Daily Tech News 29 January 2026

Top Story

Windows 11 now has a billion users, all of whom hate it. (Thurrott)

I wouldn't advise clicking on that link. It launched multiple video ads all playing at once and choked my browser to the point that I couldn't even close the tab.

Anyway:
As part of today's quarterly earnings conference call, Microsoft revealed that there are now over one billion Windows 11 users. That's a big milestone by any measure, but here's what I find interesting: It took Windows 11 less time to reach one billion users than it did for Windows 10.
By three months, and they had to murder Windows 10 to do it.
Today, the narrative is that everyone hates Windows 11. I complain about the enshittification, which is real. But that started with Windows 10 (or, really Windows . And I don't "hate" Windows 11, nor do I see hatred out in the world.
I don't think you've looked, Paul.
Microsoft forced me to switch to Linux. (Himthe)
So there I was, finally grasping the reality of what you're up against, as a Windows user:
- Random bugs that break basic functionality
- Updates that install without permission and brick my system
- Copilot and OneDrive ads appearing in every corner of the OS
- Copilot buttons everywhere, coming for every application
- Can't even make a local account without hacking the setup with Rufus (they even removed the terminal workaround)
- Zero actionable fixes or even an aknowledgment of their fuckups
Sounds about right, yes.
People often say Linux is "too much work.".
And I agree. They're completely justified to complain. There's the documentation page diving, the forums, the reddit threads. And, most importantly, you have to basically rewire your brain and stop expecting it to behave like Windows used to.

But I looked at the list above and realized: Windows is now also too much work.
And the difference with Windows is that you're going to do all that work while actively fighting your computer only for it to be undone when the next surprise update comes and ruins everything.
There is also Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Edition LTSC.

Or Windows 7, which doesn't get updates so it doesn't break.

Tech News

AMD's 9850X3D is here. (Tom's Hardware)

It's only slightly faster than the 9800X3D and uses a lot more power, but it's still a lot faster and uses a lot less power than the best Intel chips, so... Whatever.

If you want a system that runs cool the 7800X3D is a little slower but amazingly power-efficient.
An illustrated guide to hippo castration. (Science)

Oh, good. I was wondering where I put that.
There is no mold at the Uffizi. (Scientific American)

And when we say there is none, I mean there is some.
France is planning to follow Australia in banning social media for children under 15. (The Guardian)

In Australia the number of visitors to such sites hasn't declined one iota despite five million accounts being banned.

Odd, that. You'd almost think that kids are smarter than politicians.
Beyond Meat's protein soda might be its last chance and best hope. (The Verge) (archive site)

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Give me Windows 95 or give me death!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:00 AM (Ora++)

2 w00t

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 04:00 AM (SSiCQ)

3 Ha! Got it, BD.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 04:01 AM (SSiCQ)

4 G'Day everyone
Can't say was a good night , but up at at em

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2026 04:01 AM (Ia/+0)

5 BD, your hash is wild.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 04:01 AM (SSiCQ)

6 BD, your hash is wild.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 04:01 AM (SSiCQ)
-

AOSHQ knows my electric toothbrush brand???

/checks for 2 way mirror in bathroom

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:02 AM (Ora++)

7 We all need a good laugh.

What do FARTs and leftists have in common? True, there are multiple answers but none of you came up with this one:

https://tinyurl.com/zwzehxhd

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:04 AM (Ora++)

8 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at January 29, 2026 04:08 AM (sAmhv)

9 Debian with xfce reminds me of old Windows, except it's better than Windows ever was.

Posted by: pjungwir at January 29, 2026 04:09 AM (noE7F)

10 I loved MS 7 - I could actually make my own music videos without much fuss.

Haven't found anything as user friendly since - and I am too old to learn new tricks at this point....

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at January 29, 2026 04:16 AM (SRRAx)

11 Win10 was kind to me on my previous Thinkpad. Very rare BSODs.

Now on a new Thinkpad with Win11. Thanks to morons here, I cleaned up a lot of waste and defanged AI and privacy issues. I had one single time where I saw that memory was leaking. Could have been Windows. Could have been the browser. Otherwise, it works and I've gotten used to the unnecessary changes in appearance and style here and there.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:31 AM (Ora++)

12 Last night was very cold yet all the local colleges and universities (except the local technical Institute) held rallies against ICE. Breaking a few downtown windows and looting as usual. Not sure what looting and ICE hating have in common, but opportunity I guess. Probably most professors lead the way. It shows their is nothing peaceful about the left (or right).

Posted by: colin at January 29, 2026 04:32 AM (e8qy3)

13 This is not your grandfather's US State Department:

https://tinyurl.com/bheybzvx

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:37 AM (Ora++)

14 12 Last night was very cold yet all the local colleges and universities (except the local technical Institute) held rallies against ICE. Breaking a few downtown windows and looting as usual. Not sure what looting and ICE hating have in common, but opportunity I guess. Probably most professors lead the way. It shows their is nothing peaceful about the left (or right).
Posted by: colin at January 29, 2026 04:32 AM (e8qy3)

And a very large number of arrests?

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 04:40 AM (SSiCQ)

15 Presidential Steven Cheung is having a good time pointing out how staged CNN's Minneapolis "Townhall" meeting was. Scroll down his page to see the recent entries:

https://x.com/StevenCheung47

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:40 AM (Ora++)

16 13 This is not your grandfather's US State Department:

https://tinyurl.com/bheybzvx
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:37 AM (Ora++)

Little Marco for the win!

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 04:42 AM (SSiCQ)

17 Besides Windows, do you know what other interfaces have changed recently?

https://tinyurl.com/e3cmpd59

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:43 AM (Ora++)

18 No arrests at the protests according to the local media. They were just peaceful protests so why arrest anyone, ignoring the main street broken windows that the shop owners will have to pay to replace with plywood. And more business will move to the suburbs. Don't the city 'fathers' realize that main street business know when to leave to the outskirts and the tax money they loose.

