Daily Tech News 18 April 2025

Top Story

A federal judge has ruled that Google is operating an illegal monopoly - again. (Associated Press)

Google's search engine was found in violation of antitrust laws last August, and the company's ad division has now joined it on the naughty list.

This doesn't mean that either one is an absolute monopoly, and they're not. But companies with a dominant market position are restricted from certain business practices that are not in themselves illegal, and that's where Google has run aground.

Now the DOJ will be arguing for specific penalties (most likely forcing Google to spin off a small number of products into separate businesses) and Google will be trying to tie this up in appeals until the Sun goes out.

Tech News

AGI is still thirty years away, like nuclear fusion. (Dwarkesh Podcast)

(There's a full transcript; you don't need to listen.)

The host makes the point that we've had rapid advances in AI technology over the past decade; the guests respond that this progress has come at the expense of, well, expense. The AI supercluster at xAI cost upwards of $2.5 billion to create, and similar installations exist at the other major AI companies.

And we can't replicate that over the next ten years because nobody has $2.5 trillion to build a computer a thousand times more powerful, or 35,000 methane-powered generators to provide the hundreds of gigawatts needed to power the city-sized cluster.

Now things get hard.
There's a new Framework Laptop 13 in town, with a Ryzen 370 and up to 96GB (and probably 128GB) of SO-DIMM memory. (Tom's Hardware)

Still no Four Essential Keys though.
A new GPS alternative from Australia is 10 to 50 times more accurate than existing alternatives. (Interesting Engineering)

When I first saw this it seemed to be claiming to be 10 to 50 times more accurate than GPS itself, but that's not it. If GPS is unavailable for any reason - something that happens a lot more often than you might think - this system based on existing maps of the Earth's magnetic field is essentially impossible to jam and doesn't rely on any other systems being active.

It's not as good as GPS, but it's better than other options when you don't have GPS.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Can't you at least make it a Linear B-?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at April 18, 2025 04:30 AM (ypFCm)

2 Mornin'

Posted by: Tuna at April 18, 2025 04:31 AM (lJ0H4)

3 Morning all.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 18, 2025 04:32 AM (BLOW1)

4 My favorite fact about Linear B was that it was typically written boustrophedon.

That and the little wagon wheel looking letter always made me happy. What a silly little letter.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:35 AM (kBh81)

5 I am actually amazed that between Garmin and Google maps I find where I have to go. Sometimes in spite of them.

Posted by: Skip at April 18, 2025 04:35 AM (ypFCm)

6 5 I am actually amazed that between Garmin and Google maps I find where I have to go. Sometimes in spite of them.
Posted by: Skip at April 18, 2025 04:35 AM (ypFCm)

Ah, sat-nav in new jersey...

In half a mile, continue straight
In half a mile, continue straight
In half a ----
*hucks phone out window*
*deepening doppler shift*
milleee connnnntiiiinnnnuueeeeeeeee str.........

Seriously, who programmed all these things for Jersey? They should be sued for emotional distress.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:39 AM (kBh81)

7 morning all

Posted by: Ciampino - bizarre incident? at April 18, 2025 04:40 AM (sPQoU)

8 Serious question I don't know the actual answer to:

Does the existence of laws ("laws"?) that allow the state to break up a corporation into smaller entities by force actually somehow create a driving force for more aggressive M&A activity, creating more and larger monoliths than there would have been in the first place?

Counterfactuals, I know, but still. I wonder.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:43 AM (kBh81)

9 G'morning, all.

Was off the blog most of yesterday after Salty's morning update.

So kinda anxious to hear how Mrs Salty faired through the day.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 04:45 AM (a1415)

10 And the poster mentioned in the previous thread at end is clearly unfamiliar with Proitestantc hymns such as "Ah, Holy Jesus...I, Lord Jesus , it was I that denied thee...I crucified thee." These writers of most of these were Protestant and not translations from Latin . Nor "happy and clappy" at all

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 04:47 AM (VhMOy)

11 It's not as good as GPS, but it's better than other options when you don't have GPS.

I always carry an old timey road atlas in my car. A compass isn't a bad idea either. Old tech is reliable.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at April 18, 2025 04:48 AM (K9xEt)

12 And....

Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at April 18, 2025 04:48 AM (K9xEt)

13 Typo- Meant "Protestant"

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 04:49 AM (42Vb+)

14 Who drilled a hole in the bottom of my coffee mug?

Thing keeps going empty on me.

Not cool, man. Not cool.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:50 AM (kBh81)

15 So kinda anxious to hear how Mrs Salty faired through the day.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice

According to the last updates I read, she was life flighted to KU Medical Center where she received a new stent and was now resting. Salty was supposed to update us this morning.

Posted by: Tuna at April 18, 2025 04:50 AM (lJ0H4)

16 w00t

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 04:51 AM (CQE5S)

17 Tuna,
Thank you for the update about the stent.

That was new to me.

