Daily Tech News 21 June 2024

Top Story

I Will Fucking Piledrive You If You Mention AI Again. (Ludicity)

Man has opinions. The opinions are mostly correct though.
I started working as a data scientist in 2019, and by 2021 I had realized that while the field was large, it was also largely fraudulent. Most of the leaders that I was working with clearly had not gotten as far as reading about it for thirty minutes despite insisting that things like, I dunno, the next five years of a ten thousand person non-tech organization should be entirely AI focused. The number of companies launching AI initiatives far outstripped the number of actual use cases. Most of the market was simply grifters and incompetents (sometimes both!) leveraging the hype to inflate their headcount so they could get promoted, or be seen as thought leaders.
Usually both. Usually both.
And then some absolute son of a bitch created ChatGPT, and now look at us. Look at us, resplendent in our pauper's robes, stitched from corpulent greed and breathless credulity, spending half of the planet's engineering efforts to add chatbot support to every application under the sun when half of the industry hasn't worked out how to test database backups regularly. This is why I have to visit untold violence upon the next moron to propose that AI is the future of the business - not because this is impossible in principle, but because they are now indistinguishable from a hundred million willful fucking idiots.
Indeed.
A rant about front-end development. (Frank M Taylor)

Another man of conviction.
There's a disconcerting number of front-end developers out there who act like it wasn't possible to generate HTML on a server prior to 2010. They talk about SSR only in the context of node.js and seem to have no clue that people started working on this problem when season 5 of Seinfeld was on air.
Server-side rendering was not invented with Node. What Node brought to the table was the convenience of writing your shitty div soup in the very same language that was invented in 10 days for the sole purpose of pissing off Java devs everywhere.

Server-side rendering means it's rendered on the fucking server. You can do that with PHP, ASP, JSP, Ruby, Python, Perl, CGI, and hell, R. You can server-side render a page in Lua if you want.
Lua is actually pretty good at this.
Do you have any idea how frustrating it is that that in order to explain my sadness to my therapist I must first explain like 5 different technologies and by the time I'm finished she's sad just hearing it, the session's over, and I didn't even get to what was making me upset? Technology has made my anger a recursive function.
You don't need a therapist, Frank. You need a weekend blowing up abandoned vehicles with a punt gun.

Tech News

If you meet a developer over the age of thirty-five, and they're not constantly angry, they are either:

1. Working in a very narrow technical field like x-ray diffraction crystallography that hasn't been poisoned by the latest fads
2. Heavily medicated, or
3. Dangerously incompetent
Western Digital has announced a 4TB model of its Blue SN5000 SSDs. (AnandTech)

One catch. Two catches. Three:

1. It's QLC where the smaller sizes in that range are TLC, so it's potentially slower and has lower endurance per GB.
2. It's DRAMless, which is not a good combination with QLC flash.
3. At the MSRP, the SN850X is not much more expensive and much faster.
A $99 OCuLink GPU dock from laptops and mini-PCs from Minisforum. (Tom's Hardware)

You didn't need a power supply, right? Or a case?
Writing a video game like it's 1987. (GitHub)

Not a very sophisticated video game - it's Minesweeper rather than Minecraft - but it's 300k and runs on modern systems.
The Commerce Department has banned the sale of Kaspersky software in the US, because Russia. (Tech Crunch)

I'm not saying they're wrong, just that their analysis of the problem is perhaps incomplete.
With eight speakers, the Lenovo Tab Plus is a tablet with eight speakers. (Liliputing)

Apart from that, it's large, heavy, and misshapen.
A statewide 911 outage in Massachusetts was caused by a malfunctioning firewall. (Ars Technica)

It took two hours to find the one guy who knew how to fix it, and then thirty seconds to fix.

The Only AI Company Actually Worth Anything is Literally a Turtle Music Video of the Day

Evil Neuro sings the theme song from the second season of the anime Mashle.

Neuro (and her evil twin) are AI vtubers developed by a single programmer who calls himself Vedal, and they show better than anything Google or OpenAI or Anthropic or Meta have produced, how AI can make our lives better: By endlessly roasting their creator.

Disclaimer: For all I know, that might be his real name.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Poke...

Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 21, 2024 04:07 AM (BLOW1)

2 G'Day everyone
TGIF

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2024 04:10 AM (fwDg9)

3 Poke...
Posted by: Pixy Misa

Ow

Posted by: Sock Monkey * levitating above the madness at June 21, 2024 04:10 AM (BZZru)

4 Happy-ish Friday Morning …

Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024 04:10 AM (TX4bP)

5 An AI generated Harry Potter parody …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9LaPL2894I

Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024 04:14 AM (TX4bP)

6 Good morning fellow insomniacs and/or early risers. Only 10 more days of Pride to go. Thank goodness.

Willowed from last thread:
Been up since 1:00 CDT. My internal time clock is way out of whack. Doggie continues to be confused as to Mom getting up so early. Accepts treats with enthusiasm but goes back to sleep fairly quickly and starts gradually inching over in bed until mom has one leg in the bed and one leg on the floor. I think he's telling me that if I want to be up then get up but he's getting the rest of his shut eye.

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 04:14 AM (oaGWv)

7 Wolf -

Maybe you have expanded the size of the window larger than the screen.

Maybe try reducing the size and see if both bottom and top menu appear …

Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024 04:17 AM (TX4bP)

8 Wolf -

Maybe you have expanded the size of the window larger than the screen.

Maybe try reducing the size and see if both bottom and top menu appear …
Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024

***
Adriane, thanks, but I've tried that. No worky.

It appears to be some kind of setting of the Apple OS itself, rather than of the browser I'm using (Brave). It happened once before; somehow it went away until yesterday, when I touched something again and made the situation reappear. Bugger.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 04:29 AM (omVj0)

9 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at June 21, 2024 04:30 AM (hoCmQ)

10 Anyway! Evening and morning to all the early risers and late toilers! 'Tis Friday, the consummation devoutly to be wished.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 04:32 AM (omVj0)

11 Wolf -

Have you tried System Preferences contained in “Accessibility” ?

Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024 04:35 AM (TX4bP)

12 ; )

Posted by: m at June 21, 2024 04:35 AM (NHMTR)

13 Here's the problem Adriane was referring to: Does anybody know how, on the MacBook Air at least, to ensure that the top menu bar (and your tabs, in Brave) remain on the screen at the same time as the lower bar with all the apps (the "Dock")? I touched some key combo, and now I get one or the other when I move the cursor there, not both.

