Daily Tech News 30 December 2023

Top Story

SpaceX has rounded out the year with two orbital launches three hours apart - one carrying one of the X37B space planes, and the other 23 Starlink satellites - and a static test fire of the third Starship test vehicle. (Ars Technica)

That makes 96 commercial launches this year, of which 96 succeeded. And a couple of test flights which, uh, tested things.

Tech News

Nvidia is going all-out to compete with AMD's Radeon 7800 XT. (Tom's Hardware)

Except on price, which is probably going to render their efforts irrelevant in the gaming market.
Remember that program that could determine whether any unsigned 32-bit integer was even or odd? Now there's a version that works for 64-bit integers. (GitHub)

This one cheats slightly. Rather than having a separate check for each possible value, the developers pre-computed the result for every possible input and saved the results to a file.

Then they compressed that file.

Recursively.

Reducing it from around two million terabytes to 13 kilobytes.
Don't ask why, just accept it.
In a similar vein, here's a fully-automated Christmas checker. (XKCD)

99.73% accurate, which is even better than the prime number checker.
Should we upgrade to M3 MacBooks? (Incident)

I don't know, let's throw a bunch of poorly-understood numbers into ChatGPT and see what it says.

ChatGPT says yes!

Also that it's an Amazon Affiliate but that in no way coloured its decision.

Disclaimer: Dad! There's another dead clown on the roof!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 hiya

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 04:01 AM (T4tVD)

2 Hey JT.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 30, 2023 04:02 AM (BLOW1)

3 My plans to kick back and relax this weekend did not even last until the next morning.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 30, 2023 04:03 AM (BLOW1)

4 Hiya Pixy !

Happy New Year !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 04:03 AM (T4tVD)

5 hiya back at ya JT.
3 am and I've been awake for 2 hours. I'm gonna need a nap today.

Posted by: Molly k. at December 30, 2023 04:04 AM (j/yko)

6 Mornin', all

Working again today. It's been several months without a full day off. Well, I did have Christmas day off.

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 30, 2023 04:07 AM (pbAz/)

7
Microsoft is pushing "Windows Co-pilot", a Bing AI powered "assistant". They don't update everybody with it, but the latest rounds of updates enabled it for Windows 10 on my main desktop here. It was not enabled for a couple of laptops with Win 10, and even the new Win11 install on this same desktop (which I'm running under here now as I type).

I had to figure out how to make it go away. But the idea is an AI chatbot that is your "copilot" right there on the screen as you're on the computer. It's speech enabled, I think. But I don't have a mic or a camera on the desktops (and will not have them).

This scares the shit out of me. An AI psychotic chatbot co-pilot.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 04:07 AM (Mzdiz)

8 And, if one employee recovers from the flu bug she was sick with the past few days, I may get New Years Day off!

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 30, 2023 04:09 AM (pbAz/)

9 Hiya MollyK !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 04:09 AM (T4tVD)

10 Hiya MLii !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 04:10 AM (T4tVD)

11 Lots of Vit C, Zinc, Elderberry, and prayers, MKii …

So you only get the Day off and not what ever your coworker had.
: -))

Posted by: Adriane the Better Late Than Never. Right? Right??? Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 04:13 AM (4Winp)

12 Well, the upgrade to El Capitan blew up a few things. But still more upgrades to go …. So probably will wait to upgrade 3rd party apps.

Ah well.

If I knew what I was doing, I’d be dangerous.

Posted by: Adriane the Better Late Than Never. Right? Right??? Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 04:16 AM (4Winp)

13 Happy New Year’s Eve, Pixy…

Posted by: Adriane the Better Late Than Never. Right? Right??? Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 04:17 AM (4Winp)

14 Dad! There's another dead clown on the roof!

Dad: Well, get up there, take it down, and bury it in the garden with the rest of them. How many times do I have to tell you this!

Posted by: A Good and Caring Father at December 30, 2023 04:19 AM (v9vY1)

15 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 30, 2023 04:20 AM (v9vY1)

16 Lol, Adrian. That's pretty much what I do. Lots of immunity boosting foods.

Don't want to jinx it, but I haven't had any more than a sinus infection so far

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 30, 2023 04:24 AM (pbAz/)

17
It's still Dec. 30 in all Australia, so it's still New Year's Eve Eve.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 04:24 AM (Mzdiz)

18 Yes, but we count backwards, so it's actually January 2. Of 1973. We don't know why, but it's always 1973 this time of year.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 30, 2023 04:27 AM (BLOW1)

19 https://youtu.be/3-dxpinUORo?si=KHyH9PRNb7UKUJ_W

This came out in 1973. Maybe not in Australia.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 30, 2023 04:29 AM (v9vY1)

20
Australia appears to have five separate time zones. Actually only three, but they play around with daylight savings time because reasons.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 04:29 AM (3qE2b)

21 Don't want to jinx it, but I haven't had any more than a sinus infection so far
Posted by: My Life is Insanity

I have an oak bookshelf, so I will cheerfully knock on wood for you!

Posted by: Adriane the Better Late Than Never. Right? Right??? Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 04:31 AM (4Winp)

22
My brain isn't working enough to decipher it, but I remember reading about the craziness of Australia's time zone. For DST, different areas do +30 and +45 min, rather than a hour.

So during DST or summer time, you can actually have the time increase travelling west across a boundary.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 04:33 AM (Mzdiz)

23 >> We don't know why, but it's always 1973 this time of year.

It's the backwards Coriolis force acting on your clock hands.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 04:36 AM (Mzdiz)

24
They also have a time zone which divides a south from north area, which is really weird.

https://encyclopedia.timegenie.com/_time_zone_maps
/map_of_australia_time_zones.gif

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 04:37 AM (3qE2b)

25
Australian time zones:

https://tinyl.io/A1Qr

Note you have clocks jumping on north-south boundaries as well as east-west.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 04:39 AM (Mzdiz)

26 >>I have an oak bookshelf, so I will cheerfully knock on wood for you!
Posted by: Adriane

Awesome!

