Daily Tech News 29 August 2024

Top Story

OpenSea has been issued a Wells notice by the SEC. (MSN)

To unpack:

OpenSea is a leading marketplace for NFTs.

NFTs are in effect digital baseball cards. They have no intrinsic value, but people put value on them largely based on their rarity.

A Wells notice is issued by the SEC when they plan to sue a company for violating securities laws.

So what the SEC is alleging here is that any collectible item without intrinsic value - baseball cards, Pokemon cards, MTG cards, US senators - is a security subject to the commission's regulations.

Is there any law stating this? No.

Didn't overturning Chevron clamp the wheels of federal agencies trying to issue this sort of sweeping ruling on their own authority? Yes.

Aren't NFTs a scam anyway? Only mostly.

Tech News

Intel's latest Sapphire Rapids Xeon workstation CPUs are here. (Hot Hardware)

The w7-2595X with 26 cores is only three times the price of AMD's 9950X and is actually faster in some benchmarks.

You also need a more expensive motherboard and more expensive memory, but on the other hand the motherboards come with workstation-class features like 8 memory slots and 5 full-length PCIe slots.

And it only uses 50% more power. That's actually... Not that bad.

But given what it delivers it's only for people who truly need the workstation features, not for people looking to spend a little more for a little more performance.
Second order effects of the replication crisis. (Nature)

In which researchers search for the papers that cite papers that have been retracted.

Recursively.
He calls his tool a Feet of Clay Detector, referring to an analogy, originally from the Bible, about statues or edifices that collapse because of their weak clay foundations.
Good.
The second season of Amazon's half-billion-dollar train wreck The Rings of Power is going to be even worse than the first. (The Verge)

That's not what they say, but it's there in what they so desperately avoid saying.
Star Wars Outlaws is complete disaster of a game that will end with the studio being closed and everyone who worked on it looking for employment in the fast food industry. (The Verge)

That's not what they say, but it's there in what they so desperately avoid saying.
I have a longer story looking at recent successes and failures in the computer gaming world - and the desperate attempts of the press to cover for the failures and cut down the successes - but it will have to wait for the weekend.
AMD will be providing a BIOS update that fixes a core-to-core communications latency problem with Zen 5. (WCCFTech)

This is unlikely to fix gaming performance, though, because the problem only happens on the 12 and 16 core models, and they benchmark pretty consistently with the 6 and 8 core models for games.

It will help with heavy synchronised workloads like databases, though, so great for servers.

Disclaimer: I'll trade you a mint 1962 Ted Kennedy for a Bob Menendez and a shiny Pikachu.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:41 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'morning Pixy and Horde.

Nooding duties performed.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 29, 2024 04:42 AM (O7YUW)

2 Quick on the draw, there, Mr. Grumpy and Recalcitrant!

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 04:42 AM (64Zez)

3 >>>US senators

Ha!

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 04:43 AM (64Zez)

4 Top 5?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 04:44 AM (omVj0)

5 Hello, Tech Threadists. I read the thread every day, but hours later. This is my snooze time. But since I'm awake, answering nature's call... live hi. Could use advice.

I received a new HP laptop for my birthday. Win 11 pro installed. Now I need to know all the tips and tricks for defeating the spyware and cleaning up the W11 crap. (Other than, you know, "install Mint!") Wish I'd been jotting down all the notes I've seen on here over the years.

What do I need to do before I even let this dangerous device access the web?

I've done some websearch - using this trusty but aging Asus Win8 tablet. But there's so much to know. Any suggestions, or links to helpful sites would be mighty welcome.

Right now, big yaaawn, back to bed. I'll check for replies... tomorrow as usual.

Thanks to Pixy for all the work on the blog and this thread.

Posted by: mindful webworker - sleeptyping at August 29, 2024 04:44 AM (wVNP5)

6 G'Day everyone
No rest for the weary, another long day coming

Posted by: Skip at August 29, 2024 04:45 AM (fwDg9)

7 @2/m: I was up at 03:30, enough time for some coffee and becoming coherent, that's all.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 29, 2024 04:45 AM (O7YUW)

8 m..

