Daily Tech News 28 June 2026

Top Story

You might not be interested in Langford's basilisk, but Langford's basilisk is interested in you. (Nerds.xyz)

Langford's basilisk is a science fiction concept where images can be crafted specifically to rewire the brain.

This doesn't work well on humans - and a good thing too, because in the original story it was instantly fatal. But guess what can also see and in some sense understand images and has no separation of instructions and data?

Tech News

Scientists have deciphered a 2000 year old lump of charcoal. (Smithsonian)

The charcoal was originally a scroll from Herculaneum, destroyed along with the rest of the city in the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79. And much of it was destroyed again in 19th and 20th century attempts to decipher the carbonised chunk.

If you think I'm exaggerating the scroll's condition, the article has pictures.
Speaking of carbonised scrolls, why were two scientific papers by Max Planck retracted? (Science)

Because computers are dumb.
A tiny coffee table the size of a scorpion is forcing scientists to rethink carpentry. (Scitech Daily)

Because headline writers are also dumb.
With DDR3 and even DDR2 RAM prices on the increase, how about DDR1? Is that still safe? (Tom's Hardware)

Maybe. And you can run Windows 11 on it if you can find the rest of the parts in working order. IoT Edition, anyway, which doesn't have the pointless restrictions of the desktop version.
Analysts expect memory prices to double by the end of the year and increase by another 40% next year, before easing slightly in 2028 maybe. (WCCFTech)

Yay.
Reservations for Valve's Steam Machine are being resold on eBay for $2700. (WCCFTech)

That's for an entry level computer that is already wildly overpriced at $1349 thanks to the DRAM Apocalypse. Not clear if that includes the cost of the Gabe Cube or if it's just the reservation.
The PlayStation 6 is expected to cost at least $1000. (Notebook Check)

Sony is not planning to delay its release because things are only going to get worse.
Speaking of getting worse, Sony will be removing 551 films from the libraries of PlayStation Network customers in the UK and Europe. (Notebook Check)

And no, they won't be getting refunds.
Casio has reintroduced three models of its classic digital watches in the US, priced at $55. (Notebook Check)

Wait. That's actually not terrible. What's going on here?

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Fishes!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 04:30 AM (6wpGE)

2 Casio has reintroduced three models of is classic digital watches in the US, prices at $55. (Notebook Check)
Wait. That's actually not terrible. What's going on here?

"If you're not the customer, you're the product"?

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 04:34 AM (6wpGE)

3 Well, these are practically antique designs, so they have no memory to speak of, and are immune to the current shortages. They're probably making a healthy profit even at $55.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 28, 2026 04:43 AM (BLOW1)

4 Good morning. Earlier today. Was Ghengis the first entry on the very much missed list as Joffen? I liked Ghengis.

These memory posts belong on a DOOM thread from Monty.

That's my memory for the day.

Posted by: meh at June 28, 2026 04:53 AM (kK7U2)

5 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 28, 2026 04:55 AM (MmTZZ)

6 Casio's are great, rugged watches. I resented having to spend half a day figuring out how to adjust for DST.
Bought a good Timex.
Not much of a watch guy.

Posted by: MkY at June 28, 2026 04:59 AM (q6tQZ)

7 Lou Reed - Vicious

He seems nice.

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:02 AM (6wpGE)

8 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at June 28, 2026 05:02 AM (V0/Sp)

9 >>>But guess what can also see and in some sense understand images and has no separation of instructions and data?

This is where I quickly skimmed back to see if Langford's basilisk is real or

>>>Langford's basilisk is a science fiction concept

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:05 AM (6wpGE)

10 I haven't had a watch in years. If I ever get one, I want an old fashion analog watch. I had a Timex that lasted 18 years. Bought at the Offutt BX.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 28, 2026 05:06 AM (MmTZZ)

11 I rock a Casio Forester analog.

Posted by: fluffy at June 28, 2026 05:06 AM (V0/Sp)

12
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at June 28, 2026 05:10 AM (AMvSw)

13 I have a Casio, a Privia PX-5S. :->

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at June 28, 2026 05:18 AM (DZ9Lv)

14 Good morning! Gotta drag the sprinklers out before 6 or so and do some lawn work later today. It's summer in Cowtown.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 28, 2026 05:19 AM (3Ope8)

15 Lou Reed (1942 - 2013)

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:23 AM (6wpGE)

16 "any old time "

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 05:25 AM (afJtY)

17 AltonJackson. Good morning. Hope you are well

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 05:27 AM (afJtY)

18
g'mornin', Ben Had

all is well, hope you are, too

Posted by: AltonJackson at June 28, 2026 05:30 AM (AMvSw)

19 Dumb to my casio for a samsung smartwatch. I am NOT enjoying the experience. At all..

I keep wondering, what am I missing?

Posted by: JM in Illinois at June 28, 2026 05:32 AM (UykIJ)

20 Not sure I believe that memory prices will not show any relief until 2028. It may be true, but way out of character for that business.

