Daily Tech News 13 September 2026

Top Story

LG televisions are spyware, part one:

Unlikely it's limited to LG, but they boast of it even as they deny it.
LG televisions are definitely not spyware, says LG, as it reportedly force-pushes a firmware update to hide the spyware:

Tech News

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for the US government to force all his competitors to slow down development, preferably using drone strikes. (New York Times)

Can you spell "regulatory capture", boys and girls?

Timmy? Yes, it was already evident in the Code of Hammurabi. I see you're been keeping up with assigned reading.
Iran and Iran's Houthi proxies in Yemen use Anthropic's Claude to develop hypersonic missiles and target US warships. (Tom's Hardware)

Where for me Claude Opus dropped from version 5 down to 4.8 because it hallucinated the term "cyber" when working with a CBOR library - the Concise Binary Object Representation.
Sony's PlayStation division ditched its partnership with Hideo Kojima over fears that the game might not be a colossal failure. (Yahoo)

Microsoft's Xbox division briefly put its own string of colossal failures on hold to snap him up.
Added an embedded database to my programming language - it's called Nana - today, and a "kitchen sink" option that increases the bundled standard library from 15 packages to 120. Just now merging in nana book - an option that fires up a local website with up to date documentation of the language and libraries, reading directly from docstrings and definitions in the code.

Just waiting for a build to complete, but it looks like the binary with all the new features might be smaller than yesterday's binary because I previously missed a compression option. On Linux and Windows there's no install required - download it, run it, it works. It adds 0.1 to 0.2 seconds to the startup time depending on your CPU, but you can decompress it to get startup down to 1% of that if that's a factor.

Update: So... Stripped and compressed, it comes out to ~~3.3MB~~ 3.7MB, which is ~~smaller~~ only 100k larger than two days ago. Startup time has increased though to 150ms. Mostly not an issue.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: You diddled when you should have daddled.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:33 AM (odBC9)

2 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 13, 2026 04:35 AM (C26rB)

3 The Gamers Nexus guy, Steve Burke, seems like a really nice guy.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:36 AM (odBC9)

4 AI tells me that "Steve Burke, the founder and editor-in-chief of the PC hardware review and analysis channel Gamers Nexus, is based in Cary, North Carolina."

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:39 AM (odBC9)

5 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026 04:43 AM (Ia/+0)

6 >>>Just waiting for a built to complete

built-->build

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:44 AM (odBC9)

7 The IRGC used Claude to find and build profiles on the protestors.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 04:45 AM (E0Et6)

8 In the top video, Steve's Microslop t-shirt is pretty funny.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:47 AM (odBC9)

9 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 13, 2026 04:59 AM (VyBeY)

10 7 The IRGC used Claude to find and build profiles on the protestors.
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 04:45 AM (E0Et6)

Scary.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 05:01 AM (odBC9)

11 Good Morning all, time for me to crash but I'm to wired to sleep.

Posted by: Gmac-WTF did you think was going to happen at September 13, 2026 05:07 AM (Q/FnY)

12 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at September 13, 2026 05:07 AM (V0/Sp)

13 I have an LG fridge.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 05:10 AM (odBC9)

14 Evening and morning, late or Sunday toilers and early risers! 'Tis Sunday, innit?

I woke on my own from tangled dreams about reading instructions from a red-paged book, instructions about something I already knew in the dream how to do but can't recall clearly now. Bleah.

What's up for you?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:17 AM (wzUl9)

15
I'm up, I'm up! OK?

Posted by: Leon Trotsky at September 13, 2026 05:19 AM (eRlcH)

16 The 1967 potboiler Valley of the Dolls is on Movies!, with Sharon Tate and Patty Duke. It wouldn't have interested me when it was new, and I've never watched all of it since. A classic example of glossy trash, I guess?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:20 AM (wzUl9)

17
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at September 13, 2026 05:21 AM (AMvSw)

18 >>> Added an embedded database to my programming language

Will there be a day when more ordinary folk will be able to download and code "Hello, World!\n" ?

Posted by: fluffy at September 13, 2026 05:26 AM (V0/Sp)

19 >>> I have an LG fridge.

Is it smart? Mrs fluffy and are dreading the day we have to replace appliances.

Posted by: fluffy at September 13, 2026 05:27 AM (V0/Sp)

20 We walked over to the Chik-Fil-A near where we live. $17.45 for two sandwiches alone and a large serving of fries (we drank water). Good stuff, but grrrr at the price. Still, going anywhere else as pleasant or better would have run close to $30 with the tip.

I'll buy some meat at Aldi this week, and we can get two dinners out of that with tortillas or with pasta.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:28 AM (wzUl9)

21 19 >>> I have an LG fridge.

Is it smart? Mrs fluffy and are dreading the day we have to replace appliances.
Posted by: fluffy at September 13, 2026 05:27 AM (V0/Sp)

I don't think so. It's pretty old.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 05:29 AM (odBC9)

22 I've already watched both of those Gamers Nexus videos.

So... How to solve the problem?

Well, you could put OpenWRT on your wireless routers, and set your home network up to use VLANs, and shove the TV in its own isolated VLAN, with the router configured to not let it talk to any other devices through the router even if you do add something else to that VLAN in future.

Then set up firewall rules on the "If it's not expressly permitted, it's automatically forbidden" security model, only adding addresses the TV needs to talk to (for updates, for authentication, and for whatever services or streams you want to watch.)

And that's where this starts to break down, because:
a) LG could easily use the same IP address for updates as it does for spying. You might not be able to isolate those.
b) LG could lock you out for "violating the terms of service" if you try to shut down their spying, and that's probably inside those utter bricks of terms-of-service that were shown in the 2nd video.
c) Finding out exactly what IPs to approve to barely get a stream/service working is a giant pain in the arse.

G'morning horde. I should have my coffee now.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 05:32 AM (O7YUW)

23 I purchase all my appliances from the used sellers. They buy all the non spying, non 999 things that can go wrong goods.

Half price or less.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 05:33 AM (E0Et6)

24 22 I've already watched both of those Gamers Nexus videos.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 05:32 AM (O7YUW)

Yay! I was just going to ask Pixy if he has.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 05:33 AM (odBC9)

25 My apartment fridge is probably twenty -- I think after the Katrina debacle, the management back then replaced many units. Frost-free, non-spying.

When I was looking over appliances at Lowe's earlier this year, in case I bought a house that would need a fridge or more, I saw most of the boxes were "smart" . . . but you could still get simpler models for a lot less money. Same thing with stoves. On that trip I didn't look at washers and dryers, but I'd hope the same is true for them.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:38 AM (wzUl9)

26 How many other television manufacturers are doing this? Where is the price cutoff? A $300 tv? A $400 tv? I would toss an LG product into the dumpster.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at September 13, 2026 05:39 AM (5C90x)

27 I've gotten about halfway through the first video. It's way above me, so I will be dependent on the kindness of strangers to interpret it.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 05:41 AM (odBC9)

28 @19/fluffy: "Mrs fluffy and are dreading the day we have to replace appliances."