Posted by: colin at January 29, 2026 04:47 AM (e8qy3)

19 Kurt Schlichter gives us a good summary of what's coming next and it isn't Pretti:

https://tinyurl.com/mtfxh7ks

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:47 AM (Ora++)

20 Don't the city 'fathers' realize that main street business know when to leave to the outskirts and the tax money they loose.

Posted by: colin at January 29, 2026 04:47 AM (e8qy3)
-

Who's yo daddeh!!!

https://tinyurl.com/3tb54k5k

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:48 AM (Ora++)

21 17 Besides Windows, do you know what other interfaces have changed recently?

https://tinyurl.com/e3cmpd59
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:43 AM (Ora++)

About a half dozen AWFLs in there.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 04:50 AM (SSiCQ)

22 Trump has a nominee for a new AAG. It sounds important:

https://tinyurl.com/4snsf59n

Yeh. I know. "Nominee."

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:55 AM (Ora++)

23 19 Kurt Schlichter gives us a good summary of what's coming next and it isn't Pretti:

https://tinyurl.com/mtfxh7ks
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:47 AM (Ora++)

He seems to be saying that, in the longterm, the bad guys lose:

There is a significant change of a low-grade insurgency erupting in the United States along the lines of the one the leftists initiated in the late 60s/early 70s. An actual civil war-type conflict is unlikely

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:00 AM (SSiCQ)

24 Is it AI?

Or is it Europeans?

House Judiciary GOP @JudiciaryGOP
10h

Can’t make this up.

The EU fined X €45 million after concluding people would think Donald Duck was a real person.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 05:00 AM (Ora++)

25 covfefe

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:02 AM (SSiCQ)

26 "NO ICE CREAM FOR YOU!!!!!"

https://tinyurl.com/3t2u8ukd

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 05:04 AM (Ora++)

27 Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:37 AM (Ora++)

I do like Marco Rubio. I had no idea when he was in Congress that he would turn out to be such an articulate and smart person.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:06 AM (D+BhG)

28 They're threatening to give Kristi Noem a dressing down, if you know what I mean.

Um... no you don't know what I mean:

https://tinyurl.com/ymzkhsyb

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 05:07 AM (Ora++)

29 I do like Marco Rubio. I had no idea when he was in Congress that he would turn out to be such an articulate and smart person.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:06 AM (D+BhG)
-

Ditto.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 05:08 AM (Ora++)

30 The guy who sprayed liquid on Ilhan (NYT):

Court records do not indicate that Mr. Kazmierczak had ever been charged with a violent crime in Minnesota, though he was convicted in 1989 of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and twice, in 2009 and 2010, of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:10 AM (SSiCQ)

31 These judges need to be punished and fast. They're getting worse:

https://tinyurl.com/58yvjrd3

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 05:13 AM (Ora++)

32 This appears to have been a good assessment:

Bonchie
@bonchieredstate
19h
The most probable explanation for the Omar incident is that this guy is a drunk who lashed out because his far-lefty, activist wife divorced him and turned his kids blue-haired and non-binary.

Unless I see actual evidence that it was staged, that's my current assumption.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:14 AM (SSiCQ)

33 The guy who sprayed liquid on Ilhan (NYT):

Court records do not indicate that Mr. Kazmierczak had ever been charged with a violent crime in Minnesota, though he was convicted in 1989 of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and twice, in 2009 and 2010, of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:10 AM (SSiCQ)
-

Relax. It was just vinegar.

Other than those minor violations, Mr. Kazmierczak is a... salad citizen.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 05:14 AM (Ora++)

34 moar praise for Rubio:

Bonchie retweeted
AG
@AGHamilton29
15h
Rubio is just really good at this.

Running circles around those questioning him and making about as good of a case for the administration as possible.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:15 AM (SSiCQ)

35 33 The guy who sprayed liquid on Ilhan (NYT):

Court records do not indicate that Mr. Kazmierczak had ever been charged with a violent crime in Minnesota, though he was convicted in 1989 of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and twice, in 2009 and 2010, of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:10 AM (SSiCQ)
-

Relax. It was just vinegar.

Other than those minor violations, Mr. Kazmierczak is a... salad citizen.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 05:14 AM (Ora++)

There was some indication that he was going to caesar.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:15 AM (SSiCQ)

36 They forget Noem has a history of dealing with ill-behaved dogs.

Posted by: Epobirs at January 29, 2026 05:16 AM (/0z9K)

37 Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 04:37 AM (Ora++)

It is gratifying to see Rubio in a position that is perfectly suited to his skills. I hope he is busily destroying the State Department's traditional biases too!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2026 05:16 AM (Zv8bq)

38 8 degrees here, hardly even want to go outside

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2026 05:25 AM (Ia/+0)

39 57F here. Warmer than normal for late January.

Posted by: Epobirs at January 29, 2026 05:28 AM (/0z9K)

40 I thought a few days ago a Guerilla war was probably coming soon. I can vision bombings and assassinations as their next step.

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2026 05:28 AM (Ia/+0)

41 I am very happy with Windows 7.

A little-known fact: Even after "support" was dropped, I would still get an occasional update. No problems.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 05:30 AM (qFwJc)

42 It's 27.9 degrees outside.

And I'm seeing idiots using the NextDoor app to post locations of ICE activity now.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 29, 2026 05:31 AM (iMotb)

43 Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at January 29, 2026 05:36 AM (Ia/+0)

44 Christian devotional on Psalm 16:1-7, following by a prayer and an additional thought. I liked it because it reminded me of a blessing I received yesterday . I went to the Shop Rite and saw a beautiful little pink hyacinth. It smelled so nice and reminds me that yes, indeed, Spring will come. I am going to bring the hyacinth to our retired organist:

https://tinyurl.com/bdhucbxk

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:37 AM (Bw1/o)

45 My grandfather died of leukemia while serving in the U.S. Navy in 1943. The State Dept. then was chocked fulled of Commies.

