Daily Tech News 4 October 2025

Top Story

Thwarted plot to cripple cell service in NY was bigger than first thought unless it wasn't: Sources. (ABC)

Over on the sidebar you'll find a link by CBD to an article about a planned attack against communications infrastructure in New York City, discovered and averted twelve days ago by the Secret Service.

They found 100,000 activated SIM cards and over 300 specialised (and, in the US, illegal) SIM servers set up to use them, in a handful of rented locations in the city, capable of sending out thirty million SMS messages per minute and overwhelming and crippling nearby cell towers.

The latest update us that the Secret Service has found another 200,000 SIM cards in another location nearby in New Jersey.

So the question is, who was behind this rather sophisticated plot, and what were they hoping to achieve? The Secret Service links it to China, which is probably true but only at the surface level.

Most likely this wasn't a nation-state planning a terror attack at all, but an organised crime ring using those hundreds of thousands of numbers to make scam calls. The hardware was probably smuggled from China, but not to declare war, just to make an illicit buck.

That's speculation, but what we know for sure - because it put the Secret Service on the track in the first place - is that this same network was used in swatting attacks against members of Congress in December of 2023.

And it would be foolish of a nation-state actor to allow such an elaborate plot to be foiled over such a minor and secondary objective. Though dumber things have happened.
Second pass at today's thread because my computer decided to reboot right when I was looking for the video for the interlude and I hadn't saved yet. That'll teach me.

* Spoiler: It didn't teach them.

Tech News

I turned the Lego Game Boy into a working Game Boy. (Natalie the Nerd)

Someone needs to get Natalie the Lego Millennium Falcon, stat.
OpenAI is now worth $500 billion, making it the world's most valuable startup. (Yahoo)

For the first half of this year, OpenAI lost $13.5 billion on revenues of $4.3 billion.
RedHat has announced that "an unauthorized third party had accessed and copied some data from a Red Hat Consulting-managed, dedicated GitLab instance". (The Register)

"Some data" turns out to be 28,000 Git repositories.

Quite a lot, really.
Who would be silly enough to sign up for OpenAI's new social network when all it has to offer is an unending stream of AI slop? (The Verge) (archive site)

Oh. A writer for The Verge. Yes, that checks out.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Dumber things happen at sea.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 04:01 AM (aURVT)

2 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 04:02 AM (+qU29)

3 As was saying
I shouldn't stay up.past 8pm.any day of the week

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 04:03 AM (+qU29)

4 >>>Second pass at today's thread because my computer decided to reboot right when I was looking for the video for the interlude and I hadn't saved yet.

: (

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 04:04 AM (aURVT)

5 OpenAI is now worth $500 billion, making it the world's most valuable startup. (Yahoo)

For the first half of this year, OpenAI lost $13.5 billion on revenues of $4.3 billion.

But it has neither fallen over, caught fire, nor sank into a swamp.

Posted by: mikeski at October 04, 2025 04:06 AM (nhCoE)

6 Orkestra Obsolete - Blue Monday
weird
creative
possibly absinthe-fueled

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 04:11 AM (aURVT)

7 Was thinking about those cards listening to.the podcast, maybe just a extra card to play when needed or a bigger plot was coming, shutting down communications in a terrorist attack

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 04:12 AM (+qU29)

8 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at October 04, 2025 04:32 AM (qKYfj)

9 As was saying
I shouldn't stay up.past 8pm.any day of the week
Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 04:03 AM (+qU29)

I couldn't last night. So, miss the ONT, then wake up at 1am. Now what?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 04:43 AM (uQesX)

10 Time to learn COBOL?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 04, 2025 04:48 AM (BLOW1)

11 G'mornin all y'all
Hit a personal milestone yesterday.
Never really thought I'd make it. Hahaha
29 x 2.437something.

Posted by: OkJohn at October 04, 2025 04:49 AM (NC/it)

12 My question is how the heck the chips and servers were found? The general incompetence of our spy and intelligence services seems to preclude anyone finding out anything. Sheer luck?

