Daily Tech News 26 February 2026

Top Story

The first transatlantic fiber-optic cable is being pulled up after nearly forty years. (Tom's Hardware)

TAT-8 went into operation in 1988 and then failed in 2002 and was deemed uneconomic to repair. Which not surprising since it could only carry 280 megabits per second - 40,000 phone calls, and an aggregate speed about half that of my home internet.

As the name suggests there were seven prior TATs, with TAT-1 being provisioned in 1956 and carrying 35 simultaneous phone calls. Six subsequent TATs ended with TAT-14 which could handle 9.3 terabits per second - enough bandwidth for everyone in America to be on the phone to someone in Europe simultaneously.

Even that was not enough and it was retired in 2020. Total transatlantic bandwidth today is somewhere in the low petabits.

Tech News

DVD sales are seeing a recovery - or at least slowing their decline - as Gen Z discovers that waiting for your favourite show or movie to come back on TV sucks. (Yahoo)

The Criterion Collection in particular has seen sales increase thanks to the streaming services colluding to piss off absolutely everyone.
OpenClaw's creator tells AI builders to be more playful and sprinkle chaos everywhere. (Tech Crunch)

The disasters you leave in your wake aren't your fault.

The people they happen to fucked up.

They trusted you.
A hacker used a "jail break" on the Claude AI service to steal 150 gigabytes of data from Mexican government agencies. (Yahoo)

He (probably a he) made off with 195 million tax records and an unknown number of voter records but probably all of them.

That jail break?

He asked it twice.
Anthropic, the company behind Claude promised in 2023 that it wouldn't train an AI that it couldn't demonstrate was safe and refuse to do... Uh, exactly what it just did.

They just scratched off that "don't be evil" promise. (Time)

Well, that's alright then.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: And she was on a road to nowhere.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Morgen.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent at February 26, 2026 04:01 AM (/HDaX)

2 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at February 26, 2026 04:03 AM (sAmhv)

3 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2026 04:04 AM (Ia/+0)

4 Morninginging all.

Had a migraine earlier. Getting better now but still slightly blargh.

Posted by: Minx 0.8 beta at February 26, 2026 04:05 AM (BLOW1)

5 Even that was not enough and it was retired in 2020. Total transatlantic bandwidth today is somewhere in the low petabits.

Understandable.
We all know how much the Europeans love to run their mouths at Americans.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 26, 2026 04:06 AM (6ydKt)

6 That jail break?

He asked it twice.

Never underestimate the power of persistence.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 26, 2026 04:08 AM (6ydKt)

7 Disclaimer: And she was on a road to nowhere.

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 26, 2026 04:10 AM (6ydKt)

8 G'morning, all!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 26, 2026 04:11 AM (iMotb)

9 57.9 degrees out.

Nice morning for a walk, if the rain holds off.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 26, 2026 04:12 AM (iMotb)

10 Ohayo gozaimasu

Posted by: JQ at February 26, 2026 04:13 AM (rdVOm)

11 BOING!

Busy.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 26, 2026 04:14 AM (plFPI)

12 Morning all

Posted by: Tuna at February 26, 2026 04:14 AM (lJ0H4)

13 Disclaimer: And she was on a road to nowhere.

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 26, 2026 04:10 AM (6ydKt)

She was not my Beautiful Wife!

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 26, 2026 04:20 AM (qlUA+)

14 That jail break?

He asked it twice.

I have it on good authority that the disasters I leave in my wake are not my fault.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 26, 2026 04:22 AM (qlUA+)

15 Well... How did I get here?

Posted by: JQ at February 26, 2026 04:23 AM (rdVOm)

16 Well... How did I get here?

Posted by: JQ at February 26, 2026 04:23 AM (rdVOm)
-

Jello shots.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 26, 2026 04:24 AM (plFPI)

17 Well... How did I get here?
Posted by: JQ at February 26, 2026 04:23 AM (rdVOm)

Watch Out! You might get what you’re after.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 26, 2026 04:25 AM (qlUA+)

18 I'm pretty sure if you took five random Talking Heads songs, and jumbled all of the lyrics together you could come up with a novella-length story that only David Byrne could understand.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at February 26, 2026 04:26 AM (6ydKt)

19 Jello shots! Yes! That's it!

This is not my beautiful house...

Posted by: JQ at February 26, 2026 04:32 AM (rdVOm)

20 Speaking Of at….

It would also have a great beat and an infectious hook. And a snappy suit with really wide shoulders.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 26, 2026 04:36 AM (qlUA+)

21 https://youtu.be/aK7hC8p5DJ0

Dance!!!

