Daily Tech News 20 September 2025

Top Story

AMD silently launched the Radeon 7700 non-XT - a missing model in the previous generation of graphics cards. (Tom's Hardware)

The earlier 6700 non-XT slotted in neatly between the 8GB 128-bit 6600 XT and the 12GB 192-bit 6700 XT, with 10GB of RAM and a 160-bit bus. Since it was price to match, that was just fine.

We don't have a price on the 7700 yet, but we do have specs, and they're... Odd.

The 7800 XT (which I have) had 60 GPU cores and 16GB of VRAM on a 256-bit bus. The 7700 XT cut the cores by only 10% to 54, but the memory down to 12GB on a 192-bit bus.

The new, non-XT 7700 model cuts the cores all the way down to 40, but leaves the memory size at 16GB on a 256-bit bus. A lot of memory and a lot of memory bandwidth for a relatively modest GPU configuration.

AMD hasn't issued a press release yet so right now all of this is supported by just one link and one web page. Admittedly those are both on AMD's own site, but an actual product launch would be welcome confirmation.
ASRock has launched the Radeon RX 7700 Challenger. (WCCFTech)

Compared with the 32 core 7600 XT from the same range, it is clocked 20% lower, so compute performance is almost identical, but it has twice the memory and memory bandwidth.

Might be interesting to see the benchmarks on this - it would highlight which games and applications really need that bandwidth.

Tech News

How obsidian reduces the risk of supply-chain attacks. (Obsidian)

It doesn't. The plugin API has no security model at all.
The US government is set to increase the cost of H-1B visas - used for foreign workers in specialty applications, mostly in the tech industry - by $100,000. (MSN)

Since the visas currently cost $4500, that can be regarded as a significant increase.
Speaking of which console prices are moving in the wrong direction again. (The Verge)

Microsoft's Xbox Series X 1TB model moved from $500 to $600 earlier this year, and is now increasing to $650.

The 2TB model increased from $600 at the last year to $730 in May to $800 now.
The Lenovo Yoga Tab, a smaller, cheaper version of the Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus, is now available at $549. (Liliputing)

The Yoga Tab Plus is on sale right now for $539.
I regret building this $3000 Raspberry Pi AI cluster. (Jeff Geerling)

I'm just reading the blog article and I regret it too.

Even with ten small models running independently, the Pi cluster is slower than a single Framework Desktop costing around $2000.

And if you run a single large model across the whole cluster, things actually get worse; now the $2000 system is at least 5x faster than the $3000 cluster.

Lesson: Don't do this.
Why is the Gigabyte TRX50 AI Top the most returned Threadripper motherboard? (YouTube)

Because Threadripper and Threadripper Pro fit in the same socket even though Threadripper Pro has twice the memory channels and PCIe lanes.

You can fit a Threadripper Pro into a regular Threadripper motherboard like this one and it will work fine - just reduced from eight memory channels to four, and with half the PCIe lanes no longer wired up to anything.

Unless the board is exactly this one in which case all eight memory channels are still available and wired to eight slots.

Which means that if you're a regular user with a regular non-Pro Threadripper, there are four memory slots on the motherboard that you simply can't use.

Also, the fourth M.2 slot only works if you have a Threadripper Pro CPU.

RTFM.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Robbin' the 'hood.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 04:30 AM (+qU29)

2 Howdy

Posted by: JQ at September 20, 2025 04:30 AM (rdVOm)

3 guten morgen, horde

Posted by: clarence at September 20, 2025 04:30 AM (nRRm4)

4 ...aaannnddd, g'night again.

Posted by: JQ at September 20, 2025 04:31 AM (rdVOm)

5 Oink!

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 04:32 AM (aJQjq)

6 called the otters.

Posted by: clarence at September 20, 2025 04:32 AM (nRRm4)

7 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 20, 2025 04:32 AM (aKh6S)

8 Horizontal, now to make coffee

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 04:38 AM (+qU29)

9 I need a lap top

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 04:43 AM (+qU29)

10 I guess everyone on the Left thinks Kimmel is owed a job

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 04:47 AM (+qU29)

11 You can provide enough evidence that something is a bad idea and there will be someone who says 'nah, I can make it work'.

Posted by: clarence at September 20, 2025 04:48 AM (nRRm4)

12 11 You can provide enough evidence that something is a bad idea and there will be someone who says 'nah, I can make it work'.
Posted by: clarence at September 20, 2025 04:48 AM (nRRm4)

"No shit."

-The people of Tyre who wish they were still looking at Alexander's army across half a mile of water the good way, and not the bad way

Posted by: Warai-otoko at September 20, 2025 04:54 AM (06Hmj)

13 "I guess everyone on the Left thinks Kimmel is owed a job"

I think they're just scrambling to find something they can defend.

I find it astonishing that their support of trans cost them the last election, they are now hemorrhaging voters and yet they still cant kick them to the curb.

Posted by: Fenrisulven at September 20, 2025 04:57 AM (ciYHQ)

14 My APS-C lens deep dive continues. The weight of my spreadsheet is approaching 50 lbs, maybe 60 lbs.

I have arrived at one conclusion to date. The Viltrox Air series lenses, in particular the 25mm f1.7, 35mm 1.7, and the 56mm f1.7 are a banging deal. They also make a 15mm and 9mm (just released - it looks excellent) but I haven't looked at them with care yet.

The MTF chart on these things looks like something you would find on a $2000.00 lens; translation: they have excellent contrast and resolution from center to edge. Plus they exhibit almost no lateral or longitudinal chromatic aberrations; this is near pro level lens behavior.

They fit in the palm of your hand with a size of 2.60" x 2.60" and weigh 6.0 oz; translation: these things are ridiculously small and light. The build quality is remarkably solid, just don't take a shower with them because they are not weather sealed.

Price: $180.00 each.

These are not pro level lenses on a lot of different dimensions. Still, these are terrific budget lenses. I am going to pick up the 25mm f1.7 instead of the $630 Sigma 23mm f1.4 that performs a bit worse; $450 for an extra 1/2 stop is tough sell.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 04:58 AM (aJQjq)

15 Sign Up
In a Lifetime
Clannad & Bono
Lyrics
About
Tracklist
Comments
1

5
See pop shows near Boston
Get tickets as low as $96
In a Lifetime Lyrics
Hard to tell
Or recognise a sign
To see me through
A warning sign

(First the thunder)
Satisfied, if the past it will not lie
(Then the storm torn asunder)
The future you and I get blown away
(In the storm, in a lifetime)...

Posted by: Mister Ghost at September 20, 2025 05:03 AM (TGPs7)

16 It's a shame I dropped photography at the beginning of the digital age. I carried a 35mm camera almost always time

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 05:04 AM (+qU29)

17 "Lesson: Don't do this."

