Daily Tech News 23 February 2024

Top Story

Oops, sorry, did we do that, said AT&T after its cellular network suddenly and unexpectedly turned into a pumpkin. (CNN)

"These things happen", a leading expert explained.

"Because", he added.

Tech News

America has landed on the Moon for the first time in fifty years. (Tech Crunch)

As you might guess from the fact that this isn't all over the news, this is a robot lander, and not the manned mission with SpaceX, which is still a couple of years off.

The lander, built and operated by ~~Intelligent~~ Intuitive Machines under contract to NASA, is actually the second such mission this year. Last month Astrobotic Technology launched its own lander, together with a rover created by CMU, but the mission was scrubbed due to a propellant leak that prevented it reaching lunar orbit.
Vice Media is dead. (The Guardian)

Fortunately there are other sites run by idiots with too much money for me to mock - including The Guardian - but not as many as there used to be.

If your schadenfreude supply is running low here's a Mastodon node full of people so stupid that this actually came as a surprise. (Writing Exchange)
Bluesky Social is now federated. (Bluesky)

You can download the code, run your own node, and point the existing Bluesky web, Android, or iOS app at it.

While Bluesky is indeed full of left-wing idiots, if you run your own node you can kick them out.
Yale has reintroduced standardised testing for admissions after noticing that their university was full of idiots. (New York Times)

More so than usual, I mean.
It's Google that made the deal with Reddit for AI training data. (Reuters)

Truly a match made would you fancy in to a mord of foot-by, or is it a grin to the garn that has we warrow, in you'd catch the stive to scull and birst? Maybe a couple or in a sew, nere of ples and sup, but we've the mull for won, and it's as threwn as the blee, and roun to the yive, e'er indled to the beem, e'er in the dour, it's fit to the nune, of we'd yeed.

On the other hand, I don't think it can make things any worse.

Disclaimer: I'm not sure anything can make AI any worse at this point.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Morning!

Posted by: Bruce at February 23, 2024 04:00 AM (vd8XM)

2 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 04:01 AM (fwDg9)

3 http://tinyurl.com/5n7z5nms
20 Tweets from Bad Blue

Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 04:01 AM (fwDg9)

4 Top 5?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:01 AM (omVj0)

5 but the mission was scrubbed due to a propellant leak that prevented it reaching lunar orbit.

I first read that as a " propeller leak"

Posted by: Bruce at February 23, 2024 04:03 AM (vd8XM)

6 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 23, 2024 04:04 AM (v9vY1)

7 Evening and morning to all the insomaniacals in space and on the planets! Neptune is nice this time of its orbit, I hear. Depending on where you're located, I guess, same as Earth.

Last night I shut the cats out of the bedroom and actually slept until the alarm. I hate to do it; I like having Stirling purr next to me when I wake up; but if I want to get back to sleep, having him there doesn't work.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:05 AM (omVj0)

8 And oh -- 'tis Friday, the consummation devoutly to be wished!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:05 AM (omVj0)

9 Good morning again morons

This may be the first time I understood most of Pixy's post.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:07 AM (RIvkX)

10 3 http://tinyurl.com/5n7z5nms
20 Tweets from Bad Blue
Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 04:01 AM (fwDg9)

Thanks, Skip!

Posted by: m at February 23, 2024 04:09 AM (Ncap6)

11 Local TV news reports a hardware store now admitting customers one at a time only.

Calling the police is "useless" says the owner.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:11 AM (RIvkX)

12 382 Good morning morons

I know I've got insomnia but waking up before Pixy is bad, real bad.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 03:52 AM (RIvkX)

Insomnia 'cuz why, and what can be done?

Posted by: m at February 23, 2024 04:12 AM (Ncap6)

13 Insomnia 'cuz why, and what can be done?
Posted by: m at February 23, 2024

***
I've ben trying doses of magnesium and a small dash of melatonin; not looking at the computer before bed; and, as I mentioned above, as a last-ditch effort, locking the cats out of the bedroom.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:17 AM (omVj0)

14 Pixy, did you make up that last paragraph of yours? Or is it ancient Aussie slang or even Elizabethan street cant? Or, don't tell me, something from A Clockwork Orange? Much as I love SF, I couldn't get through that book. The edition I had gave no glossary for all the terms Burgess created.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:20 AM (omVj0)

15 That paragraph is a direct quote from ChatGPT when it suffered a digital stroke a couple of days ago.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 23, 2024 04:21 AM (BLOW1)

16 We got 67 F. here. Winter is over, about a week earlier than usual. Every year a switch is thrown in Wherever on March 1, and we no longer have anything like cold weather. But here we are seven days early. Gah.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:24 AM (omVj0)

17
Tech Related:

Nancy Pelosi's $NVDA calls have made her $1,700,00 in 92 days, more than eight times her annual salary of ~$223,500.

