Chris Staecker

screenshot of my "Recent subscribers" list showing Vsauce is now a subscriber

some youtube guy just followed me
@vsauce.bsky.social

“Staecker”. And “Korean finger counting method”? Have I taught you nothing?

eBay listing of slide rule chopsticks, $55

There’s a set on eBay now! But $55 seems a bit much- you can get the whole box new for $75, minus 25% with my promo code!

Looked like every other Chinese abacus I’ve seen.

I do but this is way outside acceptable range. M’am your $35 abacus is worth less than $5. I don’t think she’d take it kindly.

An abacus for sale for $35

Nice abacus but cmon now

YouTube video by Chris Staecker Slide Rule Chopsticks Review / HowTo

New video: slide rule chopsticks!
youtu.be/xIMwnBZe4Xw

A Dickson 7-day TempTrace chart recorder.

Back of the unit, model number sk4120f7

A TI-30 calculator

Finds today: very nice chart recorder! But the door is jammed- was $2 too much for me to pay? Also a TI-30 with original zipper case.

My only purchase: a $1 weird slide rule “Metric converter” by Sterling, makers of cheap slide rules and dial adders.

A boxed The Peanut Man old toy

And The Peanut Man

A box with several clock faces- just the faces, no arms or other parts

Must be a clock guy

A box full of little gears

Estate sale boxagears

YouTube video by Chris Staecker The Rise and Fall of Chisanbop

WE OUT HERE

The Rise and Fall of Chisanbop
youtu.be/Rsaf4ncxlyA

Kids Vs Computers: Chisanbop Remembered If you are a certain age, you probably remember the ads and publicity around Chisanbop — the supposed ancient art of Korean finger math. Was it Korean? Sort of. Was it faster than a calculato…

Nice writeup here- thanks @hackadayofficial.bsky.social
hackaday.com/2025/07/09/k...

I think probably this video is my best work to date. But the algorithm isn't pushing it like they sometimes do. Maybe the length is a turn-off?

I got a mention in @tomscott.com Tom Scott's weekly newsletter- thanks to my new best bud!

YouTube video by Chris Staecker The Rise and Fall of Chisanbop

My most ambitious video project ever.

The story touches on lots of big themes and for me is genuinely thought-provoking in many ways. And it's a story that I don't think has ever been told before. I hope other people will find it interesting too. #chisanbop
youtu.be/Rsaf4ncxlyA?...

There’s a difference between appreciating your country and idolizing it.

Patriotism invites accountability. Nationalism shuts it down.

Paper computers - YouTube

My dormant but not dead paper computers youtube series: Yes I will eventually be making more paper computer videos- they are very hard to find but I know of at least 3 more.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

A new paper computer by Ryan Buss! With javascript simulator. #papercomputers
papercpu.dev

I think it was just a mistake- the shirt was totally innocuous on the front- had a Nike logo on the side

An embroidered American flags on a shirt, with an extra star

bro in front of me has 51 stars on his shirt

“We have guided missiles and misguided men.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Fully funded after 48 hours! Congrats Jesse!

YouTube video by Chris Staecker ROONS! A new marble computer

New video: review of a new kickstarter project ROONS, a programmable marble computer. #turingcomplete
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8taE...

A toy Snow White refrigerator

And for some reason an antique Snow White refrigerator?

A “log scale” ruler at a flea market

Weekend flea find: a “Log scale” ruler that is not what you think. It’s for measuring wood logs.

Hotel soap bar called “zero / 0”

hotel soap indeterminate form

I had a few similar objections to my yupana video- I think it’s a subtle point that maybe I need to articulate better!

Yes- I'm not trying to make a case for leaving things unquestioned! We lose nothing by questioning and analysis. I think we can go wrong when we prematurely declare victory, and claim to have understood when we really haven't. This cheapens the object of our study, and makes us look foolish.