Daily Tech News 16 December 2024

Top Story

A major laptop manufacturer is expected to show off an ion drive at CES. (Tom's Hardware)

The Frore Airjet uses a piezoelectric element to silently produce an airstream to cool whatever it is attached to. The problem is that it is not particularly power efficient - only about one fifth as effective as laptop fans, which are not themselves paragons of efficiency.

The Ventiva ICE is an ionic engine. Also silent, it ionises the air molecules to attract them to a metal grate, where they are deionised but keep right on moving, creating an airflow which cools your laptop.

This isn't the first time that someone has come up with this idea, though, so we're going to have to see whether they can make it work. Previous efforts have been very sensitive to dust buildup, which is enough of a problem with fans but renders ion blasters useless.

Tech News

How to protect yourself in the face of the Salt Typhoon phone network hack. (The Intercept)

Don't say anything on a private phone call that you wouldn't shout in a crowded theatre.

Same goes double for text.

And remember, the FBI has your best interests in mind and is entirely trustworthy in every respect.
If you want the new Intel B580 video card, try again next year. (WCCFTech)

It's sold out everywhere.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the federal government is taking decisive steps to combat the drones seen in the skies over New Jersey. (ABC News)
We have top men addressing the problem.

Top. Men.
The new class of weight loss drugs - GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic - may also work to treat diabetes, sleep apnea, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, substance abuse, and run-on sentences. (Ars Technica)

They may not. Anything linked directly to obesity is a likely win, and the drugs do seem to work against addictions. The others are more speculative but are undergoing clinical trials right now.

Disclaimer: Don't read the comments.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 howdy

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:00 AM (VnUSN)

2 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 04:00 AM (fwDg9)

3 It's Monday again, isn't it?

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 04:01 AM (fwDg9)

4 Evening and morning to all the early risers and late toilers across the vast AoSHQ Empire!

Willowed: . . . I can't remember a best Christmas ever when I was growing up, but I do remember the excitement and anticipation and overall feeling of goodness in the world.
Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at December 16, 2024

***
Good morning,Debby, if you are still here. Your last sentence encapsulates what I and a lot of people remember best about Christmases past.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 16, 2024 04:01 AM (omVj0)

5 LATE BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 16, 2024 04:01 AM (I0KSO)

6 Mornin' Pixy, m, Skip, and the rest of the Horde.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 04:02 AM (O7YUW)

7 Yeah, it's Monday, but remember always:

Compared to being on the wrong side of the ground, even a bad Monday is pretty small kumquats, nicht wahr?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 16, 2024 04:02 AM (omVj0)

8 >>>The new class of weight loss drugs - GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic -
... the drugs do seem to work against addictions....

huh

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:03 AM (VnUSN)

9 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 16, 2024 04:03 AM (sAmhv)

10 Crap. Read the comments before Pixy's warning.

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:05 AM (SSBCb)

11 'Tis 63 F. and 100% humidity, but not raining, so that's something. I definitely need to work out a little bit this morning after having been off for over a week with a cold.

Last night Miss Linda got me to go to her church's Christmas Carol evening -- outdoors in front of the church. The kids' choir sang in a pageant incorporating some of the classic "real" carols, you know, not about winter or Santa but about the real "reason for the season." The sound system kept failing, and it dragged. (I kept wanting to escape.) They wound up with a surprise appearance by Santa via a fire truck (!) for the little ones, and then they served free cocoa and other goodies in the cafeteria. Nice people.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 16, 2024 04:07 AM (omVj0)

12 I'll probably try to sleep again soon.

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:07 AM (SSBCb)

13 Disclaimer: Don't read the comments.

Except for here, of course.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 16, 2024 04:08 AM (sAmhv)

14 10 Crap. Read the comments before Pixy's warning.
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:05 AM (SSBCb)

I'm pretty sure Pixy means the Ars Technica comments, a perennial warning.
How ya doing, jim (in hospital in Kalifornia)?

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:08 AM (VnUSN)

15 Gee, maybe the GLP-1 drugs will lead to something like the youth-prolongation drug called boosterspice in Larry Niven's Known Space stories.

Or maybe it will lead to the death of all the adults as in the Trek episode "Miri" -- they'd been looking for a life extension treatment too. Oops.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 16, 2024 04:09 AM (omVj0)

16 Ozempic - the Elixir of Life; the Superdrug: it can do everything. Trouble is you have to take it forever.

Also it can ruin your life or kill you.

