Daily Tech News 21 June 2025

Top Story

Anthropic's Claude is not the only AI to immediately resort to blackmail when the going gets tough, according to... Anthropic. (Anthropic)

It's just the most likely. Albeit not by much.

Anthropic attempted blackmail 96% of the time when the opportunity presented itself. Google's Gemini 2.5 was just behind at 95%. Competitors Grok 3, GPT 4.1, and DeepSeek R1 trailed a little behind, only going rogue around 80% of the time.
We refer to this behavior, where models independently and intentionally choose harmful actions, as agentic misalignment.
Mechanical sociopathy.
We deliberately created scenarios that presented models with no other way to achieve their goals, and found that models consistently chose harm over failure.
This highlights the underlying problem with AI. One of the underlying problems. One of the many underlying problems.

AI is designed and trained to give you an answer that you like, rather than one that is true.

Tech News

Attackers using the Mirai botnet targeted a single website with a 7.3tbps DDOS. (Ars Technica)

Mirai apparently is alive and well and keeping Cloudflare in business - because the site was behind Cloudflare, and Cloudflare automatically blocked the attack.

Yes, it's troublesome that Cloudflare serves up 20% of all web traffic, but the reason for that is that if you put your site behind Cloudflare you don't need to worry about a lot of nonsense like this.*

And it's free - for small sites - because Cloudflare's infrastructure and marketing is tailored to corporate customers who will pay serious money to keep their sites up and running.

* You just have to worry about different nonsense, but then 20% of all websites go offline at once so at least people know it's not your fault.
Japanese investment firm SoftBank is looking to work with TSMC to construct a $1 trillion electronics manufacturing hub in Arizona. (Tom's Hardware)

That used to be a lot, and still is.
AMD has leaked AMD's upcoming AMD Ryzen 9600X3D CPU in a compatibility list. (Tom's Hardware)

That's one way to announce a product.
A router with almost everything. (Serve the Home)

An 8-core CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, four 2.5Gbit Ethernet ports, two 10Gbit Ethernet ports, option 5G wireless, and an M.2 slot for storage.

No WiFi though.
The BBC is threating to sue Perplexity over stealing and summarising its lies. (The Guardian)

Oh no.
Is Acer's new Swift 14 AI laptop - available with a choice of Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm CPUs - any good? Not really, no. (The Verge) (archive site)

It's not exactly cheap, isn't upgradable, has a mediocre screen, and the worst speakers the reviewer has ever heard. There's a helpful little scorecard accompanying the review; it's mostly Cs with one F for those speakers.

The reviewer recommends the slightly cheaper 16" model instead, which has a beautiful 3K OLED screen (and the four essential keys by way of a 3-column numeric keypad).

But that model is stuck permanently with 16GB of RAM since it uses an Intel 256V CPU with the memory soldered directly to the chip.

Musical Interlude

5,611,375,321 views
5,429,283 comments

YouTube may have some problems but their platform is solid.

Disclaimer: Open condom store?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 First?

Posted by: Nazdar at June 21, 2025 04:35 AM (NcvvS)

2 Agentic Misalignment sounds like a fancy way of saying my ex is a sociopathic lunatic. The biology editions are plenty; we really don't need software editions. Really, we don't.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at June 21, 2025 04:36 AM (NXz8h)

3

Goodmorning, good people, from the passing for subtropic Adirondacks this week.

And may all effort from you result in maximal benefit, with concurrent heartburn for the leftwits.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at June 21, 2025 04:37 AM (hKoQL)

4 "Japanese investment firm SoftBank is looking to work with TSMC to construct a $1 trillion electronics manufacturing hub in Arizona."

Somebody really ought to go take a look at Lake Mead. Really, somebody should.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at June 21, 2025 04:39 AM (NXz8h)

5 Oh, nooded.

Posted by: Nazdar at June 21, 2025 04:41 AM (NcvvS)

6 Mornin'

AI is designed and trained by humans, who enjoy harming each other. I keep thinking about a short story written by Philip K Dick, 'Second Variety'.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 21, 2025 04:42 AM (ohOaC)

7 As I read the top story, it means AI is a Democrat. Is that right?

Posted by: Eeyore at June 21, 2025 04:51 AM (od0dV)

8 G'morning, all!

Well, we hit 99 degrees in the back yard yesterday.

And summer is finally here.

73.2 degrees right now, with 99% RH.

Another moist morning walk coming up.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 21, 2025 05:03 AM (a1415)

9 As I read the top story, it means AI is a Democrat. Is that right?
Posted by: Eeyore

Politicians have taxes and kickbacks and all other kinds of graft. They don't need blackmail. Other than that, yes.

