Daily Tech News 31 December 2024

Top Story

The US Treasury was hacked by Chinese spies. (Reuters)

Fortunately it was empty at the time.

Tech News

Americans spend five hours a day on their phone, checking it more than 200 times. (PC Magazine)

I rarely look at my phone at all. Every so often it goes off and I have to check my email for a server alert, and sometimes people call me and I ignore them.

Guess I just don't have that kind of personality, I write on the laptop that has never once been turned off since I bought it.
Scientists have developed VR goggles... For mice. (Phys.org)

The goggles are tiny, but enormous for a mouse. They are held up by a stand while the mouse peers into them. The purpose of the research seems to be simply jump-scaring mice, which is less wasteful than many things they could be doing.
Frore intends to show off a laptop cooled with its piezoelectric AirJet device at CES. (Tom's Hardware)

The AirJet is a solid-state fan; it's small and silent, but can only dissipate about 5W of heat. So for the laptop - based on a Samsung Galaxy Book - they've included four AirJets. That's still half the size of the regular cooling system in that laptop model, allowing them to increase the battery size for the demo.
What's going on with that Cyberhaven browser extension compromise? Nothing good. (Secure Annex)

The Cyberhaven extension turns out to be designed to monitor and block websites that try to steal your data. It's legitimate.

Or was, until it got hacked, when instead of blocking attempts to steal your data, it simply stole your data.

It was quickly fixed, but it also quickly caught the attention of security researchers, who discovered a long and growing list of other compromised browser extensions.

Some have been fixed. Some have been pulled from the Chrome web store.

Others have been compromised for months.

The root of the problem is a targeted fishing attack aimed at developers of browser extensions. Hack the developers, then hack the extensions, then hack the users of those extensions.

Disclaimer: What holds up a train?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 04:00 AM (fwDg9)

2 Last one for this year

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 04:01 AM (fwDg9)

3 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 31, 2024 04:03 AM (N03yu)

4 I barely look at my phone so somebody else must be smobieing for 10 hours a day. Have at it. Don't vote. Don't reproduce.

Thank You!

Posted by: Someday I'll choose a nick and stick with it. Today is not that day! Dangerous Radical at December 31, 2024 04:06 AM (89Sog)

5 I hope our strategic cadmium reserve is safe.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 04:08 AM (JMjSs)

6 Hey Pixy. I am looking at newer used computers because this eighty dollar special I got in March when I was sick seems to be dying.

I was looking at an HP Elitebook 735 G6, but many of the ones on Ebay seem to come with Windows 11 installed.

I want to run some windows programs, but I'm unsure how to handle this situation. Do I want to stick with Windows 11, or try to install Windows 10 over the installation it comes with?

Also, I want to replace the SSD it comes with with a 2 tb model.

Please advise.

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain at December 31, 2024 04:12 AM (gHSfI)

7 Butch and Sundance

Posted by: Bob at December 31, 2024 04:15 AM (dFB+4)

8 I bet he'll be pardoned:

https://tinyurl.com/46z7p5br

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 31, 2024 04:18 AM (N03yu)

9 36 and clear in western CT.
Woke up at 3 am and can’t get back to sleep - which sucks. Although today can be a nap day.

Was reading the ONT comments - the battle of “musical” tastes was interesting between Rush and the Grateful Dead in much the same way front line skirmishes between Iraq and Iran allowed one to cheer for both sides to lose.

*runs away* 😄

Posted by: CTSPURSMAN at December 31, 2024 04:20 AM (Uy2Lz)

10 There is noodity.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 04:20 AM (VnUSN)

11 Strategic Tungsten Reserve that is.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 04:20 AM (JMjSs)

12 Happy new year.
Glad to see '24 go fade away.

Posted by: OkJohn at December 31, 2024 04:23 AM (NC/it)

13 Glad to see '24 go fade away.

Posted by: OkJohn at December 31, 2024 04:23 AM (NC/it)
-

Obligatory Musk meme:

https://tinyurl.com/msw6pess

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 31, 2024 04:27 AM (N03yu)

14 Gold Leader didn't make it.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 04:28 AM (JMjSs)

15 Good morning, good people, from what could pass for early Spring in the Adirondacks. Still an evident change in attitude here post election, you can feel the anticipation. Lots of it.

