Daily Tech News 27 December 2023

Top Story

If you were looking to buy the latest Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, you can't. (Tech Crunch)

I can. I don't want to, but I can. But you can't.

It's been banned from sale in the US (though not Australia) over claimed patent infringement involving the light-based pulse oximetry sensor. Apple could just take the pulse oximeter out - I'm not sure how many people care about that - but until they do, or until they make headway in their appeal, they can't sell the device in the US.

Tech News

If you're looking for news on NASA's Artemis program, the plan to send an appropriately diverse crew to the Moon to do appropriately diverse things, using SpaceX as a launch platform because NASA is too diverse to actually do that part, good luck using a search engine. (TorrentFreak)

Because all the links are getting hit with DMCA takedowns. Because while it's technically perjury to file a false DMCA takedown request, nobody has ever suffered the consequences.
Intel is spending $25 billion to build a new chip factory in Israel - less a $3.25 billion grant from the Israeli government. (Tom's Hardware)

Intel already operates a 7nm fab in Israel; the new fab will probably produce chips at 1.8nm.
Windows 11 will soon let you reinstall the operating system without wiping your files. (XDA Developers)

The only problem is that after reinstalling, you'll still have Windows 11.

Disclaimer: Not that there's anything wrong with that. Except for all of the things wrong with that. Which is a lot.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 04:02 AM (fwDg9)

2 'Allo, Pix.

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 04:02 AM (3hrI6)

3 Hiya, Pixy!

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:02 AM (njWTi)

4 Mornin' again, all

Skip, how's your mom?

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 27, 2023 04:03 AM (uGtLI)

5 hiya

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 04:04 AM (T4tVD)

6 JT my dead tree that was out front is all out back, it was as easy as I first thought it would be

Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 04:04 AM (fwDg9)

7 Happy 3 French Hens Day …

Posted by: Adriane the Ethnic Christmas Cuisine Critic . . . at December 27, 2023 04:05 AM (4Winp)

8 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 27, 2023 04:05 AM (sAmhv)

9 Skip, that is good news.

Posted by: Adriane the Ethnic Christmas Cuisine Critic . . . at December 27, 2023 04:06 AM (4Winp)

10
So the ecosexualist fell for Big Oak, huh?

I'd have guessed that Knotty Pine would have had the inside track for that hot, hot, hot cellulose-on-cellulite action.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 27, 2023 04:07 AM (xG4kz)

11 Evening and morning to all the fixed stars in the firmament!

Okay, kinda bombastic, but I'm short on sleep.

Yesterday at Miss Linda's urging, I went to the eye exam at the America's Best shop around the corner from me. Very nice and helpful people. I don't need glasses, which I could have told them, unless I want some; and I don't. (Though there were some nice non-Rx wraparound shades there.) Mild astigmatism is about all. The optometrist said I was one of the rare lucky ones.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 04:07 AM (omVj0)

12 MLII - wishing you a good Christmas week as we slide ever faster into the New Year …

Posted by: Adriane the Ethnic Christmas Cuisine Critic . . . at December 27, 2023 04:08 AM (4Winp)

13 So glad none of our computers are *good enough* for Win11.

But I'm no computer geek, so wondering about Linux (or something!) for our "woefully under-whatever" computers... to keep them functional online..

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:09 AM (njWTi)

14 Crap, I need to get the eye exam scheduled.

Posted by: Adriane the Ethnic Christmas Cuisine Critic . . . at December 27, 2023 04:09 AM (4Winp)

15 Thank you Adriane! Same to you

Most of the week will be spent at work. Been trying to find some free time to do some stuff around the house that needs attention. Not in the mood for it tho

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 27, 2023 04:10 AM (8uXnM)

16 Nevermind the Robot-stuff a couple of threads back, LOL!

Can't believe I ever did that for a living, omg.

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:10 AM (njWTi)

17 Crap, I need to get the eye exam scheduled.
Posted by: Adriane the Ethnic Christmas Cuisine Critic . . . at December 27, 2023

***
I was nervous about it; I recalled the "puff of air" test from my last exam years ago. This time the puff was minimal, barely an inconvenience. Nothing touched my eyes, and everybody was cheerful and helpful. I went for the two optional tests, which boosted my change for the whole thing from $0 (EyeMed insurance) to $30.

I might go back for those Nike wraparound shades. Not sure they'll fit in the console compartment in my car, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 04:13 AM (omVj0)

18 My WiFi keeps cutting out. Drives me crazy.

Oh well, need to head out anyway.

Make it a good day, all!

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 27, 2023 04:14 AM (8uXnM)

19
Once Project Artemis begins leaving impact craters on the Moon, will future selenologists refer to them as "Artemis Acne"?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 27, 2023 04:14 AM (xG4kz)

20 G'day, MLii!

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:14 AM (njWTi)

21 >>>Because all the links are getting hit with DMCA takedowns.

Sounds like it would take a large human workforce to cull through the infringing/non-infringing URLs.

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 04:24 AM (3hrI6)

22 >>>Disclaimer: Not that there's anything wrong with that. Except for all of the things wrong with that. Which is a lot.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. There's EVERYTHING wrong with that.

