MachinePix Weekly #62

Web archaeology. The most popular post this week was a decadent donut machine 🍩

I had fun this week supporting my coworker Lee in shipping our new company website.

Lee Edwards @terronk

So after we launched our interactive command line website at root.vc, some people (*cough* investors) said it was confusing and they wanted a “simple website with tables of your portfolio companies.” Um, so. Careful what you ask for.

root.vcRoot VenturesHard tech seed investors supporting founders at the earliest stages. Best coffee in San Francisco ☕️

Our undergrad intern didn’t understand a lot of the references, which implies that some web design primitives that have largely died off. I’m reminded of the “programmer archaeologists” in Vernor Vinge’s A Deepness in the Sky, who maintain ancient software in case its ever needed.

I’m not sure how to articulate the joy that people have expressed when they see the new website, but it feels related to concepts like stylistic suck in TV or sprezzatura in fashion. A few prominent websites have leaned into this web aesthetic: Balenciaga’s I Love Pets, my favorite chicken sandwich place World Famous Hotboys, and the Yale School of Art—the latter being interesting because it’s a wiki that also incorporates neo-brutalist web touches like fancy typography. Yes yes, I know that it’s not “really” brutalist, but it’s a useful phrase here and the backlash has already begun.

The most popular post this week was a waterfall glazing machine. I believe these are built-to-spec for Krispy Kreme. One ambitious employee ran the same donut through a glazing machine 25 times.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Krispy Kreme waterfall donut glazing machine.

I’m always looking for interesting people to interview, have anyone in mind?

—Kane

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The Week in Review

Water infrastructure remain a perennial favorite on @machinepix.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Open floodgates at the Xiaolangdi Dam.

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It’s sad to see stuff like this as US ports remain woefully under-automated due to flagging investment and sandbagging by organized labor.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Konecranes Noell A-STRAD automated straddle carrier moving containers at a port.

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Amazingly, this is only 1/3 the volume of the largest exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Deep Dive Dubai, the world's deepest pool at 60.02 meters.

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Postscript

I have a friend with a prosthetic leg that wants to restore a manual transmission sports car. Does anyone know of any way to move clutch controls to the shifting hand? I know sequential transmissions somewhat fit the bill, but their roughness and high maintenance feel less ideal for a daily driver.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward it to friends (and interesting enemies). I am always looking to connect with interesting people and learn about interesting machines—reach out.

—Kane