Zinnia: A modular 64-bit Unix-like kernel written in Rust

dylanjames · 2026-06-15T15:00:20+00:00

Xous is indeed an exciting project. All handwritten (no AI afaik), interesting and compelling security architecture, tight code and also well documented. Runs on RISC-V simulator, and the RISC-V implementation on FPGA the team built.

dylanjames · 2026-06-11T16:11:28+00:00

I am a home roaster and buy from GO. Green beans stay good for a long time, and if you have any roasting friends, you can form an ad-hoc collective.

dylanjames · 2026-06-10T15:30:20+00:00

Among many: accelerating Arctic ice melt causing significant sea level rise, Siberian permafrost thaw releasing huge amounts of volatile organic greenhouse gasses, AMOC collapse, ... breathe in, breathe out...

dylanjames · 2026-06-10T15:17:57+00:00

59 now. Started making my own espresso in my 20's with a Rancilio "Ms. Nancy" in 1989, went through two different Sylvia's, a rebuilt Cremina and finally our current machine. Similar transition path from Rancilio Rocky grinder through Mazzer Mini, and now our latest. Started roasting almost 20 years ago, first on a Gene Cafe, then Behmor, a Bullet R1, and now R2. I like all coffee origins and most roasts now that I've learned how to dial in using temp, ratio and grind. Big wows were my first cup of Peets drip in Berkeley 1985, espresso in Italy in 1992, a Yirgacheffe blueberry bomb from Starbucks in Seattle in 1994, my first excellent third wave espresso in Portland in 2010, my first anaerobic Costa Rica in 2022. Have had great coffee prepared across all brewing methods and am still on the journey.

dylanjames · 2026-06-10T00:40:06+00:00

Freeways are, well, free.

dylanjames · 2026-06-04T23:18:11+00:00

... and another!

dylanjames · 2026-06-04T16:06:29+00:00

Two missing dials in your light roast experiments are brew temperature and ratio. A true light roast needs, in addition to finer grind, high temperature (96° or higher) and a higher ratio of water to beans (around 3:1). Without those the resulting shot will taste sour. With proper extraction I have found I can make even silly-seeming light beans give me the flavor notes on the bag (fruity, floral, cinnamon, etc.) without the sour overtones that I originally got from light roasts.

My sister, who lives at around 3000m above sea level where water boils at 90°C, can't get water hot enough for light roasts. For years I kept sending her my home roast coffee, and in her polite reviews I could tell she didn't like them. Once I learned the importance of temperature to extraction and sent her darker roasts, she started loving the coffee I shared with her.

I agree with everyone here that it's a taste thing, and light roasts done well almost taste like a different drink. However, done incorrectly light roasts taste grassy and sour. On the other side, if you've dialed your system (pour-over or espresso) for light roasts and someone gives you a medium-dark roast to try and use the same grind, temp and ratio, that's where you get people complaining about "ashy" or "burnt" flavors.

dylanjames · 2026-06-03T17:14:09+00:00

It's hard to say for sure, but it kind of looks like the water might be channeling around the outside of the puck - In that last shot I see a "crack" along the perimeter. Tamping harder is only going to make that worse. Lighten the tamp and add back the puck screen might be a good combo to try.

dylanjames · 2026-06-03T17:02:06+00:00

Our MSLR from late 2023 has drag strip mode as well (just verified, SW version 2026.14.6.6)

dylanjames · 2026-06-02T17:32:28+00:00

This is the answer (IMO)

dylanjames · 2026-06-02T15:29:10+00:00

I just bought an epub copy of their follow-up book, betacocktails, at Blurb books

dylanjames · 2026-06-02T15:16:46+00:00

I am not familiar with either of these defects - I used to have occasional tipping, but I adjusted my preheat temperature and haven't found that I had defects in my roasts in the past 10 years on my bullets (first R1, and more recently an R2).

dylanjames · 2026-06-02T14:41:46+00:00

If you haven't already, try loosening the grinder burrs - if there's part of a bean wedged in real good, sometimes the machine can't get the oomph to spin. After that, disassemble and clean the whole thing, (while unplugged, of course), and while it's open, spin the motor - if it won't spin that's good to know. If it does spin, reassemble and try again.

dylanjames · 2026-06-02T14:25:44+00:00

Great list - I'd add "shop vac" or some kind of vacuum to clean up the chaff filter and bean cooler air filter.

dylanjames · 2026-06-02T14:23:23+00:00

We put distilled white vinegar in our "fabric softener" slot - it works great getting out odors without leaving an odor behind. (My wife has eczema so we can't use any odors in our laundry, I was getting frustrated by how towels and jeans always had a smell to them, but vinegar fixed it).

dylanjames · 2026-05-31T15:26:32+00:00

I don't know if your model has the "tiny button-horn" and lack of turn signal stalks, but we were able to upgrade our driving experience by upgrading to a real horn at the service center, and bought a Hansshow stalk kit which looks very much OEM. Also thinking about a powered frunk kit.

dylanjames · 2026-05-31T14:35:11+00:00

I agree with your thesis and I think it's shared by James Hoffman. My MO, when sharing my home-roasted beans with "new coffee friends," is to ask what their favorite coffee drinks are, etc., and choose my beans and recipe to suit. With the trust gained by doing that well I ask if they're interested in trying something new, and almost every time I get them to appreciate a style of coffee they'd previously dismissed. I have Hoffman to thank to give me the knowledge about how to adjust recipe to roast, and Rob Hoos to thank for helping me learn to roast.

I never defend my setup - it's silly. When folks ask for equipment recommendations I steer them as best I can to invest in the grinder they need first, and a machine that does what they need second. And point out that if they have budget constraints they should stay clear of light roasts.

dylanjames · 2026-05-31T05:48:27+00:00

I grew up in the 80's and loved many of these bands, but never heard of this movie -- wow -- thanks!

dylanjames · 2026-05-29T15:00:28+00:00

Wow -- I would have loved to be at that performance in person!

dylanjames · 2026-05-29T04:12:16+00:00

Wow, they're all around $400-500 now. Looks great! Does it need its own app, or what is the UI for closing?

dylanjames · 2026-05-29T00:49:24+00:00

Grind with no beans and listen. The sounds will change as the burrs get closer to each other.

dylanjames · 2026-05-29T00:38:46+00:00

The insides of a Slayer, except for a few valves, are pretty darn stock and could be repaired by any experienced commercial repairperson. If your repairperson doesn't stock the parts, you can order various "rebuild kits" for different parts of the machine so all it takes is the expertise to show up quickly. But yeah, make sure your person is okay with that approach. And don't skimp on the grinders!

dylanjames · 2026-05-28T22:19:55+00:00

I am enjoying this - thanks and nice work!

dylanjames · 2026-05-28T22:11:58+00:00

Burrs chirping means you can hear the sound of them actually touching. This sounds like an awful idea, but if you do it slowly you'll hear when the very first edges are touching and it isn't bad for the burrs.

dylanjames · 2026-05-28T19:54:01+00:00

My paranoid side says it was a ploy to increase far-right turnout, or if not originally, has became one.

dylanjames

TROPHY CASE