So yes. This is not my grandfather's State Dept.

I doubt there is any mold on the Shroud of Turin, but then there might be.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 05:38 AM (qFwJc)

46 Don't the city 'fathers' realize that main street business know when to leave to the outskirts and the tax money they loose.

"But if the windows get broken, the guy who replaces them will have money to buy a suit!"

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 05:38 AM (RjOoY)

47 Good morning. I has a very long and productive conversation with the person running to head the county gop.

We are going to work together to bring two projects to fruition.
A civics 101 class and an open public debate about what socialism is and isn't.

This will not be done with the gop but as an independent group.

Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 05:38 AM (0KSrI)

48 Evening and morning for a chilly Thor's Day! Are we really that far along in the week? Are we really still here after the ice-mageddon?

* Strokes chin *

"Interesting . . ."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 05:40 AM (wzUl9)

49 The State Dept. then was chocked fulled of Commies.

It's a shame that we could not purge the commies in every position of power with the ferocity that the Germans got rid of Nazis. It might have saved us some problems.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 05:40 AM (RjOoY)

50 Short, cute video for the poster who likes penguins;

https://tinyurl.com/525jxdhm

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:41 AM (Bw1/o)

51 I started my Windows experience with version 1.00.00. I might still have those floppy disks around somewhere. I now use a Mac Studio, as of June 2025. Fast enough, small enough, cool running. Overall decent to very decent experience. Biggest downside is cost. Biggest upside is support. I tried to help someone with their Windows laptop, and found I had become incompetent with Windows. Maybe Windows is the thing that has become incompetent. Or not. I don't miss it.
+2 degrees F here this morning, much better than the recent -7 to -4 mornings.

Posted by: Whiskey Mike at January 29, 2026 05:41 AM (l5vxg)

52 Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 05:38 AM (0KSrI)

What wonderful ideas!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:41 AM (Bw1/o)

53 I see that the Pretti family is reported to have confirmed that it was dumb-ass himself in that recently revealed video of his earlier encounter with ICE.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 29, 2026 05:42 AM (iMotb)

54 Anyway! I'm awake, having slept almost as late as I wanted. Stirling & Co. did not wake me, strangely enough. They are pacing around, naturally, but they have a little time to wait for breakfast.

Dagny actually stayed on my lap (after Linda put here there) for about a half hour last night. I keep saying, "That's *not* Dagny! Somebody replaced my aloof kitten with a lookalike!"

What's up in your zone?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 05:42 AM (wzUl9)

55 So my evil lair was dug out and I was able to make it into work without incident. Things are so cold that neither of the dogs saw me out. I'll overlook that.

But due to me being unable to come into work, I had to do Leave Without Pay. After running the numbers, I figured I could take a hit this time.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 05:46 AM (RjOoY)

56 Good morning! Well, the ice has melted away for the most part so I guess I'll make my way up the road to visit the hangar and see what progress they've made. I'm hoping my time remaining with this project is short. Ready to move on to a new project where I can have more time in the home office and the effort is a lot less frenetic.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 29, 2026 05:47 AM (3Ope8)

57 47 Good morning. I has a very long and productive conversation with the person running to head the county gop.

We are going to work together to bring two projects to fruition.
A civics 101 class and an open public debate about what socialism is and isn't.

This will not be done with the gop but as an independent group.
Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 05:38 AM (0KSrI)

Information is power!

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 05:47 AM (SSiCQ)

58 Temps are between 37 and 27 here depending on whom you ask. We should see about 59 or so this p.m., when I plan to work out, and the same tomorrow. Then winter will crash in again for about three days.

Just wait, People of Da Swamp. You'll be running the A/C again by the end of Feb.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 05:49 AM (wzUl9)

59 Oh yes. The Bastiat falacy.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 05:50 AM (qFwJc)

60 FeneIon, I had the civics class ready to go and then covid hit so it's coming off the back burner now.

Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 05:50 AM (0KSrI)

61 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

Posted by: Marcus T at January 29, 2026 05:50 AM (IeX0j)

62 Actor David Suchet reads Psalm 47:

https://tinyurl.com/yp438ruj

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:50 AM (Bw1/o)

63 Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 05:50 AM (0KSrI

Glad to hear that it's coming off the back burner.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:51 AM (Bw1/o)

64 Posted by: Marcus T at January 29, 2026 05:50 AM (IeX0j

Amen! Thanks, Marcus.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:52 AM (Bw1/o)

65 m, that is exactly what we talked about. We have the perfect opportunity to do this for young as well as older participants.

Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 05:53 AM (0KSrI)

66 Wanted to tell Grumpy and Recalcitrant this-

Spouse didn't have to go to the bus depot yesterday because radio was working. He has never had his DEF freeze. Maybe it's colder where you are?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:55 AM (Bw1/o)

67 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 05:42 AM (wzUl9

It's 5 degrees. Supposed to be negative I on Saturday.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:57 AM (Bw1/o)

68 “ Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2026 05:52 AM (Bw1/o)”

Of course, ma’am.

Blessing to all this day. God is good.

