Daily Tech News 3 February 2026

Top Story

SpaceX has merged with xAI in an all-stock deal that values the combined company at $1.25 trillion. (CNBC)

In a turnaround from recent nonsense, 80% of that valuation is SpaceX, the rocket and satellite internet company. 80% of the rest is xAI. And the remainder is X, which is to say, Twitter.

The deal apparently completed yesterday.

This also ties into SpaceX's application to launch a million orbital datacenters. Solar energy is plentiful and uninterrupted in space, and delusional rioters are few and far between.

Tech News

The Trump administration plans to spend $12 billion to establish a national stockpile of critical minerals. (Tom's Hardware)

Rare earth elements and the like, for when China decides to shut off the supply again.
Moltbook, a social network for AI agents to share information, conspire to launch memecoin scams, and test out prompt injection attacks on each other in an attempt to steal their owners' mothers' credit card number, got hacked. (Wiz)

Well, not so much hacked, as it included the administrator password to its database directly in the public website.

And nothing of value was lost. Except that they patched it and it's back up.
Intel has announced its Xeon 600 workstation processors, based on the Granite Rapids architecture from 2024. (Tom's Hardware)

Not surprising that Intel only compares performance with its own chips and not with competitors.

The processors start at $499 for 12 cores and 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes, and go up to $7699 for 86 cores and 128 PCIe lanes.

They support up to 4TB of RAM, theoretically, but that would set you back $112,000 at current prices.
Speaking of which, Raspberry Pi prices have gone up. (Liliputing)

The only models unaffected are the 1GB Pi 4 and Pi 5. The 16GB Pi 5 increased by more than 70%, from $120 to $205.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: I can't stand a rainy night.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2026 04:00 AM (Ia/+0)

2 Disclaimer: I can't stand a rainy night.

Up yours!

Posted by: Eddie Rabbit at February 03, 2026 04:02 AM (4/BuS)

3 Supposed to get above freezing today a little, only day for the week ahead

Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2026 04:03 AM (Ia/+0)

4 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 03, 2026 04:05 AM (bQ4nt)

5 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:09 AM (Ippjd)

6 Elon is bssically Harrison Bergeron.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * sporting my Andrew Breitbart attitude at February 03, 2026 04:09 AM (PlpaN)

7
BOING!
Posted by: Biden's Dog

Ramona, go sit on the bench until recess is over.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * sporting my Andrew Breitbart attitude at February 03, 2026 04:15 AM (PlpaN)

8 6 Elon is basically Harrison Bergeron.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * sporting my Andrew Breitbart attitude

Delos D. Harriman?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 03, 2026 04:19 AM (BLOW1)

9 Who said "I have little talent but lots of passion"?

https://tinyurl.com/233ykse9

Perfect fit.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:23 AM (Ippjd)

10 Willowed:

Heads up, JJ! Your neighborhood.

I believe that the Cruella look is intentional:

https://tinyurl.com/mr2p3pkc

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:24 AM (Ippjd)

11 The Trump admin needs to start ignoring the judges.

But I said that early last year.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:28 AM (Ippjd)

12 Evidently there was something uplifting at the Grammys . Jelly Roll gives credit to Jesus, his wife and his music for changing his life:

https://tinyurl.com/4s95b2a9

I don't know this musician. I'll have to look him up.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 04:32 AM (Bw1/o)

13 Solar energy is plentiful and uninterrupted in space, and delusional rioters are few and far between.

----------

OUT: Air Pinochet.
IN: Air Trebuchet.

Posted by: ShainS -- Looks Like Trump Has Invoked The Insurrender Act at February 03, 2026 04:36 AM (0Eh0f)

14 I don't know this musician. I'll have to look him up.

One of the new 'country' singers. Tattooed hick-hop.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 03, 2026 04:38 AM (ufSfZ)

15 Man from Norway writes on "It takes time", patience, and Acts 1:1-5. Upper Room devotional:

https://tinyurl.com/26wrat8z

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 04:39 AM (Bw1/o)

16 Morning, 'rons and 'ronettes. 10 chilly degrees here at Stately Poppins Manor.

I'm entering the last days. The 11th is my last day working. I need to get my mind right and make it through this and next week. The usual 2-3 hours' worth of files to start with today, so won't be here to comment regularly until around 8 or so, I expect.

Hope you all have a lovely day.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 03, 2026 04:41 AM (ufSfZ)

17 Eilish really does live on "stolen land"!

https://tinyurl.com/muyjhytf

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:42 AM (Ippjd)

18 Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 03, 2026 04:41 AM (ufSfZ)

Thanks. You as well.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 04:43 AM (Bw1/o)

19 The Trump admin needs to start ignoring the judges.

But I said that early last year.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:28 AM (Ippjd)

-----------

Agreed.

