Daily Tech News 19 February 2026

Top Story

Open source game engine Godot is getting overwhelmed with pull requests on GitHub. (PC Gamer)

It's taken a surprising amount of time for AI to turn into an avalanche of spam like email and blog comments.

But it's here now, and the spam filters need to catch up.

Quickly.

Tech News

The CEO of SSD controller company Phison says many consumer electronics companies will be forced to close their doors because they can't buy the chips to continue operations. (Tom's Hardware)
In the talk, he describes a meeting in China where he witnessed mobile and automotive companies (presumably major ones) pleading suppliers for flash memory. He concludes that smaller firms may not be able to secure any flash supply at all, stating that "consumer electronics are finished," and that the market "will see a lot of victims" in the second half of 2026.
There is at least a light at the end of the tunnel.
Later in the interview he says that he "[tells his clients] that if the first quarter of this year is painful, really painful, then by year-end, they'll definitely jump off a building."
But it's an oncoming train.
The Dutch defense secretary says you can jailbreak an F35 just like you can an iPhone, so pissant Eurocrats don't need to worry about the US. (The Register)

First, you can't jailbreak iPhones.
Second, you can't jailbreak F35s either. Unless you are prepared to somehow replace the avionics and the software yourself.
Third, a supplicant threatening their own benefactor rarely turns out well.

But then, the Netherlands - at least, the lower house in their parliament, it has yet to pass their senate - just approved a 36% annual tax on unrealised capital gains, so I think they are simply incapable of learning at this point.
How many bits do you need to use to create a unique ID tag for everything in the universe, ever? (Jason Fantl)

Less than 800 bits.

For each subatomic particle, at each instant in time.

Whether you attach the little tags with string or tape is left as an exercise for the student.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Ten points to House M for picking up on the astronomical disclaimer yesterday.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Morning all

Posted by: Tuna at February 19, 2026 04:00 AM (lJ0H4)

2 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2026 04:00 AM (Ia/+0)

3 it's too early

Posted by: Drink Like Vikings at February 19, 2026 04:02 AM (iid7V)

4 w00t

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 04:03 AM (+YA9H)

5 Uh... Howdy?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 19, 2026 04:07 AM (BLOW1)

6 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 19, 2026 04:09 AM (wiltx)

7
Article at Daily Mail,

.Locked and loaded, Trump prepares to strike Iran in just days.

Posted by: fourseasons at February 19, 2026 04:13 AM (3ek7K)

8 just approved a 36% annual tax on unrealised capital gains

This is depraved.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 19, 2026 04:15 AM (wiltx)

9 Howdy, Pixy!

https://youtu.be/vYNx2ADkbhU

Posted by: JQ at February 19, 2026 04:16 AM (rdVOm)

10 Hey Pixy,

If you get a moment, you might want to take a look at the ads that have been hijacking the "Continue reading" links on the front page.

They turn them into popovers that cover everything and the URL becomes ace.mu.nu / #passage-ads (remove spaces as appropriate).

Posted by: Bitblt at February 19, 2026 04:20 AM (11pZm)

11 ...and good night, all...

Posted by: JQ at February 19, 2026 04:21 AM (rdVOm)

12 Belated BOING!

Up at vacation home in north Israel. Things to maintain.

But first, time soon for lunch out with Mrs. BD.

No time to even catch up on news. Dunno what's going on in the world. Maybe l8r.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 19, 2026 04:24 AM (VFv8R)

13 Sounds like lots of changes may be afoot in the world. Let’s hope Marco Rubio has extra time on his hands.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 19, 2026 04:27 AM (Ys0s/)

14 Disclaimer: Ten points to House M for picking up on the astronomical disclaimer yesterday.

; )

Always a lert!

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 04:28 AM (+YA9H)

15
Trump prepares to strike Iran in just days.

Posted by: fourseasons

================

It's a little early, but this is the fun part:

Where will the mullahs go?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at February 19, 2026 04:29 AM (aM1Wh)

16 Burma!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 19, 2026 04:32 AM (BLOW1)

17
Blonde,

To hell, lol

Posted by: fourseasons at February 19, 2026 04:33 AM (3ek7K)

18 Where will the mullahs go?
Posted by: Blonde Morticia

Someplace... warmer?

Posted by: Drink Like Vikings at February 19, 2026 04:33 AM (NvzRg)

19 Where will the mullahs go?
Posted by: Blonde Morticia at February 19, 2026 04:29 AM (aM1Wh)

No Vacancy!