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 04:25 AM (3hrI6)

23 JT my dead tree that was out front is all out back, it was as easy as I first thought it would be
Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 04:04 AM (fwDg9)

So it wasn't a sequoia....didja use a chainsaw?
Or one of them 2 man saws where ya push it and then run around to the other side and pull it ?

C'mon Deatles....DEATLES !

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 04:27 AM (T4tVD)

24 13 So glad none of our computers are *good enough* for Win11.

But I'm no computer geek, so wondering about Linux (or something!) for our "woefully under-whatever" computers... to keep them functional online..
Posted by: JQ

It will. I have an old, 15+ year old workstation and it's been running Linux Mint for a few years now. Its run well. It is starting to have hardware failures but it's old. I say 15+ because it's probably closer to 20 years old. I have a laptop with Linux Ubuntu. It runs well but it also has some hardware failures popping up. Its 5 or 6 years old now. Linux is fine and will extend the life of an old machine.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 27, 2023 04:32 AM (sAmhv)

25 'Twas a green and brown Christmas here. Bleh!

Snowy white is usually a 50/50 chance anyway, but still... it looked... bleak this year. Was hoping for the classic view. Oh well.

Doesn't matter, all the 'olds' are still gone & no little children to brighten the day. (unless we count the neighbor boy with his lost drone LOL)

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:36 AM (njWTi)

26 Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 27, 2023 04:32 AM
----

"Mint" you say, for Linux? Ok. Will try it!

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:38 AM (njWTi)

27
For Linux, my flavor is Fedora, although that is mostly habit. I see a lot of people here love Linux Mint, AOP in particular.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 04:42 AM (Mzdiz)

28 "Mint" you say, for Linux? Ok. Will try it!
Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:38 AM (njWTi)

Mint ?

Is it my breath ?

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 04:42 AM (T4tVD)

29 publius, I don't know Mint from Fedora. jeez, I just 'deal' with the problems as they occur and sometimes that means going without...

Home isn't as technically sound as the jerb was LOL

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:44 AM (njWTi)

30
Note being "good enough" may be no more than not having a TPM (crypto chip) on the motherboard, or the equivalent (like Intel's "platform trust" crap that uses the management engine (which is creepy).

There are ways around a lot of those requirements.

Windows 11 is spyware, basically, I concluded, after just installing a clean install on another partition to play with it.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 04:45 AM (Mzdiz)

31 I have an old Windows XP desktop. Can I download Linux Mint and set it up on a USB stick, so as to try it on the machine? If not, can I download LM from a Win 10 machine to the stick, then use it on the old XP desktop?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 04:47 AM (omVj0)

32 As for apps with Linux Mint: Can I download and OpenOffice to get the word processor, spreadsheet, etc.? Or does Mint have other ideas?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 04:49 AM (omVj0)

33 It was my original estimate 40 feet high, did get help and guy didn't charge me, we just pushed it over, could have done it myself, it was at a 30 degree angle.

Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 04:50 AM (fwDg9)

34 I understand that Win11 is crapware, oops, I mean 'spyware' and I don't want it. At some point though, I realize that whatever Winsh!t we run, will become "unsupported".

Linux to the rescue? I don't know... how to deal. Hardware (meaning: outside- the-box electro-mechancal stuff) was my thing. Like, motors and conveyor belts and VFDs...

Software? Aaaauuugghhh!

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 04:53 AM (njWTi)

35 >> Can I download Linux Mint and set it up on a USB stick, so as to try it on the machine? If not, can I download LM from a Win 10 machine to the stick, then use it on the old XP desktop?

Yes to all. Download it, and I'd use a tool like Rufus to "burn" a bootable USB stick (it handles a lot of the details on how to make it bootable without problems).

Or, try it out on a virtual machine under Windows 10. I run several Linuxes under virtual machines on my machine here all the time. In fact, Fedora 39 is running now.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 04:55 AM (Mzdiz)

36
Mint is it's own distro. They offer "Cinnamon" and MATE desktop enviroments. GNOME 3 was a big dog to a lot of people, me included. I've run MATE ever since, although they say the modern GNOME is much better than it was.

And yes, all the popular Linux GNU FLOSS software is available for it.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 04:59 AM (Mzdiz)

37
From the sounds I am hearing from outside the house, our promised day of 1-1/2 inches of rainfall has commenced.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 27, 2023 04:59 AM (xG4kz)

38 Linux Mint comes with Libre Office Suite. It's fine for me. Depends on one's needs. I don't know how it is with heavy use. The laptop I'm using know has Win10. When MS stops updating it, Linux Mint goes on it. When my other two machines fail, finally. I'm looking around for laptops and WS's sans OS's. They are out there in Amazon Land.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 27, 2023 05:01 AM (sAmhv)

39 Above freezing, in 40s but light rain
Forward Dog 9 hitting the road

Short week at least

Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 05:02 AM (fwDg9)

40 Ay yi yi... I've got a lot to learn...

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 05:02 AM (njWTi)

41
There's also "live" USB sticks you can make. Boot that and the OS runs off the USB stick. This allows you to play around with it without putting it on the hard drive.

