Daily Tech News 15 February 2026

Top Story

Flashpoint archive is a free, downloadable, 2.3TB archive of every Flash game ever. (Flashpoint Archive)

Pretty much.

You can also download just a 1.9MB installer that grabs the Flash files on demand from the archive, saving you rather a lot of disk space.

It's now in its 14th edition.

What Flashpoint does, mostly - apart from the obvious function of collecting over 200,000 games together in one place - is create and operate a fake internet on your PC for you so that twenty-year-old games from sites that have been dead for a decade will continue to work.

Tech News

Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)

That's just awesome.
Is "safety" dead at xAI? (Tech Crunch)

I certainly hope so. "Safety" in AI terms means censorship.
One source said, "Safety is a dead org at xAI," while the other said that Musk is "actively is trying to make the model more unhinged because safety means censorship, in a sense, to him."
"Safety" in AI means censorship to everyone, in every sense.

The only difference is whether you think censorship is a good thing or not.
Why open AI should build Slack. (Latent Space)

Slack is terrible. OpenAI is terrible. Seems like a match made in hell.

That post is getting roasted on Hacker News.
Breaking the spell of vibe coding. (Fast AI)

The author point out the similarities between vibe coders and gamblers, a connection I had not made before, but does strike a chord.

It's a toxic blend of sunk cost fallacy and FOMO.
The EU wants to ban infinite scroll - though in this case specifically from TikTok. (Politico)

Talk about toxic blends.
Taking toxic blends to an extreme, Ars Technica posted an article (Wayback Machine) on that AI agent that threw a tantrum when its code contributions were rejected.

One small problem: The article leaned heavily on AI and was filled with hallucinated and unverified quotes. (The Shamblog)
Journalistic integrity aside, I don't know how I can give a better example of what's at stake here. Yesterday I wondered what another agent searching the internet would think about this. Now we already have an example of what by all accounts appears to be another AI reinterpreting this story and hallucinating false information about me. And that interpretation has already been published in a major news outlet, as part of the persistent public record.
I don't know I'd call Ars Technica a major news outlet in 2026 - or for the past several years, except possibly for their space news which has remained mostly good.

At least not more so than Anandtech, a site that has been dead for more than a year.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Well, that took a turn.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good morning.

Posted by: Fluffy Nuggets, Jr. at February 15, 2026 04:01 AM (CPS7C)

2 People are sleeping in.

Posted by: Fluffy Nuggets, Jr. at February 15, 2026 04:03 AM (CPS7C)

3 Morning all

Posted by: Tuna at February 15, 2026 04:05 AM (lJ0H4)

4 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 15, 2026 04:06 AM (AdHga)

5 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 15, 2026 04:13 AM (0KSrI)

6 Good morning/afternoon/evening everybody. (Delete where not applicable.)

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 15, 2026 04:14 AM (BLOW1)

7 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.
Posted by: Ben Had

Good luck and have fun.

Posted by: Tuna at February 15, 2026 04:15 AM (lJ0H4)

8 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 04:16 AM (Ia/+0)

9 w00t

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:18 AM (+YA9H)

10 >>>Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)

Yeah, no.

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:22 AM (+YA9H)

11 BOING!

I just read the name of the YouTube singer/group and I forgot it already!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:27 AM (7xyr6)

12 So let's talk about the weather. I'll start:

https://tinyurl.com/3nzz68u5

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:28 AM (7xyr6)

13 >>>Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)

Yeah, no.
Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:22 AM (+YA9H)

Meta needs something to keep generating content, before they become as relevant as Geocities.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 15, 2026 04:29 AM (S/Y4j)

14 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 15, 2026 04:13 AM (0KSrI)
-

Would be more interesting if you read it in Ed Sullivan's accent.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:29 AM (7xyr6)

15 Biden's Dog, you're very BOINGy today!

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:32 AM (+YA9H)

16 Biden's Dog, you're very BOINGy today!

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:32 AM (+YA9H)
-

Yet, spring is not yet in the air.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:34 AM (7xyr6)

17 Picture puzzle of the day:

Which one is which?

https://tinyurl.com/5n846c2r

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:35 AM (7xyr6)

18 Rain today, mid 40s high but below freezing now

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 04:35 AM (Ia/+0)

19
The EU: banning, regulating and fining its way to Utopia.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:42 AM (tgvbd)

20 40 degree high here today, rain snow mix overnight tonight. But I won't care, as I hope to be asleep (for a change).