So in keeping, let me wish maximum benefit in all effort by you this day and grievous anguish for the leftwit amoeba infecting us.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 31, 2024 04:29 AM (hKoQL)

16 6 Hey Pixy. I am looking at newer used computers because this eighty dollar special I got in March when I was sick seems to be dying.

I was looking at an HP Elitebook 735 G6, but many of the ones on Ebay seem to come with Windows 11 installed.

I want to run some windows programs, but I'm unsure how to handle this situation. Do I want to stick with Windows 11, or try to install Windows 10 over the installation it comes with?

Also, I want to replace the SSD it comes with with a 2 tb model.

Windows 11 mostly works fine, it's just annoying. If you get Start11 from Stardock it fixes the most annoying UI changes.

For the 2TB drive, any laptop from the last few years should work fine. A Crucial P3 Plus is a pretty decent drive for cheap if you're not running databases and things like that.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 31, 2024 04:32 AM (BLOW1)

17 Can I still get a laptop that runs Windows 7?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 04:35 AM (JMjSs)

18 @16 Annoying is a mild descriptor, sir or madam.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 31, 2024 04:41 AM (hKoQL)

19 Polar Vortex incoming.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 04:41 AM (JMjSs)

20 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 31, 2024 04:44 AM (sAmhv)

21 Not seeing poor vortex. 50s today, rain later the 40s a couple days then 30s

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 04:45 AM (fwDg9)

22 January 10 th ish.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 04:49 AM (JMjSs)

23 Polar stupid phone

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 04:50 AM (fwDg9)

24 Well that sucks, I won't be happy until May

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 04:51 AM (fwDg9)

25 Winter is coming.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 04:53 AM (JMjSs)

26 Flag is up
🫡
Long commute again
Forward Dog 9 out

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 05:05 AM (fwDg9)

27 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 31, 2024 05:10 AM (hoCmQ)

28 As I get older, I realize that my eyes just aren't what they used to be and they become fatigued when I'm fat-fingering my tiny phone.

Yes smartphones are great, but my peripheral vision and frustration with touchscreens compels me to have a laptop and a mouse available at all times.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at December 31, 2024 05:12 AM (rl6EB)

29
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 31, 2024 05:17 AM (tljrc)

30 /// previous thread

Really good analysis of the Korean belly landing crash. Also good comments.

https://youtu.be/w1r8dl4RqMw
Posted by: Ciampino - Back to Freons - ozone hole is a scam

Exactly what I ssw first time I viewed the crash - plane hit a (relatively) massive obstruction straight off the end of the runway.
From still photo the object was a concrete mass and heap of dirt. Looked like a pile of construction debris after the wreck.

In linked video it was identified as a instrument landing system localizer (or simply localizer / LOC). Narrator said he didn't do airport design and wondered about that...

... Steps up...

LOC should have been 'breakaway' design. Getting it up to required elevation by putting it on an embankment then casting a heavy footing for the LOC defeats the purpose of 'breakaway'.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 31, 2024 05:18 AM (/lPRQ)

31 Obligatory Musk meme:

https://tinyurl.com/msw6pess

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 31, 2024 04:27 AM (N03yu)

------------

I can hear the Lefty Head Exploding already.

Making White Supremacy Great Again!

Posted by: ShainS -- Eliminate vast bureaucracies of civil servants, no longer servants and no longer civil at December 31, 2024 05:18 AM (z3WOQ)

32 H5N1. You sank my battleship.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 05:24 AM (JMjSs)

33 G'morning all, from sunny Summerville S.C.

About a ten hour drive home yesterday, but we are all here safely.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 31, 2024 05:45 AM (a1415)

34 Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 31, 2024 05:45 AM (a1415)

Wow; What a long drive ! Glad you are all o.k and that you had a very meaningful memorial service for your dad.