You ever seen my bottom half? No way I'm letting those guys anywhere near me.

Posted by: Satan at February 19, 2026 04:33 AM (06Hmj)

20 "..just approved a 36% annual tax on unrealized capital gains"

We're not just going to rob you for everything you have, no.. we also want everything we think you'll ever earn from this point forward. In the old days, mobsters used guns, kidnapping, and extortion.. nowadays they use bureaucratic overreach..

But remember, proles, they're doing this for *you*, out of some sense of social altruism, because the problem with capitalists and their corporations is *their* insatiable greed..

Posted by: General Turgidson at February 19, 2026 04:33 AM (koFAO)

21 Drizzling out, just above freezing
Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2026 04:34 AM (Ia/+0)

22 Burma!
Posted by: Pixy Misa

Shave

Posted by: Tuna at February 19, 2026 04:34 AM (lJ0H4)

23
You too Skip

Posted by: fourseasons at February 19, 2026 04:35 AM (3ek7K)

24 "Where will the mullahs go?"

.................................

They open gas station chains in Ottawa and SoCal..

Posted by: General Turgidson at February 19, 2026 04:36 AM (koFAO)

25 I do like the Trumpian version of gunboat diplomacy.

Float a couple million tons of exploding freedom off shore and then ostentatiously start picking petals off a daisy to decide if you're going to make a country cease to exist or not.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2026 04:36 AM (06Hmj)

26 G'morning, all!

60.1 degrees out, and a wonderful temperature for a morning walk in a bit.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 04:42 AM (iMotb)

27 Trump is like a millennial hipster who just found an old treadle sewing machine at a yard sale and decided to fix it up and learn how to sew for fun, and is actually starting to get pretty good at it, except instead of a neglected sewing machine, it's the American War Machine.

It's a neat little machine. Just a shame it either sat around gathering rust, or got used as a damn doorstop by the idiots who used to own it.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 19, 2026 04:42 AM (06Hmj)

28 15
Trump prepares to strike Iran in just days.

Posted by: fourseasons

================

It's a little early, but this is the fun part:

Where will the mullahs go?
Posted by: Blonde Morticia at February 19, 2026 04:29 AM (aM1Wh)

Do you have a guess?

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 04:45 AM (+YA9H)

29 I see that the children have announced that some of them will boycott the SOTU.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 04:49 AM (iMotb)

30 My Magic Mouse is acting up, like it's got a ghost in it. I have the original one that uses 2 AA rechargeable batteries, and I think they get swollen.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 04:50 AM (+YA9H)

31 I think they get swollen.

If your AA batteries are swelling up, they need to be replaced, whether they are rechargeable or not, and whether they still hold a charge or not. (Also, I don’t think I ever used rechargeables when I had a Magic Mouse that used AA batteries. I wasn’t even aware that the mouse itself could recharge batteries.)

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026 04:55 AM (EXyHK)

32 Evening for a Thor's Day to you late toilers and early risers! I'm among the latter group again, and this time a certain black cat whose name rhymes with "curling" had nothing to do with it. Just, snap!, and I'm awake. Grrr.

Good news yesterday: I finally heard from the investment company handling the pension I did not know about from my 1978-87 employer. They are sending me the paperwork by express mail. There's some good change there, and I can decide what to do with it. It's essentially found money!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 04:56 AM (wzUl9)

33 G'morning, all!

60.1 degrees out, and a wonderful temperature for a morning walk in a bit.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026

***
71 here. Gah. Yes, it's good workout weather; I planned to take it easy, just a mile today. But this is too warm for the time of year: 82 expected as a high this pm.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 05:00 AM (wzUl9)

34 Where will the mullahs go?
Posted by: Blonde Morticia

Dearborn, Michigan

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 19, 2026 05:01 AM (wiltx)

35 "Dearborn, Michigan"

At least there will be minimal Culture Shock for them.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 05:05 AM (iMotb)

36 31 I think they get swollen.