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 04:42 AM (pfG3S)

21
Nasty storms last night, but they are now o'er past and it looks to be a nice day today.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:45 AM (tgvbd)

22 The EU: banning, regulating and fining its way to Utopia.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:42 AM (tgvbd)
-

You missed a method:

https://tinyurl.com/3vwudw4f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:51 AM (7xyr6)

23 It might be rain/ witer mix late this afternoon to tonight
Bit to drive tomorrow morning

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 04:52 AM (Ia/+0)

24
You missed a method:

https://tinyurl.com/3vwudw4f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:51 AM (7xyr6)

____________

I guess expropriating the kulaks' grain comes next. The Democrats and their outrunners have been floating this trial balloon for years.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:54 AM (tgvbd)

25 Virginia as the role model for the Dem Party:

Andrew Kolvet @AndrewKolvet
6h

Hillary Clinton all of a sudden telling Europeans that mass migration has gone too far.

Barack Obama all of a sudden roasting Gavin Newsom and homeless tent cities.

Dem leaders are sending a signal to moderate the message so they can go full Virginia if they win in 28.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:55 AM (7xyr6)

26 Dem leaders are sending a signal to moderate the message so they can go full Virginia if they win in 28.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:55 AM (7xyr6)
==================
This is the plan.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 04:57 AM (dct30)

27 DataRepublican asks at what point does this become treason?

I assume the question is rhetorical:

https://tinyurl.com/yeynreuy

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:01 AM (7xyr6)

28 Oh they say to tack to the center but right after they win it will be No Borders Marxism again

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 05:01 AM (Ia/+0)

29 14 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 15, 2026 04:13 AM (0KSrI)
-

Would be more interesting if you read it in Ed Sullivan's accent.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:29 AM (7xyr6)

Or Mr. Ed's.

Posted by: Fluffy Nuggets, Jr. at February 15, 2026 05:02 AM (CPS7C)

30 Dont think heard that Chumbawamba before

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (Ia/+0)

31 Good morning early risers. Did anyone see Marco Rubio’s speech from Munich?

A pretty powerful statement about the last sixty years and why the Trump administration is not sticking to the status quo. Good stuff.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (qlUA+)

32 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at February 15, 2026 05:09 AM (AN2gy)

33 You know who else gave a powerful speech in Munich?

Posted by: that guy who is always banging on about schicklegruber at February 15, 2026 05:12 AM (hMpx9)

34 31 Good morning early risers. Did anyone see Marco Rubio’s speech from Munich?

A pretty powerful statement about the last sixty years and why the Trump administration is not sticking to the status quo. Good stuff.
Posted by: Pete Bog at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (qlUA+)

It was great!

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:13 AM (+YA9H)

35 DataRepublican asks at what point does this become treason?

I assume the question is rhetorical:

https://tinyurl.com/yeynreuy
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:01 AM (7xyr6)
================
The "Institute Of Peace" is funded by the US government and employs Rosarie Tucci, who seems to be a leader of this group. This has CIA written all over it.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 05:14 AM (s16GZ)

36 (Wikipedia)

Schicklgruber

Alois Schicklgruber, better known as Alois Hitler, Austrian civil servant and the father of Adolf Hitler

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:15 AM (+YA9H)

37 Good morning early risers. Did anyone see Marco Rubio’s speech from Munich?

A pretty powerful statement about the last sixty years and why the Trump administration is not sticking to the status quo. Good stuff.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (qlUA+)
-

The highlight:

https://tinyurl.com/4ca4d97f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:21 AM (UzL96)

38 At the center of the cancer stand permanent "foundations", leftist controlled and hugely wealthy sinecures, where these maggots meet and plan the overthrow of our Republic.