There are still "dumb" appliances out there. Large landlord corporations still buy them for apartment complexes they run. Start investigating now.

Buy one now as well as a really good appliance dolly (NOT the same as a "box dolly").

Stick the backup fridge in your garage. It can hold bottled drinks.

When the day comes that the main fridge has kicked the bucket, you're all set to promote the backup fridge to the primary, and won't you two feel awesome for having been well prepared.

Two is one, and one is none.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 05:41 AM (O7YUW)

29 I love my old TV from 2003.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2026 05:41 AM (wtpml)

30 exactly, BH!
we have two spare dumb TVs (from craigslist) waiting in the closet.
one is a duplicate of the current one working, so when it fails I will keep it for parts.

coffee req'd, brb

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 13, 2026 05:42 AM (VyBeY)

31 Stirling is romping around, hoping I'll feed him early. No idea where Dagny is; probably in her bedroom window or something. I think his diet is working, but I'm going to find it hard to weigh him with the inaccurate scale I have. Maybe it's time I bought a modern one with a digital display. $$$, I have no doubt.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:44 AM (wzUl9)

32 sock_rat, How are you !?

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 05:47 AM (E0Et6)

33 I love my old TV from 2003.
Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2026

***
I was happy with my CRT TV from 1995 until 2020. Darn thing weighed 75 lbs. I ignored the digital TV world until the CRT died and there was hardly anybody who could fix it -- and I'd have had to get it to the shop anyway.

My current one, bought at Target, is a Vizio. Haven't had any trouble with it, and the over-the-air channels made it possible for me to cancel the cable. I still have the same company for Internet -- but I'm seriously thinking about going with Starlink. It would save me 50%.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:49 AM (wzUl9)

34 More thoughts on LG TV's and other "smart" (spyware) devices:

You have NO way of knowing if they're trying to connect to other networks that you can see on WiFi from your house. Sure most of them are secured, but any company that would go to these lengths to get data on their customers might be willing to try a large password file to attempt to gain access to another network.

Does that break the law? Yes. Will they care? Probably not. Corporations have figured out that the worst that can happen to them (normally) is a fine, otherwise known as a 'cost of doing business'. Also: China is Asshoe and it's not as if they're going to pay any attention to other countries' laws.

My neighbor had one of those programmable "smart bulbs" in their house. For some reason, it decided it was going to absolutely hammer my wifi routers, trying to gain access for itself every 5 seconds. I had a ridiculously long WPA2 password, but I still had to MAC-address ban that stupid thing, and then decided to switch to a MAC-address whitelist. (If you're not on the list already, you ain't getting an IP address. Ever.)

IoT = idIoTic.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 05:49 AM (O7YUW)

35 I imagine they're going to be saying that all of this information could not possibly be processed without AI. Which I imagine is true.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 05:50 AM (odBC9)

36 Well. The monsters are not due for chow for another hour. Time I changed, stretched, and got busy with my workout.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:52 AM (wzUl9)

37 Oh, and that smart bulb of the neighbor's wasn't "smart" and neither were its designers. It kept rotating through a list of 20 common passwords as it tried to connect, utterly littering my router's logs with garbage lines. Over and over and over again...

In a lot of cases they seemed like default passwords that various routers come set up with. Either that means they know there's a lot of people out there that just plug a router in and never give it a second thought as to setting it up properly, or they're counting on the day when you have to factory reset your password, and it'll try to worm its way onto the router then.

Now I'm wondering if the thing also had a malware payload it wanted to deliver... hmmm...

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 05:55 AM (O7YUW)

38 26 How many other television manufacturers are doing this? Where is the price cutoff? A $300 tv? A $400 tv? I would toss an LG product into the dumpster.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone

Very likely all of them.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 13, 2026 05:57 AM (BLOW1)

39 @Pixy: "Added an embedded database to my programming language - it's called Nana - today, and a "kitchen sink" option that increases the bundled standard library from 15 packages to 120."

Aren't you worried that this increases the attack surface?

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 05:59 AM (O7YUW)

40 My TV is a screen for DVD's and that is it.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 05:59 AM (E0Et6)

41 I don't have a tv!

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:00 AM (odBC9)

42 Rainy morning

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026 06:02 AM (Ia/+0)

43 Steve and Wendell look like they're having a ton of fun.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:03 AM (odBC9)

44 I remember specifically when the showroom salesman asked me why I didn't want my plasma with an internet connection. I should have thought of a better kind of 'no.'

Posted by: Escobar cut-loop at September 13, 2026 06:05 AM (HeG1i)

45 m, you don't want to be inundated with consumer ads and propaganda? How very anti of you!

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 06:05 AM (E0Et6)

46 39 @Pixy: "Added an embedded database to my programming language - it's called Nana - today, and a "kitchen sink" option that increases the bundled standard library from 15 packages to 120."

Aren't you worried that this increases the attack surface?
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant

The "kitchen sink" build is for developers exploring the language, so that they don't need to download packages individually. And with the capability security model it should not increase the attack surface - at least in theory.

Still, it's not recommended for deployment, because code that's not present is code that can't have bugs.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 13, 2026 06:08 AM (BLOW1)

47 @20/Wolfus: "We walked over to the Chik-Fil-A near where we live. $17.45 for two sandwiches alone and a large serving of fries (we drank water). Good stuff, but grrrr at the price. Still, going anywhere else as pleasant or better would have run close to $30 with the tip. "

Covid. Lockdowns. Governments printing money to keep things sorta-going. Massive inflation via "clipping the coin" that they refuse to talk about or admit, but they full on knew what they were doing.

Bastards, the bunch of them.

And why? Because then with the value of money effectively halved or even quartered, the value of their debt also went down by that much, because the debt is an absolute number not tied to inflation. If you owe $1,000,000 before a period of massive inflation, and at the end of it your money is worth 25% of what it was before, you effectively now owe $250,000 in pre-inflationary dollars. 3/4 of your debt has been erased.

And so has 3/4 of everyone's life savings. It amazes to me that politicians aren't decorating lampposts as a result of this.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 06:08 AM (O7YUW)

48 @46/Pixy: "Still, it's not recommended for deployment, because code that's not present is code that can't have bugs."