Isn't it strange to think the best scenario - (passes out

wakes up*) - is that it was to be used to spam numbers than a plot to disrupt the city for war purposes?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 04:50 AM (uQesX)

13 * too obscure a reference?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 04:51 AM (uQesX)

14 Apologies for math.

Posted by: OkJohn at October 04, 2025 04:51 AM (NC/it)

15 14 Apologies for math.
Posted by: OkJohn at October 04, 2025 04:51 AM (NC/it)

I'm still twitching from it.

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 04:54 AM (aURVT)

16 Good morning!

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

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 04:55 AM (u82oZ)

17 9 ... up at 1am. Now what?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 04:43 AM (uQesX)

10 Time to learn COBOL?
Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 04, 2025 04:48 AM (BLOW1)

Ha ha! I think Pixy's 10 was a reply to OrangeEnt's 9?

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 04:58 AM (aURVT)

18 OkJohn

Your math does not lead to an integer year #. Are you ok?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 04:58 AM (u82oZ)

19 When I was 18, I'd stay up to 1-2 in the am and get up at 7 and consider that a good nights sleep. Now by 11 pm I'm out of it. Can't stay up to watch Kimmel, and I now wonder why I would want to. I lived in a rented room and the old lady next door always turned her TV up loud and watch the late shows, damn her, get to bed you need your beauty sleep, I'd almost tell her. Old to an 18 year old is anyone beyond 30.

Posted by: Colin at October 04, 2025 04:59 AM (wlQdF)

20 Went to bed early.
Woke up way to early.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 05:00 AM (u82oZ)

21
Zither and Jahn

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at October 04, 2025 05:05 AM (xG4kz)

22 "Someone needs to get Natalie the Lego Millennium Falcon, stat."

LOL! G'morning, Pixy.

Posted by: creeper at October 04, 2025 05:08 AM (zFwIe)

23 I probably transpose the numbers or something who knows. That's what I get for trying math.
Now I see why this is a math-free zone.
Turned 70 yesterday
Moar coffees

Posted by: OkJohn at October 04, 2025 05:09 AM (NC/it)

24 Many happy birthday returns, OkJohn!

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:10 AM (aURVT)

25 for your birthday:

29 x 2.413793103448276 = 70

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:12 AM (aURVT)

26 OkJohn

Happy birthday. Did you get a card of you pushing over buildings , looking like Godzilla, and a caption of "Congratulations on another year of stalking the Earth." ?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 05:14 AM (u82oZ)

27 Salty!

And G'morning, to the rest of you as well.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 04, 2025 05:17 AM (a1415)

28 @20/NaCly Dog: "Went to bed early.
Woke up way to early."

I relate.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 04, 2025 05:18 AM (O7YUW)

29 Looks like we have ourselves a southern version of Maryland Man.

https://tinyurl.com/4h8649t6

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 04, 2025 05:18 AM (a1415)

30
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at October 04, 2025 05:19 AM (tljrc)

31 Village Idiot's Apprentice

Top o ta mornin to ya, gov'nor.

Going to a local town's Oktoberfest this morning.

They have a polka band, so now I need to find someone to dance with. Funny, they all flee in terror.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 05:19 AM (u82oZ)

32 Grumpy and Recalcitrant

Hope you are well, and enjoying the fall.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 05:21 AM (u82oZ)

33 Ha ha! I think Pixy's 10 was a reply to OrangeEnt's 9?
Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 04:58 AM (aURVT)

Maybe? I don't know any computer language. Never went that far into c.s.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:23 AM (uQesX)

34 29 Looks like we have ourselves a southern version of Maryland Man.

https://tinyurl.com/4h8649t6
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 04, 2025 05:18 AM (a1415)

What a sad news site that is.

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:24 AM (aURVT)

35 moar math

The current population of the United States of America is

347,740,810

as of Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:28 AM (aURVT)

36 @32/NaCly Dog: I am, thank you! Spring and autumn are my favourite times of year - moderate temperatures, and the cool of the morning is easy to work in.

How's things for you?

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 04, 2025 05:29 AM (O7YUW)

37 Salty

Polka bands can be fun.

And Oktoberfest is a great time of the year as well.

