Daily Tech News 24 December 2024

Top Story

Elon Musk's xAI company has secured $6 billion in investment. (Tech Crunch)

If you're paying attention, this may be old news. xAI raised $6 billion in May.

If you're really paying attention, though, this is new news. This is a different $6 billion, filed with the SEC last Thursday.

That's a total of $12 billion, or as ChatGPT would put it, the same as the number of Rs in "strawberry".

Tech News

Asus' new Zenbook - set to launch at CES - comes with a Qualcomm CPU and a 32 hour battery life. (Tom's Hardware)

How much battery life is enough? Now that USB-C is the universal charging port and it's actually difficult to be stuck without a charger, who is using a laptop on battery for 32 hours?
Vietnam has returned to its communist roots with new laws designed to restrict internet use and empower censorship. (The Guardian)

The laws are slightly more aggressive than the ones recently passed in Australia though slightly less aggressive than the ones that the Australian government tried and failed to push through.
Xerox has acquired printer company Lexmark - once part of IBM - in a $1.5 billion deal. (Xerox)

The remarkable part of this is that is more than Xerox is worth.
Twitter's "Premium+" subscription plan has jumped by 37.5%. (Tech Crunch)

Though if you buy it as a gift right now you can get a year at 40% off.

Disclaimer: Potat is as potat does.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 First?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:00 AM (omVj0)

2 Evening and morning to all the early risers, late toilers, and Christmas Eve packages wrappers out in the vast AoSHQ Empire! 'Tis Tiu's Day, but much more important, Christmas Eve. Amazing how the suspense and anticipation we felt as kids still carries over to The Day, huh?

I'm up two hours early, not my idea, not the cats' fault. Trying to decide if I want to eat something light and then puff on a pipe, or work out first. (I know which I *should* do.)

Who's up and about?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:03 AM (omVj0)

3 Interesting article @ ZH on Indian culture and how it relates to Western values:

https://tinyurl.com/mrywmt3z

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 24, 2024 04:05 AM (QB+5g)

4 Who's up and about?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:03 AM (omVj0)

Fixin' to make my everything bagel with cream cheese.

Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024 04:06 AM (gKDq2)

5 Alteria Pilgrim, I read about your car's unlucky damage on the ONT. Good thoughts are coming your way. "God never closes a door but He opens a window." The window many be hard to see now, it may not be revealed for a while, but I'm sure it'll be there.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:09 AM (omVj0)

6 Bagels never did it for me. My latest thing is toasting sliced croissants in a pan and dipping them in a homemade raspberry or strawberry sauce. I like bread, but not as much as some other people. In most cases, I would trade out pasta for bread.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 04:11 AM (Iikdq)

7 The problem with being up so early today is that Miss Linda and I were going out to breakfast, but not until 8:30. So I've got some time to kill, or fill, or whatever verb you like.

I've got to wrap one of her presents, and need to stop at a Dollar Tree for a gift tote, you know, one of those holiday bags with ribbons that are perfect for bottles of wine. Should have done that on Sunday when I was at Walmart, but forgot.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:14 AM (omVj0)

8 We should cultivate our relationship with Vietnam, simply as an opponent to China. I wonder if they are more strict than Canada or the UK these days when it comes to Internet freedom. I know back in the 1980s. We hated them with the heat of 1000 suns, but something changed along the way.

No one is forgetting anything, but if they choose to align with us to hamper China aggression, then I guess we should go with it. My hope is Trump lays it on the line with them. The only thing I can say about Vietnam is unlike the Islamists, after the war, they didn’t follow us back to our own towns and try to kill us.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 04:15 AM (Iikdq)

9 6 Bagels never did it for me. My latest thing is toasting sliced croissants in a pan and dipping them in a homemade raspberry or strawberry sauce. I like bread, but not as much as some other people. In most cases, I would trade out pasta for bread.
Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024

***
I read about bagels as a kid and heard them mentioned on TV shows set in New York, but I don't recall seeing them at the grocery until I was a grownup. Maybe I overlooked 'em. I know iced coffee was never a thing here until the '80s. Iced tea (usually spelled "ice tea") was available everywhere, but if you asked for "iced coffee" they'd peer at you like you'd asked for thin-sliced T. rex meat on your sandwich.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:17 AM (omVj0)

10 Bagels never did it for me. My latest thing is toasting sliced croissants in a pan and dipping them in a homemade raspberry or strawberry sauce. I like bread, but not as much as some other people. In most cases, I would trade out pasta for bread.
Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 04:11 AM (Iikdq)

I never knew what a bagel was unitl I moved to Brooklyn. Now it's fresh or nothing, that is, no bagged crap in the store. Brooklyn and Queens bagels are really good, Manhattan bagels not so much. Manhattan bagels are like giant rolls with a hole, not bagels. I like the chew -- and the salt.