Posted by: Marcus T at January 29, 2026 05:58 AM (IeX0j)

69 Maduro kind of dropped out of the news cycle, no? I hope they have “persuaded” him to sing

Posted by: Common Tater at January 29, 2026 06:09 AM (3GifZ)

70 Tales of dealing with my tax dude.
Email: "You need to start filling out the forms and uploading documents."
Me: Has yesterday off. Decides to get to work. Goes to page.
Site: "Enter your email.
Me: Does that
Site: "Wrong!"
Me: Creates new account. Enters email and name.
Site: "Wrong!"

I'll be calling him later.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 06:09 AM (RjOoY)

71 My Windows 11 work laptop has now decided that turning off is bad. It will power down but then turn right back on again.

It's annoying but not really a problem because the firmware knows how to really power off

Posted by: Cybersmythe at January 29, 2026 06:10 AM (VmDLh)

72 @66/FenelonSpoke: "Spouse didn't have to go to the bus depot yesterday because radio was working. He has never had his DEF freeze. Maybe it's colder where you are? "

5 deg F this morning. Maybe freezing isn't the problem exactly, but just sensors acting up. I just know we've had a lot of DEF-related issues causing problems for us.

Glad FenSpouse's radio is working. Not having that is simply not acceptable in these driving conditions. You have a breakdown in these temperatures, you need them to roll you a replacement bus with a quickness.

And thanks for letting me know.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at January 29, 2026 06:11 AM (O7YUW)

73 59 Oh yes. The Bastiat falacy.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 05:50 AM (qFwJc)

Wikipedia, Parable of the broken window:

The parable of the broken window was introduced by French economist Frédéric Bastiat in his 1850 essay "That Which Is Seen, and That Which Is Not Seen" ("Ce qu'on voit et ce qu'on ne voit pas") to illustrate why destruction, and the money spent to recover from destruction, is not actually a net benefit to society.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:11 AM (SSiCQ)

74 59 Oh yes. The Bastiat falacy.
Posted by: no one of any consequence

This is like how the left actually used the argument "But the businesses have insurance" as if everything would be restored within a day or two after their collective temper tantrum.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 06:13 AM (RjOoY)

75 ... not to be confused with

Wikipedia, Broken windows theory:

In criminology, the broken windows theory states that visible signs of crime, antisocial behavior and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including serious crimes.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:13 AM (SSiCQ)

76 if it was vinegar in the syringe, it was staged. ayfkm?

G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 29, 2026 06:13 AM (Cjt/F)

77 Yeah, f*ck Microsoft Windows (starting with version

.

With the exception of one air-gapped financial laptop (owing to requisite historical TurboTax data necessary for the annual April 15th self-flagellation -- and as of yet there's no open source replacement), we've been on Linux since then -- but I do feel bad for the average non-techie, as wifey and I are former software developers with Unix & Linux experience who still struggle to get it setup and working.

[Damn, I first learned BSD Unix as a Computer Operator in the Bay Area for a time-sharing business during college back in the mid-80s. Good times, good times.]

Posted by: ShainS -- Who's Gonna Be Today's FAFO Darwin Award Winner? at January 29, 2026 06:13 AM (5NBTt)

78 John Wayne in North to Alaska was on Movies! last night. So this morning I woke up hearing the chorus to the Johnny Horton song in my mind . . . except I keep replacing "the rush is on" with "urushiol," the active poisonous ingredient in the lacquer tree and poison ivy. Don't ask me why.

It's almost breakfast time anyway.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:15 AM (wzUl9)

79 76 if it was vinegar in the syringe, it was staged. ayfkm?

G'mornin' everyone!
Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 29, 2026 06:13 AM (Cjt/F)

Not seeing the cause and effect, here.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:16 AM (SSiCQ)

80 Happy with the mini me SOAYAN. I think the OS is ubutu, not windows which was the goal.

Posted by: kingsman at January 29, 2026 06:16 AM (ehY6c)

81 Maduro kind of dropped out of the news cycle, no? I hope they have “persuaded” him to sing

Posted by: Common Tater at January 29, 2026 06:09 AM (3GifZ)

-------------

Remember the onset of "the 24-hour news cycle" with CNN back in 1980? (Of course you don't, being 29 and all ...)

Especially now -- where things move at "The Speed of Trump" -- it feels like we have a "24-second news cycle."

Posted by: ShainS -- Who's Gonna Be Today's FAFO Darwin Award Winner? at January 29, 2026 06:18 AM (5NBTt)

82 if it was vinegar in the syringe, it was staged. ayfkm?

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 29, 2026 06:13 AM (Cjt/F)
-

Not seeing the cause and effect, here.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:16 AM (SSiCQ)
-

An acid attack is not the same as a salt.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 06:19 AM (Ora++)

83 Wikipedia, Broken windows theory:

In criminology, the broken windows theory states that visible signs of crime, antisocial behavior and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including serious crimes.
Posted by: m at January 29, 2026

***
I wonder if "broken windows" can also include "crooked and broken window blinds," or "windows draped with dirty sheets instead of blinds." My own living room window has cracked blinds. The mismanagement here won't replace them, and all the models I see in the stores are either the wrong width, or won't work with the screwed-in mounts already there.

I don't care when I'm home; I have blackout curtains inside. When I walk up to my door, though, I am exasperated by the look.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:20 AM (wzUl9)

84 NYT Ilhan article:

Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs
@NickAtNews
12h
New: Anthony Kazmierczak, the 55-year-old man who sprayed vinegar-smelling liquid on Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis, had posted for years about his anger at Democrats, and recently told a neighbor he might get arrested at her event.

What we know (no paywall): [NYT link here]

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:21 AM (SSiCQ)

85 I don't care when I'm home; I have blackout curtains inside. When I walk up to my door, though, I am exasperated by the look.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:20 AM (wzUl9)
-

So you and CBD share the same home?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 06:21 AM (Ora++)

86 Capucine?

Bunk

Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 06:22 AM (qFwJc)

87 Wikipedia, Parable of the broken window:

The parable of the broken window was introduced by French economist Frédéric Bastiat in his 1850 essay "That Which Is Seen, and That Which Is Not Seen" ("Ce qu'on voit et ce qu'on ne voit pas") to illustrate why destruction, and the money spent to recover from destruction, is not actually a net benefit to society.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:11 AM (SSiCQ)

------------

Interesting history, thanks m.