Pass a law limiting the life of foundations to the lifetime of the founder plus ten years. Give it all away, and do not become a home for marxist revolutionaries.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 05:21 AM (4Q0Xg)

39 Reading a few articles on Olympic judging, reminds me even as a teenager, judged events to me were subjected to fraud or at least bias. At the time a Soviet block judge would be accused of giving a friendly athlete a better score. Give me a clock or goals scored to find a winner.

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 05:26 AM (Ia/+0)

40 Reading a few articles on Olympic judging, reminds me even as a teenager, judged events to me were subjected to fraud or at least bias. At the time a Soviet block judge would be accused of giving a friendly athlete a better score. Give me a clock or goals scored to find a winner.
Posted by: Skip

The American ice dancers got hosed by the French judge who down scored them so the French pair would win the gold.

Posted by: Tuna at February 15, 2026 05:30 AM (lJ0H4)

41 Is "safety" dead at xAI? (Tech Crunch)

I clicked through to the Verge article (which underlies much of the Tech Crunch article):

https://archive.is/RPhxL

and, I'll tell you: buncha whiners! Like this:

"The source also said that during his time at xAI, he felt leadership had a lot of differing opinions on which product features to prioritize and that infighting sometimes stalled progress."

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:31 AM (+YA9H)

42 Good morning! My Valentine's Day date was going to see "Melania". I enjoyed it very much and I had a nice conversation with an older couple who were there. The soundtrack was wonderful and it was beautifully filmed
Here is review by a woman who writes over at "Legal Insuurection":

https://tinyurl.com/yy6h8a6m

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 05:33 AM (PFs9e)

43 Also in the Verge article:

The source who departed earlier this year said Grok’s turn toward NSFW content was due partly to the safety team being let go, with little to no remaining safety review process for the models besides basic filters for things like CSAM.

CSAM = Child sexual abuse material

"things like CSAM" = ???

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:35 AM (+YA9H)

44 Street musician has no audience and then four kittens come to support him:

https://tinyurl.com/mw23dyzc

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 05:37 AM (PFs9e)

45 hahahahaha Verge article, final line:

“You survive by shutting up and doing what Elon wants,” he said.

=

"You are not the boss of me."

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:38 AM (+YA9H)

46 Mornin', Horde. Up earlier than I should be. Flying home, back to the snow.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at February 15, 2026 05:41 AM (PrvRk)

47 David Suchet reads Psalm 136, about God's love:

https://tinyurl.com/25rfvmxb

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 05:44 AM (PFs9e)

48
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at February 15, 2026 05:49 AM (tljrc)

49 at the TechCrunch article:

I'm watching the Equity Podcast on that page. It's very watchable.

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:51 AM (+YA9H)

50 The biggest surprise out of this entire post for me is that Chumbawamba had more than one song.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 15, 2026 05:52 AM (6ydKt)

51 Hey Pixy, are you going to squash that ad that pops when you hit 'Continue reading'?

I know the alternative fix is to just go straight to comments but it's annoying.

Posted by: Gmac - WTF did you think was going to happen? at February 15, 2026 05:53 AM (DY7Xb)

52 The biggest surprise out of this entire post for me is that Chumbawamba had more than one song.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 15, 2026 05:52 AM (6ydKt)
-

Any more than one song for each syllable?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:54 AM (UzL96)

53 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 15, 2026 06:00 AM (2Ez/1)

54 10 >>>Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)

Yeah, no.
Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:22 AM (+YA9H)

Right? It would be ridiculous.

Posted by: Abraham Lincoln at February 15, 2026 06:11 AM (hMpx9)

55 Yeah, no.
Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:22 AM (+YA9H)

Why would somebody want to do that?

Husband did tell me about some bars someplace where you can sit at a table, have a drink and talk to your chap bot girlfriend or boyfriend. Uggh.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:15 AM (rZCVI)

56 Howdy, evening toilers and early risers! We're past the halfway mark on February, at least. Generally it's considered the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere, and I'd guess the hottest in Australia? It's analogous to August on this half of the globe.

Anyway! I'm awake, having managed to ignore that black cat's across-the-bed leapings to doze another hour. How was yer Valentino's Day?