Posted by: JQ at February 26, 2026 04:38 AM (rdVOm)

22 It would indeed seem that they are not sending their best, nor their brightest.

https://tinyurl.com/5n964ar2

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 26, 2026 04:38 AM (iMotb)

23 Fun stuff, Horde... but it's late here.

Good night. Sweet dreams to all.

Posted by: JQ at February 26, 2026 04:44 AM (rdVOm)

24 57.9 degrees out.

Nice morning for a walk, if the rain holds off.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice

Dress appropriately

Posted by: Lord Miklos Kelvin at February 26, 2026 04:45 AM (8i9Vv)

25 In the continuing saga of updating the home television system, the two 3.5 inch inserts are completed and installed, extending the width of the area on top of the central unit by 7 inches.

That gives me room for the 75" TV, with about 1 inch of clearance on either side from the side cabinets.

https://tinyurl.com/muvps3tb

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 26, 2026 04:45 AM (iMotb)

26 Mornin' Horde. Time for coffee...

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 26, 2026 04:52 AM (O7YUW)

27 Stop making sense

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2026 04:52 AM (Ia/+0)

28 Morning all. I'd like an updating system. The Y is now having adult volleyball and I would love to play but the old knees just couldn't take it.
Waiting on my exoskeleton.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 26, 2026 04:54 AM (+nEug)

29 Looks like Cuba killed 4 civilian people in a boat
Maybe they thought they were ICE

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2026 04:57 AM (Ia/+0)

30 It would indeed seem that they are not sending their best, nor their brightest.

https://tinyurl.com/5n964ar2

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 26, 2026 04:38 AM (iMotb)
-

Beside the illegal animal, that might also be true for his victim.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 26, 2026 04:59 AM (plFPI)

31 Looks like Cuba killed 4 civilian people in a boat
Maybe they thought they were ICE

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2026 04:57 AM (Ia/+0)
-

Saw earlier somewhere that Cuba claimed shots were fire from the Florida boat.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 26, 2026 05:00 AM (plFPI)

32 PSA: Virginia is under a norovirus attack.
There is no treatment.

Posted by: Accomac at February 26, 2026 05:05 AM (GbONR)

33 Singing mailman helps grieving grandma. "Faithpot" site:

https://tinyurl.com/m7cxv9zm

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 26, 2026 05:05 AM (rZCVI)

34 1956 the first fiber cable to Europe and that is how many royal family disputes per second. But the Queen was still around then, and all is well for a short time. Cold war was going, and the Beatles were about to make it big. And Elvis was on his way to stardom, but in the army soon.

Posted by: Colin at February 26, 2026 05:08 AM (e8qy3)

35 "All things for our good" Genesis 45:1-8
Upper Room devotional:

https://tinyurl.com/3pxd5ek6

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 26, 2026 05:09 AM (rZCVI)

36
29 Looks like Cuba killed 4 civilian people in a boat
Maybe they thought they were ICE
Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2026 04:57 AM

--------

As a followup to the SOTU, communists continue demonstrating that there's only one thing they're really good at.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at February 26, 2026 05:10 AM (VWtfl)

37 What's the deal with the good citizens of NYC throwing crap at their police? Their Mayor said it was a snowball fight. The police say it was chunks of ice and rocks. Now the police union is pissed off. Maybe they should call a strike. Let the Mayor deal with the thugs for a while.

Posted by: Case at February 26, 2026 05:12 AM (Z3Kkg)

38 Farmer gives a life lesson using potatoes. Faithpot site:

https://tinyurl.com/5pht2xwj

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 26, 2026 05:12 AM (rZCVI)

39 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at February 26, 2026 05:14 AM (bQ4nt)

40
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at February 26, 2026 05:15 AM (tljrc)

41 BYU and friends sing cover of "Amazing Grace":

https://tinyurl.com/3b947x6w

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 26, 2026 05:19 AM (rZCVI)

42 Time for the morning walk.

BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 26, 2026 05:20 AM (iMotb)

43 As a kid of about 6 or so, living along a river (Delaware) its about time for the ice to break up and cause ice jams. You could hear the ice breaking up. Dynamite was used to break up the jams. One small town down the river always seemed to get flooded.