If your AA batteries are swelling up, they need to be replaced, whether they are rechargeable or not, and whether they still hold a charge or not. (Also, I don’t think I ever used rechargeables when I had a Magic Mouse that used AA batteries. I wasn’t even aware that the mouse itself could recharge batteries.)
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026 04:55 AM (EXyHK)

This mouse can't recharge the batteries. I have a separate, plug-in 2-battery recharger.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:05 AM (+YA9H)

37 The suggestion of the mullahs opening gas stations is a solid observation of reality. The Exxon convenience store run by some Indians or Middle Easterners where I used to buy gas has outdated pumps, so that the ethanol-free gas pumps at a gallon every 75 seconds. But I know better than to complain to the staff. I've tried: "Your Pump Sixteen, the ethanol-free, is broken or failing." I get a blank look or "Yah, yah, is ethanol-free!" I no longer buy there.

Gee, how far we have fallen from full service stations and "You can trust your car to the man who wears the star -- the big red Texaco star!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 05:08 AM (wzUl9)

38 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at February 19, 2026 05:08 AM (AN2gy)

39 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 19, 2026 05:09 AM (2Ez/1)

40 So the ridiculously simple Coax antenna 5G filter was delivered and installed yesterday.

The amount of pixilation went from occasional down to maybe half of one second in several hours of TV watching.

So a marked improvement there.

Scanning channels and reviewing signal strength shows a total of 58 channels coming in off the attic mounted antenna, and most of them with very good signal strength and SNR.

So, for ten bucks, I'm pretty happy.

And the HVAC guys will be replacing the thermostat wires with shielded, dual twisted pair today, and that should finish that project up as well.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 05:10 AM (iMotb)

41 Lots of charity organizations are sending out mountains of solicitations this month. I have no problem with that, but how many ball point pens can I use in my life time. Got a Kennedy half dollar, just add it to all my other coins no one wants. Add it to my Susan B Anthony coins and the Indian girl. About time for a new dollar coin, AOC needs a coin, to use in skeet shooting maybe. or Jesse Jackson?

Posted by: colin at February 19, 2026 05:11 AM (e8qy3)

42
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at February 19, 2026 05:13 AM (tljrc)

43 This mouse can't recharge the batteries. I have a separate, plug-in 2-battery recharger.

That makes more sense.

I actually still have my AA Magic Mouse, it’s on a very old FireWire iMac that I use for ripping vinyl. Haven’t had to change the batteries in forever, but that’s because I don’t buy that much music any more.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026 05:14 AM (EXyHK)

44 The furry thugs are lounging about, letting me know they're here and ready for breakfast. Stirling is sprawled on the floor where I can see him. Dagny, amazingly, has settled on the arm of the sofa next to me.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 05:18 AM (wzUl9)

45 “It still pleases me to be awake during the dark, early hours before morning when everyone else is still asleep. I’ve been that way since I first moved to New York. I do my best thinking and writing then. During those early years in New York, I often got on my motorcycle in the middle of the night and went for a ride—anyplace. There wasn’t much crime in the city then, and if you owned a motorcycle, you left it outside your apartment and in the morning it was still there. It was wonderful on summer nights to cruise around the city at one, two, or three a.m. wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a girl on the seat behind me. If I didn’t start out with one, I’d find one.”

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026 05:20 AM (EXyHK)

46 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 19, 2026 05:23 AM (bQ4nt)

47 “It still pleases me to be awake during the dark, early hours before morning when everyone else is still asleep. I’ve been that way since I first moved to New York. I do my best thinking and writing then. During those early years in New York, I often got on my motorcycle in the middle of the night and went for a ride—anyplace. There wasn’t much crime in the city then, and if you owned a motorcycle, you left it outside your apartment and in the morning it was still there. It was wonderful on summer nights to cruise around the city at one, two, or three a.m. wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a girl on the seat behind me. If I didn’t start out with one, I’d find one.”
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026

***
SPB, who wrote that?

I agree with the sentiment. Getting up early makes me feel as if the world is all mine.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 05:26 AM (wzUl9)

48 29 I see that the children have announced that some of them will boycott the SOTU.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 04:49 AM (iMotb)

Statesmen.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:27 AM (+YA9H)

49 "Statesmen."

Toddlers.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 05:29 AM (iMotb)

50 One of the local news outlets said something about Shia Leboeuf having moved here -- that he lives here now. Somebody he insulted during the altercation that led to his Mardi Gras arrest is now complaining and calling for hate crime charges against the actor. There were, he says, "homophobic slurs."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 05:29 AM (wzUl9)

51 What is Holland?

https://youtu.be/fL4QfvIrUf4

Posted by: Obligatory Seinfeld reference at February 19, 2026 05:32 AM (2Ez/1)

52 While I do not do social media, Mrs VIA does follow our community blog, as well as several other local chat group type sites.