Posted by: Pete Bogs Agentic alter ego at June 28, 2026 05:36 AM (X5wmt)

21 "Dumb to" == "Dumped my Casio for "

Posted by: JM in Illinois at June 28, 2026 05:38 AM (PaL8U)

22
My watch is an analog Timex whose only feature is the dial lighting up at the push of a button.

Push the wrong button on a digital watch and you're on Military Time in Uzbekistan and need a bomb defuser's skill in getting it back to normal.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 28, 2026 05:38 AM (O0L8i)

23 The scary part of that whole predication is that 2028 is only 18 months away.

Time really does fly if you live long enough. It’s zipping by right now.

Good morning Ben Had.

Posted by: Pete Bogs Agentic alter ego at June 28, 2026 05:39 AM (X5wmt)

24 Evening and morning, fellow AoSHQ devotees. Is it really Sunday? I slept 6.5 hrs. last night, and feel like I got only 5.

What was the original "Langford's basilisk" story, Pixy?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:41 AM (wzUl9)

25 23 2028 is only 18 months away
Posted by: Pete Bogs Agentic alter ego at June 28, 2026 05:39 AM (X5wmt)

yikes

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:42 AM (6wpGE)

26 I just bought a new Casio sport watch with stopwatch function and a better dial light than my old Casio sport watch, for $25. The button for the light is the same one which controls the splits function. So, if you're exercising and hit the light button, the display freezes while the stopwatch function continues on. You have to push the button a second time to see the actual display.

Still, since I so often work out in the early morning, the light is worth having to do a double press.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:45 AM (wzUl9)

27 My everyday watches are all analog automatics: a 1971 Rolex Date, a '78 Rolex Sub, and a '20 Steinhart GMT with good lume that I use at night if I wake up in the dark. Which I often do.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:48 AM (wzUl9)

28 Belated BOING!

Back from brunch/lunch with our guests. Too relaxed.

Maybe l8r.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 28, 2026 05:51 AM (5UTWB)

29 Fractured Flickers just handed out an elephant joke I'd never heard.

"Who do elephants have flat ears?"

"From wearing their cowboy hats too tight!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:57 AM (wzUl9)

30 Fractured Flickers just handed out an elephant joke I'd never heard.

"Who do elephants have flat ears?"

"From wearing their cowboy hats too tight!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:57 AM (wzUl9)
-

If they were really elephants, it would be because they wore their MAGA hats too tights.

But they're really RINOs.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 28, 2026 06:02 AM (5UTWB)

31 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 06:03 AM (Ia/+0)

32 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Delicious.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 28, 2026 06:06 AM (amcLV)

33 Pete Bog, good morning to you and L&T

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 06:08 AM (afJtY)

34 Thursday and Friday predicing 100 degrees

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 06:11 AM (Ia/+0)

35 Thursday and Friday predicing 100 degrees
Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026

***
I'm trying not to look at the forecast for here. I pretty much can reel it off with only a small margin for error in temps or chance of rain, anyway.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:14 AM (wzUl9)

36 The traffic jam we were caught in on the elevated expressway that leads to the bridge last night? A shooting on the highway about 6:15 last evening. All but one lane was blocked for three hours, the CBS outlet says. It took us 45 minutes to cover two miles from our favorite bar and grill -- because once you are on that elevated stretch, like an interstate, you are stuck.

A shooting on the highway. Jeez, I need to get out of here.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:19 AM (wzUl9)

37 Speaking of MAGA hats:

https://tinyurl.com/ym49tht5

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 28, 2026 06:20 AM (5UTWB)

38 Julia Letlow, the Senate candidate endorsed by Trump, wont last night over John Fleming. Rs also won the Public Service Commission and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education slots.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:21 AM (wzUl9)

39 Langford's Basilisk origin:

https://tinyurl.com/yc6bhcns

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026 06:31 AM (WkL+O)

40 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 28, 2026 06:33 AM (VyBeY)

41 The house is rocking to Motown, the first of the blueberry crumb cakes is in the oven and I can start mowing as soon as the sun comes up.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 06:35 AM (afJtY)

42 been a Casio wearer since sometime last century ... great watches!
current one is low maintenance, too; sets itself from the GPS constellation, solar charges its own battery, plus it has auxiliary UTC display for radio logging!

everyone have a great day! I'm outta here; day 2 of Field Day!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 28, 2026 06:36 AM (VyBeY)

43 Langford's Basilisk origin:

https://tinyurl.com/yc6bhcns
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026

***
Thanks, SM. I'm not familiar with that author at all.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:37 AM (wzUl9)

44 > Memory Prices: To Infinity and Beyond!

Imagine that you are a memory chip line worker pulling down several million a year due to your union's success in securing profit share - laughing at the pittance the fry cook and janitor made in the SpaceX IPO.

Knowing human nature, and labor unions. Given the recent example of the stevedore strikes, what makes you think that new plants will be coming on line?

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 06:51 AM (a4flb)

45 Today on our short walk we saw a pheasant, raccoon and this tiny flower, a Deptford Pink:

https://tinyurl.com/2bjjfkmv

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 06:54 AM (BdRar)

46 Reservations for Valve's Steam Machine are being resold on eBay for $2700.

***

I think Valve is the only old school AAA game company left that hasn't been completely consumed by the Woke virus (I give credit to Gabe Newell for that) and that I still have any respect for.

