Daily Tech News 21 July 2026

Top Story

And you thought you had problems: The combined debts of Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle has spiked to $1.65 trillion. (SE Dailing)

Or as the linked article puts it, 2455 trillion won.

It's not often that you read financial news with numbers in the quadrillions.

Tech News

Hackers wiped Romania's entire land registry database. (CyberNews)

They had a backup.
LibreOffice has slammed Microsoft - again - for using Microsoft Office file formats in Microsoft Office. (XDA Developers)

Uh huh.
Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement has been approve by the court. (Tech Crunch)

Wait, I haven't published my book yet.

Guess I'll need to find someone else to steal it.
Massive Dynamic is raising a new round of funds at a valuation of $20-30 billion. (Tech Crunch)

Good for you, William Bell.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer:

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at July 21, 2026 04:30 AM (Ia/+0)

2 #1

Posted by: Common Tater at July 21, 2026 04:30 AM (qt51i)

3 w00t way to go, Skip!

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 04:31 AM (faghi)

4 Made a egg, cheese and bacon on a English muffin

Posted by: Skip at July 21, 2026 04:31 AM (Ia/+0)

5 Morning. There is a nice video about the work of Susan Kare. She designed the icons for the original Mac as well as for Windows 3.0. She even designed the card deck for Windows Solitaire.

https://tinyurl.com/mtnruuyn

Back to sleep for me, now that the dog has been out.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 21, 2026 04:33 AM (bkuEU)

6 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at July 21, 2026 04:34 AM (sAmhv)

7 Morning techy types.

Posted by: Pete Bogs AI Alter Ego at July 21, 2026 04:35 AM (CEq3K)

8 Bacon, tomato & cheese sammich for supper... no lettuce LOL!

Posted by: JQ at July 21, 2026 04:37 AM (rdVOm)

9 Evening and morning for a Tiu's Day, satellites and satraps of the vast AoSHQ Empire!

I'm up early for no discernible reason. Can't blame Stirling for leaping on me today. Though I did give myself a turn. When I get up to turn on the coffee, I use a flashlight to see. Going over by the couch to plug in the MacBook and turn on the TV, I thought I glimpsed a *gray monkey* sitting atop the couch! A blink resolved the simian into Dagny, who had been yawning and thus in the moving partial light did not look like herself.

Any day that begins in such a way has got to get better. Or so I tell myself.

Whassup? Who's here?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:38 AM (wzUl9)

10 Very lively music. Strong musicians . I'm not sure what it has to do with acting on instinct . I am of the belief that acting on instinct is not always the best thing to do. I could end up taking a slug at people which would not be good for them and certainly not good for me.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 21, 2026 04:39 AM (zqeQL)

11 Hi, Wolfus! Any luck on the house hunt?

Posted by: JQ at July 21, 2026 04:40 AM (rdVOm)

12 I was on my own last night; Linda went out to a movie night with her girlfriends from church. My dinner: a beef & bean chimichanga with chili powder and sharp cheddar atop it, carrots and peas on the side, and a slice of bread with some honey. And some pineapple slices for dessert.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:42 AM (wzUl9)

13 Kitten had to be put on time out in a separate room. Kitten times are not my times.

However, he has stopped yowling some days ago which is good. I think he was calling out for his mom cat and siblings.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 21, 2026 04:42 AM (zqeQL)

14 TIL

Wikipedia
Anthropic

Anthropic's flagship product line is the "Claude" series of large language models, which some employees consider a reference to mathematician Claude Shannon.

Wikipedia
Claude Shannon

Claude Elwood Shannon (April 30, 1916 – February 24, 2001) was an American polymath who was a mathematician, electrical engineer, computer scientist, cryptographer, and inventor known as the "father of information theory", and the man who laid the foundations of the Information Age.

born April 30, 1916

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 04:46 AM (faghi)

15 Well, the reflection is to do with pirated Computer software (which is tech related )and the scripture is Amos 7:1-9

https://tinyurl.com/y33hp5hn

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 21, 2026 04:47 AM (zqeQL)

16 Hi, Wolfus! Any luck on the house hunt?
Posted by: JQ at July 21, 2026

***
Hullo, JQ! Nice to see you here. Are you up early or up late?

There is a nice place I video-toured last week. I liked it a lot. Two members of the Horde here have offered very different takes on the property, and I find myself leaning to the positive side. But at the same time I feel reluctant to move -- my usual summertime heat-born lassitude that might almost be called a mild depression (a sort of reverse seasonal affective disorder, one of the many many reasons I want *out* of here).