And about four days ago she showed me a post from a neighbor about this apparent effort by a local business woman to rile up the High School students, and the poster made some rather specific claims about the actions of the local business woman that made me sort of roll my eyes, and simply say "I hope she turned this over to the authorities'.

Well, what do you know.

https://tinyurl.com/4yx7ap9v

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 05:34 AM (iMotb)

53 "What is Holland?"

20 bucks, same as in town.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 05:34 AM (iMotb)

54 Time for the morning walk.

BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 05:35 AM (iMotb)

55 SPB, who wrote that?

Marlin Brando. Just saw it this morning on the National Motorists Assn. blog.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026 05:37 AM (EXyHK)

56
Fox News
@FoxNews
14h
BUDGET CUTS: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani aims to cancel 5,000 NYPD officer hires and proposes a cut to the department's budget to address the city's deficit.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:40 AM (+YA9H)

57 "I hope she turned this over to the authorities'.

Well, what do you know.

https://tinyurl.com/4yx7ap9v
+++++
It was always the women.

Posted by: G. Orwell at February 19, 2026 05:42 AM (2Ez/1)

58 48 29 I see that the children have announced that some of them will boycott the SOTU.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 04:49 AM (iMotb)

Statesmen.
Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:27 AM (+YA9H)

[snark]

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:42 AM (+YA9H)

59 56
Fox News
@FoxNews
14h
BUDGET CUTS: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani aims to cancel 5,000 NYPD officer hires and proposes a cut to the department's budget to address the city's deficit.
Posted by: m

Amazing, and we're all alive to witness such 'Progress'.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 19, 2026 05:44 AM (wiltx)

60 @50

>>There were, he says, "homophobic slurs."

Those are probably made up bull crap to enhance the complaint.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 19, 2026 05:46 AM (XV/Pl)

61 Good morning Horde. Thx Pixy.
Prince Andrew has been arrested by British authorities. An interesting day already

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 19, 2026 05:47 AM (Kc+Vz)

62 The mullahs who choose to flee with the loot (those that don’t prefer to die gloriously for their faith) probably run to Moscow to set up shop down the road from Assad. Putin takes anybody who has a big Swiss bank account.

Posted by: Tom Servo at February 19, 2026 05:48 AM (46za5)

63 BUDGET CUTS: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani aims to cancel 5,000 NYPD officer hires and proposes a cut to the department's budget to address the city's deficit.
Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:40 AM (+YA9H)

Not taking long at all for NYC residents to get what they voted for - and to get it good and hard.

Posted by: Tom Servo at February 19, 2026 05:51 AM (46za5)

64 61 Prince Andrew has been arrested by British authorities. An interesting day already
Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 19, 2026 05:47 AM (Kc+Vz)

yikes

BBC:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:52 AM (+YA9H)

65 Scanning channels and reviewing signal strength shows a total of 58 channels coming in off the attic mounted antenna, and most of them with very good signal strength and SNR.

So, for ten bucks, I'm pretty happy.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 05:10 AM (iMotb)

That'd pretty good.
You must be picking up channels from Columbia and Savannah on top of Charleston. Or is that just counting digital sub-channels, too?

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 05:53 AM (6ydKt)

66 My question for the big three memory manufacturers:

If you starve off and kill the consumer electronics market, who exactly do you think you're going to sell your chips to when the AI bubble pops?

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 19, 2026 05:54 AM (O7YUW)

67 End of British royalty on the horizon?

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:55 AM (+YA9H)

68 End of British royalty on the horizon?

Not at all. But there may be a new, more diverse family installed.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026 05:56 AM (EXyHK)

69 Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 05:52 AM (+YA9H)

Funny - everyone in British government has known what he was up to for years. But now Starmer is flailing and desperate to publicly throw anyone under the bus to try and distract from his own problems.

Posted by: Tom Servo at February 19, 2026 05:57 AM (46za5)

70 “ You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror.”

Psalm 10:17-18

Posted by: Marcus T at February 19, 2026 05:57 AM (rTiUi)

71

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at February 19, 2026 05:57 AM (DDJSl)

72 I get 46 channels with air cable

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, diseased garbage human at February 19, 2026 06:01 AM (wOO3z)

73 Little girl in hospital waiting for heart transplant makes friends with construction crew across street:

https://tinyurl.com/2s25sswd

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2026 06:03 AM (PFs9e)

74 >>>There is at least a light at the end of the tunnel.
...
But it's an oncoming train.

heh

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:04 AM (+YA9H)

75 72 I get 46 channels with air cable

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, diseased garbage human at February 19, 2026 06:01 AM (wOO3z)

Yeah, those numbers jumped up quick when we went to digital and every channel could add two or three sub-channels on their frequency.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:07 AM (6ydKt)

76 Did they really arrest Andrew?

Damn, Chuck III really does hate his brother.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:10 AM (6ydKt)

77 "Burma!"