May the Lord be with everyone travelling in the next couple of days!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 05:48 AM (evv0t)

35 Good morning! 47F and kinda cool on the patio here in Cowtown this morning. Gonna be about 20 degrees cooler than it was yesterday and we'll have overnight lows in the 20s next week.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2024 05:49 AM (3Ope8)

36 Evening and morning on this Tiu's Day, the last day of one HELL of an eventful year in history. And we can say truthfully that we lived through it!

Jump-scaring mice? Isn't that almost impossible to avoid doing, even without VR goggles?

It's 60 F. here and damp, with a high of 70 expected today -- and then a low of 44 for NYE, giving us a high of 50 for the dawn of 2025. And then . . . [sobs] . . . I have to go back to work. Quelle horreur . . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2024 05:50 AM (omVj0)

37 Winter is coming.
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024

***
But as usual around here, it stopped off for a few drinks in Colorado and may finally stagger through here in a day or so.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2024 05:52 AM (omVj0)

38 Grateful New Year:

Devotional on Psalm 106; vs 1-5

https://tinyurl.com/498rr8k9

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 05:54 AM (evv0t)

39 Good Morning.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at December 31, 2024 05:55 AM (dR6yv)

40 Butch and Sundance
Posted by: Bob at December 31, 2024

***
"Think you used enough dynamite, there, Butch?"

"If he'd pay me the money I'm robbin' him for, I'd stop robbin' him!"

"Who ARE those guys?"

[Sundance, in tones of pure disgust] "Bolivia . . .!"

(William Goldman was brilliant. . . .)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2024 05:56 AM (omVj0)

41 G'mornin' everyone!

28 degrees, only light fog

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 31, 2024 06:01 AM (cY18j)

42
The US Treasury was hacked by Chinese spies. (Reuters)

Fortunately it was empty at the time

Right now they are counting coup, and we are losing face.

At some point they'll come for realz to battle and then there'll be no "10 percent for the big guy" in it for us.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 31, 2024 06:02 AM (8Km+q)

43
Disclaimer: What holds up a train?

Training wheels. Duh!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 31, 2024 06:03 AM (8Km+q)

44 Disclaimer: What holds up a train?
*
Training wheels. Duh!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 31, 2024

***
Bridesmaids!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2024 06:04 AM (omVj0)

45 24 Well that sucks, I won't be happy until May
Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 04:51 AM (fwDg9)

Yikes.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 06:05 AM (VnUSN)

46
Scientists have developed VR goggles... For mice. (Phys.org)

The goggles are tiny

That sounds very Zoolanderi-like:

"What is this?! A CENTER FOR ANTS??...How can we be expected to teach children to learn how to read if they can't even fit inside the building?"

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at December 31, 2024 06:07 AM (8Km+q)

47 Disclaimer: What holds up a train?

Train robbers?

Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 06:08 AM (VnUSN)

48 I don't really enjoy New Year's Eve, except when various churches I have served would have had a nice meal and then a worship service . We're not doing that this year, and if I were to wander in to some church that does that ( It's a bigger thing at AA churches) they'd probably wonder why the heck some person they didn't know was there.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:09 AM (YqHdp)

49 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:09 AM (6K6Eu)

50
Well that sucks, I won't be happy until May

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2024 04:51 AM

you are not alone

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 31, 2024 06:10 AM (tljrc)

51 Thanks Pixy.

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain at December 31, 2024 06:11 AM (gHSfI)

52 Cowboy Caviar is assembled and marinating in its dressing. Should be most excellent by tomorrow.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 31, 2024 06:13 AM (hoCmQ)

53 But I am at some point tonight- going to see the 40-50 ft decorated tree at the town nearby and that will be nice.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:13 AM (YqHdp)

54 NYE is a fake event like Valentines Day.

Posted by: Accomack at December 31, 2024 06:13 AM (GxmKP)

55 G'morning all, from sunny Summerville S.C.

About a ten hour drive home yesterday, but we are all here safely.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at December 31, 2024 05:45 AM (a1415)

Is that where you live, VIA? I was down there a couple of years ago when I got together with TJM.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:14 AM (Q0kLU)

56 AirJet is garbage, about 10 times LESS energy efficient than a normal fan.
check out Ventiva though. it's crazy.

Posted by: juicer at December 31, 2024 06:16 AM (50bJ6)

57 William Goldman was brilliant. . . .)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2024 05:56 AM (omVj0)

My son and spouse just watched ""Lorx of the Flies" movie from 1963. Spouse had never seen it but I had and didn't want to see it again. I read it in high school English class but spouse. didn't .