I've gone to System Preferences -> Menu Bar and Dock, and unchecked the boxes saying to "automatically hide and show" those two things, but no good. Any ideas?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 04:36 AM (omVj0)

14 Morning, olddog … morning, Skip, …. Morning,Tuna …

Pixy, if I can have my Poke with some ginger and soy sauce, that would be great!!

Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024 04:36 AM (TX4bP)

15 Re: 13 . . . Oh, and the left and right margins behave the same way. The sidebar on the left remains hidden unless I move the cursor over there, then it appears -- but the right sidebar is then hidden. ????

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 04:38 AM (omVj0)

16 The number of companies launching AI initiatives far outstripped the number of actual use cases.

-

It's p()rn.

It's always p()rn.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 04:39 AM (LjVn6)

17 Okay, I'm lazy; stipulated. I skipped my workout this morning (I did good ones three times this week, okay?), had a slice of toast, and am sipping my coffee. Hey, it's Friday!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 04:40 AM (omVj0)

18 Good morning morons

Local TV news reports the home of Oakland mayor Sheng Thao was raided at dawn yesterday along with other sites related to waste collection.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 04:40 AM (RIvkX)

19 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 21, 2024 04:41 AM (jrKun)

20 Local TV news reports the home of Oakland mayor Sheng Thao was raided at dawn yesterday along with other sites related to waste collection.

-

Wouldn't agree to play ball in advance of the upcoming election, I assume.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 04:42 AM (LjVn6)

21 Local TV news reports the home of Oakland mayor Sheng Thao was raided at dawn yesterday along with other sites related to waste collection.
Posted by: San Franpsycho

Waste collection?

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 04:42 AM (oaGWv)

22 Also this week, the recall petition for mayor Thao was approved.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 04:43 AM (RIvkX)

23 After two years of low-grade pestering local cops - about a woman down the street using cars parked in a nearby strip mall as dead drops for drug trafficking.

*She lives in a nice cluster of townhouses. A couple of her neighbors knew she was up to no good, but did nothing - mostly out of cowardice.

I finally collared a beat cop that actually listened to how this woman was running her drug operation. How she was also into prostitution - an apartment manager caught her humping a John in the communal laundry room.

So, for the past eight weeks her townhouse has been dark in the very early morning - which was when she would mule drugs to the dead drop.

They finally got her, and no ankle bracelet this time.

Posted by: 13times at June 21, 2024 04:43 AM (sKkve)

24 Waste collection?
Posted by: Tuna

-

IIRC it was recycling to be specific. That entire system is already a scam so I suspect the opportunities for fraud and embezzling and other forms of theft exclusively by Our Betters are nearly limitless.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 04:44 AM (LjVn6)

25 Yea, Some company called Waste Solutions.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 04:45 AM (RIvkX)

26 Wolfus, it sounds like you have set your toolbar to "invisible". Try right clicking when you hover the cursor over the bar to see options. Or check the View command menu for relevant options

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 04:46 AM (RIvkX)

27 Setting aside metals (which will pay people to bring it, and people will):

Zero need for the service(s), zero actual demand that isn't driven by relentless ad campaigns or unnecessary heavy-handed legislation, publicly funded and incapable of self-support without massive tax dollars, and with no real way to measure or account for any goods provided.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 04:48 AM (LjVn6)

28 Turns out fifteen people were wounded in the Juneteenth shootings at Oakland's celebration Wednesday night.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 04:53 AM (RIvkX)

29 Turns out fifteen people were wounded in the Juneteenth shootings at Oakland's celebration Wednesday night.

--

I'd suggest a slight correction for modern sensibilities:

Turns out fifteen people were wounded in the Juneteenth shootings at Oakland's mostly peaceful celebration Wednesday night.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 04:56 AM (LjVn6)

30 2 bystanders were killed at the Texas shoot out …

May their Families be Comforted.

Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024 04:57 AM (TX4bP)

31 And, as another poster pointed out, we're likely supposed to celebrate this as progress since they didn't shoot 20 people like they normally would have.

Also I've got to track down that Law that states that the observer can predict the race of the offender based
on number killed vs number wounded.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 04:59 AM (LjVn6)

32 Wolfus, it sounds like you have set your toolbar to "invisible". Try right clicking when you hover the cursor over the bar to see options. Or check the View command menu for relevant options
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024

***
Right-click does not seem to work on the bottom bar, the Dock; at least nothing happens. And on the View menu, "Always Show Toolbar in Full Screen" is checked.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 05:00 AM (omVj0)

33 Do a search for "juneteenth shooting 2024"

Oakland, Milwaukee, Round Rock, TX, and then I stopped looking because searches are so heavily curated. I bet there were at least five to ten more that weren't reported because they didn't have anyone struck.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 05:03 AM (LjVn6)

34 Sounds like AI/tech have devolved into government jobs.

Posted by: Jamaica at June 21, 2024 05:04 AM (IG7T0)

35 And on the View menu, "Always Show Toolbar in Full Screen" is checked.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 05:00 AM (omVj0)
====
That's the ticket. Surprised that is not working.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:05 AM (RIvkX)

36 Just looked at weather forecast and it's 90s though next Thursday. Chance of T-storms for the weekend so hopefully will get at least 1 rain. Been watering the garden from rain barrel and it's almost empty.

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2024 05:10 AM (fwDg9)

37 Watching Dave Rubin try to "debate" Chris Cuomo is so infuriating. He is such an arrogant douchebag, and a very poor debater. Straw man arguments, falsehoods, Motte and Bailey. It's just pathetic. Such a loser.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:10 AM (RIvkX)

38 Watching Dave Rubin try to "debate" Chris Cuomo is so infuriating
-

I've reached the point where I assume EVERYONE on TV got there because of their family relationships and/or looks, and no one is competent or capable at the intellectual or academic level because that wasn't the criteria for being hired.

If you're in front of a camera then there's a 99% chance you're an actor.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 05:13 AM (LjVn6)

39 So now that the rich liberals are starting to realize the horror and failure of policy they have promoted for the last 20 years, they want accolades for coming to their senses instead of acknowledging the error and begging forgiveness.

LOLGF

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:13 AM (RIvkX)

40 Been watering the garden from rain barrel and it's almost empty.
Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2024 05:10 AM (fwDg9)

It just dawned on me that an aquifer is basically just an underground rain barrel.