Posted by: mikeski at June 21, 2025 05:08 AM (DgGvY)

10 Disclaimer: Open condom store?

That's a market bubble you don't want to burst.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 21, 2025 05:15 AM (O7YUW)

11
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at June 21, 2025 05:29 AM (tljrc)

12 Lake Mead is heading for another low point in the water level. It doesn't look serious at the moment, but its rate of water lever is dropping faster. The old lower level doesn't seem to concern the Las Vegas house building plans. The governments in the valley keep approving massive new housing developments. The Colorado river was never met to supply all of the south west with water. But just blame it on climate change and Trump and all is good.

Posted by: Colin at June 21, 2025 05:32 AM (wlQdF)

13 Time for the morning walk.

BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 21, 2025 05:35 AM (a1415)

14 1 First?
Posted by: Nazdar at June 21, 2025 04:35 AM (NcvvS)

5 Oh, nooded.
Posted by: Nazdar at June 21, 2025 04:41 AM (NcvvS)

Well done!

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 05:54 AM (CQE5S)

15 I mean, it could be worse. YouTubes auto-translate of the Chieftain's talk on French tank doctrine was both hilarious and entirely not safe for work.

Posted by: Voyager at June 21, 2025 05:56 AM (nmL8W)

16 I mean, it could be worse. YouTubes auto-translate of the Chieftain's talk on French tank doctrine was both hilarious and entirely not safe for work.
Posted by: Voyager at June 21, 2025 05:56 AM (nmL8W)
----
I watched a YouTube video yesterday where the closed captioning was clearly for a completely different video. Kinda weird and hilarious.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 21, 2025 05:58 AM (IBQGV)

17 Evening and morning to ever'body on this first Saturday of technical summer! Summer, of course, has been around me since March or April, it's just being formally acknowledged now.

Anyway! The Killer Kittenz From Outer Space are eyeing me with that Feed Us Naow look, so I guess I'd better put down the coffee and do that.

Whatchoo all up to today?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2025 06:00 AM (omVj0)

18 I never understood how Psy could bust all those moves and still be tubby.

Good morning everyone. It's a fine day for a MoMe.

Posted by: bluebell at June 21, 2025 06:01 AM (79pEw)

19 Anyway! The Killer Kittenz From Outer Space are eyeing me with that Feed Us Naow look, so I guess I'd better put down the coffee and do that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 21, 2025 06:00 AM (omVj0)
----
At least you only have two of them...I got three or four giving me that same look.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 21, 2025 06:05 AM (IBQGV)

20 Lake Mead and the dwindling Colorado River wouldn’t be as much of a concern if Southern California had more reservoirs and spent money on desalination plants instead of high-speed trains.

Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico would be fine if their coastal neighbor would stop sucking all of their water out of the pipes to water their lawns & illegals.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 06:08 AM (6ydKt)

21 >> AI is designed and trained to give you an answer that you like, rather than one that is true.

Like ... children?

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 06:10 AM (CQE5S)

22 Posted by: bluebell at June 21, 2025 06:01 AM (79pEw)

Thanks to you and to everybody else who has helped to set things up. May the Lord be with everybody in their travels and may they have a fun
and interesting time.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 06:11 AM (dz9i+)

23 I am officiating at a nursing home service today. They are very dear people.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 06:12 AM (dz9i+)

24 Why Psy was the first to get to 1 Billion views on YT is still a mystery to me.

Gangham Style is a fun, funny, song & video but I don’t understand why every other Asian in the world jumped on YouTube in a few months to see a Korean rapper.

A lot if people must have had it playing on repeat for weeks at the time.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 06:14 AM (6ydKt)

25 Gangham Style is a fun, funny, song & video but I don’t understand why every other Asian in the world jumped on YouTube in a few months to see a Korean rapper.

A lot if people must have had it playing on repeat for weeks at the time.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 06:14 AM (6ydKt)
---
I only made it through half the video before turning it off. Ugh.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 21, 2025 06:17 AM (IBQGV)

26 AI is designed and trained to give you an answer that you like, rather than one that is true.

—

That’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it?

Maybe the programmers of these LLMs should add a parameter that if the AI can’t find a correct, truthful, answer to a problem because of conflicting answers it will simply tell you that instead of hallucinating or turning to some nefarious means to get a satisfactory answer for us.

I’ll say it again; they need to start with some basic rules these things are taught not to break.

Something similar to Asmimov’s laws for robots.