Now to sip coffee, and wait for Salty this morning.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 04:52 AM (a1415)

18 I always carry an old timey road atlas in my car. A compass isn't a bad idea either. Old tech is reliable.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at April 18, 2025 04:48 AM (K9xEt)

I was using a phone for navigation to some place far away i'd never been to. Halfway there, my phone literally started smoking and melted itself. (short in the power jack, I figure). No written directions. Smelly interior. Totally lost. The rest station on the highway had a rack of old maps that were literally dusty crammed back in a corner. Bought one, and navigated to a literal dot on the map like some kind of neanderthal, then thanked the heavens that the address of the place I was going was XYZ South Number Street, Dotsville, NJ.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:54 AM (kBh81)

19 So a US Senator travels to a foreign country to demand that a citizen of that country, known by that country to be a member of MS-13 be released from their prison, so that he can be transported to the United States, and then presumably be released into the public.

Well, alrighty then....

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 04:55 AM (a1415)

20 Disclaimer: Can't you at least make it a Linear B-?

"YOU get an A, and YOU get an A, and YOU get an A!"

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 04:56 AM (CQE5S)

21 G'mornin all y'all

Posted by: OkJohn at April 18, 2025 04:57 AM (NC/it)

22 Beautiful video. Thanks, Pixy!

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 05:01 AM (CQE5S)

23 Fen, that was Nurse who used a wide net with her statement. Maybe she saw some TV preacher. A lot of them are trash.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at April 18, 2025 05:01 AM (K9xEt)

24 And the turbo replacement project on the Volvo wagon continues apace.

Later this morning I have to check all connections, install the cross brace and upper engine mount. Return the coolant to the engine, and put one cooling line bracket back on.

Then we see if I was successful in this little project.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:02 AM (a1415)

25 4 Linear B
... the little wagon wheel looking letter always made me happy. What a silly little letter.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:35 AM (kBh81)

𐀏

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 05:03 AM (CQE5S)

26 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at April 18, 2025 05:03 AM (dg+HA)

27 or maybe

𐃏

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 05:03 AM (CQE5S)

28 51.3 degrees out.

Birdbath is filled and awaiting customers.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:04 AM (a1415)

29 Posted by: Puddleglum at work at April 18, 2025 05:01 AM (K9xEt)

Thanks; i was aware of who posted it.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 05:04 AM (2iNhp)

30 Sen. Van Hollen meets with wrongfully deported man!!

Babylon DC Fox affiliate breathlessly reports!! The newz is Chernobyl grade garbage.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at April 18, 2025 05:05 AM (K9xEt)

31 8 more aggressive M&A activity, creating more and larger monoliths than there would have been in the first place
Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:43 AM (kBh81)

M&A = mergers and acquisitions

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 05:06 AM (CQE5S)

32 Several years ago, Little VIA was on deployment and working the flight deck on the night shift in the 5th Fleet AOR.

The good Senator was making a visit to the ship, and our son was a registered Maryland voter, so in the middle of trying to get some sleep that day, he was woken up to spend some quality time with the good Senator, and a camera crew.

Nope....told them to go stuff it, rolled over and went back to sleep.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:09 AM (a1415)

33 What a silly little letter.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:35 AM (kBh81)

They have lots of fun letters!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 18, 2025 05:11 AM (/5P9N)

34
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at April 18, 2025 05:12 AM (tljrc)

35 Then we see if I was successful in this little project.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:02 AM (a1415)

I'll drop off the S80 when you are done.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 18, 2025 05:13 AM (/5P9N)

36 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:16 AM (u82oZ)

37 Salty!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:19 AM (a1415)

38 "I'll drop off the S80 when you are done."

Let's see if I'm successful first.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:20 AM (a1415)

39 Update on my wife:

She gots lots of sleep yesterday, and had one major artery blockage cleaned out and stented.
She did well.

The unstated path forward is not surgery, from which she will not recoverer, but to do little things to get her more stable, then sent her home. This assumes no more heart attacks. Today I will listen for signs of what recovery will look like for her. I think ballroom dancing is right out.

The team at the Cardiac ICU at KU Med Center in Kansas City is very impressive.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:23 AM (u82oZ)

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

*twirl*

Posted by: Rosasharn at April 18, 2025 05:24 AM (PzBTm)

41 The continued support from the Horde is quite impressive, and I assert it is a big part what is keeping her alive.

I can not express my heartfelt appreciation for you, one and all. What an amazing community. I can testify.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:26 AM (u82oZ)

42 Salty...

Continued prayers for both you and your wife as you go forward together.