Wow. Fifty lawn mowers duct taped together can't beat a Hellcat in the quarter mile.

Who knew?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at September 20, 2025 05:04 AM (06Hmj)

18 Mornin' Horde.

Skip: Depends on what you want to use a laptop for, but for me it was just taking notes in meetings. As I advised someone the other day, find a local computer shop that sells refurbs of business laptops. I was able to find one with 32 gb of memory and a 1 Tb nvme drive for about 1/3 the price of new. (The specs are way overkill for what I wanted, but the price was fantastic, coming in at $375 CDN before sales taxes.) I hit the sweet spot, purchasing it in July before the back-to-school "sales" started (where prices on computers actually go up significantly just before the students get back to the university and college, and then they drop the prices a bit and call it a "sale"). Supply and demand. *shrugs*

It came with windows 11 pro freshly installed, got that up and running (denied it a network and set it up with local accounts only, and kept it off the network) and then set it up with a dual boot configuration with Linux Mint 22.2 which will be its primary driver (that OS is permitted to connect to the network.)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 05:08 AM (O7YUW)

19 Real Tough For Me

Posted by: clarence at September 20, 2025 05:12 AM (nRRm4)

20 Mostly trading ebooks, keep game lists that could print and change on a spreadsheet

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 05:15 AM (+qU29)

21 G'morning, all!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 20, 2025 05:16 AM (a1415)

22 It's a shame I dropped photography at the beginning of the digital age. I carried a 35mm camera almost always time. Posted by: Skip

Pick up a used Sony a6400 with a sub 1000 shutter click count for about $700.00 and put a Viltrox Air 25mm f1.7 on it and then set the body to shoot hi-res JPGs.

Result: you end up with a widely capable set up that, in area, is about the size of 3 x 5 index card that can go everywhere.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 05:17 AM (aJQjq)

23 Husband is back to his photography hobby. Just got all new Cannon stuff. Offset the cost by selling his old stuff Pentax or Nikon. He is working on composition now. He's a really technical guy. It's hard for him to just get out and take a picture but what he does share is pretty good.

Posted by: lin-duh is offended at September 20, 2025 05:21 AM (VCgbV)

24 Saw a YouTube video I think tomorrow at sunrise, Saturn can be seen early and at its closest point to earth

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 05:22 AM (+qU29)

25 Looks like our two kittens have rebounded after the fight the other day.

Vet says that the presence of the stray cat probably pushed the male into hyper-protection mode, and it spilled over against his sister.

The camera in the back yard showed the stray charging at the two of them from outside the screened porch repeatedly, and I guess it pushed him over the edge.

So now we do the morning walk, last class of Church membership, install the front sway bar drop links on the Volvo wagon, and clean up the garage.

Should be a nice day.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 20, 2025 05:26 AM (a1415)

26 Husband is back to his photography hobby. Just got all new Cannon stuff. Offset the cost by selling his old stuff Pentax or Nikon. He is working on composition now. He's a really technical guy. It's hard for him to just get out and take a picture but what he does share is pretty good.
Posted by: lin-duh is offended

I also have a full frame Canon DSLR setup up with an extensive set of EF L class lenses. It is aging out in the age of mirrorless cameras but the body has a 50 mp sensor. It isn't quite state of the art anymore but it will do and does. Getting technical is alright but that will never teach you to see photographs. That comes from going out and shooting all the time; there are no technical manuals for that. It is cool he has picked up shooting again. It is a hoot.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 05:28 AM (aJQjq)

27 That H1-B cost increase on the visas from $4,500 to $100,000: That's a hike and a half.

Strikes me as one of those increases that large companies can shoulder, but small companies will find much more difficult to do.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 05:38 AM (O7YUW)

28 @13
Kimmel is owed a job...

Well he seems to have a natural talent for digging graves, I mean he dug his own.

Posted by: Case at September 20, 2025 05:38 AM (iwlvf)

29 @20/Skip: Sounds like a refurb with the right specs might be a good call for you too.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 05:40 AM (O7YUW)

30 "I guess everyone on the Left thinks Kimmel is owed a job"

Yet oddly enough, there are many on the Left who do not believe that Charlie Kirk was owed the right to live.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 20, 2025 05:43 AM (a1415)

31 @25/Village Idiot's Apprentice:

I hadn't heard about your kittens having a fight until now. How bad was the initial damage? It was obviously enough you sought out the services of a vet for assessment and treatment...

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 05:44 AM (O7YUW)

32
Good morning, good citizens of this most exceptional country, from the seasonally temperature adjusted Adirondacks. In other words, a step outside this AM and you realize it IS Fall, Virginia. Further evidence is the frost advisory for tonight.

At any rate, may all effort on your part result in maximal benefit to you, with corresponding heartburn for the leftwit fungi who plague us.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at September 20, 2025 05:46 AM (vFbHf)

33 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 20, 2025 05:49 AM (XQo4F)

34 What does NOOD mean?

Just askin'.

Posted by: EFG at September 20, 2025 05:51 AM (R2rTw)

35 It was high 80s here yesterday, 70s next few days.

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 05:51 AM (+qU29)

36 Mostly trading ebooks, keep game lists that could print and change on a spreadsheet
Posted by: Skip

If Windows world take a look at the entry level Microsoft laptop. They are $900, most likely cheaper around Christmas. This box is pretty much an office jockey machine which is what I think you just described. It's secret sauce is it has an ARM processor in it and gets excellent battery life. Say on the order of 12 13 hours would be my guess; that might be useful since you travel around so much for work. Intel-Based laptops are more robust, but they have much shorter battery life; if you're buying refurb more so since the machines have been used.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 05:53 AM (aJQjq)

37 @34/EFG: NOOD = New Object Of Desire

In other words, when you see NOOD called it means a new post has just gone up on the site.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 05:55 AM (O7YUW)

38 New thread

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 05:55 AM (+qU29)

39 G&R

No true physical damage.

But the shock to her of the attack was really high.

Littermates, and never separated from each other, him going after her really scared her, to the point that she even voided a little bit.

So the other night, I slept downstairs with him, Mrs VIA in bed with her, and we talked to the vet about how to resolve this. And apparently a stray intruding even into the yard can, and often will generate agitation and aggression within a group of normally peaceful indoor cats.

Keeping our two off the screened porch, and judicious use of Feliway calming spray seems to have resolved it.

Behavior is back to normal.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 20, 2025 05:57 AM (a1415)

40 And now, time for the morning walk.

BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 20, 2025 05:58 AM (a1415)

41 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Your money or your wife!

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at September 20, 2025 05:58 AM (WvZaB)

42 Rejoinder: Your money or your wife!

I'm thinking, I'm thinking!