Carried over

----------------------
GAINZZZ threads seem to show up sporadically.

July 9th = 221 lbs.
BP: 142/80
Resting Heart-rate: 80

Yesterday = 197lbs.
125/72
56

Hoping to hit 195 lbs for the wedding at the end of next month.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 04:47 AM (a1415)

9 Pixy: Everything alright?

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 29, 2024 04:48 AM (O7YUW)

10 Thanks, VIA! Rooting for you!

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 04:48 AM (64Zez)

11 Evening and morning, all you creatures of the AoSHQ world! 'Tis Thursday; we're almost to the three-day weekend, most of us. My employer is sending all the employees home today at 2:00 because there is a Holy Football Game this afternoon and they need the parking. Maybe I can tiptoe out at 1:45, hit the grocery for a few things, and read for a while before dinner tonight.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 04:49 AM (omVj0)

12 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at August 29, 2024 04:49 AM (sAmhv)

13 Saturday morning for my birthday, Miss Linda and I are going to a local eatery that is famous for its chargrilled oysters. They offer breakfast now, and you can have that, or more traditional fare. It ain't cheap; but it's supposed to be very nice. They don't take reservations and they are cashless. I'm sure I can tip our waiter/waitress in cash, though.

Afterwards I plan to walk across the street to the local pipe and cigar shop, buy an ounce of a new blend, and sit with my pipe for a bit, while she scampers through the big mall a couple of blocks away.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 04:50 AM (omVj0)

14 So here I am, plugging away on this MacBook Air, 2014 edition.

Knowing that at some point I will have to replace it.

But man.....I'm ~~cheap~~ thrifty.
It it hasn't died yet.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 04:51 AM (a1415)

15 VIA, that "56" in your comment: your heart rate? That's *very* good, a cherry atop your other good numbers. My resting rate is about that and has been for years.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 04:52 AM (omVj0)

16
They don't take reservations and they are cashless.

What the hell is with that cashless crap? Why?

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 29, 2024 04:53 AM (RKVpM)

17 Wolfus, yes, that is resting heart rate.

All data is gathered by my Apple Watch and associated app.

Heart rate and BP are probably reflection of dropping from one pot to one cup of coffee per day.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 04:54 AM (a1415)

18 16
They don't take reservations and they are cashless.

What the hell is with that cashless crap? Why?

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 29, 2024 04:53 AM (RKVpM)

You will eat zee bugz. You will pay with a credit card.

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 04:54 AM (64Zez)

19 We need to spend more money...

Yeh, that's the ticket.

https://tinyurl.com/27u94npx

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 04:56 AM (a1415)

20 9 Pixy: Everything alright?

Yep. Just at the moment I have a daily meeting that ends exactly when this post is supposed to go up. If I don't get a chance to write it earlier it ends up running late.

That will change when daylight saving time switches around.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 29, 2024 04:56 AM (BLOW1)

21 You are much appreciated, Pixy!

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 04:56 AM (64Zez)

22 OOPS, correction.

Blood Pressure is by digital cuff, provided by the VA.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 04:57 AM (a1415)

23 They don't take reservations and they are cashless.
*
What the hell is with that cashless crap? Why?

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 29, 2024

***
Their website even says they have a reverse ATM so you can insert cash if you must and get a temporary card to pay with. This better be a very good dining experience.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 04:57 AM (omVj0)

24 Pixy

Thank you for this daily thread.

I seem to actually learn some stuff from it.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 04:58 AM (a1415)

25 I learn stuff from it, and painlessly, too.

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 04:59 AM (64Zez)

26 Pixy, one more thing...

Are Drop-Bears nocturnal?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 04:59 AM (a1415)

27 Heart rate and BP are probably reflection of dropping from one pot to one cup of coffee per day.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024

***
I'm doing about four small cups now instead of six middle-sized ones a day. My BP has dropped because of the med I'm taking, but the resting heart rate has been 54 or so for a long time -- a legacy of my real running days, I guess.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 04:59 AM (omVj0)

28 Aren't NFTs a scam anyway? Only mostly.

-

The absolute greatest 4Chan trolling that I'm aware of involves NFTs.