So now i don't feel so bad for not having one set up yet at the new house.

Posted by: Warai-otoko can rationalize anything with enough coffee at June 21, 2024 05:14 AM (BpZ5k)

41 for coming to their senses instead of acknowledging the error and begging forgiveness.

LOLGF
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:13 AM (RIvkX

Yep. I'm all for giving recognition when someone finally "gets it", but they still need to shut up and go away. Clinging to erstwhile notoriety and thinking anyone ought to listen to you about anything ever again is tactless.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:16 AM (BpZ5k)

42 Been working at this Internet company all week, it's not a new company, they have other places around the world. Can't imagine it will be done for months

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2024 05:19 AM (fwDg9)

43 If you meet a developer over the age of thirty-five, and they're not constantly angry, they are either: ...

What if I'm, um, "28"?

Posted by: Bitblt at June 21, 2024 05:20 AM (a6Ysq)

44 The SSR rant does remind me of "The Cloud". It's the cloud, man, everything happens on the cloud! We need to get our business on the cloud!

What's the cloud?

Someone else's server on a rack in the middle of nowhere that you're entirely dependent on them to keep live.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:23 AM (BpZ5k)

45 very poor debater. Straw man arguments, falsehoods, Motte and Bailey. It's just pathetic. Such a loser.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:10 AM (RIvkX)

The Ron White Gambit:

"Yeah, well fuuuuck youuuuu."

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:26 AM (BpZ5k)

46 And on the View menu, "Always Show Toolbar in Full Screen" is checked.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

I hate it when you do something to a computer, have no idea how you did it and cannot figure out how to correct it. That's when I hand it off to my son with a polite request to please fix it.

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 05:28 AM (oaGWv)

47 IT JUST WORKS

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 05:29 AM (LjVn6)

48 At least it hasn't been high humidity
With luck might finish what I am doing today.
Forward Dog 9 out

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2024 05:30 AM (fwDg9)

49 Safe travels Skip

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:31 AM (RIvkX)

50 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at June 21, 2024 05:31 AM (dg+HA)

51 Morning fog should clear in the afternoon high of 65

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:31 AM (RIvkX)

52 If you're in front of a camera then there's a 99% chance you're an actor.
Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024

***
"Coulda been an actor, but I wound up here --
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear . . ."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 05:36 AM (omVj0)

53 Evil Neuro sings the theme song from the second season of the anime Mashle

That series is absolutely hilarious. For those who have never heard of it, it takes place in a fantasy world where everyone but the main character has magic abilities. But he's trained his body to the point that he can use his muscles to achieve what others need magic to do.

Posted by: NR Pax at June 21, 2024 05:38 AM (lXoJ5)

54 But he's trained his body to the point that he can use his muscles to achieve what others need magic to do.
Posted by: NR Pax at June 21, 2024 05:38 AM (lXoJ5)

Is there an anime where that *isn't* the main setup?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:39 AM (BpZ5k)

55 BOING!

Red state sues tech giant IBM over diversity 'quotas':

https://tinyurl.com/s5krdxwa

(Fox)

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 21, 2024 05:40 AM (3Y5XB)

56 Good morning, insomniacs!

>>Most of the market was simply grifters and incompetents (sometimes both!) leveraging the hype to inflate their headcount so they could get promoted, or be seen as thought leaders.

It's funny because talk to the average person over, say, 50 and they will rant right along with him. No, not about the same details, but about the same affect that ever-changing tech has not made their lives more efficient (as pitched) but more of a pain. Seems like every time you just get used to Word, or your smartphone, or the way you do business with your utilities, there's an upgrade and you have to re-learn how to use/interface. It's a constant battle with tech.

I have witnessed more than one meltdown of a senior family member due to the inability to do something that was formerly simple - and in person - that now requires email, websites, calls to an 800# with an endless menu of options that always dump you into an automated VRU (or whatever it's called). And then - then! - when they finally manage to get through to a person, they are in a foreign country, speak very fast from a script, and don't help.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:41 AM (cCVOS)

57 54 Is there an anime where that *isn't* the main setup?
Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:39 AM (BpZ5k)

At least it's not an Isekai. Give it that much credit.

Posted by: NR Pax at June 21, 2024 05:43 AM (lXoJ5)

58 Ooops, posted the wrong quote - was reacting to the guy who talks about tech frustration with his therapist.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:44 AM (cCVOS)

59 Omg the AI rant guy is ME! I felt like I was the only one who opens his work email inbox and just sobs uncontrollably at the idiocy of the decision makers.

"Put llm in it! Make it lame!"

Posted by: Defenestratus at June 21, 2024 05:44 AM (OKhvm)

60 There used to be a thing called "doing the bills". I remember being a little kid and wanting to play outside with my dad on a Saturday morning, but i had to wait for him to finish Doing The Bills. Strange, old fashioned rituals.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:44 AM (BpZ5k)

61 And then - then! - when they finally manage to get through to a person, they are in a foreign country, speak very fast from a script, and don't help.

-

This might be the part of the AI trend that I'm looking the most forward to.

Those customer service jobs that left America and were sent to India, Pakistan, etc. for 50c/hour or whatever the other nations agreed to? We're almost already to the point with chatbots where those jobs are gone. Poof. Bye-bye.

I look forward to them experiencing it.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 05:45 AM (LjVn6)

62 There used to be a thing called "doing the bills". ...
Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:44 AM (BpZ5k)
===

I hated that chore.

"Do we have stamps?!"

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:47 AM (RIvkX)

63 >>It took two hours to find the one guy who knew how to fix it, and then thirty seconds to fix.

And what happens now that in a post covid/post BLM world, many of the older employees were laid off and replaced with young hires or a team located overseas?

Can only imagine how much institutional knowledge has been shed in recent years with all of the businesses downsizing, merging, going belly-up, etc..

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:48 AM (cCVOS)

64 >Local TV news reports the home of Oakland mayor Sheng Thao was raided at dawn yesterday along with other sites related to waste collection.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 04:40 AM (RIvkX)

Nice - channeling her inner Tony Soprano.

Posted by: Heavy Meta at June 21, 2024 05:48 AM (GTqXr)

65 Becoming competent in your chosen field will remove most uncertainty in at least one segment of your existence. The decision to excel is great reinforcement here.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at June 21, 2024 05:49 AM (hKoQL)

66 I hated that chore.

"Do we have stamps?!"
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:47 AM (RIvkX)

"Where's the power bill?"