Of course I'm familiar with the "Broken Windows Theory" of policing going back to Mayor Giuliani and his Police Commissioner William Bratton back in the 90s, but was unaware of its origin in that parable.

Posted by: ShainS -- Who's Gonna Be Today's FAFO Darwin Award Winner? at January 29, 2026 06:23 AM (5NBTt)

88 This is like how the left actually used the argument "But the businesses have insurance" as if everything would be restored within a day or two
———

That’s when I knew the Idiocracy had prevailed. It’s so retarded. A business has a deductible.too, and they probably don’t have insurance on the contents.

Besides. Who is to say they simply won’t burn it down again? My hometown is a long ways from Detroit, but there are still a few derelict buildings from 1968 riots.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 29, 2026 06:23 AM (3GifZ)

89 65 m, that is exactly what we talked about. We have the perfect opportunity to do this for young as well as older participants.
Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 05:53 AM (0KSrI)

Possibly set up a table to register voters. It's an enormously rewarding experience.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:25 AM (SSiCQ)

90
These updates, do they make Windows better for you or do they make it better for Microsoft?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at January 29, 2026 06:26 AM (tgvbd)

91 Replacing riot-damaged infrastructure is not an investment. It's a loss.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 06:26 AM (qFwJc)

92 The whole Linux learning curve narrative is largely overblown.

The reason most people won't switch is simple...

Apps.

And it's not offered as a pre-installed option generally.

Apps.

And apps.

There are numerous distros that offer a user friendly out of the box experience and with ai you don't need to beg a surly neckbeard to help you.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at January 29, 2026 06:26 AM (qxpRz)

93 These updates, do they make Windows better for you or do they make it better for Microsoft?
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at January 29, 2026

***
To ask the question is to answer it.

Or: The answer is left as an exercise for the alert student of Pixy's Tech Thread.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:27 AM (wzUl9)

94 Who is to say they simply won’t burn it down again? My hometown is a long ways from Detroit, but there are still a few derelict buildings from 1968 riots.
Posted by: Common Tater

There was one business that burned down and they had insurance. But they found out that they would have to fork over about 230K in order to get the debris cleaned up.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 06:27 AM (RjOoY)

95 Horton was on the cusp of really making the bigtime with the hit tune North To Alaska, but killed by a drunk driver on the way to a gig in Louisiana

Posted by: Common Tater at January 29, 2026 06:28 AM (3GifZ)

96
Up, dressed, morning prayers said, house dogs taken care of, laundry started, kennel dogs let out, coffee prepared.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at January 29, 2026 06:28 AM (tgvbd)

97 96 Up, dressed, morning prayers said, house dogs taken care of, laundry started, kennel dogs let out, coffee prepared.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at January 29, 2026 06:28 AM (tgvbd)

Plus Pixy on!

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:29 AM (SSiCQ)

98 Our downtown died after ‘68. The developers built a huge mall south of town. To get away from all that. This process played out around the country. That’s all dead now too, I expect.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 29, 2026 06:31 AM (3GifZ)

99 Telsa to scrap Model S and Model X cars to build robots

https://tinyurl.com/yyt438vf

Posted by: Halfhand at January 29, 2026 06:32 AM (GKyrs)

100 100

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:32 AM (SSiCQ)

101 Horton was on the cusp of really making the bigtime with the hit tune North To Alaska, but killed by a drunk driver on the way to a gig in Louisiana
Posted by: Common Tater at January 29, 2026

***
He has a legacy, though, with that song, "The Battle of New Orleans," and "Sink the Bismarck!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:33 AM (wzUl9)

102 91 Replacing riot-damaged infrastructure is not an investment. It's a loss.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 06:26 AM (qFwJc)

Tough one. The correct timing of the replacement is essential.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:35 AM (SSiCQ)

103 I'm having a nice chicken pot pie with my second coffee. Every now and then I swap out my usual eggs, or an egg plus a beef-and-bean burrito, for a pot pie.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:36 AM (wzUl9)

104
First coffee now, later second coffee with breakfast. Scrambled eggs with Andouille sausage and toast.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at January 29, 2026 06:37 AM (tgvbd)

105 zowie

zerohedge
@zerohedge
34m
EU Poised To Label IRGC A Terror Org, Boosting Potential Trump Strikes On Iran

IRGC = Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:38 AM (SSiCQ)

106 Wikipedia

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khomeini as a military branch in May 1979 in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution.

Whereas the Iranian Army protects the country's sovereignty in a traditional capacity, the IRGC's constitutional mandate is to ensure the integrity of the Islamic Republic.

Most interpretations of this mandate assert that it entrusts the IRGC with preventing foreign interference in Iran, thwarting coups by the traditional military, and crushing "deviant movements" that harm the ideological legacy of the Islamic Revolution.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:40 AM (SSiCQ)

107
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces.

Really, it's just a Koran study group that we barbaric Americans are looking to destroy.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at January 29, 2026 06:41 AM (tgvbd)

108 Totaling it all up in prep for my taxes, I see I made a profit this first nine months of my retirement. "Profit" as in my income exceeded my income by quite a bit.

This year will be different, since I won't have the three months of salary from my old employer (and my vacation time payoff) to kick things off. It still looks like I'll be fine.