The best is a salt bagel topped with cream cheese, some capers pressed in, lemon zest grated on top, some smoked salmon, then (if you really hate people) some thin sliced red onion. The Breakfast Of Champions. Champions of bad breath.

Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024 04:21 AM (gKDq2)

11 I never knew what a bagel was unitl I moved to Brooklyn. Now it's fresh or nothing, that is, no bagged crap in the store. Brooklyn and Queens bagels are really good, Manhattan bagels not so much. Manhattan bagels are like giant rolls with a hole, not bagels. I like the chew -- and the salt.

The best is a salt bagel topped with cream cheese, some capers pressed in, lemon zest grated on top, some smoked salmon, then (if you really hate people) some thin sliced red onion. The Breakfast Of Champions. Champions of bad breath.
Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024

***
I've heard tell it's something in the NYC water that gives their bagels and pizza some extra flavor it's hard to get anywhere else.

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

12 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 24, 2024 04:25 AM (sAmhv)

13 Manhattan bagels are like giant rolls with a hole, not bagels. I like the chew -- and the salt.

Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024 04:21 AM (gKDq2)

Absolutely! The bagels around here are excellent, but the size has crept up and up so that one bagel weighs about a pound. It is difficult to find a normal sized one nowadays.

And sadly, my favorite place has closed.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 24, 2024 04:26 AM (d9fT1)

14 I saw the passing discussion of screwdrivers on the ONT, and it reminded me that my mother said her father, a Swede who emigrated to Canada, always called a Phillips screwdriver a "French" screwdriver. No one from Canada I've ever spoken to knows that expression, so I suspect it was something from late 19th or early 20th Century Sweden. Maybe anything unusual to them got called "French." I'll never know.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:26 AM (omVj0)

15 ChatGPT just saved me half a days work transcoding a bunch of pseudo C code into C.

For free.

I get paid.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 24, 2024 04:28 AM (QB+5g)

16 When I was little, remember watching a cartoon Christmas Carol starring Mr. McGoo. Wonder if that is still around in tv vaults somewhere.
Posted by: Jen the original at December 23, 2024

***
That was my very first acquaintance with Scrooge and the Christmas Carol story. Apparently there was a long tradition in England of telling a ghost story around the fireplace at Christmastime, and Dickens picked up on it and ended up writing the quintessential one.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:30 AM (omVj0)

17 Don't pay sticker price for your holiday dreidel needs. Playing with sad, lackluster Hebrew toys should not break the bank. Pay the nice price. I'll beat any dreidel price out there. That's the Tony Chanakah guarantee.

Posted by: Tony Chanakah, Discount Dreidels at December 24, 2024 04:30 AM (q65Hr)

18 Merry Christmas Eve everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2024 04:30 AM (fwDg9)

19 No rest for the weary here

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2024 04:31 AM (fwDg9)

20 Merry Christmas Eve everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2024 04:30 AM (fwDg9)

What's for breakfast?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 24, 2024 04:34 AM (d9fT1)

21 CBD,

My bagels are now $1.75. A friggin' dollar seventy-five! For a bloody bagel! With nothin' on it, just an unsliced bagel I fix at home. It's crazy. I remember back in the late '80s, $.25 a bagel at the local place. When they went to $.35, everybody screamed bloody murder.

The current price is a signifcant jump in about four years, when they were around $1.00. Bagel prices were very stable for a long time, until Dementia Joe took over.

Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024 04:35 AM (gKDq2)

22
Maybe instinct oatmeal,

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2024 04:37 AM (fwDg9)

23 9 wolfus, I always liked iced coffee. It wasn’t until later in life that I got into the hot stuff. Back in the day, even if the weather was just so and so I would go with iced coffee maybe an iced latte. Which of course, if you’re pedantic means iced milk in Italian, but this isn’t Italy. lol. That is a joke they make about us though.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 04:38 AM (Iikdq)

24 Disclaimer: Potat is as potat does.
-

Funneh. Mrs. BD is frying potato latkes right now. The fantastic scent is killing me. Thinking of ways of stealing one or 2 without being caught.

Back to work but very hard to debug assembler code under such conditions.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2024 04:38 AM (BBZa4)

25 On the ONT as well, the discussion of Jesus' exact birthday. The fall rather than winter makes a good deal of sense. After the harvest would have been a perfect time to do the counting up for taxation that sent Mary and Joseph back home. Yes, there was some travel time, they couldn't just hop in the SUV and hit the Roman I-25, but the distance between where they lived and Bethlehem wasn't that great.

As for the year, yes, he had to have been born while Herod the Great was still alive, and Herod died in, what, 4 BC?

Remember, too, Jesus was 33 when he died, and that was under the reign of Tiberius, the second emperor. And T. was the boss man from AD 14 to 37. So AD 28 could be about right.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:39 AM (omVj0)

26 My bagels are now $1.75. A friggin' dollar seventy-five! For a bloody bagel! With nothin' on it, just an unsliced bagel I fix at home. It's crazy.

Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024 04:35 AM (gKDq2)

Yup...that $1/bagel was stable for a while. We haven't hit $1.75, but it is coming!

I am tempted to make them just so I can introduce people to a normal size bagel! But they are a pain in the *ss!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 24, 2024 04:40 AM (d9fT1)

27 w00t

Posted by: m at December 24, 2024 04:45 AM (VnUSN)

28 The Critical Drinker review that's linked in the front-page sidebar is *chef's kiss*.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2024 04:46 AM (VnUSN)

29 I have sausages, just no time to make them today

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2024 04:48 AM (fwDg9)

30 And it is time for me to buy a new calendar. I always seem to leave it until the last week of the year or the first week of January (when the prices are cut -- so that might explain why I wait).

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 04:50 AM (omVj0)

31 "A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria

Fourteen crew members have been rescued, while two remain missing.

The ship was under sanctions and, according to Ukrainian media, was allegedly used to transport Russian weapons and equipment from Syria."

It just sank. No one knows why.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 24, 2024 05:02 AM (QB+5g)

32 It wasn't Herod the Great. It was on of his worthless sons.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 05:04 AM (ZmEVT)

33 It wasn't Herod the Great. It was on of his worthless sons.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 05:04 AM (ZmEVT)

Herod Agrippa?

Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024 05:09 AM (gKDq2)

34 It’s warmed up 25 degrees from yesterday for a balmy 24 this morning in western CT.

Got to stop & shop yesterday at 7 (when they opened) and the bagels were still on the baking trays and warm. I know it sounds crazy but S&S bagels are very good (and the correct size) (and yes I lived in NYC and had both Manhattan and Brooklyn bagels).

Now excuse me - all this talk of bagels has made me hungry.

Posted by: CTSPURSMAN at December 24, 2024 05:15 AM (Uy2Lz)

35 It wasn't Herod the Great. It was on of his worthless sons.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024

***
Wasn't it Herod the Great who ordered all male children under two years of age to be murdered? And he did it because of the prophecy that one of the boys born recently would become King of the Jews in his stead?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:17 AM (omVj0)

36 Whenever there's talk of bagels, I always think of the Abbot and Costello 'Bagel Street' sketch.

Posted by: RickZ at December 24, 2024 05:17 AM (gKDq2)

37 On the other hand, Wiki says that the historicity of the Herod business is suspect, that only the Gospel of Matthew mentions it. So I dunno.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:18 AM (omVj0)

38 Good morning to one and all. Plans to make some unleavened bread but I want to put some rosemary in it. Can't decide if I want to use fresh or dried.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 24, 2024 05:18 AM (XTmTf)

39
Interesting article @ ZH on Indian culture and how it relates to Western values:

https://tinyurl.com/mrywmt3z
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic

A shithole society is filled with shitheads? Who knew?

This was in line with an abiding opinion that I have about Indians having ascended to positions of power in the IT world -- why should I grant your opinions regarding our society even minimal respect when you yourself are from the top of the heap of a manifestly inequitable society? You are discrimination made flesh, and dwelling among us.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 24, 2024 05:21 AM (xG4kz)

40
Styling yourself as Crazy Tony Chanakah, Discount Dreidels would open up whole new worlds of advertising options.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 24, 2024 05:26 AM (xG4kz)

41 My delicious breakfast consists of coffee, a small slice of pumpkin pie and a little bite of a milk chocolate caramel . I like chocolate but as I've gotten older I've find it doesn't like me, I really limit my amounts. As I mentioned , the dear parents of the kids on FenSpouse's bus gave him lots of chocolate as a present. I successfully gifted an lovely boxed, unopened collection of Belgian chocolates to one of the congregation members who was going to take it to a family gathering. Yay!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 05:28 AM (UvgBu)

42 Styling yourself as Crazy Tony Chanakah, Discount Dreidels would open up whole new worlds of advertising options.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 24, 2024 05:26 AM (xG4kz)

"We're The Best, But Don't Call Us Tops!"

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 24, 2024 05:30 AM (y/ZMQ)

43 I work with an Indian IT company and the Indians that work there are some of the most over-the-top arrogant MFers out there. The higher up the management the worse it gets from what I hear.

I was in a meeting with a couple of them that I had never met and one guy just flat out insulted me for no reason.

They really see politeness as a weakness.

Buddy said he was probably the alpha of the pack showing the little ones how it is done.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 24, 2024 05:31 AM (QB+5g)

44 And Miss Linda will probably want to go to Christmas Eve Mass tonight at her church up the street. I hope they have one early, like 6:00 or 6:30.