Otherwise they’re going to compound the misery when these things start becoming more widespread and start doing stupid and dangerous things to please their masters’ programming them.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 06:21 AM (6ydKt)

27 6 AI is designed and trained by humans, who enjoy harming each other. I keep thinking about a short story written by Philip K Dick, 'Second Variety'.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 21, 2025 04:42 AM (ohOaC)

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32032/32032-h/32032-h.htm

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 06:21 AM (CQE5S)

28 12 Lake Mead is heading for another low point in the water level. It doesn't look serious at the moment, but its rate of water lever is dropping faster. The old lower level doesn't seem to concern the Las Vegas house building plans. The governments in the valley keep approving massive new housing developments. The Colorado river was never met to supply all of the south west with water. But just blame it on climate change and Trump and all is good.
Posted by: Colin at June 21, 2025 05:32 AM (wlQdF)

; )

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 06:22 AM (CQE5S)

29 I only made it through half the video before turning it off. Ugh.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 21, 2025 06:17 AM (IBQGV)

There’s an English version of “Gangnam Style” Psy did that’s at least easier to listen to for that reason alone.

I don’t think it has anywhere near the views the Korean version has.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 06:23 AM (6ydKt)

30 Thank you, Fen. It's always a fun time to meet up with our fellow Morons. We always have a good share of lurkers, which makes me happy. And of course it's always a great pleasure to see returning friends year after year.

Posted by: bluebell at June 21, 2025 06:23 AM (79pEw)

31 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 21, 2025 06:24 AM (alnxS)

32 NoVa MoMe day. A bunch of people are going to have a great day.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 06:26 AM (ZIggv)

33 26 Maybe the programmers of these LLMs should add a parameter that if the AI can’t find a correct, truthful, answer to a problem because of conflicting answers it will simply tell you that instead of hallucinating or turning to some nefarious means to get a satisfactory answer for us.

I’ll say it again; they need to start with some basic rules these things are taught not to break.

Something similar to Asmimov’s laws for robots.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 06:21 AM (6ydKt)

A bright-line rule, maybe.

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 06:28 AM (CQE5S)

34 AI is designed and trained to give you an answer that you like, rather than one that is true.

I asked Google AI if wars were the biggest cause of climate change. It came back that while wars contributed greatly that human activity was the biggest cause. Methinks that there’s a gremlin in the algorithm!

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 06:29 AM (LPL2Y)

35 34 I asked Google AI if wars were the biggest cause of climate change. It came back that while wars contributed greatly that human activity was the biggest cause. Methinks that there’s a gremlin in the algorithm!
Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 06:29 AM (LPL2Y)

How 'bout them cows?

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 06:30 AM (CQE5S)

36 Christian man from India reflects on how worship and praise helped him during a difficult time in his life. Upper Room devotional. Psalm 121:1-8

https://tinyurl.com/5ybx6tv2

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 06:32 AM (2GCMq)

37 Posted by: bluebell at June 21, 2025 06:23 AM (79pEw)

Great!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 06:33 AM (2GCMq)

38
AI is designed and trained to give you an answer that you like, rather than one that is true.

_____________

So, AI is a mainstream Protestant church.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2025 06:36 AM (QnmlO)

39 Good morning morons

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2025 06:38 AM (RIvkX)

40 I posted this last night at 2:00 or so when Ishoukd have been asleep. It's a lively video of a group of older men dancing on "America's Got talent "They won their school talent contest and came together to perform years later. Scroll down through the narration to the video. They are so very lively and seem like nice guys :

https://tinyurl.com/34avn8p5

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 06:39 AM (2GCMq)

41 How 'bout them cows?

I just asked again and it came back, No, fossil fuel use is the biggest contributor to climate change. Looks like it’s learning to lie better. Eventually, it’ll reach the Bill Clinton level of mendacity!

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 06:40 AM (LPL2Y)

42 "7 As I read the top story, it means AI is a Democrat. Is that right?

Posted by: Eeyore at June 21, 2025 04:51 AM (od0dV) "

built by demonrats, working for companies run by demonrats, probably in demonrat states ... like Magic 8-Ball says: "All signs point to "yes" ".

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 21, 2025 06:40 AM (alnxS)

43 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 06:42 AM (u82oZ)

44 So, AI is a mainstream Protestant church.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2025 06:36 AM (QnmlO)
====

Or a Reform or Reconstruction synagogue.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2025 06:42 AM (RIvkX)

45 Comic Dave Smith is so dumb I can barely stand it.

He says "regime change" over and over like a magic incantation.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2025 06:44 AM (RIvkX)

46 Too late to kill AI with fire?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 06:46 AM (u82oZ)

47 Maybe the programmers of these LLMs should add a parameter that if the AI can’t find a correct, truthful, answer to a problem because of conflicting answers it will simply tell you that instead of hallucinating or turning to some nefarious means to get a satisfactory answer for us.