Posted by: just the punchline at September 20, 2025 06:01 AM (nRRm4)

43 Bedtime for bonzo.

fin

Posted by: clarence at September 20, 2025 06:03 AM (nRRm4)

44 Too early for
Scotch, single malt, 12 year

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 06:05 AM (+qU29)

45 Too early for
Scotch, single malt, 12 year
Posted by: Skip

Balvenie.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 06:06 AM (aJQjq)

46 "I regret building this $3000 Raspberry Pi AI cluster. "

Is Queueing Theory taught anymore?

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 20, 2025 06:07 AM (ZmEVT)

47 Strikes me as one of those increases that large companies will be motivated to hire a citizen instead of someone foreigner just graduating.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 20, 2025 06:11 AM (ZmEVT)

48 Greetings from the Carolinas. As always, I remain below the layer and off the radar.

For those of you in turmoil, I recommend Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

Who is John Galt ?

Posted by: Going deep. Out. at September 20, 2025 06:13 AM (YREtq)

49 How the Marxists have demonized Charlie Kirk is evil

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 06:17 AM (+qU29)

50 The Chamber of Commerce won’t hire Americans because Americans have protections under law where as H1b (indentured servants) or illegals (wage slaves) do not.

Ayn Rand was right

Posted by: Going deep. Out. at September 20, 2025 06:20 AM (YREtq)

51 Naked: you don't have any clothes on.
Nekkid: you don't have any clothes on and you're doing something.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 20, 2025 06:21 AM (XQo4F)

52 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 20, 2025 06:21 AM (ppG5b)

53 Evening and morning to the Saturday toilers and early risers of the vast AoSHQ Empire! What are we doin' up this early? (To the tune of Kenny Rogers & Dottie West in 1981, "What Are We Doin' in Love?")

I slept okay. Howz about you?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 06:22 AM (omVj0)

54
Good morning. Yes, it's me.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 20, 2025 06:23 AM (tgvbd)

55 Habit, that's the only reason I should go to bed by 8pm on weekends

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 06:24 AM (+qU29)

56 VIA, it's startling when one's cats suddenly freak out. Glad to hear things are back to normal. Does that Feliway stuff really work at calming?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 06:25 AM (omVj0)

57 From Steven Wright:

"Did you sleep well?"
"No, I made a couple of mistakes."

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 20, 2025 06:26 AM (XQo4F)

58 That H1-B cost increase on the visas from $4,500 to $100,000: That's a hike and a half.

Strikes me as one of those increases that large companies can shoulder, but small companies will find much more difficult to do.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 05:38 AM (O7YUW)

IIRC, there's some aspect of making sure they can't be used to uncut salaries also. That'll make it a pretty premium even for large companies.

It's a start, at least.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at September 20, 2025 06:34 AM (ExV1e)

59 Psalm 19 7-14

Devotional on the sweetness of Scripture and Cracker Jacks . 😊

https://tinyurl.com/3hfdbsau

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 20, 2025 06:37 AM (lQ+/f)

60 Nice version of Amazing Grace:

https://tinyurl.com/yz2jfa6r

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 20, 2025 06:41 AM (lQ+/f)

61 Hank Williams Sr:

I'll fly away:

https://tinyurl.com/yc4fcvyd

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 20, 2025 06:44 AM (lQ+/f)

62 Good morning morons. Told my boss yesterday not only am I ending my current assignment in two weeks but I am ending our relationship,

It's not me, it's you.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 06:45 AM (RIvkX)

63 On my slate for today: haircut; airing up the car's tires and filing the tank with ethanol-free in prep for Monday's departure. We may go out to our favorite grill for dinner. Tomorrow, I'll wash and detail the car and pack. The last is something I haven't done in some years, not since the hurricane bug-out to Birmingham in '21, so I'll have to re-learn as I go.

Of course I won't be staying in some remote mountain cabin in Indiana. There's a Walmart a short drive from my hotel; I'll be able to buy anything I forget.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 06:47 AM (omVj0)

64 Price: $180.00 each.

These are not pro level lenses on a lot of different dimensions. Still, these are terrific budget lenses. I am going to pick up the 25mm f1.7 instead of the $630 Sigma 23mm f1.4 that performs a bit worse; $450 for an extra 1/2 stop is tough sell.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 04:58 AM (aJQjq)

I suppose it comes down to durability.
I’ve still got my cheapo 90% plastic Canon 50mm/1.8 and it works fine after about 15 years.

It’s the second one.
The first one broke when I dropped the camera about 2 weeks after buying it.

As long as you’re not Mr. Butterfingers, like me, they can last if taken care of even if they’re not a super expensive lens.

You must like some landscape photography with a 25mm so the f1.7 won’t make much difference unless you’re looking for a shorter exposure at dusk/night, at which point you’re probably using a tripod anyhow.

Some people want the f1.2s just for bragging rights and never use them for anything but pretty bokehs, which they are good at.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 06:48 AM (6ydKt)

65 San Franpsycho, good for you!
Where to next?

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at September 20, 2025 06:49 AM (6U1c2)

66 Lewis and Clark wish they had Walmarts on their expedition

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 06:51 AM (+qU29)

67 In other words: it ain't business, it's personal.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 20, 2025 06:53 AM (XQo4F)

68 https://tinyurl.com/bdhzz5u3
Powerlineblog.com week in pictures

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 06:54 AM (+qU29)

69 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 06:47 AM (omVj0)

Good luck on your trip.
Let us know what you think of Evansville.
You’ve been preparing for this long enough, I’d like to hear the end result.

Take some good pictures and convince Miss Linda it won’t be so bad up there.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 06:55 AM (6ydKt)

70 @36/Alteria Pilgram: "if you're buying refurb more so since the machines have been used."

Used, yes, but refurbishment is an actual process of inspection, disassembly, cleaning, testing, and parts replacement of worn out (or almost worn out) parts are done, including the main battery, the RTC button battery, heatsink paste, etc...

My refurbished Lenovo T480 (looked up the serial #) had its start of warranty in June of 2019, and the 3 year warranty ended June of 2022. So basically it's a 6+ year old machine, and the battery looks like a replacement that you can buy from various battery replacement companies or stores like Best Buy.

All of the refurb machines I've bought from this computer shop carry a refurbishment sticker from their facility with customer support phone number, a tag number, the machine's serial number, and a clear indication that this is a refurbished machine. You can see very subtle signs of case wear (like around the power jack) but everything else looks really good.

Refurbishment companies, if they do their jobs correctly, can make good money as they get paid on both ends of the transaction (companies pay to have their old machines taken away.)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 06:56 AM (O7YUW)

71 Morning, Horde...How goes it?

I actually have stuff to do today. Mostly grading student papers...*sigh*

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 20, 2025 06:59 AM (IBQGV)

72 @39/Village Idiot's Apprentice: "Behavior is back to normal."

That's very good news. Thank you to and your wife for taking such thorough and good care of both your kittens after that incident.

