# hello reader (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 7 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover hello reader. Page: Feed: --- ## [Giving schoolchildren a proper monster education in 1976](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/08/giving-schoolchildren-proper-monster.html) _2026-08-20 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ Fifty years ago, in our bicentennial year of 1976, Scholastic published an amazeballs guide to monsters. School was just cooler then, wasn't it? Movie monsters, mythical creatures and cryptids could be mixed into the lesson plans alongside multiplication tables, the metric system and spelling quizzes. I'm guessing Pennywise, Slender Man and the backrooms don't get that same treatment today, but… ## [Are you a lemon or a peach on the party line?](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/08/are-you-lemon-or-peach-on-party-line.html) _2026-08-19 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ This is the last page of the July 1950 telephone directory for Kingsville, Texas . The Southwestern Bell Telelphone Company lists the do's and don'ts for the polite use of party line telephone service , which was still widespread in the United States at that point. You're a LEMON if, among other things, you refuse to give up the line during an emergency (and you could have been criminally charged,… ## [🌍 AI Beyond the US & China: 10 Powerful Models You Should Know in 2026](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/ai-beyond-the-us-and-china-10-powerful) _2026-08-18 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ When we talk about artificial intelligence, most people immediately think of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek or Alibaba. ## [1986 computer game: "Come party with Jane Austen"](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/08/1986-computer-game-come-party-with-jane.html) _2026-08-18 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ This quarter-page advertisement appears in the May 1986 issue of Computer Gaming World magazine, which features MicroLeague Baseball , Autoduel and Alter Ego , among other games, on its cover. It represents a bold move, for sure: Trying to cater to the segment of 1980s computer nerds who were just champing at the bit for a good Jane Austen game. Sold by New Mexico-based Berserker Works Ltd., Pride… ## [Radio Shack's "Getting Started with Color Basic"](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/08/radio-shacks-getting-started-with-color.html) _2026-08-17 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ When I was an eighth-grader at Madeira Beach Middle School during the 1984-85 school year, I took an introduction to computers class taught by Joseph Ventimiglia. I think this was the textbook we used to learn about and program the TRS-80s that were stationed around the sides and back of the classroom with Color BASIC . We had to supply our own cassette tape to save and load our programs. I… ## [August & Postcrossing](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/08/august-postcrossing.html) _2026-08-16 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ I received the above Postcrossing card a couple days ago in the mail. It had been mailed from Germany in late July, and its sender wrote: Hi Chris, I was very impressed about your profile & your philosophy about life & the world. I had to check twice if you're from America, as for me it doesn't sound like typical American values. Speaking of, I live in Cologne, Germany, but in memory of the attack… ## [Chapter 2 - Page 10](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2976620/) _2026-08-14 · Slaughter Mania_ Jeff: The first day has certainly been a mess! Jeff: Only fifty three AV-units remain! Jeff: That's almost a new record! Jeff: What a merciless time for all the fans! Human citizen: You fuck up! Sleeping humans: Zzz Jeff: Are you a night owl? Jeff: Consider our night channel for only 60 eukos a week! Jeff: Otherwise we'll give give all the updates in the morning! Jeff: Good night, New Babel, and… ## [🤖 What Are the AI Giants Cooking Next? OpenAI’s Device, Grok Bot, Gemini 4 & More](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/what-are-the-ai-giants-cooking-next) _2026-08-13 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ The AI race is changing fast. ## [🚀 12 AI Tools Everyone Is Talking About in August 2026](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/12-ai-tools-everyone-is-talking-about) _2026-08-10 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ AI tools are changing fast. ## [Chapter 2 - Page 9](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2962459/) _2026-08-07 · Slaughter Mania_ ## [Chovy's Blog: Agentic Coding (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/ZpDjSscNptOp) _2026-08-07 · **Sponsored**_ Personal posts on agentic coding, moshcode CLI, and security findings. ## [🚀 Stop Wasting Time: The AI Browser Plugins That Actually Changed My Productivity in 2026](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/stop-wasting-time-the-ai-browser-535) _2026-08-05 