"Where did you put it?"

"If i knew that i wouldn't be asking!"

Ten minutes later, dad elbow deep in the trash can, mom yelling "well then don't put it next to a pile of trash if you don't want it thrown out!"

Ahhhh, nostalgia.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:50 AM (BpZ5k)

67 Becoming competent in your chosen field will remove most uncertainty in at least one segment of your existence. The decision to excel is great reinforcement here.
-

Success-wise it's only slightly less important than being black or a woman or a black woman.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 05:50 AM (LjVn6)

68 Success-wise it's only slightly less important than being black or a woman or a black woman.
Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 05:50 AM (LjVn6)

I have heard it said that nothing is more important than being gay.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:51 AM (BpZ5k)

69 "Who comes to mind when you think of one who’s been quietly but effectively used by God? What can you do to help shift your focus from what you have or don’t have to what God can do through you?"

Part of today's reflection from "Our Daily Bread", the rest of which shall follow in another post.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2024 05:51 AM (z+x0r)

70 There used to be a thing called "doing the bills". I remember being a little kid and wanting to play outside with my dad on a Saturday morning, but i had to wait for him to finish Doing The Bills. Strange, old fashioned rituals.
Posted by: Warai-otoko

My mom did the bills. She had one of those huge three or four checks to a page checkbooks in which the bills were stuffed as they arrived in the mail.

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 05:54 AM (oaGWv)

71 Our power has gone out!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 05:54 AM (ShqkK)

72 >>And then - then! - when they finally manage to get through to a person, they are in a foreign country, speak very fast from a script, and don't help.

Hell, this happened to me on Monday while trying to get UPS to come pick up a package at work. They are supposed to stop by every weekday afternoon to pick up packages, but on the one day I had something that absolutely had to o out, no one came. The usual UPS contact didn't answer, the other contact referred me to an 800#, the 800# VRU led me through a detailed pickup request process that ended with "Your package will be picked up by 6:00 pm tomorrow." Oh, you don't want that, "Goodbye." Click. Called the 800# and said "Operator" until connected to customer service, waited 7 minutes, then - yes - speaking to a foreigner who spoke quickly and was impatient with me. He said he'd check with dispatch and would call back. He did not. Had to be resolved the next day via expedited shipping. ARGH!

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:56 AM (cCVOS)

73 My mom did the bills. She had one of those huge three or four checks to a page checkbooks in which the bills were stuffed as they arrived in the mail.
Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 05:54 AM (oaGWv)

Hey i suppose we'll all be doing that again soon once the nutsacks who run the world finally shitcan the internet with their nutsackery.

One less bill to pay, though, on the bright side.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 05:56 AM (BpZ5k)

74 "Use me"- a reflection partially on the story of Augustus Toplady/ the author of the great hymn, "Rock of Ages" coming to faith:

https://tinyurl.com/mv2mwsdx

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2024 05:58 AM (z+x0r)

75 >>Our power has gone out!

Uh oh.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:59 AM (cCVOS)

76 Flying home through JFK. Do not want to use a kiosk screen to order a donut and coffee. Especially one that hasn't been cleaned in a lonh time.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at June 21, 2024 06:00 AM (sFFnW)

77 "Our power has gone out!"

Oh, no , San FranPsycho. Hope it comes back soon.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2024 06:00 AM (z+x0r)

78 There's an idea for a story.

Mankind finally creates true AI, and we can't seem to keep it from killing itself.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 06:00 AM (BpZ5k)

79 "Hell, this happened to me on Monday while trying to get UPS to come pick up a package at work."

Some of you may remember UPS losing out tax paperwork this year. Almost two months to complete a claim, and every experience you had was a part of my journey as well.
Including three phone calls with a number for claims that UPS gave me, only to have the fourth call lead to 'I'm sorry, this is the international claims. You need domestic claims'.

I will never knowingly do business with UPS again.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 21, 2024 06:01 AM (a1415)

80 70 My mom did the bills. She had one of those huge three or four checks to a page checkbooks in which the bills were stuffed as they arrived in the mail.
Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 05:54 AM (oaGWv)

What a great memory!

Posted by: m at June 21, 2024 06:01 AM (NHMTR)

81
>>Our power has gone out!

https://youtu.be/g_rWja1Xiu8

Posted by: Just Kidding at June 21, 2024 06:02 AM (dg+HA)

82 >75 >>Our power has gone out!

Uh oh.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:59 AM (cCVOS)

Here at stately Meta Manor, we lose power at an an alarming frequency. Mrs. Meta insisted we install a whole house generator - which we did at considerable expense. Nary an outage since it was installed. My neighbors can thank me.

Posted by: Heavy Meta at June 21, 2024 06:02 AM (GTqXr)

83 I have witnessed more than one meltdown of a senior family member due to the inability to do something that was formerly simple - and in person - that now requires email, websites, calls to an 800# with an endless menu of options that always dump you into an automated VRU (or whatever it's called). And then - then! - when they finally manage to get through to a person, they are in a foreign country, speak very fast from a script, and don't help.
Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:41 AM (cCVOS)

That's about it. It's a wonder we're not all hermits.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:03 AM (y7DxH)

84 Acapella group sings "The Old Rugged Cross":

https://tinyurl.com/4fh9ypuw

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2024 06:03 AM (z+x0r)

85
Power is off
Estimated restoration time
6/21/2024 | 7:15 AM PDT
Cause
PG&E is investigating the cause of your outage.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:04 AM (ShqkK)

86 I guess better drink all the coffee now.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:05 AM (ShqkK)

87 Great, the battery I purchased isn't powering jack sh*t.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:05 AM (ShqkK)

88 My mom did the bills. She had one of those huge three or four checks to a page checkbooks in which the bills were stuffed as they arrived in the mail.
Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024

***
I still do my bills that way, though not with a big check book like that. Stamps I buy at a satellite USPS location where the people are not only competent, but nice. I figure, the more online financial transactions I do, the more chance for somebody to hack me and steal my info. And the companies are not giving me a price break for doing business online; their costs go down, but the bill remains the same. Nooooo.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 06:05 AM (omVj0)

89 Nary an outage since it was installed. My neighbors can thank me.

Posted by: Heavy Meta at June 21, 2024 06:02 AM (GTqXr)

I bought a very, nice very big snowblower several years ago.