Have fun!

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 04, 2025 05:30 AM (a1415)

38 33 Ha ha! I think Pixy's 10 was a reply to OrangeEnt's 9?
Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 04:58 AM (aURVT)

Maybe? I don't know any computer language. Never went that far into c.s.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 05:23 AM (uQesX)

#metoo

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:31 AM (aURVT)

39 The current population of Australia is

27,038,899

as of Friday, October 3, 2025

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:32 AM (aURVT)

40 Grumpy and Recalcitrant

Tiny bit by bit, my extended social isolation is ending. But still need to solve some big financial problems.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 05:33 AM (u82oZ)

41 Was cat napping. Now getting up

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:34 AM (+qU29)

42 Time for the morning walk.
BBIAB

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 04, 2025 05:37 AM (a1415)

43 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at October 04, 2025 05:38 AM (hoCmQ)

44 NetFlix and OpenAI are each worth about $500 billion. It cost me slightly less than $500 billion to top off my car's gas tank yesterday.

Posted by: Marooned at October 04, 2025 05:41 AM (kt8QE)

45 The current population of the United States of America is

347,740,810

as of Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Posted by: m

Or 310 million once all the illegal aliens are deported.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 04, 2025 05:51 AM (aJQjq)

46
AG
@AGHamilton29
11h
So the Judge limited the sentence of the would-be Kavanaugh assassin Nicholas Roske to just 8 years in prison (DoJ was asking for 30) partially because Roske now claims to be transgender and would have to serve in a male prison?

LB
@beyondreasdoubt
11h
Replying to @AGHamilton29
If that’s accurate, I’m going to go out on a limb and say Feds appeal

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:52 AM (aURVT)

47
Got to bed near midnight. Woken up at 4:00 by a call from the emergency vet about Finn. Having coffee while we sort out what to do.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 04, 2025 05:55 AM (tgvbd)

48 Population when I was in high school was 210M

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 05:56 AM (+qU29)

49
@lukerosiak
12h
The sentence also includes a lifetime of court supervision. “I am heartened that this terrible infraction has helped the Roske family… accept their daughter for who she is,” Judge Boardman said of the convict’s mom affirming his gender identity.

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:57 AM (aURVT)

50 50

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 05:59 AM (aURVT)

51 I drove 2 hours to Animas, New Mexico yesterday to watch my first high school six-man football game. It was worth every second. The opposing team was from Reserve, New Mexico and they drove something like 4 hours to get to the game. The population of animas is about 200 and I think about 150 of them were at the game. I'm pretty much ready to pack my bags and move to a place like that.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 04, 2025 06:06 AM (aJQjq)

52 in case people missed this a couple of days ago:

Cheese For Everyone!
@CheeseForEvery1
Oct 2
I WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE STILL RUNNING

THE POLICE ARE VERY MUCH OPERATIONAL

SORRY FOR TYPING I AM DRIVING VERY FAST

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 06:11 AM (aURVT)

53 Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions

Small town sports is a unifying feature. Lots of great vibes from small towns in Kansas.

You go to any High School gym, and it is an extended shrine to athletics. I used to ask an assistant principal overseeing the games "Where are your academic awards?" Not a popular question.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 06:14 AM (u82oZ)

54 Happy Birthday, OK John. May God bless you today and during your birthday year.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 06:14 AM (Nx5jP)

55 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Waddaya think I am, dumb, or somethiin'?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at October 04, 2025 06:15 AM (WvZaB)

56 Have a wonderful day, everyone.

May you thrive in the Fall.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 04, 2025 06:15 AM (u82oZ)

57 He attempted to assassinate a sitting justice and his family, but the judge is heartened that Mom now realizes her son is now her daughter.

The mentally ill s/he stopped itself and turned itself into the cops that night, as I recall, so maybe eight years isn’t too outrageous. Kavanaugh was never harmed.

