Daily Tech News 9 May 2026

Tech News

Maybe we should just not install software for a bit. (Xe Iaso)

There's another new - or newish - Linux privilege escalation bug. It's literally called Copy Fail 2: Electric Boogaloo.

But under the hood it's abusing the same module as yesterday's Dirty Frag, so if you already applied the mitigation for that, you're protected from CF2EB.
Also, my recommendation is don't install Ubuntu 26.04 just yet. Unlike 24.04 which worked smoothly from release day, Ubuntu 26.04 still has some odd quirks. Particularly if you want to use it under WSL and integrate with JetBrains IDEs (CLion in this case, but they'll all be the same here) where it just doesn't work.

I went back to 24.04 and had no more issues.

Tech News

Thousands of vibe-coded apps expose personal and corporate data to everyone on the internet. (Wired) (archive site)

AI coding tools are like hiring an autistic teenager to program for you. Great if your requirements are clearly defined and you check their work carefully.

But if you just blindly deploy whatever they produce, that's on you.
AI slop is killing online communities. (rmoff)

It's not that AI is intrinsically bad, anymore than email is bad.

It's just that it makes being annoying far too easy:
Material created with the assistance of AI is not bad in itself. It's the purpose to which it's put.
A good use of AI is when it enables people to do something they couldn't do before, to contribute to a community when they couldn't before. Done with the care and good intent of a human behind it, this is a nett positive.
Bad AI slop, on the other hand, is monkeys throwing crap over the fence for a purpose other than furthering the community. This includes spam, engagement farming, and simply thoughtless noise in a space which is not for that purpose.
We need more spam filters.
Mojo has gone beta. (Mojolang)

Mojo is a Python-like language (more so than, for example, Nim) that compiles directly to binary and has similar safety features to Rust. It's designed to work with Python in both directions: Importing Mojo modules into Python code, and importing Python code into Mojo programs, though apparently the latter is more robust than the former.

Not sure how well it works otherwise; the first release some years ago actually had a waiting list. At least now you can just click a link and download it. Well, you can't, but apparently you can install it with uv or pixi.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Begin at the beginning, and proceed to the end, and then stop.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Morgen.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent at May 09, 2026 04:30 AM (/HDaX)

2 I have a tech ( phone) Is there a reason I am getting no sound when I try to listen to links from places such as Tik Tok and X and no, I don't have any accounts there.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 04:34 AM (ix8EF)

3 As far as AI- what is "engagement noise"?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 04:36 AM (ix8EF)

4 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at May 09, 2026 04:42 AM (gcUgZ)

5 Every night and every morn
Some to misery are born.
Every morn and every night
Some are born to sweet delight.

Some are born to sweet delight
Some are born to endless night.

Posted by: Wm Blake at May 09, 2026 04:52 AM (hyQrc)

6 I found this article about not comparing yourself to others. I sent it to my son Perhaps others might find it helpful. It is from a Christian viewpoint:

https://tinyurl.com/p4fbttxj

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 04:56 AM (8Xy/A)

7 That be the non-white Michael Jackson right there.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 04:58 AM (ynpvh)

8 3 As far as AI- what is "engagement noise"?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 04:36 AM (ix8EF)

Engagement farming is posting frequently, expending the least effort necessary to elicit the maximum response possible from others. The purpose behind it is to please the platform's Almighty Algorithm, and get boosted higher in more users' suggested content list, e.g. in YouTube the seemingly random videos on the right.

Our own TJM has mentioned that doing even just two videos a week is a large investment of his time, but makes a big difference to The Algorithm. Naturally, many succumb to the temptation to use AI slop to throw more content out and harvest more engagement (views, likes, comments, etc.) with less effort. This can result in higher levels of monetization, which is to say that they get paid for making our lives a bit grimmer -- our experiences more artificed, and our time more wasted.

An even more degenerate form is found when highly gregarious people with very low socio-emotional intelligence just throw meaningless noise into the wind. They may feel the satisfaction of connection, but it's fake; they're hiding signal and degrading the user experience.