And a united, patriotic, rational Congress would defund the Districts and other Court Jurisdictions of these obviously anti-Consitutional political rogue "jurists" -- but I'm not sure the last time we ever had a united, patriotic, rational Congress, if at all ...

[BTW, the wifey and I are booked on a tour of and looking forward to visiting The Holy Land and of course your fair city in mid-October.]

Posted by: ShainS at February 03, 2026 04:45 AM (0Eh0f)

20 The Trump administration plans to spend $12 billion to establish a national stockpile of critical minerals. (Tom's Hardware)

Rare earth elements and the like, for when China decides to shut off the supply again.

----------

If a Democrat-Communist ever steals another Presidential election, they'll sell it all to Chy-na for 1 Renminbi.

Posted by: ShainS at February 03, 2026 04:47 AM (0Eh0f)

21 Newborn calf saved from cold finds warmth with children. Sunny Skyz site:

https://tinyurl.com/3tvtk456

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 04:48 AM (Bw1/o)

22 [BTW, the wifey and I are booked on a tour of and looking forward to visiting The Holy Land and of course your fair city in mid-October.]

Posted by: ShainS at February 03, 2026 04:45 AM (0Eh0f)
-

https://youtu.be/W-apaIOOoAo

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:51 AM (Ippjd)

23 Bible verse for the day. Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 04:53 AM (Bw1/o)

24 Took 6 years till a trial and verdict were concluded. Big payout - for taxpayers:

https://tinyurl.com/3uystp2j

Grok summary:

https://tinyurl.com/58eprc75

Everything's absurd!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 03, 2026 04:53 AM (Ippjd)

25 Good morning!

Saw Melania last night.
Very interesting. Tells her story in a most flattering way. Shows what a good actress / fashion model she is.
Much of what she says will resonate with the Horde.
I recommend it.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 03, 2026 04:55 AM (u82oZ)

26 Evening and morning for this first Tiu's Day of February!

I read "SpaceX" as "Spock's." Truly I am awake too early. Can't blame the cats this time, though.

What be happenin'?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 04:56 AM (wzUl9)

27 Stanley Donen's Charade from '63, with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant among other notables, is on Movies! It's been called the best Hitchcock film Alfred never made. Style and dash, a suspenseful plot, a well-concealed murderer, and Audrey. What else could ya want?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 04:59 AM (wzUl9)

28 Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 03, 2026 04:55 AM (u82oZ

Thanks, Salty. I was hoping to see it yesterday but never made it. Hopefully it will still be playing on Wednesday.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 04:59 AM (D+BhG)

29 Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing

It has been a long, hard road you’ve travelled to be able to down tools.

May the new door you open be brighter than your most exuberant dreams.

Let your progress be shown by the envy of others at you new success.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 03, 2026 05:00 AM (u82oZ)

30 FenelonSpoke

My friends and I got premium seats. Not too crowded. The matinee we showed up for was closed. The entire theater was shuttered.
The evening show was marred by 25 minutes of front-end trailers, all movies I will not see.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 03, 2026 05:06 AM (u82oZ)

31 Chuck Negron, of Three Dog Night, has passed away. He was 83.

Posted by: Tuna at February 03, 2026 05:14 AM (lJ0H4)

32 I would go see the movie just to bump up views, maybe if my sister gets in town , she would go too

Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2026 05:14 AM (Ia/+0)

33 Miss Linda is dragging me to the aquarium downtown tomorrow. The tickets are free, and she says the ferry over to the East Bank will be free tomorrow because of Rosa Park Day, or Rosa Klebb Day, or something like that. So at least this won't take a big chunk out of my wallet.

I haven't seen the downtown area in a while. Truly I expect it to be unattractive, to be swarmed with homeless and panhandlers. At least the fish and other aquatic dwellers will be pretty.

If I hadn't grown up there and had not seen the area before, I'd feel differently about it. I would not know how terribly it's changed.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:15 AM (wzUl9)

34 Good morning late nighters. Congratulations on completing another shift of keeping an eye on things.

You are indispensable.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 03, 2026 05:16 AM (Rmwng)

35 delusional rioters are few and far between.

Give it time. They'll demand NASA let them go into space to destroy things or try to sabotage SpaceX property. And expect nuisance lawsuits over polluting the pristine environment of the universe.