I think 10 years would have been better, but you take what you can get these days from the likes of Judge Boardman.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:16 AM (6ydKt)

58 The local CBS affiliate found a local story to help with the cause, that being ICE bad. A guy was detained and did three months at the Louisiana deportation center. Bleeding heart fat lady lawyer got him out on a technicality and got permanent status for him. He has been here since 2003 and speaks not a word of English, nor does his wife. He said through the translator he can now gain prosperity. He bitched about the food and water while locked up.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at October 04, 2025 06:16 AM (gm9Sb)

59 Greetings from the Carolinas.

Posted by: Going deep. Out. at October 04, 2025 06:18 AM (fFFrU)

60 Funny, they all flee in terror.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October

Your reputation as a bad dancer precedes you?
J/k 😉. If they're fleeing it's probably not you. They just think they're not good dancers.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 06:18 AM (Nx5jP)

61 - @18 NaCly

That threw me for a minute, too,,, after I used a calculator.

Happy Birthday, OkJohn!! About 6.5 mo younger than me.

Posted by: TeeJ at October 04, 2025 06:18 AM (cMU4o)

62 All the stores have signs up for the game. And houses will have signs with a picture of their kid in the uniform. 1200 people here and some of the towns they play are smaller.

Oktoberfest today is a fund raiser for the Catholic school.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 04, 2025 06:19 AM (kUxzU)

63 I think 10 years would have been better, but you take what you can get these days from the likes of Judge Boardman.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:16 AM (6ydKt)

Judge Boardman shouldn't be Judge Boardman.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 06:21 AM (uQesX)

64 I think this Julio Cupil Quijivix fellow that VIA linked a news story on must be one of those Mayan Indians from southern Mexico with a name like that.

The photo kinda confirms it.
A thousand years ago that face would’ve been covered in face paint while hunting down other tribes for the upcoming sacrifice rituals at the pyramid.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:22 AM (6ydKt)

65 Got to bed near midnight. Woken up at 4:00 by a call from the emergency vet about Finn. Having coffee while we sort out what to do.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

Oh no! What's wrong with Finn?

Posted by: Tuna at October 04, 2025 06:23 AM (lJ0H4)

66 Psalm 143:

https://tinyurl.com/ya6n7cs3

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 06:23 AM (Nx5jP)

67 Morning, Horde...How goes it?

My students just turned in their first major assessment (first draft of a paper) so I get to grade those this weekend. Fortunately, I only have 20 students, so it won't be too bad.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 04, 2025 06:23 AM (IBQGV)

68
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin

============
!!!!!!!
Who granted permanent status?! Wouldn't that be up to the department of state?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's Phone at October 04, 2025 06:23 AM (lCaJd)

69 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 04, 2025 06:24 AM (XQo4F)

70 Judge Boardman shouldn't be Judge Boardman.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 06:21 AM (uQesX)

They are apparently very hard to remove from the bench.

From what I’ve seen over that past year at least a third of them should be defense attorneys or professsors at Berkeley.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:25 AM (6ydKt)

71 68 Immigration judge is what the lying news says.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at October 04, 2025 06:29 AM (gm9Sb)

72 He has been here since 2003 and speaks not a word of English, nor does his wife. He said through the translator he can now gain prosperity. He bitched about the food and water while locked up.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at October 04, 2025 06:16 AM (gm9Sb)

The colonizer never has to learn a new language, only the colonized have to.

The food probably did suck but I’m amused that the water did not stimulate his refined palate.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:29 AM (6ydKt)

73 Doberman saves his owner from charging bear:

https://tinyurl.com/msbwxcw9

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 06:29 AM (Nx5jP)

74 Good morning morons still can't sleep, it will take me a week or two to decompress from working.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:29 AM (7nrYO)

75 Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:29 AM (7nrYO)

Are you retired now? It's good to see you and may God bless you!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 06:33 AM (Nx5jP)

76 Good morning morons still can't sleep, it will take me a week or two to decompress from working.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:29 AM (7nrYO)

That wasn't a problem for me. I hated work. But, I still seem to hold to the same sleep patterns whether I want to or not.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 06:35 AM (uQesX)

77 Small town sports is a unifying feature. Lots of great vibes from small towns in Kansas.

You go to any High School gym, and it is an extended shrine to athletics. I used to ask an assistant principal overseeing the games "Where are your academic awards?" Not a popular question.
Posted by: NaCly Dog

Both towns are primarily ranching communities. There was a decided lack of obese people there which I'm chalking up to people there working hard all the time. I think a big part of their academic curriculum comes from other places than the local school.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at October 04, 2025 06:35 AM (aJQjq)

78 6:35 a.m. and it’s still pitch black out.

