Daily Tech News 7 April 2025

Top Story

Turning your spacecraft off and on again and hoping for the best: The real story of Orion. (Ars Technica)

Turns out more things failed on that test flight last year than they let on.

At one point they were uncertain whether they could dock with the ISS or return to Earth. Not which one was safer, but whether either one was possible.

Tech News

Could fusion-powered spaceships cut the trip to Mars by half? Maybe. (CNN)

We don't have practical fusion power on Earth because it requires a hard vacuum and it leaks.

But a fusion-powered spaceship is traveling through hard vacuum and the engine is supposed to leak. That's how it would generate thrust.

So all you need to solve is all the other problems.
On a slightly more stable topic Gizmodo spoke to the Voyager project's mission scientist, who has been on the job for 48 years. (Gizmodo)
I started working on Voyager in 1977, it was my first job out of college, and I had a choice between the Viking extended mission or the Voyager mission. I, of course, hadn't heard of Voyager. So I said, where's Voyager going? And they said, well, Jupiter and Saturn and onto Uranus and Neptune with Voyager 2 if all goes well. And I thought, oh my goodness - I remember in third grade, I got a little telescope I used to use to look at the Moon and look at Jupiter and Saturn, and look for little moons around Jupiter and see if I could spot the rings around Saturn. So the thought of a chance to go visit these worlds that were really only tiny dots in my little telescope, I said, "sign me up."
It's cool and worth reading.
The insanity of being a software engineer. (0x1.pt)

It's like being a bricklayer. Except the bricks are constantly changing, and you're expected to be an electrician and a plumber should the need arise, and you're just supposed to know what the plans for the building are, and oh the client asked if you could make the bricks invisible. By tomorrow.
The Minecraft movie... Didn't flop, maybe. (Variety)

Despite a pretty bad initial trailer. It only cost $150 million and made ~~$135~~ $300 million globally in its first weekend. So it's not entirely out of the cubical woods yet, but doing much better than some recent Hollywood efforts we won't mention.

(Updated with more recent information with much larger numbers.)
The laptop version of Nvidia's RTX 5090 is only slightly faster than the desktop 5070. (Notebook Check)

I mean, the desktop 5090 draws 575W and is infamous for melting its power connector, so there's no chance of fitting it into a laptop, but still.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Black Bo Peep had a lamb, it was made of ham.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good morning

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:31 AM (X4hXd)

2 Poke.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 07, 2025 04:32 AM (BLOW1)

3 Morning!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 07, 2025 04:32 AM (BLOW1)

4 How about that. This first greeting of the thread was brought to you by a timely application of “Hydraulic Pressure”.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:35 AM (X4hXd)

5 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at April 07, 2025 04:38 AM (sAmhv)

6 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:38 AM (u82oZ)

7 How about that. This first greeting of the thread was brought to you by a timely application of “Hydraulic Pressure”.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:35 AM (X4hXd)

Is that what the oldsters are calling it?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 04:39 AM (UUa/N)

8 Pixy while I’ve got you. Your comment comparing programming to brick laying, made me wonder how you really build a program. Doyoutry to write “modules” to perform a discrete piece or function and incrementally work to the goal?

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:39 AM (X4hXd)

9 Up early due to lots to get done, and poor sleep.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:39 AM (u82oZ)

10 Is that what the oldsters are calling it?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 04:39 AM (UUa/N)

More elegant prose than whatever you beret wearing, bike riding, leg humping surrender monkeys would use.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:42 AM (X4hXd)

11 8 Pixy while I’ve got you. Your comment comparing programming to brick laying, made me wonder how you really build a program. Do you try to write “modules” to perform a discrete piece or function and incrementally work to the goal?

Posted by: Pete Bog

Yep. Really the only way to approach it.

And then the client asks me to make the bricks invisible.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 07, 2025 04:43 AM (BLOW1)

12 Pixy Misa

Thank you for the post and the musical interlude. Girl's Generation was a big hit for me.

Here is my rant over the lack of backward compatibility of computers and printers. For the lack of software engineers and to sell more printers, we consign perfectly good printers and computers to waste. This is a crime against Gaia, wasting resources and time,

Software advances that look pretty to insiders at big companies are rarely appreciated by the masses of customers. An astute businessman would understand this.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:43 AM (u82oZ)

13 More elegant prose than whatever you beret wearing, bike riding, leg humping surrender monkeys would use.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:42 AM (X4hXd)

No bike riding yet. They are f*cking lunatics on their bikes.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 04:44 AM (UUa/N)

14 I left out comments about your preference for muddy Pinot and overly precise recipe applications and pan shaking. I didn’t want to be perceived as kicking you while you are French.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:45 AM (X4hXd)

15 CharlieBrown'sDildo

Sacre Bleu!