That said, those prices are insane.

Posted by: Biergood at June 28, 2026 06:58 AM (PwgSL)

47 And the farm up the road from us has little flags all around his perimeter which look.very nice blowing in the breeze) . and the house across from him ( I've talked to the owner so I know he's a Trump supporter ) has I. His woods a big black wooden cutout of what I think is supposed to be Bigfoot. Well, today, Bigfoot is carrying a big American flag.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:01 AM (BdRar)

48 https://www.americanthinker.com/citizen vigilante should terrify-western governments
From someone who saw it at least

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 07:02 AM (Ia/+0)

49 > Memory Prices: To Infinity and Beyond Part II

Windows 11 requires current TPM tech, that is why so many computers in a family or a company's fleet can't make the upgrade.

This will further divide the casual home user from the person who can afford the steep component costs in terms of SSD and memory. Where running AI models was possible for many people, 70B+ capable machines running unquantized will cost around $10k or more.

How long before many people just have chrome books and subscribe to time on a cloud VM just to do anything more than browse the web?

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 07:05 AM (a4flb)

50 and how long after that do they jailbreak the chromebooks and install Linux Mint?

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 28, 2026 07:07 AM (VyBeY)

51 Good morning morons

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:11 AM (RIvkX)

52 mornin yall. I have boxes of old memory modules. Up until now I haven't figured out anything to do with them except may keychains. Anybody want a PC-100 keychain?

Posted by: fd at June 28, 2026 07:11 AM (MWfyi)

53 SanFranpsycho, Good morning

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 07:12 AM (afJtY)

54 @nypost
·
41m
AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG

Posted by: Savage Henry at June 28, 2026 07:13 AM (eUZ+T)

55 54 @nypost
·
41m
AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG
Posted by: Savage Henry at June 28, 2026 07:13 AM (eUZ+T)

DURING PRIDE MONTH??!!???

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026 07:15 AM (WkL+O)

56 Morning peeps. Moar thunderstorms this morning. 6.5 inches of rain so far. Local flooding is minor (unless your house is in it) but regionally, it's pretty bad. Yesterday there was a state of emergency for KY.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 28, 2026 07:15 AM (jehhT)

57 - So what is, or are the reasons for these big rises in memory costs?
Is it a supply/demand thing with data centers being built buying it up?
Cost of manufacturing going up or expected to rise for some reason?
Lack of competition?

Posted by: TeeJ at June 28, 2026 07:15 AM (xI6JS)

58 And a request for the praying people here.: I shared yesterday on the prayer thread that our cat needed to be put to sleep, and people were very kind. I expect that today will be. a hard day for another reason which I may discuss tomorrow. so I would be grateful for prayers for strength. Thanks.

I hope you all have a blessed day and know that you are a blessing to others!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:16 AM (ELdpA)

59 "AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG
Posted by: Savage Henry "

Workers unite! Technology belongs to the people. The oligarchy must perish to bring us a new era of enlightenment!

Posted by: Pawl at June 28, 2026 07:18 AM (MWfyi)

60 Fen losing a furry companion is hard

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 07:18 AM (Ia/+0)

61 Good morning Ben Had!

Fen, I'm very saddened by this news. Good kitteh.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:18 AM (RIvkX)

62 Ia/+0)

35 Thursday and Friday predicing 100 degrees
Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026

***
I'm trying not to look at the forecast for here. I pretty much can reel it off with only a small margin for error in temps or chance of rain, anyway.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:14 AM (wzUl9)

I just looked at our forecast - mostly sunny with highs in the upper 90’s every day for the next 14 days. The English will swear that is “proof” of Global Warming, but we just call it Summer in Texas.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 07:19 AM (f1VM4)

63 AOC will lead us to prosperity, equity, and equality, regardless of how dumb and gullible you are.

Posted by: Pawl at June 28, 2026 07:20 AM (MWfyi)

64 I will pray Fen.

Posted by: meh at June 28, 2026 07:20 AM (kK7U2)

65 I meant that "I shared on the pet ( not prayer ) thread. And thanks, very much Skip and San Fran Psycho.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:22 AM (Yl2Ob)

66 Langford's basilisk?

Oh, Snow Crash. Have a nam-shub.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 28, 2026 07:22 AM (2GVsD)

67 I don't often ask for macroeconomic advice, but when I do, I ask a failed bartender.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026 07:22 AM (WkL+O)

68 Thanks very much "meh". You're doing that does not seem "meh" to me. I appreciate that.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:23 AM (Yl2Ob)

69 Scientists have deciphered a 2000 year old lump of charcoal.

PHerc. 1667 measures less than 0.8 inches in diameter.

Yeah, that pic in the article looks like a carbonized dog turd...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM (l3cgK)

70 Prays for you, Fen.

Any established console maker worth their MBA should be hunkering down for right now, working on optimizing their hardware and so forth so as to minimize material costs while not degrading performance, for when supply finally catches up with demand. But what do I know, I'm just a caveman.

Posted by: RandomDave at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM (aJQbY)

71 I imagine Bartender AOC was slinging her political opinions- along with the beers and cocktails- to her captive audience of barflies and rummys. One day, one of them said 'maybe YOU should run for Congress!'