Posted by: SciVo at May 09, 2026 05:01 AM (Sy6m/)

9 8 3 As far as AI- what is "engagement noise"?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 04:36 AM (ix8EF)

And here I thought that was the noise your fiance made when you got down on your knees and showed her the ring...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:02 AM (ynpvh)

10 Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:02 AM (ynpvh)

Thanks. I laughed.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:04 AM (Nx5jP)

11 Posted by: SciVo at May 09, 2026 05:01 AM (Sy6m/

Thanks.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:06 AM (Nx5jP)

12 Delivery driver rescues calf stuck in gate:

https://tinyurl.com/ebu6cxvr

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:07 AM (Nx5jP)

13 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at May 09, 2026 05:09 AM (Ia/+0)

14 w00t

Posted by: m at May 09, 2026 05:09 AM (RtN13)

15 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at May 09, 2026 05:10 AM (V0/Sp)

16
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at May 09, 2026 05:12 AM (8iYDv)

17 Hi Fen

Sometimes you simply have to engage the sound within the video display. Generally found at lower left.

Posted by: fluffy at May 09, 2026 05:12 AM (V0/Sp)

18 This is the bird I saw in a tree near my house yesterday- a house finch. So pretty:

https://tinyurl.com/zsnw6szf

We also had a small field of buttercups. I am grateful to God I can see these things.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:13 AM (Nx5jP)

19 18 This is the bird I saw in a tree near my house yesterday- a house finch. So pretty:

https://tinyurl.com/zsnw6szf

We also had a small field of buttercups. I am grateful to God I can see these things.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:13 AM (Nx5jP)

I have one of those that's a regular to my back yard.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:14 AM (ynpvh)

20 Posted by: fluffy at May 09, 2026 05:12 AM (V0/Sp

I appreciate the answer. I was trying to do that. I couldn't seem to find the correct button. That's how non technical I am. Ha.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:14 AM (Nx5jP)

21 >>>Musical Interllude
Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough

Musical Center of the World!

Thanks for this, Pixy!

Posted by: m at May 09, 2026 05:15 AM (RtN13)

22 Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:14 AM (ynpvh)

I enjoyed the conversations here we had one day when people were talking about birds they had seen. I don't have a bird feeder , but during the snows I put out bird seed and husband hung a corn cob with seeds off a tree and we saw a lot. So nice.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:17 AM (Nx5jP)

23 22 Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:14 AM (ynpvh)

I enjoyed the conversations here we had one day when people were talking about birds they had seen. I don't have a bird feeder , but during the snows I put out bird seed and husband hung a corn cob with seeds off a tree and we saw a lot. So nice.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:17 AM (Nx5jP)

I grew up in the desert...on a few occasions over the 20 or so years I lived there, we had a woodpecker working one of our trees...he must've been so lost. LOL

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:18 AM (ynpvh)

24 BBC

The AI chatbot users falling into delusional spirals

https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/w3ct8m8p

27 minutes

Posted by: m at May 09, 2026 05:19 AM (RtN13)

25 Have a good day, everyone. I am going to make coffee for FenSpouse and me. Problem with waking on a. schedule during the week is that we can't seem to turn it off on the weekends

So I hope you have a blessed day . Remember, you are a blessing to others
,

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:20 AM (Nx5jP)

26 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at May 09, 2026 05:25 AM (vBlQn)

27 FenelonSpoke

You two lovebirds have a great day.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 05:26 AM (u82oZ)

28 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 05:27 AM (u82oZ)

29 Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 05:26 AM

Thanks, dear Salty.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 05:31 AM (uA11f)

30 >>> I couldn't seem to find the correct button.

It looks like a speaker with sound waves coming out, with a slash through it when sound is off.

On an avian note, we get house finches at our feeders. In past years they have even set up a nest in a hanging plant on our porch. They are aptly named house finches.

Posted by: fluffy at May 09, 2026 05:32 AM (V0/Sp)

31 Interllude --> Interlude

!

Posted by: m at May 09, 2026 05:40 AM (RtN13)

32 Well, I read the article about AI slop. I resent it sooooooo much.

Posted by: Emmie -- be strong and courageous! at May 09, 2026 05:42 AM (FMtrg)

33 G'mornin' everyone!

interesting news there, Pixy ... I installed 24.04 for someone the other day, already had the .iso on a thumb drive, easy-peasy.
Just as well that I didn't take the extra time to get 26.04 !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at May 09, 2026 05:42 AM (VyBeY)

34 We have a feeding station for birds right by the patio. A sandpile with a couple of black walnut trees. Black sunflower seeds scattered on the sand and, during the winter, suet spread on the tree trunks for the sapsuckers. Cardinals, blue jays, and mourning doves (with assorted little brown jobs) year-round; others in season; currently, that's red-winged blackbirds, grackles, grosbeaks, goldfinches, & house finches.

