have a great selection, or they run out.

Identity Reflection (a Poem I Wrote at Bridge DC)

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 06:13:39 -0400

This is copied from my journal that I kept during Bridge DC in summer 2019. More info about Bridge DC. I thought I heard my name called in the babbling crowd, but it was just an echo. I thought I saw my face reflected in the shifting mass, but it was just an illusion. I thought I sensed my purpose in the wavering sea, but it was just a manifesto. I took a pause to listen and be still, Away from the voices pulling me every direction but upward.

How to Register for Classes at UMD (as of fall 2019)

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:33:07 -0400

tl;dr Build a schedule with Courseoff, find ratings on classes and professors on PlanetTerp, and see what requirements you have left on Degree Audit. Talk to your advisor, but also check what they tell you with more experienced people in your major. Once you have decided what classes you will take, make sure you have no registration blocks at Appointment and Registration Status and register for them using Registration Drop/Add. Use a spreadsheet to keep track of your 4-year plan, and make sure it lines up with the PDF your advisor emails you.

ArduinOLED | Software Setup Tutorial

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 15:00:00 -0400

<-Back to ArduinOLED Steps: Installing the Arduino IDE Downloading the Libraries Plug in the Programmer Cable Uploading the Example Sketches Next Steps Installing the Arduino IDE [Back to top] Visit the Arduino Software Page and click on the link for your operating system. I chose "Windows Installer", but if you don't have admin access, download the "Windows ZIP file for non admin install". Click "Yes" when it asks you if the app should be allowed to make changes.

Quest v0.6.0: Yet Another Overly Ambitious Roguelike that the Developer Lost Interest In

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:32:52 -0400

This is a roguelike I am working on. It is written in Python, using the curses module. Right now it runs fine on Linux, Unix, and Mac terminals, but if you want to run it on Windows, you need Cygwin or Powershell. Downloads The most recent version: Quest v0.6.0 Older versions: Quest v0.5.0

Command-line Calculator: The tool you didn't know you needed, and in fact, didn't need!

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:21:52 -0400

Download .zip file This is a calculator that you can run in a command line terminal. To run it, you need Python 2 or 3. You can either use argument mode: $ ./calculator.py '1+1' 2 or interpreter mode: $ ./calculator.py Type help for more info. ~ 1+1 2 ~ 123sin(4!rad(56+log4))/(3+ln(3!)) -25.390453736 ~ In both modes, you can assign variables with either of the following: 83->abc 83@abc And access them like this:

GAMES: Glamorous Automatic Multi-game Emulator System

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:34:13 -0400

GAMES is a tiny Arduino game system with a 3x3 LED screen and 4 buttons. Version 1 uses an Arduino Pro Mini, which is shown below. Version 2 uses an ATTiny microcontroller, which you can find here here. GAMES

HexaGame: Ever played snake, but with 6 directions?

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 16:34:13 -0400

The HexaGame playing Whack-A-Mole HexaGame is a handheld multi-game system that consists of a hexagon of LEDs with buttons surrounding it, as well as a hex-shaped dpad. Board Designs Version 1.0 on EasyEDA Version 2.0 on EasyEDA More Photos HexaGame 2.0 Printed Circuit Board 5 HexaGames of different colors HexaGame with programming cable The HexaGame HexaGame and programming cable unplugged HexaGame reset button pressed

Bridge DC (or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Neighbor)

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 19:27:02 -0400

tl;dr (short version) Bridge is a 7-week immersive justice program including an internship (I taught tech classes at Year Up). I learned that serving people can also mean using the gifts God gave me, and doesn’t have to be measured in a certain way. I identified some areas where I am self-righteous and became more conscious of what it means to truly love people and not just love part of them.

My Config Files (Now Managed with Git and Ansible)

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 23:37:18 -0400

Update: I now manage my config files in this repo. A description of a few of them is below: .tmux.conf I changed the prefix key from Ctrl-B from Ctrl-A since it is closer to the control key, especially with caps lock set to Ctrl. Other settings in .tmux.conf make splitting the window easier to remember with / and \ instead of " and %. .gitconfig My .gitconfig has my name, email, and my gpg key for verifying commits.