Be safe, my friend.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:27 AM (a1415)

43 I was using a phone for navigation to some place far away i'd never been to. Halfway there, my phone literally started smoking and melted itself. (short in the power jack, I figure). No written directions. Smelly interior. Totally lost. The rest station on the highway had a rack of old maps that were literally dusty crammed back in a corner. Bought one, and navigated to a literal dot on the map like some kind of neanderthal, then thanked the heavens that the address of the place I was going was XYZ South Number Street, Dotsville, NJ.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 04:54 AM (kBh81)

Kids today if that happened.

https://youtu.be/Tg6XpJbkevs?t=6

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 18, 2025 05:29 AM (ExV1e)

44 Village Idiot's Apprentice

Top o ta mornin to ya, gov'nor.

I think that the wiring and tubing in medical facilities could use a commonality redo. I see grey wire and green tubing for oxygen, but the rest is a jumble. Color coded wiring, with runs, and little pop-up labels on tubing would be an advance.

I think of how engineering plants have gotten better, with pipes color coded and all the labels.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:32 AM (u82oZ)

45 Have a wonderful day, everyone.

There is beauty all around us. May your heart see that.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:33 AM (u82oZ)

46 What an amazing community. I can testify.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:pm p26 AM (u82oZ)

But they can't ballroom dance, so bring your wife to Corsicana!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 18, 2025 05:33 AM (/5P9N)

47 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at April 18, 2025 05:34 AM (AN2gy)

48 {{{Rosasharn}}}

Huzzah! And she is twirling!

* Does Happy Dance to Vince Guaraldi. *

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:34 AM (u82oZ)

49 I think of how engineering plants have gotten better, with pipes color coded and all the labels.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:32 AM (u82oZ)

You should see the wiring at AoSHQ!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 18, 2025 05:35 AM (/5P9N)

50 "I think of how engineering plants have gotten better, with pipes color coded and all the labels."

Let us not forget flange shields.

And their correct installation.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:36 AM (a1415)

51 Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:23 AM (u82oZ)

Thanks for the update, Salty. Prayers continue for both of you, dear.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 05:36 AM (hDA2f)

52 Times are tough all over.

https://tinyurl.com/2e4mjkap

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at April 18, 2025 05:38 AM (a1415)

53 Good Friday

Almighty God, graciously behind this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever . Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 05:40 AM (hDA2f)

54 Good to hear, NaCly Dog

Posted by: fluffy at April 18, 2025 05:42 AM (AN2gy)

55 "Let us not forget flange shields.

And their correct installation."

With flow direction arrows.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 18, 2025 05:44 AM (dg+HA)

56 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Good news, NaCly

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 18, 2025 05:52 AM (6K6Eu)

57 NaCly, thank you for the update.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 05:55 AM (jjoN6)

58 "Ah, holy Jesus"

Classic hymn written in the 1600's by Johann Heerman. Not exactly "happy and clappy". Heerman lived during the Thirty Years War, not exactly a stroll in the park either:

https://tinyurl.com/4mwmzxad

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 05:56 AM (42Vb+)

59 I always carry an old timey road atlas in my car. A compass isn't a bad idea either. Old tech is reliable.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at April 18, 2025

***
Road atlas for sure. And the Buick has a compass among its instruments.

Evening and morning, insomaniacals! 'Tis Good Friday of the most important weekend of the Christian calendar. What are you up to today?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 05:56 AM (omVj0)

60 I am now going to get my self ready for a non "clappy" Good Friday service later today. May everyone have a blessed day and know that you are a blessing to others.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 05:58 AM (iWjwO)

61 Salty, that's good news about your wife.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 06:01 AM (omVj0)

62 Prayers for Salty and Missus Salty.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 18, 2025 06:01 AM (dg+HA)

63 Local GM plant is laying off workers who work on EV components. How can this be, with the Green New Deal in NYS still a thing and the beloved Governor Kathy H. pushing hard to screw up everything just to show she can force the state to go net zero, how can this be. (school buses are next in just two years, followed by 18 wheeler trucks and cars)

Posted by: Colin at April 18, 2025 06:01 AM (wlQdF)

64 Time to share a good story.

A few months back we got buried in snow. Naturally this was the time that the snow blower said "I'm tired, boss." and stopped working. We have a very long driveway and we had to shovel it out. One morning, I woke up and it had been plowed clean. No idea who did it but we have a lot of folks with plows and we tend to take care of our neighborhood before the city sends folks. A day or two later, we get hit hard and the driveway gets buried again. I go out first thing in the morning with the shovel and it's been completely taken care of.

No note, no nothing. Even more surprising was the fact that none of our dogs felt the need to tell us someone was in the driveway.

Fast forward to yesterday and I run into my next door neighbor. Turns out that he asked another neighbor to take care of us since our snow blower stopped working. He introduced me to the man when I was taking the garbage out. I asked him what he would like in return and when he tried refusing, I insisted. So I'm picking up a case of beer today and I'll see if my wife can bake something.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 06:02 AM (jjoN6)

65 'Tis 71 humid degrees here, and I've done three workout sessions this week. Maybe I'll go tomorrow . . . but for today I'm taking it easy. Coffee, a pipe, and some breakfast; a shave and shower; give the car a quick wash and dolling-up; then maybe Miss Linda and I will go out to a coffee shop we *haven't* visited before.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 06:03 AM (omVj0)

66 "A Depleted Hamas Is So Low on Cash That It Can’t Pay Its Fighters"

https://tinyurl.com/2e4mjkap

Oh, no.
Anyway...