We're due for some rain tomorrow afternoon, and disgustingly warm temps through Monday at least -- 76 by Friday. Gah. On the other hand, early morning workouts will not require bundling up.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:32 AM (omVj0)

45 It's nice to see some ornaments on the "towel rack tree" that go way back to my grandparents. We also have little Christmas crafts our son made in his church related pre school. I don't know whether he was sleeping before they took the picture for the paper wreath but he looks like he's about to cry. It's touching.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 05:34 AM (y0zdq)

46 Morning, all.

When I was little, remember watching a cartoon Christmas Carol starring Mr. McGoo. Wonder if that is still around in tv vaults somewhere.
Posted by: Jen the original at December 23, 2024

That was a 1962 cartoon, where Magoo (as always, the voice of Jim Backus) is a famous Broadway star putting on a production of A Christmas Carol.

The music was by Jule Styne, he of Gypsy, Bells Are Ringing and Sugar, among others, with lyrics by Bob Merrill (most famous for Funny Girl).

The voice of Bob Cratchit was provided by frequent Lt Columbo villian Jack Cassidy.

You don't see it often on TV, but it is out on DVD.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 24, 2024 05:34 AM (Q0kLU)

47 35 It wasn't Herod the Great. It was on of his worthless sons.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024

***
Wasn't it Herod the Great who ordered all male children under two years of age to be murdered? And he did it because of the prophecy that one of the boys born recently would become King of the Jews in his stead?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius,

Yes. It's why Mary, Joseph with Jesus fled to Egypt.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 24, 2024 05:35 AM (sAmhv)

48 The voice of Bob Cratchit was provided by frequent Lt Columbo villian Jack Cassidy.

You don't see it often on TV, but it is out on DVD.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 24, 2024

***
I did not know that, MPPPP! Cassidy was also a regular, a sort of pre-Ted Baxter character, on the 1967 sitcom He and She w/ Richard Benjamin and his wife Paula Prentiss. And Cassidy was also David Cassidy's father with Shirley Jones.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:37 AM (omVj0)

49
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 24, 2024 05:37 AM (tljrc)

50 The holy family really got dragged around didn't they?

Oh, we gotta go to Bethlehem to pay our taxes. Oh we gotta go out into the country because our cousin had a baby. Oh now we gotta go to Egypt because the king is murdering all the babies.

I wonder what the Aramaic for "shlep" is.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 24, 2024 05:40 AM (y/ZMQ)

51 And a happy Christmas Eve to you all. I'm working today, though I honestly have no idea what to expect - it could be very busy, with people getting their doctor / hospital appointments done before the holiday, or very slow, with everything put off until next week. I'm hoping it's an easy day, myself.

I'm just not in the Christmas mood this year. I'm not as cripplingly depressed as I have been, but this year I just can't seem to get past my own nose and into any sort of holiday spirit; I just want to hunker down, go to sleep and wait for the winter to be over.

I probably need an internet break for a month or so.

I really hope CBD has a pretty woman on tap for the Art Thread today.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 24, 2024 05:42 AM (Q0kLU)

52 Good morning, good people, on the brink of this most hallowed time.

May all events this day surpass your most desired wishes.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 24, 2024 05:45 AM (hKoQL)

53 Buddy said he was probably the alpha of the pack showing the little ones how it is done.
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 24, 2024 05:31 AM (QB+5g)

The alpha is never the one biting at ankles to prove his status. The alpha is the one killing the deer and claiming the best bits for himself, while the rest know better to wait for him to finish.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 24, 2024 05:45 AM (y/ZMQ)

54 Christmas Eve Gift

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 24, 2024 05:46 AM (gbOdA)

55 Herod the Great had died 4 years earlier. Archelaus perhaps? I have to re-read "The Jewish War" in those sections. The son did such a bang up job ruling that the Romans removed him from power and set up the Procurator.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 05:46 AM (ZmEVT)

56 I wonder what the Aramaic for "shlep" is.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 24, 2024 05:40 AM (y/ZMQ)
-

סחב

"Sahchav"

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2024 05:46 AM (BBZa4)

57 It's why Mary, Joseph with Jesus fled to Egypt.

The subject of one of my favorite paintings, Rest on the Flight Into Egypt:

https://tinyurl.com/3n994mhz

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 24, 2024 05:47 AM (Q0kLU)

58 My mom used to say, the gifts of the magi financed the trip to Egypt.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 05:48 AM (ZmEVT)

59 I hard boiled some eggs. They'll be used later for Scotch Eggs. I'll put a roast in the crockpot whenever I get up today. I haven't slept well this month, so I might wake up in 4 hours or less.