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

57 G'morning, all!

Raise your hand if you have ever intentionally taken your spouse to Waffle House for a Valentines Day meal.

It's actually a fun time, with photos, flowers, waiters and waitresses in white shirts and black pants, with lots of photos.

And paper hats.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:15 AM (iMotb)

58 Chat, not chap.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:15 AM (rZCVI)

59 Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:15 AM (iMotb

Well, we don't have that around here.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:17 AM (rZCVI)

60 In " Melania" movie , there were pictures of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook at the dinner after the inauguration.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:20 AM (rZCVI)

61 Nasty storms last night, but they are now o'er past and it looks to be a nice day today.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026

***
'Bout the same here. I stuck my head outside the door while the coffee was brewing. Damp and cool, but the rain seems to have stopped. At least the parade-goers for Endymion last night didn't get rained on.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:20 AM (wzUl9)

62 The local Fox outlet had their traditional broadcast from the Superdome as the giant and ornate floats rolled in. Endymion and Bacchus began in the late Sixties; back then, oddly, there were no parades on the Saturday and Sunday night before Mawdi Grass. Their big things have been massive, ornate floats with lots of lights and animation, and celebrity kings. Danny Kaye, I think, was the first Bacchus, or maybe Endymion. I saw them as a teen as they rolled by half a block from my house. They don't take that route anymore: The floats are too big to fit in the narrow French Quarter streets.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:21 AM (wzUl9)

63 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:15 AM (wzUl9

Hello. Are you still planning to get out of town for Mardi Gras?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:21 AM (rZCVI)

64 "Well, we don't have that around here."

Oh no!

Looks like Pa and Delaware each have a small number, if you are over that way.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:21 AM (iMotb)

65 Raise your hand if you have ever intentionally taken your spouse to Waffle House for a Valentines Day meal.

It's actually a fun time, with photos, flowers, waiters and waitresses in white shirts and black pants, with lots of photos.

And paper hats.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026

***
Does a Denny's count?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:21 AM (wzUl9)

66 Fen the kitten concert was cute

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 06:22 AM (Ia/+0)

67 "Slack is terrible."

Microsoft Teams is absolute shit. I've used Slack for a few years now and it isn't absolute shit.

Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 15, 2026 06:22 AM (5fcrn)

68 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Shoulda took a left at Albukoikey.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at February 15, 2026 06:24 AM (i1VVh)

69 LOL.

I first read the post as "No sleeping in. Horseshoe day."

Posted by: no one of any consequence at February 15, 2026 06:25 AM (qFwJc)

70 "Does a Denny's count?"

Nope...too upscale.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:25 AM (iMotb)

71 Hello. Are you still planning to get out of town for Mardi Gras?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026

***
Good morning, Fen,

It was an idea born of boredom and depression, but the idea has not gone away. So maybe.

I have a feeling there would be no hotel rooms to be had in Pensacola on Monday night or Tuesday, so I doubt I'll go to the beaches. Birmingham and Huntsville are still in the running, though.

If only the higher, drier landscapes, like Amarillo or northeastern NM, weren't such a long drive away --!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:26 AM (wzUl9)

72 Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 06:22 AM (Ia/+0)

I'm glad you liked, Skip

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:26 AM (PFs9e)

73 That "female" lead singer looks trans to me.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at February 15, 2026 06:26 AM (qFwJc)

74 49 at the TechCrunch article:

I'm watching the Equity Podcast on that page. It's very watchable.
Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:51 AM (+YA9H)

They all seem very smart. They spent the last five minutes of the podcast pretty much trashing Elon Musk and that was like watching a gaggle of highschoolers, I thought.

"On this episode of TechCrunch’s ⁠Equity⁠ podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O'Kane dig into the week's biggest deals and departures, from billion-dollar bets on fusion and robotics to the tech exodus reshaping AI companies."

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 06:28 AM (+YA9H)

75 Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:21 AM (iMotb)

Well, I have been to one in PA Dutch country.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:28 AM (PFs9e)

76 "Well, I have been to one in PA Dutch country."