Make it a good day, all

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at December 30, 2023 04:41 AM (pbAz/)

27 Note you have clocks jumping on north-south boundaries as well as east-west.
Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 04:39 AM (Mzdiz)

In contrast, New Zealand's time zones are likely going to be not very interesting once they are introduced to The Clock.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:42 AM (9UlRk)

28 Make it a good day, all
Posted by: My Life is Insanity

Same yo you MLii !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 04:43 AM (T4tVD)

29
In the US, with the states that have two time zones, you get north-south jumps as well. See time.gov, here:
https://tinyl.io/A1Qt

Look at Indiana, Kansas, Oregon, and some others.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 04:44 AM (Mzdiz)

30 We don't know why, but it's always 1973 this time of year.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 30, 2023 04:27 AM (BLOW1)

Centigrade?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:44 AM (9UlRk)

31
On a map with Australia overlay-ed the USA the USA is a tad wider, but roughly comparable in size.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 04:47 AM (3qE2b)

32 25 Australian time zones:

https://tinyl.io/A1Qr

Note you have clocks jumping on north-south boundaries as well as east-west.

Ah, I see that list includes Australian Central Western Standard Time, which has fewer than 200 people, and Lord Howe Island Standard Time, which has fewer than 400.

The only time zone less populated is the US time zone UTC-12, which contains just two small uninhabited islands.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 30, 2023 04:48 AM (BLOW1)

33 If you were to put the entire continental united states on top of australia, all their solar panels would stop working.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:49 AM (9UlRk)

34 It would significantly improve our internet speeds though.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 30, 2023 04:51 AM (BLOW1)

35
Will all of this be on the final exam?

Posted by: There's One in Every Class at December 30, 2023 04:52 AM (3qE2b)

36 If you were to put the entire continental united states on top of australia, all their solar panels would stop working.
Posted by: Warai-otoko

Through in some kryptonite and you have Superman Returns …

Posted by: Adriane the Old, Old Movie Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 04:53 AM (4Winp)

37 Through in some kryptonite and you have Superman Returns …
Posted by: Adriane the Old, Old Movie Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 04:53 AM (4Winp)

I'd watch Supes box a kangaroo.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:54 AM (9UlRk)

38 Superman V. Flying Fox Man … they both can box kangaroos …

Posted by: Adriane the Old, Old Movie Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 04:58 AM (4Winp)

39 >>>Don't ask why, just accept it.

O.k.

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 04:59 AM (4UYlo)

40 Oy.

Good night / good morning

Whatever the case may be.

Posted by: Adriane the Old, Old Movie Critic . . . at December 30, 2023 05:05 AM (4Winp)

41
Fifty foot waves in California crashing onto beaches, washing stuff around. Global warming causing oceans to rise. Nothing to do with 50 foot waves, you see.

This has been your pseudo science lesson for today.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 05:10 AM (3qE2b)

42 Good morning. Was just awakened from a deep dream. I was on a zoom call with some charity because I was trying to buy tickets to their annual fundraiser. All I wanted was to buy two tickets but the guilt ridden hectoring and the non-stop PBS style blather was so overwhelming that I couldn’t get a word in.

That dream was so awful I don’t want to donate to them again!

Posted by: Pete Bog at December 30, 2023 05:19 AM (p3g6/)

43 30 We don't know why, but it's always 1973 this time of year.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 30, 2023 04:27 AM (BLOW1)

Centigrade?
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:44 AM (9UlRk)

Except that, this time of year, it's called "Santagrade."

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 05:19 AM (4UYlo)

44 33 If you were to put the entire continental united states on top of australia, all their solar panels would stop working.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:49 AM (9UlRk)

hahahahaha
this has me laughing out loud

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 05:20 AM (4UYlo)

45 33 If you were to put the entire continental united states on top of australia
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:49 AM (9UlRk)

Why would someone want to do that.

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 05:20 AM (4UYlo)

46 Why would someone want to do that.
Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 05:20 AM (4UYlo)

Saves on shipping costs.

Posted by: Pete Bog at December 30, 2023 05:23 AM (p3g6/)

47 41 Fifty foot waves in California crashing onto beaches, washing stuff around. Global warming causing oceans to rise. Nothing to do with 50 foot waves, you see.

This has been your pseudo science lesson for today.
Posted by: Divide by Zero

I will assume that all of those fancy beach front estates owned by those Beautiful People will now be abandoned? You know, the oceans are rising and stuff.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 30, 2023 05:24 AM (v9vY1)

48
There exist some UTC+13 and UTC+14 time zones, which should be UTC-11, and UTC-10, but the rulers there wanted to be ahead of everyone else. This makes the international dateline a crazy mess.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 05:24 AM (Mzdiz)

49
See you tomorrow. Publius signing off at:
Date: 12/30/2023 Local Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (UTC-05:00:00)
Longitude: -82.17110 UTC Offset: -05:28:41 TZ Offset: -00:28:41

Universal Coordinated Time: 10:27:03 UTC
Local Standard Time (TZ) : 05:27:03 AM EST
Local Mean Time : 04:58:22 AM LMT
Local Solar Time : 04:56:01 AM LST

Grnwch Mean Sidereal Time: 17:01:30
Local Mean Sidereal Time: 11:32:49

Current Equation of Time: -2:20.58
Fourier EoT: -2:20.75

Daylength delta inst: +28.9693 cum: +28.9671

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 05:27 AM (Mzdiz)

50 Good morning and Happy New Year morons and Pixy

Booked airfare to Sydney for next year. We will probably spend some time up in Noosa too.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 05:27 AM (RIvkX)

51 I saw video of people running from a huge sneaker wave in Ventura county. It was funny but very dangerous.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 05:29 AM (RIvkX)

52 Sad news in the world of motorsports. Gil de Ferran died. He was a successful Indycar driver (Team Penske) and did well in sportscars too. He was 57. Heart attack.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 30, 2023 05:33 AM (v9vY1)

53 Local TV news report a police officer was shot near Jack London Sq in Oakland, now in hospital.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 29, 2023 02:17 PM (RIvkX)
====
Sorry to report this OPD officer died of his gsw in hospital last night.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 05:38 AM (RIvkX)