Watching a pretty green-eyed blonde singing her part in Handel's Messiah.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 24, 2024 05:48 AM (sAmhv)

60 We have just read Psalm 18 which is about victory over enemies. It's the KJV and contains a wonderful word- "froward " meaning a difficult person to deal with. It also has a wonderful phrase in verse 28- "Thou wilt light my candle ; the Lord will enlighten my darkness." It's a good phrase to use at the candlelight service, I think.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 05:48 AM (7CMtl)

61 Have ceiling grid to put up, not the easiest but if my co-worker helps and not watches should be a half day.

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2024 05:53 AM (fwDg9)

62 We have just read Psalm 18 which is about victory over enemies. It's the KJV and contains a wonderful word- "froward " meaning a difficult person to deal with. It also has a wonderful phrase in verse 28- "Thou wilt light my candle ; the Lord will enlighten my darkness." It's a good phrase to use at the candlelight service, I think.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024

***
"Froward" is not a word I knew, Fen. I wonder if my unabridged dictionary would list it as "obsolete."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:53 AM (omVj0)

63 G'morning, all.

We thought that Dexter, the Wonder-dog had worked his way through the upset stomach and diarrhea after two days of chicken and rice. But we had another bout in the middle of the night.

The kittens were not amused.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 24, 2024 05:55 AM (a1415)

64 It's National Egg Nog Day!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:56 AM (omVj0)

65 See you on the road
Forward Dog 9 out

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2024 05:57 AM (fwDg9)

66 We thought that Dexter, the Wonder-dog had worked his way through the upset stomach and diarrhea after two days of chicken and rice. But we had another bout in the middle of the night.

The kittens were not amused.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 24, 2024

***
Sorry to hear that, VIA. The late Chekov D. Siberian cat had something like that for some years, until I finally lit on an Rx dry chow ($$) that solved the problem.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:59 AM (omVj0)

67 Matthew Henry, who was an English pastor and Biblical exegete of the 1700's writes this about verse 26-and "thou wilt light my candle"- thou wilt revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit...thou wilt light my candle to work by, and give me an opportunity of serving thee. Let those who walk on darkness, and labor under discouragements, take courage . God himself will be a light to them.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:00 AM (04f0r)

68 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:53 AM (omVj0)

Forward is considered archaic, of course It was also someone who's ornery and is deceitful and wicked, the latter of which describes, IMO, many of the people in government, I like old words.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:03 AM (04f0r)

69 Sorry Matthew Henry lived in the -1600's and wrote voluminously out the Bible.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:05 AM (04f0r)

70 Bag-el was Superman's Jewish uncle.

Posted by: DC Comics Big Book Of Facts at December 24, 2024 06:05 AM (PiwSw)

71 Poor Dexter and his human family.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:08 AM (04f0r)

72 Amarind is a coffee shop on Chincoteague that has croissants: flakey, fluffy and chewy all at once.

Posted by: Accomack glad tidings of great joy at December 24, 2024 06:09 AM (MeckE)

73 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:09 AM (6K6Eu)

74 It's National Egg Nog Day!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:56 AM (omVj0)
---
Kaylee the Calico Kitty Cat (the cutest little cat of them all) *loves* egg nog. She licks the glass clean after I'm done.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 24, 2024 06:10 AM (BpYfr)

75 Bag-el was Superman's Jewish uncle.
Posted by: DC Comics Big Book Of Facts at December 24, 2024 06:05 AM (PiwSw)
------------
Supes was created by two Jewish guys - makes sense.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:10 AM (6K6Eu)

76 This evening, be sure to put shoes, smokes and Twinkies in your ducts for John McClane.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:11 AM (6K6Eu)

77 69-"about", not "out"

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:12 AM (04f0r)

78 "Froward" is not a word I knew, Fen. I wonder if my unabridged dictionary would list it as "obsolete."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:53 AM (omVj0)
----------
I believe that Kate the Shrew is described as "froward."

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:13 AM (6K6Eu)

79 Bag-el was Superman's Jewish uncle.
Posted by: DC Comics Big Book Of Facts at December 24, 2024 06:05 AM (PiwSw)
-

Holy par-boiled bialy, Batman!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 24, 2024 06:13 AM (BBZa4)

80 If the ASHQ insult factory is up and running I may at some have to call someone “froward” - not that the posters are wicked and deceitful- but they can sometimes be difficult to deal with and ornery.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:16 AM (5yqpK)

81 Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:13 AM (6K6Eu)

You are right!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:18 AM (5yqpK)

82 I devised some time ago the AoSHQ Insult Generator.

[improbable anatomy] + [polysyllabic adjective] + [noun-verber]

Example:
square-eared Jesuitical groundhog-pillager

Feel free to use it on any occasion.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:19 AM (6K6Eu)

83 76 This evening, be sure to put shoes, smokes and Twinkies in your ducts for John McClane.
Posted by: Captain Obvious

LoL!