A worldwide scam where some 4Chan guys created some sort of "prestigious" NFT with the intent to see if they could get black athletes to buy overtly racist images of monkeys with Nazi symbolism and pricing structures specifically incorporating significant Nazi dates.

They made millions, possibly billions. Still making money so far as I know.

Random youtube grab discussing it:

https://tinyurl.com/2dn5rfls

Posted by: Moron Robbie, Black Tik-Tok Influencer at August 29, 2024 05:00 AM (VEFiD)

29 @20/Pixy: Good to know, thanks for the update.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 29, 2024 05:02 AM (O7YUW)

30 BOING!

First the gardener was here - grass parasite.

Now the plumber is here - problems in the garden water system box.

Not getting much done.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at August 29, 2024 05:05 AM (Vx9n2)

31 26 Pixy, one more thing...

Are Drop-Bears nocturnal?

Drop bears are above such mundanities as day-night cycles. Drop bears make their own rules. Drop bears mix stripes with plaid.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 29, 2024 05:06 AM (BLOW1)

32 "Drop bears are above such mundanities as day-night cycles. Drop bears make their own rules. Drop bears mix stripes with plaid."

Whoa.....

Sounds like they make their own rules for Calvinball as well.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 05:08 AM (a1415)

33 That will change when daylight saving time switches around.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 29, 2024 04:56 AM (BLOW1)
-

Do you move the clock to the north or to the south?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at August 29, 2024 05:08 AM (Vx9n2)

34 Good morning early risers!

Posted by: Rosasharn at August 29, 2024 05:09 AM (PzBTm)

35 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at August 29, 2024 05:10 AM (dg+HA)

36 So, how about if the Trump Team took the line "Karma Chameleon" from the song, and AIed the words into "Kamala Chameleon," and interspersed clips of her saying A and then saying B. Nah?

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 05:11 AM (64Zez)

37 Do they even bother to post the daily Presidential schedule anymore?

Or is it a continuing 9:00am daily lid?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 05:11 AM (a1415)

38 Well, saying A and then saying not-A.

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 05:12 AM (64Zez)

39 Rumors have it that Kroger and Walmart (and probably others) are going to sell most items that are priced by the chip embedded in the item. So at checkout (if their is one) your items are automatically checked out. So I guess all you do is bag you items and leave the store. I have noticed items you buy at Walmart have a small strip inside the box that is probably more than a piece of just tape. Its the future, and I believe Whole Foods has some stores already doing this. All for your convenience , you know. Fewer employees also.

Posted by: Colin at August 29, 2024 05:12 AM (e8qy3)

40 Illegal Aliens do not vote in our elections.

And why it's a good thing when they do!

- Stupid sh*t the media says

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 05:14 AM (a1415)

41 "So at checkout (if their is one) your items are automatically checked out. So I guess all you do is bag you items and leave the store. "

Cashless shopping?

Baltimore has lots of folks who shop Walmart without money.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 05:16 AM (a1415)

42 32 "Drop bears are above such mundanities as day-night cycles. Drop bears make their own rules. Drop bears mix stripes with plaid."

Whoa.....

Sounds like they make their own rules for Calvinball as well.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice

Or Aussie Rules Football. I've been watching some of it at work. The Pentagon Cable system actually shows some sports networks. FS1 has it on after midnight which works fine on my schedule. I kind of get it. There are rules, sort of. Scoring is easy to figure out. To my 'murican eyes, it looks like a rugby/soccer hybrid. Like they couldn't make up their mind on whether to play soccer or rugby so the combined the two and out came Aussie Rules Football. It's entertaining enough for midshift.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at August 29, 2024 05:20 AM (sAmhv)

43 Time for the Morning Walk.

BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at August 29, 2024 05:25 AM (a1415)

44 "So at checkout (if their is one) your items are automatically checked out. So I guess all you do is bag you items and leave the store. "

-

We went to a large city last week and saw that Walmarts there don't have individual checkout lanes any longer. There are two LONG channels leading customers into a central area where one of two unpleasant employees will direct them to the open register.