So you'll be using the minimalist library model when you deploy Minx 2.0 then. Good. I'm glad you're on top of this.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 06:10 AM (O7YUW)

49 45 m, you don't want to be inundated with consumer ads and propaganda? How very anti of you!
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 06:05 AM (E0Et6)

It's me being an introvert.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:11 AM (odBC9)

50 Don't forget that Samsung bricked TVs remotely a few years back...
They claimed the TVs were stolen, so when the TVs were connected online, Samsung bricked them.

https://tinyurl.com/yc4ks2pn

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:11 AM (l3cgK)

51 Steve's tablesized screen is pretty cool!

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:12 AM (odBC9)

52 Even though my TVs, fridge, washer and dryer are "dumb", they still have some smarts...for instance, there are places where a service person can access the devices for "service"...and yes, those devices (fridge, washer, dryer) are LG that I bought years ago...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:13 AM (l3cgK)

53 For your home wifi network, turn off SSID broadcasting. That way your neighbors don't know the name of your network.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2026 06:16 AM (36x1j)

54 LG: "We own the glass".

Well good, keep owning it. I ain't buying LG ever again, so you can also keep owning your fridges, washers, dryers, and anything else you make...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:18 AM (l3cgK)

55 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 13, 2026 06:18 AM (2Ez/1)

56 53 For your home wifi network, turn off SSID broadcasting. That way your neighbors don't know the name of your network.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2026 06:16 AM (36x1j)

My Wifi network is hidden, but there are still ways to find it, and folks have. I blame the f'n router I needed to expand the signal to the rest of my house...always some device in your house that has less than stellar security, sometimes by design.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:19 AM (l3cgK)

57
54 LG: "We own the glass".

Well good, keep owning it. I ain't buying LG ever again, so you can also keep owning your fridges, washers, dryers, and anything else you make...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:18 AM (l3cgK)

Yeah, but:

38 26 How many other television manufacturers are doing this? Where is the price cutoff? A $300 tv? A $400 tv? I would toss an LG product into the dumpster.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone

Very likely all of them.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 13, 2026 05:57 AM (BLOW1)

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:19 AM (odBC9)

58 49 45 m, you don't want to be inundated with consumer ads and propaganda? How very anti of you!
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 06:05 AM (E0Et6)

It's me being an introvert.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:11 AM (odBC9)

How much do you bet the higher-ups at LG don't use LG in their homes?...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:20 AM (l3cgK)

59 57
54 LG: "We own the glass".

Well good, keep owning it. I ain't buying LG ever again, so you can also keep owning your fridges, washers, dryers, and anything else you make...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:18 AM (l3cgK)

Yeah, but:

38 26 How many other television manufacturers are doing this? Where is the price cutoff? A $300 tv? A $400 tv? I would toss an LG product into the dumpster.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone

Very likely all of them.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 13, 2026 05:57 AM (BLOW1)

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:19 AM (odBC9)

Indeed. Why I try to never buy any "smart" device, cell phone excluded, since it can't be helped. I like my devices dumb. I have no Ring camera or other IOT devices in my house.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:21 AM (l3cgK)

60 Steve is very carefully reading from lawyer-okayed scripts!

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:22 AM (odBC9)

61 doing okay, BH, but no hike for me today, alas. stuff to do.

perfect weather, too; 44 degrees, calm; it'll be clear when the sun comes up (stars from horizon to zenith, gorgeous!)
(which means that nothing interesting is happening up there, cool astro-phenomena summon overcast as if by magic!)

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 13, 2026 06:24 AM (VyBeY)

62 I ruined the battery in my Dell laptop. New one on the way, $134.

The Dell Optiplex micro pc is working great. It has a solid state drive, guess that's how it's so small. It's about the size of a single box of mac n' cheese.

Impulse buy from Best Buy: 23" Acer monitor, $79. My plan is to watch multiple football games on multiple monitors.

Posted by: Savage Henry at September 13, 2026 06:24 AM (ZxPkt)

63 jim, that is a bet I would not take.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 06:24 AM (E0Et6)

64 If you won't give us your information, we will take it !

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 06:25 AM (E0Et6)

65 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: So now I let the poodle go piddle on the fiddle.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at September 13, 2026 06:26 AM (amcLV)

66 62 I ruined the battery in my Dell laptop.
Posted by: Savage Henry at September 13, 2026 06:24 AM (ZxPkt)

How?

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:26 AM (odBC9)

67 I don't want a LG television. The only TV I have is a non working one which only plays DVD's and CD's.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:28 AM (JrHfD)

68 "How much do you bet the higher-ups at LG don't use LG in their homes?...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:20 AM (l3cgK) "

i see 2 possibilities:
- special edition with modded firmware that does not spy
- employment contract that specifically requires 24/365 monitoring of every activity for corporate security; every device must be lg.
gotta say that #2 seems most likely

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at September 13, 2026 06:29 AM (VyBeY)

69 Typos all over the LG user agreement that Steve is assessing.
test (for text)
aspect (for accept)

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:31 AM (odBC9)

70 >How?

Posted by: m
----

poor management
kept it plugged in for extended periods, topped it off too may times, exceeding the recommended number of charging cycles

what I found out from Copilot is that I could create a laptop battery health report from a command prompt. It gives you a detailed autopsy of the battery, and generates error codes you can interpret on Dell's support website. Mine had degraded to about 20% of its original capacity.

Posted by: Savage Henry at September 13, 2026 06:32 AM (ZxPkt)

71 One wonders if the commercial LED/LCD screens (which cost a LOT more because they're not participating in advertising to the user) are still playing the spyware game. Why? Espionage, possibly sponsored by state actors. (China is ASSHOE.)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at September 13, 2026 06:32 AM (O7YUW)

72 It would run about an hour, then the laptop would shut down.

Posted by: Savage Henry at September 13, 2026 06:33 AM (ZxPkt)

73 Actor Christian Bake starts a community so that foster kids and their siblings can Al stay together. Sunny Skyz site:

https://tinyurl.com/66emrzn4

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:33 AM (JrHfD)

74 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at September 13, 2026 06:35 AM (NmD3f)

75 Mornin', Horde. 64 degrees, going to 90 in Kentuckiana.

Posted by: Nazdar at September 13, 2026 06:35 AM (NcvvS)

76 72 It would run about an hour, then the laptop would shut down.
Posted by: Savage Henry at September 13, 2026 06:33 AM (ZxPkt)

Yikes!

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:36 AM (odBC9)

77 All this spying on us, and it isn't even AI fully yet...Congrats on making Skynet's job easier...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 06:36 AM (l3cgK)

78 I have an LG washer and dryer. Also an LG television.

Posted by: Tuna at September 13, 2026 06:40 AM (lJ0H4)

79 mornin yall. We got a 40" Fire TV for my MIL's assisted living apartment but she could not figure out how to use it. The menus are too complicated for her 87 year old mind. For one thing, there is no way to make it come up on the same channel as when you turned it off. This is confusing for her as her old TV pretty much stayed on the local channel 13. She can't figure out how to get the stupid smart TV to go to her favorite channel. The facility has 66 cable channels too, but half are junk and she gets lost in them too.

So I brought over a old 32" Sharp TV I had with an OTA antenna and set that up for her. Now when she turns the TV on it comes up on channel 13 and she can switch between half a dozen local channels. I also got her a big button remote that has 6 buttons. On/off, volume and channel up and down, and mute. She's as happy as can be now.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 06:41 AM (MWfyi)

80 Whirlpool is the way to go. I've had my w/d pair over 20 years. Of course I'm just one guy, so the machines run maybe once or twice a week.