About Me (at least from my perspective)

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 02:33:57 -0400

Hi, I’m Jane. I’m a tinkerer. I love coding, electronics, servers, Linux, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc. I take technologies, s from them, and combine them in fun new ways. In highschool I was a co-programmer on an FTC team. I’ve made some electronic games and many software repos. The devices I own do not own me. I believe in user privacy, security, and freedom, and in libre software, open hardware, net neutrality, and right to repair.

asocialsafety.net: escape from social situations with a bluetooth necklace

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 12:27:35 -0400

A Social Safety Net RedTooth: A Social Safety Net for Awkward/Emergency Situations Our Mission We started this hackathon with no real idea for a project, and the intention to build something random and have fun. Then the pieces started coming together. The conversation went something like: "What should we build?" "I dunno, what's something that's annoying every day?" "When people try to talk to me." "We could make a device that calls your phone so you can get out of a conversation!

How I Created johanv.xyz (and subsequently destroyed it)

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 04:18:50 -0400

Update 2024-11-03 I have since moved to jjv.sh, read about it here. Keep reading if you want, but most of the links in this article are old. Update 2022-08-05 I have since moved to johanv.net, read about it here. Keep reading if you want, but most of the links in this article are old. The Backstory A few weeks ago, I was bemoaning the fact that my website URL was too long (johan.

Terminal Tricks: Have Fun with the Linux Command Line

Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:00:00 -0400

Hello, World! I put together this list of cool Linux terminal commands that can be yours today, for the low price of FREE! Basic Get the weather. curl wttr.in Copy a command output to the clipboard. cat file.txt | xclip -sel clip Serve the current directory on port 8000 as a web server. python -m http.server (The old way was python -m SimpleHTTPServer, which is how it is in the screenshot)

Linux! (or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNUbody cares about saying the full name)

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 15:00:00 -0400

My Linux Mint Setup Linux is an operating system, comparable to Windows or MacOS. You can use it to browse the web, run applications, edit files, and all the normal tasks you use computers for. But Linux is fundamentally different from Windows and MacOS in several ways that I find very appealing. This article covers my reasons for using the Linux, and some cool things you can do with it (such as a keyboard shortcut for an airhorn sound).

Third Party's the Charm (essay from 2017):

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:00:00 -0400

I wrote an essay last semester at UMD about a proposed system for voting that would allow people to vote for a third party without wasting their votes. Voters would indicate their first, second, and third choices for candidates and the system would evaluate the choices so that if a voter’s first choice candidate did not win, the vote would be reassigned to the second choice, and the count would be re-evaluated.

Why I Switched to ProtonMail (and then to Tutanota a year later, but that's neither here nor there)

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 15:00:00 -0400

Protonmail Inbox Friends, Romans, Internet Users, lend me your screens. I have known for a while that Google is one of the largest companies with most of us using their services daily. But recently I have realized the extent which they use those services to track you, and some of the negative impacts. One example of this is shown by a tool built by Carnegie Melon called AdFisher, which sends out “hundreds or thousands of automated Web browsers” to build up a profile of interests with ad-targeting networks.

Log.e() - Tales from the electron Volts

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:00:00 -0400

FTC Team 7393 Robot (This is a robotics team meeting log for the electron Volts team’s 2016-2017 season.) Coder's Log.e() An account follows of a myriad of tales recounting the sundry misadventures and swashbuckling excursions as a member of a high (school) society for the construction of automatons and advancement through treacherous tournaments to victory of glory and splendor most dazzling, indeed. My aim is that the narrative shall be as accurate as possible and will serve useful in reference during future events.

My Story by Jane Vandegriff (told through limericks)

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:00:00 -0400

Here are some limericks that I wrote for an assignment to tell my story. Jane is one quarter Lebanese, And three quarters white as swiss cheese. He’s spent so long in MoCo, That he’s started to go loco, And he plans to take a trip overseas. In 5th grade he became a Boy Scout, And liked to make fires and camp out. He advanced up in rank, Supportive family to thank, And got Eagle before the time ran out.

AlArmPiT: Alarm, servo Arm, raspberry Pi, Turns the lights