54 May his memory be a blessing

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 05:42 AM (RIvkX)

55 53 Local TV news report a police officer was shot near Jack London Sq in Oakland, now in hospital.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 29, 2023 02:17 PM (RIvkX)
====
Sorry to report this OPD officer died of his gsw in hospital last night.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 05:38 AM (RIvkX)

I'm very sorry.
Be sure not to miss Buck's AoSHq writeup yesterday on a "Blue City Police Exodus."

https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=407658

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 05:43 AM (4UYlo)

56 After seeing Paul Giamatti on "The Holdovers" and enjoying his performance. very much., spouse took out the HBO series "John Adams" from the library . We had watched it a number of years ago and enjoyed it very much.. Laura Linney is excellent as Abigail as well. I never got HBO but I guess back in the day they did some good series before they went totally Woke.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 05:47 AM (G/C7y)

57
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 30, 2023 05:50 AM (xDK93)

58 Sorry about the death of the policeman. So many leaving because their D Mayors don't support them and other policemen retiring and leaving the burden on one's left.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 05:50 AM (G/C7y)

59 Evening and morning, folken! Just two more days left before 2024 -- and soon afterward we have to slog back to work. Well, some of us. I have Tuesday off, so a short week.

Yesterday I at last had the new wheels installed on the Buick, had the tires rotated, and the 75K mile oil change done. The car looks and drives beautifully. Three hours' waiting in the shop office, but it was worth it.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 30, 2023 05:51 AM (omVj0)

60 Today Miss Linda is dragging me down to my old neighborhood in town, which is now a tourist trap and theme park. She wants to visit hotel lobbies, have a cocktail or two, walk around, visit shops, look at decorations, and "be around people" -- all of which sounds exhausting to me. I wanted to start out around 9:30 and be back home by 1:30 or 2:00, but noooo. So, a noon start, and I won't be back home until past 5:00. Hell of a long day.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 30, 2023 05:57 AM (omVj0)

61 The OPD hasn't had a chief in 10 months and the mayor just rejected this week all the three candidates presented by the police commission.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 05:58 AM (RIvkX)

62 A story of bravery for our Washington State posters.- who are mostly hopefully asleep now. Young man from Seattle saves drowning kid:

http://tinyurl.com/yc9sf2s7

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 05:59 AM (G/C7y)

63
Hmmm. Just had to note. You can now buy CSACs, Chip scale atomic clocks. Price range a few $K now.

Not as accurate by a long shot as the NIST's Cesium Fountain Clock, but a damn accurate clock.

Expect in a few years, you can have your own atomic clock in a PC for a few bucks.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley at December 30, 2023 05:59 AM (Mzdiz)

64 Wolfus, that sounds awesome. When I was a kid during Christmas break I would go with dad to his work and play with the office machines. On the way home we would stop at the Waldorf and have Shirley Temples. He never drank, so...

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:01 AM (RIvkX)

65 Spiritual disciplines- Finding something to sing about anyway. Psalm 98

http://tinyurl.com/444a6swc

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:02 AM (G/C7y)

66 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 30, 2023 05:57 AM (omVj0

But you love her and it will make her happy and perhaps you'll have fun too May you have a safe and interesting visit.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:04 AM (G/C7y)

67 G'morning, all.

Pixy, thank you for the link to the M1-M2-M3 upgrade question.

I need to buy a new macBook for Mrs VIA and was wondering what to do.

As she does very little above videos, e-mail and surfing the innertoobs, it looks like the M2 will suit her fine.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 06:05 AM (hH3Px)

68
George Soros brings death and destruction to this country and he still walks a free man. How did we get here?

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 06:05 AM (3qE2b)

69 Another rescue. This one by an army veteran in VA:

http://tinyurl.com/y8vum56e

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:06 AM (G/C7y)

70 Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 05:58 AM (RIvkX)

So sorry. Mayor/not surprisingly- sounds like a jacka$$. There is no method of recall?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:10 AM (G/C7y)

71 They just elected her!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:12 AM (RIvkX)

72 1000 Israeli musicians unite in concern for hostages dining and playing a song, "Bring them home.":

http://tinyurl.com/54fx8pkp

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:14 AM (G/C7y)

73 Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:12 AM (RIvkX)

Oh, dear. So sorry!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:14 AM (G/C7y)

74 Divide by Zero

Crime pays. City Journal has an illuminating essay on that. http://tinyurl.com/2sbkwh4c

This extends the work of Theodore Dalrymple's Life at the Bottom, the Worldview of the Underclass, written in the '90 bit still relevant as to the mechanisms in use.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:17 AM (u82oZ)

75 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:17 AM (u82oZ)

76 Village Idiot's Apprentice

Top o ta mornin to ya, gov'nor.

I owe you and update. And thanks for your card. Good to see all that thriving.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:18 AM (u82oZ)

77 Dog and cat are great friends:

http://tinyurl.com/27kcr7yh

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:20 AM (iCWt+)

78
Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:17 AM

People commit crimes because they are people—because they are innately selfish and do not care how their behavior affects other people, unless they have been raised to behave otherwise or unless they fear the criminal justice system.

The writer nails it in the first paragraph.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 06:21 AM (3qE2b)

79 Salty!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 06:21 AM (hH3Px)

80 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 30, 2023 06:21 AM (ju2Fy)

81 http://tinyurl.com/2sbkwh4c
My attention span is way shorter than this essay.
I blame the interwebz

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:22 AM (RIvkX)

82 olddog in mo

Good morning, Captain. Hope you and your darling wife celebrate the New Year in style.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:22 AM (u82oZ)

83 San Franpsycho

That is the same essay I linked for Divide by Zero. Has a good summation of the situation, mechanisms of action we are up against, and possible solutions.

Horde Mind and all that.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:25 AM (u82oZ)

84
My attention span is way shorter than this essay.
I blame the interwebz

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:22 AM

My browser has something called 'readers view' which estimates the time required to read a page. It calls that 31-39 minutes
so I'm gonna chew away at it a little.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 06:26 AM (3qE2b)

85 FenelonSpoke

May the new year treat you and yours with care and grace.