In fact, I think most of the standard install USB images are live images that have the full installation packages on the them.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 05:06 AM (Mzdiz)

42 Earlier this month I thought on 12/26 I'd hop in the car for a run to Evansville, IN, to check the area out. This morning I'd be rolling out of the halfway point, Birmingham, AL. But the time would have been very limited. And the car still needs an oil change and tire rotation, aside from the new wheels.

Maybe April, after I put in my papers.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 05:07 AM (omVj0)

43 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 27, 2023 05:07 AM (ju2Fy)

44 I've got a couple of old computers to play around with. Heh. Won't matter if I fk things up...

This ought to be fun

Posted by: JQ at December 27, 2023 05:10 AM (njWTi)

45 One site I looked at says an 8GB USB drive is roomy enough for Linux Mint. (Good thing, as my XP desktop does not recognize USB 3.0.) And apparently their own word processing and other apps come with it. So LM is not a bloated OS like Windows?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 05:10 AM (omVj0)

46
Linux can be very minimal sized, if you want it to be and run on very small systems. It just depends on what all you install.

For example, OpenWRT is a linux flavor designed to run on small consumer routers. It's running on two routers I have here. It has 512MB of main RAM, and 256MB flash (I 'extroot' it with a 16GB USB stick to get more storage). And that runs the router fine.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 05:20 AM (Mzdiz)

47 Might as well do a donut shop stop

Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 05:23 AM (jbo5o)

48 So LM is not a bloated OS like Windows?

No.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 27, 2023 05:25 AM (sAmhv)

49 It's this shops donut lady's last working day

Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 05:28 AM (jbo5o)

50 SPCA in PA celebrates empty kennels for first time in 47 years:

http://tinyurl.com/49wc2ejj

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 05:32 AM (EKM4/)

51 Uplifting photos of 2023;

http://tinyurl.com/bdepzd9s

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 05:36 AM (EKM4/)

52
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 27, 2023 05:39 AM (xDK93)

53
I'm posting this from Chrome running under Fedora 39 virtual machine under Virtualbox (much preferred over Hyper-V) on Win 10.

The VM is allocated 4GB of memory and 3 CPU cores. Running kernel 6.6.7-200.fc39.x86_64, the system reports 1.3GB of memory being used. And much of that is Chrome itself.

It's using about 1GB main actual real memory on the host, near as I can figure.

Posted by: publius from Fedora VM at December 27, 2023 05:40 AM (Mzdiz)

54 God's wisdom saves lives. A reflection on a passage from the Book of Proverbs:

http://tinyurl.com/ue2t3jyp

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 05:41 AM (EKM4/)

55
Exited Chrome. Memory usage dropped to about 785MB.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 05:43 AM (Mzdiz)

56 I've learned since Windows 95 that a periodic reformat and reinstall of Windows is a requirement for a smooth running OS. All data other that what Windows requires to run is stored on a RAID array. The Windows install is backed each morning at 4AM using Macrium Reflect. Additionally, each disk on my desktop is synced with a backup computer that is a clone of my desktop using SyncBackPro. Microsoft has taught me some well learned lessons in the last 25 years of OS use.

Posted by: Jim at December 27, 2023 05:45 AM (zhWvq)

57 31 I have an old Windows XP desktop. Can I download Linux Mint and set it up on a USB stick, so as to try it on the machine? If not, can I download LM from a Win 10 machine to the stick, then use it on the old XP desktop?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 04:47 AM (omVj0)

You can do that. You will not like the USB stick experience though, it will be slow. You can and should connect a hard drive or ssd to the computer mainboard (motherboard) and install Mint onto that, creating a system that offers you the opportunity to select the OS you boot into.

Posted by: Jim at December 27, 2023 05:49 AM (zhWvq)

58 Feel good stories of 2023:

http://tinyurl.com/wcbjjses

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 05:49 AM (EKM4/)

59 Good morning!

I can't even begin to grok this computer speak but, it's mildly entertaining to try to decipher it.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 27, 2023 05:52 AM (YRsIm)

60 33 It was my original estimate 40 feet high, did get help and guy didn't charge me, we just pushed it over, could have done it myself, it was at a 30 degree angle.
Posted by: Skip at December 27, 2023 04:50 AM (fwDg9)

Wow! A little Christmas week excitement!

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 05:55 AM (3hrI6)

61 This sounds like a good movie/- Boys In The Boat:

http://tinyurl.com/56nxej9u

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 05:55 AM (uYMKY)

62 Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 27, 2023 05:52 AM (YRsIm)

Good for you for trying! I just post off topic posts instead.😉

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 05:57 AM (uYMKY)

63 >>>This sounds like a good movie/- Boys In The Boat
----------------
Its a good book too

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 27, 2023 05:57 AM (cLVyI)

64 Good morning morons

Local TV news reports that 1200 delivery drivers employed by Pizza Hit were fired. Why?

Minimum wage is $18.07 here but goes up to $20 on Jan. 1 for fast-food employees. Another progressive policy success!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 06:04 AM (RIvkX)

65 Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 27, 2023 05:57 AM (cLVyI)

It sounds like it would be. I think I'll suggest to the men in the family we go see ithe movie and then I'll read the book.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 06:05 AM (7FC0G)

66 >>>delivery drivers employed by Pizza Hit

Thought this story might be about their accident record.