Seriously, nicely done.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 07:00 AM (O7YUW)

73 68 https://tinyurl.com/bdhzz5u3
Powerlineblog.com week in pictures
Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 06:54 AM (+qU29)

@JeffDye
I went to a gay bakery today in SF and asked them to bake me a Charlie Kirk cake.

Well played.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:02 AM (6ydKt)

74 Good luck on your trip.
Let us know what you think of Evansville.
You’ve been preparing for this long enough, I’d like to hear the end result.

Take some good pictures and convince Miss Linda it won’t be so bad up there.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025

***
Last night I showed her some glimpses on Gorgle Street View of the famous (?) Penny Lane Coffee House in the downtown area. Gorgle Maps and Street View are two of the greatest inventions of Western Civilization, right up there with air conditioning and safety razors.

A seafood restaurant in the southeast metro area is called The Tin Fish. I plan to hit that one evening just for the name.

Evansville is pretty big, 100K people in the city alone (about a third of what I deal with here). Owensboro, KY, has about 60K. I intend to visit there on Thursday, not only for a Chase ATM (there are *none* in Evansville!), but also for a place called the Windy Hollow Biscuit House. Gotta love the name on that too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:05 AM (omVj0)

75 Imma go back to retirement and working on my fabulous tell-all insider's look expose blowing the cover off the industry book.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 07:06 AM (RIvkX)

76
Today's agenda

- Call Her Majesty at 7:00
- Power washing the air conditioners in the kennel
- Unload dog food
- Put bricks under the hog panels for the new pen
- Trim around back steps, front walk and driveway
- Shopping

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 20, 2025 07:06 AM (tgvbd)

77 Refurbishment companies, if they do their jobs correctly, can make good money as they get paid on both ends of the transaction (companies pay to have their old machines taken away.) Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant

You pay your money and you take your chances. Some refurbs are good some aren't. Sometimes you buy a new machine cuz it's better. Sometimes you buy a new machine cuz you can afford it. Not everything you buy has to be done on the cheap.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:07 AM (aJQjq)

78
Ooh, only a wee bit chatty this fine day, are we?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:08 AM (nNolW)

79 Refurbishment companies, if they do their jobs correctly, can make good money as they get paid on both ends of the transaction (companies pay to have their old machines taken away.)
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 06:56 AM (O7YUW)

My only hesitation on buying refurbed is the roll of the dice nature of it.

You can luck up and get one that was well taken care of and looks and works like brand new, or you can might get something that was treated like a red-headed stepchild by the previous owner, with scratches and dents, but the insides work fine, except for that one sticky key on the keyboard.

You save some money, though, so if cosmetic blemishes don’t bother you, they are certainly a deal, and everyone from Newegg to Amazon sell refurbished devices nowadays.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:09 AM (6ydKt)

80
It's a shame I dropped photography at the beginning of the digital age. I carried a 35mm camera almost always time
Posted by: Skip

My daughter has young friends who would appreciate my 35 m

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:11 AM (nNolW)

81
35 mm Canon AE 1 and the three or four lenses that I had for it. So she has them for distribution as she sees fit.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:12 AM (nNolW)

82 So a couple days ago we have NIST saying the US is short about 500K cybersecurity workers.

Today $100k for E1B.

As a cybersecurity guy really hoping to stay in these Untied States I'm confused.

Posted by: CanuckJack at September 20, 2025 07:13 AM (OPR0t)

83 @77/Alteria Pilgram:

"You pay your money and you take your chances. Some refurbs are good some aren't. Sometimes you buy a new machine cuz it's better. Sometimes you buy a new machine cuz you can afford it. Not everything you buy has to be done on the cheap."

All true points. Caveat emptor, always.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 07:13 AM (O7YUW)

84 You save some money, though, so if cosmetic blemishes don’t bother you, they are certainly a deal, and everyone from Newegg to Amazon sell refurbished devices nowadays.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:09 AM (6ydKt)

I have bought many Dell refurbs. I think they must work as Dell needs them to be perfectly functional so they do not come back again.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 20, 2025 07:13 AM (gbOdA)

85 You must like some landscape photography with a 25mm.

These are going on APS-C cameras so you have to multiply the 25 mm by 1.5. these are identical to a 35 mm full frame lens. I prefer the 35 mm range as a general purpose over a 50 mm. Having them go down to 1.7 s a bonus feature especially at these prices. APS-C Digital cameras were always discounted by the manufacturers until Sony came along and opened up access to to their systems. Since then, there has been an explosion of inexpensive high quality lenses. Stick them on a rangefinder size body and you have a perfect walking around kit.

The 33mm is equivalent to a 50 mm and the the 56 mm is like an 85 mm. These three focal lengths are the core of a prime lens kit.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:14 AM (aJQjq)

86 I don't remember the last time I bought new desktop. But it still runs Windows 7.

I have a chromebook that needed a new battery some time ago.

The cat pushed the Kindle Fire off of the kitchen table. It was cheaper to buy a new one than replace the screen.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 20, 2025 07:14 AM (ZmEVT)

87
This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Thinking about you and praying for you, granmie!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:15 AM (nNolW)

88 Evansville is pretty big, 100K people in the city alone (about a third of what I deal with here). Owensboro, KY, has about 60K. I intend to visit there on Thursday, not only for a Chase ATM (there are *none* in Evansville!), but also for a place called the Windy Hollow Biscuit House. Gotta love the name on that too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:05 AM (omVj0

Small-Medium sized cities are my preference.
You have everything you really need nearby, without all the problems that come from megalopolises, namely traffic, crime and the hassle of just getting around and finding parking.

Sure you don’t get all of “The Culture”, but considering the culture today, I don’t think I’d miss much other than the odd museum or something.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:16 AM (6ydKt)

89 I have bought many Dell refurbs. I think they must work as Dell needs them to be perfectly functional so they do not come back again. Posted by: r hennigantx

I've had numerous Dell referbs and I could never distinguish them from being a new machine. Of course I wasn't buying the scratch and dent variety.

My preferred laptop is the Microsoft Surface Pros. I only buy those new because they're so densely packed. They are essentially big cell phones the way they're made.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:17 AM (aJQjq)

90 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 07:18 AM (u82oZ)

91
My two Mac laptops have been refurbished older models. I have nothing to complain about with them, so my next one will come from the refurbished pile, too.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:20 AM (nNolW)

92 Evansville's about the same size as Las Cruces. The metro area hear is about 200,000. It's a lovely size city to live in. You do give up some stuff but you do get other advantages. I characterize it as a city that is big enough that it has everything you need and most of what you want. And for everything else, Albuquerque and Tucson 3 hours to 4 hours away. El Paso's an hour away but what up hole in the ground that place is.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:20 AM (aJQjq)

93 "The US government is set to increase the cost of H-1B visas - used for foreign workers in specialty applications, mostly in the tech industry - by $100,000."