*Respectful tip of the hat to your stalwart FenelonSpouse, who protects and mentors the future. *

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:27 AM (u82oZ)

86 Well Salty and DbZ I'm down the rabbit hole now. I had planned to watch Reacher!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:31 AM (RIvkX)

87 *Hands San Franpsycho a flare gun, compass, and contour map in the unlikely case he gets lost*

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:34 AM (u82oZ)

88 Posted by: NaCly Dog

Thank you, dear. Same to you and yours.

Spouse just told me about a new game the first graders have on the bus. They shout out, "math game!" And he has to give them math problems. Not really hard ones but ones such as "How much is nine minus three?"

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:36 AM (RSbhh)

89 "Afterward, I texted a dramatic picture of the fire to a friend, a committed progressive who works as a federal prosecutor, to ask what he thought. “That is an incredible photo,” he remarked. “I’m not going to comment on the propriety [of] rioting tho.” I challenged him: What propriety would that be? The propriety of burning homes and police stations to the ground? “We’ve already established,” he said, “I have a soft heart.” As if this admission excused everything, the arsonists, the wanton destruction, himself. As if any condemnation of others would leave him exposed."
===
Yeah, I think you just missed your own point.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:37 AM (RIvkX)

90 It's a bit cold outside. Sitting here, drinking coffee I remembered a little "to do" and did it. I keep a two day supply of my BP meds in the car, in case a day trip turns into an overnighter due to shit happening. Went out and got them, rotating the stock for shelf life. Should have put on shoes instead of the flip flops. My feet are frozen.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at December 30, 2023 06:39 AM (0EOe9)

91 Morning, Salty. Same to you and yours. Not too much celebrating. Leaving that for the amateurs.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 30, 2023 06:40 AM (ju2Fy)

92 It would appear that my MiL has a pair of urban foxes going through the early part of their mating ritual every morning in her front yard.

Between the jumping, dancing while on hind legs and what-not, it really is quite the show.

I have no idea where they might build a den, other than on the nearby wooded lots.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 06:41 AM (hH3Px)

93 There were a few trailers at "Boys in the Boat". There was only one that I might want to see which is a comedy/drama with Nicholas Cage. One I do NOT want to see is something with Zendaya. As a tennis star. All I know about Zendaya is that she's a singer, I have no desire to see her in sex scenes. Why the assumption that singers are good actresses.? Well, I guess she'll draw in the crowds who actually know her songs. When do we get Taylor Swift in a dramatic role? Uggh.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:45 AM (RSbhh)

94 'And yet, in San Francisco the police are struggling, as SFPD Chief Bill Scott puts it, to “get back to just the basics of arresting people.” Opposed in this basic function by officials such as Supervisor Dean Preston (“punitive policies have not been shown to be effective”

, amid the daily crime onslaught, the cops are receiving something like a vote of no-confidence from retailers, hoteliers, and developers. Amid “ongoing concerns over safety and security,” Westfield, Nordstrom, AT&T, and Park Hotels & Resorts are shuttering flagship stores and fleeing the city’s once-thriving downtown."
===

Absolutely. I used to work closely with SFPD and had enormous respect for them top to bottom.

Now? don't ask me for sh*t. Only the dregs are left.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:46 AM (RIvkX)

95 ViA that must be fascinating slash annoying.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:47 AM (RIvkX)

96 Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 06:41 AM (hH3Px)

That sounds entertaining.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 06:47 AM (nvPT6)

97 Yesterday, I thought I'd lost the second key fob, the remote that opens the car doors and trunk and has to be present to start the car. I was resigning myself to a trip to the dealer and shelling out $400 for the remote, programming, and cutting the key. Fortunately I found it in a gift bag I'd moved the closet floor. It was in there with the spare remote from the long-drowned BMW (RIP 2019).

Time to change the batteries. New Year's is a good way to remember when they were last swapped out.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 30, 2023 06:48 AM (omVj0)

98 When do we get Taylor Swift in a dramatic role? Uggh.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023

***
She's been in a couple of things. Not sure she will develop into a Sinatra-quality actor, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 30, 2023 06:50 AM (omVj0)

99 Have a great day, everyone.

May you and yours have a wondrous and surprising New Year.

Ad astra per aspera

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:51 AM (u82oZ)

100 "ViA that must be fascinating slash annoying."

It is.

I can pull video off the MicroSD card for that camera, and stitch the video into about a five minute segment every morning.

These two are rather large and very healthy looking, and should make a fine pair.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 06:53 AM (hH3Px)

101 Be safe, Salty!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 06:54 AM (hH3Px)

102
Good morning, Hordians. Up, dressed, morning prayers said, puppies let out to play and fed, kennel opened up. Now sitting in my armchair in the living room with my coffee.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 30, 2023 06:54 AM (K8W6C)

103 Remember that program that could determine whether any unsigned 32-bit integer was even or odd?

Um, if it's in binary it's easy; if the LSB is '1' it's odd...no?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 06:57 AM (ynpvh)

104 Xi has appointed a new Defence Minister, former head of the PLA Navy.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:59 AM (RIvkX)

105 Now? don't ask me for sh*t. Only the dregs are left.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 06:46 AM (RIvkX)

Pretty much true everywhere, no?

Posted by: Ordinary American at December 30, 2023 06:59 AM (GmPfo)

106 "or unless they fear the criminal justice system."

Or getting shot.

mornin yall.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:00 AM (vFG9F)

107 Will Xi go for Taiwan while Bai Den is still in the White House?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:02 AM (RIvkX)

108 107 Will Xi go for Taiwan while Bai Den is still in the White House?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:02 AM (RIvkX)

His word as a Biden...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:03 AM (ynpvh)

109 Caught latest virus going around while with wife at cancer center. Still recoving from GI bug and now recoving from this crud.
Cough w phlegm has me up, so left bedroom so wife can sleep.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:04 AM (ynpvh)

110 I'm beginning to view the Carter years now as the good old days.

Posted by: Ordinary American at December 30, 2023 07:05 AM (GmPfo)

111 apparently I can't type recovering...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:05 AM (ynpvh)

112 Pretty much true everywhere, no?
Posted by: Ordinary American at December 30, 2023 06:59 AM (GmPfo)
===
I don't know, I can only speak to what I see. I was in NYC last month and there were NYPD and National Guard posted everywhere.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:05 AM (RIvkX)

113 110 I'm beginning to view the Carter years now as the good old days.