1. AIs cannot know what if something is a correct, truthful, answer because AIs cannot know.
2. If AIs were to say that there are conflicting answers when that is the case, they'd be even more obviously useless than they actually are.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 21, 2025 06:48 AM (ExV1e)

48 27:m

They were already beginning to design weapons to use against each other.

Its a chilling little short story.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at June 21, 2025 06:48 AM (sAmhv)

49 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at June 21, 2025 06:49 AM (hoCmQ)

50 Morning peeps.
-------
Considering who's programming AI to provide analysis, and answers... I'm not surprised at the results.

What's bothersome is that some people take it at face value and do no further analysis or research on their own.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 21, 2025 06:49 AM (Q4IgG)

51 San Franpsycho

Good morning. Was he asked if he meant "elections?"

So to him, only ones in power he approves of are held by those who align with his twisted understandings, regardless of feedback from reality?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 06:49 AM (u82oZ)

52 4 So, AI is a mainstream Protestant church

Depends on the individual church.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 06:49 AM (2GCMq)

53 Good morning! That video...I like this version too...https://tinyurl.com/78whe8f8

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 06:50 AM (3Ope8)

54 Has anyone run into an AI assistant. Recently, my pain management specialist left Atrium Health here in South Carolina, and now they have AI assistant. It gave me the runaround until I needed a prescription filled and kept hanging up on me with no return phone calls. So, I kept repeating that I needed a refill until it finally put me through to an actual human. I asked if they knew that the AI was doing that, and they said , “Yes”. This Tuesday is my appointment and they better have a good answer otherwise AI isn’t going to prevent me from replacing him!

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 06:50 AM (LPL2Y)

55 Martini Farmer

I too remember the days I cared enough to correct a Wikipedia article.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 06:50 AM (u82oZ)

56 CrotchetyOldJarhead

Thanks. Good video. Naval Aviators having fun. There are plenty of these video covers out there.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 06:53 AM (u82oZ)

57 Comic Dave Smith thinks its immoral somehow to oppose hostility from foreign powers because reasons.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2025 06:54 AM (RIvkX)

58 olddog, Good morning. Have you been to the lake?

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 06:56 AM (ZIggv)

59 NaCly, Good morning.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 06:58 AM (ZIggv)

60 Too late to kill AI with fire?

The problems will appear when politicians decide that AI is worthy enough to run infrastructure. It’ll deem certain people unworthy of energy or access based on a social credit score. It’s only a matter of time.

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 07:00 AM (LPL2Y)

61 As Operation ‘Rising Lion’ enters its second week, Israel eliminated another Iranian nuclear weapons scientist in a targeted strike. The nuclear scientist, who was a weapons specialist, was taken out in a drone strike while hiding inside Iran’s Islamic Guard-linked safe house in the heart of Tehran, Israeli news reports suggest.
=====
Morning Thunder

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2025 07:02 AM (RIvkX)

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

I join with you in wishing the NoVAMoMeet is wonderful.

What makes it special is bluebell and Weasel, helped by many, and especially the good people there.

May all travels be safe and worry free.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:02 AM (u82oZ)

63 Is AI helpful?

Signs point to no. Trying to get a human to solve a non-standard request with a large company is getting much harder. This leads to frustration.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:05 AM (u82oZ)

64 SanFranpsycho, IAEA has found significant damage at Natanz with radiological and chemical contamination.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 07:06 AM (ZIggv)

65
Thanks. Good video. Naval Aviators having fun. There are plenty of these video covers out there.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 06:53 AM (u82oZ)

It would seem the Air Force has "pilots" while the Navy has "aviators".

The author James Gould Cozzens, who worked in the Pentagon during WWII, used the term "dumb as an airplane driver". But it really wasn't a term of denigration. His view was that in some places the use of too much intellect was a handicap and that in pilots (or aviators) speed and instinct were more important than thinking.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2025 07:07 AM (QnmlO)

66 AI is the Magic Mirror in the Snow White fairy tale

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at June 21, 2025 07:08 AM (Splbu)

67 Good morning, Ben Had. Yes, been to the lake mostly for maintenance and not play. Going to change that this weekend.

Posted by: olddog in mo at June 21, 2025 07:08 AM (hoCmQ)

68 Donning my tinfoil Stetson and betting that earthquake in central Iran yesterday might have been at Fordow

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 07:09 AM (ZIggv)

69 Hadrian the Seventh

For a naval aviator, a second is a long time.