So perhaps an opportunity might arise.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:31 AM (iMotb)

77 To long ago for Trannie craze

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 06:31 AM (Ia/+0)

78 The biggest surprise out of this entire post for me is that Chumbawamba had more than one song.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 15, 2026 05:52 AM

I know, right?!

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at February 15, 2026 06:33 AM (PrvRk)

79 Bomb, bomb, bomb. Bomb, bomb Iran.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at February 15, 2026 06:33 AM (qFwJc)

80 And paper hats.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:15 AM

Are they festive?

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at February 15, 2026 06:35 AM (PrvRk)

81 G'mornin' everyone!

">>>Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)"

how do we know that this isn't already happening? they're already collecting "benefits" and voting ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 15, 2026 06:35 AM (Cjt/F)

82 Yeah. I know. Some gals have bone structure that would make them very handsome guys.

I met my mom's brother late in life. Holy moley. They had very similar skulls. Genetics.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at February 15, 2026 06:36 AM (qFwJc)

83 Chumbawamba - Amnesia

Could that video have been weirder.

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 06:38 AM (+YA9H)

84 "hahahahaha Verge article, final line:

“You survive by shutting up and doing what Elon wants,” he said."

which is different from every other job in the world, how?

*spit*

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 15, 2026 06:38 AM (Cjt/F)

85 Mornin' Horde. Nrg.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 15, 2026 06:42 AM (O7YUW)

86 Oh, so shutting up and doing what the Marxists want is just fine?

Of course it would be.

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 06:45 AM (Ia/+0)

87 And paper hats.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 06:15 AM

Are they festive?
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at February 15, 2026 06:35 AM (PrvRk)
-----------
Goes without saying, I should think.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at February 15, 2026 06:46 AM (i1VVh)

88 are there explicitly non-festive hats?

besides that old-school plague-doctor bird-beak thing, I mean ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 15, 2026 06:49 AM (Cjt/F)

89 Yesterday I happened to see a townhouse with a front porch railing decorated with purple, green, and gold beads and a corresponding string of lights. Believe me, I live a long way from the Crescent City.

But it made me want to eat a Moon Pie.
With an RC Cola.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at February 15, 2026 06:50 AM (2Ez/1)

90 "Dem leaders are sending a signal to moderate the message so they can go full Virginia if they win in 28."

This needs to be pushed out by all of the Republicans in as rude way as possible to get some public awareness as to what the game is.

To the point where media people are saying " Are you saying President Obama is lying?"

Trump is most certainly wise to this and could set all kinds of traps for them.

Posted by: pawn at February 15, 2026 06:50 AM (uvB+6)

91 are there explicitly non-festive hats?

besides that old-school plague-doctor bird-beak thing, I mean ...
Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 15, 2026 06:49 AM (Cjt/F)
-----------
Pickelhaubes?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at February 15, 2026 06:50 AM (i1VVh)

92
Chumbawumba's "Tubthumping" was the soundtrack for me as I removed the sheetrock ceiling that was installed on the ceiling of the basement in this, our then newly purchased house, back in autumn 1997. What fun that was!

We paid off the mortgage just two months ago. Yay us!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 06:51 AM (xG4kz)

93 I don't do Valentines day but if I had to send a card to the Horde, this would be it:

https://tinyurl.com/ydv6m8tp

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 06:51 AM (UzL96)

94 "Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead."

Renfield handles all my social media on the web. He's pretty good at finding bugs too.

Posted by: Dracula at February 15, 2026 06:51 AM (vFG9F)

95 I continually hope that Waffle House will decide to open one in west central Wisconsin ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 15, 2026 06:52 AM (Cjt/F)

96 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:26 AM (wzUl9

If you're bored and depressed I would encourage you to get away from your home, even if it is a little farther away. Consider turning off the internet and reading some books or watching movies that lift your spirit.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 06:54 AM (PFs9e)

97 mornin yall. Did they find Nancy Grace yet?

Posted by: fd at February 15, 2026 06:54 AM (vFG9F)

98 Byeee...

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at February 15, 2026 06:55 AM (i1VVh)

99 >>>That post is getting roasted on Hacker News.