Oh no, isn't that going to make AI more expensive?

mornin yall

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:20 AM (vFG9F)

94 ABC building in Sacramento hit by gunfire yesterday.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 07:21 AM (RIvkX)

95 Small-Medium sized cities are my preference.
You have everything you really need nearby, without all the problems that come from megalopolises, namely traffic, crime and the hassle of just getting around and finding parking.

Sure you don’t get all of “The Culture”, but considering the culture today, I don’t think I’d miss much other than the odd museum or something.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025

***
I can pass on what goes for "culture" around Da Swamp. I've seen it all my life, watched it morph and decay, and am sick to death of it. As long as I have friendly people, reliable Internet, a reasonable cost of living, someplace to get my car worked on, and access to a hospital if necessary, I'm fine. If I need to drive half an hour to grocery-shop once or twice a week, no problem.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:24 AM (omVj0)

96 "I guess everyone on the Left thinks Kimmel is owed a job"

Desperation.

Posted by: davidt at September 20, 2025 07:24 AM (i0F8b)

97 Last bought new desktop iMacs in 2011. They still run. But I use refurbished computers, as my software gets too old for connectivity.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 07:24 AM (u82oZ)

98 94 ABC building in Sacramento hit by gunfire yesterday
Posted by: San Franpsycho

Probably celebratory gunfire, more expert analysis at 6.

Posted by: CanuckJack at September 20, 2025 07:24 AM (OPR0t)

99 The World According To Briggs does Indiana:

https://youtu.be/ip6OrSKbyDg

Granted, that was seven years ago.

Sounds like the weather's great except for the blizzards, ice storms, tornados and floods.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 20, 2025 07:24 AM (XQo4F)

100 We saw 3 otters at the creek yesterday. That was a first. We knew they were out there but had not seen them. Now we know what has been leaving piles on the rocks.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:25 AM (vFG9F)

101 12 Apple computers in the house.

Some were for my late wife.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 07:25 AM (u82oZ)

102 Evansville's about the same size as Las Cruces. The metro area hear is about 200,000. It's a lovely size city to live in. You do give up some stuff but you do get other advantages. I characterize it as a city that is big enough that it has everything you need and most of what you want. And for everything else, Albuquerque and Tucson 3 hours to 4 hours away. El Paso's an hour away but what up hole in the ground that place is.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025

***
Exactly. Indianapolis and Louisville are not that far from SW Indiana/NW Kentucky, after all.

I also plan to drive up to Terre Haute, about ninety minutes N of Evansville, for a quick look. It has 60K people too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:27 AM (omVj0)

103 The 33mm is equivalent to a 50 mm and the the 56 mm is like an 85 mm. These three focal lengths are the core of a prime lens kit.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:14 AM (aJQjq)

I knew all this at one time but memory has faded.
My Canon Rebel XTI DSLR is similar thanks to its smaller sensor, so I’m in the same boat.

It’s not quite as much difference, but I forget the actual numbers. If I put the 55mm on it’s not far off from the field of view of the human eye, a little wider if anything.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:28 AM (6ydKt)

104
I grew up in Marquette, MI. At that time it's population was 22.5 K, more or less. It worked for me then, but at the time its economy was s healthy mix with light industry at the top. That no longer is the case there and now the mix, in order, is tourism, the university, and regional health care. In other words, all the wrong type of people and professions are in charge. The population is about the same, but those of us who knew things in the olden days are looked down upon and chided for being outdated. Fook 'em. Would not go back there now, even if I could.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:29 AM (nNolW)

105 Refund PCs are a good bargain. I can have any PC I want and I run a refurb HP workstation with 4 "refurb" monitors. After riding the bleeding edge for years I don't really care about having the fastest thing around.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:29 AM (vFG9F)

106 w00t

Posted by: m at September 20, 2025 07:29 AM (aURVT)

107 I hope you like snow, Wolfus.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:30 AM (vFG9F)

108 The World According To Briggs does Indiana:

https://youtu.be/ip6OrSKbyDg

Granted, that was seven years ago.

Sounds like the weather's great except for the blizzards, ice storms, tornados and floods.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 20, 2025

***
The comments seem to indicate people like it there. This YooToober might well be subtly scaring off Coasties with his "Top Ten Reasons NOT to Move to Indiana."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:31 AM (omVj0)

109 94 ABC building in Sacramento hit by gunfire yesterday.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 07:21 AM (RIvkX)

----------

Kimmel says it was MAGAs again.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at September 20, 2025 07:32 AM (4a+wk)

110 I hope you like snow, Wolfus.
Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025

***
I lived in Denver for four years. I miss the snow, and then the sense of appreciation and wonder as the first warm spring days come along. Here, "spring" happens in February and it's warm and sticky by March 1. I want four seasons again!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:33 AM (omVj0)

111 I wish the DM would take a cue from Chris Plants and stop calling leftys "liberals". There is nothing liberal about them.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:33 AM (vFG9F)

112
The US government is set to increase the cost of H-1B visas - used for foreign workers in specialty applications, mostly in the tech industry - by $100,000

I read somewhere that the $100,000 fee is going to be assessed for each and every year that a firm has Jugdesh working for it.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:34 AM (nNolW)

113 " I want four seasons again!"

You will get that in Indiana. I myself could live without ever seeing another snowflake.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:34 AM (vFG9F)

114 Why isn't anyone worried about AI putting H1Bs out of work?

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:35 AM (vFG9F)

115 Good luck on your trip.
Let us know what you think of Evansville.
You’ve been preparing for this long enough, I’d like to hear the end result.

Take some good pictures and convince Miss Linda it won’t be so bad up there.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 06:55 AM (6ydKt

Seconded! Keep us updated and I shall wave at you from my hill! Its only an hour from here to Evansville so I'm sure you will see me waving.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 07:36 AM (2J/Lj)

116 *This YooToober might well be subtly scaring off Coasties with his "Top Ten Reasons NOT to Move to Indiana."*

I think he does that for pretty much every state.
Except Idaho. He thinks Idaho is great because Idaho doesn't want to be noticed.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 20, 2025 07:36 AM (XQo4F)

117 Honestly I'm really happy the refurbished-computer options exist. I don't want to see tons of relatively new equipment end up in a landfill. It's just wasteful, and I was raised to get everything I could out of what I have, and that applies whether I'm buying new or buying used.

This is also why I'm so disappointed with Microsoft. There is a lot of perfectly good and serviceable hardware out there that will end up as e-waste simply because Windows 11 can't be installed on it, due to Microsoft's insistence on a TPM 2.0 chip and processors past a certain date or technology family (which cuts off a ton of moderately aged (but still quite powerful) CPU chips.

You're just a software company. Get back in your lane.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 07:36 AM (O7YUW)

118 12 Apple computers in the house.