When we were there I didn't see any human cashiers.

Posted by: Moron Robbie, Black Tik-Tok Influencer at August 29, 2024 05:27 AM (VEFiD)

45 I got an ad idea.... that smarmy asshole "this is a bad person" washed out static effect (you know what i mean) over Trump saying something "bad", then Trump pushing the screen aside, like he's pulling the filter away like a curtain, normal color, no static, and saying, "what? I do. It's pretty obviously the right thing, isn't it? I'm Donald Trump, and i approve this message. That I'm saying. With my face. Right now. "

Make a whole series of fun ads. People love fun ads.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at August 29, 2024 05:28 AM (BAEGB)

46 Good morning. I just read that there are 500,000 Israeli-American voters in Israel that are eligible to vote and a good op-ed about the difference that vote will make for Israel.

Posted by: Ben Had at August 29, 2024 05:31 AM (1k7z0)

47 Muggy outside, 80s already
Forward Dog 9 out,

At least WiFi at this job, listen to 3 podcasts yesterday

Posted by: Skip at August 29, 2024 05:31 AM (fwDg9)

48 Good morning. I just read that there are 500,000 Israeli-American voters in Israel that are eligible to vote and a good op-ed about the difference that vote will make for Israel.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 29, 2024 05:31 AM (1k7z0)

Oy. Half of them are probably pro- rocket attack.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at August 29, 2024 05:32 AM (BAEGB)

49
Its the future, and I believe Whole Foods has some stores already doing this. All for your convenience , you know. Fewer employees also.
Posted by: Colin

===============

I went to an Amazon store like this. I can't remember exactly how it worked, but I think it was off your Amazon account. I think you scanned the items and -- I can't remember how it worked, but there was no plastic, no cash.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at August 29, 2024 05:36 AM (lCaJd)

50 Morning all

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at August 29, 2024 05:40 AM (kPAiX)

51 48 I just read that there are 500,000 Israeli-American voters in Israel that are eligible to vote and a good op-ed about the difference that vote will make for Israel.
Posted by: Ben Had at August 29, 2024 05:31 AM (1k7z0)

Oy. Half of them are probably pro- rocket attack.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at August 29, 2024 05:32 AM (BAEGB)

And they ... live there?

Posted by: m at August 29, 2024 05:43 AM (64Zez)

52 I went to an Amazon store like this. I can't remember exactly how it worked, but I think it was off your Amazon account. I think you scanned the items and -- I can't remember how it worked, but there was no plastic, no cash.
Posted by: Blonde Morticia at August 29, 2024 05:36 AM (lCaJd)

As one walks out of the store, a voice says, "Just remember. We're monitoring you 24 hours a day in order fulfill your consumer needs".

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at August 29, 2024 05:44 AM (g8Ew8)

53 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at August 29, 2024 05:47 AM (hoCmQ)

54 Way early, and actually 76 degrees

Posted by: Skip at August 29, 2024 05:50 AM (bP7AS)

55 We went to a large city last week and saw that Walmarts there don't have individual checkout lanes any longer. There are two LONG channels leading customers into a central area where one of two unpleasant employees will direct them to the open register.

When we were there I didn't see any human cashiers.
Posted by: Moron Robbie, Black Tik-Tok Influencer at August 29, 2024

***
I'm seeing that at a couple of my WMs. Still have human cashiers, but only one or two at the early time I go there. "Unpleasant employees" is an understatement.

The WM closest to me has stuff locked in cabinets -- deodorant, of all things. When I wanted to buy some a month or so ago, I had to hunt for an employee, and then she had to go look for someone with the key. I walked out and went someplace else for my Secret.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 05:50 AM (omVj0)

56 Today is the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The news media are all shivering over it. Next year, the twentieth, will be insane; I have no plans to be here to listen to the month-long hand-wringing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 05:52 AM (omVj0)

57 Today is the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The news media are all shivering over it. Next year, the twentieth, will be insane; I have no plans to be here to listen to the month-long hand-wringing.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 05:52 AM (omVj0)

Damn! Has it been that long ago?