The French culture Borg is assimilating you! At least open carry, and state you are a cowboy from New Jersey.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:46 AM (u82oZ)

16 I’m more familiar with building in the traditional sense but it occurs to me that adding features on the fly and changing desired outputs must account for a lot of the really shitty programs and defense contracting.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:49 AM (X4hXd)

17 Girls Generation was apparently formed by picking the best looking Korean girls, who could sing well.

They were successful.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at April 07, 2025 04:51 AM (sAmhv)

18 The French culture Borg is assimilating you! At least open carry, and state you are a cowboy from New Jersey.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:46 AM (u82oZ)

Messr. Chief avec Saline, ain’t many cowboys riding fences in Joizy.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:53 AM (X4hXd)

19 Pete Bog

When I was in program management, I had a picture on my wall. It shows a rowboat named Original Contract, tied to a yacht named Change Orders. Very few change orders in my program, or indeed, in my home remodeling.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:53 AM (u82oZ)

20 Puddleglum

Oh! is a fun video to watch. They are good dancers as well.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:54 AM (u82oZ)

21 At least open carry, and state you are a cowboy from New Jersey.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 04:46 AM (u82oZ)

I wish.

There is no right to self defense in France.

On the other hand, most of Paris is safe from violent crime, and the cops usually are in groups of 2-4, and I haven't seen a fat one yet. Cute? Yes, but always with a male partner. They may be surrender monkeys, but they do take policing seriously... sometimes.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 04:55 AM (UUa/N)

22 Skimming the Orion article, I gather that Musk didn't rescue them, they could have come home any time.
Honest!

Posted by: Bruce at April 07, 2025 04:57 AM (kcNOc)

23 G'Day everyone
I have another long day coming, hopefully home by Cafe time

Posted by: Skip at April 07, 2025 04:59 AM (ypFCm)

24 @9/NaCly Dog: "Up early due to lots to get done, and poor sleep."

Sort of the same here. Did paperwork to close out last week's duty, cleaned the inside of the windshield, remounted the suction cup for the Garmin GPS on said windshield, and got everything basically ready to go for this week, all from 21:00 to 22:00 last night. I should have been in bed by 20:00.

I'm definitely feeling it this morning. A mid-day nap should sort me out.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 07, 2025 05:00 AM (O7YUW)

25 They may be surrender monkeys, but they do take policing seriously... sometimes.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 04:55 AM (UUa/N)

One of film’s most revered scenes involves diligent French policing. “I am shocked to find gambling here”

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 05:00 AM (X4hXd)

26 The insanity of being a software engineer.

I remember, some time back, yesterday maybe, someone linked a tweet about how being a knowledge worker was easy and would be replaced by AI.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 07, 2025 05:01 AM (ExV1e)

27 All they had to do was click their heels three times and say
" There is no place like home"

Posted by: Skip at April 07, 2025 05:04 AM (ypFCm)

28 Absolutely gorgeous night here in the boondocks. Stars and moonlight. The mountains are silhouetted. A little reminder of why we came here.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 05:04 AM (X4hXd)

29 Bruce

A Moron knows the leader of the Starliner effort, Reading between the lines, he is a great guy, undermined by lots of shoddy work at Boeing.

There was a choice: Take a big chance and potentially lose both astronauts, or use a proven system to return them.

I think the final results showed that everyone made the right call.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:05 AM (u82oZ)

30 There was a choice: Take a big chance and potentially lose both astronauts, or use a proven system to return them.

I think the final results showed that everyone made the right call.
Posted by: NaCly Dog

Reading the article, I would have waited for the MuskMobile to show up too.

Posted by: Bruce at April 07, 2025 05:06 AM (kcNOc)

31 Pixy while I’ve got you. Your comment comparing programming to brick laying, made me wonder how you really build a program. Do you try to write “modules” to perform a discrete piece or function and incrementally work to the goal?

Posted by: Pete Bog

Yep. Really the only way to approach it.

And then the client asks me to make the bricks invisible.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 07, 2025 04:43 AM (BLOW1)

I, OTOH, work in application software. Think something like Outlook (although I don't work for Microsoft). Last time we checked, our codebase was 28 billion lines of code.

We had a manager once convince upper management that we didn't need static internal APIs. APIs are the things you use to call the already built modules so you know what you need to tell it to behave in the correct way. Nope, we don't need that. Absolutely anyone can change absolutely anything and it'll affect the entire 28 billion lines of code.

Then we started hiring Indian programmers.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 07, 2025 05:07 AM (ExV1e)

32 Grumpy and Recalcitrant

Glad you have that break in the work day for a nap. One of the unexpected benefits of our job.