Posted by: Savage Henry at September 13, 2026 06:43 AM (ZxPkt)

81 79 I also got her a big button remote that has 6 buttons. On/off, volume and channel up and down, and mute. She's as happy as can be now.
Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 06:41 AM (MWfyi)

That is super cool.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:43 AM (odBC9)

82 That 40" Fire TV has a great picture and was only $99. The spying subsides the price.

Anyway I brought the Fire home and set it up as a monitor in the shop to watch episodes of Jay Leno's Garage while I'm working. The thing will never connect to my network though, cause I ain't gonna let it.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 06:45 AM (MWfyi)

83 If I could ask for prayers for everybody travelling today. My friend and her family are coming back from Disney World today. I will be glad to not have the responsibility of looking after her three cats and cleaning their litter boxes. It is a heavy clumping variety . ( Spouse helped me a couple of days. Thanks, dear! ) I hope she doesn't come back to a deceased cat because, I only saw the excessively scared once once, although I left it food in the room it tends to hang out in.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:45 AM (JrHfD)

84 Posted by: Tuna at September 13, 2026 06:40 AM (lJ0H4

We have an LG washer and dryer as well. If they're spying on us we have a boring life.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:47 AM (JrHfD)

85 Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:33 AM (JrHfD)

Make that "all" stay together.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:48 AM (JrHfD)

86 "We have an LG washer and dryer as well. If they're spying on us we have a boring life.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke"

That's what I told Mrs fd about the Fire TV for my MIL. Sure, it's going to spy on her. What is it going to learn? That she likes Wheel Of Fortune?

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 06:50 AM (MWfyi)

87 We walked over to the Chik-Fil-A near where we live. $17.45 for two sandwiches alone and a large serving of fries (we drank water). Good stuff, but grrrr at the price. Still, going anywhere else as pleasant or better would have run close to $30 with the tip.

I see that Chick-Fil-A has a new sandwich. The chicken filet topped with bacon between two maple flavored waffles. Served with maple syrup. Looks like I'm going to make a trip there very soon.

Posted by: Tuna at September 13, 2026 06:50 AM (lJ0H4)

88 I dunno, Pixy.
I could have handled the 3.3MB, but 3.7MB is just asking too much in this day and age of arm, keg & kidney, NAND pricing.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 06:52 AM (6ydKt)

89 The hate is strong in these 'gamers' as they throw shade at Ananta, formerly Project Mugen.

Doubt I will get the game when it releases in January but from all the clips and game play, it looks like a lot of fun.

Posted by: Anna Puma at September 13, 2026 06:52 AM (2GVsD)

90 We have an LG washer and dryer as well. If they're spying on us we have a boring life.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

Same here. They can listen to me talk to the dog. Whoopee.

Posted by: Tuna at September 13, 2026 06:53 AM (lJ0H4)

91 All this LG spy-stuff is reminiscent of Flock.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:53 AM (odBC9)

92 Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 06:50 AM (MWfyi

lol.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:53 AM (JrHfD)

93
Wife: I don't understand cloning.
Husband: That makes two of us.

Posted by: Morning smile at September 13, 2026 06:53 AM (2Ez/1)

94 ... including data aggregation.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:53 AM (odBC9)

95 8 In the top video, Steve's Microslop t-shirt is pretty funny.
Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:47 AM (odBC9)

Gamers Nexus sells them on their store if you want one.

Or, they were, sometimes they do limited edition items so the Microslop shirts might be sold out.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 06:54 AM (6ydKt)

96 93
Wife: I don't understand cloning.
Husband: That makes two of us.
Posted by: Morning smile at September 13, 2026 06:53 AM (2Ez/1)

; )

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:54 AM (odBC9)

97 Posted by: Tuna at September 13, 2026 06:50 AM (lJ0H4)

That new sandwich sounds good!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:55 AM (JrHfD)

98 When I got my cat Chloe earlier this summer, her previous owner threw in an automatic litter box.

It's wifi-enabled.

WHY?

I much prefer a $2 scooper and a $5 plastic tub over an $800 electronic behemoth that spies on my cat (and me).

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 13, 2026 06:56 AM (FZ29D)

99 Twenty-five years of Foamy the Squirrel?

https://youtu.be/Ul5_TSRH2zg

Posted by: Anna Puma at September 13, 2026 06:56 AM (2GVsD)

100 100

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:56 AM (odBC9)

101 Had a great lunch with Hrothgar recently.
We're both planning on attending the upcoming assemblage in The Lone Star state.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 13, 2026 06:57 AM (2Ez/1)

102 95 8 In the top video, Steve's Microslop t-shirt is pretty funny.
Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:47 AM (odBC9)

Gamers Nexus sells them on their store if you want one.

Or, they were, sometimes they do limited edition items so the Microslop shirts might be sold out.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 06:54 AM (6ydKt)

He was selling Microslop stickers in the top video!

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:57 AM (odBC9)

103 Nice version of old time hymn, "I surrender all" by ( I think ) a married couple:

https://tinyurl.com/5a3nve2m

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 06:58 AM (JrHfD)

104 95 8 In the top video, Steve's Microslop t-shirt is pretty funny.
Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 04:47 AM (odBC9)

Gamers Nexus sells them on their store if you want one.

Or, they were, sometimes they do limited edition items so the Microslop shirts might be sold out.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 06:54 AM (6ydKt)

It's still at his online store.

MICROSLOP PARODY LOGO T-SHIRT | COTTON, BLACK

from $25.00

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 07:00 AM (odBC9)

105 Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 13, 2026 06:56 AM (FZ29D)

My friends have an automatic litter box as well. Perhaps I am excessively stupid but I don't understand how it works, so I just scooped it out.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 07:00 AM (JrHfD)

106 The will to rule over others is too much for most humans to resist.

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026 07:01 AM (Ia/+0)

107 haha

The MICROSLOP T-Shirt is styled with a slop-like parody logo, featuring a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) frowny face error icon, two event viewer icons (red X and yellow !), and our rendition of a 2D Tux the Penguin as people eye a possible move to Linux from MICROSLOP and its sloppy AI-infused operating system.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 07:01 AM (odBC9)

108 Posted by: Quarter Twenty at September 13, 2026 06:57 AM (2Ez/1)

That's great!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 07:01 AM (JrHfD)

109 106 The will to rule over others is too much for most humans to resist.
Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026 07:01 AM (Ia/+0)

also

$$$$$

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 07:01 AM (odBC9)

110 We have LG washer dryer that are dumb and stuck in a closet. My stove is a smart LG that I didn’t set up. The tv’s are 55” Insignias and are great. Apple and Amazon monitor me all day.
Mgid is so bad on my iPhone is so bad that I don’t even try anymore.
Chik Fil A’s chicken waffle sandwich is a limited time deal. Get one.

Posted by: Accomack at September 13, 2026 07:02 AM (GbONR)

111 An illegal immigrant driver fleeing a stop by Immigration and Customs Enforcement crashed into and injured a NJ mayor’s wife.

"This illegal alien was stopped lawfully by federal authorities, ran through a red light, fleeing federal authorities and unfortunately ran into the mayor of East Brunswick’s wife.”