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:05 AM (3hrI6)

67 Fen, I enjoy your most of your topic stuff especially, your vain attempts to counter the Mannix tarts.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 27, 2023 06:07 AM (YRsIm)

68 Good early morning everyone.

Posted by: The Sheep at December 27, 2023 06:07 AM (qoGsy)

69 Ugh - off ruminant sock.

Posted by: The Sheep at December 27, 2023 06:07 AM (qoGsy)

70 Maybe now.

Coffee deficient.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 27, 2023 06:08 AM (qoGsy)

71 Waiting at the airport to board a flight for DFW, then to sunny Mehico. You all have a good day.

Posted by: Pod Hamp at December 27, 2023 06:10 AM (HCHkY)

72 Must take the lovely Mrs. into the big city today for an appointment.

I wish she'd quit scheduling these 8am appts.

Subtract an hour due to time zone change, add in a 1 1/2 drive, take the one's compliment, include rush hour coefficient. . . Hmmmm - suspiciously sounds like math.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 27, 2023 06:13 AM (qoGsy)

73 Well, the Cali based drivers will become independent contract drivers and get the self employed screwing they so richly voted for.

Posted by: Jamaica at December 27, 2023 06:16 AM (Eeb9P)

74 Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 27, 2023 06:07 AM (YRsIm

We will have boobettes here forever. I just do my little part to indicate that women don't have to show their boobs in order to have conservative political opinions 😉. But I've cut down on the "conservative women in modest attire"postings.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 06:19 AM (snnkV)

75 Publius loses me sometimes and I work in the IT field.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 27, 2023 06:23 AM (sAmhv)

76 But poster N assured me if was a much more fun place before women arrived. I guess- for him- Ace have put up a sign, "No girls allowed."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 06:24 AM (snnkV)

77 Publius loses me sometimes and I work in the IT field.
Posted by: Puddleglum

You too, heh?

Mostly COBOL and IMS database manager here when I was developing. When I retired, I truly was 'The Dinosaur'.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 27, 2023 06:26 AM (qoGsy)

78 I was just looking at a KTVU San Francisco Bay Area webcams listing, and the news is all so awful:

Woman killed in hit-and-run on I-880 in Oakland
Body found on BART train causes major delay at Embarcadero
El Camino Real in Los Altos closed for 2 weeks due to fire
Fatal Oakland shooting leads to lengthy pursuit of suspect, police say
Video: Fairfield mall jewelry store smashed, robbed

https://www.ktvu.com/
san-francisco-bay-area-webcams

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:29 AM (3hrI6)

79 Looks like we got some rain during the nacht

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 06:29 AM (T4tVD)

80 LOL this one's so sad.

Check out the live view from KTVU's roof camera.

https://www.ktvu.com/highway-24-webcam

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:32 AM (3hrI6)

81 Mostly COBOL and IMS database manager here when I was developing. When I retired, I truly was 'The Dinosaur'.
Posted by: Tonypete at December 27, 2023 06:26 AM (qoGsy)
-

Staring at a CICS syslog as I type.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 27, 2023 06:36 AM (ch/kO)

82 Happy 452nd Birthday to Johannes Kepler.

Posted by: Apply gp Directly To Forehead at December 27, 2023 06:38 AM (MvF+J)

83 I'm getting ready to do battle with ExxonMobil. I just opened my current bill, and they believe they never received the payment I mailed on 12/1 -- so they have that amount plus my December charges, plus about $35 in late fees, all tacked on. However, I just checked that bank account. That check cleared yesterday (!). I'll call them at 8:00 a.m. and insist those late fees and past due amount be removed. I've never had to call them before, so I don't know how reasonable they are or how much of a Karen ("Let me speak to your manager!") I'll have to be.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 06:38 AM (omVj0)

84 Woman killed in hit-and-run on I-880 in Oakland
Body found on BART train causes major delay at Embarcadero
El Camino Real in Los Altos closed for 2 weeks due to fire
Fatal Oakland shooting leads to lengthy pursuit of suspect, police say
Video: Fairfield mall jewelry store smashed, robbed
===

I try to curate for you the items of greatest interest, but yes that gives a good flavor for the everyday

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 06:38 AM (RIvkX)

85 84 Woman killed in hit-and-run on I-880 in Oakland
Body found on BART train causes major delay at Embarcadero
El Camino Real in Los Altos closed for 2 weeks due to fire
Fatal Oakland shooting leads to lengthy pursuit of suspect, police say
Video: Fairfield mall jewelry store smashed, robbed
===

I try to curate for you the items of greatest interest, but yes that gives a good flavor for the everyday
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 06:38 AM (RIvkX)

I, for one, always appreciate your Bay Area news.
I was looking around online for a really nice live-stream drone/camera footage of the Bay Bridge. Do you know of one?

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:40 AM (3hrI6)

86 Happy 452nd Birthday to Johannes Kepler.
Posted by: Apply gp Directly To Forehead at December 27, 2023 06:38 AM (MvF+J)

His birthday cake is a 5 Alarm Fire !