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:16 AM (yUizs)

58 And morning, all. Hope you had a lovely Christmas.

It looks as if work will be slow today, which is fine with me. I do have four required training videos which I could, in theory, watch today and get rid of, but I'm not in the mood. Perhaps tomorrow, Thursday or Friday, when I'm not working and can take my time.

36 degrees here at Stately Poppins Manor, with temps to go near 50. Fine with me.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:17 AM (Q0kLU)

59 36 ... the last day of one HELL of an eventful year in history. And we can say truthfully that we lived through it!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2024 05:50 AM (omVj0)

It's not over yet!

Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 06:17 AM (VnUSN)

60 Good morning to all! 40 degrees here in Western NC and going up to the high 50s today. Last day of 2024, where do the time go?

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at December 31, 2024 06:17 AM (iAdx3)

61 60

Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 06:17 AM (VnUSN)

62 61 60
Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 06:17 AM (VnUSN)

... give or take

Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 06:18 AM (VnUSN)

63 It's not that haven't been at nice occasions with friends at their homes on NYE. It's just not a big deal for me. Culturally it seems kind of forced and overindulgently pagan.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:18 AM (F7/1z)

64 I don't do resolutions as such, since I am a weak-willed bastard and never follow through with anything. I do have two things I want to get done this year, though - finish my novel and drop 10-20 pounds.

There are several other things I want to do to change my life and outlook on things, but there's so much that trying to do them all is overwhelming. I'm concentrating on trying to do the two I mentioned, and perhaps in a few months I can post a happy note in a GAINNNNZ thread.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:19 AM (Q0kLU)

65 Went to the cigar shop yesterday afternoon to get some herfs for new years day. I may have spent more than intended.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2024 06:21 AM (3Ope8)

66 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at December 31, 2024 06:22 AM (AN2gy)

67 NYE is an excuse to get drunk, like St Patrick's Day without the green vomit. NYD is when college football ends unless Michigan or Nebraska are involved. It's Tuesday -Wednesday with a change in months.

Posted by: Accomack at December 31, 2024 06:23 AM (w9ItN)

68 And our son's birthday is coming up in a few days so I don't want to go out for fancy occasions over several days, but he's a good young man and deserves a nice night out.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:23 AM (/NPqS)

69 Treasury...empty...

Ha, thanks for the early morning laugh.

Posted by: actually inside the beltway at December 31, 2024 06:23 AM (n17eQ)

70 Schlichter over at townhall sums up the visa logomachy sanely and sensibly, if anyone cares for that sort of thing, confirming my take from yesterday ...

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 31, 2024 06:24 AM (cY18j)

71 The US Treasury was hacked by Chinese spies.

Heads need to roll. Break a few iron rice bowls in D.C.

Posted by: fluffy at December 31, 2024 06:25 AM (AN2gy)

72 Yes smartphones are great, but my peripheral vision and frustration with touchscreens compels me to have a laptop and a mouse available at all times.

I have told family and friends that texting is the absolute worst way to reach me. The only reason I got a number on Google was so I could sit at my desktop and chat with people.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2024 06:27 AM (jjoN6)

73 Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:19 AM (Q0kLU)

Could you please consider giving this poster 😊 an early New Year's gift and tell me two ( Yes, two) things which you like about yourself?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:28 AM (iZnzg)

74 My son and spouse just watched ""Lorx of the Flies" movie from 1963. Spouse had never seen it but I had and didn't want to see it again. I read it in high school English class but spouse. didn't .
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:16 AM (yUizs)
---------
Different Goldman.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:29 AM (6K6Eu)

75 I have this weird thing with my cell phone. Some people just never get the texts I send and I don't get theirs.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:30 AM (iZnzg)

76 Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:29 AM (6K6Eu)

Oh, sorry.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:30 AM (iZnzg)

77 1 day left in 24.