I assume you have no extra trips on your schedule. Spring is full of sports trips.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:07 AM (u82oZ)

33 Looks to be a chaotic day for the markets. It seems that Trump could help the tariff strategy immensely by announcing a temporary abatement of permitting requirements from the feds for new or restarted manufacturing operations in previously developed areas.

Cut the red tape.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 05:19 AM (X4hXd)

34 The Frisco Kids:

https://tinyurl.com/26997yye

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 05:19 AM (2lp6s)

35 It would also be immensely helpful if Congress finalized the tax legislation for signature. The proposals that appear to be moving forward would remove a lot of uncertainty and allow better business and individual investment planning.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 05:22 AM (X4hXd)

36 @32/NaCly Dog: I have some extra trips, but not today, so the timing is good.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 07, 2025 05:25 AM (O7YUW)

37 Pete Bog

Asking Congress to do their job?

Inconceivable.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:28 AM (u82oZ)

38 Feeling weary and tired? This devotional addresses that - Isaiah 46:3-9 and the phrase “Even to gray hairs I will carry you.” God is with us from age to age. The devotional is appropriate for both interested Christians and Jews and contains some interesting insights about the passage, the devotional and a prayer:

https://tinyurl.com/2s48yv47

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 07, 2025 05:30 AM (TLhEl)

39 FenelonSpoke

Hope you and yours are doing well. And you are getting enough sleep. I could read to you passages from the Manual of Patent Examiner Procedures to put you right out, if needed.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:33 AM (u82oZ)

40 @38/FenelonSpoke: Thanks for that, it's especially timely today.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 07, 2025 05:34 AM (O7YUW)

41 The Insanity of Being a Software Engineer

That reminded me of my favorite software oldtime joke:
Two software engineers are standing around, waiting for a new client, when the office doorbell chimes. One says to the other, "You go see what they want while I start coding."

Posted by: Ciampino - bring highlighters at April 07, 2025 05:35 AM (sPQoU)

42 38- and here’s a lovely Christian hymn related to
This- “I heard the voice of Jesus say”:

https://tinyurl.com/4xbehuaz

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 07, 2025 05:37 AM (TLhEl)

43 Salty,
Congress reminds me of that crack about the Palestinians. They never miss an opportunity to make the wrong choices.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 05:38 AM (X4hXd)

44 Evening and morning, late toilers and early risers! 'Tis Monday, yes. But always remember: "Compared to being on the wrong side of the ground, even a bad Monday is pretty small kumquats, nicht wahr?"

And it's not a bad Monday here. Yesterday's rain is gone, and it's an amazing 58 F. with a wind chill (a *wind chill* in April!) of 55. Once I get fully awake, I'll go for my workout. How about you?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 07, 2025 05:41 AM (omVj0)

45 FenelonSpoke

Nice, peaceful hymn. Thank you.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:43 AM (u82oZ)

46 Project specifications (humor)

https://tinyurl.com/2z43wj7p

Posted by: Ciampino - bring headlighters at April 07, 2025 05:44 AM (sPQoU)

47 Sort of the same here. Did paperwork to close out last week's duty, cleaned the inside of the windshield, remounted the suction cup for the Garmin GPS on said windshield, and got everything basically ready to go for this week, all from 21:00 to 22:00 last night. I should have been in bed by 20:00.

I'm definitely feeling it this morning. A mid-day nap should sort me out.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 07, 2025

***
My Sunday was kind of like that, except around the apartment. Overdue cleaning for the most part. I couldn't wash or wax the car since it was raining.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 07, 2025 05:44 AM (omVj0)

48 Pete Bog

Congress is broken. Repealing the 17th Amendment may not work. There are reason's that amendment was adopted, but it did not work.

Members of Congress and staff have classes on how to ignore constituents demands.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:45 AM (u82oZ)

49 The Killer Kittenz From Outer Space are here and doing well. Little Dagny the Aloof is sprawled on the dinette table; big black Stirling is stretched out on the kitchen counter extension. They've been fed and watered, so they must just be relaxing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 07, 2025 05:46 AM (omVj0)

50 Grumpy and Recalcitrant

You have a Garmin GPS. I have a rock and a paper map.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:47 AM (u82oZ)

51 Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:3

LOL, Salty. Reading about patents and procedures not a stimulating read, eh ? You’re kind. I took drugs ( Legal) such as Unisom and homeopathic stuff and I slept last night

Family is ok . Spouse prayed “ Please keep “S” off the bus- ( he was kidding) and may his parents bring him to school.” I laughed . We did pray for you and G & C and all the bus drivers. Spouse is having a bus evacuation today. The kids enjoy that I am- except for now-,taking a day off from the cell phone and mostly ( except for e-mails ) computer. Too much news is not good- at least for me .It’s another busy week but am looking forward to being with the dear folks at the Senior Center for our Bible study tomorrow.,We are studying patience and I think I will also bring them the above devotional as well.