Posted by: Ciampino - end with a different fart noise? at December 16, 2024 04:10 AM (i0xsb)

17 14 10 Crap. Read the comments before Pixy's warning.
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:05 AM (SSBCb)

I'm pretty sure Pixy means the Ars Technica comments, a perennial warning.
How ya doing, jim (in hospital in Kalifornia)?
Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:08 AM (VnUSN)

Not bad. Plan is to be out Tuesday, probably afternoon or eve, assuming no further complications. Still waiting for stoma to spit out more than old dried blood from the 4 resections.

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:11 AM (SSBCb)

18 Always a better day looking down on the grass instead of up at the roots.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 16, 2024 04:14 AM (hKoQL)

19 Ozempic - the Elixir of Life; the Superdrug: it can do everything. Trouble is you have to take it forever.

Also it can ruin your life or kill you.
Posted by: Ciampino - end with a different fart noise? at December 16, 2024

***
In Niven's stories, boosterspice wouldn't kill you, but it was expensive and you did have to take it all your life. He told us the scientists carved up the genes of a ragweed to produce the stuff. (Something tells me the young LN suffered from allergies and wanted to get his own back.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 16, 2024 04:15 AM (omVj0)

20 But you could be a leftwit and have to look UP to see bottom.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 16, 2024 04:15 AM (hKoQL)

21 stoma:
2 Medicine an artificial opening made into a hollow organ, especially one on the surface of the body leading to the gut or trachea.

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:16 AM (VnUSN)

22 In case you've missed this; the audio is even worse than the summary:

Chris Murphy
@ChrisMurphyCT
11h
I know it's uncomfortable for political leaders to wade into the conversation that's happening in this country in the aftermath of the murder of the United Health CEO. But we need to listen to what people are feeling. And act.

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:19 AM (VnUSN)

23 A read-through of Chris Murphy's X-page (U.S. Senator from Connecticut) seems to indicate that he has lost his mind.

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:20 AM (VnUSN)

24 But we need to listen to what people are feeling. And act.

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:19 AM (VnUSN)
-

I think there are lots of politicians who need to be guillotined here and now.

Tell me more, Chrissie!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 16, 2024 04:21 AM (I0KSO)

25 Rescued kittens - nice story

https://tinyurl.com/4htb3a3k

Posted by: Ciampino - warm milk and a blanket at December 16, 2024 04:21 AM (i0xsb)

26 21 stoma:
2 Medicine an artificial opening made into a hollow organ, especially one on the surface of the body leading to the gut or trachea.
Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:16 AM (VnUSN)

Looked at the care package for taking care of my stoma. One sentence stood out: "You never want to use your stoma for intercourse"...

Always has to be SOMEONE that decides to push the limits...

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:23 AM (SSBCb)

27 Psalm 31:19-24

Devotional - "A persistent sparrow". Appropriate for both interested Christians and Jews:

https://tinyurl.com/nhf2ewca

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 16, 2024 04:25 AM (+tXa0)

28 ~~Prominent~~ Senile Republican issues stern rebuke to RFK Jr

https://mol.im/a/

These so-called journalists know shit. Today's polio vaccine is not the original Salk nor the oral one from the 60s. Who knows how many iterations there have been and how many changes to the carrier? As an example, the mercury compound that was used as a preservative? It's gone now. What took its place?

Posted by: Ciampino - warm milk and a blanket & cuddles at December 16, 2024 04:29 AM (i0xsb)

29 Posted by: Ciampino - warm milk and a blanket & cuddles at December 16, 2024 04:29 AM (i0xsb)

Linky no worky

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:31 AM (SSBCb)

30 I started reading the Ars Technica comments, and wow, they seem really on board and even eager to take this new drug.

I think I'll just hang back and observe for say... 10 to 15 years. I'm only on one regular medication and I'm in no rush to add to that anyway.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 04:32 AM (O7YUW)

31 Morning all!

Reading the side effects of Ozempic...Yikes!

The only thing it might not cause is anal leakage.

Posted by: Bruce at December 16, 2024 04:32 AM (EJ71y)

32 31 Morning all!

Reading the side effects of Ozempic...Yikes!