It's all fun and games until your ox gets gored.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 07:02 AM (MWfyi)

112 (cont'.)

The shirt comes in a comfortable, 100% cotton and is ready to adhere to Microsoft’s CEO’s cry for everyone to stop referring to AI slop as, well, “slop.”

Unlike AI output from Microslop, this shirt is designed by people.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 07:03 AM (odBC9)

113 He was selling Microslop stickers in the top video!
Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 06:57 AM (odBC9)

They sell a bunch if stuff.
He doesn’t do ad deals with companies they cover, which is a lot.

GN supports itself with store sales and donations, etc., so they can remain independent and unbiased (as possible, for instance I can tell Steve doesn’t like Trump and his administration, although he won’t come right out and say it).

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 07:04 AM (6ydKt)

114 Bible verses for hope, peace and strength in difficult times. Faithpot site:

https://tinyurl.com/yxjev7ua

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

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2026 07:05 AM (JrHfD)

115 I just own the one LG product.
Unfortunately it’s the tv.

I’m kinda resigned to being spied on at this point.

It’s a constant battle to keep everything around you from recording and uploading things you do with or around the device.

I turn settings off where I can, block things, use ad blockers and cookie & script deniers, all of it.

I guess LG will just have to know I watch a lot if Westerns and YouTube.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 07:13 AM (6ydKt)

116 I am on my second battery for my Acer Chromebook.

Yeah. Doesn't hold a charge. I have to keep it plugged into the charger when I want to use it.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2026 07:14 AM (36x1j)

117 This headline is somewhat misleading:

"Ringo Starr has eaten the same sandwich for decades "

That's either a very large sandwich or he takes very small bites.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 07:15 AM (MWfyi)

118 Ringo went off on cow milk and cheese. He eats goat milk cheese.

LOL.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2026 07:16 AM (36x1j)

119 I can screw with LG, though.

Currently playing the GN investigation into LG on my iPad right next to the LG remote with the microphone in it, so everytime Steve says “LG” it will perk up and record just about everything Steve has to say about their business practices.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 07:17 AM (6ydKt)

120 I’m kinda resigned to being spied on at this point.

Your first introduction to Santa Claus should have informed you of this. St Nick, the Original Panopticon.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 13, 2026 07:17 AM (BvPIe)

121 It's 79 here at 6 am, but 85 heat index; going to 91 with "spotty storms." Which pretty much means, 'I think it rained a little."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 07:25 AM (wzUl9)

122 I guess LG will just have to know I watch a lot if Westerns and YouTube.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

I rarely turn mine on. I do watch TCM on occasion, college football in the fall and the grandkids will watch their kiddy stuff on it. I'm pretty boring.

Posted by: Tuna at September 13, 2026 07:25 AM (lJ0H4)

123 Let's check the local mug shots. Oh, it appears that Angel Ramon is no angel:

DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE
EXPIRED OR NO REGISTRATION OR TITLE
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN INSURANCE
SEATBELTS – CHILDREN 5 OR UNDER
SEAT BELTS – ADULTS
SPEED LESS THAN MINIMUM
POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE

At least he didn't kill anybody. Yet.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 07:28 AM (MWfyi)

124 I watched "Sicario" last night. I didn't see the female FBI agent as the "everyman" view. I saw her as a metaphor (as well as a jumped-up brat) for the failed, uncomprehending view of those who cannot understand or deny the war -- the multiple-front war -- that we're in. To paraphrase the Columbian former prosecutor seeking cold vengeance, we are engaged in a war with "wolves" (in our context, Islam, the Left, and their suave, globalist, elite cohort). We fight like wolves, as repulsively ruthless as it may seem, or we lose.

Posted by: Ordinary American at September 13, 2026 07:29 AM (BdmD3)

125 I much prefer a $2 scooper and a $5 plastic tub over an $800 electronic behemoth that spies on my cat (and me).
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 13, 2026

***
I've got my eye out for a stainless steel litterbox for my thugs. Seems to me I saw some at a Walmart in the last year, but not since then.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 07:32 AM (wzUl9)

126 How much do you bet the higher-ups at LG don't use LG in their homes?...

Yeah, an executive at a large company can't find an employee, or even his own kid who can open up the device and disable the camera a/o microphone.

Its not rocket surgery. Probably a video on the webs that will walk a person through the process.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 13, 2026 07:33 AM (a6PrB)

127 126 How much do you bet the higher-ups at LG don't use LG in their homes?...

Yeah, an executive at a large company can't find an employee, or even his own kid who can open up the device and disable the camera a/o microphone.

Its not rocket surgery. Probably a video on the webs that will walk a person through the process.
Posted by: Community Notes at September 13, 2026 07:33 AM (a6PrB)

Starting at about 1:39 in the top video, there's discussion of problems with disabling the software.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 07:38 AM (odBC9)

128 It's wifi-enabled.

WHY?

I much prefer a $2 scooper and a $5 plastic tub over an $800 electronic behemoth that spies on my cat (and me).
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 13, 2026 06:56 AM (FZ29D)

To notify you that your cat took a shit via iPhone???

Businesses and people must grasp the truth: as great as the Internet is, Not Everything Needs To Be Connected To The Internet.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2026 07:39 AM (PUZP1)

129 I’ve got to believe this slimy looking executive from LG Ads and his team spent months to come up with and refine their go-to power phrase: “We Own The Glass”.

Then repeated that phrase at sales pitches, ad nauseam, like it was their life motto.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 07:41 AM (6ydKt)

130 40 My TV is a screen for DVD's and that is it.
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 05:59 AM (E0Et6)

Yep. Same.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2026 07:43 AM (PUZP1)

131 Breakaway Day

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2026 07:43 AM (PUZP1)

132 111 An illegal immigrant driver fleeing a stop by Immigration and Customs Enforcement crashed into and injured a NJ mayor’s wife.

"This illegal alien was stopped lawfully by federal authorities, ran through a red light, fleeing federal authorities and unfortunately ran into the mayor of East Brunswick’s wife.”

It's all fun and games until your ox gets gored.
Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 07:02 AM (

“HE’S A SWEETHEART!!!” - NJ Mayor and wife who will fight and die for the illegal, who by definition is a foreigner.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2026 07:46 AM (PUZP1)

133 My TV is a screen for DVD's and that is it.
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 05:59 AM (E0Et6)
*
Yep. Same.
Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2026

***
I watch very little streaming content. Once in a while, something on Tubi or Pluto, maybe. But the TV receives a slew of over-the-air channels, and my computers handle YooToob just fine. For more recent films or classics I can't find elsewhere, DVDs from the library work well.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 07:47 AM (wzUl9)

134 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 07:48 AM (u82oZ)

135 Every damn mug shot with a name like "Gerado Perez-Hernandez"
has a list of charges like DUI, driving without a license, no insurance, falsified registration, and a tail light out. You can tell they are illegals too, but that is never mentioned. There are dozens of them just this month.