Posted by: Ordinary American at December 30, 2023 07:05 AM (GmPfo)

Americans had the sense to boot his ass out. Then had the sense to kick Mondale's ass even harder in '84.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:06 AM (ynpvh)

114
Only the dregs are left.
Posted by: San Franpsycho

/////

I'm curious, what are dreg cops like to work with?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's phone at December 30, 2023 07:07 AM (n7rxJ)

115 Except Minnesota and DC...bastards.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:07 AM (ynpvh)

116
Cough w phlegm has me up, so left bedroom so wife can sleep.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:04 AM

My wife was telling me yesterday of someone she knew who survived liver cancer.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 07:08 AM (3qE2b)

117 Good to see you jim

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:09 AM (RIvkX)

118
I was watching some commercial yesterday where St Jude's is claiming an 80% cure rate with childhood cancers.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 07:10 AM (3qE2b)

119 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 30, 2023 07:10 AM (NBVIP)

120
The puppies - having run around and played, then had breakfast - are asleep. Her Majesty is asleep. Coffee is hot and strong. Life, for a short time, is good.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 30, 2023 07:10 AM (K8W6C)

121 I'm curious, what are dreg cops like to work with?
Posted by: Blonde Morticia's phone at December 30, 2023 07:07 AM (n7rxJ)
====
Focused on being as invisible and useless as possible.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:11 AM (RIvkX)

122 >>Um, if it's in binary it's easy; if the LSB is '1' it's odd...no?

This was a very tongue-in-cheek thing. A very amateur (read idiot) young aspiring programmer posted, with pride, his program to determine if an integer was even.

It was a long set of "if..elseif" statments, "if x = 0, even elseif x =1, then odd elseif x =2 then even.....

Some people had some fun with that.

The latest, which Pixy posted was someone crompressing TBs of lookup table into a few KBs based on that aspiring young programmer's "code".

Posted by: publius (on Fedora, bare metal, doing updates) at December 30, 2023 07:12 AM (Mzdiz)

123
2024 may parallel 1980 Carter. John Anderson running as third party stole enough votes from Carter to hand Reagan an easy 49 state victory.

My fear? RFK Jr. Swap out Biden for him and the third party candidates do little if any damage. Not sure the Hillary or O'bama camps would go along with that. They may prefer to go down in defeat and work within the statist quo to neuter Trump. Again.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 07:15 AM (3qE2b)

124 Week in Pictures
http://tinyurl.com/mnmut842

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:17 AM (RIvkX)

125 116
Cough w phlegm has me up, so left bedroom so wife can sleep.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:04 AM

My wife was telling me yesterday of someone she knew who survived liver cancer.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 07:08 AM (3qE2b)

Wife's is breast cancer that mestastisized went from breast->bone (spine, hip, rib)->liver. She had a surgery Wed that doc said had 20% chance of helping the swelling in one lobe of her liver, that worked. She felt better, liver enzymes dropped a little (but still elevated as hell; too high for chemo). She is still very jaundiced with lots of edema (20lbs+). They'll try to do paracentesis again to remove some fluid. She's very tired and needs some help walking right now.

Problem is, her liver needs to be heathy enough to handle the chemo, but she can't get her liver healthy enough with 90% of the volume filled with tumors. So right now it's doing whatever makes her feel better in the short term.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:20 AM (ynpvh)

126 G'Day everyone
Trying to move to night shift schedule

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:26 AM (fwDg9)

127 jim

Mrs VIA and I are praying for both of you.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 07:29 AM (hH3Px)

128 I'm hoping to be sleepy enough soon to go back to bed for a while.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 30, 2023 07:29 AM (omVj0)

129 Jim thoughts and prayers

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:30 AM (fwDg9)

130 Birdbath status?
Posted by: Just Wondering

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

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:32 AM (T4tVD)

131 Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 30, 2023 07:29 AM (hH3Px)

Thank you. We can certainly use them.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:32 AM (ynpvh)

132 Thank you Skip.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:32 AM (ynpvh)

133 "Android users less attractive than iPhone owners, women say: ‘Like, no’ ."

Android users are pigs. Iphone users are pigs. Some pigs > other pigs.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:32 AM (vFG9F)

134 Jim thoughts and prayers
Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:30 AM (fwDg9)

Seconded !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:33 AM (T4tVD)

135 We are to have a nice sunny day, we'll above freezing too

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:33 AM (fwDg9)

136 Hiya Skip !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:33 AM (T4tVD)

137 Bacon, egg over easy and cheese biscuit.

More coffee...

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at December 30, 2023 07:34 AM (R/m4+)

138 Wow Jim, I can only offer a prayer for you both.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:34 AM (vFG9F)

139 We are to have a nice sunny day, we'll above freezing too
Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:33 AM (fwDg9)

Nice !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:34 AM (T4tVD)

140
Will Xi go for Taiwan while Bai Den is still in the White House?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:02 AM

Yes, yes he will

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 30, 2023 07:35 AM (xDK93)

141 Morning peeps.

Cat feeding time. It's a ritual.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 30, 2023 07:36 AM (Q4IgG)

142 jim a prayer for speedy and complete recovery

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 07:36 AM (RIvkX)

143 The wife and I appreciate all the prayers we can get.

The kids were made aware of the situation Wed.
My Siblings (except he who shall not be named) know.
Today, her brothers and Father will be told.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:36 AM (ynpvh)

144 Champagne may be in short supply rather soon, according to ClimateAI, a climate resilience platform based in San Francisco.

The company said the changing global climate could threaten the popular celebratory beverage.

ClimateAI’s artificial intelligence-driven data has suggested that hundreds of grape varieties could be on the brink of extinction, including champagne-making grapes like pinot noir, chardonnay and merlot.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:38 AM (vFG9F)

145 artificial intelligence-driven data= The Experts

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:38 AM (vFG9F)

146 144 Champagne may be in short supply rather soon, according to ClimateAI, a climate resilience platform based in San Francisco.