The place is still listed as "For Sale," not "Pending" yet. I need to kick myself and write to my agent.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:48 AM (wzUl9)

17 Claude Elwood Shannon (April 30, 1916 – February 24, 2001) was an American polymath who was a mathematician, electrical engineer, computer scientist, cryptographer, and inventor known as the "father of information theory", and the man who laid the foundations of the Information Age.

born April 30, 1916
Posted by: m at July 21, 2026

***
Is he the guy who wrote the influential paper in the '60s laying out the idea for structured computer programming?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:49 AM (wzUl9)

18 Nothing but long commutes lately
Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at July 21, 2026 04:51 AM (Ia/+0)

19 Kitten had to be put on time out in a separate room. Kitten times are not my times.

However, he has stopped yowling some days ago which is good. I think he was calling out for his mom cat and siblings.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 21, 2026

***
Good morning, Fen! Some cats are just noisier than others. Most of mine have been very quiet, thank goodness, except for the vocal Marie-Antoinette, and she was only "my" cat for about two years. Stirling trills and chirps when he wants his water from the tap; Dagny is nearly mute, it seems.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:52 AM (wzUl9)

20 Up *late* as usual, Wolfus. Bah!

Moving is SCARY, even if you want to do it. (Thinking similarly myself, but purchase would be difficult if not impossible)

Definitely understand about reverse seasonal affective disorder-- I haz it too! Hate the heat.

Best of luck, I hope you find a nice place!

Posted by: JQ at July 21, 2026 04:53 AM (rdVOm)

21 17 Claude Elwood Shannon (April 30, 1916 – February 24, 2001) was an American polymath who was a mathematician, electrical engineer, computer scientist, cryptographer, and inventor known as the "father of information theory", and the man who laid the foundations of the Information Age.

born April 30, 1916
Posted by: m at July 21, 2026

***
Is he the guy who wrote the influential paper in the '60s laying out the idea for structured computer programming?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:49 AM (wzUl9)

>>>structured computer programming
I don't know what that means!
; )
I'm just now learning about him at Wikipedia. New to me.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 04:54 AM (faghi)

22 moar Wikipedia:

Outside of Shannon's academic pursuits, he was interested in juggling, unicycling, and chess.

He also invented many devices, including a Roman numeral computer called THROBAC, and juggling machines.

He built a device that could solve the Rubik's Cube puzzle.

Shannon also invented flame-throwing trumpets, rocket-powered frisbees, and plastic foam shoes for navigating a lake, by wearing which it would appear to an observer as if Shannon were walking on water.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 04:57 AM (faghi)

23 Am reading -again- "The Joy of Full Surrender" by Jean Pierre de Caussade ( 1675-1751) a FrenchJesuit priest and spiritual director . Modern translation by Paraclete Press. From Book 1 - "The life of faith is a continual struggle against the senses."

I am following the excellent example of brother tubal and fasting from the board for rest of the day . Have a blessed day, everyone and know that you are a blessing to others. I am looking forward to my Bible study with the seniors at the senior care center today ( Hebrews 11:1-3, 6)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 21, 2026 04:58 AM (zqeQL)

24 >>>structured computer programming
I don't know what that means!
; )
I'm just now learning about him at Wikipedia. New to me.
Posted by: m at July 21, 2026

***
"Structured" was the concept, new in 1966 or so, of writing programs in "modules," so that each one did a certain task within the total program. You'd have a master module, which would then call Module A for one thing and return its result to the master; then call Module B for another mini-job, etc. This would make it easier to debug and modify programs.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:58 AM (wzUl9)

25 24 >>>structured computer programming
I don't know what that means!
; )
I'm just now learning about him at Wikipedia. New to me.
Posted by: m at July 21, 2026

***
"Structured" was the concept, new in 1966 or so, of writing programs in "modules," so that each one did a certain task within the total program. You'd have a master module, which would then call Module A for one thing and return its result to the master; then call Module B for another mini-job, etc. This would make it easier to debug and modify programs.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 04:58 AM (wzUl9)

Huh. Thanks!

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 05:01 AM (faghi)

26 'Night, all. Got to try to sleep....

Posted by: JQ at July 21, 2026 05:01 AM (rdVOm)

27 Up *late* as usual, Wolfus. Bah!

Moving is SCARY, even if you want to do it. (Thinking similarly myself, but purchase would be difficult if not impossible)

Definitely understand about reverse seasonal affective disorder-- I haz it too! Hate the heat.

Best of luck, I hope you find a nice place!
Posted by: JQ at July 21, 2026

***
Sorry to hear that JQ. Do you get a chance for an afternoon nap?

Yes, the idea of moving, even if I let a local company do it (and I will -- I've gotten a good quote from a couple of companies here), involves a hell of a lot of packing and discarding. Then driving up there to my new home, staying in a hotel for a few days or camping out at my new house until the movers arrive, etc. It seems like an enormous cliff I have to climb . . . even though I know it can be broken down into parts. Like writing a novel: You don't have to do it all the night before it's due, like a term paper in school. You write a page or two every day, and in a year or less, you have a manuscript. Moving is like that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:03 AM (wzUl9)

28 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at July 21, 2026 05:05 AM (Hbeqj)

29 "Structured" programming was such an obvious thing, once it had been articulated, that you wonder why no one ever saw it before. Prior to that, programs used a command like BASIC's GOTO to move to a specified line in the program, to tell the computer what to do next. It could get tangled. Breaking it down into modules was much easier, especially if you had IF statements where something had to be done only when a given condition was met.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:07 AM (wzUl9)

30 Tropical Storm Bertha has been named.
Looks like she is heading Wolfus' way to land in MS/LA by around Wednesday night through Thursday morning.