...and here we are.

Posted by: Savage Henry at June 28, 2026 07:27 AM (eUZ+T)

72 Mornin' Horde. Anyone else get the feeling the AI craze is partially an effort to corner the market on memory and storage, reducing everyone to using crippled, retarded, net-dependent devices?

Posted by: Brother Tim sez at June 28, 2026 07:29 AM (0vM22)

73 If buying a digital movie doesn't mean you own it, then pirating a digital movie isn't theft.

Posted by: Victor Tango Jilo at June 28, 2026 07:29 AM (f0sNM)

74 Gingras was especially incensed that Springer Nature deviated from the normal practice of merely slapping the word RETRACTED across the digital version of the paper while still allowing scholars to read the text. Instead, the publisher posted a blank white page with the cryptic phrase, “This article has been withdrawn due to article violation.” Springer Nature is nevertheless still selling the empty PDF for $39.95.

But of course they are.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:31 AM (l3cgK)

75 @m: (from the tail of the ONT, where I was up from 2 to 3 am because of a leg cramp that I had to walk off):

"Moar electrolytes!"

I'm taking 420mg pills of magnesium oxide. I was at "one per day", but now that the warm/hot weather is here, I'm drinking more water daily, which means I'm flushing things out of my system faster (hello bathroom my old friend...)

I've added a second dose right before going to bed. Guess who forgot to take that "just before bedtime" dose last night? Yup. I did it to myself, which has been the theme of my week.

(Then I linked this song in the ONT):
youtu.be/y6SHii9wWFQ

And you wrote: "I liked that a LOT. I kept waiting for lyrics to start, kinda anxious-like, and they started exactly halfway through. The end is especially great.

Graeme Shepherd, better known by his stage name Grum

Any relation, G&R?"

*heh* No. Oh, and I think it might have been Pixy that linked that song here in the tech news once... If so, thanks Pixy!

And G'morning everyone. I'm finally up to face the day.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 28, 2026 07:31 AM (O7YUW)

76 73 If buying a digital movie doesn't mean you own it, then pirating a digital movie isn't theft.

Posted by: Victor Tango Jilo at June 28, 2026 07:29 AM (f0sNM)

Licenses, how do they work?

Posted by: LegalZoom Jugalos at June 28, 2026 07:32 AM (l3cgK)

77 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at June 28, 2026 07:32 AM (mGqX+)

78 Representatives from Springer Nature declined to comment, beyond saying that “detailed information about specific retractions is usually confidential and can only be shared with the relevant authors.” The company also nixed an editorial that Scarlata planned to write about the retractions.

That may be difficult, given Max Planck died in 1947...

Posted by: LegalZoom Jugalos at June 28, 2026 07:34 AM (l3cgK)

80 The retraction of the second Planck paper, published in 1940, left Gingras and Khelfaoui even more baffled. It also cited copyright violation—yet the piece had never appeared elsewhere. Then Khelfaoui noticed something that added to suspicions that an algorithm was at work.

Yeah, AI's algorithms are even dumber than the folks that program and train AI...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:36 AM (l3cgK)

81 Yeah, that pic in the article looks like a carbonized dog turd...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM (l3cgK)

Hidden Camera: “Watch as we switch out these scientists valuable scroll for a carbonized dog turd. Will they notice???”

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 07:37 AM (f1VM4)

82 I see Endless War III continues apace in Hormuz.

*retarded thumbs up*

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:38 AM (RIvkX)

83 81 Yeah, that pic in the article looks like a carbonized dog turd...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM (l3cgK)

Hidden Camera: “Watch as we switch out these scientists valuable scroll for a carbonized dog turd. Will they notice???”

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 07:37 AM (f1VM4)

Is Beto involved?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:41 AM (l3cgK)

84 My friends are big mad about what's happened to Scott Weiner.

He gobbled their knob his entire career, and in the end he is just another joo.

I am taking every opportunity to try to open their eyes. You. Did. This.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:42 AM (RIvkX)

85 84 My friends are big mad about what's happened to Scott Weiner.

He gobbled their knob his entire career, and in the end he is just another joo.

I am taking every opportunity to try to open their eyes. You. Did. This.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:42 AM (RIvkX)

Weiner's "legislation" has vibes of gay paedo rapist.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:45 AM (l3cgK)

86 Licenses, how do they work?
--------------

They make money for unethical left-wing studios by forcing consumers to purchase the same media repeatedly.

Posted by: Victor Tango Jilo at June 28, 2026 07:46 AM (f0sNM)

87 Okay, caught up on the comments from today's thread.

@58/FenelonSpoke: Prayer made, asking for God's peace, which passes all understanding to be granted to you.

I'm so sorry your cat had to be put to sleep. Been there too many times. It hurts so much.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 28, 2026 07:48 AM (O7YUW)

88 86 Licenses, how do they work?
--------------

They make money for unethical left-wing studios by forcing consumers to purchase the same media repeatedly.