The company said the changing global climate could threaten the popular celebratory beverage.

ClimateAI’s artificial intelligence-driven data has suggested that hundreds of grape varieties could be on the brink of extinction, including champagne-making grapes like pinot noir, chardonnay and merlot.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:38 AM (vFG9F)

They'll grow them in England like the last time. The French were worried. I believe it was the 13th Century.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:40 AM (ynpvh)

147 False advertising
Weather says breezy, above freezing but seeing lots of clouds

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:41 AM (fwDg9)

148 147 False advertising
Weather says breezy, above freezing but seeing lots of clouds

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:41 AM (fwDg9)

But the Globul Warming models predict HEAT, HEAT, HEAT!

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:42 AM (ynpvh)

149 False advertising
Weather says breezy, above freezing but seeing lots of clouds
Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:41 AM (fwDg9)

It was completely overcast when I went out to feed da boids.

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:45 AM (T4tVD)

150 This company says their AI can predict the climate 50 years in the future. If there is a more illustrative example of the foolishness that is AI, I don't know what it is. It seems to be like the leftist mind, it's not that AI doesn't know anything, it's just that so much of what it knows is wrong.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:45 AM (vFG9F)

151 From weather radar looks like snow or winter mix in West Virginia

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:46 AM (fwDg9)

152 150 This company says their AI can predict the climate 50 years in the future. If there is a more illustrative example of the foolishness that is AI, I don't know what it is. It seems to be like the leftist mind, it's not that AI doesn't know anything, it's just that so much of what it knows is wrong.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:45 AM (vFG9F)

AI is almost as good as President Gay of Harvard when it comes to original content.
All the other stuff it makes up. So perfect for the task.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:46 AM (ynpvh)

153 My monthly house payment decreased $23/mo

some escrow sorcery
so that was a pleasant surprise

Posted by: Don Black at December 30, 2023 07:48 AM (geLO8)

154 Denver metro today: sunny, 56°

Posted by: Don Black at December 30, 2023 07:49 AM (geLO8)

155 From weather radar looks like snow or winter mix in West Virginia
Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:46 AM (fwDg9)

The Beverly Hillbillies are glad they left.

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:50 AM (T4tVD)

156 My neck of the woods: 62°F with 70% chance of showers.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:51 AM (ynpvh)

157 Jim,
Prayers for you and yours, for your best good in this time.
Please keep us updated.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at December 30, 2023 07:52 AM (fDjFn)

158 Prayers all around, Jim. It's tough to let loved ones know of that kind of news.

Posted by: My Life Is Insanity - currently on break at December 30, 2023 07:52 AM (fInJv)

159 Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:20 AM (ynpvh)

--

Prayers to you, your wife and entire family, Jim. Terrible situation. My heart goes out to you.

Posted by: Lady in Black at December 30, 2023 07:53 AM (mupln)

160 Thank you guys.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:54 AM (ynpvh)

161 Good morning rons and ettes. Pain pill starting to wear off but I have 3 hours before I can take another one. This is not acceptable!

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 07:55 AM (iF0sF)

162 Hiya Jewells !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:55 AM (T4tVD)

163 161 Good morning rons and ettes. Pain pill starting to wear off but I have 3 hours before I can take another one. This is not acceptable!

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 07:55 AM (iF0sF)

Sorry to hear that Jewells. Is there another kind you can take at the same time?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:56 AM (ynpvh)

164 American Thinker- next to coldest County on earth wants everyone to have electric vehicles by 2023

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:56 AM (fwDg9)

165 164 American Thinker- next to coldest County on earth wants everyone to have electric vehicles by 2023

Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:56 AM (fwDg9)

Because they do oh so well in the cold, of course.
Failures, almost like they're planned...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:58 AM (ynpvh)

166 Brrr... cold this morning.

Posted by: dantesed at December 30, 2023 07:59 AM (88xKn)

167 American Thinker- next to coldest County on earth wants everyone to have electric vehicles by 2023
Posted by: Skip at December 30, 2023 07:56 AM (fwDg9)

Dumb da Dumb Dumb !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 07:59 AM (T4tVD)

168
Everyone in my corner of Pennsylvania over the age of 29 has gone out to a vehicle in the middle of winter to discover a dead battery. One day it's fine at 50 degrees overnight dead.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 08:02 AM (3qE2b)

169 90 It's a bit cold outside. ... Should have put on shoes instead of the flip flops. My feet are frozen.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at December 30, 2023 06:39 AM (0EOe9)

heh; funny

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:03 AM (4UYlo)

170 Hiya JT!

jim.. I can take advil as well but that's wearing off too. Please know I'm praying for your wife and your whole family. I'm so sorry this is happening.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:06 AM (iF0sF)

171 109 Caught latest virus going around while with wife at cancer center. Still recoving from GI bug and now recoving from this crud.
Cough w phlegm has me up, so left bedroom so wife can sleep.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 07:04 AM (ynpvh)

Oh, my goodness; when it rains, it pours. Sending piles of prayers your way.

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:07 AM (4UYlo)

172 Looks like today will be cloudy, breezy and cold. I probably should plan on a liquor store run to re-supply before the weekend. And maybe get some snacks for NYE. We typically don't have lunch or dinner on NYE. Instead we'll make snacks like cheese sticks, cocktail weenies in sauce, nachos and the like when we feel like it. A last hurrah before we pretend to have another year of some bullshit resolutions about losing weight, more exercises or whatever.

I'm at least realistic...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 30, 2023 08:07 AM (Q4IgG)

173 {jewells} how are you tolerating this round?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 30, 2023 08:08 AM (RIvkX)

174 170 Hiya JT!

jim.. I can take advil as well but that's wearing off too. Please know I'm praying for your wife and your whole family. I'm so sorry this is happening.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:06 AM (iF0sF)

There is some good. Younger child (late teens) has been with us on the last few trips to cancer center. A few days ago, as wife and I were leaving, I heard him say, "I love you Mom". He hasn't said anything like that since he was a pre-teen. Brought a tear to my eye. This might just be the event that gets him on a right track.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:09 AM (ynpvh)

175 Oh; today's Sattaday.

No WONDER JJ ain't showed up yet !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 08:10 AM (T4tVD)

176 San Franpsycho thankfully no chest pains but the body aches and pains are just horrible. I'm taking oxycontin and advil to help with the pain. Probably another day or two of this and I can get by on just advil (I hope).