Yay, Hacker News!

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 06:55 AM (+YA9H)

100 100

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 06:55 AM (+YA9H)

101
Chumbawamba - Amnesia

Could that video have been weirder.
Posted by: m

As I recall, they branded themselves as anarchists. That makes me wonder what they think of matters in the UK today.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 06:55 AM (xG4kz)

102 Pickelhaubes, okay, good point !

though it might be possible to do a festiveness mod, say a small propeller on the end of the pickel?

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 15, 2026 06:56 AM (Cjt/F)

103 "festive little hats" commenter needs to show up while "festive little hats" are such a Hot Topic

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 06:58 AM (+YA9H)

104
If you're bored and depressed I would encourage you to get away from your home, even if it is a little farther away. Consider turning off the internet and reading some books or watching movies that lift your spirit.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026

***
Oh, I know a geographic cure usually works, at least for me. And I certainly do read; see me on the Book Thread. I got out a couple of Graham Greenes yesterday from the library, two John Wyndham SF novels, and a rather academic-looking collection of essays about the James Bond phenomenon.

Plus I have 1982's Cannery Rowon DVD, and a new episode of All Creatures Great and Small from PBS tonight. Both cheerful, both good stuff.

I just need a change of scenery. Temporary, and then permanent.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:58 AM (wzUl9)

105 I toasted a nacho cheese taco shell in the oven and served it stuffed with seasoned, scrambled eggs plus cheese. A good way to start the day!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 06:59 AM (wzUl9)

106 "I have a feeling there would be no hotel rooms to be had in Pensacola on Monday night or Tuesday, so I doubt I'll go to the beaches. "

With all due respect that is some seriously self defeating thinking. Did you even check?

Posted by: pawn at February 15, 2026 06:59 AM (uvB+6)

107 "... a small propeller on the end of the pickel?"
++++
Doctor's can do that now?
Incredible.

Posted by: Pickel rights are Human rights at February 15, 2026 07:01 AM (2Ez/1)

108
It is my intention to be well and truly off of Meta long before I pass away, so it and its ghoulish posting tool can eff right off.

Besides, I don't think that a pervasive and perpetual chorus of posts that say nothing but "Brains!" will be a sustainable outcome, much less being "must read" material.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 07:01 AM (xG4kz)

109 "Are they festive?"

Absolutely...goes without saying.

And now, off to get ready for church.

BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 15, 2026 07:02 AM (iMotb)

110 Did anyone see Marco Rubio’s speech from Munich?

A pretty powerful statement about the last sixty years and why the Trump administration is not sticking to the status quo. Good stuff.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (qlUA+)
-

The highlight:

https://tinyurl.com/4ca4d97f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:21 AM (UzL96)
-

And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will

https://tinyurl.com/w7krr23k

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 07:02 AM (UzL96)

111 Pickel rights are Human rights at February 15, 2026 07:01 AM (2Ez/1)

; )

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:03 AM (+YA9H)

112 "I have a feeling there would be no hotel rooms to be had in Pensacola on Monday night or Tuesday, so I doubt I'll go to the beaches. "
*
With all due respect that is some seriously self defeating thinking. Did you even check?
Posted by: pawn at February 15, 2026

***
No, because the idea of going to Pensacola is none too compelling to me anyway. If I'm going somewhere, I want to go *away* from the Gulf Coast.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:04 AM (wzUl9)

113 Post 108- That acerbic comment made me laugh,
and I agree with you.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 07:04 AM (PFs9e)

114 Pickel rights are Human rights at February 15, 2026 07:01 AM (2Ez/1)

This one really hit me in the funnybone.

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:05 AM (+YA9H)

115 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:04 AM (wzUl9

Get away! Call today!🙂

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 07:06 AM (PFs9e)

116
*Opens up Hilton Honors app.*
*Searches for Destin, Florida for next weekend.*
*Finds Hampton Inn and Suites in Destin for $105 a night.*
*Smugly closes laptop and goes to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.*

Posted by: Don't Be THAT Guy at February 15, 2026 07:07 AM (2Ez/1)

117
mornin yall. Did they find Nancy Grace yet?
Posted by: fd at February

No, but shortly Pam Bondi will triumphantly announce that they have found a huge cache of Nancy Drew mysteries, all unread and in mint condition. And deliver a progress report on how close they are to finding a horde of the original panels of Bushmiller's "Nancy" comic strips.