We’ll come to October.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:35 AM (6ydKt)

79 It’s so obvious when I’m on the iPad.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:36 AM (6ydKt)

80

Good morning, good people. It appears we will have a considerably muted foliage display with just the maples coloring brilliantly. Too much dry weather it is said.

This will mark the 1st year of somebody else taking over the leaf removal and mowing chores. I earned the right to quit doing it, we'll see if I enjoy that right. Seriously, the town and county have made disposal of lawn waste a complete pain with surcharges plus closing the only waste disposal site within 28 miles. Ain't toting that shit that far, I run between 100 and 125 bags of leaves off my property yearly. I have to buy the bags and they charge a dollar per bag to accept. On my property there are 11 mature oak trees and 8 maples of varying age.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 04, 2025 06:37 AM (vFbHf)

81 For the up and coming younger Morons:

Since all ages here at the HQ are 29 (with additional experience, or multiplied by a number):

Rejoice those of you who haven't actually hit 29 yet, particularly those of you who just turned 23.

For in the 82'nd day of your 23rd year, you will have reached this age:

29 * .80085

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 04, 2025 06:40 AM (O7YUW)

82 Thanks Fen yes I stopped working again yesterday. I started a 3-week gig to help out a friend in January 2024 and 22 months later...

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:42 AM (CTokg)

83 I run between 100 and 125 bags of leaves off my property yearly. I have to buy the bags and they charge a dollar per bag to accept. On my property there are 11 mature oak trees and 8 maples of varying age.
Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 04, 2025 06:37 AM (vFbHf)

Whoa. That’s a lot of leaves.
Sucks they don’t pick up yard waste with your garbage.

They do here every Monday.
We just have to use the brown garbage bin instead of the green one for garbage, and then put large paper bags out with leaves and any large branches, etc, next to them.

They come along with a truck with an arm that will grab the branches in a bundle.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:42 AM (6ydKt)

84 Thanks Fen yes I stopped working again yesterday. I started a 3-week gig to help out a friend in January 2024 and 22 months later...
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:42 AM (CTokg)

Congrats on your second retirement.

Maybe this one will stick.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:43 AM (6ydKt)

85 80 I run between 100 and 125 bags of leaves off my property yearly.
Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 04, 2025 06:37 AM (vFbHf)

!!!

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 06:44 AM (aURVT)

86 ...I run between 100 and 125 bags of leaves off my property yearly. I have to buy the bags and they charge a dollar per bag to accept. On my property there are 11 mature oak trees and 8 maples of varying age.
====
Property that big blow this city boy's mind.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:44 AM (CTokg)

87 83 They come along with a truck with an arm that will grab the branches in a bundle.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:42 AM (6ydKt)

That'd be fun to watch.

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 06:45 AM (aURVT)

88 I H8 Fall

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 06:46 AM (+qU29)

89 H8er!

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 06:47 AM (aURVT)

90 Good morning morons still can't sleep, it will take me a week or two to decompress from working.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:29 AM (7nrYO)

That wasn't a problem for me. I hated work. But, I still seem to hold to the same sleep patterns whether I want to or not.
Posted by: OrangeEnt

Tuesday - Thursday I get up at 3:40 for work. It seems Friday - Monday I was up at 4:30 regardless. 😡

Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2025 06:47 AM (JnEe8)

91 Maybe this one will stick.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:43 AM (6ydKt)
====

For the last year and a half my lib idiot friends back east have been busting my balls about how much I "suck" at retiring

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:47 AM (CTokg)

92 That'd be fun to watch.
Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 06:45 AM (aURVT)

It’s the stuff of little boy’s dreams.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:48 AM (6ydKt)

93 Last night I talked with my friend who used to work at the El Segundo refinery as a safety engineer. He pointed out that much of the infrastructure there was close to 100 years old. They x-ray pipes looking for cracks on a regular schedule. He said the most likely cause was a stuck valve - although he did admit that an RPG could start something like that.