Same dynamic at work!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 21, 2024 06:06 AM (jrAJI)

90 I will never knowingly do business with UPS again.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 21, 2024

***
Federal Express is not much better. They delivered my Walmart online purchase to another building entirely in my complex. When I instituted a case, their ultimate response was "Please contact the shipper." Argh.

(I did get my money back from WM, though.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2024 06:08 AM (omVj0)

91 I picked a bad week to quit huffing glue.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:08 AM (ShqkK)

92 Rabbi's daughter reflects on "Walk your own righteous path":

https://tinyurl.com/yd6ub4ef

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2024 06:08 AM (z+x0r)

93 30 2 bystanders were killed at the Texas shoot out …

May their Families be Comforted.
Posted by: Adriane the Sweet Tea Serving Critic . . . at June 21, 2024 04:57 AM (TX4bP)

At (almost?) all of these shootouts, I'd think some of the victims are bystanders.

Posted by: m at June 21, 2024 06:10 AM (NHMTR)

94 >>Some of you may remember UPS losing out tax paperwork this year. Almost two months to complete a claim, and every experience you had was a part of my journey as well.
Including three phone calls with a number for claims that UPS gave me, only to have the fourth call lead to 'I'm sorry, this is the international claims. You need domestic claims'.

Yiiikes, VIA!

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 06:11 AM (cCVOS)

95 Oh, and 'Morning
In tech news, I actually managed to transfer all the photos on my phone to my PC.

But it's still giving me grief about storage, so I will have to take it to my old volunteer boss and see if he can deal with it.
Or send it to my SiL in Dallas.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:12 AM (y7DxH)

96 I will never knowingly do business with UPS again.

***
Federal Express is not much better

-

You ingrates sound like you don't appreciate near-monopolies by multinational corporations.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:13 AM (LjVn6)

97 Google Maps, DoorDash, Weather Apps, Park Mobile, Online banking, PayPal, Walmart+, GrubHub, Gmail, Brave, Amazon, Instacart, Libby, McDonald's App, Costco App, GasBuddy, Uber and UberEats.

Posted by: Try NOT using us at June 21, 2024 06:15 AM (dg+HA)

98 Verse Of The Day!

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Psalm 91:1

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2024 06:15 AM (z+x0r)

99 I have a very nice generator that my brother gave me when he moved away.

It has never been used.

Posted by: No one of any consequence at June 21, 2024 06:15 AM (VuZH8)

100 100

Posted by: m at June 21, 2024 06:15 AM (NHMTR)

101 Complete honesty:
When we moved to the tiny town, we assumed we would drive to the nearby city to shop once or twice a month.
We made about three trips and then defaulted to 'I don't care how much it costs, just send it to me."
So, yeah- we're big Amazon users.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:19 AM (y7DxH)

102 78 There's an idea for a story.

Mankind finally creates true AI, and we can't seem to keep it from killing itself.
Posted by: Warai-otoko
................................
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy had a depressed robot. Don't recall if it' was suicidal or not.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at June 21, 2024 06:20 AM (m2WMZ)

103 Do you ever go out and while you're out say this is why I don't go out?

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at June 21, 2024 06:21 AM (dg+HA)

104 Complete honesty:
When we moved to the tiny town, we assumed we would drive to the nearby city to shop once or twice a month.
We made about three trips and then defaulted to 'I don't care how much it costs, just send it to me."
So, yeah- we're big Amazon users.
Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum

-

Same here. They absolutely lose money on me.

And if ANYthing is wrong with the order, be it late, slightly damaged, leaking, etc., I will contact them on chat and get a $5 credit to my account. I doubt I've paid for my subscription in years.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:22 AM (LjVn6)

105 Federal Express is not much better. They delivered my Walmart online purchase to another building entirely in my complex. When I instituted a case, their ultimate response was "Please contact the shipper." Argh.

(I did get my money back from WM, though.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

I haven't had any experience with UPS or FedEx losing my packages but Amazon has always come through with a refund or replacement whenever one of their shipments do astray. Minimal hassle too.

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 06:22 AM (oaGWv)

106
I remember the days when columnists could write a simple declarative sentence without dropping an F-sharp into it.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2024 06:23 AM (MoZTd)

107 Fen, you've made my design decision for me, with the video.
I'm making a throw quilt for a friend using Moda's printed hymn verse panels, with four patchwork blocks added.
Was looking up cross blocks and will make that the fourth.
So, thanks for your daily postings.
I don't always make the Pixy thread, but appreciate them when I do.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:23 AM (y7DxH)

108 50 Birdbath status?
Posted by: Just Wondering at June 21, 2024 05:31 AM (dg+HA)

JT, there's a birdbath question on the table!

Posted by: m at June 21, 2024 06:24 AM (NHMTR)

109 >>And if ANYthing is wrong with the order, be it late, slightly damaged, leaking, etc., I will contact them on chat and get a $5 credit to my account. I doubt I've paid for my subscription in years.

Heh, now that's a way to do it.
The problem is you're still choosing them over a local business.

I now go out of my way to buy local. If I have to get it at a chain, will do the buy online and pickup at local store. Even if it's Barnes and Noble, want to reinforce the brick and mortar sales vs. ship from large warehouse somewhere out there.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 06:26 AM (cCVOS)

110 This lady has played the organ at her church for 65 years.
Yes, she started as a teenager, and has done it ever since.

So she deserves a quilt.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:27 AM (y7DxH)

111 "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy had a depressed robot. Don't recall if it' was suicidal or not.
Posted by: Puddleglum"

Marvin perceived the futility of it all but stuck around for the end of the universe. He was a very brave robot.

mornin yall

Posted by: fd at June 21, 2024 06:29 AM (vFG9F)

112 Finally, a genuine hate crime:

https://tinyurl.com/324dpwrw

(X)

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 21, 2024 06:29 AM (3Y5XB)

113
Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) apologized for calling the rapes committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7 a "lie."

In an interview with WNYC Radio, Bowman was asked about his previous comments on the matter and answered, “Immediately when the [United Nations] provided additional evidence, I voted to condemn the sexual violence. I apologize for my comments.”

“As soon as I got the additional information from the UN, we condemned the sexual violence, we voted to condemn it, and we’re continuing to do the work,” he said.
-arutz Sheva

===
One point for the apology from the alarm-puller.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:30 AM (ShqkK)

114 Heh, now that's a way to do it.
The problem is you're still choosing them over a local business.

I now go out of my way to buy local. If I have to get it at a chain, will do the buy online and pickup at local store. Even if it's Barnes and Noble, want to reinforce the brick and mortar sales vs. ship from large warehouse somewhere out there.
Posted by: Lizzy

-

I'll still buy from local hardware stores over the big boxes, and there's a little grocery store I like to frequent, but for most stuff I'm ordering it's one multinational corporation or the other.