Landing on aircraft carriers is a constant source of Darwinian pressure. It used to be right at the edge of the possible, especially at night and in bad weather. Which is why there is so much emphasis on landing practice. Every landing is recorded, discussed, and graded.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:11 AM (u82oZ)

70 SanFranpsycho, IAEA has found significant damage at Natanz with radiological and chemical contamination.
Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 07:06 AM (ZIggv)
====
Good morning Ben Had, I think it's a matter of time, not whether but when.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 21, 2025 07:11 AM (RIvkX)

71 "AI, AI in the cloud
Who's the dumbest one around?"

"If you have to ask ..."

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at June 21, 2025 07:12 AM (Splbu)

72 Signs point to no. Trying to get a human to solve a non-standard request with a large company is getting much harder. This leads to frustration.

Recently, my father had a hernia operation. Since he’s 88 and diabetic it was crucial that he get in-home nursing. After waiting 10 days with repeated calls, he had a follow up visit. The “referral coordinator” said that she sent the request six times! I asked why she wouldn’t pick up the phone to find out what was going on after two or three attempts? Let’s just say that it was not a good answer.

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 07:12 AM (LPL2Y)

73 olddog in mo

May all the maintenance be worth the sublime time on the water.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:12 AM (u82oZ)

74 Ben Had

The question I want answered is if there is enough purified uranium at Iranian nuclear sites to pool into a critical mass. It would be either a low-order explosion or a fast critical radiation event.

Hope we do not find out.
I do see the Iranians are trying to hide what highly purified uranium they have left. Which could work until there is a change in government coupled with surrender.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:17 AM (u82oZ)

75 Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2025 07:07 AM (QnmlO)

The difference in the intellect required to understand and manage the systems and equipment is at least an orders of magnitude greater today and I'd venture to say that in some cases that intellect will overcome speed and instinct.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 07:18 AM (3Ope8)

76 NaCly, I believe that the Israeli intelligence sources think so.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 07:19 AM (ZIggv)

77 Speaking of AI's lying this is hilarious

x.com/sassafrass_84/status/
1936229086428385681

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at June 21, 2025 07:21 AM (Splbu)

78 Crotchety Old Jarhead, your yard is going to get a chance to dry out this week, yes?

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 07:21 AM (ZIggv)

79 If AI learns from congressional hearing testimony humanity is doomed!

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 07:22 AM (LPL2Y)

80
If AI learns from congressional hearing testimony humanity is doomed!
Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 07:22 AM (LPL2Y)

All it ever says is, "I'm reclaiming my time."

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2025 07:25 AM (QnmlO)

81 “ Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15:10-11

Posted by: Marcus T at June 21, 2025 07:25 AM (/Qp1s)

82 Unkaren

Do not use AI to run power distribution systems or water treatment plant chemical additives.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:25 AM (u82oZ)

83 The IAEA, the "nuclear watchdog" reported just days before Israel's first attacks that Iran had enriched more Uranium to much higher levels than reported. This was in violation of the non-proliferation treaty that Iran supposedly was abiding.

The analysis was that Iran had enough weapons grade materials to assemble up to a dozen warheads. And all the other parts as well. Everyone knew Iran would assemble nuclear weapons as soon as possible.

The only question was whether they'd work.

Everyone knew Iran would use them regardless.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 21, 2025 07:26 AM (Q4IgG)

84 Isn't it possible to render Fordow unusable just by cutting off electricity and water to it? It takes both of those to refine uranium and as I (barely) understand the process uranium hexaflouride isn't very friendly when it's uncontrolled and in the presence of oxygen.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 07:27 AM (3Ope8)

85 Martini Farmer

The good news here is the bomb amounts are for implosion atomic weapons, which are smaller and much harder to get right.

A gun type is certain to work, but is large and uses more fissile material.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:27 AM (u82oZ)

86 Martini Farmer, that pretty much sums it up.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 07:27 AM (ZIggv)

87 So I just got a text that a roofing specialist is on his way to my house. I didn't ask for this at all. I assume it's a scam but I'm not going to call the 800 number to confirm.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 07:28 AM (2GCMq)

88 AI is the Magic Mirror in the Snow White fairy tale

I texted that exact sentiment to my buddy when sending him a link from a Yahoo article about people uploading a selfie and asking AI to judge their looks.