Posted by: An Observation sez Trump is my President at October 04, 2025 06:50 AM (Da7Vv)

94 Leaves? Burn em.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 04, 2025 06:50 AM (ZmEVT)

95 For the last year and a half my lib idiot friends back east have been busting my balls about how much I "suck" at retiring
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:47 AM (CTokg)

Just tell them you’re easing in to it so you don’t get bored watching The Price Is Right reruns.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:51 AM (6ydKt)

96
I H8 Fall

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 06:46 AM

you are not alone

Posted by: AltonJackson at October 04, 2025 06:52 AM (tljrc)

97 RPG = rocket-propelled grenade.

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 06:53 AM (aURVT)

98 Evening and morning to all on this Saturday! Yesterday I missed saying that Friday was the consummation devoutly to be wished, but I guess it applies to Saturday as well, right?

i'm awake, for certain limited values of "awake"; I've fed the beasts and am sipping coffee. It may be less hot today thanks to some cloud cover or even showers. I need to wash the car, though.

U.S. Daylight Saving Time does not end for almost a month -- eight months of this fake time. Pixy's, I think, goes on tomorrow? I'll need to set my GMT watch's fourth hand ahead by an hour, in that case.

So, whassup?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 06:54 AM (omVj0)

99 Ha! I love The Price is Right always have.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:54 AM (CTokg)

100 100

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 06:54 AM (aURVT)

101 Just tell them you’re easing in to it so you don’t get bored watching The Price Is Right reruns.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 06:51 AM (6ydKt)

The Barker years?

Maybe watch Truth or Consequences instead?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 06:55 AM (uQesX)

102 Leaves? Burn em.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 04, 2025

***
They showed that in one of the "Dick and Jane" books when I was in first or second grade. We Swamp kids were puzzled. "Fall? Whass that?"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 06:56 AM (omVj0)

103 There's a channel on my TV that is all Price is Right all the time.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:56 AM (CTokg)

104 @94

They banned burning leaves because of idiots starting brushfires by burning under conditions that were hazardous--like windy, too dry and general stupidity.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 04, 2025 06:57 AM (vFbHf)

105 I like my new job.
My drip coffee maker refuses to drip.
Lovely weather this weekend.

Posted by: Accomack at October 04, 2025 06:57 AM (RBD82)

106 - IRONGRAMPA

I use my walk behind mower. Cut the yard in sections, throwing clippings towards the middle. Then catch those cuttings in a bag and compost em.
What I miss is either chopped up or blows into neighbors yards.
Other people's leaves blow into mine so...

Posted by: TeeJ at October 04, 2025 06:59 AM (cMU4o)

107 Tuesday - Thursday I get up at 3:40 for work. It seems Friday - Monday I was up at 4:30 regardless. 😡
Posted by: rickb223 at October 04, 2025

***
I was the same, M-F, then close to it on Sat and Sun. Staying up later in the evening has let me move my rising time closer to five am. Today, five-thirty.

Still I take a ninety-minute nap in the afternoon, though!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 06:59 AM (omVj0)

108 Grit is playing Zorro episodes with Guy Williams. He was good, and the episodes are sharply directed and fast-moving.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 07:01 AM (omVj0)

109 I used to ask an assistant principal overseeing the games "Where are your academic awards?" Not a popular question.
=====

The proper response is that they are a sine qua non.

Posted by: mustbequantum at October 04, 2025 07:02 AM (GjnYY)

110 - Compost piles equal good for the garden and fishing worm heaven.

Posted by: TeeJ at October 04, 2025 07:03 AM (cMU4o)

111 I would be swamped in leaves if I didn't compost them.
I should clean out compost bin for the new crop of leaves coming down now

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:06 AM (+qU29)

112 - 3 refreshes w/no new comments = back to utube... for a bit.