I figure I'll let them work for me.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:31 AM (LjVn6)

115 One of the things that I love about our little town is this thing we have called 'Third Thursday'.

Basically, we shut down the historic downtown to vehicles, and everything from performers on the town Bandstand, right in front of the railroad tracks that go right through downtown, to vendors, food trucks and local shops all have an outdoor festival.

American flags everywhere, and old folks and youngsters all out and about.

It really is a slice of Americana that has largely faded from our nation's day to day life.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 21, 2024 06:31 AM (a1415)

116 Regarding the article about AI:

I am not a programmer by any stretch of the imagination. My tech career went a different path. And I have been working in the tech field long enough that I see the appeal of a more Luddite lifestyle.

The hype and hope grafted onto AI is going to lead to rather Interesting Times. And I will chip in for the prison he wants to build for tech executives.

Posted by: NR Pax at June 21, 2024 06:31 AM (lXoJ5)

117 Heh, now that's a way to do it.
The problem is you're still choosing them over a local business.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 06:26 AM (cCVOS)

We do that with everything we can here, but our clothing choices would be limited to pricey boutique items from the downtown shops, or Dollar Tree.
This is why the Thrift Store does a booming business in the four figures every week.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:32 AM (y7DxH)

118 This lady has played the organ at her church for 65 years

That is one heck of an organ solo

Posted by: Don Black at June 21, 2024 06:32 AM (/7KEl)

119 Netanyahu wasn't lying. Biden was:

https://tinyurl.com/vkxjp3zz

But we knew that.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 21, 2024 06:32 AM (3Y5XB)

120 Basically, we shut down the historic downtown to vehicles, and everything from performers on the town Bandstand, right in front of the railroad tracks that go right through downtown, to vendors, food trucks and local shops all have an outdoor festival.
....
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 21, 2024 06:31 AM (a1415)
====

Luddites!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:33 AM (ShqkK)

121 FWIW I'm completely fine with places like Barrnes and Noble going out of business so that local stores can come back.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:33 AM (LjVn6)

122 Pixy- I take offense at you labelling me an incompetent programmer! All it takes is the realization that my job will always amount to zero- but I'm getting paid a butt-ton of money for it and can retire far sooner than the azz-hats who think they know more than me.

Posted by: Dura at June 21, 2024 06:33 AM (O/+Mn)

123 "Luddites!"

Thank You!!!!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 21, 2024 06:34 AM (a1415)

124 122 Pixy- I take offense at you labelling me an incompetent programmer! All it takes is the realization that my job will always amount to zero- but I'm getting paid a butt-ton of money for it and can retire far sooner than the azz-hats who think they know more than me.
Posted by: Dura

I guess that means you're technically 29 forever.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 21, 2024 06:34 AM (BLOW1)

125 They still have live organ players in MLB ballparks.
Which is kinda cool.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at June 21, 2024 06:36 AM (dg+HA)

126 Local TV news reports the home of Oakland mayor Sheng Thao was raided at dawn yesterday along with other sites related to waste collection.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 04:40 AM (RIvkX)
-

Well, they successfully collected her.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 21, 2024 06:36 AM (3Y5XB)

127 Marvin perceived the futility of it all but stuck around for the end of the universe. He was a very brave robot.

mornin yall
Posted by: fd

Voiced by Alan Rickman in the movie IIRC

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 06:37 AM (oaGWv)

128 >>One of the things that I love about our little town is this thing we have called 'Third Thursday'.

That sounds lovely!

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 06:37 AM (cCVOS)

129 Well, they successfully collected her.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 21, 2024 06:36 AM (3Y5XB)
====
You're the only moron who hit the slow pitch over home plate.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:39 AM (ShqkK)

130 And what happens now that in a post covid/post BLM world, many of the older employees were laid off and replaced with young hires or a team located overseas?

Can only imagine how much institutional knowledge has been shed in recent years with all of the businesses downsizing, merging, going belly-up, etc..
Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 05:48 AM (cCVOS)

My company doesn't announce the names of the people "impacted" by mass firings. One day you email the one person at the company who knows a thing and get a bounce telling you that they're gone. Oh well.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 21, 2024 06:40 AM (T7iTv)

131 >>FWIW I'm completely fine with places like Barrnes and Noble going out of business so that local stores can come back.

I know, I know. Sometimes the local place doesn't have what you need. Sadly, B&N just agreed to buy the long-time local books store chain.

Posted by: Lizzy at June 21, 2024 06:40 AM (cCVOS)

132 g'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez - they have been lying to us for decades at June 21, 2024 06:41 AM (tQtDb)

133 The coffee is cold, no toasted cherry scone. The power won't be back until the morning. Imma go back to sleep.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:41 AM (ShqkK)

134 So, fake and ghey.

Posted by: Eromero at June 21, 2024 06:41 AM (o2ZRX)

135 AI is the new NFT.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at June 21, 2024 06:41 AM (BxvY+)

136 I know, I know. Sometimes the local place doesn't have what you need. Sadly, B&N just agreed to buy the long-time local books store chain.
Posted by: Lizzy

-

Yeah, that's pretty common around here. And it's my understanding that they'll maintain the facade of "independent whatever" while being a daughter of the multinational corporation.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:41 AM (LjVn6)

137 133 The coffee is cold, no toasted cherry scone. The power won't be back until the morning. Imma go back to sleep.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2024 06:41 AM (ShqkK)

See you later!

Posted by: m at June 21, 2024 06:42 AM (NHMTR)

138 That AI.takedown is fantastic. Excellent writing.

Posted by: Son of Dad at June 21, 2024 06:43 AM (8JB5s)

139 121 FWIW I'm completely fine with places like Barrnes and Noble going out of business so that local stores can come back.
Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:33 AM (LjVn6)

It was sad- we had a lovely bookstore open here. It had books, toys, stationery and a coffee bar. But she didn't "read the room" and much of her stock would appeal only to a small segment of our population.
A bit too woke, iykwimaityd.
Plus, for cheap popular reads, she was up against the thrift store.
She now has a nook in the art store and her former site is a farm to table grocery.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:43 AM (y7DxH)

140 bbc:

Naked swimmers mark Australia's winter solstice

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c4nn7y74m2po

Posted by: m at June 21, 2024 06:44 AM (NHMTR)

141 “Immediately when the [United Nations] provided additional evidence, I voted to condemn the sexual violence. I apologize for my comments.”