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:11 AM (iF0sF)

177 170 Hiya JT!

jim.. I can take advil as well but that's wearing off too. Please know I'm praying for your wife and your whole family. I'm so sorry this is happening.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:06 AM (iF0sF)

There a couple of different classes of OTC, but work a bit differently. Some broken down by liver, others by kidney, e.g. Aceitominophen vs Ibuprofen.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:13 AM (ynpvh)

178 He hasn't said anything like that since he was a pre-teen. Brought a tear to my eye.

Oh my goodness. Poor kid. This is so tough just so damn unfair.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:14 AM (iF0sF)

179 150 This company says their AI can predict the climate 50 years in the future. If there is a more illustrative example of the foolishness that is AI, I don't know what it is. It seems to be like the leftist mind, it's not that AI doesn't know anything, it's just that so much of what it knows is wrong.
Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:45 AM (vFG9F)

Well, nope, actually, AI doesn't "know" anything at all.

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:15 AM (4UYlo)

180 Prayers for your wife, Jim as well as you and your family. If you haven't done so already, please consider sending the request into the prayer list. Which comes out today so you can get the e-mail address there.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 08:16 AM (P4r3e)

181 Disclaimer: Dad! There's another dead clown on the roof!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

--
It's the radiation coming off the solar panels that's killing them.
What are they doing on the roof, you ask?
How the f**k should I know. They could be feebs in the latest disguise.

Posted by: Ciampino - I don't know about you but .... at December 30, 2023 08:16 AM (qfLjt)

182 178 He hasn't said anything like that since he was a pre-teen. Brought a tear to my eye.

Oh my goodness. Poor kid. This is so tough just so damn unfair.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:14 AM (iF0sF)

It's been a difficult couple of years with him. Failing at school, taking cash, doing weed. I'm in no physical shape to make him do things anymore, so I can't force him to go to school. At one point he was so angry with me he said, "I'll make sure to put you in the worst rest home I can find!", to which I responded, "I'll make sure you don't make that decision".
Rough.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:17 AM (ynpvh)

183 > This company says their AI can predict the climate 50 years in the future.
______________

NOAA has a billion or more dollars invested in supercomputers, predictive weather analysis software models, supposedly highly skilled employees and they can't predict what it will be like this afternoon, let alone tomorrow.

50 years? Horseshit.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 30, 2023 08:18 AM (Q4IgG)

184 Well, nope, actually, AI doesn't "know" anything at all.
Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:15 AM (4UYlo)

GIGO

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 08:18 AM (T4tVD)

185 Well, nope, actually, AI doesn't "know" anything at all.
Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:15 AM (4UYlo)

It looks an awful lot like Meat-based Intelligence though.

A half assed skim of the body of available knowledge. Cherry pick what you want based on ephemeral criteria. Regurgitate nonsense. Occasionally make something up based on absolutely nothing. Have people stamp "truthy" on your nonsense and call you an expert because they like what you said.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 08:18 AM (9UlRk)

186 179 150 This company says their AI can predict the climate 50 years in the future. If there is a more illustrative example of the foolishness that is AI, I don't know what it is. It seems to be like the leftist mind, it's not that AI doesn't know anything, it's just that so much of what it knows is wrong.
Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 07:45 AM (vFG9F)

Well, nope, actually, AI doesn't "know" anything at all.

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:15 AM (4UYlo)
----
Correct, AI (should call it pseudo-AI) just does a Haavad-Gay and out come reams of bullshit.

Posted by: Ciampino - I don't know about you but ... at December 30, 2023 08:19 AM (qfLjt)

187 181 Disclaimer: Dad! There's another dead clown on the roof!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

--
It's the radiation coming off the solar panels that's killing them.
What are they doing on the roof, you ask?
How the f**k should I know. They could be feebs in the latest disguise.

Posted by: Ciampino - I don't know about you but .... at December 30, 2023 08:16 AM (qfLjt)

I keep mine clown-free with regular cleaning. The neighbors wonder about all the dead clowns in their yards, however.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:19 AM (ynpvh)

188
Chilly morning at Schloss Hadrian. Puppies were fussing so Daddy had to let them out again and sit with them while they did their business and tried the best they could to murder one another.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 30, 2023 08:19 AM (MoZTd)

189
A half assed skim of the body of available knowledge. Cherry pick what you want based on ephemeral criteria. Regurgitate nonsense. Occasionally make something up based on absolutely nothing. Have people stamp "truthy" on your nonsense and call you an expert because they like what you said.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 08:18 AM (9UlRk)

In other words, the United States since 1933.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 30, 2023 08:20 AM (MoZTd)

190 Are clown barrels legal down there?

I mean, sure, if you do the math, collecting clownfall is more expensive per gallon than just using your city clown hookup, but if you suddenly need clown and don't have any, you'll be glad to have it.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 08:22 AM (9UlRk)

191 Oh I remember how rough it was with our son. God in Heaven I thought that kid would be the death of me. But you know.. he grew out of it. Growing pains, whatever, yeah it can be a bitch to deal with them.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:23 AM (iF0sF)

192 190 Are clown barrels legal down there?