Fortunately she is only expected to be at 40 - 50 mph winds.
A lot of rain and some wind, but nothing devastating, thankfully.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at July 21, 2026 05:08 AM (6ydKt)

31
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at July 21, 2026 05:09 AM (AMvSw)

32 Good morning! A little tidbit down in the bottom of the article on the hacking of the Romanian land registry mentions that the VAT on property transactions goes from 9% to 21% shortly (in August).

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 05:10 AM (3Ope8)

33 No, Shannon was apparently not the articulator of the structured programming idea. There was a theorem published in 1966, and an open letter in '68 from one Edsger W. Dijkstra, who coined the term "structured programming."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:12 AM (wzUl9)

34 21% tax on property.
Whew! That can get pricey.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at July 21, 2026 05:14 AM (6ydKt)

35 Tropical Storm Bertha has been named.
Looks like she is heading Wolfus' way to land in MS/LA by around Wednesday night through Thursday morning.

Fortunately she is only expected to be at 40 - 50 mph winds.
A lot of rain and some wind, but nothing devastating, thankfully.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at July 21, 2026

***
Then maybe I can take off from working out this morning and squeeze a session in early tomorrow. I think most of the rain is supposed to be offshore to the south, not here.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:15 AM (wzUl9)

36 5 Morning. There is a nice video about the work of Susan Kare. She designed the icons for the original Mac as well as for Windows 3.0. She even designed the card deck for Windows Solitaire.

https://tinyurl.com/mtnruuyn

Back to sleep for me, now that the dog has been out.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 21, 2026 04:33 AM (bkuEU)

This is great!

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 05:15 AM (faghi)

37 Is that Metatron?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 21, 2026 05:16 AM (Ot/FD)

38 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 05:18 AM (u82oZ)

39 I read Skip’s morning reports and feel a bit guilty. We started another project yesterday and my commute got 2 minutes shorter, only 17 minutes now. And, we start at 7.
I do emphasize with him tho, because last summer I worked in Lewes for a month.

Posted by: Accomack at July 21, 2026 05:19 AM (8jVAy)

40 Then maybe I can take off from working out this morning and squeeze a session in early tomorrow. I think most of the rain is supposed to be offshore to the south, not here.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:15 AM (wzUl9)

Yup, wind shear is tearing the system apart in the mid-level, so the lower parts of the storm are heading south into the gulf, while the upper level low is is heading northwest into the coast.

Tropical storms hate wind shear.
Which is why El Ninos are good for the southeast - it causes more wind shear in the Gulf and Atlantic, so less hurricanes.
At least that's the theory.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at July 21, 2026 05:20 AM (6ydKt)

41 37 Is that Metatron?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 21, 2026 05:16 AM (Ot/FD)

Similar haircut and nose, but I don't think it's him.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at July 21, 2026 05:22 AM (6ydKt)

42 My office is about an hour's drive one direction from me. The jobsite i have to go to often is an hour the other direction. So everyone who lives near the office, or even on the other side of it from me and has to pretty much stay in a hotel for the week if they need to work on site, is a little bit jealous that i can make it a day trip.

Lucky for me, an hour the other way past the shop is another region's stomping ground, so I won't even get to return the favor. Heh heh.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 21, 2026 05:23 AM (Ot/FD)

43 This is mostly just because i'm weird, and not significant of anything, but I imagine that the single german word that would mean "The hacking of the Romanian Land Registry Database" must be a glorious thing to behold.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 21, 2026 05:28 AM (Ot/FD)

44 Gotta admit, I don't miss the rain you guys get down there Wolfus. But I do have to drag the sprinklers out this morning.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 05:32 AM (3Ope8)

45 otta admit, I don't miss the rain you guys get down there Wolfus. But I do have to drag the sprinklers out this morning.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026

***
We don't get enough rain on a daily basis. Years ago, when I worked outdoors, you could almost count on a thundershower every afternoon around 3 pm from May to October. Since the Katrina days, we get hotter afternoons and less rain -- until we have a storm or other downpour. And the big pumps in the city? They often break down when they get wet.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:39 AM (wzUl9)

46 This morning I need to go back to the eyeglass place. They redid my bifocals to move the close-up lens farther down; but the distance lens is not strong enough for my right eye. New Rx today, then a few days for them to redo the glasses. When they get it right, I'll have them redo the other pair in the set (you get two for one price) as all distance lens for driving, use the bifocals for watching TV, and I have an earlier pair for reading.

Gettin' older ain't fer sissies.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:42 AM (wzUl9)

47 Belated BOING!

Off first to Tel Aviv to visit pups and grandpups. Then tonight, heading up north to stay long term in our vacation home.