Posted by: Colin at February 26, 2026 05:31 AM (e8qy3)

44 Evening and morning, satellites of AoSHQ! Thor's Day comes round again.

65 F. now, high today about 80. I'm taking a risk with a prediction, really going out on a limb here, but my guess is . . . winter here is over. A few days earlier than the last few years, where "winter exit[ed] March the second on the dot." Gah.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2026 05:32 AM (wzUl9)

45 Yesterday I called around to some local moving services. One, the former veteran who employs veterans, called me back, and we talked a bit. He can have his guys load my furniture on his truck, then either store it or ship it right to my destination and unload it there. One company to hire, as opposed to several.

He sent me a link to record a video of my place, so he could see what kind of furniture he was dealing with. My phone's browser version was unsupported, said the phone. And when I tried to update, it insisted I sign in to Gorgle. I don't have a Gorgle mail account and don't want one. I recorded my own video -- but one minute, the living room only, ran 121 MB. Not sure that's gonna work to mail to him. I let him know, and we'll see.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2026 05:39 AM (wzUl9)

46 Right at freezing point, into 40s again hopefully
Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2026 05:41 AM (Ia/+0)

47 "The disasters you leave in your wake aren't your fault.

The people they happen to fucked up.

They trusted you."

I don't know maybe flush next time or something then.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 26, 2026 05:44 AM (Vq1pX)

48 Greetings and good morning, everyone. Woke up feeling dizzy but I'm starting to settle. Spent part of last night on the phone with USAA trying to figure out how to get mom to upload her power of attorney and gain access to dad's accounts. I got lucky with the person I talked to and she was able to walk me through everything I needed.

Posted by: NR Pax at February 26, 2026 05:48 AM (+4yJ5)

49 Got to exercise this morning. This week I've been walking with Miss Linda, 45 min. or so each afternoon. Now I need to get back to an actual vigorous walk/trot workout. No need to bundle up today, so there's that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2026 05:49 AM (wzUl9)

50 The Criterion Collection in particular has seen sales increase thanks to the streaming services colluding to piss off absolutely everyone.

The streaming companies forget that there are pirate options out there and if you make it difficult for people to get what they want, they will go there.

Posted by: NR Pax at February 26, 2026 05:50 AM (+4yJ5)

51 Good morning! Wolfus, consider selling/donating all your stuff and starting fresh.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at February 26, 2026 05:52 AM (3Ope8)

52 And of course there are problems with the paperwork for that long-ago pension from a long-ago employer of mine. The address on it was incomplete, and they had the wrong month and day for my birthday. The investment place is looking into this, but I'm not gonna see that money for months, I'll bet. And then they will send me the check and *I* have to get it to my IRA people. When the instructions say in one paragraph "direct rollover,* and then in another that it'll be a check sent to me, that's annoying.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2026 05:53 AM (wzUl9)

53 Posted by: NR Pax at February 26, 2026 05:48

I am glad someone was able to help you, and may all rough places be made smooth. Also, prayers that your dizziness goes away.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 26, 2026 05:54 AM (rZCVI)

54 direct rollover,* and then in another that it'll be a check sent to me, that's annoying.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2026 05:53 AM (wzUl9)

Maybe they misspelled "bendover"?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at February 26, 2026 05:54 AM (Vq1pX)

55 The ads here were so impossible to deal with that I finally turned on the firefox adblock extension.

Ace needs to find better parasites; the current ones are close to killing the host.

Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 26, 2026 05:55 AM (J8ZaT)

56 Good morning! Wolfus, consider selling/donating all your stuff and starting fresh.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at February 26, 2026

***
Some I may donate, but much of it could not be replaced easily. Where do you find bookcases nowadays, for instance? My desk has a sentimental connection for me. It was our family's dining table and my homework/model-building/writing table for many years. And where could I find a Mission-style armchair now for less than a fortune?

I could use a new box spring, I suppose, and if I go that far I could just buy a whole new bed.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2026 05:57 AM (wzUl9)

57 USAA isn't what it used to be (like so many things). I've been a customer since 1979.

They haven't fired all the useful people so far. I doubt they are hiring new useful people, TBF.

Posted by: Richard Cranium at February 26, 2026 05:58 AM (J8ZaT)

58 All right, you lot.

Posted by: Don Black at February 26, 2026 05:59 AM (ZxPkt)

59 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:28

Posted by: Marcus T at February 26, 2026 06:01 AM (EJWxb)

60 Do not get rid of your quality furniture and belongings. You will never be able to find that stuff at a quality level of days of yor.

Would you be happy with a partial board desk?

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 26, 2026 06:03 AM (+N6ee)

61 Very well said by Mostly Peaceful Memes:

https://tinyurl.com/ssbk9b96

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 26, 2026 06:03 AM (plFPI)

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