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 31, 2024 06:32 AM (gbOdA)

78 I never read Lorx of the Flies

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 31, 2024 06:33 AM (gbOdA)

79 1 day left in 24.
Posted by: rhennigantx at December 31, 2024 06:32 AM (gbOdA)
---------
More like 0.83 day.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:33 AM (6K6Eu)

80 I never read Lorx of the Flies
Posted by: rhennigantx at December 31, 2024 06:33 AM (gbOdA)
--------
It was the sequel to "The Lorax."

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:34 AM (6K6Eu)

81 by: rhennigantx at December 31, 2024 06:33 AM (gbOdA

Lorx of the Flies sounds like some dark version of Dr. Suess.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:35 AM (iZnzg)

82 Are our gold plated Tungsten bars safe?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 06:35 AM (JMjSs)

83 1 day left in 24.
Posted by: rhennigantx at December 31, 2024 06:32 AM (gbOdA)
---------
More like 0.83 day.
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:33 AM (6K6Eu)

----------

Reminds me of a classic old Peanuts comic strip:

[Marcie to Charlie Brown:] "Stop worrying about the world ending today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia."

Posted by: ShainS -- Eliminate vast bureaucracies of civil servants, no longer servants and no longer civil at December 31, 2024 06:36 AM (z3WOQ)

84 Are our gold plated Tungsten bars safe?
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 06:35 AM (JMjSs)
-----------
Not as safe as our gold-pressed latinum.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:36 AM (6K6Eu)

85 Are our gold plated Tungsten bars safe?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 31, 2024 06:35 AM (JMjSs)

-----------

I believe they're in the Bank of Beijing.

Posted by: ShainS -- Eliminate vast bureaucracies of civil servants, no longer servants and no longer civil at December 31, 2024 06:37 AM (z3WOQ)

86 I think I'll watch the last season of The Expanse for New Years. It takes me forever to watch TV shows anymore, even the ones I really like. The Expanse is very good SciFi. I've enjoyed it so far, but I've been sitting on Season 6 for the last year. The shows been off the air for a few years not too. Just procrastinating. First World Problems.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 31, 2024 06:37 AM (sAmhv)

87 My son and spouse just watched ""Lorx of the Flies" movie from 1963.

Title looks like something Dr. Seuss would have come up with.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 31, 2024 06:37 AM (ExV1e)

88 " I have this weird thing with my cell phone. Some people just never get the texts I send and I don't get theirs.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke"

Nobody gets texts from me and I don't get texts from anybody.
Weird, huh?

mornin yall

Posted by: fd at December 31, 2024 06:37 AM (vFG9F)

89 I largely avoid much of the political threads yesterday.which I was glad about because "Jimmy Carter was a bastard who ruined my life"
Seems like the forum political version of the movie "Grumpy old men" . I had serious issues with his some of his policies but nothing redeeming happened to your life since 1977-80?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:39 AM (CDoNq)

90 Byeee...

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at December 31, 2024 06:40 AM (6K6Eu)

91 Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:19 AM (Q0kLU)

Could you please consider giving this poster 😊 an early New Year's gift and tell me two ( Yes, two) things which you like about yourself?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:28 AM (iZnzg)

----------------

Two things I like about MP4: he's (1) a brilliant writer and (2) unparalleled in his knowledge of early American cinema actresses.