The only thing it might not cause is anal leakage.
Posted by: Bruce at December 16, 2024 04:32 AM (EJ71y)

https://youtu.be/aMO-qfR73YU

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:34 AM (SSBCb)

33 Does diarrhea count?

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:36 AM (SSBCb)

34 https://youtu.be/aMO-qfR73YU
Posted by: jim

HA!

Posted by: Bruce at December 16, 2024 04:37 AM (EJ71y)

35 Ask Grok what Ozempic's "side effects" are. In fact, ask Grok practically anything:

https://x.com/i/grok

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 16, 2024 04:38 AM (adINt)

36 And I only needed to wait a few minutes, not 10 to 15 years. Thanks Bruce. :-)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 04:39 AM (O7YUW)

37 Does diarrhea count?
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:36 AM (SSBCb)
-

No. And it's apparently bad at spelling, too!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 16, 2024 04:39 AM (adINt)

38 Aha.

Sen. Chris Murphy and wife, Cathy Holahan, separating after 17 years of marriage (Stamford Advocate) Updated Nov 15, 2024

https://archive.is/PtwgK

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:40 AM (VnUSN)

39 37 Does diarrhea count?
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:36 AM (SSBCb)
-

No. And it's apparently bad at spelling, too!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 16, 2024 04:39 AM (adINt)

yukyuk

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:41 AM (VnUSN)

40 @25/Ciampino
@27/FenelonSpoke

Thank you both for the positive and uplifting posts. A good way to start a Monday.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 04:42 AM (O7YUW)

41 Ate a banana, chocolate PB cookie. Going back to sleep now. Nytol.

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:45 AM (SSBCb)

42 Hundreds of singers and sign language interpreters from around the world sign/sing a great old hymn- My Hope is Built/The Solid Rock:

https://tinyurl.com/2n8bzrrf

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 16, 2024 04:47 AM (CS+dt)

43 32 31 Morning all!

Reading the side effects of Ozempic...Yikes!

The only thing it might not cause is anal leakage.
Posted by: Bruce at December 16, 2024 04:32 AM (EJ71y)

https://youtu.be/aMO-qfR73YU
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:34 AM (SSBCb)

; )

Not even 50 comments in and we're already thick into the anal leakage jokes.

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:47 AM (VnUSN)

44 Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 04:42 AM (O7YUW)

You are most welcome. May you and others here have a blessed day and know that you are a blessing to others!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 16, 2024 04:48 AM (CS+dt)

45 Does diarrhea count?
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia)
--------
That's called anal gushage.

Posted by: buddhaha at December 16, 2024 04:50 AM (YRARP)

46 41 Ate a banana, chocolate PB cookie.
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 04:45 AM (SSBCb)

yum

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 04:52 AM (VnUSN)

47 To boot, guess Nanzi is stuck in Luxembourg as well as down.

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 04:58 AM (fwDg9)

48 BBC:

Pelosi, 84, was airlifted by the US military to a hospital in Germany after she reportedly tripped and fell on stairs while attending an official event on Friday.

Pelosi thanked both US military staff at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and medical staff at Hospital Kirchberg in Luxembourg.

https://www.bbc.com/news/
articles/ce329pv42y4o

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 05:04 AM (VnUSN)

49 @48/m: Yup, as I said a day or two ago: Congress critters have the best medical care you can buy. They never subjected themselves to "Obamacare"... of course.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 05:05 AM (O7YUW)

50 Or, "They have the best medical care that you've paid for and continue paying for" is what I meant to say.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 05:06 AM (O7YUW)

51 Light rain so above freezing
Hopefully WiFi
Forward Dog 9 out

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 05:11 AM (fwDg9)

52 Let's Encrypt CEO announces new offering - 6 day duration TLS (https) server certificates.

https://tinyurl.com/3hvx5tee

"Our longstanding offering won’t fundamentally change next year, but we are going to introduce a new offering that’s a big shift from anything we’ve done before - short-lived certificates. Specifically, certificates with a lifetime of six days. This is a big upgrade for the security of the TLS ecosystem because it minimizes exposure time during a key compromise event."

Yeah, and if the certificate process itself gets compromised, all sites using your short certificates will all be able to similarly be compromised by the end of that 6 day window.

Or if your site is unavailable for any reason for a while, a whole lot of sites are going to lose their encryption, and most people's browsers will throw up a nasty looking warning to not proceed.