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 18, 2025 06:04 AM (dg+HA)

67 I've somehow still got a road atlas from in my car from 1980. Been through five cars, but I figure ro.ads don't change much. :-)

Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 18, 2025 06:04 AM (lg0Lu)

68 A Depleted Hamas Is So Low on Cash That It Can’t Pay Its Fighters

Have they tried GoFundMe? They love murderous savages.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 06:05 AM (jjoN6)

69 A Depleted Hamas Is So Low on Cash That It Can’t Pay Its Fighters

Have they tried GoFundMe? They love murderous savages.
Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 06:05 AM (jjoN6)
----
How about a bake sale? or a car wash?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 18, 2025 06:07 AM (cweKM)

70 The hamassholes rejected the latest offer and are stuck on "it's their terms or none"

Posted by: Ben Had at April 18, 2025 06:07 AM (yp8Vj)

71 How about a bake sale? or a car wash?

They get nervous around cars for some reason.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 06:10 AM (jjoN6)

72 Good morning morons

I'm just here for the twirling

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:11 AM (RIvkX)

73
g'mornin', Ben Had

Posted by: AltonJackson at April 18, 2025 06:11 AM (tljrc)

74 I've somehow still got a road atlas from in my car from 1980. Been through five cars, but I figure ro.ads don't change much. :-)
Posted by: JM in Illinois at April 18, 2025

***
In the main, they don't . . . but govt. is always fiddling, renumbering roads and adding bypasses and spurs. In 1980 here there was only one span of bridge across the river near downtown; now there are two, and some ramps have vanished and others have been added. And there is a completely new exit from the Interstate in the suburbs.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 06:12 AM (omVj0)

75 Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 18, 2025 05:26 AM (u82oZ)
====
A prayer for her complete and speedy recovery

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:14 AM (RIvkX)

76 64 Time to share a good story.

A few months back we got buried in snow. Naturally this was the time that the snow blower said "I'm tired, boss." and stopped working. We have a very long driveway and we had to shovel it out. One morning, I woke up and it had been plowed clean. No idea who did it but we have a lot of folks with plows and we tend to take care of our neighborhood before the city sends folks. A day or two later, we get hit hard and the driveway gets buried again. I go out first thing in the morning with the shovel and it's been completely taken care of.

No note, no nothing. Even more surprising was the fact that none of our dogs felt the need to tell us someone was in the driveway.

Fast forward to yesterday and I run into my next door neighbor. Turns out that he asked another neighbor to take care of us since our snow blower stopped working. He introduced me to the man when I was taking the garbage out. I asked him what he would like in return and when he tried refusing, I insisted. So I'm picking up a case of beer today and I'll see if my wife can bake something.
Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 06:02 AM (jjoN6)

Super-great story!

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:15 AM (CQE5S)

77 The hamassholes rejected the latest offer and are stuck on "it's their terms or none"
Posted by: Ben Had at April 18, 2025 06:07 AM (yp8Vj)

And this is never taken as the blessing it is.

"Ok, no terms then. Thanks, that makes it so much easier!"

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 06:15 AM (kBh81)

78 I've been through twelve cars since 1980: three Fords, three Mercedes, two Oldsmobiles, and three Buicks, plus a BMW. Oh, and there was a Volvo that burned up while I was driving it. Thirteen.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 06:16 AM (omVj0)

79 A new GPS alternative from Australia is 10 to 50 times more accurate than existing alternatives.

Soon to be a part of China's growing tech dominance through IP theft.

Posted by: Unknown Drip Under Pressure at April 18, 2025 06:16 AM (a4flb)

80 OTTAWA – Just days after news reports emerged of a cash-strapped Hamas unable to fund its genocidal war against Jews, Canada’s Liberal Leader suggests a financial infusion may soon be on its way.

https://tinyurl.com/35w3x3xk

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 18, 2025 06:17 AM (O7YUW)

81 Watching John Spencer try to explain facts to Dave Smith and Dave Smith responding with his feelz.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:18 AM (RIvkX)

82 I have to deal with GPS all the time. Half way to where you're going and the coil pack craps out. Death Wobble (tm) at 75 mph. Broken windshield every other day.

Oh, sorry, thought you were saying "Jeep B.S."