Mayv all here have a blessed day and know that you are a blessing to others.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 07, 2025 05:49 AM (TLhEl)

52 Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

Good luck with your big road trip to Indiana.

Hope you have a plan B in case the fit is not good.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:50 AM (u82oZ)

53 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at April 07, 2025 05:51 AM (dg+HA)

54 FenelonSpoke

Friday, I had all the girls on the bus from 3rd grade to kindergarten singing when we got to school.

♩ I don't want to be a chicken,
I don't want to be a duck.
I want to shake my butt, butt, butt, butt ♩
To the tune of the Chicken Dance.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:53 AM (u82oZ)

55 Two launches today: SpaceX and Soyuz

Details later.

Posted by: Ciampino - bring some light at April 07, 2025 05:55 AM (sPQoU)

56
Good luck with your big road trip to Indiana.

Hope you have a plan B in case the fit is not good.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025

***
Good morning, Salty. I have not ruled out Kansas yet! And then there are Iowa and S. Dakota. . . .

The Buick gets its front brake pads and a front wheel bearing replaced tomorrow, so it will be ready to go. And Miss Linda and I will have The Talk about The Move . . . though I expect that to be inconclusive and disappointing. I need to start making room reservations in the B'ham suburbs and in Evansville, too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 07, 2025 05:56 AM (omVj0)

57 @50/NaCly Dog: Self purchased equipment. I've found it helpful if I treat it like an advisor but not an authority.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 07, 2025 05:59 AM (O7YUW)

58 Two launches today: SpaceX and Soyuz

Posted by: Ciampino - bring some light at April 07, 2025 05:55 AM (sPQoU)
-

Isn't Soyuz like the Lada of spacecraft?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 05:59 AM (2lp6s)

59 Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 05:53 AM (u82oZ)

You must be a very fun bus driver. Salty. 😊 Spouse says he doesn't know that song. He sings Happy Birthday to them. One little girl said it was her cats birthday and could they sing to him. He said " Your cat is not here."

Thanks, Salty and G& C for the way you keep the kids safe and help brighten their way to and from school.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 07, 2025 05:59 AM (ierbo)

60 And I hope to have a day off today.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 07, 2025 06:01 AM (ierbo)

61 Today, with a high of 62, I can wash the car and finish waxing it -- the roof has had spray wax, but not glaze and hand wax. And at the last wash, I tried an old show car trick: Lemon Pledge, sprayed onto a soft cloth and spread atop the true wax for extra shine. Looks nice.

Some grocery items are on the list, and making some phone calls. I'll use the new-to-me iMac on my desk, answer or delete some emails, and make some notes for a new story idea I have. . . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 07, 2025 06:02 AM (omVj0)

62 58 Two launches today: SpaceX and Soyuz

Posted by: Ciampino - bring some light at April 07, 2025 05:55 AM (sPQoU)
-

Isn't Soyuz like the Lada of spacecraft?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 05:59 AM (2lp6s)

----
Launch Provider: Roscosmos
Rocket Manufacturer: RKK Energia
Launcher System: Soyuz 2.1a
Mission: Soyuz MS-27
Flight Number: 83 for Soyuz 2.1a type

Now you know as much as I do.

Posted by: Ciampino - bring some vodka at April 07, 2025 06:03 AM (sPQoU)

63 FenelonSpoke

May you walk on sand and leave no footprints behind. You are a blessing to us rapscallions and ne'er-do-wells.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 06:04 AM (u82oZ)

64 You're a cowboy from New Joizy?
I'm a cowboy from New Joizy!
Yeah? What exit?

Posted by: Obligatory NJ joke at April 07, 2025 06:05 AM (dg+HA)

65 Have a great day, everyone. May there be zephyrs.

My work preps just started.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025 06:05 AM (u82oZ)

66 That was a great interview with the scientist on Voyager. NASA gets a lot of criticism (And rightly so in a lot of cases) but this was an example of someone who loves her job and was doing good work.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 07, 2025 06:06 AM (+4yJ5)

67 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 07, 2025 06:09 AM (6K6Eu)

68 Isn't Soyuz like the Lada of spacecraft?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 05:59 AM (2lp6s)
------------
Laugh if you will, but the Soyuz is a long-lived and very reliable spacecraft with an excellent safety record.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 07, 2025 06:11 AM (6K6Eu)

69
A Moron knows the leader of the Starliner effort, Reading between the lines, he is a great guy, undermined by lots of shoddy work at Boeing.