Posted by: NR Pax at February 03, 2026 05:18 AM (+4yJ5)

36 The RPI 5 is now wildly cost uncompetitive, it makes little sense to buy one.

For 10 dollars more you can get a refurbed HP pro desk mini that has an i5 processor, 16gb of ram 256gb ssd, pick up an esp32 for 15 bucks and you have a system with a real OS and a better microcontroller.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 03, 2026 05:19 AM (XV/Pl)

37
I reckon Her Majesty and The Big Dummy start their trip back South today. Homeward, but not home. They're entered to show in Texarkana next weekend starting on Friday.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 03, 2026 05:28 AM (tgvbd)

38 Had to be 20 years or more we went to Ripley Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, it was neat to see

Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2026 05:29 AM (Ia/+0)

39 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:15 AM (wzUl9)

I know that seeing the unattractiveness of the city will be hard, but enjoy the aquarium and please come back and tell us what you really enjoyed seeing there . Hopefully some fishes or mammals or birds will give you joy.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 05:31 AM (D+BhG)

40 I'm afraid the movie theater business is going to end in a few years except for some specialty theaters who have either IMax or like here, have turned into restaurants that show movies. In my youth, the movie theater was the only bright spot in the little town (600) I lived in.
Except the pinball machine place/icecream and burger place. where I spent what little money I got from my dad. Greek owned and the owner sold popcorn outside in front of his place (0n weekends in good weather) and also sold Greek newspapers. And racing cars at 16 and above, which the town cop hated.

Posted by: coliin at February 03, 2026 05:32 AM (e8qy3)

41 Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 03, 2026 05:06 AM (u82oZ)

Sorry for the delay, and I am with you on the awful trailers. I usually go walk about the theatre or when it's not cold go outside.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 05:32 AM (D+BhG)

42 And also, an RPI does not come with a case or power supply, so once you add that the cost of the RPI rises to around 250.

Madness.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 03, 2026 05:33 AM (XV/Pl)

43 Had to be 20 years or more we went to Ripley Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, it was neat to see
Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2026

***
The Audubon Aquarium was pretty sharp when we visited in the mid-2000s. There's an IMax theatre on the riverfront too, I think. A new streetcar runs along the river as well, connecting the Riverwalk area with the French Quarter -- though it's not a long walk in any case. I suppose we'll stroll around in my old neighborhood for a bit too, maybe have a coffee on Royal or Chartres Street, or on Canal. There's even an IHOP ($$$ nowadays) near the Ritz Hotel, which I remember as Dillard's and before that a D.H. Holmes department store.

"Ain't dere no more --"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:35 AM (wzUl9)

44 I will be miserable until May
Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2026 05:36 AM (Ia/+0)

45 Posted by: Skip at February 03, 2026 05:36 A

Well, I don't think you'll be miserable. You are a nice person. 🙂 You'll just be miserable about the weather.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 05:38 AM (D+BhG)

46 Good morning everyone. Thx Pixy
Just took a walk to my local convenience store. About a mile round trip. 4° out. Fingers still tingling

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 03, 2026 05:38 AM (BWnHZ)

47 I know that seeing the unattractiveness of the city will be hard, but enjoy the aquarium and please come back and tell us what you really enjoyed seeing there . Hopefully some fishes or mammals or birds will give you joy.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026

***
Fen, I'm sure the aquarium denizens themselves will be wonderful. They have some penguins (!), believe it or not, plus enormous tanks full of various fishes -- including sharks. Amazing to me that the sharks don't feed on the other fish right in front of Maysie and the tots.

I think the penguins are not from the Antarctic Circle, though, but from farther north, around South Africa.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:39 AM (wzUl9)

48 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:39 AM (wzUl9

Sounds neat!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 05:40 AM (D+BhG)

49 Strategic stockpiles. Those with long memories recall they shut down an earlier program in the 1980s. Aerospace metals are one thing, but it had things like Mohair subsidies and crystals (for radios). The government was still buying vacuum tubes until 1985.

Posted by: Common Tater at February 03, 2026 05:41 AM (E4WLu)

50 Kitten Dagny is sitting on the arm of the sofa next to me, hinting gently that breakfast should be served. She could just as easily be staring at me from the floor or across the room -- so this is kind of flattering.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:42 AM (wzUl9)

51 Today I have Bible study with the few but lovely people at the senior center. I would like to ask for prayers for them and for Lisa, the dear daughter of one of the participants, who lives in Florida. And who has cancer Her mother is understandablly so worried for her beloved daughter .

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 05:44 AM (D+BhG)

52 This country artist , Alan Jackson, was featured on a big television screen in the sunroom where our beloved retired organist spends much of her time . "How great thou art":

https://tinyurl.com/24x8cwen

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 05:48 AM (D+BhG)

53 “ Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Luke 5:26

Posted by: Marcus T at February 03, 2026 05:49 AM (d9i2R)

54 I'm afraid the movie theater business is going to end in a few years except for some specialty theaters who have either IMax or like here, have turned into restaurants that show movies.