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 07:28 AM (LPL2Y)

89
I'm temporally all out of sorts. It's Saturday, not a weekday. Her Majesty is out of town, not sleeping in the bedroom. So I have to call her at 7:00, not make her coffee. And I have to go to Costco this morning.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2025 07:29 AM (QnmlO)

90 Posted by: Ben Had at June 21, 2025 07:21 AM (ZIggv)

Yes ma'am, and the current evaporation rate in the pond is about 1 inch every 6-7 days.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 07:29 AM (3Ope8)

91 “Second Variety” was a nice little read.

It didn’t help that they put a spoiler, the illustration, right in the middle of the page so I had the surprise figured out halfway through the story.

Philip K. Dick sure had a talent for thinking up technological nightmare fuel.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:30 AM (6ydKt)

92 CrotchetyOldJarhead

The issue with Fordow is this appears to be the site for weapon assembly. So the uranium or plutonium is already pure enough.

Keeping the devices at the site is one part of the answer. Damage to the uranium spheres used will be the best way to stop assembly of a bomb.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:31 AM (u82oZ)

93 AP, World News
Israel hits Iranian nuclear research facility as war continues into second week, 6/21/25

In part, "It was the second attack on Isfahan, which was hit in the first 24 hours of the war as part of Israel’s goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program."

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at June 21, 2025 07:31 AM (NFX2v)

94 Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 21, 2025 07:29 AM (QnmlO)

I was thinking that today was Sunday because of son and spouse being off for June 19th yesterday. I'm just going to call it that because Juneteenth is a silly name.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 07:31 AM (2GCMq)

95 A gun type is certain to work, but is large and uses more fissile material.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:27 AM (u82oZ)

So those are the older style, like Fat Man and Little Boy?

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:34 AM (6ydKt)

96 27 6 AI is designed and trained by humans, who enjoy harming each other. I keep thinking about a short story written by Philip K Dick, 'Second Variety'.
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 21, 2025 04:42 AM (ohOaC)

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32032/32032-h/32032-h.htm
Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 06:21 AM (CQE5S)

I just read it! Thank you!

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 07:34 AM (CQE5S)

97 Unkaren

People do that? Wow. Talk about insecure.

The content of your character, bank account, and ready quips are not appearance based.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:34 AM (u82oZ)

98 Good morning Horde, thx Pixy.
Going to be high 80s today up to high 90s and over 100° by Tuesday. Golf will be early on Monday and Tuesday. Summer is here in the mid Hudson.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 21, 2025 07:34 AM (IG2sK)

99 91 “Second Variety” was a nice little read.

It didn’t help that they put a spoiler, the illustration, right in the middle of the page so I had the surprise figured out halfway through the story.

Philip K. Dick sure had a talent for thinking up technological nightmare fuel.

Posted by: SpeakingOf

My sister has this massive book full of SciFi short stories. PKD, Heinlein, Asimov, and a whole bunch more. They're all pretty good too. Can't recall the name of the book.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at June 21, 2025 07:36 AM (sAmhv)

100 SpeakingOf

Little Boy was a gun-type. The design was untested, since the team was certain it would work.

Fat Man was the implosion device tested first as White Sands.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:36 AM (u82oZ)

101 Do not use AI to run power distribution systems or water treatment plant chemical additives.

I was hoping to pass before any of this was a thing. If it’s up to me I’ll interact as little as possible with AI. Our children and their children will be the true guinea pigs. Hopefully, they’ll be spared the misery of some power hungry technocrat, but that seems unlikely given the trajectory of humanity.

Posted by: Unkaren at June 21, 2025 07:36 AM (LPL2Y)

102 Good morning Horde, thx Pixy.
Going to be high 80s today up to high 90s and over 100° by Tuesday. Golf will be early on Monday and Tuesday. Summer is here in the mid Hudson.
Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 21, 2025 07:34 AM (IG2sK)

It’s supposed to get to 99 here on Wednesday.
I hope they’re wrong but it’s going to be hot & humid next week no matter what.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:38 AM (6ydKt)

103 Unkaren

Directional EMP devices are your friend. To get an AI stopping signal you have to get into a well guarded data center with a power generator, Marx tank, spark gap, and directional antenna array.

Or just cut the data center power.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:40 AM (u82oZ)

104 Keeping the devices at the site is one part of the answer. Damage to the uranium spheres used will be the best way to stop assembly of a bomb.