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 24, 2024 06:19 AM (sAmhv)

84 72 I have fond memories of Chincoteague

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:28 AM (KRI9u)

85 Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:19 AM (6K6Eu)

I like it and it sure beats the --IMO overused "FU"

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 24, 2024 06:30 AM (MQJVv)

86 This is around the time of year. I normally mention George Washington’s recipe for eggnog. You can look it up online because it is pretty famous. A group of scientists used to make the eggnog and add in some E. coli to test how long it would take for the booze in the eggnog to kill off the pollutant. George Washington’s recipe is very boozy so there are very few concerns with salmonella or whatever. There is still a bit of a raw taste for me, but we’ve been trained to think that way, so my opinion may not fit yours.. traditional eggnog was made with raw eggs and not cooked when you try to cook the eggs for eggnog making it at home. It is very very tricky. The chances of success are pretty low really. From my understanding, the risks of drinking raw eggs are very slight these days, but as a culture, most of us are against it.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:32 AM (KRI9u)

87 Apparently there was a long tradition in England of telling a ghost story around the fireplace at Christmastime...

The last war had ended right around the harvest. The war brought on by Henry killing his brother, William, in order to steal his title and lands. In hoary English tradition, Charles, the third brother sat down and told the tale of Henry's unquiet spirit roaming the land... and then he stabbed Henry in neck and thus started the next war.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2024 06:33 AM (ExV1e)

88 Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:32 AM (KRI9u)
----------
In the Civil War, we have a letter from an officer writing home around Christmastime. In a sort of "here we go again" passage, he notes, "Well, the boys found eggs and whiskey, so, of course, they made themselves eggnog..."

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:38 AM (6K6Eu)

89 Interesting article @ ZH on Indian culture and how it relates to Western values:

https://tinyurl.com/mrywmt3z
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic

There is a reason why Islam made many converts in India.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 24, 2024 06:39 AM (/lPRQ)

90 Byeee...

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:40 AM (6K6Eu)

91 From my understanding, the risks of drinking raw eggs are very slight these days, but as a culture, most of us are against it.

**Rocky Balboa has entered the chat**

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 24, 2024 06:40 AM (Q0kLU)

92 91, I also expected a “culture” joke.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:42 AM (KRI9u)

93 89 Interesting article @ ZH on Indian culture and how it relates to Western values:

https://tinyurl.com/mrywmt3z
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic

There is a reason why Islam made many converts in India.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher

Christians are routinely persecuted in India by Hindus.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 24, 2024 06:42 AM (sAmhv)

94 From my understanding, the risks of drinking raw eggs are very slight these days, but as a culture, most of us are against it.
Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:32 AM (KRI9u)

You're never going to get anywhere with that attitude. -- Rocky Balboa

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2024 06:42 AM (ExV1e)

95 Merry Christmas Eve, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2024 06:48 AM (hoCmQ)

96 88, good times. We need to have one of our civil war discussions. It has been a while. Not today, but we should do it soon. And have a merry Christmas Captain Obvious.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:49 AM (KRI9u)

97 Someone can convert to Islam, but not to Hinduism is my understanding of things…

Posted by: tubal at December 24, 2024 06:49 AM (PCK5/)

98 G'mornin' everyone!

BH,I'd say use fresh rosemary if you have it

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 24, 2024 06:53 AM (cY18j)

99 What's a potat?

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2024 06:54 AM (hoCmQ)

100 78 "Froward" is not a word I knew, Fen. I wonder if my unabridged dictionary would list it as "obsolete."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 05:53 AM (omVj0)
----------
I believe that Kate the Shrew is described as "froward."
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:13 AM (6K6Eu)

I watched The Taming of the Shrew with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor not too awful long ago… that was a fun movie… excellent actors.

Posted by: tubal at December 24, 2024 06:54 AM (PCK5/)

101 97, That’s interesting. I didn’t know that. I have heard that Catholics don’t particularly like converts, though they definitely do have them. I’m a Presbyterian at least I was until I formally pronounced the PC USA. I guess I’m still Presbyterian. We like concerts but at least with the PCUSA, you have to wonder why they are doing it. Maybe I am being too strong there so I recon that comment. I did leave that church for early with some strongly written letters to the church and the higher-ups. Most people leave because their church leaves en masse. For me it was more personal, and I hated every second of it because it was throwing away a major link in my life when they were few links left.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:55 AM (KRI9u)

102 Score! Found an open bottle of Mr. Black cold brew coffee liqueur.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2024 06:57 AM (hoCmQ)

103 Not pronounced but renounced. I keep saying I’m giving up this type of text. Oh well you have to do what you have to do.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:57 AM (KRI9u)

104 eggnog is always made with raw eggs.

this is known.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 24, 2024 06:59 AM (cY18j)

105 103 Not pronounced but renounced. I keep saying I’m giving up this type of text. Oh well you have to do what you have to do.
Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:57 AM (KRI9u)

Sad, what the PCUSA has become.. the OPC and the PCA are good alternatives… but scarce.

Posted by: tubal at December 24, 2024 07:00 AM (PCK5/)

106 The data show that 30 percent of the UK population remained completely unvaccinated as of July 2022. 34 percent were not double vaccinated, and 50 percent were not triple vaccinated.