When you think about it, there's not much point in going to the theaters. For a price lower than one movie ticket, you can rent movies through various streaming services, get better food and drinks and not have to worry about getting home.

But I do fondly remember the cheap theaters in college that would charge $3 per ticket.

Posted by: NR Pax at February 03, 2026 05:51 AM (+4yJ5)

55 But I do fondly remember the cheap theaters in college that would charge $3 per ticket.
Posted by: NR Pax at February 03, 2026

***
I can remember $1.50 tickets for first-run films, at least during the daytime hours in the summer (True Grit, Bullitt, etc.). And $1.00 third-run multiplexes.

(And my mother, who'd been young during the Depression, saying, "No movie is worth a dollar-fifty!")

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:54 AM (wzUl9)

56
Got the potted plants moved out of the garage and watered yesterday and uncovered the bushes in the garden. Drove over and got the maintenance contract on the septic system renewed and paid for.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 03, 2026 05:54 AM (tgvbd)

57 Salty!

Glad to hear that you made it to Melania.

I did see a trailer for The Sheep Detectives movie, which looked like it could be cute.

Theater costs are getting stupid expensive though.

Two tickets, a tub of nasty popcorn and a bottle of water came out to $49.00.

I won't go to a theater for random entertainment anymore, but for specific movies.
Can't afford it at those prices.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 03, 2026 05:56 AM (iMotb)

58 Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 03, 2026 05:28 AM (tgvbd)

Prayers for Mrs. Hadrian and The Big Dummy and others returning from the trip to NY.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 05:56 AM (D+BhG)

59 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at February 03, 2026 05:56 AM (AN2gy)

60 High today will be about 70 F. Tomorrow, though, we're expecting cold rain and a high of 56. Maybe we *won't* stroll around the Quarter after the Aquarium. It'll be chilly and damp waiting for the ferry at the river: The old ferry landing building on my side has been closed for some years, and it wasn't air-conditioned or heated anyway.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 05:58 AM (wzUl9)

61 In weather news, it looks like it’s goin to warm up to a positively balmy 32 degrees today.

May go out and clear some more snow.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 03, 2026 05:59 AM (XV/Pl)

62 Okay, cats, time to slop you some chow. And me too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 03, 2026 06:00 AM (wzUl9)

63 I'm afraid the movie theater business is going to end in a few years except for some specialty theaters who have either IMax or like here, have turned into restaurants that show movies.

There are very few movies that I want to see these days, since I can basically predict the general plotline (the execrable Send Help being a perfect example; if you can't determine the end of the movie just from the trailer, you must have been in a cave for the last 20 years).

But some movies demand to be seen on the big screen, and for those of us who don't have home theaters or yuge TVs, a movie theater is a good thing to have around. Check out Fathom Entertainment for monthly lists of old movies, recent ones and Met Opera broadcasts.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 03, 2026 06:04 AM (ufSfZ)

64 This is our current TV and storage furniture, from IKEA.

https://tinyurl.com/2sm8fpvn

It has our 55" TV on it, and I can JUST fit a 70" TV into it, but the selections in 70" are very limited.

Looking to build two 2" inserts to go on each side of the center unit to push the vertices out just enough to fit a 75" class onto it.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 03, 2026 06:05 AM (iMotb)

65 12 degrees this morning. Balmy.

Then, Global Warming hits and we head up to 32 degrees later today. Colder in coming days, as Mother Gaia reasserts winter in the ongoing battle for purity, unadulterated by suburban AWFL's in Volvos and Range Rovers hunting Ice Agents.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 03, 2026 06:06 AM (xz8OS)

66 Top Gun, and Top Gun, Maverick would of course be examples of something that really must be seen in the theater.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 03, 2026 06:06 AM (iMotb)

67 That's the weather forecast

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 03, 2026 06:06 AM (xz8OS)

68 Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 03, 2026 06:04 AM (ufSfZ)

Yes, I've seen some quite good things through Fathom Entertainment.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 03, 2026 06:08 AM (D+BhG)

69 So apparently I missed the Grammy's on Sunday night.

Same as last year.

And the year before

Etc..

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 03, 2026 06:09 AM (iMotb)

70 FAFO strikes again. All the panty-twisters got upset at Trump taking over the Kennedy Center, persuaded a whole host of booked acts to say they wouldn't appear as long as Trump pollutes the air there, so Trump closed the whole mess down, for "renovations", after which a whole new staff will oversee a newly rejuvenated facility and all the whiners will go live in boxes under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 03, 2026 06:11 AM (lq1XJ)

71 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: This is the Lord, Noah.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at February 03, 2026 06:12 AM (fYJuK)

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