Better than the average democrat apology. He can still eat shit and die, though.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, deplorable clown at June 21, 2024 06:45 AM (qZEuM)

142 Not clicking on that

Posted by: Don Black at June 21, 2024 06:45 AM (/7KEl)

143 Morning peeps

A touch of mist out there this morning. Another "blistering hot" day of 90+ degrees forecast.

Probably should go feed the cats... 🐈🐈🐈

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 21, 2024 06:46 AM (Q4IgG)

144 I'm completely fine with places like Barrnes and Noble going out of business so that local stores can come back.
Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts

Except the local stores usually do not come back. We lost our very nice and non woke (as far as I could tell) B&N . What did we get instead? Another gym. So this rather large suburban area has no book stores anymore. On the other hand, I'm reading Judi Dench's new book " Shakespeare The Man Who Pays the Rent.". Retail price $32.00. Amazon price $21.98. Local bookstores would be hard pressed to compete with Amazon prices.

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 06:47 AM (oaGWv)

145 >>It was sad- we had a lovely bookstore open here. It had books, toys, stationery and a coffee bar. But she didn't "read the room" and much of her stock would appeal only to a small segment of our population.
A bit too woke, iykwimaityd.
Plus, for cheap popular reads, she was up against the thrift store.
She now has a nook in the art store and her former site is a farm to table grocery.

I'm just doing what I do.

Posted by: Market forces at June 21, 2024 06:47 AM (dg+HA)

146 She now has a nook in the art store and her former site is a farm to table grocery.
Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum

-

I think you hit on the majority of modern bookstores, coffee shops, and who knows what else (pet snack stores?).

I bet the vast majority of them are people - likely wives of successful husbands - who have money and are bored and want to be able to tell everyone they have a business.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:47 AM (LjVn6)

147 Better than the average democrat apology. He can still eat shit and die, though.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, deplorable clown at June 21, 2024 06:45 AM (qZEuM)

I would normally say it confers zero grace to admit you were wrong or lying when confronted with hard evidence... but the fact that it happens so rarely makes it at least noteworthy

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 06:48 AM (BpZ5k)

148 That is one heck of an organ solo
Posted by: Don Black at June 21, 2024 06:32 AM (/7KEl)

and the Horde never disappoints. Good one!

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:48 AM (y7DxH)

149 I'm completely fine with places like Barrnes and Noble going out of business so that local stores can come back.
-

Except the local stores usually do not come back. We lost our very nice and non woke (as far as I could tell) B&N . What did we get instead? Another gym. So this rather large suburban area has no book stores anymore. On the other hand, I'm reading Judi Dench's new book " Shakespeare The Man Who Pays the Rent.". Retail price $32.00. Amazon price $21.98. Local bookstores would be hard pressed to compete with Amazon prices.
Posted by: Tuna

-

Okay. Then I'm completely fine with B&N going out of business.

See #61

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:49 AM (LjVn6)

150
I bet the vast majority of them are people - likely wives of successful husbands - who have money and are bored and want to be able to tell everyone they have a business.
Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts

Lower class: wife doesn’t work
Middle class: wife works
Upper middle class: wife doesn’t work
Upper class: wife runs a small business that loses $10k/month

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2024 06:49 AM (MoZTd)

151 "Have you tried turning it off and turning it back on again?"

Posted by: Roy at June 21, 2024 06:50 AM (QB+5g)

152 Time to give Lego the Bud Lite treatment:

https://tinyurl.com/pfk6t4vd

(X)

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 21, 2024 06:50 AM (3Y5XB)

153 If you have a small bookstore next to a B&N, they're basically not even in the same economic sector.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 06:51 AM (BpZ5k)

154 *What did we get instead? Another gym. So this rather large suburban area has no book stores anymore.*

You need more of me.

Posted by: Mattress stores at June 21, 2024 06:51 AM (dg+HA)

155 I'm reading the Oppenheimer book, paperback, $15 from Amazon

Posted by: Don Black at June 21, 2024 06:51 AM (/7KEl)

156 I bet the vast majority of them are people - likely wives of successful husbands - who have money and are bored and want to be able to tell everyone they have a business.
Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't bei

In her case, she was a teacher and had always wanted to do this after she retired, which makes it extra sad.
But, yeah- I think you've hit on something.

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at June 21, 2024 06:51 AM (y7DxH)

157 I bet the vast majority of them are people - likely wives of successful husbands - who have money and are bored and want to be able to tell everyone they have a business.
-

In her case, she was a teacher

-

Yep. Someone with money who is bored.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:53 AM (LjVn6)

158 I'm very popular in retirement.

Posted by: A money losing hobby at June 21, 2024 06:53 AM (dg+HA)

159 You need more of me.
Posted by: Mattress stores

LOL

You left me out

Posted by: Nail Salons at June 21, 2024 06:54 AM (oaGWv)

160 Google Maps, DoorDash, Weather Apps, Park Mobile, Online banking, PayPal, Walmart+, GrubHub, Gmail, Brave, Amazon, Instacart, Libby, McDonald's App, Costco App, GasBuddy, Uber and UberEats.
Posted by: Try NOT using us at June 21, 2024 06:15 AM (dg+HA)

What do you have against Brave?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 21, 2024 06:54 AM (T7iTv)

161 If i had F It Whatever money, I'd open a bookstore/paid library where I'd get subs to all the major scientific journals and make them available to the public.

And before you say "they won't let you do that", remember... F It Whatever money.

I bet ya I'd get a decent sized clientele. Maybe even a plurality of them would not be bat shit crazy.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 06:54 AM (BpZ5k)

162 30 years ago there were 5 or 6 bookstores here, only one of them ‘big name’, WaldenBooks. One other ‘semi big’, Hastings. Then came B&N and they destroyed them, afterwards taking down the remaining small ones. Now we have a HalfPrice books. That’s where I go, because I don’t go to a bookstore for coffee.