Posted by: TeeJ at October 04, 2025 07:07 AM (cMU4o)

113 Grit is playing Zorro episodes with Guy Williams. He was good, and the episodes are sharply directed and fast-moving.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 07:01 AM (omVj0)

Poor guy. A leading man who ended up playing second fiddle to a scenery chewing Jonathan Harris.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 07:10 AM (uQesX)

114 3 refreshes w/no new comments = back to utube... for a bit.
Posted by: TeeJ at October 04, 2025 07:07 AM (cMU4o)

Sorry. I have a WIP that needs attention. I'm in and out.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 07:11 AM (uQesX)

115 Thirty years ago we "invested" in one of those vacuum trailers that mulches leaves and grass and picks them up. We have 75 trees, about a third of them deciduous, and I only do the grass once or twice a season. I made two neatish piles of old concrete block behind the shed, about 8 x 10, to use as a compost bin, and turn it over with the tractor every few weeks. We produce 5 or 6 cubic yards of new topsoil a year.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at October 04, 2025 07:11 AM (zdLoL)

116 @40/NaCly Dog: May your big financial problems become small, and may you thrive, despite all the fiscal insanity swirling around us these days.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at October 04, 2025 07:12 AM (O7YUW)

117 About the Portland Naked Bike Ride from a tweet:

Gotta love how these minds think.

“We need to change the president’s course of action! “

“I know let’s ride naked on bicycles!”

“Great idea!”

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 04, 2025 07:15 AM (Nx5jP)

118 "We need to slow the rise of the world's oceans."

"I know - let's ride naked on bicycles!"

"Great idea!"

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at October 04, 2025 07:18 AM (XQo4F)

119 Because Spider solitaire is evil
840 moves and 49 minutes

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:22 AM (+qU29)

120 Barky was a fraud as much as that School administrator

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:23 AM (+qU29)

121 I have a pickup truck liner my BiL abandoned, fenced 3 sides.
Worst part don't have a machine to get it out or turn it over.

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:25 AM (+qU29)

122 Barky was a fraud as much as that School administrator
Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:23 AM (+qU29)

Correct. Any attempt to vet Barack Mugabe and where he came from was met with a storm of criticism about how rayciss that was to question his ass.

Posted by: That's Rayciss! at October 04, 2025 07:30 AM (R/m4+)

123 So, my son and his wife were burning leaves while my grandson was riding his go-cart. Grandson overturns the cart an breaks his arm. They call 911 and the firemen, who also paramedics, come. Grandson is sent to the hospital.

As they were leaving a fireman told my son "We haven't cited anyone for burning brush in the last 20 years.

I have a burn barrel. I asked a friend who was a fireman about it. He said "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission."

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 04, 2025 07:30 AM (ZmEVT)

124 Good morning good people.

Huge whoop-de-doo at church today. Expecting to handle over 200 visitors added to our normal 400 attendees for a speaker. Parking, security, breakfast, lunch, and crowd control will be a zoo.

Our hall is completely inadequate to handle the crowd. I finally figured out late last last night Father did this on purpose to show that a new facility is badly needed.

He's a crafty old Irishman.

Posted by: Tonypete at October 04, 2025 07:31 AM (cYBz/)

125
The U.S. switch off of daylight savings time will occur on November 2, 2025. That, as it always has been, is the second day of our annual gem and mineral show.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at October 04, 2025 07:32 AM (xG4kz)

126 “ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

John 14:23

Posted by: Marcus T at October 04, 2025 07:33 AM (oOHje)

127 Grit is playing Zorro episodes with Guy Williams. He was good, and the episodes are sharply directed and fast-moving.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 07:01 AM (omVj0)

Poor guy. A leading man who ended up playing second fiddle to a scenery chewing Jonathan Harris.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025

***
And on what amounted to a B-movie kiddie show, yet. The concept of Lost in Space was great: a close family traveling the stars and trying to get home. But this was pre-Trek, and TV science fiction had yet to mature.