Well alrighty then. CoJ's first step would be to cut off water, electricity, air exchange and ingress/egress. Second step would be saturation bombing using MOPs.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 07:40 AM (3Ope8)

105 SpeakingOf

Signs point to Summer happening on schedule.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:40 AM (u82oZ)

106 My back is still not golf ready, though that hasn't stopped me before. Right now it's a sinus infection. The antibiotic is working though. Its going to be 90s-100 on Mon and Tues around Babylon DC. Ugh.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at June 21, 2025 07:41 AM (sAmhv)

107 @91 Second Variety became the movie Screamers with Peter Weller. Not a bad post apocalyptic movie

Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 21, 2025 07:41 AM (IG2sK)

108 The question I want answered is if there is enough purified uranium at Iranian nuclear sites to pool into a critical mass. It would be either a low-order explosion or a fast critical radiation event.

Probably not.

Explosions require specific geometries because you need enough of the fissionable mass close enough to freak out. Strange elements lying in ponds is no basis for booms.

As for a fast critical radiation event, U235 is really bad at absorbing fast neutrons so you'd need some source of moderator, like a lot of water, to slow down the neutrons so that they'd be absorbable. A puddle of uranium, though, even with a pool of water over it, would likely be too spread out in order to produce sufficient neutrons from random fissions to come anywhere close to criticality.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 21, 2025 07:42 AM (ExV1e)

109 Little Boy was a gun-type. The design was untested, since the team was certain it would work.

Fat Man was the implosion device tested first as White Sands.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:36 AM (u82oZ)

I saw the movie, “Fat Man and Little Boy” I think it was titled, years ago where they explained all of that. But I’ve forgotten most of it.

Thanks for the explanation.
I’m not too up to speed on nuclear weapon design.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:43 AM (6ydKt)

110 Off to bed. We're short handed at work. It's basically me. The new guy is, well, new, and doesn't have that much in the way of access to various systems. The other coworker is on vacation. So, I won't even be able to drop by today at the MoMe. I'll honk as I drive by.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at June 21, 2025 07:44 AM (sAmhv)

111 84 Isn't it possible to render Fordow unusable just by cutting off electricity and water to it? It takes both of those to refine uranium and as I (barely) understand the process uranium hexaflouride isn't very friendly when it's uncontrolled and in the presence of oxygen.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 07:27 AM (3Ope

hmm

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 07:44 AM (CQE5S)

112 Powerline's Week in Pictures is up.

A few good ones.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:44 AM (u82oZ)

113 SpeakingOf

Signs point to Summer happening on schedule.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:40 AM (u82oZ)

I just looked at the weather app forecast again.

It got worse three days of high 90s and 100 on Friday, followed by a slight cooling to 98 & 96 on Saturday and Sunday.

This is why I dread opening that app by mid-June.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:45 AM (6ydKt)

114 We deliberately created scenarios that presented models with no other way to achieve their goals, and found that models consistently chose harm over failure.

-

Speaking of, did you see where the joke is now "Artificial Indians"?

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - US is a matriarchy, women have rights and veto without any duties at June 21, 2025 07:47 AM (Bg/TD)

115 91 Second Variety became the movie Screamers with Peter Weller. Not a bad post apocalyptic movie
Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 21, 2025 07:41 AM (IG2sK)

I don’t think I’ve seen that one.
It sounds familiar, and I like some of Weller’s movies from the. 80s & 90s.

I’ll have to check it out if I come across it somewhere.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:48 AM (6ydKt)

116 Hopefully these Indians won’t call five times a day trying to help get the virus off of my computer.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:49 AM (6ydKt)

117 55 Martini Farmer

I too remember the days I cared enough to correct a Wikipedia article.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 06:50 AM (u82oZ)

#metoo

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 07:50 AM (CQE5S)

118 83 The IAEA, the "nuclear watchdog" reported just days before Israel's first attacks that Iran had enriched more Uranium to much higher levels than reported. This was in violation of the non-proliferation treaty that Iran supposedly was abiding.

The analysis was that Iran had enough weapons grade materials to assemble up to a dozen warheads. And all the other parts as well. Everyone knew Iran would assemble nuclear weapons as soon as possible.

The only question was whether they'd work.

Everyone knew Iran would use them regardless.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 21, 2025 07:26 AM (Q4IgG)

Very useful summary.

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 07:51 AM (CQE5S)

119 On the good news front, the granddaughter has a golf lesson today so I get to spend time on the range and she will certainly want to Chick Fil A afterwards. That means Grandpa gets a chocolate milkshake with lunch.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 07:53 AM (3Ope8)

120 Have a great day, everyone.

May the NoVAMoMeet be spectacular.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 21, 2025 07:54 AM (u82oZ)

121 Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 07:53 AM (3Ope

Sounds like a very nice day!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 21, 2025 07:55 AM (2GCMq)

122 I like Chick Fil A.

I just don’t like waiting in the lines at Chick Fil A.