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 06:40 AM (T4tVD)

87 86 Happy 452nd Birthday to Johannes Kepler.
Posted by: Apply gp Directly To Forehead at December 27, 2023 06:38 AM (MvF+J)

His birthday cake is a 5 Alarm Fire !
Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 06:40 AM (T4tVD)

LOL

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:41 AM (3hrI6)

88 Good morning Hordelings!

Posted by: Doof at December 27, 2023 06:41 AM (eNASR)

89 87 86 Happy 452nd Birthday to Johannes Kepler.
Posted by: Apply gp Directly To Forehead at December 27, 2023 06:38 AM (MvF+J)

His birthday cake is a 5 Alarm Fire !
Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 06:40 AM (T4tVD)

LOL
Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:41 AM (3hrI6)

*scoff*

Posted by: Smokin' Joe Biden at December 27, 2023 06:44 AM (di6C2)

90 Doof. Good morning.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 06:44 AM (PKEqY)

91 I don't but would check the Caltrans site, perhaps the CHP site.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 06:45 AM (RIvkX)

92
Visual COBOL for Visual Studio. Microfocus. There's a free edition available there:

http://tinyurl.com/yvx7cyr3

There are also some .NET COBOL compilers out there.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (Mzdiz) at December 27, 2023 06:45 AM (Mzdiz)

93 91 I don't but would check the Caltrans site, perhaps the CHP site.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 06:45 AM (RIvkX)

Thanks.

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:45 AM (3hrI6)

94 Happy 452nd Birthday to Johannes Kepler.
Posted by: Apply gp Directly To Forehead at December 27, 2023

***
In truth, he looks scarce a day over nineteen score and ten!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 27, 2023 06:46 AM (omVj0)

95 *hands SanFranpsycho a piece of gingerbread *

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 06:46 AM (PKEqY)

96 Well, off to bed. Later daywalkers.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 27, 2023 06:48 AM (sAmhv)

97 95 *hands SanFranpsycho a piece of gingerbread *
Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 06:46 AM (PKEqY)

He wasn't whining.

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:52 AM (3hrI6)

98 Happy 3 French Hens Day …
Posted by: Adriane the Ethnic Christmas Cuisine Critic . . . at December 27, 2023 04:05 AM (4Winp)

Allo, allo, allo, ladies! *smiles in French*

Oh, wait . . .

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 27, 2023 06:53 AM (4I/2K)

99 *hands m a piece of gingerbread *

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 06:54 AM (PKEqY)

100 Thank you Ben Had

I whined up some awesome blueberry scones yesterday
/smugly

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 06:55 AM (RIvkX)

101 99 *hands m a piece of gingerbread *
Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 06:54 AM (PKEqY)

Snarf!

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:58 AM (3hrI6)

102 Fresh gingerbread should be lightly toasted and slathered with Plugra.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 06:58 AM (RIvkX)

103 Obrador wants more US aid for Honduras, Ecuador and Venezuela to stem the flow of illegals.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 07:00 AM (PKEqY)

104 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 27, 2023 07:02 AM (NBVIP)

105 Good morning!

Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:03 AM (u82oZ)

106 101 99 *hands m a piece of gingerbread *
Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 06:54 AM (PKEqY)

Snarf!
Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 06:58 AM (3hrI6)

Thank you.

Posted by: m at December 27, 2023 07:04 AM (3hrI6)

107 NaCly, happy and smiling I am but I don't know any leftists.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 07:05 AM (PKEqY)

108 {{{Ben Had}}}

🎼 ♭ 5/4 ♫♫ ♫♫ Good morning! ♬♬ ♩ ♪

No birdbath, but snow on the ground. We were supposed to get 1 inch. Ha!
Sure looks pretty, but the nearby quarter horses, palominos, Angus cows, llamas, sheep, Jersey cows, and goats beg to differ. The longhorn bull over the hill seems fine.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:06 AM (u82oZ)

109 Good morning rons and ettes. Infusion day here. Pray this goes better than last time.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 27, 2023 07:07 AM (iF0sF)

110 So Obrador thinks likes Zelinsky, the US is the world's ATM.

FOAD you hoser.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 27, 2023 07:08 AM (qY/Yl)

111 Ben Had

You are a fortunate woman. There are some around here, but they are providers to the rest of us if the burning times hits. They do not know this, yet.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:08 AM (u82oZ)

112 Birdbath status?
Posted by: Just Wondering

Not frozen; that's not to say its warm out thar.

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 07:08 AM (T4tVD)

113 Hiya Jewells !

Prayers UP !

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 07:09 AM (T4tVD)

114 jewells, prayers ascending.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 07:10 AM (PKEqY)

115 Good morning rons and ettes. Infusion day here. Pray this goes better than last time.
Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 27, 2023 07:07 AM (iF0sF)

Praying that it does. Good luck, young lady.

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 27, 2023 07:10 AM (4I/2K)

116 Good luck today {jewells}

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 07:11 AM (RIvkX)

117 So Obrador thinks likes Zelinsky, the US is the world's ATM.

FOAD you hoser.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 27, 2023 07:08 AM (qY/Yl)

Tell us how ya REALLY feel Anna !

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 07:11 AM (T4tVD)

118 {{{ jewells45}}}

May Almighty God look kindly upon his servant, and bless your treatment, the skill of the oncologist, and the caring mercies of your nurses. Your treatment is powerful, and may the return be worth it.