They're not being called Boing! for nothing.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 06:20 AM (xG4kz)

70 SpaceX - Falcon 9 - Starlink 11-11
SLC-4E - Vandenberg SFB - Space Affairs Live
Launch Date: April 7, 2025 (PDT)
Launch Time: 3:00 p.m. PDT, 2200 UTC - April 8, 00:00 CEST

https://www.youtube.com/live/igfdX0msz_s
________

Roscosmos - Soyuz 2.1a - Soyuz MS-27
LS 31/6 - Baikonur Cosmodrome KAZ - Space Affairs Live
Scheduled for Apr 7, 2025 Eastern
Launch Date: April 8, 2025 Local
Launch Time: 1:47 Eastern Time, 10:47 (Local Time: Baikonur), 05:47 UTC, 07:47 CEDT

https://www.youtube.com/live/rnD2wG_cKpg

Posted by: Ciampino - bring cheese at April 07, 2025 06:23 AM (sPQoU)

71 @59/FenelonSpoke: "Thanks, Salty and G& C for the way you keep the kids safe and help brighten their way to and from school."

I bring my own music on an MP3 player, so I can entertain the kids and we don't have to listen to a ton of advertising or morning "morning zoo" type DJs.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 07, 2025 06:28 AM (O7YUW)

72 The Minecraft movie has the huge advantage of not needing to be any good to have a good opening week. The built-in audience of kids who are going to turn out is huge, even if they heard a rumor that it was mostly an hour of Jack Black taking a dump.

It remains to be seen whether it's a wheelchair blockbuster, which is a movie that opens big but has no legs.

Posted by: Epobirs at April 07, 2025 06:29 AM (/0z9K)

73 Ended up with an extra morning in that last comment, somehow. *rubs eyes* Yup. Definitely need a nap mid-day.

Okay, time to do the driving thing. Later all.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 07, 2025 06:29 AM (O7YUW)

74 My sleep schedule is all screwed up.

My friends' cats were just at the patio door wanting to come in. Snowflake is actually scratching at the window now.

No. After my friends feed them, they can come in. We have a nice 11am to 6 pn schedule going where they come in and sleep like hell. I buy flea medications because they are here, but aside from that...not my issue.

I did my best to make them indoor cats. Even in Canadian winters. Minus 17 celcius, still wanted to go out at night.

But from 11am or so, they sleep like hell. I can leave the house. They're the best.

Shared cats kind of rule.

Posted by: Stateless...85% - mental state clawing up from 10% at April 07, 2025 06:30 AM (jvJvP)

75 The Minecraft movie... Didn't flop, maybe. (Variety)

Despite a pretty bad initial trailer. It only cost $150 million and made $135 $300 million globally in its first weekend
-

It should've been an enormous hit, but the "star" they chose is a known rabid anti-Trumper who made big time Biden endorsements and anti-Trump public announcements and whose bandmate was comfortable enough with their day-to-day conversations to openly support the Trump shooting on stage.

What did you idiots expect would happen?

Put that Guardians of the Galaxy guy in there and you'd have had a billion the first weekend.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories daily at April 07, 2025 06:40 AM (VZ6yk)

76
Home again last night after having spent two days in New Jersey taking leader training for my gig in Cub Scouts. Great fun and geeat people.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 06:43 AM (xG4kz)

77 A Moron knows the leader of the Starliner effort, Reading between the lines, he is a great guy, undermined by lots of shoddy work at Boeing.

They're not being called Boing! for nothing.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 06:20 AM (xG4kz)
-

Kerplunk seems more appropriate.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 06:44 AM (2lp6s)

78
... it was mostly an hour of Jack Black taking a dump.

Just like every other Jack Black movie, then?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 06:45 AM (xG4kz)

79 >>>Turning your spacecraft off and on again and hoping for the best

yikes

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:45 AM (CQE5S)

80 >>>Not which once

-->

Not which one

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:46 AM (CQE5S)

81 79 >>>Turning your spacecraft off and on again and hoping for the best

yikes

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:45 AM (CQE5S)
----
Must be running Windows.

Posted by: Ciampino - bring cheese & crackers at April 07, 2025 06:47 AM (sPQoU)

82 A Moron knows the leader of the Starliner effort, Reading between the lines, he is a great guy, undermined by lots of shoddy work at Boeing.

-

He's confused on the goal. The important part was that competent white men were removed from critical positions where things like math and understanding how things work and work together are more important than emotions and pronouns.

Accepting that, the current state of things is surprisingly good.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories daily at April 07, 2025 06:49 AM (VZ6yk)

83 >>>Turning your spacecraft off and on again and hoping for the best

yikes

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:45 AM (CQE5S)
-

"All you have to do is just flip a swish." - Flight Commander Ricky Ricardo

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 06:49 AM (2lp6s)

84 mornin yall. The local "Hands off"protest attracted the usual dirty bunch of tatted and pierced weirdos, illegals, civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, and elections activists bearing signs and shouting slogans like "Hey ho, Donald Trump has got to go" and "Power to the penguins". Then they went home and kissed each other's filthy orifices until they passed out.