But lock up Martha Stewart for insider trading. Not that I like MS.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 04:25 AM (nIvob)

18 That paragraph is a direct quote from ChatGPT when it suffered a digital stroke a couple of days ago.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 23, 2024

***
Then somewhere deep in its CPU there is an ancient moldering copy of Chaucer and one of Clockwork, I guess.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:25 AM (omVj0)

19 My insomnia started at the beginning if the pandemic, I was working 24/7 for weeks.

I went back to work in January and it is a source of anxiety.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:26 AM (RIvkX)

20 I feel more rested, but am not up to a workout. Good excuse to relax a bit on a Friday morn, innit?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:27 AM (omVj0)

21 A Clockwork Orange is probably my #1 favorite novel. My 8th grade English teacher got sick of me writing every essay about one book.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:27 AM (RIvkX)

22 I feel more rested, but am not up to a workout. Good excuse to relax a bit on a Friday morn, innit?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:27 AM (omVj0)
====

I'm just here for the twirling.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:28 AM (RIvkX)

23
If I get outside and walk around in the sunshine for at least half an hour I can sleep eight uninterrupted hours. In Pennsylvania, in February not much dependable sunshine every day.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 04:29 AM (nIvob)

24 11 Local TV news reports a hardware store now admitting customers one at a time only.

Calling the police is "useless" says the owner.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:11 AM (RIvkX)

This oughta make the news nationwide!

Posted by: m at February 23, 2024 04:29 AM (Ncap6)

25 19 My insomnia started at the beginning if the pandemic, I was working 24/7 for weeks.

I went back to work in January and it is a source of anxiety.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:26 AM (RIvkX)

Darn. Sorry. Maybe twirling will help.

Posted by: m at February 23, 2024 04:31 AM (Ncap6)

26 The Babylon Bee

http://tinyurl.com/yuf6cvtc

The headline is a gem.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 23, 2024 04:36 AM (v9vY1)

27
@unusual_whales
I get it.

You want to follow Nancy Pelosi's portfolio. So we built the best way to do it.

Go to our Portfolio link and click "follow" for Pelosi to get updates as they come: http://unusualwhales.com/portfolios

Hahaha. I threatened to do this when Obama was in office and they passed a law to prevent them from trading while in office. Obama bragged about it at the end of the SOTU address, "Put it on my desk" he bragged. They rescinded it a few months later. Quietly. Very quietly.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 04:38 AM (nIvob)

28 Thanks m, hopefully I will fall back asleep

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:43 AM (RIvkX)

29 Yeah,
ATT was fun yesterday. Until I figured out it wasn't my phone, I thought it was broke and I was going to need a new one.

I thought something was a little strange when I called my provider, Consumer Cellular. At first I was told it would be 10 minutes to talk to a human. Then it was 20 minutes. Then 50. Back to 20 . Meanwhile I searched for info on the net and found that ATT was being crappy.

Posted by: Bruce at February 23, 2024 04:51 AM (vd8XM)

30 I'm sure the FAA, DHS, and a few others will investigate the hell out of ATT and determine that a fine must be paid to....someone.

Posted by: Bruce at February 23, 2024 04:53 AM (vd8XM)

31 It seemed to be an east coast phenomenon

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:56 AM (RIvkX)

32 Later on Thursday, AT&T said an “initial review” of the outage found it may have been caused by an error within the company and not a cyberattack.

Somebody is going to get a spiffy new performance improvement plan and disinvited from the company Christmas party.

Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 04:57 AM (s8ZA+)

33 It seemed to be an east coast phenomenon
Posted by: San Franpsycho

I'm in Illinois and was out for almost 5 hours

Posted by: Bruce at February 23, 2024 04:57 AM (vd8XM)

34 I get daily 'help me win' ads from Biden on YouTube and other web sites. Hey folks, just send me what you can, and I will be most grateful.
Right away Joe, the money is in the mail..../s

Posted by: Colin at February 23, 2024 04:58 AM (/z/eU)

35 Somebody is going to get a spiffy new performance improvement plan and disinvited from the company Christmas party.
Posted by: Lost in Space

And a (cold crappy) pizza lunch meeting for all

Posted by: Bruce at February 23, 2024 04:58 AM (vd8XM)

36 I catered a lunch meeting yesterday. The least expensive sandwich was $16.95

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 05:00 AM (RIvkX)

37
It seemed to be an east coast phenomenon

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:56 AM

I think it started east coast then cascaded west. After someone mentioned it on Tech Thread yesterday I checked (somewhere after 4 am) and discovered my Consumer Cellular network was mort.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 05:00 AM (nIvob)

38 As we navigate the ever-evolving business landscape, we need to adapt and best align our strategies to be more competitive in the long term.

Vice's plan was to grow rich selling ads. That's it, the whole plan. And taking vacations.

Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 05:11 AM (s8ZA+)

39 My side door security camera just let me know it's fully charged. Degree of difficulty: it's charged by a solar panel and it's 3:00 am in the morning here in Las Cruces. That is one efficient solar panel.

Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 05:14 AM (s8ZA+)

40 Vice's plan was to grow rich selling ads. That's it, the whole plan. And taking vacations.
Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 05:11 AM (s8ZA+)
===
It's the New Economy

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 05:17 AM (RIvkX)

41 I catered a lunch meeting yesterday. The least expensive sandwich was $16.95
Posted by: San Franpsycho

On average, how much is it going to cost to repair each car that got broken into while you were at lunch there in San Francisco. Seems to me that should be added to the price of the sandwich.

Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 05:17 AM (s8ZA+)

42
Moonlight. It does actually possess some tiny amount of energy to power a solar device.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 05:19 AM (nIvob)

43 All week I tried not turning on phone or tablet in my middle of night awaking. It seems to have shortened the awake time.

Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 05:22 AM (fwDg9)

44 Good morning! I had no unusual issues with cell service yesterday, but then again I am used to the suck that is AT&T so maybe I just didn't notice.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at February 23, 2024 05:23 AM (YRsIm)

45 On average, how much is it going to cost to repair each car that got broken into while you were at lunch there in San Francisco. Seems to me that should be added to the price of the sandwich.
Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 05:17 AM (s8ZA+)
===
I walked!
/triumphantly

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 05:25 AM (RIvkX)

46 >>It's Google that made the deal with Reddit for AI training data.

If you added the commentariate from The Verge and Slashdot to the training modeling, you would probably have the most Ridiculous and Incomprehensible Woke AI ChatBot ever created.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 23, 2024 05:26 AM (XV/Pl)

47 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 23, 2024 05:26 AM (ju2Fy)

48 If some politicians in California can only get the 50 dollars an hour passed, all the problems will be solved, right?

Posted by: Colin at February 23, 2024 05:28 AM (/z/eU)

49 At end of Bad Blue a few pictures of what would be older civilization people and of course not Caucasian.
Could pull it up but in same vain in Scotland they found a around thousands of years woman and fleshed her out so you see what she would have looked like. And of course darkened her skin color like they found her in North Africa.

Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 05:30 AM (fwDg9)

50 I've been asking that question since the "Fight for $15" began.

Why stop at $15? Why not $30? Why not $50?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 05:31 AM (RIvkX)

51
"These things happen", a leading expert explained.

"Because", he added.

He added, "We could tell you the actual reason why, but you wouldn't understand it."

"Because you're NOT experts ... like we are," he concluded, smugly.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 23, 2024 05:32 AM (xG4kz)

52
Why am I continually getting that ad where Slow Joe is hawking Nikki Haley Commemorative Plates?

I don't shoot skeet.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 23, 2024 05:34 AM (xG4kz)

53 Google should make a deal with Ace and Pixy to use 20 years worth of posts and comments for AI training.

Gemini, write me a PHD on particle physics.

The travel of particles in a medium is very complex. The Glock 23 is a great daily carry weapon, it fires particles at a high rate of speed. Prometheus was a fine film and highly under-rated. Check out these boobs. They are nood.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at February 23, 2024 05:35 AM (NYzgN)

54 @50

>>Why stop at $15? Why not $30? Why not $50?