I can hear the Helen Reddy song already.
Fuck Cancer!

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:12 AM (u82oZ)

119 Doof. Good morning.
Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 06:44 AM (PKEqY)

Thanks! Hope all is well with you!

Posted by: Doof at December 27, 2023 07:12 AM (eNASR)

120 {{{Jewells}}} Prayers up!

Posted by: Doof at December 27, 2023 07:13 AM (eNASR)

121 mornin yall

*bursts into song*

Felice la de da
Felice la de da

Posted by: fd at December 27, 2023 07:13 AM (vFG9F)

122 Anna Puma

I'd put you in as Secretary of State in a heartbeat. You would be better than the entire State Department of losers.

And ask for drone fighter escorts shaped like your favorite fighter model.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:14 AM (u82oZ)

123 Praying for you, Jewell. What.a very long and very difficult process you've been through.

I am certainly not a doctor, and don't play on TV but this doctor does radio wave surgery, I knew someone whose escapes me now, who had this done and it helped. I think people travel from various places to have it done:

https://www.rsny.org/

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 07:15 AM (sB4ue)

124 Doof

Is pickle ball season over? I have a brother in law that plays that in Anne Arundel County.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:15 AM (u82oZ)

125 Doof, life is handing me lemons! Limoncello and lemon bars. All is well.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 07:16 AM (PKEqY)

126 FenelonSpoke

Hope all the services recharged your worship community.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:18 AM (u82oZ)

127 If my true love were to give me three gens, how would I be able to tell if they were French?

Posted by: Not really sure at December 27, 2023 07:22 AM (NBVIP)

128 *hens

Posted by: Not really sure at December 27, 2023 07:22 AM (NBVIP)

129 Not really sure

The hens have a French attitude. Surly, sanctimonious, and scanty in their egg laying.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:23 AM (u82oZ)

130 Corny tech joke:

What do you call a ride sharing app that serves breakfast?

Eggs Uber easy.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 07:23 AM (sB4ue)

131 jewells, our best to you today and prayers for a good result.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 27, 2023 07:23 AM (Kmjfb)

132 Toast with a schmear of peanut butter.

More coffee...

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at December 27, 2023 07:24 AM (Edu7X)

133 Anna Puma, how right you are. The median income of Honduras is $2,700 a year. Taxpayers are quadrupling their income in the day they are here.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 07:24 AM (PKEqY)

134 The hens have a French attitude. Surly, sanctimonious, and scanty in their egg laying.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:23 AM (u82oZ)
===
Pecking around for a fox to eat them.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 07:25 AM (RIvkX)

135 Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:18 AM (u82oZ

Thanks. I hope so too. They didn't bring in numbers but several regulars told me they liked them. They need a whiz kid pastor who can do lots of social media.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 07:25 AM (sB4ue)

136 Thank you everyone! Ya'll are just the best

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 27, 2023 07:26 AM (iF0sF)

137 FenelonSpoke

You are doing fine, young woman. I have hiking boots, that still fit, older than you.

Does FenelonSon have work lined up upon graduation? I talked to a sage Ag Econ professor (neighbor) about your son. Ag departments need good workers.
As do research farms, and ranches. He consults all over the world. Has contacts.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:29 AM (u82oZ)

138 Prayers for an easy day for you Jewells.

Posted by: Jen the original at December 27, 2023 07:31 AM (kea10)

139 Ben Had

I ask Leftiss why is a low carbon footprint nation sending people to a high carbon footprint nation a good thing for Gaia?

That income in Central America will go farther than a higher income here.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:32 AM (u82oZ)

140 Time for preps. Fasting blood work soon.

Have a great day, everyone. May your smile ignite happiness in those you meet.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 27, 2023 07:33 AM (u82oZ)

141 NaCly, exactly.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 07:34 AM (PKEqY)

142 Ah, the Linux talk!
The home tower is Ubuntu and it's great.
Old Chromebook is GalliumOS and also is great.
I know the 'browser' issue comes up, the fact is they all suck and collect data so pick your poison.

LibreOffice is, in my not very humble opinion, WORLDS better than Word etc. and associated programs. I still have an older version of OpenOffice I run on a tower with XP, and it's fine but LibreOffice is superior.
I've done entire books in LibreOffice, downloaded to PDF and it's better than Word. No comparison.

As far as I know all Linux distros are very lightweight. They're good anyway but for extending the life of older computers they're ideal.

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:35 AM (OJ1IG)

143 Smile at strangers. It'll make them wonder what you've been up to.

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 27, 2023 07:35 AM (4I/2K)

144 You're a dear, Salty. He has agreed to do a paid internship with some big multi national Ag company which is based in PA it runs from May to November. He's hoping that will help him get a job with them later or will help with other prospects. Apparently it was a very selective process to be chosen and he had a very good GPA and his internship over this last summer really helped. Thanks for your concern for him.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 07:36 AM (sB4ue)

145 LibreOffice is, in my not very humble opinion, WORLDS better than Word etc. and associated programs. I still have an older version of OpenOffice I run on a tower with XP, and it's fine but LibreOffice is superior.