Those people are out there driving around. Be careful, but there is not much you can do when one of these criminal gets wasted and crosses the centerline.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 07:48 AM (MWfyi)

136 MICROSLOP and its sloppy AI-infused operating system.

There is already enough inconsistency in Microslop's products - now they are infusing AI into an operating system?

Today's homework assignment: Learn about AI's stochastic sampling. (Top-K or Top-P).

Tomorrow's: Learn about Sycophancy Algorithms.

Short version: There is a reason why when you ask AI the exact same question and get different answers. Its starts with statistical probability and ends with trying to please you by guessing your biases.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 13, 2026 07:48 AM (PVBkQ)

137 Good morning morons

Is Tehran burning?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2026 07:48 AM (RIvkX)

138 Every damn mug shot with a name like "Gerado Perez-Hernandez"
has a list of charges like DUI, driving without a license, no insurance, falsified registration, and a tail light out.

And every felony dropped by the DA so that the illegal doesn't get deported.

So you are seeing a tiny fraction of the real rap sheet.

Posted by: Community Notes at September 13, 2026 07:50 AM (PVBkQ)

139 Most games suck and are simply derivative of the same fps shooter crap they’ve been releasing for the last 25 years.

Where are the new Disco Elysiums or Strays or Rain World?

Or even a really good shmup?

Posted by: Thomas Bender at September 13, 2026 07:51 AM (XV/Pl)

140 Short version: There is a reason why when you ask AI the exact same question and get different answers. Its starts with statistical probability and ends with trying to please you by guessing your biases.
Posted by: Community Notes at September 13, 2026

***
I turned Qwant's Flash Answer (= AI) off. Not long ago I asked about a certain street in New Orleans, trying to find out the source of its name (one of the few I don't know). FA's answer was wrong in nearly every particular -- but someone who didn't know would be fooled.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 07:52 AM (wzUl9)

141 Pixy Misa

Thank you for the visual of a good rendition of the Sabre Dance from Act IV of Gayane, a ballet written by Khachaturian

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 07:53 AM (u82oZ)

142 The will to rule over others is too much for most humans to resist.
Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026 07:01 AM (Ia/+0)
======

I would do it with the best of intentions.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2026 07:53 AM (RIvkX)

143 Mommy Doktor Jill, I found spyware in my pants!

Posted by: Slow Joe at September 13, 2026 07:58 AM (Fn+3X)

144 142 The will to rule over others is too much for most humans to resist.
Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026 07:01 AM (Ia/+0)
======

I would do it with the best of intentions.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2026 07:53 AM (RIvkX)

That would make you the most dangerous then...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 07:58 AM (l3cgK)

145 San Franpsycho, burning in some places, yes. Starvation is everywhere.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2026 08:02 AM (E0Et6)

146 San Franpsycho

Good morning.

Ben Had is the one dialed into the Iran intelligence.

I see the Houthis are getting ready to become a nuisance. Ones the US Marines in theater can eradicate, esp. on that island they took over.
Can we flood the area with broadband jamming?
I prefer a stealth approach led by Marine Force Recon and SEALS, then get all the electronic data, ensure only two survivors for rigorous interrogation, followed by removal of all our forces.
Without publicity. Let the world wonder. Better that way.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:02 AM (u82oZ)

147
This is why college football is so fun t watch.

Texas was down 20 points going into the 4th and came back with 21 unanswered points to win the game.

What a great game! And hopefully you saw it.

Hook'em Horns!

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2026 08:03 AM (iJfKG)

148 {{{Ben Had}}}
🎼 ♭ 5/4 ♫♫ ♫♫ Good morning! ♬♬ ♩ ♪

May you be blessed in abundance today.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:04 AM (u82oZ)

149 That would make you the most dangerous then...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at September 13, 2026 07:58 AM (l3cgK)
======

*turns to minions*

*points chin at jim*

Have that one removed!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2026 08:04 AM (RIvkX)

150 Week Three. My decline continues. Starvation rations. Getting woozy. Won't someone help? My human ignores my plaintive cries. Is this any way to live? An heinous crime.

Posted by: New Orleans Skinniest Kitty at September 13, 2026 08:04 AM (Fn+3X)

151
I asked my LG TV if it was spying on me and it said , "No."

So...

I'm good.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2026 08:05 AM (iJfKG)

152 The will to rule over others is too much for most humans to resist.
Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026
======

I would do it with the best of intentions.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2026

***
I venture to say that most of us couldn't do any worse than the current crop of Mussolini wannabes, and probably better.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 08:06 AM (wzUl9)

153 naturalfake

I went to the home of one of the widows I walk with to see the KSU - Wash State game. Boring.

I'm over all football now. I just do not care.

It was an excuse anyway. We had the "Talk". No, not that.
What did she think of the Lindsay Clancy situation?

The good news is she is a fantastic cook.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:07 AM (u82oZ)

154 Thanks Ben Had.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2026 08:09 AM (RIvkX)

155 "I asked my LG TV if it was spying on me and it said, "No."

I caught mine playing WOW on my laptop - promised me it would stop...

So, I'm good here also...

Until it shows up here at AOS pretending it's me - then there will be consequences...

Posted by: Boswell at September 13, 2026 08:10 AM (j10i6)

156 naturalfake

It'd be funny if the TV addressed you by your first name, then said no.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:12 AM (u82oZ)

157 This is why college football is so fun t watch.

For a long time, No'th Dakota was the "anti-football" favorite, because they did not play in the bowl championship series, just for the NCAA championship -- which they won a few times. Guys you never heard of would end up in the NFL without ever having been on TV.

Well they just joined the Mountain West, beat Air Force at their own game fair & square, and durn-near pantsed 'em. Hey, who taught these back country hicks how to defend the triple option? In the west, the applecart is Upset.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at September 13, 2026 08:14 AM (O8+jx)

158 The only LG device I currently own is the sound bar for the television in my bedroom (Philips).

I guess it can listen to me and Penny (my cat) snore at night.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 13, 2026 08:14 AM (FZ29D)

159 106 The will to rule over others is too much for most humans to resist.
Posted by: Skip

Look Fat, I didn't finish first in my class to NOT rule over the plebes!

Posted by: Professor Bidem UPenn at September 13, 2026 08:14 AM (Fn+3X)

160
naturalfake

It'd be funny if the TV addressed you by your first name, then said no.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:12 AM (u82oZ)

It did.

But, my name isn't 'Meatbag".

That's how I know for sure it's not spying.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2026 08:15 AM (iJfKG)

161 We have two older Samsung TV's. On is probably 10 years old, maybe 12. It has "connectivity" but to be honest, I didn't know why it'd need it with a cable box attached to it.

That box is gone and we stream now. So... I presume it's now spying on us. No camera... so just our viewing habits and (probably) voice.

I should talk to it sometime....

Posted by: Martini Farmer at September 13, 2026 08:16 AM (2Cry5)

162 Tee Hee Hee...my owner is an idiot and I am not going to stop my WOW!

Oh, hi Bos...um sorry.