Posted by: Warai-otoko at April 18, 2025 06:20 AM (kBh81)

83 AltonJackson, good morning, darlin. Hope you and the kiddos are well.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 18, 2025 06:23 AM (yp8Vj)

84 Sending prayer for peace to morons observing a solemn Good Friday especially those morons who remain silent.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:24 AM (RIvkX)

85 81 Watching John Spencer try to explain facts to Dave Smith and Dave Smith responding with his feelz.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:18 AM (RIvkX)

Here?
Piers Morgan Uncensored
https://youtu.be/TRuhZO2dHLs

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:27 AM (CQE5S)

86 Hey VIA are you on the Swedspeed forum ??

Posted by: Qmark at April 18, 2025 06:27 AM (6p8HU)

87 GPS is so much easier in KS: "For the next 48 miles, continue straight",

I do have a road atlas too

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 18, 2025 06:34 AM (cvWHI)

88 Not sure how much I can watch. Dave Smith is a classic. He is totally sure about things that are just plain wrong. He is selectively outraged. He has the arrogance of ignorance. A ten-cent mind.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:36 AM (RIvkX)

89 The over abundance of advertisement on the internet has just made it difficult to enjoy sites anymore. Fucking moving picture in picture ads, sweet hey-zeus. It's so wonder you can even read an article thru all the fucking ad's anymore. I would love to see for one site what the price structure would be with a couple of ads w/monthly site payment vs no ads w/monthly or yearly payment. You know like streaming tv sites.

Posted by: Joe at April 18, 2025 06:37 AM (rzwGB)

90 Not sure how much I can watch. Dave Smith is a classic. He is totally sure about things that are just plain wrong. He is selectively outraged. He has the arrogance of ignorance. A ten-cent mind.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:36 AM (RIvkX)
-----------
Who is this guy, anyway? I only heard about him a couple of days ago.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 18, 2025 06:37 AM (6K6Eu)

91 "David Smith is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, and libertarian political commentator. Smith is a close friend of Joe Rogan and a regular guest on The Joe Rogan Experience and has also appeared on the Lex Fridman podcast."

Posted by: I'm Wikipedia. I'm here to help at April 18, 2025 06:40 AM (dg+HA)

92 88 Not sure how much I can watch. Dave Smith is a classic. He is totally sure about things that are just plain wrong. He is selectively outraged. He has the arrogance of ignorance. A ten-cent mind.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:36 AM (RIvkX)

I just watched a 3-minute clip at @SpencerGuard and it was as you described here!

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:40 AM (CQE5S)

93 Maybe the Lex Fridman podcast is more watchable?

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:41 AM (CQE5S)

94 Thank you, Mr. Wikipedia!

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:41 AM (CQE5S)

95 G'mornin everyone!

Thx, NaCly, prayers continue!

& thank you, Rosasharn, for officially inaugurating the glorious day!

though 47 degrees is prime for hiking, the vigorous thunderstorm outside might delay matters a bit ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 18, 2025 06:42 AM (/Ghsb)

96 I never heard of him either until I started hearing his criticism of the war in Gaza, maybe 9 months ago.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:44 AM (RIvkX)

97 I nedz coffee

Posted by: Skip at April 18, 2025 06:44 AM (ypFCm)

98 Is there such a thing as a "non-vigorous thunderstorm?"

Posted by: Like Army Intelligence at April 18, 2025 06:44 AM (dg+HA)

99 Toasted beef ravioli and a scrambled seasoned egg is a good way to start the day. Esp. when followed closely by coffee and whole-grain toast with peanut butter and honey.

My second-favorite Have Gun -- Will Travel is on H & I at seven my time, one of those superb Harry Julian Fink scripts and directed by Ida Lupino. Even though I've seen it several times now, I intend to be in front of the TV for that one

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 06:46 AM (omVj0)

100 100

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:47 AM (CQE5S)

101 Here are Lex Fridman's podcasts:

https://www.youtube.com/c/lexfridman

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:49 AM (CQE5S)

102 Good Friday morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at April 18, 2025 06:49 AM (hoCmQ)

103 Ravioli is my favorite foos and I love the idea of having it for breakfast.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 06:50 AM (RIvkX)

104 99 Toasted beef ravioli and a scrambled seasoned egg is a good way to start the day. Esp. when followed closely by coffee and whole-grain toast with peanut butter and honey.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 06:46 AM (omVj0)

yum

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 06:50 AM (CQE5S)

105 Wolfus, I like your idea about a good breakfast.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 06:54 AM (jjoN6)

106 Ravioli is my favorite foos and I love the idea of having it for breakfast.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025

***
This is Aldi's brand. They also have a cheese version, and for $5 you get twenty-four ravioli in the box. That's a better deal for me than their six Salisbury steaks package for about $4, since you have to cook all six at once, then store the ones you don't eat in the refrigerator for reheating. Two to three meals vs. six to eight of the ravioli.

Plus I like the ravioli even more.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 06:56 AM (omVj0)

107 Wolfus, I like your idea about a good breakfast.
Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025

***
For years I subsisted on an English muffin with cheese, or toast with the same, and had salads and junk food at work. Then I became aware, once I'd bought a microwave, of the frozen beef & bean burritos you can get at Walmart and other places. And I've come to like eggs -- a food that didn't appeal to me when I was younger. Miss Linda guesses I'm sensitive to the presence of sulfur in foods, or used to be.