Posted by: Sleazebag Freedom Flotilla activist at May 09, 2026 05:42 AM (NcvvS)

35 34 We have a feeding station for birds right by the patio. A sandpile with a couple of black walnut trees. Black sunflower seeds scattered on the sand and, during the winter, suet spread on the tree trunks for the sapsuckers. Cardinals, blue jays, and mourning doves (with assorted little brown jobs) year-round; others in season; currently, that's red-winged blackbirds, grackles, grosbeaks, goldfinches, & house finches.

Posted by: Sleazebag Freedom Flotilla activist at May 09, 2026 05:42 AM (NcvvS)

My pecan tree is over 30ft tall, so get quite a few birds...mourning doves, mockingbirds, grackles, crows (so many damned crows when the pecans are not quite ready to pick...damn bastard crows!).
Had someone in the general neighborhood have an osprey land on his roof with a large fish in tow...that must've been quite the sight...happened near a middle school when the kids were getting out, so lots of kids were gawking at it.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:45 AM (ynpvh)

36 Also get some finches (little tiny guys and also the sparrow sized) in the guava trees...they, along with regular sparrows and even some hummingbirds...have had a few nest in the blackberry brambles...talk about a home with defensive spikes all about.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 09, 2026 05:46 AM (ynpvh)

37 Our finches are fearless little bastards. I swear if my dog stood outside too still for too long, a finch would come by and start making a nest under his ear.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at May 09, 2026 05:53 AM (Ot/FD)

38 >>My pecan tree is over 30ft tall, so get quite a few birds...mourning doves, mockingbirds, grackles, crows (so many damned crows when the pecans are not quite ready to pick...damn bastard crows!).

The walnuts are the only trees really close, but there's a lot of shrubs & trees within a hundred yards. Birds use those as staging areas to access the food. We also have hawks and an eagle pair not far away. They don't look at the food we put out; they look at what eats that food.

Posted by: Sleazebag Freedom Flotilla activist at May 09, 2026 05:59 AM (NcvvS)

39 /Off, old sock!

Posted by: Nazdar at May 09, 2026 05:59 AM (NcvvS)

40 >>Our finches are fearless little bastards.

Yeah, they're the only ones that aren't shy around the jays.

Posted by: Nazdar at May 09, 2026 06:00 AM (NcvvS)

41 Whoops, things to do. BBL.

Posted by: Nazdar at May 09, 2026 06:02 AM (NcvvS)

42 Tea. Earl Grey Hot.

Rejoinder: Call me Ishmael.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at May 09, 2026 06:07 AM (xvhJH)

43 Here in central Oklahoma most of the birds that visit my feeder are pretty dull, brown or gray. If not for the cardinals and occasional woodpecker there'd be no color at all.

And then one day, BOOM. Got a visit from two Baltimore orioles. That was nice.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at May 09, 2026 06:09 AM (l26NL)

44 Just wanted to mention this free app you can put on your phone . It's called " Merlin Bird ID " from the Cornell Ornithology Lab. It can identify birds in a photo or through sounds. FenSpouse has been enjoying using it.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 09, 2026 06:10 AM (IeCgc)

45 Came back from a hike with a widow to see three large turkey vultures on my roof.

On our hike we saw indigo buntings, cardinals, goldfinches, and house finches.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 06:14 AM (u82oZ)

46 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at May 09, 2026 06:18 AM (2Ez/1)

47 Evening and morning, Saturday toilers and early weekend risers! It's not raining here, yet. I need to check the local radar. Whassup?