However, the vaccinated population accounted for 95 percent of all COVID-19 deaths between January and May 2023.

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 24, 2024 07:01 AM (gbOdA)

107 eggnog is always made with raw eggs.

this is known.
Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 24, 2024

***
My mother had a recipe that I used to make a egg-and-milk breakfast drink when I was in high school. Two beaten eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. I don't recall the proportions any more, though. It certainly was not syrup-thick like the eggnog you buy in the grocery, but it was nourishing and got me started in the mornings.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 07:05 AM (omVj0)

108 Sounds like Indian Hindus will persecute anything

Posted by: Accomack at December 24, 2024 07:06 AM (MeckE)

109 Our Catholic diocese and congregations welcome converts. Honestly they are some of the best educated and most devout when it comes to Catholic teachings. Have never heard that Catholics discourage conversion.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at December 24, 2024 07:07 AM (2NHgQ)

110 wow, no kidding, Mama Eez made the same breakfast for a little Sock many times!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 24, 2024 07:08 AM (cY18j)

111 Good morning Hordelings!

Posted by: Doof at December 24, 2024 07:11 AM (RFPHU)

112 Wolfus, interwebz say 2 eggs, 2 C milk, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla. May cut in half.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2024 07:13 AM (hoCmQ)

113 Wolfus, interwebz say 2 eggs, 2 C milk, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla. May cut in half.
Posted by: olddog in mo at December 24, 2024

***
I'll have to try that!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 24, 2024 07:15 AM (omVj0)

114 “One-quart cream, one-quart milk, one dozen tablespoons sugar, one-pint brandy, ½ pint rye whiskey, ½ pint Jamaica rum, ¼ pint sherry – mix liquor first, then separate yolks and whites of 12 eggs, add sugar to beaten yolks, mix well.

Add milk and cream, slowly beating. Beat whites of eggs until stiff and fold slowly into mixture. Let set in cool place for several days. Taste frequently.”

Posted by: George W at December 24, 2024 07:16 AM (gbOdA)

115 Merry Christmas Eve, little family!

Posted by: grammie winger - cheesehead at December 24, 2024 07:18 AM (SfhV1)

116 I have heard that Catholics don’t particularly like converts, though they definitely do have them.
Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 06:55 AM (KRI9u)

No, we love converts- I am one, going on forty years.
That sounds like something they'd be told to discourage them from checking the Church out- "Oh, they'll never fully accept you" or something.

Morning, all. Happy Christmas Eve!
Hitting the grocery when it opens for garlic and green beans. All cookies are baked. There is a bit of decorating to be done- mostly light plugging in outdoors so we don't set anything on fire.
May actually relax today- fondly remembering crazy Eves past when the kids were little.

Posted by: sal at December 24, 2024 07:18 AM (f+FmA)

117 mornin yall. Merry Christmas Eve.

Posted by: fd at December 24, 2024 07:19 AM (vFG9F)

118 Orange Julius (are there any left?) used to use raw eggs.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 07:19 AM (ZmEVT)

119 My own parents were eulogized and buried in that church and it wasn’t that long ago. The church changed so quickly, but also systematically. The elders of that church chose left wing ideology when choosing a pastor when that was not the history of the church write up until recent times. We always had liberals and we always had conservatives, that was our congregation and we got along well. The conservatives in that church simply gave it up, simply threw away 50, 60 years of history. You always have to ask who is at fault the radical lefty, preacher, or the people that hired him?

When you look at the radical lefty views of the national capital Presbytery, and the PC USA. At some point, you have to ask, can I still belong to the skin suit of Presbyterianism? I renounced my membership after 30 years. I don’t regret it, but I still have yet to find a church that fits me. If they ask me what I want., I want my church in the late 80s and early 90s lol. You can’t go back but as far as I’m concerned, that sucks, because that is exactly what I want to do.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 07:20 AM (KRI9u)

120 Swedes typically celebrate on Christmas Eve, so today is our big day. We'll do quieter and smaller tomorrow.

Posted by: grammie winger - cheesehead at December 24, 2024 07:21 AM (SfhV1)

121 There was a thing after Vatican II where RCIA programs didn't think they were supposed to teach Jews.

Roy Schoeman has a funny story about that.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 07:21 AM (ZmEVT)

122 My brother is a Catholic covert and is a rather observant and informed.
I am by inclination a Baptist.

Posted by: Accomack at December 24, 2024 07:21 AM (MAgWe)

123
It would be interesting to know whether to and fro, used as prefixes, played a role in the creation of the words toward and froword.

In the meantime, untoward stares through the window, watching its two cousins having all the fun

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 24, 2024 07:21 AM (xG4kz)

124 Hope all here have a Merry Christmas. I got myself a present yesterday. I finally got the ball rolling for a handicapped placard for the car. Called the VA clinic team clerk and no problem. They have the state forms and she put one in the mail to me with Doctor's signature. I've been putting it off too long. A couple weeks ago I broke down and used one of the electric carts at a store and had to tell myself there was no shame in using it.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at December 24, 2024 07:24 AM (gm9Sb)

125 froword

Word.