A scrambled seasoned egg atop a microwaved pot pie, chicken or turkey or beef, is good too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 07:00 AM (omVj0)

108 I was wondering what I would take to Easter breakfast. Ravioli and sausage it is. Thanks.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 18, 2025 07:11 AM (weQLb)

109 Daniel Greenfield explains how I became alienated from our synagogue. https://tinyurl.com/4ubxhbrh

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 07:11 AM (RIvkX)

110 I used to eat the Chef Boyardee canned raviolis all the time when I was a kid. I loved those as a snack after school.

Then I got tired of them and didn’t touch them for decades.

I tried them again a few years back just to see if they were as good as I remembered.

Now they are in the little microwaveable bowl-cans and they taste nothing like the old ones.
I’m not even sure if the little bit of meat in them is actually meat.

Maybe they are the same and kid me had less developed taste buds but I swear every “New & Improved” move food companies make ends up with a worse tasting product.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at April 18, 2025 07:12 AM (6ydKt)

111 Coffee just starting, was a few miss steps in the process

Posted by: Skip at April 18, 2025 07:12 AM (ypFCm)

112 We are going to Mrs. F's aunt for Easter brunch where I will choke down a bite of dreadful lamb.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 07:13 AM (RIvkX)

113 Maybe they are the same and kid me had less developed taste buds but I swear every “New & Improved” move food companies make ends up with a worse tasting product.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

My dad always said that "new and improved" usually meant more expensive and worse.

Posted by: Tuna at April 18, 2025 07:16 AM (lJ0H4)

114 Canned Italian food and dreadful lamb...

Posted by: I guess this ain't the food thread at April 18, 2025 07:16 AM (dg+HA)

115
Maybe they are the same and kid me had less developed taste buds but I swear every “New & Improved” move food companies make ends up with a worse tasting product.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

"New and Improved" is an overt admission that whatever a food item had been, it now has been processed more than it was, and that is not a good thing.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 18, 2025 07:16 AM (Tv15w)

116 For years I subsisted on an English muffin with cheese

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 18, 2025 07:00 AM (omVj0)

I loved those Egg McMuffins, always have.

But now I don’t want to drive to McDs to get that fix.

So Jimmy Dean has me covered.
They sell a box of four English Muffins with the egg, cheese, and sausage (no Canadian bacon version unfortunately) that taste as good as McDs.

The egg is a little thin, but it is pretty good for something that takes two minutes to heat up in the microwave.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at April 18, 2025 07:16 AM (6ydKt)

117 Saw Dreadful Lamb open for Jethro Tull in 88 at the Civic Arena.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at April 18, 2025 07:19 AM (sAmhv)

118 Some memes while we wait for JJ.

https://tinyurl.com/5h86d3h6+

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 18, 2025 07:19 AM (ExV1e)

119 Finally my coffee is done

Posted by: Skip at April 18, 2025 07:21 AM (ypFCm)

120 My dad always said that "new and improved" usually meant more expensive and worse.
Posted by: Tuna at April 18, 2025 07:16 AM (lJ0H4)

New and Improved" is an overt admission that whatever a food item had been, it now has been processed more than it was, and that is not a good thing.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 18, 2025 07:16 AM (Tv15w)

—

All true,
And it’s just food,
I’ve been using Tide and Bounce for laundry for decades and in the last few years one, or the other or both, has me itching like crazy sometimes after a wash.

I don’t know if it’s the new chemicals they’re using or what but you’ll notice they all started selling ‘Fragrance Free” versions of their products in the last decade, to, I think, combat this problem of what they are putting in the mix.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at April 18, 2025 07:22 AM (6ydKt)

121 Canned Italian food and dreadful lamb...
Posted by: I guess this ain't the food thread

Almost everyone loves lamb on the food thread. Not me though. Just the smell of it roasting turns my stomach.

Posted by: Tuna at April 18, 2025 07:22 AM (lJ0H4)

122 *not just food ^^^

Posted by: SpeakingOf at April 18, 2025 07:22 AM (6ydKt)

123 Question for you computer experts. My newer Laptop will not connect to any websites on wither of my browsers. Wifi is connected, browser opens but can't find website.

Posted by: Cicero Skip at April 18, 2025 07:22 AM (p6dVP)

124 I enjoyed the lamb I had in Australia.

By the time it gets here, it is gamey and gross and sickening.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 18, 2025 07:25 AM (RIvkX)

125 Question for you computer experts. My newer Laptop will not connect to any websites on wither of my browsers. Wifi is connected, browser opens but can't find website.
Posted by: Cicero Skip at April 18, 2025 07:22 AM (p6dVP)

Can you open a website on a different computer?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 18, 2025 07:27 AM (ExV1e)

126 98, good point

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 18, 2025 07:27 AM (/Ghsb)

127 123: Open a command window and try pinging a site to see if you have a connection.