Because even ridiculous leftist tw*tbags know that nobidies going to pay a cashier 50 bucks an hour.

And that's just the floor when you start upping minimum wage, everyone's salaries get bumped up when you start jacking with the minimum wage.

It becomes completely unsustainable for most businesses.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 23, 2024 05:36 AM (XV/Pl)

55 Thanks for the BigBadBlue Tweets !

Posted by: JT at February 23, 2024 05:36 AM (T4tVD)

56 Well lucky me, next bunch of days I have 2 jobs close so should be jumping back and forth to them.
In the township today.

Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 05:37 AM (fwDg9)

57 Well lucky me, next bunch of days I have 2 jobs close so should be jumping back and forth to them.
In the township today.
Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 05:37 AM (fwDg9)

Nice !

Stay safe !

Posted by: JT at February 23, 2024 05:42 AM (T4tVD)

58
That was not so much a Mastodon node as it was a Mastodon bolus.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 23, 2024 05:43 AM (xG4kz)

59 Still damp out but above freezing
Call sign Forward Dog 9 hitting short road
See you from there

Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 05:43 AM (fwDg9)

60 NY Post: The FBI informant accused by special counsel David Weiss of fabricating a $10 million bribery allegation against President Biden and first son Hunter was rearrested Thursday using the same charges.

The Bidens really don't want this guy talking.

Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 05:43 AM (s8ZA+)

61 I liked the part where prices of goods and services immediately doubled over two years so that the $7.25 minimum wage remained almost exactly, perfectly at the same value once we shifted to the $15 "living" wage. That was neat to watch in real time.

Shame for the people making $18/hour.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Did you know Blues Clues had a tranny / pride parade episode? at February 23, 2024 05:46 AM (Wg1x4)

62 mornin yall. Am I supposed to believe ATT wasn't hacked? After CNN tells me so? Right.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 05:47 AM (vFG9F)

63 In a couple of months we will get a different story.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 05:47 AM (vFG9F)

64 @60

>>The Bidens really don't want this guy talking.

I figure they will keep re-arresting him every couple of weeks for the next 8 months, probably sweep up other Russian actors and somehow tie it to the RNC, so they can conjure a NATSEC Investigation in order to spy on the RNC in the run-up to the election.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 23, 2024 05:48 AM (XV/Pl)

65 Sorry, he cant testify in your little congressional hearing. He is under indictment.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at February 23, 2024 05:51 AM (NYzgN)

66 That paragraph is a direct quote from ChatGPT when it suffered a digital stroke a couple of days ago.
Posted by: Pixy Misa

Or more succinctly: This is normal ChatGPT output.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 23, 2024 05:54 AM (1YLzM)

67 Good morning!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 23, 2024 05:54 AM (1YLzM)

68 I walked!
/triumphantly
Posted by: San Franpsycho

I hope you cleaned your shoes before entering your home!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 23, 2024 05:55 AM (1YLzM)

69
Tomorrow is Pinewood Derby Day for the gKids' Cub Scout Pack. A phoenix and a penguin will carry the bestest of best wishes for this noble escutcheon. I will need to decide upon, and then go acquire, a tasty comestible for the concession stand.

My "I'll get to it immediately once the time arrives when I decide immediately is now" operating style is maddening to those who expect me to drop everything and focus on them and their request NOW. "Are you gonna ..." and "When can I expect ..." are phrases that I hear often.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 23, 2024 05:59 AM (xG4kz)

70 Vice shutting down? What, there is not enough of a market for stories on people's sexual fetishes and how anime is actual child porn?

Huh.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 23, 2024 06:01 AM (di6C2)

71 "Surgical Strike"

A devotional from "Every man's ministry " for February 23rd.

http://tinyurl.com/92whuzmk

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 23, 2024 06:05 AM (Ecw+G)

72 I've ben trying doses of magnesium and a small dash of melatonin; not looking at the computer before bed; and, as I mentioned above, as a last-ditch effort, locking the cats out of the bedroom.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:17 AM (omVj0)

Wolfus, I'm not affiliated with this guy (as they say), and this is kind of spendy, but you might try looking at the stuff Mike Huckabee ~~shills for~~ endorses:

https://www.relaxium.com/

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at February 23, 2024 06:06 AM (PiwSw)