Posted by: fd at April 07, 2025 06:51 AM (vFG9F)

85
Must be running Windows.
Posted by: Ciampino - bring cheese & crackers

They ought to have known better than to have run that flight during an unknown and unannounced upgrade to the software.

"Windows is shutting down"
"What??? NOOO! You bastards!"

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 06:52 AM (xG4kz)

86 83 >>>Turning your spacecraft off and on again and hoping for the best

yikes

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:45 AM (CQE5S)
-

"All you have to do is just flip a swish." - Flight Commander Ricky Ricardo

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at April 07, 2025 06:49 AM (2lp6s)
----
That's ticklish work.

Posted by: Ciampino - bring wine, cheese & crackers at April 07, 2025 06:52 AM (sPQoU)

87 "Minecraft" quick review:

Charles C. W. Cooke
@charlescwcooke
14h
Took the kids to see “Minecraft.” It’s very silly, but they enjoyed it, it was entertaining (and genuinely funny in parts), and it’s going to make a billion dollars.

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:53 AM (CQE5S)

88
It is a true pity that Bill Dana is with us no more.

His Jose Jimenez character would fit right in with Boing!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 06:54 AM (xG4kz)

89 13 More elegant prose than whatever you beret wearing, bike riding, leg humping surrender monkeys would use.

Posted by: Pete Bog at April 07, 2025 04:42 AM (X4hXd)

No bike riding yet. They are f*cking lunatics on their bikes.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (with a beret and a Gauloises) at April 07, 2025 04:44 AM (UUa/N)

But maybe they have the little twee scooters!

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:55 AM (CQE5S)

90
What's up with the penguin fetish of the anti-Trumpers?

My idiot DiL's equally idiotic parents took part in a protest dressed as penguins.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 06:57 AM (xG4kz)

91 Two days of training so you can be a Cub Scout leader?
In NEW JERSEY?
Good Lord.
I guess gone are the days when the homemaker mom down the street could organize a bunch of seven year old boys in how to make a pencil holder out of an empty plastic dish soap bottle.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 07, 2025 06:59 AM (dg+HA)

92

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at April 07, 2025 07:01 AM (5hfjS)

93 At his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony where he received a star. Pause for a moment to realize how big of a deal that is. And:

"Addressing the crowd during the final moment of his acceptance speech, the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle actor said "I love you all so much".

Before walking off, Black couldn't resist adding: "Except for Donald Trump, he's a piece of s**t! Peace out, love you!”"

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories daily at April 07, 2025 07:01 AM (VZ6yk)

94 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Currently 36. High today 62 and sunny.

Posted by: olddog in mo at April 07, 2025 07:01 AM (hoCmQ)

95 Took the kids to see “Minecraft.” It’s very silly, but they enjoyed it, it was entertaining (and genuinely funny in parts), and it’s going to make a billion dollars.

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 06:53 AM (CQE5S)

Silly is fun.

I like a bunch of Disney and Nick shows. They make me laugh. The older shows didn't piss me off. I had Instagram for a bit and followed the kids, again, because they were sweet and didn't piss me off and I needed something freaking happy.

You'd be surprised at how amazingly wonderful they turned out to be,

Posted by: Stateless...85% - mental state clawing up from 10% at April 07, 2025 07:02 AM (jvJvP)

96
I just read about the penguins.

Big Penguin is playing the protesters like the fools that they are.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 07:05 AM (xG4kz)

97 Morning peeps.

Still flooded. Travel by some sort of boat is becoming popular.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 07, 2025 07:05 AM (Q4IgG)

98
Before walking off, Black couldn't resist adding: "Except for Donald Trump, he's a piece of s**t! Peace out, love you!”"

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories daily at April 07, 2025 07:01 AM (VZ6yk)

Joggers gotta jogger. Subhuman piece of crap.

Posted by: Stateless...85% - mental state clawing up from 10% at April 07, 2025 07:07 AM (jvJvP)

99
Quarter Twenty

Yes, those days are gone. Get over it.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 07:09 AM (xG4kz)

100 Joggers gotta jogger. Subhuman piece of crap.

-

Yep. Hopefully conservatives will eventually understand how money works.

Remember when Rosanne, a comedian, made a completely accurate statement regarding a fictional sci-fi character that doesn't exist and her TV career on the show bearing her name immediately ended?