I have all my paperwork now. I'll sit down with the IRS form and pencil it all in. To be safe, I guess, I may use a tax preparer, but that will wipe out whatever refund I get; so I'm not sure yet. My situation is not that complex, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:42 AM (wzUl9)

109 What a beautiful to drink coffee and eat boiled peanuts at my desk. It almost feels like 1863.

Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2026 06:42 AM (yw3eV)

110 What a beautiful to drink coffee and eat boiled peanuts at my desk. It almost feels like 1863.
Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2026

***
"Early, Lord, one frosty morning!
Look away, look away, look away, Dixieland . . ."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:44 AM (wzUl9)

111 Totaling it all up in prep for my taxes, I see I made a profit this first nine months of my retirement. "Profit" as in my income exceeded my income by quite a bit.

***
Oops. I meant my income exceeded my expenses.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:45 AM (wzUl9)

112 "John Wayne in North to Alaska was on Movies! last night. So this morning I woke up hearing the chorus to the Johnny Horton song in my mind . ."

I saw that but this morning I woke up thinking "stupid computer" , but I forgot what I was dreaming about.

mornin yall

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026 06:47 AM (vFG9F)

113 110 What a beautiful to drink coffee and eat boiled peanuts at my desk. It almost feels like 1863.
Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2026

***
"Early, Lord, one frosty morning!
Look away, look away, look away, Dixieland . . ."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:44 AM
Today is a good day for an old boy was born in the middle of a cottonfield.

Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2026 06:50 AM (yw3eV)

114 18 No arrests at the protests according to the local media. They were just peaceful protests so why arrest anyone, ignoring the main street broken windows that the shop owners will have to pay to replace with plywood. And more business will move to the suburbs. Don't the city 'fathers' realize that main street business know when to leave to the outskirts and the tax money they loose.
Posted by: colin at January 29, 2026 04:47 AM (e8qy3)

Sounds like the basis for a very good letter to the editor of a local paper, colin.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:50 AM (SSiCQ)

115 Scientific American -
Is climate change prominently displayed in the title?

No - Add climate change to the title
Yes - Article is deemed accurate and approved for release.

Posted by: banana Dream at January 29, 2026 06:51 AM (X919G)

116 I started on my taxes but when I went to download the form from Schwab the site said they would no be available until 2/16. I thought they had to have those out by the end of January. How hard can it be anyway? Don't they have computers for that?

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026 06:51 AM (vFG9F)

117 The concept discussed on several ONTs in the past, that there are people who apparently do not have an "internal monologue" -- which to me would mean you can't "hear" your own thoughts as your rehearse what you are going to say or write, or don't "hear" in memory a line of dialogue from a movie or lyrics from a song -- that still astonishes me.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:51 AM (wzUl9)

118 Protein Soda would be a great name for a ska band. Back when those roamed the earth.

Posted by: banana Dream at January 29, 2026 06:53 AM (X919G)

119 Don't the city 'fathers' realize that main street business know when to leave to the outskirts and the tax money they loose.
——-

The new “business” model is to grift of federal confetti-buck cannon money, and illegal aliens near as I can tell.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 29, 2026 06:53 AM (BACll)

120 What do they call it when your monologue is a multilogue?

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026 06:53 AM (vFG9F)

121 I started on my taxes but when I went to download the form from Schwab the site said they would no be available until 2/16. I thought they had to have those out by the end of January. How hard can it be anyway? Don't they have computers for that?
Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026

***
IRS.gov has all the forms. Maybe Schwab and other preparers have to wait for a particular software update for their packages. The independent CPA lady I went to in Nov. warned me she didn't have the "new" version yet.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:53 AM (wzUl9)

122 fd,schizophrenia

Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026 06:54 AM (0KSrI)

123 Protein Soda would be a great name for a ska band. Back when those roamed the earth.
Posted by: banana Dream at January 29, 2026

***
Wasn't there a ska band who called themselves "Napoleon Solo"?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:54 AM (wzUl9)

124 The concept discussed on several ONTs in the past, that there are people who apparently do not have an "internal monologue"

That is odd to me. I actually hear the dialogue of characters when I'm writing out my stories. And yes, sometimes they tell me "Nah. This is what I want to say."

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 06:56 AM (RjOoY)

125 Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2026 06:42 AM (yw3eV)

Goober Peas!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2026 06:56 AM (Zv8bq)

126 "IRS.gov has all the forms."

Not the IRS 1040 forms, the ones that show your contributions, interest, withdrawals, etc. I've already got a stack of 1099s from clients but need my personal investment stuff to continue.

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026 06:56 AM (vFG9F)

127 fd,schizophrenia
Posted by: Ben Had at January 29, 2026

***
Yes. In my readings in abnormal psych, the accepted wisdom (then, anyway) was that the voices schizophrenics "hear" are their own disordered, delusional thoughts.

Does this mean that people without an internal monologue would not "hear" voices, and would not have that particular form of hallucinations?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:56 AM (wzUl9)

128 France is planning to follow Australia in banning social media for children under 15. (The Guardian)

In Australia the number of visitors to such sites hasn't declined one iota despite five million accounts being banned.

Odd, that. You'd almost think that kids are smarter than politicians.

They need Doge-like people on initiatives like this.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 06:57 AM (SSiCQ)

129 "IRS.gov has all the forms."

Not the IRS 1040 forms, the ones that show your contributions, interest, withdrawals, etc. I've already got a stack of 1099s from clients but need my personal investment stuff to continue.
Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026

***
Oh, okay. I use the 1040-SR and several of the associated schedules; my situation is simple compared to many.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:58 AM (wzUl9)

130 "fd,schizophrenia
Posted by: Ben Had"

Oh. I'll tell the other voices to keep it down.