Posted by: Don Black at February 23, 2024 06:09 AM (geLO8)

74 Comfort in hard times. A woman reflects on a passage from 2nd Corinthians and some encouragement she received from others after her daughter was in a serious accident:

http://tinyurl.com/5am3vxmc

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 23, 2024 06:12 AM (53MTM)

75 "Tomorrow is Pinewood Derby Day for the gKids' Cub Scout Pack"

Those were always fun. Every year I would tote my little bandsaw down to the church and cut out the outline of cars from the blocks of wood in the kits. Some kids were on there own or had help from their parents to finish their cars, but there were always a couple that needed extra help, so they would come over to my shop for the shaping and sanding of their dream cars in preparation for paint. The finished products give the kids the confidence that they can actually build something, and take pride in the finished product.

We don't do that anymore though. The church that sponsored the troop kicked them out because of the gay leaders issue. I suppose having homos getting access to people's kids was more important.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 06:14 AM (vFG9F)

76 Anyway, have a great time Krebs and keep on doing what you are doing. It does make a difference in those kids lives.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 06:16 AM (vFG9F)

77 Pixy-misa

An 'AI' trained on 4Chan.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 23, 2024 06:18 AM (CopII)

78 Prescription for insomnia has always began and ended with a quite, dark room, free of pets.

I've always been bewildered by people who sleep with their pets, but that's their thing, whatever.

Next you add things like, make sure you're clean and showered before you get into bed, make sure you've stopped eating food and ingesting any caffeine or stimulants a couple of hours before bed.

If you want something to drink, a caseine protein shake or smoothie before bed can help promote sleep and give your gut something to tide you over.

And then if you need something, 2-3 chewable baby aspirins, some extended release tylenol and 15mg of Melatonin will definitely do the trick.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 23, 2024 06:20 AM (XV/Pl)

79 43 All week I tried not turning on phone or tablet in my middle of night awaking. It seems to have shortened the awake time.
Posted by: Skip at February 23, 2024 05:22 AM (fwDg9)

Oh, good idea.

Posted by: m at February 23, 2024 06:21 AM (Ncap6)

80 Off to the electron mines, folken. I'll check in later.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 06:26 AM (omVj0)

81 It's Friday, it's Friday! Happy, happy Friday!

*twirl*

Posted by: Rosasharn at February 23, 2024 06:26 AM (PzBTm)

82 Roger- we copy you twirling

Posted by: Don Black at February 23, 2024 06:28 AM (geLO8)

83 (I know your name isn't Roger)

Posted by: Don Black at February 23, 2024 06:29 AM (geLO8)

84 Post #69

Thanks for your work with the Pinewood Derby, Krebs. That was such a fun thing for our son when he was in Scouts and we still have a pinewood car or two.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 23, 2024 06:29 AM (H3yHQ)

85 I ise one generic Benydryl if i am not sleeping

Posted by: Jamaica at February 23, 2024 06:30 AM (nrpZ6)

86
My wife used to watch 'Little House on the Prairie' and one of her favorite episodes was when a bank foreclosed on a poor farmer who had a bad harvest. The bank had an auction and no one bid on the farm except one person, who paid a single dollar, iirc. He then turned around and deeded the farm back to the original owner.

Could NYC seize Trump properties and have something similar happen? I hope it doesn't come to that but...

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 06:32 AM (nIvob)

87 Speaking of building, if this week was anything like last week the young people at my son's school will spend seven hours today building and painting their entry for the flower show. I think being young he usually doesn't have trouble sleeping. He is fortunate that way.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 23, 2024 06:34 AM (H3yHQ)

88 Could NYC seize Trump properties and have something similar happen? I hope it doesn't come to that but...
Posted by: Divide by Zero

No, it can't happen because there are too many in N.Y. that approve of the madman in black's ruling.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 23, 2024 06:34 AM (1YLzM)

89 @86

>>Could NYC seize Trump properties and have something similar happen? I hope it doesn't come to that but...

Yeah, no, that's not going to happen, If NY ultimately expropriates properties, they are going to turn them over to an apparatchik.