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Hi there! ## [Family Business: Chapter 1](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/family-business-1/) _2026-08-03 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Diary Entry: July 20XX Today is Saturday. Usually Saturdays are uneventful for me and I'm delighted to report that today was no exception. Eleanor wanted me to go with her on some sort of errand, but the idea of going out in the July sun was completely unappealing. Am I relying on her too much? I'm a grown man- I should be able to go to the grocery store. I guess it's just \[text redacted\] I sort… ## [Test AI Agents Without Breaking the Bank: 10 Affordable APIs for 2026](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/test-ai-agents-without-breaking-the) _2026-08-03 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Building an AI agent sounds exciting. ## [Book cover: "The Ghost Hunter's Road Book"](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/08/book-cover-ghost-hunters-road-book.html) _2026-08-02 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ Title: The Ghost Hunter's Road Book Author: John Harries. According to the blurb on the back cover: "John Harries has been a full-time writer since the war, in which he served with the R.A.F. A specialist in travel, he has visited every corner of the British Isles in search of the unusual and tourist-appeal material and currently lives in the Chiltern Hills, within audible distance of one of the… ## [Chapter 2 - Page 8](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2951398/) _2026-07-31 · Slaughter Mania_ Gun: POW ## [6 Free AI Tools Every Student and Researcher Should Know](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/6-free-ai-tools-every-student-and) _2026-07-31 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Research in 2026 does not have to feel stressful, confusing, or time-consuming. ## [Poe-fect summer snapshot](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/07/poe-fect-summer-snapshot.html) _2026-07-29 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ This is probably the best photo I'll take in 2026. Cats Spice , left, and Smoky , right, are looking out the kitchen window at Poe the fledgling raven, who is sitting on the outside table to stay cool in the blazing heat and/or get my attention so I'll bring him/her some Temptations cat treats. Sitting in the sink and looking directly at me, annoyed, is Monkey , who wants me to turn the faucet on… ## [7 AI Design Tools Creators Are Loving in 2026 ✨🎨](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/7-ai-design-tools-creators-are-loving-132) _2026-07-29 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Designing is no longer only for experts with years of training. ## [WKBS-TV bumper-palooza](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/07/wkbs-tv-bumper-palooza.html) _2026-07-26 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ I'm in a Facebook group in which folks share memories of the old WKBS-TV (Channel 48) out of Burlington, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. (I've mentioned this group before on Papergreat.) In recent months, users have been sharing and commenting upon a wide variety of bumpers that were used by the station, mostly in the 1970s. I want to reshare them here for posterity, to give them a greater… ## [Chapter 2 - Page 7](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2937549/) _2026-07-24 · Slaughter Mania_ ## [Ship software peacefully (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/w3Yo9bgM1670) _2026-07-24 · **Sponsored**_ Connect your repo and deploy instantly — Railway handles config, scaling, and monitoring. ## [11 AI Tools That Can Give You Back Hours Every Week 🚀](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/11-ai-tools-that-can-give-you-back) _2026-07-22 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ AI is everywhere today—but using more AI tools does not automatically make us more productive. ## [🤖 Stop Using Claude Like Google: 8 Smarter Ways to Turn It Into Your Research Partner](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/stop-using-claude-like-google-8-smarter) _2026-07-20 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Most people use Claude in a very simple way: ## [Book cover: "The Haunted Mountain" by Mollie Hunter](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/07/book-cover-haunted-mountain-by-mollie.html) _2026-07-19 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ Sorry it's been so long between posts. 1 Title: The Haunted Mountain Author: Mollie Hunter (1922-2012). Her full name was Maureen Mollie Hunter McIlwraith and she was known for her fantasy-tinged tales that are inspired by Scottish history or folklore. Her 2012 obituary in The Scotsman notes: "She produced most of her books from her home in Milton, a small village near Drumnadrochit in the… ## [💡 Think Gemini Notebook Is Only for Students? These 7 Uses Will Surprise You](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/think-gemini-notebook-is-only-for) _2026-07-17 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook ## [Google’s Secret AI Tools You Probably Don’t Know About](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/googles-secret-ai-tools-you-probably) _2026-07-14 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Hey there 👋 ## [Still Doing It All Yourself? These Free AI Agents Are About to Save You Hours](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/still-doing-it-all-yourself-these-63f) _2026-07-10 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Hey there! 