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026 06:58 AM (vFG9F)

131
117 The concept discussed on several ONTs in the past, that there are people who apparently do not have an "internal monologue" -- which to me would mean you can't "hear" your own thoughts as your rehearse what you are going to say or write, or don't "hear" in memory a line of dialogue from a movie or lyrics from a song -- that still astonishes me.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 06:51 AM

----------

There are people who can't form a vision in their minds of how they would like a thing to be. You see a yard of uncut grass, you picture it cut in your mind, you get to work to fulfill the vision. They can't envision in such a way. There are millions of them. The slums are full of them. They seek fulfillment now, in their hands right now, not in the future.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at January 29, 2026 07:00 AM (hA/c/)

132 it appears that except for the one-paycheck single guys who file the EZ, I may be the last person in America who files a full 1040 with all the etceteras and schedules manually calculated and handwritten. lol.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 29, 2026 07:00 AM (Cjt/F)

133 The concept discussed on several ONTs in the past, that there are people who apparently do not have an "internal monologue"

That is odd to me. I actually hear the dialogue of characters when I'm writing out my stories. And yes, sometimes they tell me "Nah. This is what I want to say."
Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026

***
Same here! I will often say the dialogue out loud to myself, depending on my ear to tell whether it sounds like human beings talking and that they don't all sound alike, i.e., like me. But the internal fictional "voices" are always there.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 07:00 AM (wzUl9)

134 Well, well, well! What do we have here?

A Bush judge who loves illegal aliens and judges accordingly:

https://t.co/gxQgHE4GlX

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 07:00 AM (Ora++)

135 "fd,schizophrenia
Posted by: Ben Had"
*
Oh. I'll tell the other voices to keep it down.
Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026

***
"I can't come in to work. The voices told me to stay home and clean all the guns today."

(That used to be a joke. Nowadays with what we see out there, not so much.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 07:01 AM (wzUl9)

136 135 "I can't come in to work. The voices told me to stay home and clean all the guns today."

(That used to be a joke. Nowadays with what we see out there, not so much.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 07:01 AM (wzUl9)

In the UK, that might get you arrested.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 07:03 AM (SSiCQ)

137 Yes. In my readings in abnormal psych, the accepted wisdom (then, anyway) was that the voices schizophrenics "hear" are their own disordered, delusional thoughts.

My mom did a rotation in the psych ward for Nursing school and got to talking with one of the patients. She asked him this: "When you are not taking your medication, do the voices in your head sound as clear as me talking to you?"

The man look startled and said that they did. The doctor in charge admitted that no one had ever asked that.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 29, 2026 07:03 AM (RjOoY)

138 new word to me

rumbustious
adjective informal, mainly British English
boisterous or unruly: rumbustious football fans

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 07:05 AM (SSiCQ)

139 Am I the only one who thinks the word "beloved" is overused by the media?

"Costco faces lawsuit over beloved $4.99 rotisserie chicken"

"Beloved chicken" just sounds wrong.

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026 07:05 AM (vFG9F)

140 Been running windows 11 now for months. I don't understand all the hate for it really outside of the whole Recall thing which is optional.

Posted by: Defenestratus at January 29, 2026 07:07 AM (3UbC6)

141 Wait until the at least the end of Feb before downloading your tax forms from Schwab. There's been a few instances where they revised my 1099's.

Posted by: Halfhand at January 29, 2026 07:08 AM (GKyrs)

142 Am I the only one who thinks the word "beloved" is overused by the media?

"Costco faces lawsuit over beloved $4.99 rotisserie chicken"

"Beloved chicken" just sounds wrong.
Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026

***
The 1959 Gregory Peck-Deborah Kerr movie Beloved Infidel was *not* about the forbidden love between a radical Moslem and a Christian, then?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 07:08 AM (wzUl9)

143 rumbustious
adjective informal, mainly British English
boisterous or unruly: rumbustious football fans

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 07:05 AM (SSiCQ)
-

A derivate of "too much rum."

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 07:08 AM (Ora++)

144 Am I the only one who thinks the word "beloved" is overused by the media?

"Costco faces lawsuit over beloved $4.99 rotisserie chicken"

"Beloved chicken" just sounds wrong.
Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026

***
The 1959 Gregory Peck-Deborah Kerr movie Beloved Infidel was *not* about the forbidden love between a radical Moslem and a Christian, then?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 07:08 AM (wzUl9)
-

Chicken > Peck

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 29, 2026 07:10 AM (Ora++)

145
JJS

Posted by: r hennigantx at January 29, 2026 07:11 AM (gbOdA)

146 It shows their is nothing peaceful about the left (or right).

I don't get the "or right" part. Here you bring anecdotal evidence of the left's inability to peacefully assemble and petition but don't for the "right" but you accuse the "right" anyway.

And I take issue with claims to the "right" because it pretends that there are two near equal teams that scrimmage for politicial power.

"Left" is a brand that describes an ideology that is antithetical to human flourishing that expresses itself in demonic ways. What is the "right"? Its basis is in "leave me alone" and its manifestation is in its reluctance to fight on the Left's terms and playing field.

Anything else in the political sphere is just grifting.

Posted by: Unknown Drip Under Pressure at January 29, 2026 07:11 AM (a4flb)

147 Why did MS move the Start button to the middle for Win 11? What purpose did it serve? What focus group said that would be a good idea? A focus group of retards, I suppose

Posted by: fd at January 29, 2026 07:12 AM (vFG9F)

148 'Bout time to shave and shower. Today I need to hit Walmart and Aldi to stock up on groceries and supplies for the next Deep Freeze.