Probably Blackrock or some other Deep State entity will swoop in a snarf it up.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 23, 2024 06:35 AM (XV/Pl)

90 what would be cool is if Elon swooped in and paid Trump's bill

but the world might explode

Posted by: Don Black at February 23, 2024 06:36 AM (geLO8)

91 NYC trying to sell Trump's real estate assets will probably result in another Flatiron Building sale fiasco.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 23, 2024 06:36 AM (CopII)

92 Good morning. I woke up (very) early today.

So I will take this opportunity to ask Pixy (or anyone else who would like to pipe up):

We both have android phones and tablets. We've found we cannot do what we need, so...we're looking for a desktop computer to do the following things:
1. print pdfs or
2. convert said pdfs (via Acrobat) into book format, to bind them
3. newsletters with photos and graphics
4. Maybe to run a CNC or laser engraver
NO games, NO streaming, NO movies, etc.
Max $2500. Less is better, of course!

any advice? THank you!

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 23, 2024 06:38 AM (Rbu5d)

93
I don't know how anyone can sit on the Supreme Court and watch the political persecution of an individual continue without smacking down the insanity.

I have no respect for the leftists on the court.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 06:38 AM (nIvob)

94 I’m beginning to think there’s a bunch of crooks in NYC. No wonder President Trump moved to Florida

Posted by: Eromero at February 23, 2024 06:38 AM (mMVv3)

95 Max $2500. Less is better, of course!

any advice? THank you!
Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 23, 2024 06:38 AM (Rbu5d)

For $2500 you could get about ten computers that are far more than you need.

Honestly, hit up Newegg and find the cheapest rig you can find that comes with peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc) and you'll be fine. Spend your time researching printers instead. That's going to be your real pain point.

Posted by: Warai-O'toko at February 23, 2024 06:41 AM (9UlRk)

96 13...I've ben trying doses of magnesium and a small dash of melatonin; not looking at the computer before bed; and, as I mentioned above, as a last-ditch effort, locking the cats out of the bedroom.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 23, 2024 04:17 AM (omVj0)

I've been taking a good B50 complex early in the morning, per Dr Sasha Gominek. Plus sufficient magnesium an hour before bedtime. It seems to be working. No melatonin for me, though, it makes me hungover in the morning~ glad it's working for you.

Good interviews on YT with her, and she has her own website. She's a neurologist.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 23, 2024 06:43 AM (Rbu5d)

97 Most any new PC will do all those things QA. For $1000 or so you should be able to get a decent Windows based system with a nice big monitor. Anything beyond that will get you more speed but not really any more functionality. Check out Dell and HP.

If you want a Mac figure at least twice that.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 06:44 AM (vFG9F)

98 You may need a serial card to interface with your machine tools, if they're not ethernet or usb, so that might rule out some things if you need to put in a serial card.... but maybe not, since usb to serial adapters are everywhere now and dirt cheap, so you can probably find whatever you need to connect.

Posted by: Warai-O'toko at February 23, 2024 06:44 AM (9UlRk)

99 >I don't know how anyone can sit on the Supreme Court and watch the political persecution of an individual continue without smacking down the insanity.
--

SCOTUS can't act unless and until Trump's case makes it thru the appeals process and the Court decides to review it*

*as in all legal questions: Unless I'm Wrong™

Posted by: Don Black at February 23, 2024 06:44 AM (geLO8)

100 Tech joke:

I changed my password to "incorrect". So whenever I forget what it is the computer will say "Your password is incorrect".

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 23, 2024 06:46 AM (H3yHQ)

101 "For $2500 you could get about ten computers that are far more than you need."

That's true. A $200-$300 refurb PC will do everything QA described.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 06:47 AM (vFG9F)

102 For $2500 you could get about ten computers that are far more than you need.

Honestly, hit up Newegg and find the cheapest rig you can find that comes with peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc) and you'll be fine. Spend your time researching printers instead. That's going to be your real pain point.
Posted by: Warai-O'toko

I think that depends on what type of CNC/laser engraving is required.
If he's doing the cad work on the computer before sending it to the CNC printer/engraver it'll have to be able to run something like HP Solidworks or similar, that requires a better processor and lots more ram than the cheap systems will have as purchased.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 23, 2024 06:47 AM (1YLzM)

103 Later on Thursday, AT&T said an “initial review” of the outage found it may have been caused by an error within the company and not a cyberattack.