You made Pixy panic.

Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 19, 2026 06:12 AM (ekpi1)

78 It's true! It's really true!...

https://tinyurl.com/u45vruv6
(BBC.com coverage w/ live video link)

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:13 AM (6ydKt)

79 If Andrew Mountbatten is guilty as charged -- and I think everybody agrees that he is -- there were some Princes of Wales who ought to have spent their whole careers in the Tower, rather than on the throne. It's a literal changing of the guard.

We've seen what Shakespeare could do with this kind of source material. Now we don't even have Tom Stoppard. Gonna have to be a musical.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 19, 2026 06:13 AM (zdLoL)

80 77 "Burma!"

You made Pixy panic.
Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 19, 2026 06:12 AM (ekpi1)

?

16 Burma!
Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 19, 2026 04:32 AM (BLOW1)

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:13 AM (+YA9H)

81 The generation of Chuck and Andy will be gone and then William steps in. That will be how the monarchy survives

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 19, 2026 06:14 AM (Kc+Vz)

82 Even worse, Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday.,

That's cold, Chuck.
Frozen solid, even.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:15 AM (6ydKt)

83 Happy Birthday, Andy!

Posted by: Common Tater at February 19, 2026 06:16 AM (qdur7)

84 Even worse, Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday.

The arresting officer jumped out of a cake.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at February 19, 2026 06:16 AM (EXyHK)

85 There were, he says, "homophobic slurs."

Some day, a judge will suggest that developing a thicker skin would be a good idea to these people.

Posted by: NR Pax at February 19, 2026 06:17 AM (RjOoY)

86 ?

It's part of a Monty Python skit.

"Why did you say 'Burma'?"

"I panicked."

Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 19, 2026 06:21 AM (ekpi1)

87 https://youtu.be/pwTqC2T6q4E

Around 3:30, but you have to watch up to there to get the context.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 19, 2026 06:21 AM (BLOW1)

88 This Yank is wondering, do we commoners get a Royal Mug Shot out of this arrest? Or is that just not Cricket?

Posted by: Common Tater at February 19, 2026 06:22 AM (qdur7)

89 i’ll e be held at the Tower? Crikey.

Posted by: Common Tater at February 19, 2026 06:25 AM (qdur7)

90 86 ?

It's part of a Monty Python skit.

"Why did you say 'Burma'?"

"I panicked."
Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 19, 2026 06:21 AM (ekpi1)

Thank you!

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:25 AM (+YA9H)

91 >End of British royalty on the horizon?
----

they seem uninterested in the UK's islamization and decline

Posted by: Don Black. Release the pedants! at February 19, 2026 06:27 AM (ZxPkt)

92 Man jumps onto canal to save mother and three children. Sunny Skyz site:

https://tinyurl.com/yc3jpkdt

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2026 06:27 AM (rZCVI)

93 @37/Wolfus: " so that the ethanol-free gas pumps at a gallon every 75 seconds. ... I no longer buy there."

I wouldn't either at that pump rate.

Also: Most fuel stations have only two large storage tanks, and the delivery trucks only carry two types of fuel: The low octane (regular) variety, and the high octane one. Mid-grade is blended at the pump from the two.

As noted in the video I'll link below, the line of gas stations the guy's referring to does sell ethanol free gasoline, but only in the form of their 91 octane gasoline.

So, it might be worthwhile testing the high octane stuff at whatever station you're going to, to find out if theirs is also ethanol free.

See here:
https://youtu.be/c3if0nZqgvM

The testing vial he refers to:
https://tinyurl.com/6mr6b8jw

I'm sure something similar would be available in the USA.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 19, 2026 06:28 AM (O7YUW)

94 Billy Graham evangelistic association daily devotional, "Taming the tongue". James 1:26

https://tinyurl.com/44ette9w

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2026 06:31 AM (rZCVI)

95 87 https://youtu.be/pwTqC2T6q4E

Around 3:30, but you have to watch up to there to get the context.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 19, 2026 06:21 AM (BLOW1)

haha!