Lotsa driving!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at July 21, 2026 05:44 AM (zBP9L)

48 Good morning, All.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026 05:45 AM (6gq1D)

49 Wonder how the lettuce market is moving these days. Are people avoiding it like the plague?

Posted by: Case at July 21, 2026 05:45 AM (bqIVz)

50 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at July 21, 2026 05:47 AM (V0/Sp)

51 @Pixy: You win the internet for today's musical selection.

I bought my first Pentium based machine in order to properly play Command & Conquer (C&C). (Remember when games drove most hardware upgrades? Pepperidge Farm remembers...)

Here's a video of "The Tiberian Sons" performing live, where they start the show with the installation sequence (including audio) for the original C&C, which brings back so many memories:

https://youtu.be/FcAzN5Ni4-E

Rejoinder: "These waffles, they suck!"

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026 05:48 AM (O7YUW)

52 Disclaimer:
Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

why null set

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 05:49 AM (faghi)

53 Case

Yes.
I wonder if vertical hydroponic farms with robots can replace Mexican lettuce. There is a bad trend line in that harvest. More capital intensive, but that is the trend I am seeing in Ag.

I would also like our IC to investigate China for bio warfare. And a separate DOGE group to investigate the IC investigating China.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 05:50 AM (u82oZ)

54 Is that Metatron?

Who, the longhair in the music vid, or the Kare vid?

Neither one is he.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 21, 2026 05:52 AM (EbCAF)

55 @47/Wolfus: "Gettin' older ain't fer sissies."

That's for sure. I'm on my first set of progressive lenses. The price of these things hurts.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026 05:53 AM (O7YUW)

56 @53/m: Because in the face of such an awesome bit of music, the disclaimer could only stand there awe-struck, saying nothing.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026 05:54 AM (O7YUW)

57 Got up thinking the clock read 4:30 only to sit at the computer and see that it was 1:30. It's going to be a long day.

Posted by: Halfhand at July 21, 2026 05:55 AM (Ysav4)

58 That's for sure. I'm on my first set of progressive lenses. The price of these things hurts.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026

***
I wish Medicare, or my supplemental insurance, covered vision. But for now, anyway, this vision stuff is an occasional cost, not something to lay out every month or a huge catastrophic expense all at once.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:55 AM (wzUl9)

59 57 @53/m: Because in the face of such an awesome bit of music, the disclaimer could only stand there awe-struck, saying nothing.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026 05:54 AM (O7YUW)

Pixy was speechless!

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 05:56 AM (faghi)

60 >>> The combined debts of Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle has spiked to $1.65 trillion.

"Instead, they are treated as "off-balance-sheet debt" recorded only in the footnotes of quarterly reports."

So not actually selling bonds and paying interest.

Posted by: fluffy at July 21, 2026 05:56 AM (V0/Sp)

61 Got up thinking the clock read 4:30 only to sit at the computer and see that it was 1:30. It's going to be a long day.
Posted by: Halfhand at July 21, 2026

***
Half-asleep, I misread my watch as 4:15 am, only to find it was 3:15. But somehow I could not drift back off.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 05:58 AM (wzUl9)

62 Disclaimer:
Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Pixy: Cat got your tongue?

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:00 AM (faghi)

63 My last few years: divorce, move to my brother's second house as caretaker, make plans for next move in six months.

Future goal: don't move.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026 06:00 AM (Qzfwe)

64 Next time I move, it's gonna be in a box.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 06:02 AM (3Ope8)

65 (this comment not available in your country)

Posted by: Don Black at July 21, 2026 06:03 AM (ZxPkt)

66
Very strange feeling this morning. For the first time in many, many years I don't have to walk down to the kennel and let dogs out.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at July 21, 2026 06:04 AM (O0L8i)

67 CrotchetyOldJarhead

I have too many books to move.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:04 AM (u82oZ)

68 Hadrian the Seventh

Congrats on TBD wins in Houston. How is the house doing with all those big dogs in it?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:05 AM (u82oZ)

69 I have too many books to move.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026

***
As a start to my downsizing for my move, I have two stacks of paperbacks and hardcovers to donate to the thrift store. I need a box, the kind a ream of copy paper comes in, that I used to get at work. Now I have to see if some store will give me a couple.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:07 AM (wzUl9)

70 CrotchetyOldJarhead

I have too many books to move.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:04 AM

-----

I chose to pare down a lot of books in the last move. It hurt.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026 06:08 AM (UykIJ)

71 That's for sure. I'm on my first set of progressive lenses. The price of these things hurts.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant

Been wearing progressives for years now and yes they are expensive. But I could never go back to regular bifocals now. My latest pair are transition progressives that darken in the sunlight and clear up inside. Love them. My supplemental insurance covers the eye exam and part of the cost of the frames which makes the price a little more bearable.

Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026 06:10 AM (lJ0H4)

72 Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

Walmart has inexpensive but sturdy banker boxes. That's what I moved over 3,000 books in on my way to Kansas.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:11 AM (u82oZ)

73 JM in Illinois

Are you going to leave Illinois, as so many others are doing?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:12 AM (u82oZ)

74 As a start to my downsizing for my move, I have two stacks of paperbacks and hardcovers to donate to the thrift store. I need a box, the kind a ream of copy paper comes in, that I used to get at work. Now I have to see if some store will give me a couple.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

Liquor stores are good sources for empty boxes.

Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026 06:12 AM (lJ0H4)

75 "Every time a file is saved in Word an open source LibreOffice angel dies" - Italo Vignoli, founding member of The Document Foundation and the handler of LibreOffice's PR and media relations

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026 06:13 AM (/eAef)

76 The big neighborhood Trash Day Eve celebration kicks off in a few hours and runs all day. The 29-year-old crowd, as usual is showing exceptional enthusiasm.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026 06:18 AM (/eAef)

77
How is the house doing with all those big dogs in it?
Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:05 AM (u82oZ)

Everyone has to get used to it. Puff and Ruth are in large crates in the entryway. Dutchess is in with her sister Dot in the utility room. While it can be a multistep pain to get them all out to exercise, it's nice for them to enjoy being near us.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at July 21, 2026 06:19 AM (O0L8i)

78 As a start to my downsizing for my move, I have two stacks of paperbacks and hardcovers to donate to the thrift store. I need a box, the kind a ream of copy paper comes in, that I used to get at work. Now I have to see if some store will give me a couple.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

Liquor stores are good sources for empty boxes.
Posted by: Tun

The homeless people here always seem to have extra cardboard boxes and stingray bikes laying around. I'd hit them up first.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026 06:19 AM (/eAef)

79 Good morning, Horde! It's a relatively beautiful day today but we are supposedly getting some storms later this afternoon. My Monday had two good things happen.

1. The repair of the water heater was less expensive that we anticipated and I ended up being able to pay for it as opposed to using my credit card.

2. When we went to pick up my wife's car, I negotiated the price for the repairs (Oil change, alignment and four new tires) down to under 1000.

So things are looking up.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 21, 2026 06:20 AM (svLOV)

80 So things are looking up.
Posted by: NR Pax

Indeed they are. Now if we can just get Wolfus moved to Indiana we tech thread peeps will be extra happy.

Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026 06:26 AM (lJ0H4)

81 Liquor stores are good sources for empty boxes.
Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026

***
We don't have those here, unless it's a specialty store. Liquor, beer, and wine are sold in grocery stores.

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

82 The homeless people here always seem to have extra cardboard boxes and stingray bikes laying around. I'd hit them up first.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026

***
I read that as "The boneless people."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:29 AM (wzUl9)

83 Walmart has inexpensive but sturdy banker boxes. That's what I moved over 3,000 books in on my way to Kansas.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026

***
I need to run over there this a.m. for ant traps (I discovered some of the little buggers on the cats' bowls yesterday). I'll look for the boxes too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:31 AM (wzUl9)

84 75 As a start to my downsizing for my move, I have two stacks of paperbacks and hardcovers to donate to the thrift store. I need a box, the kind a ream of copy paper comes in, that I used to get at work. Now I have to see if some store will give me a couple.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

Liquor stores are good sources for empty boxes.
Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026 06:12 AM (lJ0H4)

And grocery stores, if you snag some before they get broken down.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:31 AM (faghi)

85 We don't have those here, unless it's a specialty store. Liquor, beer, and wine are sold in grocery stores.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

My Aldi's always has a stack of empty boxes sitting by the check out lanes.

Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026 06:32 AM (lJ0H4)

86 Years ago, Meyer the Hatter had hat boxes -- tall items with the little oval hat keeper rings in them, in which you could store and ship six hats at a time. I got a couple from them. Maybe I need to make a run down there, which I dread (you have to pay to park downtown even on Saturdays now), to see if I can score a few more.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:35 AM (wzUl9)

87 My Aldi's always has a stack of empty boxes sitting by the check out lanes.
Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026

***
I hadn't noticed. I'll look.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:36 AM (wzUl9)

88 77 The big neighborhood Trash Day Eve celebration kicks off in a few hours and runs all day. The 29-year-old crowd, as usual is showing exceptional enthusiasm.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026 06:18 AM (/eAef)

I read that in a Howard Cosell voice.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at July 21, 2026 06:36 AM (c3YdQ)

89
The Music of Command & Conquer
No. Title
1. "Act on Instinct"
...
22. "Air Strike"

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:36 AM (faghi)

90 SiriusXM's pricing is a farce. When I got my new car a trial Sirius XM subscription came with it. Here in New Mexico it's easy to run out of radio and cell phone coverage when driving around. Having satellite radio is pretty nice. When the trial subscription ran out I found out the price for that plan was $28 per month. I was like, that's not happening.