Somebody is going to get a spiffy new performance improvement plan and disinvited from the company Christmas party.
Posted by: Lost in Space at February 23, 2024 04:57 AM (s8ZA+)

Some low-level staffer in the Cleveland office is in for an escorted trip to the exits, if things go true to form.

Posted by: Count de Monet at February 23, 2024 06:47 AM (4I/2K)

104
SCOTUS can't act unless and until Trump's case makes it thru the appeals process and the Court decides to review it*

*as in all legal questions: Unless I'm Wrong™

Posted by: Don Black at February 23, 2024 06:44 AM

They can 'pull a case up' - it's rare but has happened. This is one of those cases where the SC swore an oath to uphold the constitution and it is plain for all to see that these judges and juries have torn the constitution to shreds in furtherance of communism.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at February 23, 2024 06:49 AM (nIvob)

105 Mrs fd has a laser engraver that's USB and works fine with a 7th gen i5. You don't need much processor to run it. She does the layout on another PC that has more horsepower, but even that is not very processor intensive.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 06:50 AM (vFG9F)

106 Wonder what the computer baseline is for a VTube rig?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 23, 2024 06:50 AM (CopII)

107 Hey y'all..

Posting from hospital and all insomnia aids availeth me not.

I wasn't in scouts very long so I did the regatta instead of the derby. Fun though!

Yesterday my mom died at about 7:45 A.M. It's actually a bit of relief that I've been at a remove from it. My mom was reclusive, so no big to-do for the memorial, just close family. I'm grateful she dropped out of college to have me at 19 (I was conceived in wedlock, shittards, so it can be done, even by Boomers) so I could know her for all my 31 years 😉. Her most painful suffering lasted less than two months, so I'm grateful for that as well. I've already pre-grieved, but now the reality is that the Moon is gone from my sky for the rest of this life.

Just catharsis. I'm happy to talk about other things to kill time before my first solid food in five days.

Posted by: logprof at February 23, 2024 06:50 AM (tzSAX)

108 How about we nuke Cleveland from orbit just to be sure?

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 23, 2024 06:51 AM (CopII)

109 yo wut sup

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 23, 2024 06:52 AM (ENQN6)

110 I'm happy to talk about other things to kill time before my first solid food in five days.
Posted by: logprof

Godspeed to your mom logprof.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 23, 2024 06:53 AM (1YLzM)

111 That's true, if you have a design suite you already use and know, check the recommended specs for it before you pull the trigger on a computer purchase.

Posted by: Warai-O'toko at February 23, 2024 06:53 AM (9UlRk)

112 Sorry to hear it logprof. It's not easy even knowing it's coming, but the release from suffering is some comfort.

Posted by: fd at February 23, 2024 06:53 AM (vFG9F)

113 How about we nuke Cleveland from orbit just to be sure?
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 23, 2024 06:51 AM (CopII)

Waste of ordnance. No one would be able to tell the difference.

Posted by: Warai-O'toko at February 23, 2024 06:55 AM (9UlRk)

114 Prayers for logprof.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at February 23, 2024 06:55 AM (R4t5M)

115 Nood J.J...

Posted by: Hawkpilot at February 23, 2024 06:56 AM (k6uu5)

116 Yeah seriously this is such a blatant torturing of the Constitution and the Supreme Court is sitting with their thumbs up their collective ass.

Posted by: logprof at February 23, 2024 06:57 AM (tzSAX)

117 Canethia Miller, 27, revealed that after receiving the huge windfall, she spent a majority of the cash on a week-long luxury vacation to Miami with her three kids and their father. She was handed $10,800 from a DC government pilot program last year. Despite admitting that her array of food stamps and subsidized housing still left her short each month, Miller confessed that she quickly splurged over $6,000 on a lavish Miami vacation. 'I wanted to blow it. I wanted to have fun,'

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 23, 2024 06:57 AM (ENQN6)

118 Prayers for logprof.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner

And the soul of his Mom.

Posted by: JT at February 23, 2024 06:57 AM (T4tVD)

119 They need to fire that telco reporter. It's a lot of physical cables with software used for routing. I swear, people get stupider every day. And "the cloud" is physical cables and severs. It's not magic

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 23, 2024 06:57 AM (USTAS)

120 Posted by: Warai-O'toko at February 23, 2024 06:41 AM (9UlRk)
Thank you!

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 23, 2024 06:58 AM (Rbu5d)

121 5 but the mission was scrubbed due to a propellant leak that prevented it reaching lunar orbit.