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:33 AM (+YA9H)

96 BBC talking about Andrew still having his security detail that followed him to the police station.

Do they get to follow him into the cell?

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:33 AM (6ydKt)

97 This story from the Babylon Bee made me laugh:

https://tinyurl.com/2s4fr2yc

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2026 06:34 AM (rZCVI)

98 96 BBC talking about Andrew still having his security detail that followed him to the police station.

Do they get to follow him into the cell?
Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:33 AM (6ydKt)

... with a rope?

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:34 AM (+YA9H)

99 @81/Smell the Glove: "The generation of Chuck and Andy will be gone and then William steps in. That will be how the monarchy survives"

William is a product of the same process. Don't expect great things.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 19, 2026 06:35 AM (O7YUW)

100 100

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:35 AM (+YA9H)

101 That's two days in a row I've lined up your shot, m. *heh*

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 19, 2026 06:35 AM (O7YUW)

102 William was raised by his father and grandmother.

So I wouldn't expect him to stray too far from their example.
If things get bad enough he may surprise us, though.

Chuck has cancer so no telling how long he'll still be around.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:37 AM (6ydKt)

103 101 That's two days in a row I've lined up your shot, m. *heh*
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 19, 2026 06:35 AM (O7YUW)

Go, team!

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:39 AM (+YA9H)

104 @97/FenelonSpoke: https://tinyurl.com/2s4fr2yc

*snorts* That's a good one!

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 19, 2026 06:41 AM (O7YUW)

105 ... with a rope?

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:34 AM (+YA9H)

BBC seems to think he'll just be questioned and released, so it may not get that far.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:41 AM (6ydKt)

106 EXCELLENT PICK! Whenever the Hoodoo Gurus tour the west coast, we are there! Their back catalog is stuffed with great tunes.
I wonder if they have anything new coming out?
They also have an excellent side band, forget the name.
Wait, think they are called The Monarchs.

Posted by: Ted Bell at February 19, 2026 06:44 AM (OxoDL)

107 ">End of British royalty on the horizon?
----

they seem uninterested in the UK's islamization and decline"

They've been declining since the 1940s. They had an empire but decided it wasn't worth the bother to keep it. Anyone with any spunk was killed off in either WW1 or WW2. The colonial troops that fought or support both wars noticed that they had been conquered by a right bunch of idiots and acted accordingly.

In the early 2000s, we had traveled to Britain to see the sights. London had already starting being more Muslim than British and watching the utter incompetence around clearing the area around the changing of guard (which is a recurring experience) was mind-boggling. I had discussed this with a dot Indian who worked with me at Nortel who had also watched the same clusterfuck at some other date; he was ashamed that his country had been conquered by that bunch of idiots.

The British are like the New Zealand Kiwi (birds, that is). If you grow up without predators, you can optimize for the wrong things when predators eventually show up.

AWFLs have done something similar, except the Kiwi birds didn't invite rats to my knowledge.

Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 19, 2026 06:45 AM (ekpi1)

108 @105 A red-hot poker was the ancient tradition at the Tower.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 19, 2026 06:45 AM (zdLoL)

109 @63. Gee, Mayor Zo cutting the NYPD by 5000?
That doesn't sound good. So what happened to all the free stuff he promised? I guess with no police around everything is free? A man of his word.

Posted by: Case at February 19, 2026 06:48 AM (j6kTf)

110 BBC speculating it's an investigation over Andrew leaking confidential information to Epstein.

So it's not about underage girls, but his running his mouth off as favors.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:48 AM (6ydKt)

111 The Wikipedia article on

Sarah Ferguson

is full of tawdriness.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:48 AM (+YA9H)

112 8 bits is 255
16 bits is 65535
So 800 sounds about right

Posted by: r hennigantx at February 19, 2026 06:49 AM (gbOdA)

113 He said that the arrest means police can search the suspect’s homes and possessions.

The ex-senior police officer says that by arresting Andrew, police will be able “to access computer equipment, files, photographs, any other evidence”.

He also says officers “can carry out searches of any premises he owns or occupies, or any other premises he controls, so there may well be searches in other areas as well”

Posted by: 13times at February 19, 2026 06:49 AM (ltlJR)

114 If you grow up without predators, you can optimize for the wrong things when predators eventually show up.

We cannot possibly be talking about the same Britain.
Honest to God, did that just come out of your mouth?
Is there not a word on the history of England on your cereal box?