If it's a Windows machine, see if you can run a diagnostic on your network connection (Control Panel\Network and Internet.)

Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 07:28 AM (jjoN6)

128 Can you open a website on a different computer?
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 18, 2025 07:27 AM (ExV1e)

And, yes, I know you posted here but you might have used your phone.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 18, 2025 07:29 AM (ExV1e)

129 The only lamb meat I like is the thin sliced and seasoned stuff in a gyro.

I love those.

Roasted lamb chops never did anything for me because the meat is so lean,

Posted by: SpeakingOf at April 18, 2025 07:33 AM (6ydKt)

130 Question for you computer experts. My newer Laptop will not connect to any websites on wither of my browsers. Wifi is connected, browser opens but can't find website.
Posted by: Cicero Skip at

-

Windows update CONSTANTLY breaks the internet connection.

Reboot if you haven't, then reboot again.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 18, 2025 07:33 AM (weQLb)

131 Reboot if you haven't, then reboot again.
Posted by: Boron Quidquid

AKA Indian Tech Support.

Posted by: NR Pax at April 18, 2025 07:35 AM (jjoN6)

132 Oh, yes for those that didn't know this/ this some history of why the image of Jesus was removed from the cross in Protestant churches:

https://tinyurl.com/2sta6ryh

It has nothing to do with Protestants having only having "happy, clappy" services or being people who can't relate to the suffering and pain of Jesus. That is a needless mischaracterization of a whole group of believers, who are also Christians.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 18, 2025 07:36 AM (42Vb+)

133 Maybe they are the same and kid me had less developed taste buds but I swear every “New & Improved” move food companies make ends up with a worse tasting product.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
-

Was discussed here not too long ago.

Canned, microwave, and fast food DID taste good. Because it was made of food. But to try to keep costs low the manufacturers would substitute something, then years later do it again, and again, and again. Each time chasing the worse changed recipe, not original.

Think of an old xerox machine making 20 copies, each time using the copy just made for the next one.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 18, 2025 07:37 AM (weQLb)

134 Good morning on this Good Friday. I never know just how to greet people on this day. I think Happy Good Friday doesn't fit.

Posted by: grammie winger - cheesehead at April 18, 2025 07:38 AM (SfhV1)

135 I turned the audio guidance off on my GPS long ago. But it does connect to a screen.

Posted by: ... at April 18, 2025 07:40 AM (u9Npv)

136 Oh, yes for those that didn't know this/ this some history of why the image of Jesus was removed from the cross in Protestant churches

-

We saw some cross shaped candy (a sucker) recently and had an interesting discussion on why it made us feel uncomfortable but why it was perfectly fine.

We love the cross as a symbol of the love and the moment and resurrection, but we don't worship the cross.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 18, 2025 07:40 AM (weQLb)

137 Think of an old xerox machine making 20 copies, each time using the copy just made for the next one.
Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 18, 2025 07:37 AM (weQLb)

Yup.
This all started with high fructose corn syrup.
We were talking about that the other day, too.

I’m old enough to remember the disaster that was New Coke.

But it did ramp up sales of Coke Classic, so it worked out in the end, except the cane sugar part.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at April 18, 2025 07:41 AM (6ydKt)

138 .
NOOD

J.J. Sefton is here with The Morning Report

NOOD!

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at April 18, 2025 07:42 AM (O7YUW)

139 I think Crystal Coke or whatever it was called was the biggest "why?" I remember

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 18, 2025 07:43 AM (weQLb)

140 I love a good lamb curry.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at April 18, 2025 07:44 AM (ZmEVT)

141 I was bicycle touring New Zealand and always wanted hot food - hot food that I didn't need to cook my self. Rural stores sometimes had those countertop hot cases with various things.

I asked the shop lady - "what's that?"
She says "Oh, that"s a meat pie"

Meat. My mouth immediately watering. I'm so ready to gorge.. I buy two pies. Outside now and take a huge bite. Not beef. Foul, gelatinous, mutton. It won't even go down. I spit it out.

NZ food was awesome and fresh but not the mutton.

Posted by: 13times at April 18, 2025 07:45 AM (WDRj6)

142 For several centuries (I think it was that long) Christians did not use the cross in any form of iconography, much less jewelry. It was viewed as an abhorrent reminder of the Roman's cruel method of extermination.
Eventually the practice ended and I guess the simplicity of two intersecting lines was too hard to ignore for artists and jewelry makers.
But imagine today making a necklace in the image of an electric chair.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 18, 2025 07:48 AM (dg+HA)

143 123 Question for you computer experts. My newer Laptop will not connect to any websites on wither of my browsers. Wifi is connected, browser opens but can't find website.
Posted by: Cicero Skip

That sounds like DNS.