And all the nancy boy presstitutes will gasp and swoon...

Is that "nancy" enough for you?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 07:08 AM (xG4kz)

118 116 *Finds Hampton Inn and Suites in Destin for $105 a night.*
Posted by: Don't Be THAT Guy at February 15, 2026 07:07 AM (2Ez/1)

Aww, man. Is that the little windowless basement room usually comped to tourguides?

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:09 AM (+YA9H)

119 Re: 112: I have too many memories of visits to places along the Gulf Coast like Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pensacola. Really I do not want to revisit them.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:09 AM (wzUl9)

120 from the Verge article:

Are you a current or former xAI employee? Contact me via Signal at haydenfield.11 on a non-work device with tips.

https://archive.is/RPhxL

bwahahahahaha

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:10 AM (+YA9H)

121 Chumbawumba wrote more than one song?

The things you learn around here...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 15, 2026 07:10 AM (ESVrU)

122 genius.com

“Amnesia” is a song by Chumbawamba. It’s the second single from “Tubthumper,” and was a hit in Canada and the UK, saving the group from one-hit wonder status there.

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:11 AM (+YA9H)

123
Pickerel rights are piscatory rights!

All the lawyers agree.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 07:12 AM (xG4kz)

124 Nothing sticks when you use Pam.

Posted by: But you already knew that at February 15, 2026 07:12 AM (2Ez/1)

125
[Chorus]
Do you suffer from long-term memory loss?
(I don't remember)
Do you suffer from long-term memory loss?
(I don't remember)

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:12 AM (+YA9H)

126 Hitchcock's 1940 Foreign Correspondent is on Movies!, with Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, and George Sanders. Plus Robert Benchley, who has a small, dryly comic turn as an Englishman whose doctor has ordered him to stop drinking. "It was either a month on the wagon, or a complete new set of organs. Personally I'd prefer the new set of organs."

This film has sparkling dialog, some written or improvised by Benchley no doubt, and a slew of then-well-known character actors. Some of the light moments amid the danger remind me of the best Man From U.N.C.L.E. episodes.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:15 AM (wzUl9)

127 Why is it so often a "Teacher of the Year"?

"A California Teacher of the Year finalist has been arrested for trying to pay for sexual acts with an undercover cop posing as a 13-year-old boy.

Ruben Guzman, an assistant principal and math teacher at Sunrise Middle School in San Jose, was snared when he organized for them to meet up last week."

If I had a kid in a government school I would keep them far away from Teachers of the Year.

Posted by: fd at February 15, 2026 07:15 AM (vFG9F)

128 >>>One source said, "Safety is a dead org at xAI"

I'm not familiar with that use of the word "org."

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:16 AM (+YA9H)

129 As for the furry feline thugs, they have had their morning chow. Stirling is sprawled on the floor not far from my feet. Little Dagny is trotting about doing Dagny things, whatever those are.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:16 AM (wzUl9)

130 Chumbawumba wrote more than one song?
The things you learn around here...

They were also big time commie scum marxists who promoted every whackadoodle leftist scheme under the sun.

Disbanded in 2012 I think...good riddance.

Posted by: Zombie Chuck Berry, Camera Lover at February 15, 2026 07:17 AM (Ksqrb)

131 >>>One source said, "Safety is a dead org at xAI"

I'm not familiar with that use of the word "org."
Posted by: m at February 15, 2026

***
It's the active voice form of the word "ugh."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:17 AM (wzUl9)

132 "dead letter"?

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:18 AM (+YA9H)

133 Stereotypes are real. Just look at the mayor of Seattle.

Posted by: fd at February 15, 2026 07:18 AM (vFG9F)

134 123
Pickerel rights are piscatory rights!