So I called up SiriusXM to cancel the subscription and was immediately offered a 2-year contract for $6.50 per month. Same plan. I renewed that plan yesterday using the same tactics. Same results except the plan went up to $7 50. The bonus this time is you have to deal with an uncannally competent AI Agent. All said and done I was on the phone for under 10 minutes.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026 06:39 AM (/eAef)

91 Hadrian, that sounds cozy. I am sure tge big floofs love being close to you

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at July 21, 2026 06:39 AM (WL2lA)

92 When I said next time I move it's gonna be in a box, I meant a pine box. Or a bag. I'm not moving again. Although I will say that the last move from CO to Cowtown made me realize that we accumulate so much stuff that isn't really necessary. We donated so many clothes and household effects, even furniture.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 06:39 AM (3Ope8)

93 89 77 The big neighborhood Trash Day Eve celebration kicks off in a few hours and runs all day. The 29-year-old crowd, as usual is showing exceptional enthusiasm.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026 06:18 AM (/eAef)

I read that in a Howard Cosell voice.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at July 21, 2026 06:36 AM (c3YdQ)

haha!

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:39 AM (faghi)

94 "You write a page or two every day, and in a year or less, you have a manuscript. Moving is like that.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius"

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

mornin yall

Posted by: fd at July 21, 2026 06:42 AM (MWfyi)

95 The bonus this time is you have to deal with an uncannally competent AI Agent. All said and done I was on the phone for under 10 minutes.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions.

Had my first dealings with an AI agent when I had to change an oil change appointment at my car dealership. Smooth as silk. I was surprised.

Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026 06:42 AM (lJ0H4)

96 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at July 21, 2026 06:42 AM (2Ez/1)

97 m

Thanks for the hint. Never played the game.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:43 AM (u82oZ)

98 . . . 2. When we went to pick up my wife's car, I negotiated the price for the repairs (Oil change, alignment and four new tires) down to under 1000.

So things are looking up.
Posted by: NR Pax at July 21, 2026

***
*Negotiating* for car repairs? What a concept!

The Buick's rear brakes were done last week. Nothing else is needed until the August or September oil change, and I have the oil already, purchased when there was a scare story during the early days of the Iran "conflict" that there would soon be a shortage of 5W-30 oil in the stores and a huge price increase. The first didn't happen, and I don't think the second has either.

The car will hit 100K miles this summer, about 65K of that on my watch. August 8 will make seven years: the longest I have ever kept a car. And I still smile when I walk up to it.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:43 AM (wzUl9)

99 100

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:43 AM (faghi)

100 How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Don't start in the back though, you'll quickly lose all appetite for forward progress.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 06:43 AM (3Ope8)

101 Costco's boxes are useless for moving.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026 06:44 AM (WoIFp)

102 98 m

Thanks for the hint. Never played the game.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:43 AM (u82oZ)

Me, too, never played it. Looked it up on Wikipedia!

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:44 AM (faghi)

103 CrotchetyOldJarhead

There is a song I heard as a yute: Going to Glory in a Glad Bag.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:45 AM (u82oZ)

104 93 When I said next time I move it's gonna be in a box, I meant a pine box.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 06:39 AM (3Ope

I knew what you meant! I was gonna say, "Feet first?"

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:47 AM (faghi)

105 @103/m: Listen to the opening of the track "Hell March" (from C&C Red Alert) and you'll understand my Rejoinder in #52.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026 06:47 AM (O7YUW)

106 I have used Home Depot moving boxes for my last two moves and found them to be perfect. The thickness of the material is just about right and the uniform sizes makes stacking them a breeze. Given how expensive it is to move the small cost for them is well worth it.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at July 21, 2026 06:48 AM (/eAef)

107 If anyone likes Billy Joel, I can recommend Rick Beato's interview with him on YT. He is certainly looking his age, and he does not look healthy, and he is well past his singing prime, but he can still play, and his stories about his influences, career, and his songwriting are fascinating.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at July 21, 2026 06:48 AM (c3YdQ)

108 93 When I said next time I move it's gonna be in a box, I meant a pine box. Or a bag. I'm not moving again. Although I will say that the last move from CO to Cowtown made me realize that we accumulate so much stuff that isn't really necessary. We donated so many clothes and household effects, even furniture.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 06:39 AM (3Ope8

-----
And by making donations, you make life easier on your survivors
Who deal with the leftovers

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026 06:49 AM (6hw2D)

109 Wolfus, if you have a public library nearby, it's worth asking if they happen to have boxes to spare. Or maybe a bookstore.
The boxes books come in are sturdy

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at July 21, 2026 06:50 AM (7gFa4)

110 NaCly... Indeed.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 06:51 AM (3Ope8)

111 How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
*
Don't start in the back though, you'll quickly lose all appetite for forward progress.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026

***
In Burroughs's Jungle Tales of Tarzan, he tells us of the time Tarzan ate meat from Tantor, the elephant, who had long been his friend. Some of the "blacks," the Gomangani, had cooked up an elephant, and a hungry Tarzan stole some stew meat from their pot (he'd had a bad week at hunting). Unfortunately the elephant had been sick when it died. Tarzan had hallucinations and tried to shoot arrows at the moon in his delirium. When he recovered, he swore he would never again touch meat from Tantor.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:52 AM (wzUl9)