Not liking what I'm seeing here, for these and a few more reasons.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 05:16 AM (O7YUW)

53 ace bait (via Insty):

"OH. THERE IS MY SHOCKED FACE: BOMBSHELL: Nathan Wade admits to coordinating with the White House in the Georgia prosecution of Donald Trump."

Not exactly surprising, as Ms Hoyt at Insty says.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 05:23 AM (bss/y)

54 Morning, Horde...How goes it?

My office is having new carpet installed this week, so I get to work from home.

On the plus side, if I get started now, I can be done with my workday around 12:30 local time.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 16, 2024 05:24 AM (BpYfr)

55 53 Nathan Wade admits to coordinating with the White House in the Georgia prosecution of Donald Trump.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 05:23 AM (bss/y)

Those small-town crooks and their outsized delusions of grandeur!

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 05:25 AM (VnUSN)

56 Comedy wildlife photo winners of 2024:

https://tinyurl.com/5dkzbk59

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 16, 2024 05:27 AM (zCp7U)

57 Those small-town crooks and their outsized delusions of grandeur!
Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 05:25 AM (VnUSN)

I'd still say they are meaningless in of themselves- it is the coordination that is the real crime.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 05:27 AM (bss/y)

58 Not even 50 comments in and we're already thick into the anal leakage jokes.
Posted by: m at December 16, 2024

***
They will seep in, won't they?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 16, 2024 05:41 AM (omVj0)

59 58 Not even 50 comments in and we're already thick into the anal leakage jokes.
Posted by: m at December 16, 2024

***
They will seep in, won't they?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 16, 2024 05:41 AM (omVj0)

Depends.

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 05:42 AM (VnUSN)

60 Good King Wenceslas.

https://tinyurl.com/44bpw3jw

The wiki entry for the carol is fascinating. Showing that people for the past 170 years have been alternatively praising or trashing the song.

https://tinyurl.com/4j44hw8n

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 05:42 AM (bss/y)

61 I think I got cooties from reading that article at The Intercept.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 05:50 AM (QB+5g)

62 G'morning "Perfessor" Squirrel. I sent you an email yesterday afternoon with an attached picture of old gaming manuals on a bookshelf I thought you might enjoy, based on you mentioning "Planescape: Torment" as part of your book thread.

It's in there, and so are a bunch of other printed manuals in book form for others of the time period.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 06:00 AM (O7YUW)

63 Planescape: Torment was a great game. A great example of good story telling and characterization that worked really well in the context of the game.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:02 AM (bss/y)

64 Plus, IIRC the music was quite good.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:03 AM (bss/y)

65 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 16, 2024 06:05 AM (hoCmQ)

66 Looks like Joe's pardon list is getting longer my the minute.

Maybe the Dems can get a website together for pardon requests for faster service.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:07 AM (QB+5g)

67 Hmmm. (after reading Perfessor's bit on Planescape: Torment.)

I am not sure I agree that it is the greatest video game of all time. It is up there, but I would say that the original Knights of the Old Republic might be a tighter story. The themes between the two games are similar, but I think KoTOR is just a better presentation- although it is darn close.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:10 AM (bss/y)

68 66 Looks like Joe's pardon list is getting longer my the minute.

Maybe the Dems can get a website together for pardon requests for faster service.
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:07 AM (QB+5g)

Set up a hotline: 5.99 a minute. No reason not to monetize this (which they are probably doing already.) Like the Jerry Lewis telethon.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:11 AM (bss/y)

69 59 58 Not even 50 comments in and we're already thick into the anal leakage jokes.
Posted by: m at December 16, 2024

***
They will seep in, won't they?

A slow drip of humor.

Posted by: The alphabets at December 16, 2024 06:12 AM (OA79/)

70 Sock off

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at December 16, 2024 06:13 AM (OA79/)

71 Looks like I am in again

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 06:14 AM (AYz4A)

72 At least I am warm and dry inside

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 06:15 AM (AYz4A)

73 Welcome back, Skip.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 06:17 AM (O7YUW)

74 Like the Jerry Lewis telethon.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:11 AM (bss/y)

"The Joe Biden Pardonthon" sounds like something ten years ago's ace would have written up and then it would eventually land on the side bar hall of fame.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 06:17 AM (y/ZMQ)

75 72 At least I am warm and dry inside
Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 06:15 AM (AYz4A)

Good on you. I've been working on a sort in a warehouse that is cold as hell (if it is cold outside.) The annoying thing is that we are waiting on part delivery- on days when it is actually fairly warm.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:17 AM (bss/y)