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at August 29, 2024 05:56 AM (g8Ew8)

58 The WM closest to me has stuff locked in cabinets -- deodorant, of all things. When I wanted to buy some a month or so ago, I had to hunt for an employee, and then she had to go look for someone with the key. I walked out and went someplace else for my Secret.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

-

I've commented about this to the family when recently looking for Lego at a rural Walmart. I'd guess it's a corporate decision, but I guarantee they've lost a LOT more in sales at this store than they ever lost in theft.

Also I hate that kids are growing up in a low-trust society. It sucks to see it change like this since 2008.

Posted by: Moron Robbie, Black Tik-Tok Influencer at August 29, 2024 06:01 AM (VEFiD)

59 57 Today is the 19th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The news media are all shivering over it. Next year, the twentieth, will be insane; I have no plans to be here to listen to the month-long hand-wringing.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024
*
Damn! Has it been that long ago?
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at August 29, 2024

***
Yeah, 2005. Actually the crying and wailing may begin earlier, like May of next year. I'll bet the city will grab some Fed funds to erect some kind of memorial.

There are still people living in FEMA trailers from Hurricane Ida three years ago. Normally I'd say "What's wrong with you people?", but considering the F. Joke economy, maybe they really can't lift themselves back up. Of course they could move someplace with somewhat better job prospects, but nooooo, can't leave "the food and the music." (Gah.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 29, 2024 06:02 AM (omVj0)

60 RIP New Orleans. That was a terribly interesting place before the Great Reset after that storm.

Posted by: Moron Robbie, Black Tik-Tok Influencer at August 29, 2024 06:03 AM (VEFiD)

61 What do I need to do before I even let this dangerous device access the web?

First suggestion I have is to create a local account that does not require a Microsoft one to access your laptop and give it administrator privileges.

Posted by: NR Pax at August 29, 2024 06:05 AM (lXoJ5)

62 59 Of course they could move someplace with somewhat better job prospects, but nooooo, can't leave "the food and the music." (Gah.)

I guess that's one advantage I had growing up in the military. I can pack up, move several states away and not lose a wink of sleep over it.

Posted by: NR Pax at August 29, 2024 06:06 AM (lXoJ5)

63 JJ is nood!

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 29, 2024 06:07 AM (nR2nR)

64 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at August 29, 2024 06:08 AM (VdhcA)

65 I received a new HP laptop for my birthday. Win 11 pro installed. Now I need to know all the tips and tricks for defeating the spyware and cleaning up the W11 crap. (Other than, you know, "install Mint!") Wish I'd been jotting down all the notes I've seen on here over the years.

What do I need to do before I even let this dangerous device access the web?

-

Step 1:

Reinstall windows

Go here and scroll down to "How to Create a Windows 11 Install Disk that Allows Bypassing Microsoft Accounts"

https://tinyurl.com/2laz7r69

Posted by: Moron Robbie, Black Tik-Tok Influencer at August 29, 2024 06:09 AM (VEFiD)

66 Add the studio that made Hellblade 2 to the list of game companies that are going to go under.

They had 5 years to create a game that was something more than a technology demo , which the first Hellblade was, instead they made a triple a game that could be finished in less than 5 hours.

And the sad truth is, most games absolutely suck now without exception.

Which is why I'm more into retro gaming now.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 29, 2024 06:12 AM (XV/Pl)

67 My biggest piece of advice would be not to pay for antivirus. Use Windows Defender as your antivirus and pay for Malwarebytes anti-malware.

Posted by: Moron Robbie, Black Tik-Tok Influencer at August 29, 2024 06:20 AM (VEFiD)

68 What the hell is with that cashless crap? Why?

Because making change is a lost art.

Posted by: Tmitsss at August 29, 2024 08:33 AM (LfLkD)

69 NFTs provide a positive social benefit by taxing stupid people.

Posted by: Socratease at August 29, 2024 12:23 PM (t8Egx)

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