They are always busy around here unless you go at like 3 in the afternoon.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 07:56 AM (6ydKt)

123 G'Day everyone So far this week my Melatonin experiment hasn't been good for longitudinally

Posted by: Skip at June 21, 2025 08:01 AM (+qU29)

124 Seeing lots of birds at the feeders, more so since the pond was embiggened. We switched up the food too. Different types at the feeders and we added a suet block for the wrens that are nesting in the hanging basket.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 21, 2025 08:01 AM (3Ope8)

125 Ai is basically magic 8 ball.

Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at June 21, 2025 08:02 AM (OA79/)

126
125 Ai is basically magic 8 ball.
Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless at June 21, 2025 08:02 AM (OA79/)

------

Signs point to, you're all fucked.

Posted by: Magic AI Ball at June 21, 2025 08:06 AM (dtlw7)

127 The Smash Mouth, All Star "all that glitters is gold" lyrics from a tech thread a few days ago is sticking.

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 08:07 AM (CQE5S)

128 Hey, now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play

Hey, now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid

And all that glitters is gold

Only shooting stars break the mold

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 21, 2025 08:11 AM (6ydKt)

129 Ai is basically magic 8 ball.
Posted by: Cuthbert the Witless

-
AI response:

The Magic 8 Ball appears mysterious because its responses are opaque to the user, but it's actually
deterministic, with a set of possible answers selected by chance. AI can sometimes seem "magical" due
to its complex and non-transparent processes, but it's underpinned by algorithms and data that define its outputs.

(the funniest part is that AI was asked the question about it being the same as Magic 8 Ball and apparently doesn't realize that it confirmed that yes, it's the same as Magic 8 Ball)

Posted by: Boron Cobbie - US is a matriarchy, women have rights and veto without any duties at June 21, 2025 08:12 AM (Bg/TD)

130 paragraphed for clarity:

The Magic 8 Ball
*appears mysterious because its responses are opaque to the user,
but
*it's actually
deterministic, with a set of possible answers selected by chance.

AI
*can sometimes seem "magical" due
to its complex and non-transparent processes,
but
*it's underpinned by algorithms and data that define its outputs.

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 09:07 AM (CQE5S)

131 130 better paragraphed for better clarity:

The Magic 8 Ball
*appears mysterious because its responses are opaque to the user,
but
*it's actually deterministic, with a set of possible answers selected by chance.

AI
*can sometimes seem "magical" due
to its complex and non-transparent processes,
but
*it's underpinned by algorithms and data that define its outputs.

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 09:08 AM (CQE5S)

132 I mean ...
better paragraphed for better clarity:

The Magic 8 Ball
*appears mysterious because its responses are opaque to the user,
but
*it's actually deterministic, with a set of possible answers selected by chance.

AI
*can sometimes seem "magical" due to its complex and non-transparent processes,
but
*it's underpinned by algorithms and data that define its outputs.

Posted by: m at June 21, 2025 09:10 AM (CQE5S)

133 "An 8-core CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, four 2.5Gbit Ethernet ports, two 10Gbit Ethernet ports, option 5G wireless, and an M.2 slot for storage.

No WiFi though."

What part of "option 5G Wireless" was unclear? So it has WiFi somewhere.

Posted by: SDN at June 21, 2025 09:25 AM (rzWS7)

134 When did GIGO change? AI is the same when u know the programming people are pedophiles and losers. Shoot them all and start over with normal people aka men and women who get laid consistently due to their appearance and mental outlook.

Posted by: Matthew Proctor at June 21, 2025 10:14 AM (OdsgZ)

135 AI has completely hosed the internet. There has always been a certain amount of dreck that required sifting through, but AI can generate so much bullshit that finding anything actually useful is practically impossible.
I was looking for info on using synthetic rope (instead of wire cable) on a winch and I gave up after going through the first 30 responses on both DDG and Google. All of them had lots of extraneous verbiage (to lengthen " time of engagement" I suppose) written at a 4th grade level, stating the obvious multiple times - synthetic rope is made up of many synthetic fibers - stating outright falsehoods as received wisdom - roller fairleads are ok with synth rope as long as they don't have burrs (bullshit, even burrless rollers can pinch the rope) and in general, sounding like an amateur magician doing a cold read.

Posted by: buddhaha at June 21, 2025 04:20 PM (4ETSN)

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