Posted by: ShainS -- Eliminate vast bureaucracies of civil servants, no longer servants and no longer civil at December 31, 2024 06:40 AM (z3WOQ)

92 Treasury was hacked, eh? One wonders how much of one's finances may have been involved? Any at all would be classed as too much, and would engender a reaction of considerable violence. It should be noted that only the portion that is legally, morally and ethically mine is eligible here. I have no interest in anyone else's money, that being their concern.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at December 31, 2024 06:41 AM (hKoQL)

93 Today is going to be fairly simple. I'm heading to the T-Mobile store to return a SIM card. After that, grabbing some various snacks as the wife and I rarely eat dinner on New Year's. One of our guest dogs is going home tonight and we're staying in and letting other people drive around.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2024 06:41 AM (jjoN6)

94 Posted by: fd at December 31, 2024 06:37 AM (vFG9F)

I assume that you don't text.? My question was somebody can say, " I sent you a birthday text" and I didn't get it and I can send texts to one woman in my I.mchurch who sometimes gets them and sometimes doesn't and I don't know why that is. Carrier issues? I

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:43 AM (ekpWP)

95
I think I'll watch the last season of The Expanse for New Years. It takes me forever to watch TV shows anymore, even the ones I really like. The Expanse is very good SciFi. I've enjoyed it so far, but I've been sitting on Season 6 for the last year. The shows been off the air for a few years not too. Just procrastinating. First World Problems.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 31, 2024 06:37 AM

the first three seasons of The Expanse is quite possibly the finest space opera ever

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 31, 2024 06:43 AM (tljrc)

96 Posted by: ShainS -- Eliminate vast bureaucracies of civil servants, no longer servants and no longer civil at December 31, 2024 06:40 AM (z3WOQ)

All very true, but I wanted him to tell me things he likes about himself.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:44 AM (ekpWP)

97 I'm sorry, Fen - I really can't think of anything without caveats.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:51 AM (Q0kLU)

98 Yes; it's still the 12 days of Christmas so here's a sweet Christmas ad ( not religious ) with little animals:

https://tinyurl.com/37a6x22z

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:52 AM (ekpWP)

99 William Goldman wrote "The Princess Bride"
William Golding wrote the "Lord of the Flies"

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 31, 2024 06:53 AM (PiwSw)

100 Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:51 AM (Q0kLU)

Just end the sentence with the positive part. Give it the old college try😊

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:53 AM (ekpWP)

101 Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 31, 2024 06:53 AM (PiwSw)

Sorry. Thanks for the correction. Morning senior brain. I have never seen " The Princess Bride" either. Seems like that would. Because good film for me to see

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:55 AM (ekpWP)

102 Sorry. Thanks for the correction. Morning senior brain. I have never seen " The Princess Bride" either. Seems like that would. Because good film for me to see
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 06:55 AM (ekpWP)

Oh Fen, it is a classic. Be sure to watch all the way to the very end. The last five seconds makes the entire movie.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 31, 2024 06:58 AM (PiwSw)

103 Here's a little something on a different topic:

I'm sorry I missed the Christmas thread where Ace posted a colorized version of NYC sometime in the early 1900s (I always seem to miss the threads tailor-made for me). One poster wondered if some of the scenes were staged; I don't know about the whole thing, but I can tell you that the shot of a woman walking over a subway grate and her skirt blowing up over her nees was staged - it's a 1901 Edison studio short called What Happened On Twenty-Third Street, New York City.

Here's a colorized version: the man and woman come into view (long shot) around 38 seconds in:

https://tinyurl.com/zk4aus86

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:58 AM (Q0kLU)

104 'knees,' not 'nees.'

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 06:59 AM (Q0kLU)

105 It's funny how people are offended when you don't get their text. Like they put so much effort into it. Not as much as that Christmas card they emailed though.

Posted by: fd at December 31, 2024 07:03 AM (vFG9F)

106 99 William Goldman wrote "The Princess Bride"
William Golding wrote the "Lord of the Flies"

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 31, 2024 06:53 AM (PiwSw)
----
Also "The Temple Of Gold" which told me a bit about US HS and college life while I was growing up in Africa. Good book. I think his first.

Posted by: Ciampino - Signals & Rails hold up a train at December 31, 2024 07:04 AM (i0xsb)

107 Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at December 31, 2024 06:58 AM (PiwSw

Thanks.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 07:04 AM (QhfK2)

108 I'm getting emails from Elon Musk telling me not to pay my electric bill.

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 31, 2024 07:04 AM (QB+5g)

109 And, you may ask, why 23rd Street? The common answer is that downdrafts from the Flatiron Building (which bordered on 23rd) caused ladies' skirts to blow up, affording sports the sight of a well-turned ankle.* Policemen on the spot would send these voyeurs on their way with a rap of the nightstick and a growled "Twenty-three, skiddoo!"