👋 ## [Chapter 2 - Page 6](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2920761/) _2026-07-09 · Slaughter Mania_ 3... 2... 1... GO ## [🚀 Your Website Can Now Work While You Sleep](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/your-website-can-now-work-while-you) _2026-07-08 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ What if your website could do more than just sit online? ## [🎓 These AI Tools Can Save Hours for Teachers Every Week](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/these-ai-tools-can-save-hours-for) _2026-07-06 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Teaching is a beautiful profession, but every teacher knows how much work happens outside the classroom. ## [🔥 50 Free Websites That Feel Like Secret Internet Cheat Codes in 2026](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/50-free-websites-that-feel-like-secret) _2026-07-03 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Some websites are so useful that they feel almost unbelievable. ## [Collect Open Source Legends (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/mMdrArkyOsBE) _2026-07-03 · **Sponsored**_ Open-licensed art, limited foil trading packs, and optional on-chain mints. ## [🤖 Claude AI Drama: The Ban, Comeback & Why Sonnet 5 Is Turning Heads](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/claude-ai-drama-the-ban-comeback) _2026-07-01 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ The AI world recently saw a big discussion around three new Claude models from Anthropic: ## [Test 70+ AI Models Instantly with NVIDIA — No GPU Required](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/test-70-ai-models-instantly-with) _2026-06-29 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Building with AI no longer needs expensive GPUs or complicated setup. ## [Drowning in To-Dos? These 8 AI Tools Can Fix Your Day](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/drowning-in-to-dos-these-8-ai-tools) _2026-06-27 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Ever feel like your day gets eaten by small-small tasks—drafting posts, taking meeting notes, planning schedules, rewriting the same thing again and again? ## [15 Free LLM APIs in 2026: Build AI Apps Without Burning Your Budget](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/15-free-llm-apis-in-2026-build-ai) _2026-06-25 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Hello Readers, 👋 ## [🤖 Is Your Brand Invisible to AI? Meet the Slack Bot That Fixes It](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/is-your-brand-invisible-to-ai-meet) _2026-06-23 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Hey everyone! ## [🚀 Google NotebookLM Just Got a Super Upgrade — Your AI Research Partner Is Here!](https://aitechin.substack.com/p/google-notebooklm-just-got-a-super) _2026-06-19 · AI & Tech Insights · AI & Tech Insights_ Hello readers, 👋 ## [Snapshot & memories: Down the shore](https://www.papergreat.com/2026/06/snapshot-memories-down-shore.html) _2026-06-16 · Chris Otto · Papergreat_ I'm estimating that this photo is from 1978 or 1979. My sister Adriane and I are at the Stone Harbor, New Jersey , beach house of our friends from Delaware County , the Mancills. We look very spiffy in our matching sweaters, which tell us that this wasn't taken in the middle of the summer. I don't know if I can say anything nice about either of our pants, though. I have three specific… ## [whatever roundup #2](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/whatever-roundup-2-new/) _2026-06-11 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 5:30 PM Mood: Calm and At Ease Weather: Despicably hot and humid Hello to all my readers! Today, you are luckily spared my whinging about having nothing to do, because my life has been rather active as of late. Summer vacation has been in full swing for a few weeks, and here is a non-exhaustive list of all my activities: Went to go see Obsession at 9:00 at night with some friends… ## [time is a construct roundup #1](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/whatever-roundup-2/) _2026-04-29 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 10:47 PM Mood: Tired Weather: Dark and Stormy Hello again, readers. After the bleakness of my last entry, I'm happy to say that my life has been much more lighthearted over the last few months. I actually managed to do some rather fun things. The main thing I did was drive up to the city where I'm planning on going to university and tour the campus. It was very pretty, the scenery… ## [Chapter 2 - Page 5](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2753030/) _2026-03-11 · Slaughter Mania_ ## [Chapter 2 - Page 