Some were for my late wife.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 07:25 AM (u82oZ)

That’s a lot,
What’s the oldest you have?

Like one of the old transparent iMacs with the round mouse?

I thought those looked so cool but couldn’t afford it back then,

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:37 AM (6ydKt)

119 If I never saw snow again I wouldn't miss it

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:37 AM (+qU29)

120 " I want four seasons again!"

You will get that in Indiana. I myself could live without ever seeing another snowflake.
Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025

***
I have every intention of having a garage to protect my car; and I no longer have a commute -- unless heading out most days to a coffee shop and Walmart/Aldi counts.

The weather forecast indicates cooler temps, like highs of 79-82 and lows about 60, with some rain next week. I'll bring a jacket and a hat.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:39 AM (omVj0)

121 Good luck on your trip.
Let us know what you think of Evansville.
You’ve been preparing for this long enough, I’d like to hear the end result.

Take some good pictures and convince Miss Linda it won’t be so bad up there.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 06:55 AM (6ydKt

Seconded! Keep us updated and I shall wave at you from my hill! Its only an hour from here to Evansville so I'm sure you will see me waving.
Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025

***
MM, I thought you lived farther north, like near Fort Wayne?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:39 AM (omVj0)

122 It’s not quite as much difference, but I forget the actual numbers. If I put the 55mm on it’s not far off from the field of view of the human eye, a little wider if anything.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

Canon APS-C use a 1.6 multiplier to translate focal lengths into full frame cameras sizes. Canon's been really stingy to license access which limited native aps-c lenses to the trashy kit lenses (I had a rebel at one point many years ago). Instead one would buy full frame lenses as they would work on an aps-c camera which is sort of okay except they were big which undermined the whole point of having a smaller body.

Sony has the best selection of small sensor bodies and with these new Aps-C lenses, which started hitting the market over the last 5 years, are now a thing.

50 mm on full frame sensors is considered the standard lens precisely because of the field of view. It seems over the last decade or so people have shifted to 35 mm to fit that role. I think it has a lot to do with we can now easily edit photographs digitally, The extra field of view adds flexibility.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:40 AM (aJQjq)

123 I wonder why no one has come up with a way to add TPM to older systems. Sure it's supposed to be built in to the chips but there has to be a way to trick it.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:41 AM (vFG9F)

124 I read somewhere that the $100,000 fee is going to be assessed for each and every year that a firm has Jugdesh working for it.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:34 AM (nNolW)

Looks like I'm retiring at the wrong time.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at September 20, 2025 07:41 AM (ExV1e)

125
I have two computers on which Windows 11 is installed. But only partly installed, according to Windows 11, which every so often pipes up and asks me if I want to finish the task. That's a hard "no" from me, Billy G.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:42 AM (nNolW)

126 Surprise surprise surprise

"Brett Kavanaugh's would-be assassin identifies as transgender woman"

This shit is getting out of hand.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:43 AM (vFG9F)

127 Morning all. Last weekend of summer.

Posted by: Don Black at September 20, 2025 07:44 AM (AOsQT)

128 This is also why I'm so disappointed with Microsoft. There is a lot of perfectly good and serviceable hardware out there that will end up as e-waste simply because Windows 11 can't be installed on it,

I found it to be kind of a dick move but I kind of see where they're at. Those machines were well suited to Windows 10 which is heading into retirement. This is a natural break point where they can get rid of a having to support all that old hardware. Apple does this kind of stuff all the time and nobody loses their mind over it. Cuz it's Microsoft well you know they're a software company so they should stay in their lane. Their support matrix as it is is mind-boggling and the fact that they supported these machines for 10 years, that's pretty good. And it isn't like they aren't going to work tomorrow. They're just not going to get updates and they're not going to get a new OS. The world moves on.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:45 AM (aJQjq)

129 Wolfus, here is my best advice: Don't Move Here.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 07:45 AM (RIvkX)

130
If I never saw snow again I wouldn't miss it
Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:37 AM (+qU29)

Snow
Day 1: Quiet, pristine beauty
Day 2+: Grey-black frozen muck

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 20, 2025 07:45 AM (tgvbd)

131 When setting up a new Win 11 system, DO NOT connect it to any network. If you do you will be forced to use a Microsquat account to access the computer that YOU OWN.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:46 AM (vFG9F)

132 If I never saw snow again I wouldn't miss it
Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:37 AM (+qU29)

Snow
Day 1: Quiet, pristine beauty
Day 2+: Grey-black frozen muck
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

Day 3: The body shops make bank If you live in an area that gets snow once a year.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:47 AM (aJQjq)

133 "Apple does this kind of stuff all the time and nobody loses their mind over it."

Fk apple I don't want to be part of their universe anymore than I want to be part of MS's.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:47 AM (vFG9F)

134 SpeakingOf

My oldest is a iMac that runs OS 8. I have big boxes of games on 3.5" floppies for it. I have two other iMacs that run OS 9. One is the G3 domed one, the other a iMac Book that can smash small squirrels.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 07:48 AM (u82oZ)

135 Snow
Day 1: Quiet, pristine beauty
Day 2+: Grey-black frozen muck
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 20, 2025

***
Oh, I remember that. Of course, in Denver, Day 3 normally featured the stuff vanishing as the sun came back out. It didn't have time to melt into water; it just steamed off the pavement.

But I'm sure that's not going to be the case in Indiana.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:48 AM (omVj0)

136 I read somewhere that the $100,000 fee is going to be assessed for each and every year that a firm has Jugdesh working for it.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 07:34 AM (nNolW)

Ken, Lonnie, I'd like you to meet... Mohammed, Jugdesh, Sidney, and Clayton. ...

Posted by: Doug Neidermeyer at September 20, 2025 07:48 AM (R/m4+)

137 "Apple does this kind of stuff all the time and nobody loses their mind over it."

Fk apple I don't want to be part of their universe anymore than I want to be part of MS's.
Posted by: fd

Don't use Mac OS or Windows. It's an easy solution.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:49 AM (aJQjq)

138 "111 I wish ~~the DM~~ everyone would take a cue from Chris Plants and stop calling leftys "liberals". There is nothing liberal about them.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:33 AM (vFG9F) "

Thank you for saying it out loud! bugs hell out of me every time I see it.
words have meanings!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 20, 2025 07:49 AM (ppG5b)

139 I also plan to drive up to Terre Haute, about ninety minutes N of Evansville, for a quick look. It has 60K people too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:27 AM (omVj0)

Terre Haute isn't bad. I like it better than Evansville but I'm A small town kinda gal. Bloomington has a lot of what you might be looking for but I refer to it as The Peoples Socialist Utopia for a reason. The University essentially runs Bloomington and most of Monroe county. Both the city and county council are infested with IU professors. And IU Health, is A mafia that cares about profit. Period. They should put signs outside of their hospitals and clinics that read "We're here to make you as miserable as we can for as long as possible!"
Avoid Bloomington!
Evansville has a nice zoo and a combo museum. Its got a history section and an art section.
You might take a quick look at Vincennes also.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 07:49 AM (2J/Lj)

140 Wolfus, here is my best advice: Don't Move Here.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025

***
I couldn't afford Calipornia [sic], either in $$$ or sanity. Brave of you to continue to exist there -- but then you have family there, right?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:50 AM (omVj0)

141 50 mm on full frame sensors is considered the standard lens precisely because of the field of view. It seems over the last decade or so people have shifted to 35 mm to fit that role. I think it has a lot to do with we can now easily edit photographs digitally, The extra field of view adds flexibility.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:40 AM (aJQjq)

I’m sure that’s part of it.
Long gone are the days you had 30 pics on a roll.