Posted by: Afroman at December 24, 2024 07:25 AM (xcIvR)

126 off sox

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 24, 2024 07:25 AM (gbOdA)

127 I am against "Happy Christmas " creep.

This is America! Keep it Merry!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 24, 2024 07:26 AM (kpS4V)

128 I have heard that Catholics don’t particularly like converts, though they definitely do have them.
Posted by: Quint

No, no, no. Catholics are just bewildered that despite the hippy rainbow shit of the 70's that anyone would bother. Also, we have to explain that you can't just ask for an exorcism for fun.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at December 24, 2024 07:26 AM (IG4Id)

129 I put too much milk in my scrambled eggs and now have a bland runny custard.

Posted by: Accomack at December 24, 2024 07:27 AM (aa1at)

130 127 Or, as Google says, Happy Seasonal Holidays. Commie fucks.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at December 24, 2024 07:27 AM (gm9Sb)

131 Good for you, Bill. You'll just be more efficient and mission- focused now.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Agent of Chaos at December 24, 2024 07:27 AM (kpS4V)

132 My father thought that Jimmy Carter, being a Baptist and Naval Officer would turn out just fine, as my grandfather had been a Baptist and Naval Officer.

LOL. Dad voted for Reagan in 1980.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 07:27 AM (ZmEVT)

133 In the pre-Vatican II baptismal rite, there are 3 exorcisms.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 07:28 AM (ZmEVT)

134 "The remarkable part of this is that is more than Xerox is worth."

Heh. Xerox is finding out what it is like to buy a house.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 24, 2024 07:29 AM (bss/y)

135 123, to me that sounds Germanic. I normally jump at the hat if something sounds French in someway none of that sounds French to me. Mini say our language is 30% French but I think it’s more like 50%.. The argument is probably over the Latin roots of words that didn’t directly come from French. But the thing is if you study French almost every vocab word can be linked back to English in someway. The French terminology is normally not the main word we would use, but it is an alternative word. In my experience, they’re very few French words that don’t have an English equivalent that come from that word..

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 07:29 AM (KRI9u)

136 Confession-
When we moved, we realized we would not have room for a real tree, which are not available here anyway. So even though I love a real tree, we have used one of the biggest from my forest display collection as our tree.
We put it on top of the IKEA butcher block cart in between the bookcases, with the ceramic village around it and it works great.

But there are three of these trees, and I may have grabbed one of the others by mistake, as it looks a little odd. But it is set up and partially decorated and it is what it is.

Posted by: sal at December 24, 2024 07:30 AM (f+FmA)

137 132 The one thing Virginia has over the rest of the south is they voted for Ford over Carter. Yes it’s true. It’s pretty much been downhill since.

Posted by: Quint at December 24, 2024 07:30 AM (KRI9u)

138 Well, we often use the word "fiancee'" instead of the English words "intended" or "betrothed."

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 24, 2024 07:32 AM (ZmEVT)

139 JJ is nood.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2024 07:32 AM (ExV1e)

140 Also, we have to explain that you can't just ask for an exorcism for fun.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at December 24, 2024 07:26 AM (IG4Id)

Okay, I LOL'ed.
Ever noticed how all the spooky stuff takes place in an old-school Gothic cathedral?
The beige clamshell auditorium with pot plants and banner not so much?

Posted by: sal at December 24, 2024 07:33 AM (f+FmA)

141 The beige clamshell auditorium with pot plants and banner not so much?
Posted by: sal

That's literally our 'new' church. Though the organ is a $500k pipe. So, standards, and all.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at December 24, 2024 07:36 AM (IG4Id)

142 "My father thought that Jimmy Carter, being a Baptist and Naval Officer would turn out just fine"

As did my parents. Then later they were Perot supporters. When Ross flaked out, they kind of gave up politically.

Supporting Carter was understandable as we have a close family connection to the Carters. I never understood though why they liked Perot so much but really dislike Trump. PDT was never a quitter, and he is the businessman they were looking for in Perot.

Posted by: fd at December 24, 2024 07:37 AM (vFG9F)

143 57 It's why Mary, Joseph with Jesus fled to Egypt.

The subject of one of my favorite paintings, Rest on the Flight Into Egypt:

https://tinyurl.com/3n994mhz
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 24, 2024 05:47 AM (Q0kLU)

How wonderful!

Posted by: m at December 24, 2024 12:16 PM (VnUSN)

144 76 This evening, be sure to put shoes, smokes and Twinkies in your ducts for John McClane.
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 24, 2024 06:11 AM (6K6Eu)

; )

Posted by: m at December 24, 2024 12:19 PM (VnUSN)

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