We can't stop giving money to people who publicly support Trump being shot in the head.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Women only need 1200 calories daily at April 07, 2025 07:12 AM (VZ6yk)

101 Buckle up. Today is going to be a very wild ride.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 07:13 AM (LkLld)

102 What's up with the penguin fetish of the anti-Trumpers?

Has to do with tariffs being imposed on a pair of uninhabited islands with a lot of penguins. So they are using it is "Orange Man Dumb!"

Posted by: NR Pax at April 07, 2025 07:13 AM (+4yJ5)

103
NR Pax

Thanks for that. It became a thing while my attention was required elsewhere.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 07:15 AM (xG4kz)

104 Good morning, coffee's brewing, good to be here.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 07:15 AM (9pHx8)

105 ***At one point they were uncertain whether they could dock with the ISS or return to Earth. Not which once was safer, but whether either one was possible.
---

We came down in a flaming ball of fire, ball of fire
And it burns, burns, burns; that ball of fire

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 07:17 AM (9pHx8)

106 I didn't know Jack Black was in Minecraft.

That's great!

I had too much yardwork this weekend, so I declined to take the kids to this - the older two went with their biological dad instead.

If it had been me, that would have sucked. I'd have had to walk out. Not because of politics. But because I'd rather eat a light bulb than sit through a Jack Black movie.

I've always said his best two roles were The Jackal (mutilated by auto cannon) and the X-Files (fried alive by magic lightning bolts).

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 07, 2025 07:19 AM (BI5O2)

107 47 My Sunday was kind of like that, except around the apartment. Overdue cleaning for the most part.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 07, 2025 05:44 AM (omVj0)

That was my Sunday, too! Spring cleaning.

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 07:21 AM (CQE5S)

108 I can visit Mars and Venus and Saturn whenever I want.

We never seen no harm
We thought it was kinda handy
Take a trip and never leave the farm
Big 'ole puff of that wildwood weed
And the next thing you know
You're just wand'ring 'round behind the little animals...

Posted by: Jim Stafford at April 07, 2025 07:22 AM (ekEaX)

109 Has to do with tariffs being imposed on a pair of uninhabited islands with a lot of penguins. So they are using it is "Orange Man Dumb!"
Posted by: NR Pax at April 07, 2025 07:13 AM (+4yJ5)

Lutnick laughingly explained this to the hopeless dumbf*ck Brennan yesterday. Trump is cleverly cutting off tariff loopholes.

Posted by: Ordinary American at April 07, 2025 07:22 AM (h/ffs)

110 >>>Software advances that look pretty to insiders at big companies are rarely appreciated by the masses of customers. An astute businessman would understand this.
Posted by: NaCly Dog
---

iPhone update with its new pronouns enters the chat.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 07:23 AM (9pHx8)

111 - Something in particular to look forward to, Jack, or just your everyday 'Trump is evil' protests?

Posted by: TeeJ at April 07, 2025 07:23 AM (L8+qQ)

112 I've completely given in to vim motions, there is even a browser plugin for most browsers.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 07, 2025 07:24 AM (XV/Pl)

113 56 Good luck with your big road trip to Indiana.

Hope you have a plan B in case the fit is not good.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 07, 2025

***
Good morning, Salty. I have not ruled out Kansas yet! And then there are Iowa and S. Dakota. . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 07, 2025 05:56 AM (omVj0)

Is West Virginia still in the mix?

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 07:24 AM (CQE5S)

114 >>Lutnick laughingly explained this to the hopeless dumbf*ck Brennan yesterday. Trump is cleverly cutting off tariff loopholes.

If leftists weren't so overcome with constant rage and actually paid attention to what Trump is doing rather than automatically assuming Trump is an idiot this wouldn't need to be explained. One of the biggest loopholes in NAFTA that Trump closed in his first term was stopping China from dumping products through Canada and Mexico.

China has been doing this for years and getting away with it. Not anymore.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 07:26 AM (LkLld)

115 How much are the anti-Trump protests paying today?

Posted by: Stoner living in his parents basement at April 07, 2025 07:27 AM (dg+HA)

116 22 Skimming the Orion article, I gather that Musk didn't rescue them, they could have come home any time.
Honest!
Posted by: Bruce
---

Read a quote from Butch saying that. Must be Mark Kelly's cousin.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 07:28 AM (9pHx8)

117
I've always said his best two roles were The Jackal (mutilated by auto cannon) and the X-Files (fried alive by magic lightning bolts).
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice

I have not watched the latter, but the former, with Bruce Willis at the trigger, is most satisfying.

The guy plays but one role and that is to play Jack Black playing Jack Black.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 07:28 AM (xG4kz)

118 >>Something in particular to look forward to, Jack, or just your everyday 'Trump is evil' protests?

Take a look at the worldwide financial markets. The great trade rebalancing has begun.

And then there's this little gem from UK PM Starmer.