I may buy the oil and filter I need for the car's change next month, or I may wait a week. Their Supertech oil, on which I've run the Buick for most of its life with me, is rarely on sale, maybe never. But it's always cheaper than the name brands like Mobil 1 and Castrol, and has the same certifications.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 29, 2026 07:13 AM (wzUl9)

149 "The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

It amazes me. I thought that we all have basic consciousness.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 29, 2026 07:14 AM (qFwJc)

150 >>> new word to me

rumbustious
adjective informal, mainly British English
boisterous or unruly: rumbustious football fans
Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 07:05 AM (SSiCQ)

Rumbustious - That part of the party when women take their tops off as a result of alcohol consumption.

Posted by: banana Dream at January 29, 2026 07:14 AM (X919G)

151 The whole IT industry has become a self-perpetuating scam.

Nothing is simple anymore. I went thru 15 distractions to install a printer driver.

USB vs. wireless or both. Account, usernames, passwords, downloads, several lockups and a crash, hard reboot, then ended up with 2 devices. Identical.

32 bit software suites on a 64 bit processor, fucking Windows 11, - it is all geek madness.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at January 29, 2026 07:15 AM (oT7pT)

152 146 It shows their is nothing peaceful about the left (or right).

I don't get the "or right" part. Here you bring anecdotal evidence of the left's inability to peacefully assemble and petition but don't for the "right"
Posted by: Unknown Drip Under Pressure at January 29, 2026 07:11 AM (a4flb)

Agreed. It's been put into parentheses--"(or right)"--but I'm not sure why it's there at all.

Posted by: m at January 29, 2026 07:16 AM (SSiCQ)

153 Also, AI is useless, - I asked it to install the printer driver for me and it gave me some useless counsel.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at January 29, 2026 07:19 AM (oT7pT)

154 Remember windoze 95 and 98 where Microsoft office programs crashed the Microsoft operating system several times a day? And when the file fragments left behind exceeded 256 it wouldn't even boot anymore.

That's when I switched to Linux.

Posted by: These fish sticks are hard as tits at January 29, 2026 07:25 AM (jDl+g)

155 I’m still on Windows 7 Pro. I’ve been holding out upgrading to Win 10 because I loathe it. So MS had to come out with a horror show of an OS so I could appreciate 10.

Well done, Bill! Now slink back under your rock.

Posted by: Khiri at January 29, 2026 07:30 AM (ITjH2)

156 Re: Musical Interlude:

Had the Brothers in Arms disc playing in my car yesterday/this morning. John Illsley always looks like he's having a blast on stage.

Posted by: Nazdar at January 29, 2026 07:33 AM (NcvvS)

157 Apparently turning off TPM so I could do a Linux dual boot a while back broke Windows 11 updates for me.

I kind of haven't gotten around to fixing it. Which is probably stupid, but when I do, I'll probably just burn the entire thing to the ground and do a purely Linux install instead.

Posted by: Voyager at January 29, 2026 07:46 AM (lk05u)

158 Walk of Life by Dire Straits will get that blood moving.

Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2026 07:56 AM (yw3eV)

159 Is there a n00b version of Linux that doesn't have me running to a forum if I can't start my computer? Asking for a friend. Who is me.

Posted by: Jon at January 29, 2026 08:27 AM (pMIXM)

160 >>>Is there a n00b version of Linux that doesn't have me running to a forum if I can't start my computer? Asking for a friend. Who is me.

Linux Mint.. It's the most Windows like in the GUI and comes with a Software manager that helps you install most of the apps that you want.

Somethings like setting up a Plex Media Server, you will need to go to the Terminal Command Line for but that's not an app most Newbies use.

Zorin is also a Windows lite OS from Linux.

I use Mint daily but Zorin from time to time

Posted by: Blanco at January 29, 2026 08:46 AM (q83gU)

161 Linux has been technically superior to Windows for decades. Unless you want t run the latest AAA game (and Steam and others are working on that) there is nothing you can do on Windows that you can't do on Linux.

Honestly, if you use your computer mostly for browsing, etc, well, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, Vivaldi, etc., are all running natively on Linux.

Also, most linux distros will allow you to boot from a USB drive and test drive the system before you commit to an install. So why not give it a try? getfedora.org and download the KDE Plasma edition, and give it a try.

Posted by: Naqamel at January 29, 2026 08:47 AM (lG+7p)

162 "Is there a n00b version of Linux that doesn't have me running to a forum if I can't start my computer? Asking for a friend. Who is me."

I've been using Ubuntu Linux for 20 yars, and am quite happy with it. I admit that in the past, I had some trouble with installing drivers for some less-than-mainstream hardware - in one case, a wifi chip, in the other an older-generation laser printer. But with the latest release that I've installed (24.4 - ie, the April 2024 release), everything just worked, no muss, no fuss.

One nice feature is that you can boot Ubuntu from the installation media, without installing it on your machine. It runs slowly, but you can sample its look and feel and see if you like it.

A big drawback in the past was lack of support for Linux by games manufacturers. I'm not a gamer, but I'm told that that has changed, and that quite a few major games companies now support Linux.

Another advantage is that Linux runs on trailing-edge hardware. So if you have an older machine that can't run Windows, you can install Linux, and see if you like it. If nothing else, you won't have Redmond monitoring your every action on what you thought was your computer.

Posted by: Nemo at January 29, 2026 09:02 AM (4RPgu)

163 "Zero actionable fixes or even an aknowledgment of their fuckups"

Of all the misdeeds committed by the Brits in India, by far the worst was teaching them English. (to paraphrase and repurpose a classic quote...)

This is ONE HUNDRED percent due to H1b's. Shitty Indian tech workers, many with fraudulent credentials, are slowly hollowing out our civilization.

If I sound mad about this it's because I've personally had to help clean up several instances where incompetent street shitter code /work practices got people killed.

I don't know what they use now off the top of my head and it has been a long time, but we used Linux in the office when I worked for Google.

Posted by: heya at January 29, 2026 09:18 AM (K6SBR)

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