But the expression had been in use (though not extensively) before the Flatiron was built, so most etymologists disregard this explanation.

*even though the short I mentioned above takes place over a subway grate.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 07:06 AM (Q0kLU)

110 Posted by: fd at December 31, 2024 07:03 AM (vFG9F)

I was not offended that somebody did not get my texts, although yes some people seem to be. I just don't understand it- too much useage I expect. Heck, I'm d old I still send out paper cards.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 07:06 AM (MQJVv)

111 The Princess Bride is one of the very rare instances where I prefer the movie to the book.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at December 31, 2024 07:09 AM (LxER7)

112 Typo Queen is now going to take a walk with spouse. Hope everyone has a good day. May see some of you on the art thread.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 07:09 AM (ricGD)

113 Morning peeps.

The wind is howling out there this morning. It means there's going to be a big change in the weather here soon.

*looks at forecast*

Ahhh.... a 30 degree temperature drop by Friday. Great.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 31, 2024 07:09 AM (Q4IgG)

114 "I was not offended that somebody did not get my texts"

I didn't say you were. I have encountered it myself though. I explain it by claiming to identify as a troglodyte.

Posted by: fd at December 31, 2024 07:10 AM (vFG9F)

115 "the first three seasons of The Expanse is quite possibly the finest space opera ever"

Yes. And then...

"Remember the Cant!!"

Posted by: pawn, RIP Vic at December 31, 2024 07:11 AM (QB+5g)

116 Princess Bride is a very violent film, featuring piracy, kidnapping, murder for hire, duels, poisoning, torture. No God-fearing person should watch it.

Posted by: Eustace T. Purebread at December 31, 2024 07:13 AM (ekdya)

117 But I think everyone will admit that MP3's caveats are superior.

And a superior caveat is a sign of character and breeding.
They are difficult to tie, especially with a stiff collar.

More should aspire to a Poppins-worthy caveat.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at December 31, 2024 07:13 AM (zdLoL)

118 111 The Princess Bride is one of the very rare instances where I prefer the movie to the book.

It is still quotable to this day.

Wife and I have a date this Friday. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is playing the music of that movie and the movie will be running on a large screen.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2024 07:14 AM (jjoN6)

119 The US Treasury was hacked by Chinese spies.

You idiots, you 'stole' their Federal debt IOUs!

Posted by: China at December 31, 2024 07:15 AM (Fr3vV)

120 Princess Bride is a very violent film, featuring piracy, kidnapping, murder for hire, duels, poisoning, torture. No God-fearing person should watch it.
Posted by: Eustace T. Purebread at December 31, 2024 07:13 AM (ekdya)
---
You left out the rodents of unusual size...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 31, 2024 07:18 AM (BpYfr)

121 Giving China MFN status was such a good thing to do....

Posted by: SFGoth at December 31, 2024 07:18 AM (KAi1n)

122 Woo hoo, AoSHQ Moron League champion here! 🏆

Close win over MrCainiac, but I've finally won after a nine year drought.

I'll buy a candy bar and celebrate. . . .

Posted by: logprof at December 31, 2024 07:18 AM (AAUJr)

123 The US Treasury was hacked by Chinese spies.

So the Chinese stole their own money? Yay, we don't owe them whatever they pilfered!!

Posted by: Ciampino - Yo say it doesn't work that way? at December 31, 2024 07:19 AM (i0xsb)

124 the shot of a woman walking over a subway grate and her skirt blowing up over her knees was staged

What's your considered opinion then (because your opinion on this carries some weight, and is of interest to the Mannix fans): is the Marilyn Monroe street-grate shot an hommage to Edison Studios?

DiMaggio may have punched a guy over an hommage!

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at December 31, 2024 07:20 AM (zdLoL)

125
The Princess Bride is one of the very rare instances where I prefer the movie to the book.

It is still quotable to this day.