Now you take hundreds of pics in one go, and sit in front of a computer and find the best shots. And then you can crop like crazy for composition if need be. It sure beats the time and cost of a darkroom.

Whenever I get a new camera I’m gong the smaller route, too. I’ll have to check out Sony, because it does seem to be a good solution, and cheaper lenses are a plus.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:51 AM (6ydKt)

142 Wolfus Aurelius

Good luk on your trip. Safe travels.

I missed how Miss Linda took the news.. I see you can still post, so will hope for the best.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 07:52 AM (u82oZ)

143 Terre Haute isn't bad. I like it better than Evansville but I'm A small town kinda gal. Bloomington has a lot of what you might be looking for but I refer to it as The Peoples Socialist Utopia for a reason. The University essentially runs Bloomington and most of Monroe county. Both the city and county council are infested with IU professors. And IU Health, is A mafia that cares about profit. Period. They should put signs outside of their hospitals and clinics that read "We're here to make you as miserable as we can for as long as possible!"
Avoid Bloomington!
Evansville has a nice zoo and a combo museum. Its got a history section and an art section.
You might take a quick look at Vincennes also.
Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025

***
I'll pass through Vincennes on my way to TH. Princeton, north of Evansville but closer, sounds good too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:52 AM (omVj0)

144 Spider solitaire is evil

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:52 AM (+qU29)

145 MM, I thought you lived farther north, like near Fort Wayne?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:39 AM (omVj0)

Nope! I'm thirty minutes southwest of Bloomington, an hour northeast of Evansville, and an hour southeast of Terre Haute. About thirty minutes from Bedford also.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 07:53 AM (2J/Lj)

146 "Don't use Mac OS or Windows. It's an easy solution.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram "

I'm sure my clients would appreciate that. Some of them have Mac's, which I do not support. Some have personal MS accounts, which I also do not support. All my business clients have domain accounts that are not tied to MS and if they ever have to be that will be the end for me. I use Windows to support them but am perfectly happy with Linux for an OS.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 07:54 AM (vFG9F)

147
Good luk on your trip. Safe travels.

I missed how Miss Linda took the news.. I see you can still post, so will hope for the best.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025

***
I didn't say anything about her reaction because there has been none. Which might mean that, as usual, she is keeping her thoughts to herself. She just doesn't talk about it. I might as well be speaking to the cats when I mention the trip and things I've researched about IN.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:54 AM (omVj0)

148 Whenever I get a new camera I’m gong the smaller route, too. I’ll have to check out Sony, because it does seem to be a good solution, and cheaper lenses are a plus.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

I've spent countless hours puzzling out this whole issue and I decided these small Sony's are a thing. With my new Sony setup I can slip an extra lens in my pocket and sling my camera over my shoulder. They're light, the autofocus is amazing!, and the image quality punches way above its weight. 10 years ago. This was not the case.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:54 AM (aJQjq)

149 My oldest is a iMac that runs OS 8. I have big boxes of games on 3.5" floppies for it. I have two other iMacs that run OS 9. One is the G3 domed one, the other a iMac Book that can smash small squirrels.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 07:48 AM (u82oZ)

You’ve got your own little Apple museum going on.

There’s probably a good collectors market for those older Macs, with the way Apple fans are.

They just like to use them to decorate their room/office with vintage Macs.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 07:55 AM (6ydKt)

150
I'll pass through Vincennes on my way to TH. Princeton, north of Evansville but closer, sounds good too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025

***
Come to think of it, I'll be going through Princeton as well along US 41. Yes, I'll watch out for speed traps!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:57 AM (omVj0)

151 I'll pass through Vincennes on my way to TH. Princeton, north of Evansville but closer, sounds good too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:52 AM (omVj0)

Princeton has a Ginormous! Toyota factory. It literally has its own police department and fire department. The traffic, at shift change, is hellish! Be aware of the timing when you travel thru.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 07:59 AM (2J/Lj)

152 but then you have family there, right?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:50 AM (omVj0)
====
MiL and kids

I'm starting to think of alternatives to relocating, perhaps another long term rental like we do in Sonoma in summer.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 07:59 AM (RIvkX)

153 And come on: A state that has towns called "French Lick" and "Santa Claus" can't be all bad.

(On the other hand, Lousy-ana has "Ball" and "Dry Prong," so ignore what I said.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 07:59 AM (omVj0)

154 Oh and while you're in Evansville, Wolfus, I recommend at little hole in the wall restaurant called Yak and Yeti. Their lamb curry is delish!

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 08:01 AM (2J/Lj)

155 Princeton has a Ginormous! Toyota factory. It literally has its own police department and fire department. The traffic, at shift change, is hellish! Be aware of the timing when you travel thru.
Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025

***
I knew about the Toyota factory. Shift change would be at seven am? I planned to go through a little later than that, and return before three.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 08:02 AM (omVj0)

156 That H1-B cost increase on the visas from $4,500 to $100,000: That's a hike and a half.

Strikes me as one of those increases that large companies can shoulder, but small companies will find much more difficult to do.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at September 20, 2025 05:38 AM (O7YUW)

Someone on one of the threads said that the bill also makes there a salary of $150K, making the total cost of an H1B employee $250K.

Not sure if that's true or not, but that a pretty high entry fee for someone untested from a foreign country instead of hiring American.

I guess we'll see.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 20, 2025 08:02 AM (iJfKG)

157 A month in a cheap motel off the Strip. $1.99 breakfast. Morning by the "pool". Afternoons at free happy hours. Lots and lots of commenting at AoS.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:02 AM (RIvkX)

158 Hoo boy:

"Dear Abby: How do I tell my 40-year-old son he needs to get a job and move out?"