Posted by: Victor Tango Jilo at June 28, 2026 07:46 AM (f0sNM)

Best option is not to buy digital. If enough folks do that, they lose their revenue. Also, don't use their platform; don't buy their platforms; give poor reviews and cite their digital license behavior.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:48 AM (l3cgK)

89 Weiner is getting Trotsky’d.

Couldn’t happen to a more deserving felllow.

Dems are learning, to their great surprise, that rabid dogs don’t make good pets.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 07:49 AM (f1VM4)

90 Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori, age 51, appears to have won election for the Presidency of Peru. She leads her left-wing opponent by around 50,000 votes, out of more than 18 million cast.

Her lead appears to be larger than the number of uncounted votes remaining. That should make her the winner, shouldn’t it? Elsewhere, Wikipedia lists her as President-Elect, expected to assume office in late July. -- PowerLine

=====
The red wave continues in South america.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:49 AM (RIvkX)

91 82> Endless War III

Have you considered that this is a feature not a bug?

Two decades and two trillion squandered in Iraq/Afghanistan reduced the military's muscle memory to only conducting asymmetrical insurgent warfare. Worthless skills unless you are a Democrat and want to take over the US by military force.

Think of this as a Sandbox to field test new state of the art weaponry and provide real AI training to Search & Destroy weaponized AI. I think this is a huge reason why Ukraine/Russia persists - nothing better than a No Win endless development laboratory.

Because of active battle, most procurement methods that take decades - from idea to market are short-circuited into high iteration fast deployment weapons schedule.

This is Trump rapidly rebuilding broad spectrum technology (from mini-reactors, to AI weapons) on the cheap and orders of magnitude faster than peace-time.

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 07:49 AM (a4flb)

92 Fen, I'll echo what others have said. It's always hard to lose a friend. And our pets, our cats and dogs, are more than just animals; they are friends.

That's the tragedy: We know they will outlive us, and they do not. But we care for them and make their lives happy; and they return the favor the best they can.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 07:50 AM (wzUl9)

93 Weiner's "legislation" has vibes of gay paedo rapist.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:45 AM (l3cgK)
=====

100% of the normies I tried to educate about this had no idea whatsoever.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:51 AM (RIvkX)

94 Oops. In 92, I meant to write "We know we will outlive them," our pets. Grrrr.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 07:52 AM (wzUl9)

95 I don't buy digital except when I have those credits Amazon gives you for taking a later delivery. I used the this weekend to "purchase" Wet Hot American Summer. Because RLM did a whole video on how great it was. I don't think I got it. It was pretty mid to me. But my broader point is that studio greed is driving people back to pirating. And I am not sure I feel bad about that.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at June 28, 2026 07:53 AM (f0sNM)

96 "Analysts expect memory prices to double by the end of the year and increase by another 40% next year, before easing slightly in 2028 maybe."

A lot of analysts will predict "more of the same" until the elastic band breaks, then they'll breathlessly report how everything is changing so quickly!

They're lousy predictors of the future.

Will the bubble pop? Yes. When? We don't know.

What I do know is that based on my trip to the computer shop the other day, memory, gpus, and hard drives are NOT SELLING as individual components. Customers are not building "custom build" type computers as a result.

Pre-builts are still selling due to their lower prices, but those are ticking up quickly now too.

I'm worried that the computer shop I have bought from for decades will be forced out of business.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 28, 2026 07:55 AM (O7YUW)

97 And a request for the praying people here.: I shared yesterday on the prayer thread that our cat needed to be put to sleep, and people were very kind.

I hope you all have a blessed day and know that you are a blessing to others!
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:16 AM (ELdpA)
----
So very sorry to hear this. My deepest condolences on your loss.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 28, 2026 07:55 AM (gnNyN)

98 Looks like a week or two of hot, partly cloudy days is in store. I have a lot of studying to do, so that's gonna work out well if I can keep up with the watering and the landscape work. Work outside in the early morning, then a nap and some reading in the afternoons. Better go get some good coffee and some snacks.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 28, 2026 07:57 AM (3Ope8)

99 Movie review, and I don't do many. I watched Song Sung Blue. Had no idea it was a new movie but saw a recommendation on Substack. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. It is about two struggling musicians that create a tribute band and deal with hardships. The characters are believable and there is no message. If you just want to be entertained, it's worth your time. And you don't have to be a Neil Diamond fan.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at June 28, 2026 07:57 AM (bkuEU)

100 100?

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 28, 2026 07:58 AM (O7YUW)

101 93 Weiner's "legislation" has vibes of gay paedo rapist.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:45 AM (l3cgK)
=====

100% of the normies I tried to educate about this had no idea whatsoever.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:51 AM (RIvkX)

Were they in SF? Were they really normies?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:58 AM (l3cgK)

102 Fen, remember Pynchon as he was -- no whitewashing, the bad (which I'm sure was pretty minor in the scheme of life) along with the good. I'll say, "Chekov was a beautiful cat. I wish he hadn't had that habit of nipping me," or "Arizona was difficult, distant sometimes, and prickly . . . but I was his human and he was my cat, and there was never any question about either."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 07:58 AM (wzUl9)

103 54> AOC Adding possessing latest model MacBooks and iPhones to fundamental human rights.