Pixy: Are recent versions of Linux Mint affected by this bug? If so, should I download an earlier version (when I'm ready to tackle the project of trying out Linux)?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 09, 2026 06:21 AM (wzUl9)

48 Didn't Bad AI open for Rage Against the Machine?

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 09, 2026 06:25 AM (2GVsD)

49 Miss Linda was sick with a migraine all day yesterday -- she refuses to see a doctor or do anything for it except take ibuprofen -- so I was tending to her off and on. I used to get nauseating sinus headaches as a boy and young man, and believe you me, if there had been some way to get out from under them, I'd have grabbed it with both hands. (I did take Seldane for a while before it got removed from the market, and it worked, but made me wired from all the caffeine. Maybe if I'd just taken No-Doz . . .?)

The headaches stopped unaccountably when I was about forty-three. So I spent about thirty years dealing with them, and have been free of them for almost as long.

Are there homeopathic remedies one can take for migraines? Magnesium supplements?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 09, 2026 06:25 AM (wzUl9)

50 We get some house finches at the bird feeder in the summer -haven’seen them back yet. This last week there’s been a pair of thrushes chasing the cat around a lot; I can only wonder what he did to earn their enmity. (Thrush = mockingbird sized, brown back, white breast with very noticeable dark spots on it)

Posted by: Tom Servo at May 09, 2026 06:27 AM (25Mwa)

51 Pixy: Are recent versions of Linux Mint affected by this bug? If so, should I download an earlier version (when I'm ready to tackle the project of trying out Linux)?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 09, 2026 06:21 AM (wzUl9)

These are all local privilege escalation bugs, to my kniwledge, which require an untrusted user with local access to the system running the malicious scripts to achieve root access illicit.

It's something I will patch once available. But I am not fretting systems in my household with only trusted users.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at May 09, 2026 06:28 AM (dK+Kv)

52 We get some house finches at the bird feeder in the summer -haven’seen them back yet. This last week there’s been a pair of thrushes chasing the cat around a lot; I can only wonder what he did to earn their enmity. (Thrush = mockingbird sized, brown back, white breast with very noticeable dark spots on it)
Posted by: Tom Servo at May 09, 2026

***
The thrush is a noble bird and unfairly maligned.

Posted by: Thrush Supreme Council at May 09, 2026 06:29 AM (wzUl9)

53 Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea

Good morning, Ishmael.

I feel a song coming on. Don't run away ...

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 06:29 AM (u82oZ)

54 Thrush Supreme Council

I thought Control ended your organization.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 06:30 AM (u82oZ)

55 Motivation to work out, where are you?

* Whistles; tries the "calling a cat" sound *

Darnit, it's hiding again.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 09, 2026 06:33 AM (wzUl9)

56 Are there homeopathic remedies one can take for migraines? Magnesium supplements?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 09, 2026 06:25 AM (wzUl9)

My wife has had them, very difficult to deal with. Best prescription drug is sumatriptan (generic name) which is Not a painkiller, but which stops what appears to be an electrical storm going on in the brain.

Magnesium is recommended as a preventative, but doesn’t do much once one has started. Migraines are still not well understood, and very difficult to treat.

Posted by: Tom Servo at May 09, 2026 06:33 AM (25Mwa)

57 Thrush Supreme Council
*
I thought Control ended your organization.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026

***
That was KAOS. Pure amateurs.

Posted by: Thrush Supreme Council at May 09, 2026 06:34 AM (wzUl9)

58 In the Mideast, the IRGC and Hezbollah have chosen their own destruction to being out of power, and will not work for prosperity.

Let's make their choice a fatal one. Think they will turn? No way. Exterminate, not negotiate.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 06:34 AM (u82oZ)

59 Thrush Supreme Council

So go long in uni-colour jumpsuits with lots of brown dye.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 09, 2026 06:35 AM (u82oZ)

60 My wife has had [migraines], very difficult to deal with. Best prescription drug is sumatriptan (generic name) which is Not a painkiller, but which stops what appears to be an electrical storm going on in the brain.

Magnesium is recommended as a preventative, but doesn’t do much once one has started. Migraines are still not well understood, and very difficult to treat.
Posted by: Tom Servo at May 09, 2026

***
If I could just get her to take that every day! Or to go to a doctor (though I have no idea what kind of medical coverage she has) for an Rx such as you mention.

Posted by: Thrush Supreme Council at May 09, 2026 06:36 AM (wzUl9)

61 Come cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer...

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at May 09, 2026 06:36 AM (xvhJH)

62 Oops.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 09, 2026 06:37 AM (wzUl9)

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