Under your WiFi settings, try setting DNS to 8.8.8.8 and/or 9.9.9.9 (you can have two options).

Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 18, 2025 07:49 AM (BLOW1)

144 And yet, REAL intelligence runs on... a D-cell battery's equivalent of power (according to The Matrix). And has a thermal operating range much broader than any "AI" graphics card.

Tell me again how you're going to make an artificial "intelligence".

Posted by: GWB at April 18, 2025 07:49 AM (f5gS/)

145 I am on my old laptop on wifi. I have turned the new unit on and off, rebooted, checked for wifi connection and it show up as connected and when I enter a website name the browser say it can not connect.

Posted by: Cicero Skip at April 18, 2025 07:50 AM (p6dVP)

146 Jiggle the handle.

Posted by: Bob from the NSA at April 18, 2025 07:51 AM (dg+HA)

147 Magnetic systems can actually be very easily jammed. Just by being inside a metal car, for example.

Posted by: GWB at April 18, 2025 07:51 AM (f5gS/)

148
I'm in our place at Sussex. I executed a fine closeup last fall, so the reboot of power and water went off without a hitch (the latter would more likely be a problem if there were one).

Looked over low profile ceiling fans on line after banging my head on the current monstrosity. As none are in stock at stores, will discuss with Mrs. KvC before ordering some. Ditto for window shades. The air down here does a number on practically anything and we are over twenty years into having this place.

Got to go shop for food for a couple of days and get breakfast. My main task is to remove the winter cover from the boat and get it ready for our service guy to prep it and put it in the water.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 18, 2025 07:55 AM (Tv15w)

149
The most maddening GPS utterance when I am driving is "Proceed to the route"

Look, asshole, I am not watching you -- I'm watching the road -- and your audio messages need to state, ALWAYS, what road constitutes "the route".

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 18, 2025 07:59 AM (Tv15w)

150 Pixy
Under your WiFi settings, try setting DNS to 8.8.8.8 and/or 9.9.9.9 (you can have two options).

where do I find that? When I click on wifi setting there are lot of chices and none of them look like that

Posted by: Cicero Skip at April 18, 2025 08:02 AM (p6dVP)

151 Powell may have some hate for Trump, idk. But "market players" are hoping for the easy money policy again, so they can push the over-priced market ever higher. There has been talk about when the "pivot" (to lowering rates) will happen.

But rates are still historically low. Instead of easy money enabling Wall Street to dominate, imo the reciprocal tariffs and rebuilding Main Street, along with USA manufacturing is a better path. Easy Al Greenspan (and others) enabled Wall Street riches, making the rich much richer, while middle/lower classes stagnated.

The role of the fed is stable currency, not enriching the rich via cheap money for the gamblers. A little weaker dollar might help us, but USD is still considered the safe harbor in troubled times.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 18, 2025 08:10 AM (Cus5s)

152 And yet, REAL intelligence runs on... a D-cell battery's equivalent of power (according to The Matrix). And has a thermal operating range much broader than any "AI" graphics card.

Tell me again how you're going to make an artificial "intelligence".
Posted by: GWB
_________

I don't think that's the ultimate problem. Could be solved one day.

It all hinges on the definition of "intelligence." If the secular humanists and Taylor Lorenz are right, living beings are composed entirely of matter. No soul, no conscience. We're just machines. It's all synapses firing in a manner predictable by physics and chemistry. AI should be entirely possible in that scenario.

But if we do have souls, AI can never be achieved. Never. Only glorified calculators.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at April 18, 2025 08:10 AM (UBKzV)

153 123 Question for you computer experts. My newer Laptop will not connect to any websites on wither of my browsers. Wifi is connected, browser opens but can't find website.
Posted by: Cicero Skip at April 18, 2025 07:22 AM (p6dVP)

Man, that's frustrating.

Posted by: m at April 18, 2025 08:49 AM (CQE5S)

154 When I first saw this it seemed to be claiming to be 10 to 50 times more accurate than GPS itself, but that's not it. If GPS is unavailable for any reason - something that happens a lot more often than you might think - this system based on existing maps of the Earth's magnetic field is essentially impossible to jam and doesn't rely on any other systems being active.

It's not as good as GPS, but it's better than other options when you don't have GPS.

And now you know what the Chinese balloons are doing: magnetic mapping our military bases.

Posted by: toby928 at April 18, 2025 09:32 AM (jc0TO)

155 Wasn't mapping magnetic anomalies for navigation a plot element in The Hunt for Red October?

Posted by: Socratease at April 18, 2025 11:14 AM (YgfoU)

156 If it takes gigawatts and trillions of dollars to create Artificial Intelligence when Albert Einstein managed it with a 3-pound chunk of low-wattage meat, it's entirely possible we're not doing this right.

Posted by: MartynWW at April 18, 2025 12:25 PM (vXpHP)

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