Looks like someone's portfolio manager accidentally shorted AAPL

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 07:59 AM (a4flb)

104 It's only seven am? An hour to the Book Thread? Darn.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 07:59 AM (wzUl9)

105 Langford's basilisk is a science fiction concept where images can be crafted specifically to rewire the brain

I think Stephenson's "Snow Crash" had a similar premise.

Posted by: Halfhand at June 28, 2026 07:59 AM (M7WtQ)

106 102 Fen, remember Pynchon as he was -- no whitewashing, the bad (which I'm sure was pretty minor in the scheme of life) along with the good. I'll say, "Chekov was a beautiful cat. I wish he hadn't had that habit of nipping me," or "Arizona was difficult, distant sometimes, and prickly . . . but I was his human and he was my cat, and there was never any question about either."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 07:58 AM (wzUl9)

Jasper, the black horny cat, was intelligent and sometimes affectionate, but also puked on the carpet whenever he could, screwed anything stuffed or soft, and stole food from your plate amazingly fast if you didn't pay 100% attention to him and your food...still, he was older child's first cat.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 08:01 AM (l3cgK)

107 Miss Linda picked up another movie, the newer version of Far From the Madding Crowd w/ Carey Mulligan. I've never seen the 1960s film with Julie Christie, so I won't be comparing them as we watch.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 08:02 AM (wzUl9)

108 96> PC enthusiasts rooting for China to break the DRAM cartels

And now we know why Walmart and Amazon are basically storefronts for TEMU China.

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 08:02 AM (a4flb)

109 Were they in SF? Were they really normies?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:58 AM (l3cgK)
====

Not all SF, some California, some outside.

So much sleazy, disgusting vile things are done but kept quiet by the state media.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:02 AM (RIvkX)

110 Sitting on the patio after a couple of days of rain, and I've got to say that those mosquito yard spray services work. Not one bite after an hour.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at June 28, 2026 08:03 AM (XvL8K)

111 I built a nice gaming computer just over a year ago, and the ssd and ram would cost more today than the whole computer cost then. It’s crazy.

Posted by: Buck at June 28, 2026 08:03 AM (z6ONu)

112 81 Yeah, that pic in the article looks like a carbonized dog turd...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM
+++

Sabrina Chase featured that technology in a recent Book Thread.

Posted by: Oh By The Way at June 28, 2026 08:04 AM (mGqX+)

113 Dems are learning, to their great surprise, that rabid dogs don’t make good pets.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 07:49 AM (f1VM4)

I enjoy seeing the democrat "socialists" rising to power in the democrat party in the northeast and on the left coast. Just wait until they start wanting to confiscate property, bank accounts and means test all the handouts to make sure those who "have" help those who do not "have" first. They have voted for this for years and years and now it's time to pay the fiddler.

Posted by: Pass The Popcorn at June 28, 2026 08:04 AM (og9zY)

114 112 81 Yeah, that pic in the article looks like a carbonized dog turd...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM
+++

Sabrina Chase featured that technology in a recent Book Thread.

Posted by: Oh By The Way at June 28, 2026 08:04 AM (mGqX+)

making carbonized dog turds?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 08:05 AM (l3cgK)

115 I saw two articles from different news orgs in my hatefeed this morning talking about the same thing from two different angles, so you know the new Party line has been laid down... in this case case it's "Trump is guilty of all the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence, and he is just like George III."

Please, please, please lord, please let the Democrats secede, and please let the terminally brain dead Right accept this gift from the Heavens without a fight.

Let us be rid of each other.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 28, 2026 08:07 AM (BI5O2)

116 Promoting lgbt+++++ and trannies didn't bring in the votes so the progs are all in on socialism. Unfortunately for conservatives this ploy may work. Nothing like taking it to the man and giving the poor town trodden folks what they deserve. People will fall for this line of attack against those they see as elites.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at June 28, 2026 08:08 AM (2NHgQ)

117 "AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG
Posted by: Savage Henry "

Maybe Apple should break up the all too powerful government. Begin with the worthless congress. "What, exactly do you say you do here?"
Bartender should go back to bartending and giving 20 dollar handies in the parking lot.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at June 28, 2026 08:10 AM (5xuJ/)

118 We talk about Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals”, but no one mentions the most important rules, which he failed to put into his list.

Hidden Rule #1: Always attack those closest to you first, because they’re the easiest targets.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 08:12 AM (f1VM4)

119 113> Boomer's "Oh, Shit!" moment

There is a price to pay when putting hundreds of millions of people on the government dole, NIMBYing away the creation of wealth via Climate Change Scam, constructing a Critical Theory Entitlement Totem Pole, screaming about "Affordability", embracing MAID of the sick and elderly in Canada, then waking up and looking at yourself in the mirror and noting that you just engineered your own demise by the entitled, low-trust, Islamic/Bolshevik demonic ghouls your education and entertainment system created.