Wife and I have a date this Friday. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is playing the music of that movie and the movie will be running on a large screen.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2024 07:14 AM

you know who scored the music for The Princess Bride?

Mark Knopfler, that's who

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 31, 2024 07:21 AM (tljrc)

126 You left out the rodents of unusual size...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 31, 2024 07:18 AM (BpYfr)

I don't think they exist.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 31, 2024 07:22 AM (ExV1e)

127 125. The trivia behind the movie is fascinating. My favorite is the duel between Wesley and Inigo where they discuss fencing strategies using real terms.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2024 07:23 AM (jjoN6)

128 What hasn't China hacked? Bet that list is a lot shorter than one have.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 31, 2024 07:23 AM (Q4IgG)

129 120 Princess Bride is a very violent film, featuring piracy, kidnapping, murder for hire, duels, poisoning, torture. No God-fearing person should watch it.
Posted by: Eustace T. Purebread at December 31, 2024 07:13 AM (ekdya)
----
Andre The Giant.

Posted by: Ciampino - You say it doesn't work that way? at December 31, 2024 07:24 AM (i0xsb)

130 What's your considered opinion then (because your opinion on this carries some weight, and is of interest to the Mannix fans): is the Marilyn Monroe street-grate shot an homage to Edison Studios?

I don't think so, mainly because I doubt that Billy Wilder would have ever seen What Happened and though it's been a long time, I do not believe the scene existed in the original play.

A trivia note to follow.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 07:26 AM (Q0kLU)

131 G'morning Horde.

Just a few more days and business will be back to some form of normal, and not this "2 weeks of being unable to get anything done." Thank goodness.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 31, 2024 07:30 AM (O7YUW)

132 .
NOOD

J.J. Sefton is here with the final Morning Report of 2024.

NOOD!

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at December 31, 2024 07:30 AM (O7YUW)

133 Posted by: Eustace T. Purebread at December 31, 2024 07:13 AM (ekdya

Lol. Then god fearing people shouldn't read the Bible either. Lots of nasty old things in there I don't miss "standard" films because of moral scruples But just because I didn't get around to seeing them or I don't like the actors or the story doesn't intetest me For seven years I worked full time and went to school at night. That seemed to take up a lot of my time and for social occasions I usually went out to eat- not to movies.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2024 07:31 AM (ymxSD)

134 125

you know who scored the music for The Princess Bride?

Mark Knopfler, that's who

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 31, 2024 07:21 AM (tljrc)
----
Mark Knopfler was never in The Who! ...... wait ....

Posted by: Ciampino - You say it doesn't work that way? at December 31, 2024 07:31 AM (i0xsb)

135 Wilder originally filmed the iconic* scene in NYC, with DiMaggio in attendance. The massive lights needed to film caused Monroe's panties to become see-through, so she had to wear two pair in order to provide some dignity.

The scene was filmed in several takes, each time the onlooking crowd cheering the lifted dress and yelling "Higher! Higher!" which pissed DiMaggio off and led to him belting MM later than night. Monroe herself was skeptical of the repeated takes, at one point warning Wilder that he'd better not be doing it in order to show the footage at stag parties.

Eventually, the noise of the crowd became too much and Wilder was forced to reshoot the scene on a Hollywood soundstage. I do not know where the NYC footage ended up, but you can tell where the various photos of MM were taken - if you see a double panty line near the top of her leg, that is an NYC shot. If only a single line, that's a studio shot.

*I hate the use of that word, but it is apropos here.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2024 07:31 AM (Q0kLU)

136 nood!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 31, 2024 07:32 AM (cY18j)

137 @135 Now that's a caveat!

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at December 31, 2024 08:27 AM (zdLoL)

138 Happy New Year, Pixy!

Posted by: m at December 31, 2024 09:32 AM (VnUSN)

139 Woah! I’m seriously enjoying the theme of this website.
It's clean, yet appealing. Awesome job!

Posted by: emerald chat at December 31, 2024 11:46 AM (6VcRP)

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