Posted by: Eromero at June 21, 2024 06:54 AM (o2ZRX)

163 Google Maps, DoorDash, Weather Apps, Park Mobile, Online banking, PayPal, Walmart+, GrubHub, Gmail, Brave, Amazon, Instacart, Libby, McDonald's App, Costco App, GasBuddy, Uber and UberEats.
Posted by: Try NOT using us
-

Heck, just try using the internet without google.

Not avoiding their search engine. Simply using the internet.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:55 AM (LjVn6)

164 I don't understand having fast food delivered

Posted by: Don Black at June 21, 2024 06:55 AM (/7KEl)

165 It costs so much to run a storefront, you've got to sell a lot of books and pet snacks just to break even.

Posted by: fd at June 21, 2024 06:55 AM (vFG9F)

166 Not avoiding their search engine. Simply using the internet.
Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:55 AM (LjVn6)

Run an npcap. See if you can hit a site and not get at least half a dozen packets coming or going from a Google host.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 06:57 AM (BpZ5k)

167 And before you say "they won't let you do that", remember... F It Whatever money.

-

I like the way you think.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 06:58 AM (LjVn6)

168
I don't understand having fast food delivered

Posted by: Don Black at June 21, 2024 06:55 AM

I figure it's stoners with the munchies who know they're too wasted to drive.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at June 21, 2024 06:58 AM (RKVpM)

169 Small businesses....

We have "farmer's markets" around here. The one in town has about 8-10 sellers, sometimes a couple more will show up. Mostly home made goods, veggies, crafts and the like. Reasonable prices. Occasionally a family that runs a pig farm shows up with a couple coolers of pork products.

Sadly, no bacon. But the pork chops are damn good.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 21, 2024 06:59 AM (Q4IgG)

170 156 I bet the vast majority of them are people - likely wives of successful husbands - who have money and are bored and want to be able to tell everyone they have a business.
Posted by: Moron Robbie

Yeah the wife of my former employer's CEO had her own little bookstore in a ritzy area of a large metropolitan area. He got the boot a couple of months ago. I wonder what became of wife's store. Eh..I don't really care.

Posted by: Tuna at June 21, 2024 06:59 AM (oaGWv)

171 It costs so much to run a storefront, you've got to sell a lot of books and pet snacks just to break even.
Posted by: fd

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We were just discussing this in real life last week.

We drove through the outskirts of a major city and saw a pet snack store, some sort of pet hotel, a business that does nothing other than improve high school athletes' 40 yard dash times, a place that sold olive oil - that's all, just olive oil - and a few other extremely niche businesses.

I commented to the wife about how incredibly wealthy and without problems an area must be to support such things.

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 07:00 AM (LjVn6)

172
B&N only sells books as a sideline to videos, vinyl, children's stuff, cards and appointment books and SBUX coffee. I mostly read history books and the stock of those has declined to:

White people suck
Men suck
America sucks
The country was built by blacks
World War II was won by women

The biography section has sunk to celeb bios and parasitic memoirs by children of famous people (hello, Anderson Cooper!).

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2024 07:00 AM (MoZTd)

173
jj

Posted by: rhennigantx at June 21, 2024 07:00 AM (ENQN6)

174 Yeah the wife of my former employer's CEO had her own little bookstore in a ritzy area of a large metropolitan area. He got the boot a couple of months ago. I wonder what became of wife's store. Eh..I don't really care.
Posted by: Tuna

-

My husband is successful and I want to be successful, too!

(uses husbands money to accomplish nothing)

Posted by: Moron Robbie - Images of perfect women created with AI aren't being created with tattoo prompts. at June 21, 2024 07:01 AM (LjVn6)

175
I was sorry to see Borders get liquidated. They were much better than B&N.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2024 07:02 AM (MoZTd)

176 Fast food French fries are hot n crispy for about 5 minutes, tops

Can Uber or whatever get them to me fast enough to be worth the effort

Posted by: Don Black at June 21, 2024 07:02 AM (/7KEl)

177 The biography section has sunk to celeb bios and parasitic memoirs by children of famous people (hello, Anderson Cooper!).
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2024 07:00 AM (MoZTd)

Do they still have the one biggish aisle of cheap paperback versions of actual literature, or has that been swallowed up by agitprop and bastardized versions of old board games too?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at June 21, 2024 07:02 AM (BpZ5k)

178 *I commented to the wife about how incredibly wealthy and without problems an area must be to support such things.*

Now do swim schools.

Posted by: Shaking my head at June 21, 2024 07:02 AM (dg+HA)

179 That olive oil place is just a front.

Posted by: Eromero at June 21, 2024 07:17 AM (o2ZRX)

180 JJ

Posted by: Eromero at June 21, 2024 07:21 AM (o2ZRX)

181 The 911 story comment made me laugh and brought back a memory. Many years ago I worked for a telco in a large city. I had not worked in the main downtown building location for a year of more. I was at a Christmas party with my old CO boss when he received a frantic call from people looking for me. I had been responsible for understanding building power for my department. The building power had shutdown and they couldn't find any of the current supervisors that were suppose to be responsible for power.
I left the party to restore the building power, a too long stupid story as to what happened, won't go into details. One memory still stands out. When I arrived, I found two, what would today be called DEI hires, sitting in the dark with flashlights in the building system management office. There were 4 or 5 fire alarm indicators on the 6th or 7th floor that hadn't been checked on because the elevators were out and they couldn't be bothered to climb the stairs.
We were very lucky a potential disaster didn't materialize.

Posted by: madmike at June 21, 2024 08:07 AM (GJlSU)

182 God bless whoever wrote that Lucidity article about AI and piledriving. Bless him/her or it, and bless his progeny, and let there be lots and lots of it, all just like that writer.

Because AI is dumb, and the use of it left, right and center is a dumb trend followed by self-adoring, middle-aged children who hate all of mankind.

Posted by: Persnickety at June 21, 2024 08:26 AM (6fdSm)

183 300k? Who had 300k in 1987? I sure didn't.

Posted by: Eric at June 21, 2024 08:52 AM (BJWNf)

184 I love the Daily Tech News and I read it every day. Thank you Pixy.

Lucidity says everything I have suspected about AI and the hype surrounding it with a dark, sarcastic flair. A classic. l checked out a couple of his other posts in the "If you do this again, I will have to kill you series." The Excel post is spot on.

Posted by: Solutus at June 21, 2024 09:12 AM (Jnnb9)

185 Mashle...If Harry Potter were a gym bro instead of a wizard (everyone else is still wizards though).

Posted by: Gman at June 21, 2024 09:22 AM (GfWuY)

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