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 08:12 AM (a4flb)

120 116 Promoting lgbt+++++ and trannies didn't bring in the votes so the progs are all in on socialism. Unfortunately for conservatives this ploy may work. Nothing like taking it to the man and giving the poor town trodden folks what they deserve. People will fall for this line of attack against those they see as elites.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at June 28, 2026 08:08 AM (2NHgQ)

Socialism's promises are so enticing to noobs of each generation. It's hard to stomp it out. Doesn't matter if it's as real as unicorn farts, just the possibility of it in the minds of many (coupled with indoctrination in public schools and universities) means it just won't go away. Doesn't matter how many are murdered by those ideals. Doesn't matter how many times it fails (and it's 100% of the time). Unless you change human nature's selfish and lazy desires, it'll never, ever work.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 08:13 AM (l3cgK)

121 in this case case it's "Trump is guilty of all the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence, and he is just like George III."

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice
_________

Hessian invaders, Haitian invaders. Whatever.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at June 28, 2026 08:13 AM (XvL8K)

122 117 "AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG
Posted by: Savage Henry "

Maybe Apple should break up the all too powerful government. Begin with the worthless congress. "What, exactly do you say you do here?"
Bartender should go back to bartending and giving 20 dollar handies in the parking lot.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at June 28, 2026 08:10 AM (5xuJ/)

Yeah, same as in town.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 08:13 AM (l3cgK)

123 "From September 1, 2026, due to our content licensing agreements, you will no longer be able to access your previously purchased content from Studio Canal, and it will be removed from your video library."

SONY's licensing of content sucks rocks, then. Once purchased, it should remain in your library in perpetuity*. What should change is that SONY would no longer be able to sell copies of those titles (until they re-acquire a license to do so.)

{*} This is exactly how gog.com works with games, by the way, and it's a major reason I purchase games from them, and not other platforms. That, and I can download the stand-alone installers and KEEP them.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 28, 2026 08:16 AM (O7YUW)

124 Love, love, love the Best Sleepover Ever song from last night's ONT:

https://x.com/i/status/2070622350039511167

Buc-ee's, Waffle House and Taco Bell!

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at June 28, 2026 08:16 AM (mGqX+)

125 Please, please, please lord, please let the Democrats secede, and please let the terminally brain dead Right accept this gift from the Heavens without a fight.

Let us be rid of each other.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 28, 2026 08:07 AM (BI5O2)
=====

This has 0.0% probability.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:16 AM (RIvkX)

126 Let us be rid of each other.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 28, 2026 08:07 AM (BI5O2)

The only thing is, a split will only be to the advantage of China. I don't add Russia because they're no longer able to project much. What states do you think would withdraw, and how would you keep China from rushing to support them and corrupt them like they are doing to Canada? No, the best thing to do would be to encourage a D party split, giving the Rs more victories and making the D a rump party.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at June 28, 2026 08:16 AM (1Ff7Z)

127 This has 0.0% probability.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:16 AM (RIvkX)

So, are you saying there is a chance?

Posted by: dantesed at June 28, 2026 08:18 AM (Oy/m2)

128 Hidden Rule #1: Always attack those closest to you first, because they’re the easiest targets.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 08:12 AM (f1VM4)
=====

I wonder if Scott Weiner will march in the parade today?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:18 AM (RIvkX)

129 There is only one solution.

There is only one man.

I hope Trump knows this, I think he does.

I just don't know if he is willing to act. If he does not, they will destroy him, destroy us, and destroy the country.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:21 AM (RIvkX)

130 This has 0.0% probability.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:16 AM (RIvkX)

I know. I think in the unlikely event that a Republican wins in '28, you could maybe see blue states get serious about secession... but no matter what, the Right will demand the Union be preserved, against their own interests.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 28, 2026 08:21 AM (BI5O2)

131 I wonder if Scott Weiner will march in the parade today?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:18 AM
###

And will he wear the ribbon?

https://youtu.be/y4bmGekgE14

Posted by: Obligatory Seinfeld reference at June 28, 2026 08:23 AM (mGqX+)

132 I know. I think in the unlikely event that a Republican wins in '28, you could maybe see blue states get serious about secession... but no matter what, the Right will demand the Union be preserved, against their own interests.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 28, 2026 08:21 AM (BI5O2)
====

I think that would only facilitate what I believe is necessary to save the United States.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:31 AM (RIvkX)

133 Allie the Calico Kitty Cat (the *other* cutest little cat of them all) is locked and loaded in my lap, ready for the Sunday Morning Book Thread.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 28, 2026 08:31 AM (gnNyN)

134 130> Speculating Full Retard Mode in '28

Disposition on the SAVE America Act probably has the greatest influence on that happening.

Presently its a global race to the bottom. The world had some level of prosperity and flourishing when the US was largely a high trust society.

Obama threw the grenade in the room, where it was a gradual sinking into total depravity, he dramatically steepened that downward slope.

Australia, Canada and western Europe are finished. China is an enigma. The South American Revival may be too late, but hard to tell. Mexico is a drug cartel state. The Middle East will endure forever. Africa never was a factor. Be interesting to see what happens when the aid stops flowing.

It sounds melodramatic but the SAVE America Act is what stand between the world and a Thousand Years of Darkness.

...From a secular or Deistic perspective...

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 08:31 AM (a4flb)

135 https://www.americanthinker.com/citizen vigilante should terrify-western governments
From someone who saw it at least

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 07:02 AM (Ia/+0)

I saw it and would agree..eh, more, if it had been made by a competent director, editor, writer.