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:35 AM (OJ1IG)

I switched from OO to LO only because LO can save in docx. Don't know about better, but different. I can format to "first line indent" in OO, but not in LO, unless you open a document formatted that way from OO. Then it's on the list. Wouldn't be a problem if every pub site didn't require docx format for submissions. F'ers.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 27, 2023 07:38 AM (Angsy)

146 Also, I mentioned an issue with printing out a Frigidaire manual at the office that wouldn't print past 5 pages likely due to some copyright coding, and that I would take it home and try it on the old HP5si.

Yes, the entire thing printed out just fine. The Big Kyocera Printer at work was sensing some copyright thing and refused to print out the whole thing.
I'd more expect that from a Big Brother Printer.

(Boom tish)

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:39 AM (OJ1IG)

147
I run Ubuntu. Right now I have three word processing documents open in LibreOffice Writer, a spreadsheet in LibreOffice Calc, four hefty images open in Gimp Image Editor, a card game going, and about 50 open tabs in the browser.

All running seamlessly.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 27, 2023 07:41 AM (enJYY)

148 Here for a short bit.
Wife had doc appt yesterday. Doc starts talking and I say, "Let me cut to the chase; my wife has all the signs of liver failure"
Doc nodded and dug right in. She's going through liver failure. Her "liver" is huge and an estimated 90% composed of metastises (he showed images of latest scans). She can't get chemo until her liver is healthy enough, but the cancer is preventing that. He had no estimate how long she has.
He thanked me for cutting to the chase; made his job easier.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 27, 2023 07:43 AM (Qtr2K)

149 The kids already know.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 27, 2023 07:44 AM (Qtr2K)

150 Keep 'em comin' Fen !

Posted by: JT at December 27, 2023 07:45 AM (T4tVD)

151 FenSon is graduating already??

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 07:45 AM (RIvkX)

152 I can format to "first line indent" in OO, but not in LO /if every pub site didn't require docx format for submissions. F'ers.
Posted by: OrangeEnt'

That's odd, I've always been able to first line indent in LO. Isn't it an option in paragraph styles? I don't remember, to be honest if I forget how to format anything I open older documents and look around at how they're formatted. I also have a spiral binder of settings and formatting notes.

And yes, requirements for docx drive me absolutely bonkers and I have bitched about this issue numerous times here and pretty much to anyone who will listen and many who won't!

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:45 AM (OJ1IG)

153
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 27, 2023 07:43 AM (Qtr2K)

Prayers for your wife and for you and the family.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 27, 2023 07:45 AM (MoZTd)

154 I used OpenOffice many, many years ago. I liked it, but it had a weird issue where it would just stop. I'd be typing and it just wouldn't go on.

Admittedly, my writing is pretty bad, so perhaps I had "Critic Mode" on....

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 27, 2023 07:47 AM (EStcP)

155 jim, a prayer for complete and immediate healing

That must have been extremely difficult news.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 07:48 AM (RIvkX)

156 jim, prayers.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 27, 2023 07:48 AM (PKEqY)

157 Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:45 AM (OJ1IG)

Nope. FLI is the first thing I looked for, it wasn't an option in paragraph format. The only reason I went to LO is to save in docx. I used to be a supporter of MS, especially over those MacIntosh people.... With Gates activity, I hate MS now, but there's no other option other than Linux, and I can't seem to get the hang of it. Maybe too many versions of it.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 27, 2023 07:49 AM (Angsy)

158 To explain about my Word complaints, it's not a world standard because it's any good. It's most certainly not, I think the basic code was last updated in what 1995, and ever since they've only pasted code in and out like car companies change headlight sizes.
It's a global standard solely because Microsoft bludgeoned their superior competition mostly out of serious running.

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:49 AM (OJ1IG)

159 jim in Kalifornia I am so sorry. I will be praying for her and your family.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 27, 2023 07:49 AM (iF0sF)

160 tough news jim. prayers for you and your wife.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 27, 2023 07:49 AM (Q+bzS)

161 I used OpenOffice many, many years ago. I liked it, but it had a weird issue where it would just stop. I'd be typing and it just wouldn't go on.

Admittedly, my writing is pretty bad, so perhaps I had "Critic Mode" on....
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 27, 2023 07:47 AM (EStcP)

It's done that to me, but only for a few seconds, then garbled text shows up. Probably the comp, not the program.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 27, 2023 07:51 AM (Angsy)

162 Maybe too many versions of it.
Posted by: OrangeEnt'

I will look into this, that's a really annoying and limiting issue for you. I'd be pissed. I know there are multiple ways to FLI.

I *have* had issues with trying to RE-format existing documents imported into LO.

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:53 AM (OJ1IG)

163 It's a global standard solely because Microsoft bludgeoned their superior competition mostly out of serious running.
Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:49 AM (OJ1IG)

I had WordPerfect once. That and Netscape Navigator. Too bad those two lost out to MS.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 27, 2023 07:53 AM (Angsy)

164 Admittedly, my writing is pretty bad, so perhaps I had "Critic Mode" on....
Posted by: BeckoningChasm'

When mine goes black and then a scroll comes across, "You know, I just can't read any more of this drivel and I'm shutting this down', is when I figure maybe it's not a serious project and I should rethink.