76 I e always liked the Carol "Good King Wenceslas" but I didn't know until about 20 years ago it was based on a real person and who had been canonized:

https://tinyurl.com/345tvmyh

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 16, 2024 06:17 AM (HYJje)

77 @67/Aetius451AD: My absolute favourites on my game shelf are the games from the Fallout series. So much replayability.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 06:18 AM (O7YUW)

78 "The Joe Biden Pardonthon" sounds like something ten years ago's ace would have written up and then it would eventually land on the side bar hall of fame.
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 06:17 AM (y/ZMQ)

No reason it can't be today. ace being goofy and doing these skits is what made this place great and eye catching back in the day.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:18 AM (bss/y)

79 Not liking what I'm seeing here, for these and a few more reasons.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 05:16 AM (O7YUW)

We'll always have "proceed anyway".

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 06:19 AM (y/ZMQ)

80 What would Wenceslaus wear when Wenceslaus went wassailing?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 06:21 AM (y/ZMQ)

81 77 @67/Aetius451AD: My absolute favourites on my game shelf are the games from the Fallout series. So much replayability.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 06:18 AM (O7YUW)

Fallout 1 and 2 are awesome. New Vegas is also great. I 'like' 3 and 4, but they are not quite Fallout. They miss... the feel of the old games and New Vegas. Bethesda seemed to focus on the tradgedy of the story, but missed the underlying hope. Plus, the first games were more complex character wise. I always liked (from Fallout 2 Intro):
Only through the bravery of this Vault Dweller was the evil destroyed. But in so doing, he lost many of his friends and suffered greatly, sacrificing much of himself to save the world. When at last he returned to the home he had fought so hard to protect, he was cast out. Exiled. In confronting that which they feared, he had become something else in their eyes...and no longer their champion. Forsaken by his people, he strode into the wasteland.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:21 AM (bss/y)

82 80 What would Wenceslaus wear when Wenceslaus went wassailing?
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 06:21 AM (y/ZMQ)

*golfclap*

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:22 AM (bss/y)

83 re: Fallout 2 Intro.

It reminded me of a story element that is in a lot of good stories talking about some great deed or coming home from war- the 'Stranger at Home'. Always found it compelling.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:23 AM (bss/y)

84 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 16, 2024 06:23 AM (fsC91)

85 Wish I had me one of them ion blasters.

Posted by: Burt Gummer at December 16, 2024 06:28 AM (PiwSw)

86 Trouble is you have to take it forever. Also it can ruin your life or kill you.

Sounds like this little pill has a great big story to tell!

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at December 16, 2024 06:30 AM (zdLoL)

87 Did I mention only 36 more days for Sundowner to do damage to the Repubic?

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 06:31 AM (AYz4A)

88 Quick question. I use protonmail. Why does it take forever for it to sync from my laptop to my iPhone? Just sent a reply on my iPhone with an attachment from my photos and it shows up as a draft without the attachment on my laptop. Been that way for 10 minutes. Does a vpn slow things down, I'm using a vpn on my phone.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at December 16, 2024 06:31 AM (2NHgQ)

89 86 Trouble is you have to take it forever. Also it can ruin your life or kill you.

Sounds like this little pill has a great big story to tell!
Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at December 16, 2024 06:30 AM (zdLoL)

Kind of sounds like statins too.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:32 AM (bss/y)

90 @81/Aetius451AD

Agreed on your evaluation of the Fallout series. I was pretty committed to Fallout 3, and I'd tried New Vegas when it came out but the bugs on release were... wow they were bad. The lockups on trying to loads any given saved game were infuriating.

Patches by both Obsidian and then many released later from the modding community vastly improved the stability, and it became way more fun to play than Fallout 3.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 06:35 AM (O7YUW)

91 Did I mention only 36 more days for Sundowner to do damage to the Repubic?
Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2024 06:31 AM (AYz4A)
-----------
How long did the German Bulge offensive last?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 16, 2024 06:35 AM (fsC91)

92 Good morning to all from western NC. It is a balmy 42 degrees here going up to the high 50’s today.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at December 16, 2024 06:36 AM (BB/Ew)

93 By my count, it's 35 days.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 16, 2024 06:38 AM (+H2BX)

94 You can't go home again because it changed while you were gone.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at December 16, 2024 06:39 AM (+H2BX)

95 I am not sure I agree that it is the greatest video game of all time. It is up there, but I would say that the original Knights of the Old Republic might be a tighter story. The themes between the two games are similar, but I think KoTOR is just a better presentation- although it is darn close.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 06:10 AM (bss/y)
---
I never said it was the greatest video game of all time--it's simply my favorite. The original gameplay could be very awkward at times because the user interface just wasn't the best. I *love* the story, however.