Between the good set pieces, it's pretty disjoined and often boring. Not that any of these Hollywood guys would make this movie, but throw someone like a Peckinpah or a Tarantino in the mix, and there'd be riots all over Europe.

One thing the movie does is puts its fingertip right on the main problem. Which is muslim culture and religion and does so in the most direct way possible.

So, yes, it should scare Their Betters into reversing course immediately because this is only the first tepid step. We'll see.

Oh, and I suppose I should mention the gratuitous nudity and sex scene...it's really not gratuitous. This is a message movie and this message is aimed at the violent rapists and goofy rapists.
The message is "Hey, assholes. Prostitution is legal in Germany. If you're horny and want sex you don't have to rape some poor girl. Just rent a hooker. She'll pretty much do whatever you want."

Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:34 AM (iJfKG)

136 .
.
BLIT, wink, nod.

Posted by: Marooned at June 28, 2026 08:34 AM (kt8QE)

137
We are being forced to quarter illegally imported young men the left uses as soldiers, so, yeah, declarations are in order.

Posted by: Auspex at June 28, 2026 08:35 AM (Y8DZL)

138 Update on my amateur electrical engineering project.

I'm in the process of taking my prototype breadboard jumble of wires and jumpers and putting it into a KiCAD schematic so I can make a PCB design and have it printed for me.

Exciting times!

Posted by: Defenestratus at June 28, 2026 08:35 AM (WYStd)

139 naturalfake, you got it That was my reaction also.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 08:37 AM (afJtY)

140 I imagine Bartender AOC was slinging her political opinions- along with the beers and cocktails- to her captive audience of barflies and rummys. One day, one of them said 'maybe YOU should run for Congress!'

...and here we are.
Posted by: Savage Henry at June 28, 2026 07:27 AM (eUZ+T)

Nah.

It's well-known that AOC answered a political cattle call by some leftist group to find "attractive" candidates to take over guaranteed Democrat seats.

She won. Like everything in the Democrat party.
There's nothing organic or grassroots about her ascent. Fake and gay as always.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:41 AM (iJfKG)

141 135 it should scare Their Betters into reversing course immediately
Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:34 AM (iJfKG)

I got lost. Who are Their Betters

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 08:41 AM (6wpGE)

142 This has 0.0% probability.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 08:16 AM (RIvkX)

I know. I think in the unlikely event that a Republican wins in '28, you could maybe see blue states get serious about secession... but no matter what, the Right will demand the Union be preserved, against their own interests.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at June 28, 2026 08:21 AM (BI5O2)

I don’t think secession will happen in my lifetime under any circumstances. But I have 30 years left at most… so in 50 years? Maybe… the problem is one of geometry mainly. What in the world would the borders look like? The new country would be multiple tiny dots of city disconnected physically from their countrymen. For instance, LA and Chicago would be in this new country but in between 1500 miles of heritage America. I don’t know how it would work. I think in the end, one side must win and the other lose. The original secession(s) in 1861 could occur because an entire geographic interconnected area was involved

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at June 28, 2026 08:41 AM (ugElV)

143 *?

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 08:42 AM (6wpGE)

144
The message is "Hey, assholes. Prostitution is legal in Germany. If you're horny and want sex you don't have to rape some poor girl. Just rent a hooker. She'll pretty much do whatever you want."
Posted by: naturalfake

I was initially in support of this opinion. Upon reflection, they rape and murder because their religion says it is okay, and they get power trip hard ons instead from doing so because the victims are powerless. I now believe the 7th century savages will continue to rape and murder, until they are forcibly stopped, however that may happen. Legally or through vigilantism. It is the government's choice everywhere, and it's a binary choice.

Posted by: BifBewalski - at June 28, 2026 08:43 AM (QVmho)

145 Huh.

Goofy rapists = roofie rapists

Thx Ac!

Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:44 AM (iJfKG)

146 "Upon reflection, they rape and murder because their religion says it is okay."
+++

It's not a religion.

Posted by: It's evil at June 28, 2026 08:46 AM (mGqX+)

147 The new country would be multiple tiny dots of city disconnected physically from their countrymen. For instance, LA and Chicago would be in this new country but in between 1500 miles of heritage America.

Be fun just to see how they would feed and fuel themselves.

Posted by: No Soup For Them at June 28, 2026 08:46 AM (og9zY)

148 it should scare Their Betters into reversing course immediately
Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:34 AM (iJfKG)

I got lost. Who are Their Betters
Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 08:41 AM (6wpGE)

That's just a (failed humorous) shorthand by which I mean their leaders and upper class, people like Kier in England and that asshole in Spain.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:48 AM (iJfKG)

149 148 it should scare Their Betters into reversing course immediately
Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:34 AM (iJfKG)

I got lost. Who are Their Betters
Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 08:41 AM (6wpGE)

That's just a (failed humorous) shorthand by which I mean their leaders and upper class, people like Kier in England and that asshole in Spain.
Posted by: naturalfake at June 28, 2026 08:48 AM (iJfKG)

Thank you, naturalfake!

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 08:49 AM (6wpGE)

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