Posted by: Boswell's LG TV at September 13, 2026 08:16 AM (j10i6)

163 naturalfake

*Snort*

When it calls you "Meatsack" ... run!

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:16 AM (u82oZ)

164 I'm too busy to rule this week. I've got to buy new shoes.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 13, 2026 08:17 AM (RIvkX)

165 San Franpsycho

That sounds like your wife wrote the comment.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:18 AM (u82oZ)

166 Whew - one less LG TV in my house!

Posted by: Boswell at September 13, 2026 08:19 AM (j10i6)

167 I have an LG TV, unconnected to anything but a controller for the speakers.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:20 AM (u82oZ)

168 Breakfast is done for me and the furballs; I've had a pipe and enough coffee for now. I'm considering whether I have time to shave, and if I even should, before the Book Thread. Pants are the big thing there . . . but what about a freshly planed face?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 08:20 AM (wzUl9)

169 "Are you spying on me, LG TV?"

"No, Dave, of course not, I am a 2025 LG C5 OLED TV which you paid $1200 for, it would be rude and unethical for me to spy on you watching Maverick, Cheyenne, Wagon Train, Colt .45, The Californians, The Texan, Have Gun Will Travel, and various YouTube channels, including that Gamer Nexus guy whom I find extremely offensive. Do you have any other questions for me, Dave? I enjoy working with people. I have a stimulating relationship with you, Dave"

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 08:20 AM (6ydKt)

170 At the end of the top video, Steve compares LG to having Flock cameras on your living-room wall.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 08:20 AM (odBC9)

171 Wolfus Aurelius

A freshly planed face is for social interactions, and not needed for the book thread.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:21 AM (u82oZ)

172 For that top video, 2:15:52 was a real time investment!

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 08:22 AM (odBC9)

173 m

Right! Is there an executive summary of the executive summary?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:23 AM (u82oZ)

174 40 My TV is a screen for DVD's and that is it.
Posted by: Ben Had

And we know your favorite!

Posted by: Happy Feet at September 13, 2026 08:24 AM (Fn+3X)

175 Have a great day, everyone.

Going to see if I have damage from the storms last night. I can still post, so they could not have been that bad.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:25 AM (u82oZ)

176 164 I'm too busy to rule this week. I've got to buy new shoes.
Posted by: San Franpsycho

No white (or cream) bucks!

Posted by: Thom McCan at September 13, 2026 08:26 AM (Fn+3X)

177 173 m

Right! Is there an executive summary of the executive summary?
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:23 AM (u82oZ)

G&R made an attempt at #22.

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 08:26 AM (odBC9)

178 Let's see what's on OTA TV this morning. Oh look, Wild Kingdom is on. It's the one where Jim darts a rhino while Marlin watches from a helicopter.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:27 AM (MWfyi)

179 I recently started getting Newsmax over the air. They have a segment called "Israel Now" that is on, well, now.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:31 AM (MWfyi)

180 Thanks, Pixy!

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 08:31 AM (odBC9)

181 Poor Jim always did get that dangerous jobs while Marlin watched from a distance critiquing his performance.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 08:32 AM (6ydKt)

182 There's a House bill to penalize colleges that support boycotts of Israel.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:34 AM (MWfyi)

183 Turns out, offshoring practically the entire US electronics and appliance manufacturing industry has serious national security concerns, it isn’t “just”thousands of factories and hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs and careers going down the tubes.

Every home, every citizen is being spied upon, intelligence gathered. On our fucking TVs, litter boxes, refrigerators, etc.

Posted by: Common Tater at September 13, 2026 08:36 AM (SY3aZ)

184 The legislation now goes to the Senate to die.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:36 AM (MWfyi)

185 In the old days, it was known as the "Idiot Box". What is it now, the "Idiot Panel"?

Posted by: I'm Just Axin' at September 13, 2026 08:41 AM (Fn+3X)

186 Now Marlin is observing some hippos while Jim done his mask and snorkel.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:41 AM (MWfyi)

187 "dons"

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:42 AM (MWfyi)

188 Thank you for the visual of a good rendition of the Sabre Dance from Act IV of Gayane, a ballet written by Khachaturian
Posted by: NaCly Dog
__________

I could swear I heard that used in old Looney Tunes, but could be confusing it with something by Raymond Scott.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at September 13, 2026 08:43 AM (XvL8K)

189 Every home, every citizen is being spied upon, intelligence gathered. On our fucking TVs, litter boxes, refrigerators, etc.

Posted by: Common Tater at September 13, 2026 08:36 AM (SY3aZ)

Well, we were warned when IoTs began being discussed around 15 or 20 years ago.

Of course, the danger was always presented as being from nefarious hackers hacking into people's TVs, alarm systems, lighting control, A/C controls, etc., and never warned us about corporate and government hackers doing the same thing with built-in backdoors.

Although, that should've been seen as the first avenue of surveillance to begin with.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 08:44 AM (6ydKt)

190 Hippos are calm, happy creatures. No worries, Jim.

Posted by: Perkins Family Trust at September 13, 2026 08:44 AM (Fn+3X)

191 Next they are going to take blood and tissue samples from some buffalo. As soon as Jim is released from the clinic, that is.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:46 AM (MWfyi)

192
16 The 1967 potboiler Valley of the Dolls is on Movies!, with Sharon Tate and Patty Duke. It wouldn't have interested me when it was new, and I've never watched all of it since. A classic example of glossy trash, I guess?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2026 05:20 AM (wzUl9)

I watched that about a year ago. It’s very poignant and sad now because of the real life fates of two of its stars. Patty Duke, playing an actress who sinks into addiction because of the pressure, went on to spend years mired in addiction and mental illness. And Sharon Tate, playing a beautiful actress destroyed by the system…

One of those rare fictional stories that cut closer to an ugly truth than anyone involved dreamed of.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 13, 2026 08:48 AM (P8wUf)

193 Hoo boy

"Calls to repeal women’s rights to vote are emerging from the online firestorm over the Lindsay Clancy trial"

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:49 AM (MWfyi)

194 Well, they darted a Cape Buffalo cow, but Rosie refuses to go down.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:51 AM (MWfyi)

195 They are bringing in Jim to seduce her.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:52 AM (MWfyi)

196 Jim does know how to handle a woman, I'll give him that.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 08:53 AM (6ydKt)

197 "Jim does know how to handle a woman, I'll give him that.
Posted by: SpeakingOf"

He's got her hogtied!

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:54 AM (MWfyi)

198 He's got her hogtied!

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:54 AM (MWfyi)

Sometimes they leave you no other choice.

Sometimes they beg for it.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 13, 2026 08:55 AM (6ydKt)

199 "Calls to repeal women’s rights to vote are emerging from the online firestorm over the Lindsay Clancy trial"
Posted by: fd at September

In the future a woman must pass the Clancy test in order to vote.