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 19, 2026 06:50 AM (zdLoL)

115 Richard III body was found under a parking lot. Andrew under a whorehouse?

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 19, 2026 06:51 AM (Kc+Vz)

116 110 BBC speculating it's an investigation over Andrew leaking confidential information to Epstein.

So it's not about underage girls, but his running his mouth off as favors.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:48 AM (6ydKt)

The arrest gives them access to his stuff:

BBC:

... by arresting Andrew, police will be able "to access computer equipment, files, photographs, any other evidence".
He also says officers "can carry out searches of any premises he owns or occupies, or any other premises he controls, so there may well be searches in other areas as well".

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:52 AM (+YA9H)

117 mornin yall. Not to be outdone by Springsteen, U2 has released a song about Renee Good. No word on when either will do a song about Laken Reilly.

Posted by: fd at February 19, 2026 06:53 AM (vFG9F)

118 If they're going after Andrew for that, then they have to go after Peter Mandelson for the same offense.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:54 AM (6ydKt)

119 Wolfus, did you get out of town for Mardi Gras or did you decide to stay?

Posted by: pookysgirl, groggy froggy at February 19, 2026 06:56 AM (Wt5PA)

120 The arrest gives them access to his stuff:

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:52 AM (+YA9H)

I'm not saying Andy is a genius, but you have to think he's smart enough to have long ago destroyed anything that would incriminate him.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 06:56 AM (6ydKt)

121 If the Islamists are in charge in Britain, then Andrew must have done something to piss them off.

Posted by: davidt at February 19, 2026 06:56 AM (Q+gd/)

122 BBC:

How long can police hold Andrew for?

Our colleagues at BBC Radio 5 Live have been speaking to Danny Shaw, a policing commentator, about what Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest actually involves.
Shaw says the absolute longest the former prince can be held for is 96 hours - but this would require multiple extensions from senior police officers and a Magistrate's Court.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:57 AM (+YA9H)

123 Prince Andrew has been arrested by British authorities. An interesting day already
Posted by: Smell the Glove

I find it interesting they'd arrest the brother of the king before arresting any of the grooming gangs that are raping their country.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at February 19, 2026 06:58 AM (cxFcK)

124 Shaw says the absolute longest the former prince can be held for is 96 hours - but this would require multiple extensions from senior police officers and a Magistrate's Court.
Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:57 AM (+YA9H)
---
I don't think that will be a problem.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 19, 2026 06:58 AM (ESVrU)

125 Hakeem Jefferies is a blithering idiot. I'm an upstate NYer but is the Dem party happy with Schumer and Jefferies, NYC creatures, as their congressional leadership? Those idiots are taking their party and the country over a cliff

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 19, 2026 06:58 AM (Kc+Vz)

126 83 Happy Birthday, Andy!
Posted by: Common Tater at February 19, 2026 06:16 AM (qdur7)

heh

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 06:58 AM (+YA9H)

127 117 mornin yall. Not to be outdone by Springsteen, U2 has released a song about Renee Good. No word on when either will do a song about Laken Reilly.

Posted by: fd

Grasping and failing for relevance. Bless there hearts.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at February 19, 2026 06:59 AM (sAmhv)

128 Wonder if U2 will say anything about the Islamic takeover of Ireland? Somehow I doubt it

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 19, 2026 07:01 AM (Kc+Vz)

129 "We cannot possibly be talking about the same Britain.
Honest to God, did that just come out of your mouth?
Is there not a word on the history of England on your cereal box?"

Fine. Please explain to me how the absolute invasion of Britain by non-Europeans has happened with absolutely no effective push back.

The pre-WW1 British wouldn't have stood for it. The pre-WW2 wouldn't have either. But, here we are with the British are being replaced in their homeland.

Don't get me wrong. Our "special relationship" with the British started when they exterminated most of their men in WW1 and need more bodies. They weren't our friends in 1812 and they wanted to side with the Confederates in the 1860s which made them not friends with the USA. They had the balls to bitch when we showed up WW2 as if we had a duty to bail their sorry asses out.

Our first President was correct; Europe can go fuck itself. The colonists left for damned good reasons.

Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 19, 2026 07:03 AM (ekpi1)

130 So the Dutch politicians have gone from euthanizing the citizens to holding the whole country's head under water in the Zuider Zee

Gotcha ya

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2026 07:04 AM (2GVsD)

131 Article on the local "news" site this morning:

"Should taxpayers use AI to file their 2026 taxes? Here's what experts had to say"

I say go for it. What's the worst that can happen?