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:54 AM (OJ1IG)

165 Morning Report is nood.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 27, 2023 07:54 AM (jA9ul)

166 Thank you.
Hardest part was telling my kids. I kept choking up.
I have a descent idea of what's ahead and already setting things up when we get home. Taking Med Leave of Absence to care for her.
I know what she wants for funeral. She wants to be buried next to her mother.
Damned engineer in me.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 27, 2023 07:54 AM (Qtr2K)

167 Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 27, 2023 07:54 AM (Qtr2K)

I don't like hearing things like this. Condolences.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 27, 2023 07:56 AM (Angsy)

168 I had WordPerfect once. That and Netscape Navigator. Too bad those two lost out to MS.
Posted by: OrangeEnt'

I have WordPerfect still!
Bought it last year as an in-joke mostly just to say I have it! It's an excellent program and I very highly recommend it. But it only works in Windows, so I run it on a dedicated laptop running Windows 10.

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:57 AM (OJ1IG)

169 Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 27, 2023 07:45 AM (RIvkX)

He transferred from a community college after two years.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 07:58 AM (sB4ue)

170 Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 27, 2023 07:43 AM (Qtr2K)

What very, very hard news. Praying for your wife, you and your family.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 27, 2023 08:00 AM (sB4ue)

171 Linux is great if one doesn't want to mess around with how things work. It's all those arcane command line switches that gets most people. In Africa I started with XENIX on a 286. It was our campus email server (very early 90s), moved to Slackware when that came on a gazillion floppies, each one downloaded individually across a trans-Atlantic cable from Fidonet (USA). Great fun and frustrations.
Linux has evolved well since then but until even the System stuff is tweakable via GUIs it will not replace Windows. See Apple with 'BSD'.
The big test is when major game developers produce Linux versions of their wares.
Also too many distros make it difficult for newcomers to decide.

Posted by: Ciampino - More user-friendliness needed at December 27, 2023 08:11 AM (qfLjt)

172 I know you're long gone now, but I still have the WP stuff somewhere. Gonna use LO now.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 27, 2023 08:13 AM (Angsy)

173 171
Slackware when that came on a gazillion floppies, each one downloaded individually across a trans-Atlantic cable from Fidonet (USA).

Forgot to say that was with a 2400 baud modem. You could almost count each individual bit coming through.

Posted by: Ciampino - More user-friendliness is needed at December 27, 2023 08:14 AM (qfLjt)

174 158
It's a global standard solely because Microsoft bludgeoned their superior competition mostly out of serious running.

Posted by: LenNeal at December 27, 2023 07:49 AM (OJ1IG)
----
Not quite. WP had an internal upheaval and never recovered. By the time the strife had quietened down Word was king. Netscape, which grew out of the original browser Mosaic, also rested on its laurels and underwent company shakedowns. So MS competitors mainly shot themselves in the foot. Same with Gary Kildall of Digital Research who messed up BIG with IBM - we could all have been running a GUI version of CP/M today, even Apple since it was popular on Apple IIs with the CPM card..

Posted by: Ciampino - Apply directly to the forehead at December 27, 2023 08:26 AM (qfLjt)

175 I'm running Linux Mint right now on a new Lenovo Legion 5 "Slim" and am pretty happy with it. It's much slicker on this than on my decrepit 2013 MacBook Pro upon which I installed it last year for a MacOS replacement trial run.

I picked it up at Best Buy for $1000 (normally ~$1500) shortly after Black Friday with the intent of replacing said MBP. So far, everything just seems to work. I subsequently pimped it out with 64GB of RAM (up from 16) and an additional 2TB SSD from which I'm booting Linux (the original 512GB SSD can keep the Windows 11 crap). I've also got Steam, Epic, and GOG set up on here. Linux Mint does ship with LibreOffice, BTW.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at December 27, 2023 10:37 AM (DTX3h)

176 >>>Windows 11 will soon let you reinstall the operating system without wiping your files.

Solving a 30+ years old Windows instantiated problem.*

But you still have Windows, as Pixy notes.

* Allegedly. I don't want to be the guy with the first helpdesk call on that.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 27, 2023 12:02 PM (i24o9)

177 I'm running Linux Mint right now on a new Lenovo Legion 5 "Slim" and am pretty happy with it.

. . .

I subsequently pimped it out with 64GB of RAM (up from 16) and an additional 2TB SSD from which I'm booting Linux (the original 512GB SSD can keep the Windows 11 crap). I've also got Steam, Epic, and GOG set up on here. Linux Mint does ship with LibreOffice, BTW.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at December 27, 2023 10:37 AM (DTX3h)

I am running Mint as my primary desktop. I was forced to finally set up a Win11 VM on it, because the office went to Windows in the Cloud, which they wouldn't back update Win7 to work, surprise. Pretty slick, dual monitors and all with Oracle VM VirtualBox

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 27, 2023 12:06 PM (i24o9)

178 It's ɡoing to be end of mine day, еxcept
before ending I am reading this imprеssive paragraph
to increase my ҝnow-how.

Posted by: miserable at December 29, 2023 07:35 PM (P4/uc)

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