I first read that as a " propeller leak"

Posted by: Bruce at February 23, 2024 04:03 AM (vd8XM)
----
Is that like turn signal fluid?

Posted by: Ciampino - use the Orange one in winter at February 23, 2024 07:00 AM (qfLjt)

122 Posted by: logprof at February 23, 2024 06:50 AM (tzSAX)

My deep condolences logprof.
May her memory be eternal.

Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker at February 23, 2024 07:03 AM (Rbu5d)

123 Good morning, friends in boxes, and happy birthday JJ!

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead...Wearing Pants and Working at February 23, 2024 07:04 AM (DIB8X)

124 g'mornin' everyone!

pleased to report that my cheap burner phone worked flawlessly all day yesterday, just like every other day.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - these lying bastardi e stronzi have been lying to us for decades at February 23, 2024 07:05 AM (QwWES)

125 Prayers for you logprof, and for your mom.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead...Wearing Pants and Working at February 23, 2024 07:07 AM (DIB8X)

126 Is now a good occasion to assert that the moon landings were faked? 😆

Posted by: logprof at February 23, 2024 07:11 AM (tzSAX)

127 Prayers for you and your family, logprof. How wonderful you had such a caring mother. Reminds me of something a friend of mine said about his mother: " She was the best friend a young boy could ever have."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 23, 2024 07:18 AM (tF1qI)

128 11 Local TV news reports a hardware store now admitting customers one at a time only.

Calling the police is "useless" says the owner.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 23, 2024 04:11 AM (RIvkX)
----
It's a hardware store so surely it has tire irons?

Posted by: Ciampino - it doesn't matter if not heated at February 23, 2024 07:18 AM (qfLjt)

129 Thanks for all the prayers and intercessions y'all!

❤️

Posted by: logprof at February 23, 2024 07:19 AM (tzSAX)

130 The lunar lander was built by Intuitive Machines, not Intelligent Machines. I turned down their job offer weeks ago.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at February 23, 2024 07:23 AM (iZEhM)

131 NO games, NO streaming, NO movies, etc.
Max $2500. Less is better, of course!

any advice? THank you!
Posted by: Question Authority bumper sticker

-

You don't game but you will rarely go wrong aiming for a gaming computer with a better (read "not energy efficient") processor, and you're not going to find those in most mainstream systems that aren't gaming focused. Manufacturers put neutered low powered crap in their mainstream youtube / facebook boxes because Global Warming. Gaming units get the powerful processors.

I beat this dead horse a lot, but Acer sells factory refurbs on ebay with 2 year warranties, which would add $300-500 to the price of one bought from many retailers. Random grab for $830

ebay.com/itm/266384827895

You can probably find a pretty great mid range unit for $1000 even at ripoff big box stores like Best Buy.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Did you know Blues Clues had a tranny / pride parade episode? at February 23, 2024 07:31 AM (Wg1x4)

132 When my son was in the Boy Scouts the troop had a fathers pine wood derby race so the fathers could build their own cars along with helping their son build theirs. It cuts down on the dad doing all the work on the kids car.

Posted by: Cicero skip at February 23, 2024 07:32 AM (4ezYQ)

133 Also unless you just absolutely NEED a desktop, I'd seriously consider a gaming laptop. That portability is nice especially when you're not really giving up anything.

$1000, two year warranty.

Acer Predator Helios 18" i7-13700HX GeForce RTX 4060 16GB Ram 1TB SSD

ebay.com/itm/256187639427

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Did you know Blues Clues had a tranny / pride parade episode? at February 23, 2024 07:34 AM (Wg1x4)

134 107
Posted by: logprof at February 23, 2024 06:50 AM (tzSAX)

----
Your Mum was special. RIP.

Posted by: Ciampino -- at February 23, 2024 07:50 AM (qfLjt)

135
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at February 23, 2024 08:06 AM (bEb2S)

136 107 the Moon is gone from my sky for the rest of this life
Posted by: logprof at February 23, 2024 06:50 AM (tzSAX)

What a lovely way of expressing this loss.
Blessings on you.

Posted by: m at February 23, 2024 11:23 AM (o3SCB)

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