Posted by: An Expert at February 19, 2026 07:04 AM (vFG9F)

132 It seems that that beside Epstein and Maxwell, Andrew will be the sacrificial lamb, boob bait for the bubbas.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 19, 2026 07:05 AM (wj6F+)

133 Andrew will enjoy his accommodations in the Tower of London.

And no he did not kill himself.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2026 07:07 AM (2GVsD)

134 I find it interesting they'd arrest the brother of the king before arresting any of the grooming gangs that are raping their country.
Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly

"But my good fellow, that would be raysis! We cannot be seen as beastly to the young men of indeterminate skin tone and unknown religious affiliation!"

Posted by: NR Pax at February 19, 2026 07:09 AM (RjOoY)

135 Some ginger-haired girls are dancing & laughing behind the reporter at Buckingham Palace.

Hilarious.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 19, 2026 07:10 AM (6ydKt)

136 King Charles on the arrest:

"Let me state clearly: the law must take its course."

Not-Biden.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 07:12 AM (+YA9H)

137 Wolfus, did you get out of town for Mardi Gras or did you decide to stay?
Posted by: pookysgirl, groggy froggy at February 19, 2026

***
No, I stayed, but avoided all the craziness. Miss Linda and I went out for coffee and then visited a wetlands park that is hidden near where we live. A gravel trail leads through it. On previous visits we saw a couple of armadillos; this time, only a lone egret.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 07:13 AM (wzUl9)

138 I see that once again "nothing happened"........:v

Posted by: TheCatAttackedMyFoot at February 19, 2026 07:13 AM (LOZbR)

139 "And no he did not kill himself."

Well, not yet.

Posted by: Case at February 19, 2026 07:14 AM (j6kTf)

140 Has Andrew considered taking over the crown? The royals have become complacent and weak. Maybe it's time to get medieval.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 19, 2026 07:14 AM (gVUi7)

141 I like the part in the Original "Dracula" where Transylvanian armadillos are wandering the castle.

Posted by: fd at February 19, 2026 07:15 AM (vFG9F)

142 "Or is that just counting digital sub-channels, too?"

Sub-channels too.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2026 07:16 AM (iMotb)

143 If you needed any confirmation that U2 sucks, you have not been paying attention.

Posted by: fd at February 19, 2026 07:17 AM (vFG9F)

144 140 Has Andrew considered taking over the crown? The royals have become complacent and weak. Maybe it's time to get medieval.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 19, 2026 07:14 AM (gVUi7)

Andrew and whose army?

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 07:17 AM (+YA9H)

145 "Andrew and whose army?
Posted by: m"

Mohammad's.

Posted by: fd at February 19, 2026 07:17 AM (vFG9F)

146 JJ is up.

Posted by: NR Pax at February 19, 2026 07:18 AM (RjOoY)

147 BBC:

Buckingham Palace said they would support Thames Valley Police in their inquiries.
And that potentially means the police have gone to the Palace, or could go to the Palace, asking to see evidence of communications between Andrew and others.

Posted by: m at February 19, 2026 07:18 AM (+YA9H)

148 I thought Bono was going to drive his vehicle off a cliff if Trump got elected.?

What a wuss.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2026 07:18 AM (2GVsD)

149 I like the part in the Original "Dracula" where Transylvanian armadillos are wandering the castle.
Posted by: fd at February 19, 2026

***
Do those little buggers live in So. California? Or did they in 1931? Maybe the director thought they were exotic and unusual enough to creep out audiences . . . but if SoCal people saw them on the roads all the time, that effect would be lost.

They certainly look exotic and creepy if you live where they don't.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 07:19 AM (wzUl9)

150 No, I stayed, but avoided all the craziness. Miss Linda and I went out for coffee and then visited a wetlands park that is hidden near where we live. A gravel trail leads through it. On previous visits we saw a couple of armadillos; this time, only a lone egret.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 19, 2026 07:13 AM (wzUl9)

I would not have guessed that you'd find armadillos in a wetlands area. My only experience with them was avoiding them in the Texas hill country while driving, since they've been known to wreck cars.

Posted by: pookysgirl, groggy froggy at February 19, 2026 07:22 AM (Wt5PA)

151 JJ is up

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 19, 2026 07:24 AM (Kc+Vz)

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