4](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2733257/) _2026-02-25 · Slaughter Mania_ Kate: For those new to the channel, this isn't your local matchup! The top 100 AV-units of this season will be fighting a free for all. The last one standing takes the #1 spot of the year! Jeff: Thank you Kate! Now for the moment all of you are waiting for! Steel Fang: Awake again, what is this sensation? What is this? This floor? ## [Chapter 2 - Page 3](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2724942/) _2026-02-18 · Slaughter Mania_ Jeff: This is Jeff... Kate: This is Kate! Jeff and Kate (Together): And welcome to the final game of the season! Jeff: Are you excited? I'm excited! Because it's final time for... THE GORE FEST TV audio: Are you ready? Sector 2 Friend Group: YEAH!!!!!! ## [Chapter 2 - Page 2](https://slaughtermania.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/2724255/) _2026-02-17 · Slaughter Mania_ Teeth, Claws, and Knuckles The primal weapons Blades, Blunts, and Ammunition The conceived weapons Arms, legs, and necks The extensions of one's body Each with a purpose, yet varies in execution Kill, maime, overcome, survive The basic orders that all understand All accomplish at least one of four All cease to be afterwards All of it yearns without end But for what? ## [unidentifiable amount of time roundup #1](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/unidentifiable-amount-of-time-roundup-1/) _2026-02-04 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 4:01 PM Mood: vaguely shitty Weather: it's been two weeks and the ice still won't melt Trigger Warnings: New header. This entry devolves into my philosophical ramblings near the end, and I make mention to suicide and nihilism. Feel free to avoid this entry if need be. Hello again, readers. I know that I start every post this way, but my apologies again for never updating this blog-… ## [month roundup #1](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/week-roundup/) _2025-12-22 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 9:55 PM (previous day) Mood: Indifferent Weather: Unseasonably warm Hello readers. First, I must offer up my sincerest apologies for not writing an entry on this blog for over a month. College is a cruel, tortuous prison, and finals week this year was one of the hardest I have ever worked through. Yet, we prevail, and I did manage to survive the week with only an 88 in Calculus to… ## [week roundup #4](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/week-roundup-4/) _2025-11-17 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 1:48 PM Mood: Caffeinated Weather: Pleasantly chilly Well, readers, I am delighted to announce that the oppressive mediocrity of my life has finally taken a backseat. This week, I have real, actual news to share with the four of you who read my blog. (Your readership is, of course, dearly appreciated.) To get the boring news out of the way before we begin: Over the week, I finished… ## [week roundup #3](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/week-roundup-3/) _2025-11-10 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 8:21 AM Mood: Energized Weather: Very cold (which I expect will be a theme going forward) Another Monday, another blog post. It is at this point I feel I must give a sincere apology to all of my followers, for I have come to the conclusion that my life is simply not interesting enough to write about on a weekly basis. However, I have made a commitment, and to it I will stick. Another… ## [week roundup #2](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/week-roundup-2/) _2025-11-03 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 8:30 AM Mood: Ambivalent Weather: Bright and sunny, yet sharply cold To everyone's surprise, I have not forgotten about this blog immediately after attempting to commit to it. I also have more to talk about in this entry, since it was actually an eventful week. First order of business is that my job interviews were successful. I landed the job, and I am now a server at the local… ## [week roundup #1](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/week-roundup-1/) _2025-10-27 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ Time Started: 1:08 PM Mood: Contemplative Weather: Grey and rainy, a personal favorite of mine Well, I have finally decided to actually make a commitment to writing weekly entries for this blog. Who knows how long it will last, though. My original plan for this blog was to write essays, or media analysis, but I have come to the conclusion that I do not have the time or energy to actually write… ## [deliberations and college applications](https://upsidedownhourglass.bearblog.dev/deliberations-and-college-applications/) _2025-08-20 · upsidedownhourglass · mysteries unknown_ i recently started writing my common app for college applications, since this is my last year of high school and i'll need to send in my ED application by november. and as i was writing, i struggled. probably more than i've ever struggled to write anything in my life. i wrote a 12 page research paper about healthcare last semester and had an easier time of it. i always thought that i liked writing…