112 106 @103/m: Listen to the opening of the track "Hell March" (from C&C Red Alert) and you'll understand my Rejoinder in #52.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026 06:47 AM (O7YUW)

The audience goes wild.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:53 AM (faghi)

113 74 JM in Illinois

Are you going to leave Illinois, as so many others are doing?
Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:12 AM (

----

I am looking at indiana.I'd like to stay closer to my family. Illinois is such a financial train wreck.. And ss everybody knows, one of the bluest of blue states

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026 06:54 AM (eGRby)

114 If anyone likes Billy Joel, I can recommend Rick Beato's interview with him on YT. He is certainly looking his age, and he does not look healthy, and he is well past his singing prime, but he can still play, and his stories about his influences, career, and his songwriting are fascinating.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at July 21, 2026

***
I've always admired his piano work and his songwriting -- "Piano Man" and "We Didn't Start the Fire" (I guess he wrote that?), and "The Stranger" in particular.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:54 AM (wzUl9)

115 I am looking at indiana.I'd like to stay closer to my family. Illinois is such a financial train wreck.. And ss everybody knows, one of the bluest of blue states
Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026

***
Exactly why I eliminated IL as a bolthole. Not a 2A friendly state, which IN is, and I wouldn't be surprised if IL taxes Social Security, which IN does not.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:56 AM (wzUl9)

116 'Bout time to feed the monsters, shower, and get ready to hit Walmart for the ant traps et al.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:56 AM (wzUl9)

117 I've always admired his piano work and his songwriting -- "Piano Man" and "We Didn't Start the Fire" (I guess he wrote that?), and "The Stranger" in particular.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:54 AM (wzUl9)

----------

One of the stories he tells is that he didn't really like "Just the Way You Are" and was not going to put it on the album, but a person ( you'll find out who in the interview ) tells his "Are you nuts! That's a hit!!"

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at July 21, 2026 06:56 AM (c3YdQ)

118 113 106 @103/m: Listen to the opening of the track "Hell March" (from C&C Red Alert) and you'll understand my Rejoinder in #52.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at July 21, 2026 06:47 AM (O7YUW)

The audience goes wild.
Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:53 AM (faghi)

Warning: This Show Will Contain Intense Flashing

I'm glad they warned me!

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:56 AM (faghi)

119 Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:56 AM (faghi)

What's up with that hash?

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:56 AM (faghi)

120 JM in Illinois

The elites, in their effort to keep power, drive people away. You would think they could learn, but so far that is not happening.

Why Trump is hated. He makes the area of the curve of prosperity wider and higher, not a spike over the elites.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:57 AM (u82oZ)

121

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at July 21, 2026 06:57 AM (sUMTS)

122 'Bout time to feed the monsters, shower, and get ready to hit Walmart for the ant traps et al.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

Ah ha, Walmart. Another good empty boxes source.

Posted by: Tuna at July 21, 2026 06:58 AM (lJ0H4)

123 Hillary Clinton

Saw you in Italy. You looked hideous. And fat.
Bill stayed away from you. And he looks like he is close to death.

Do you miss the loving of Webb Hubble?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 06:59 AM (u82oZ)

124 And you thought you had problems: The combined debts of Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle has spiked to $1.65 trillion.

Or is it their payees who have problems.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 06:59 AM (faghi)

125 I found out that the 2 year college allows seniors to audit courses for free. I may look at going to school and doing some courses in biology or anthropology.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at July 21, 2026 06:59 AM (3Ope8)

126 Yes, Joel wrote "We Didn't Start the Fire" as well as "Piano Man" and "The Stranger." For those three alone he should be remembered.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 07:00 AM (wzUl9)

127 Morning, Horde...How goes it?

I get the fun task of taking Allie the Calico Kitty Cat (the *other* cutest little cat of them all) into the vet for minor surgery today.

It looks like she has a hematoma in one of her ears.

Since she's going to be sedated, she's been NPO since midnight. I'm sure she's missing her breakfast this morning.

Poor kitty.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 21, 2026 07:02 AM (FZ29D)

128
...Going over by the couch to plug in the MacBook and turn on the TV, I thought I glimpsed a *gray monkey* sitting atop the couch! A blink resolved the simian into Dagny, who had been yawning and thus in the moving partial light did not look like herself...

Wait!

You started your day with a monkey but wound up with a cat?!?!

What a downgrade, you poor fellow.

You should hit the booze and see if the monkey comes back!

Posted by: naturalfake at July 21, 2026 07:03 AM (iJfKG)

129 128
...Going over by the couch to plug in the MacBook and turn on the TV, I thought I glimpsed a *gray monkey* sitting atop the couch! A blink resolved the simian into Dagny, who had been yawning and thus in the moving partial light did not look like herself...

Wait!

You started your day with a monkey but wound up with a cat?!?!

What a downgrade, you poor fellow.