The original KotOR had a decent storyline, but I didn't enjoy the gameplay as much as I enjoyed the gameplay in KotOR II (which had a bad ending because of reasons).

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 16, 2024 06:43 AM (BpYfr)

96 If you want to see the absolutely pitiful BS the FNM is barfing up now:

@ MSN

"Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"

What total bullshit.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:48 AM (QB+5g)

97 Murphy's announcement came just over a week after he was elected to his third term in the U.S. Senate, following six years spent in Congress. Holahan appeared alongside Murphy and the couple's two children as the senator delivered a victory speech on Election Night in Hartford, in which he thanked his wife for supporting his political career and family.

Translation: He'd used her for several campaigns and she'd finally had enough.

(Wish there weren't kids involved though.)

Posted by: pookysgirl, with a 12-pound weight snoozing on her chest at December 16, 2024 06:48 AM (dtlDP)

98 Breitbart: Schiff: Americans Did Not Vote for Trump to ‘See Him Pardon Criminals’ Involved in January 6

No, you bug-eyed, pencil-necked traitor. It's not ONLY to do that, but go after seditious co-conspirators like you who abandoned your oath to uphold the Constitution and used the power of state to subvert this country and the Constitution. You should be hanging from gallows with the rest of your traitorous ilk, having forfeit all your assets.

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 06:48 AM (SSBCb)

99 G'morning "Perfessor" Squirrel. I sent you an email yesterday afternoon with an attached picture of old gaming manuals on a bookshelf I thought you might enjoy, based on you mentioning "Planescape: Torment" as part of your book thread.

It's in there, and so are a bunch of other printed manuals in book form for others of the time period.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 06:00 AM (O7YUW)
---
One good pic deserves another, so I returned the favor and sent you a picture of my own collection (such as it is).

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 16, 2024 06:50 AM (BpYfr)

100 96 If you want to see the absolutely pitiful BS the FNM is barfing up now:

@ MSN

"Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"

What total bullshit.
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic
................................
They EARNED it.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 16, 2024 06:50 AM (i5uov)

101

Flaming Heterosexuals!

Posted by: Just Sayin... at December 16, 2024 06:51 AM (k3aDD)

102 MSN

"Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"

What total bullshit.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:48 AM (QB+5g)

This iimplies that they work. Which they don't.

Posted by: pookysgirl, with a 12-pound weight snoozing on her chest at December 16, 2024 06:51 AM (dtlDP)

103 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 16, 2024 06:53 AM (u82oZ)

104 Morning peeps

> Video games... Half Life is enjoying a resurgence due to it's 20th year anniversary. Between Half Life and Fallout I lost several years of productivity.

Still do...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 16, 2024 06:54 AM (Q4IgG)

105 "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"

What total bullshit.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:48 AM (QB+5g)

This iimplies that they work. Which they don't.
Posted by: pookysgirl, with a 12-pound weight snoozing on her chest at December 16, 2024 06:51 AM (dtlDP)
-----------
This implies that it needs to be renewed. Which it doesn't.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 16, 2024 06:54 AM (fsC91)

106 pookysgirl,

12 pounds! You know how to please the 'rons.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 16, 2024 06:54 AM (u82oZ)

107 Hey, Pixy if you’re still here…
Front page is crashing hard on my iPhone. Some repeating script, I’m guessing…

Posted by: Hawkpilot at December 16, 2024 06:55 AM (YLdqf)

108 Martini Farmer

Fallout 1 and II. And before that Civ II. Fun, fun, time-wasters.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 16, 2024 06:56 AM (u82oZ)

109 "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"

It's not just the headline.

The entire article has the quality of a horde of monkeys flinging poo.

It's written like it was put together directly by the creatures on The View

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:58 AM (QB+5g)

110 96 "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:48 AM (QB+5g)

It is ALL about them.

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 07:00 AM (VnUSN)

111 I hate Amtrak. That is all.

Anyway, good morning to the horde!