I mean, sure, if you do the math, collecting clownfall is more expensive per gallon than just using your city clown hookup, but if you suddenly need clown and don't have any, you'll be glad to have it.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 08:22 AM (9UlRk)

DC and state capitals have a surfeit.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:23 AM (ynpvh)

193 74 Crime pays. City Journal has an illuminating essay on that. http://tinyurl.com/2sbkwh4c
This extends the work of Theodore Dalrymple's Life at the Bottom, the Worldview of the Underclass, written in the '90 bit still relevant as to the mechanisms in use.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 30, 2023 06:17 AM (u82oZ)

I would have given this article a go, but the first paragraph needed an editor sooooo bad--except for the Sowell quote:

Whatever else it may be, crime is mostly neither glamorous nor mysterious. A quotient of antisocial behavior has figured in every known society. In the Denmark of the human soul there is something eternally rotten. Some have peered into the dark heart of criminality and found, not inscrutable evil or anguished reaction to an oppressive system, but untrammeled self-interest. “All the lofty talk about the ‘root causes’ of crime,” writes social thinker Thomas Sowell, “fail to notice the obvious: People commit crimes because they are people—because they are innately selfish and do not care how their behavior affects other people, unless they have been raised to behave otherwise or unless they fear the criminal justice system.”

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:23 AM (4UYlo)

194 oops

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:23 AM (4UYlo)

195 I dindu nuffin

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:25 AM (4UYlo)

196
oops

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:23 AM

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 08:25 AM (3qE2b)

197 "Well, nope, actually, AI doesn't "know" anything at all.
Posted by: m"

It "knows" what is in it's database. How it gathers that data and processes it is a function of it's programming. Like a lefty nitwit.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 08:25 AM (vFG9F)

198 Oh and I got some THC gummies which if nothing else relaxes me. But I can't find anywhere on the package how many I can take in a day. It says don't take more than suggested but doesn't suggest how much! So.. I just took one yesterday.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:25 AM (iF0sF)

199 191 Oh I remember how rough it was with our son. God in Heaven I thought that kid would be the death of me. But you know.. he grew out of it. Growing pains, whatever, yeah it can be a bitch to deal with them.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:23 AM (iF0sF)

He got upset more with the note his uncle's gift contained that the gift itself (GED study guide). He says, "I don't blame everybody for my grades and other issues! I know it's my fault!"
Well, that wasn't always the case. But if it's your fault, they you need to fix it kid. And you family wants to help you fix it.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:25 AM (ynpvh)

200
So.. I just took one yesterday.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:25 AM

An entire one or half?

Posted by: Divide by Zero at December 30, 2023 08:26 AM (3qE2b)

201 200

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:26 AM (4UYlo)

202 Speaking of prayers,

Just now figuring out that during the octave of Christmas- the eight days after- the psalms at Laudes in the Divine Office are the psalms of Sunday each day.
I knew we used them for first class feasts, but not for the whole week+.
It is nice to have them practically memorized.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at December 30, 2023 08:27 AM (fDjFn)

203 I would like to share something that makes me happy. We just stopped at Starbucks ( Yes; I know. I know, but kindly parents of the kids on the bus gave us gift cards!) . There was a man sitting behind us- probably in his 70's and I could tell the way he bowed his head and clasped his hands that he was praying silently. Before he ate and drank. I think that's great!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 30, 2023 08:27 AM (ZMz7E)

204 There are few things more fun than a barrel of clowns. A barrel of raptors maybe.

Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 08:27 AM (vFG9F)

205 201 200
Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:26 AM (4UYlo)

LOL

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:27 AM (4UYlo)

206 198 Oh and I got some THC gummies which if nothing else relaxes me. But I can't find anywhere on the package how many I can take in a day. It says don't take more than suggested but doesn't suggest how much! So.. I just took one yesterday.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at December 30, 2023 08:25 AM (iF0sF)

If it states the THC content per gummy, you might be able to find online guides based on weight as to how much you should take.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:28 AM (ynpvh)

207 204 There are few things more fun than a barrel of clowns. A barrel of raptors maybe.
Posted by: fd at December 30, 2023 08:27 AM (vFG9F)

Rap-a-rap-a-rap
they call him the raptor
Rap, rap, rap
you know what he's after

Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:29 AM (4UYlo)

208 NOOD

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:30 AM (ynpvh)

209 Texas does the First Day Hike program- do any of y'alls states?

We were going to hike Dinosaur State Park last year, but when we got there it looked like this year's Burning Man- but without the flood- so we went home and did a cursory hike at our local park.

This year we're trying the Lake Whitney Park- it's new to us and they have a short one I think we can both do.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at December 30, 2023 08:32 AM (fDjFn)

210 Rap-a-rap-a-rap
they call him the raptor
Rap, rap, rap
you know what he's after
Posted by: m at December 30, 2023 08:29 AM (4UYlo)

Stand clear; he might take a craptor !

Posted by: JT at December 30, 2023 08:35 AM (T4tVD)

211 Beverly Hillbillies left the Ozarks for California.

It was The Real McCoys who left West Virginny for Californy.

Posted by: Classic TV at December 30, 2023 08:39 AM (V5BDR)

212 33 If you were to put the entire continental united states on top of australia, all their solar panels would stop working.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 30, 2023 04:49 AM (9UlRk)
----
and Guam would capsize ..... wait, Australia would capsize?

Posted by: Hank Johnson, your braniac in Congress at December 30, 2023 08:47 AM (qfLjt)

213 This might just be the event that gets him on a right track.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at December 30, 2023 08:09 AM (ynpvh)

Prayers up for him as well as the two of you!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar (hOUT3) ~ Next year in Corsicana - again! ~ at December 30, 2023 08:54 AM (hOUT3)

214
Worst state capitals, i.e. cities with no redeeming features:

Trenton (NJ)
Harrisburg (PA)
Springfield (IL)

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at December 30, 2023 09:54 AM (K8W6C)

215 Should we upgrade to M3 MacBooks?

Has Apple stopped soldering SSDs onto the motherboards?

No?

Then, hell no.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at December 30, 2023 10:10 AM (DTX3h)

216 The even-odd program is obviously a joke; i.e., perform some trivially easy task in the least efficient way possible.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at December 30, 2023 10:59 AM (XMwZJ)

217 Apple has resumed selling the latest Apple Watches on its website after a federal appeals court paused a sales and import ban.

The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are now once again available on Apple’s website, a day after some physical Apple stores began selling the watches on December 27th. Apple previously told The Verge that the watches should be available widely in its physical stores by Saturday.

Posted by: SMOD at December 30, 2023 09:50 PM (RovqD)

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