You should hit the booze and see if the monkey comes back!
Posted by: naturalfake at July 21, 2026 07:03 AM (iJfKG)

"The Lost Weekend" redux.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 07:04 AM (faghi)

130 m

When you owe that much, the financial institutions are in the most trouble. Someone is getting their har cut with losses.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 07:04 AM (u82oZ)

131 SeriusXM: Recently my two-years subscription was about to expire. You don't even have to call them anymore. Log in the website. Try to cancel. Receive offer. Accept. Bingo.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at July 21, 2026 07:05 AM (qFwJc)

132 You should hit the booze and see if the monkey comes back!
Posted by: naturalfake at July 21, 2026

***
I thought that was how you got *pink* monkeys. . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 07:07 AM (wzUl9)

133 I'm up early for no discernible reason. Can't blame Stirling for leaping on me today. Though I did give myself a turn. When I get up to turn on the coffee, I use a flashlight to see. Going over by the couch to plug in the MacBook and turn on the TV, I thought I glimpsed a *gray monkey* sitting atop the couch! A blink resolved the simian into Dagny, who had been yawning and thus in the moving partial light did not look like herself.
----
A glitch in the Matrix?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 21, 2026 07:07 AM (FZ29D)

134 "White House Correspondents' Dinner set for Friday at new location with tighter security"

They should ban CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, CNN, and MSN. Also the NYT, WaPo, Daily Mail, and every other major newspaper. Then call it off and forget about it.

Posted by: fd at July 21, 2026 07:09 AM (MWfyi)

135 no one of any consequence

That works with Epoch Times as well. Try to cancel, get a lower price.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 07:09 AM (u82oZ)

136 Exactly why I eliminated IL as a bolthole. Not a 2A friendly state, which IN is, and I wouldn't be surprised if IL taxes Social Security, which IN does not.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 21, 2026 06:56 AM

-----

The legislature voted on taxing some retirement income in 2020 but it didn't pass. I think next try will work, they're so addicted to spending. Chicago has elected a Democrat mayor every election since 1930, and it's a financial mess

Posted by: JM in Illinois at July 21, 2026 07:10 AM (fqFLK)

137 fd

Alligator Alcatraz for the win! Invite all the main stream media. But only the Presidential Party, the Secret Service and venue workers get to leave.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 07:11 AM (u82oZ)

138 If you find and old fashioned paper dictionary and look up the word "Nebbish" you'll find Billy Joel's picture next to it.
Not a joke.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 21, 2026 07:12 AM (2Ez/1)

139 J.J. Runway 270.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 21, 2026 07:13 AM (u82oZ)

140 What was Christy Brinkley thinking

Posted by: Don Black at July 21, 2026 07:15 AM (ZxPkt)

141 And stop calling me Shirley!

Posted by: SeriusXM at July 21, 2026 07:15 AM (2Ez/1)

142 From above, US Big Tech's Hidden Debt Hits 2,455 Trillion Won Amid AI Race

So to discourage data centers and affiliated costs, especially in the US, or the future 'socialist' grab or both?

Posted by: L - No nic.. cellphone at July 21, 2026 07:32 AM (NFX2v)

143 *US Big Tech's Hidden Debt Hits 2,455 Trillion Won Amid AI Race*

It's a write off Jerry.

Posted by: Kramer at July 21, 2026 07:35 AM (2Ez/1)

144
(SE Dailing) = Seoul Economic Daily
Korea's Leading Business News Since 1960

AI-translated from Korean.
Quotes from foreign sources are based on Korean-language reports and may not reflect exact original wording.

An analysis by Nihon Keizai Shimbun of recent financial statements and related documents from Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon.com, Meta, and Oracle found that the five companies' AI-related contractual obligations totaled 1.65 trillion dollars (about 2,455 trillion won), an eightfold increase in four years, the newspaper reported on the 20th.

"the newspaper"
No newspaper has been mentioned.
This seems maybe shady a bit?

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 07:41 AM (faghi)

145
(faghi)

practically an abecedarium

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 07:43 AM (faghi)

146 "The Nikkei, also known as The Nihon Keizai Shimbun ( lit. "Japan Economics Newspaper"), is the flagship publication of Nikkei, Inc. (based in Tokyo) and the world's largest financial newspaper, with over 3 million subscribers."

Posted by: From Wikipedia at July 21, 2026 08:18 AM (2Ez/1)

147 146 "The Nikkei, also known as The Nihon Keizai Shimbun ( lit. "Japan Economics Newspaper"), is the flagship publication of Nikkei, Inc. (based in Tokyo) and the world's largest financial newspaper, with over 3 million subscribers."
Posted by: From Wikipedia at July 21, 2026 08:18 AM (2Ez/1)

Thank you, (2Ez/1)! It had not even occurred to me to look into what Nihon Keizai Shimbun is, because I thought Nihon Keizai Shimbun was a "who"! Adding that "The" is very helpful.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 09:05 AM (faghi)

148 I am still faghi.

Posted by: m at July 21, 2026 09:06 AM (faghi)

149 sock off

Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at July 21, 2026 09:30 AM (w9Wax)

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