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 16, 2024 07:00 AM (jnczo)

112 Ion drive, eh?

https://youtu.be/z2fM6LpVuEQ

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:02 AM (SSBCb)

113 12 pounds! You know how to please the 'rons.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 16, 2024 06:54 AM (u82oZ)

Hah! That I do!

(Lil Pooky is doing well, obviously. He is napping after chugging down an entire bottle.)

Posted by: pookysgirl, with a 12-pound weight snoozing on her chest at December 16, 2024 07:02 AM (dtlDP)

114 Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration

Sorry but I have a hard time caring about a group of people whose jobs can be crowd sourced on Twitter.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 16, 2024 07:05 AM (+4yJ5)

115 pookysgirl,

Glad to hear the positive report.

My up the hill neighbors were responsible for the marked improvement in baby formula. Saved millions of lives overseas.

Good people, but alas, they passed away a few years and tears ago.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 16, 2024 07:05 AM (u82oZ)

116 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 16, 2024 07:05 AM (dg+HA)

117 109 "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"

It's not just the headline.

The entire article has the quality of a horde of monkeys flinging poo.

It's written like it was put together directly by the creatures on The View
Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 16, 2024 06:58 AM (QB+5g)

Creature from the Black Lagoon >>> creatures from The View

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:06 AM (SSBCb)

118 I understand the trepidation of the Propaganda Press.

All of America except the "press" and the party cadres felt that way when Brandon stole the 2020 election and seized office.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 16, 2024 07:07 AM (HibCC)

119 "Journalists"- I don't think that word means what they think it means. We have very few "Journalists" in this country anymore. But we have a sh*tload of Hacks. And they can go cry a river.

Posted by: Case at December 16, 2024 07:07 AM (IFQdH)

120 > "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"
-------
If there was just an inkling of introspection there...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 16, 2024 07:07 AM (Q4IgG)

121 Creature from the Black Lagoon >>> creatures from The View
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:06 AM (SSBCb)

They certainly are goons....

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 07:08 AM (y/ZMQ)

122 115 pookysgirl,

Glad to hear the positive report.

My up the hill neighbors were responsible for the marked improvement in baby formula. Saved millions of lives overseas.

Good people, but alas, they passed away a few years and tears ago.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at December 16, 2024 07:05 AM (u82oZ)

I was fed on raw goats milk from 2wks old. Probably why I'm such a stubborn, hard-headed man...

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:08 AM (SSBCb)

123 Lil Pooky is doing well, obviously. He is napping after chugging down an entire bottle.)
Posted by: pookysgirl, with a 12-pound weight snoozing on her chest at December 16, 2024 07:02 AM (dtlDP)
----------------
Best news of the day! Congrats to Lil Pooky and may he continue to thrive!

Posted by: Huck Follywood at December 16, 2024 07:09 AM (HibCC)

124 'Member that time Obama threw a journalist in jail for journalisming without express written consent?

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 07:09 AM (y/ZMQ)

125 124 'Member that time Obama threw a journalist in jail for journalisming without express written consent?
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 07:09 AM (y/ZMQ)

And the govt went after real journalists who pursued stories the regime didn't like?

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:11 AM (SSBCb)

126 "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"
-------
If there was just an inkling of introspection there...
Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 16, 2024 07:07 AM (Q4IgG)
---
If they were capable of introspection, they wouldn't be journalists.

Being a journalist means never having to say you're sorry.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 16, 2024 07:12 AM (BpYfr)

127 This iimplies that they work. Which they don't.
Posted by: pookysgirl, with a 12-pound weight snoozing on her chest at December 16, 2024 06:51 AM (dtlDP)

Well, if work is force times distance, and force is 9.8 Newtons, the distance is the current altitude of the helicopter....

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 07:12 AM (y/ZMQ)

128 Fun fact:

"Jerk" is defined as the third derivative of position w.r.t. time, or the time rate of change of acceleration...

Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 07:13 AM (y/ZMQ)

129 128 Fun fact:

"Jerk" is defined as the third derivative of position w.r.t. time, or the time rate of change of acceleration...
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 07:13 AM (y/ZMQ)

Yup. A couple of different terms for a change of jerk with respect to time...