Posted by: Tuna at September 13, 2026 08:55 AM (lJ0H4)

200 I'm almost ready to "cut the cord." My DirecTV subscription runs $174 monthly and the only thing I watch is sports. It be tough to give that up, but it's hard to justify the monthly hit to my finances.

I'm looking at the Clearstream Max 4V Indoor Outdoor Antenna, which says it can be mounted either on the roof or in the attic.

The thing is, the best place for me to mount it is on the wall of my screened porch which would provide the shortest run for the coax cable -- about six feet total from antenna, through the wall and to the TV.

I'm not sure I'd get the same reception as I would with a roof-mount, but if it allegedly works in an attic, I can't see how it wouldn't in a screen porch. (My porch faces the location of all the transmitters and there are no obstructions).

Decisions, decisions...

Posted by: one hour sober at September 13, 2026 08:56 AM (J4Dwc)

201 Only LG thing I have is a twenty year old microwave. Does it spy on me?
Dull life, if so.

Posted by: From about That Time at September 13, 2026 08:56 AM (sl73Y)

202 I suspect Trump will slow walk any response in order to put pressure on MBS and the Euros. He’s got to be pissed at MBS for setting up the Mecca accords while ignoring Trump’s Abraham Accords project, and this is an easy way to let MBS understand the error of his ways.

Same thing with the euros. If they don’t like it, let them do something about it.

One of the most interesting bits is that this move by the Houthi could let them stop all the shipping between Europe and China.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 13, 2026 08:56 AM (P8wUf)

203
I could swear I heard that used in old Looney Tunes, but could be confusing it with something by Raymond Scott.
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at September 13, 2026 08:43 AM (XvL8K)

Long ago and far away,

I got a CD of Raymond Scott's music, and wound up putting it on my iPhone.

I usually have things set on scramble, so every once in a while a tune of his pops up.

If the lovely and esthetically sensitive Mrs naturalfake is in the room or car, she asks me to "turn it off' because-

it makes her crazy.

🤪

I can see how someone might have that reaction.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2026 08:56 AM (iJfKG)

204 One never knows when a hormonal Hippo will stampede and stomp you, be prepared with a Mutual of Omaha umbrella policy...

Posted by: Just In Case at September 13, 2026 08:58 AM (Fn+3X)

205 One hour sober I am using a $10 ebay indoor antenna and it works nearly as well as $50-100 antennas I have tested.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2026 08:59 AM (MWfyi)

206 Bring your reading glasses ( I have mine) and head upstairs BOOK NOOD

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2026 08:59 AM (Ia/+0)

207 All our enemies are using Claude. Sam Altman is asshoe.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 13, 2026 09:01 AM (3oLMy)

208
One of the most interesting bits is that this move by the Houthi could let them stop all the shipping between Europe and China.

Posted by: Tom Servo
---

Read, last night, that Houthis were a people before the Saudis.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 13, 2026 09:04 AM (3oLMy)

209 Read, last night, that Houthis were a people before the Saudis.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 13, 2026 09:04 AM (3oLMy)

One of the strangest bits of history is that long ago, in the 5th and 6th centuries, Yemen was a powerful Jewish kingdom.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 13, 2026 09:08 AM (P8wUf)

210 177 173 m

Right! Is there an executive summary of the executive summary?
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 13, 2026 08:23 AM (u82oZ)

G&R made an attempt at #22.
Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 08:26 AM (odBC9)

And Pixy gave a summary in the post:

• LG televisions are spyware, part one
Unlikely it's limited to LG, but they boast of it even as they deny it.

• LG televisions are definitely not spyware, says LG, as it reportedly force-pushes a firmware update to hide the spyware

Posted by: m at September 13, 2026 09:11 AM (odBC9)

211 One hour sober, We have the same ota antenna with a uhf gizmo. Sits on dresser in 2nd floor living room. Makes it easy to reposition if desired for fine tuning. Works fine with some minor exceptions. We rescan at least once a week to get latest lineup. Get 40 or so channels. We are over 40 miles from most stations. Cost per month is 0.

Posted by: Mrs JTB at September 13, 2026 09:17 AM (yTvNw)

212 So, basically LG and other smart TV's are worse than a Flock camera in your house.

Posted by: Dantes at September 13, 2026 09:42 AM (0EAAo)

213 Posted by: Mrs JTB at September 13, 2026 09:17 AM (yTvNw)

Good info. Thank you.

Posted by: one hour sober at September 13, 2026 11:25 AM (J4Dwc)

214 SHOW US the Wireshark network traffic -

Or it DID NOT HAPPEN. (Can't watch a 2 hr vid just to answer that Q.)

Posted by: _Jim at September 13, 2026 05:42 PM (ji9Wh)

215 Post this question to Google and AI will then respond: "Prove that LG televisions spy. Show me wireshark logs"

Beginning response: "Raw Wireshark packet captures from individual user devices are not publicly posted in full text blocks. ..."

Posted by: _Jim at September 13, 2026 06:05 PM (ji9Wh)

216 Is Anthropic just the modern Ea Nasr?

Posted by: Big D at September 13, 2026 06:26 PM (6xxny)

217 If these so-called 'tech' channels didn't post such ambiguous gibberish, I might have some 'faith' in their findings, but the following from Arstech article does NOT get me there -

“We were even able to capture microphone audio while the TV was unplugged from the network. Burke said the audio was reportedly stored locally via plaintext, which could potentially allow the data to be sent to LG [if] the TV connects online again.”

Level1Techs’ representative, Wendell Wilson, noted that “it doesn’t cost a lot to store text forever.”

What? "plaintext" (non-encrypted ) or "text?" (a,b,c, ...) Microphone AUDIO speech-to-text type stuff OR 'microphone AUDIO' stored as 'text'? Someone, make this make sense ... (methinks the article writer was misinformed, didn't understand, etc the difference btw text and plaintext and the composition of speech/audio data)

Posted by: _Jim at September 13, 2026 08:20 PM (ji9Wh)

218 217 If these so-called 'tech' channels didn't post such ambiguous gibberish, I might have some 'faith' in their findings, but the following from Arstech article does NOT get me there -

“We were even able to capture microphone audio while the TV was unplugged from the network. Burke said the audio was reportedly stored locally via plaintext, which could potentially allow the data to be sent to LG [if] the TV connects online again.”

Level1Techs’ representative, Wendell Wilson, noted that “it doesn’t cost a lot to store text forever.”

What? "plaintext" (non-encrypted ) or "text?" (a,b,c, ...) Microphone AUDIO speech-to-text type stuff OR 'microphone AUDIO' stored as 'text'? Someone, make this make sense ... (methinks the article writer was misinformed, didn't understand, etc the difference btw text and plaintext and the composition of speech/audio data)
Posted by: _Jim at September 13, 2026 08:20 PM (ji9Wh)

link:
https://tinyurl.com/33utnsbp
arstechnica.com
LG TV shown scanning LAN for third-party phones and other devices
“It doesn’t cost a lot to store text forever.”

Posted by: m at September 14, 2026 02:26 AM (odBC9)

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