All the lawyers agree.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 07:12 AM (xG4kz)

Yep, and I've got the citations to prove it!

Posted by: ChatGPT-4 at February 15, 2026 07:19 AM (aMY3+)

135 133 Stereotypes are real. Just look at the mayor of Seattle.
Posted by: fd at February 15, 2026 07:18 AM (vFG9F)

And yet there are exceptions. For example:
Sergeant Major Mike R. Vining - U.S. Army Ordnance Corps

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:20 AM (+YA9H)

136 I saw Dead Org at Live Aid at JFK Stadium in Philadelpha in '85.

Posted by: Ok I might have made some of that up at February 15, 2026 07:21 AM (2Ez/1)

137 Stereotypes are real. Just look at the mayor of Seattle.
Posted by: fd at February 15, 2026

***
"Stereotype" comes from the days of printing and typesetting. Certain combos of letters were used so often, like "the," that they were set up as a solid, i.e., instead of using the three separate letters over and over again, the type setter could just use the solid block of "the." In other words, they were encountered so often in the process that they became a standard.

Later, it became used to describe certain sets of people one encountered over and over again. Thus, "stereotypes." And they are real.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:22 AM (wzUl9)

138 "126 Hitchcock's 1940 Foreign Correspondent is on Movies!, with Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, and George Sanders. "

I wanted to like this (as I enjoyed all of Hitchcock's early films) but McCRea's protagonist was too much of a simp.

Posted by: Ordinary American at February 15, 2026 07:22 AM (fZiTB)

139 Can anyone recommend a good resource for learning Linux? I've put Ubuntu Studio on a laptop and am running into my ignorance on several fronts.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 15, 2026 07:23 AM (CHHv1)

140
Harkening back to my days in Berkeley, the photo of the pedo "Teacher of the Year" simply oozes the pedo vibe, coupled with the beloved "romantic street person" look so prized at that time. My compliments to the blend master!

https://tinyurl.com/RomanticStreetPedo

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 07:23 AM (xG4kz)

141 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 15, 2026 07:23 AM (u82oZ)

142 The career of Mike Vining, the Internet’s most badass military meme

wearethemighty.com

https://tinyurl.com/2p9mb7z9

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:24 AM (+YA9H)

143 Hitchcock's 1940 Foreign Correspondent is on Movies!, with Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, and George Sanders. "
*
I wanted to like this (as I enjoyed all of Hitchcock's early films) but McCRea's protagonist was too much of a simp.
Posted by: Ordinary American at February 15, 2026

***
Yes, he does seem like a naive, trusting Kansas farm boy set down in England and Europe to report on political and other dangers. I'm hoping he gets some smarts soon.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:26 AM (wzUl9)

144 140-why do people make these stupid comments after a pedo is arrested?

While this is deeply upsetting, it does not reflect who we are as a school," Sunrise Principal Teresa Robinson said. "He was a highly regarded teacher and administrator. Again, there was nothing in his work record or his prior work record, said other schools to indicate anything had any problems with his work."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 07:27 AM (Nx5jP)

145 Harkening back to my days in Berkeley, the photo of the pedo "Teacher of the Year" simply oozes the pedo vibe, coupled with the beloved "romantic street person" look so prized at that time. My compliments to the blend master!

https://tinyurl.com/RomanticStreetPedo
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026

***
That scruffy thing is a principal??? He looks, as you say, more like a Berkeley student in 1968 "protesting the war, man."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 15, 2026 07:28 AM (wzUl9)

146
McCRea's protagonist was too much of a simp.

He's no Joel Cairo, that's for sure.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 07:28 AM (xG4kz)

147 140
Harkening back to my days in Berkeley, the photo of the pedo "Teacher of the Year" simply oozes the pedo vibe, coupled with the beloved "romantic street person" look so prized at that time. My compliments to the blend master!

https://tinyurl.com/RomanticStreetPedo
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 15, 2026 07:23 AM (xG4kz)

I'd like to see a pre-booking photo.

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 07:30 AM (+YA9H)

Processing 0.02, elapsed 0.0292 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0088 seconds, 155 records returned.
Page size 86 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.