Just like that, dumbass.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 08:02 AM (vFG9F)

159 I'm sure my clients would appreciate that. Some of them have Mac's, which I do not support. Some have personal MS accounts, which I also do not support. All my business clients have domain accounts that are not tied to MS and if they ever have to be that will be the end for me. I use Windows to support them but am perfectly happy with Linux for an OS.
Posted by: fd

It is what it is. I don't get all the lightning shooting out of ears. Vitriol. Apple and Microsoft make products in a way that they see fits their customers needs. We as consumers have a choice either to play along or not play along. It's pretty much just like any other product. Don't like a Ford go buy a Chevy. Don't like Whirlpool go buy a Samsung. Wash, rinse, repeat. This is how capitalism works. These are products not ideological crusades.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 08:03 AM (aJQjq)

160 Since Skip covered Powerline, I'll add midwestchick meme drop and Bookworm Room:

https://is.gd/4iGiYn

https://is.gd/xhQBb5

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 20, 2025 08:04 AM (PiwSw)

161 Oh and while you're in Evansville, Wolfus, I recommend at little hole in the wall restaurant called Yak and Yeti. Their lamb curry is delish!
Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025

***
On South Green River? I'll be staying near there.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 08:05 AM (omVj0)

162 These are products not ideological crusades.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 08:03 AM (aJQjq)

*considers mentioning that vi is superior to emacs*
*shifty eyes*

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 20, 2025 08:07 AM (PiwSw)

163 Wolfus, in case you get a hankering for some Cajun food while in Evansville: Pier 17 Cajun Seafood & Bar.

Ha!

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 08:07 AM (aJQjq)

164 Santa Claus Indiana has the Holiday World amusement park. It's a nice way to spend a day. If you're in to caves, Squire Boone Cavern is nice and it's near historic Corydon, the first state capitol of Indiana. Merengo cave is neat too.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 08:08 AM (2J/Lj)

165 "We as consumers have a choice either to play along or not play along."

Not really. Nowadays most people are forced to use Apple or MS on the companies' terms.

Sure, you can do without a PC. Banks and insurance companies love to get calls from people who don't use PCs.

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 08:08 AM (vFG9F)

166 *considers mentioning that vi is superior to emacs*
*shifty eyes* Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes

When I worked for informix before they got looted by the CEO. that was one of the Great debates that went on all the time. It never came to blows but it was close.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 08:09 AM (aJQjq)

167 French Lick has a casino and a history train.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 08:10 AM (2J/Lj)

168 10 years ago. This was not the case.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 07:54 AM (aJQjq)

Things have progressed immensely thanks to smartphones.

When I was in school back around 2008, we had to use a large format 4x5 camera on occasion. It was state of the art with a 50 megapixel sensor (JPG files sizes proved it averaging around 55mb per image - I wouldn’t even bother with RAW).

Now an iPhone will get close to that at 48 megapixels. But they use a lot of compute power to clean up the image noise.

That 4x5 turned out some beautiful images (especially being able to fine tune focal point) but who wants to lug that beast around.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 08:10 AM (6ydKt)

169 Santa Claus Indiana has the Holiday World amusement park. It's a nice way to spend a day. If you're in to caves, Squire Boone Cavern is nice and it's near historic Corydon, the first state capitol of Indiana. Merengo cave is neat too.
Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025

***
I keep telling Linda that there will be Things to Do in Indiana. I don't think she listens.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 08:11 AM (omVj0)

170 Not really. Nowadays most people are forced to use Apple or MS on the companies' terms.

Sure, you can do without a PC. Banks and insurance companies love to get calls from people who don't use PCs.
Posted by: fd

Use Linux. Use a Chromebook. People use these all the time. And since these days much of what we need to accomplish can be done in a browser, the OS is sort of irrelevant. I don't see how anybody's forced to do anything. Especially if Apple and Microsoft are so offensive.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 08:14 AM (aJQjq)

171 {{{I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper}}}

Everyone but Sarah Hoyt and the Feral Irishman have a collection of excellent memes today.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 08:17 AM (u82oZ)

172 Wolfus, tell that fine lady that a born and bred, never lived outside the state, honest to God Hoosier can confirm that there is way more than corn in Indiana!

Vincennes has a Red Skelton museum, A military history museum, and Grouseland!

Lincoln's boyhood home is down by Santa Claus Indiana.

And that's just the southern third of the state. If she likes antiques and artsy stuff, Nashville is beautiful but crowded in the fall.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 08:18 AM (2J/Lj)

173 Wolfus Aurelius

Have you asked where she would want to travel or cruise?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 08:18 AM (u82oZ)

174 Snow is a nice touch on distant mountain tops.

Posted by: Common Tater at September 20, 2025 08:18 AM (FaOSD)

175 That 4x5 turned out some beautiful images (especially being able to fine tune focal point) but who wants to lug that beast around. Posted by: SpeakingOf

I spent a couple years working part-time in the digital Lab at a photography school right it at the time digital was taking off. During that time they got rid of their color lab and kept the black and white only. The film that survived is the medium format size and as much as I love digital, holy mackerel, the quality of the images from the median format negatives breath taking.

The part I always found amusing is these medium format negatives were taken to an extremely high quality scanner and wet scanned into digital files and then edited it in Photoshop. Because those files came with so much information, the results were spectacular. The best I ever saw was people that used 8x10 negatives and scanned them. They would print them out on a 60-in digital link printer using custom inks. What they were doing was a step beyond breathtaking.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 08:20 AM (aJQjq)

176 We really don't get that much snow. I will predict right now that the first winter Wolfus has here will be unusually cold and snowy. Just because Indiana is fucking with Wolfus!

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 20, 2025 08:21 AM (2J/Lj)

177 Wolfus, You do realize you're going to become a Yankee, right?

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at September 20, 2025 08:22 AM (aJQjq)

178 {{{Salty}}}

Mike McDaniel sometimes has his Sunday funnies up on Saturday, but not today...

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 20, 2025 08:28 AM (PiwSw)

179 Cherry pistachio almond biscotti

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:40 AM (RIvkX)

180 NOOD

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:41 AM (RIvkX)

181 Coffee nood.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 20, 2025 08:41 AM (u82oZ)

182 *considers mentioning that vi is superior to emacs*
*shifty eyes* Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes

When I worked for informix before they got looted by the CEO. that was one of the Great debates that went on all the time. It never came to blows but it was close.
---
I prefer emacs, though I'd use vi on occasion, depending on the task; for example, vi was much better for global edits. But the controversy was ridiculous, like arguing over what color socks to wear: choose whichever one suits you better, and get on with it.

Posted by: Nemo at September 20, 2025 08:41 AM (4RPgu)

183 34 What does NOOD mean?

Just askin'.
Posted by: EFG at September 20, 2025 05:51 AM (R2rTw)

[there is a] noo [threa]d

Posted by: m at September 20, 2025 08:48 AM (aURVT)

184 179 Cherry pistachio almond biscotti
Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:40 AM (RIvkX)

yum!

Posted by: m at September 20, 2025 08:49 AM (aURVT)

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