>>@zerohedge
·
>>33m
UK PM Starmer To Make Stunning Admission: 'Globalization Is Over'

Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 07:29 AM (LkLld)

119 "How much are the anti-Trump protests paying today?
Posted by: Stoner living in his parents basement"

Mondays are 500 point bonus days. Protestors get an extra 500 penguin bucks to use in our store to buy shirts, caps, and bondage gear at our online store!

Posted by: Big Penguin at April 07, 2025 07:30 AM (vFG9F)

120

Posted by: Don Black at April 07, 2025 07:31 AM (AOsQT)

121 114 >>Lutnick laughingly explained this to the hopeless dumbf*ck Brennan yesterday. Trump is cleverly cutting off tariff loopholes.
---------

John Brennan? A man who should be in jail not on TV.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 07:32 AM (9pHx8)

122 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 07, 2025 07:33 AM (/Ghsb)

123
There is a JJ

NOOD

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 07, 2025 07:33 AM (xG4kz)

124 - The markets then.
Thanks for the reply.
Well, the nice thing about being in my position, worldly speaking, no frets about the markets.

Posted by: TeeJ at April 07, 2025 07:34 AM (L8+qQ)

125 @117

>> The guy plays but one role and that is to play Jack Black playing Jack Black.

To be fair, once an actor has established themselves as a lead actor, they typically are just playing slightly different versions of themselves and you either dig the actor or you don’t.

Black has appeared in a number of films I’ve liked, its just now he’s an old, fat, bearded weirdo, but kids do love him, he’s now been in two of the biggest video game movies of all time playing iconic characters. We’ll never be rid of him now.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 07, 2025 07:34 AM (XV/Pl)

126 118 And then there's this little gem from UK PM Starmer.

>>@zerohedge
·
>>33m
UK PM Starmer To Make Stunning Admission: 'Globalization Is Over'
Posted by: JackStraw at April 07, 2025 07:29 AM (LkLld)

Oh! I mean, I hope so!

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 07:35 AM (CQE5S)

127 And that's the teaching moment where you explain to your kids why you're not going to pay to see the movie. They might even learn ethics and morals from that moment.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - Moms lie to daughters because they compete against them for men at April 07, 2025 07:36 AM (VgEZL)

128 >>>Software advances that look pretty to insiders at big companies are rarely appreciated by the masses of customers. An astute businessman would understand this.
Posted by: NaCly Dog

I don't get it.

Posted by: Clippy at April 07, 2025 07:36 AM (Aqu9a)

129 Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Thank you, Pixy! I hope the new time slot is going to work out well for you!

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 07:38 AM (CQE5S)

130 >>33m
UK PM Starmer To Make Stunning Admission: 'Globalization Is Over'
---

Brought that the other day. Certification was requested.

Naysayers don't understand. Don't want to understand.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 07, 2025 07:43 AM (9pHx8)

131 119 "How much are the anti-Trump protests paying today?
Posted by: Stoner living in his parents basement"

Mondays are 500 point bonus days. Protestors get an extra 500 penguin bucks to use in our store to buy shirts, caps, and bondage gear at our online store!
Posted by: Big Penguin

This place.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 07, 2025 07:57 AM (dg+HA)

132 another "Minecraft" quick review:

PoIiMath
@politicalmath
15h
Went to the Minecraft movie with my 10yo and I think it was pretty well targeted

My kid just wanted to see a bunch of Minecraft things and had a pretty high tolerance for Jack Black being a goofball. Mission accomplished.

Posted by: m at April 07, 2025 08:50 AM (CQE5S)

133 I read the Ars Technica article and, well, there weren't any bombshells in it from my perspective. Maybe the fact that I work in the business colors it, but losing attitude control is a very bad thing and my comment at the time they lost the thrusters before docking was "they may not be able to return."

Frankly, I was surprised that they let it dock like that because if those thrusters are subject to random failure, undocking poses a major risk to the ISS.

My read of the situation suggests that there were reasons that the automated return was delayed, beyond the one concerned Butch mentioned about the automation not necessarily being able to handle thruster failure, but I don't really have any visibility into that program.

Posted by: [\i][\s][\u]Cybersmythe at April 07, 2025 10:38 AM (2Insx)

134 Dangit

Posted by: Cybersmythe at April 07, 2025 10:38 AM (2Insx)

135
Good Morning!

Posted by: Old Asshole at April 07, 2025 12:12 PM (3ek7K)

136 "a huge grant for the hate mosque."

Why? Forget the mosque for a minute. Why are there State grant to ANY religious entity?

Posted by: Gosport at April 07, 2025 02:45 PM (7PUnr)

137 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS0KvZY06Ek

Posted by: cmeat at April 07, 2025 03:11 PM (6+aIJ)

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