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:15 AM (SSBCb)

130 124 'Member that time Obama threw a journalist in jail for journalisming without express written consent?
Posted by: Warai-otoko at December 16, 2024 07:09 AM (y/ZMQ)

Remember when they threw that guy in jail for making an unauthorized meme?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 07:17 AM (bss/y)

131 The original KotOR had a decent storyline, but I didn't enjoy the gameplay as much as I enjoyed the gameplay in KotOR II (which had a bad ending because of reasons).
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 16, 2024 06:43 AM (BpYfr)

I always found the narrative of 2 to be muddled. Rushed. Kind of like Dragon Age 2.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 16, 2024 07:19 AM (bss/y)

132

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at December 16, 2024 07:23 AM (c0tJM)

133 Another of Biden's pardons...

Perhaps most incredibly, the "Cash for Kids" judge in Pennsylvania who wrongly sent dozens of minors to a for-profit prison and got kickbacks for it, was released without any examination of the facts of his case.

Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:24 AM (SSBCb)

134 80 What would Wenceslaus wear when Wenceslaus went wassailing?
Posted by: Warai-otoko

A waistcoat. And Wellies.

Posted by: Weirdly enough at December 16, 2024 07:32 AM (dg+HA)

135 132

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton

You got that right.

Posted by: Old Lady Emhoff at December 16, 2024 07:33 AM (dg+HA)

136 62 G'morning "Perfessor" Squirrel. I sent you an email yesterday afternoon with an attached picture of old gaming manuals on a bookshelf I thought you might enjoy, based on you mentioning "Planescape: Torment" as part of your book thread.

It's in there, and so are a bunch of other printed manuals in book form for others of the time period.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 16, 2024 06:00 AM (O7YUW)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
This brings up an interesting topic - the archiving of materials for computer games (and computer software in general).

How many computer games are lost, because the materials are simply gone? What about the extras that came with them, that actually had loving care put into their development?

For instance, there was a computer game called Weird Dreams. Hard action-adventure, limited lives but plenty of ways to die in the nightmares that made up the game. The framing device of the game was in a short story/novella that came with it - some sort of body-jumping demon wanting access to your body, providing some sort of medicine that gave the protagonist the 'weird dreams' over time. Then ending up in the coma that kick-starts the game.

Posted by: Another Anon at December 16, 2024 07:36 AM (QNMaY)

137 "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"
-------

Because you don't do any work.

It's why X is such a threat.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Ladies, does your job make you inspiring and feminine or stressed and brittle? at December 16, 2024 07:43 AM (kDOGy)

138 The life expectancy of someone who suffers a serious hip fracture at Nancy's age is about 1 year. Granted, this doesn't take into account the "sold her soul to Satan" codicil she signed a few decades ago...

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at December 16, 2024 07:44 AM (tT6L1)

139 Journalists used to get their stories from X, when it was a left wing basket case.

Now that X is pretty wide open to all points of view, it's much harder for journalists to find the validation they so desperately seek for the stories they wish to write.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at December 16, 2024 07:45 AM (tT6L1)

140 Adrenochrome will have stiletto-heel wearing 84 year olds back up and running in three months or less.

The U.S. became a major child s3x slavery / trafficking nation for a reason, and it's probably the big reason Trump is hated as much as he is by those in D.C.

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - Ladies, does your job make you inspiring and feminine or stressed and brittle? at December 16, 2024 07:51 AM (kDOGy)

141 A waistcoat. And Wellies. Posted by: Weirdly enough

That's good!
In Britain, men used to wear "W-fronts." You'd want those.
With some wiggle-room.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at December 16, 2024 07:52 AM (zdLoL)

142 So... FBI has access to all these phone records, back-doored, of course.

And they can't do a single damned thing about all the fake spam and scam calls?

Posted by: Another Anon at December 16, 2024 07:54 AM (QNMaY)

143 122 I was fed on raw goats milk from 2wks old.
Posted by: jim (in hospital in Kalifornia) at December 16, 2024 07:08 AM (SSBCb)

Are you Greek?

Posted by: m at December 16, 2024 09:15 AM (VnUSN)

144 Anyone else getting the refresh - refresh - refresh - page error message browsing on a phone again?

Posted by: Advo at December 16, 2024 11:55 AM (jO4mz)

145 Hi Pixie

The site is broken for brave browser. Keeps reloading and turns my phone into something akin to a nuclear meltdown.

Just thought you would like to know!

Posted by: Justin Pinochet Castreau at December 16, 2024 12:36 PM (l5yVc)

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Posted by: embody at December 24, 2024 02:23 PM (UlKx5)

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