The pilot, I understand, was promising and much more adult in its approach. Didn't last.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 07:35 AM (omVj0)

128 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at October 04, 2025 07:36 AM (K7MIk)

129 When in first grade I was Zorro

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:37 AM (+qU29)

130 - Skip

You likely don't have time for a garden. I just do a 3 sided, fenced area in my garden. Can get tiller in/out of open end for turning it. After a couple years, pull two t-posts and move pile to next door of previous and plant where it was.

Posted by: TeeJ at October 04, 2025 07:38 AM (cMU4o)

131 Lost in Space was for girls.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 07:38 AM (vL0rw)

132 Gettin' light out there. Time for me to go bathe the car.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 07:41 AM (omVj0)

133 103 There's a channel on my TV that is all Price is Right all the time.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 04, 2025 06:56 AM (CTokg)

I used to love Price is Right myself. Haven't really watched it since Barker left. My Dad watched it about every week day for the last year of his life.

That channel is on Dish, a streaming channel instead of over satellite. It's also on PlutoTV or one of the other streaming services too.

I actually had a teacher in elementary school who went on The Price is Right and won the final showcase.

She came back from vacation and told us, and then we actually got to watch her episode in class when it aired.

They'd never let her get away with that today.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 07:43 AM (6ydKt)

134 Bet you won't find Barky's college records in his library when it's finished in 2053.

Because they don't exist

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:43 AM (+qU29)

135 The pilot, I understand, was promising and much more adult in its approach. Didn't last.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 04, 2025 07:35 AM (omVj0)

Thanks to the success of Batman. If Batman tanked, LiS would have stayed darker, less comic. I mean, Star Trek had a rock creature, but they never had a talking carrot.

The latest episodes had more of a kiddie audience which the network and advertisers didn't want, that's one reason it was cancelled.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 07:46 AM (uQesX)

136 Swap Portland Police and UK Police and the results would be no different.

Posted by: Skip at October 04, 2025 07:49 AM (+qU29)

137 They'd never let her get away with that today.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 07:43 AM (6ydKt)

But if she went on a show with a drag queen and other sex freaks, the whole school would be forced to watch it and say it was the best show ever, or get punished.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 07:49 AM (uQesX)

138 I'm watching The Wild and The Innocent onphy a Encore Westerns.

It has Audie Murphy as a young mountain man going to the big city of Casper, Wyoming, and learns how awful people are in towns for the first time.

It's an OK flick, but I the best part for me is Sandra Dee as his love interest. She is an absolute cutie. I've never really seen her in anything else but Imitation of Life.

I do wonder why she never became a big star, because she's really a presence on screen.

I think I read she was a big party girl and it was ruining her image as American's Sweetheart so she stopped getting roles.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 07:50 AM (6ydKt)

139
Interesting times.

A woman, Sanae Takaichi, was elected as the Japanese Prime Minister.

She is known as a strong ally of Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated. And Abe and Trump got along very well.

The world is changing, folks. And not always in a crap direction.

Posted by: naturalfake at October 04, 2025 07:50 AM (iJfKG)

140 I've read that Lost in Space blew their production budget early on with over the top(for the time) special effects. Later episodes were all on a static set.

Posted by: davidt at October 04, 2025 07:50 AM (i0F8b)

141 "as it always has been..."

So it used to be in October? LOL I cannot remember when they delayed it by a week so that the poor children wouldn't have to go trick or treating in the dark.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 04, 2025 07:52 AM (ZmEVT)

142 I moved to the laptop and still can't type.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 07:53 AM (6ydKt)

143 Nood. Coffee.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at October 04, 2025 07:56 AM (ExV1e)

144 But if she went on a show with a drag queen and other sex freaks, the whole school would be forced to watch it and say it was the best show ever, or get punished.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 04, 2025 07:49 AM (uQesX)

She was a nice lady.
She went through hell and high water just to be able to show us that mini-series about Columbus that aired on a broadcast network in the mid-80s.

It took her a few weeks of arguing with whoever about copyright law and exhibition but we finally got to watch that mini-series. I think she did it on a few Fridays, just to make Social Studies a little better before the weekend.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 07:56 AM (6ydKt)

145 So it used to be in October? LOL I cannot remember when they delayed it by a week so that the poor children wouldn't have to go trick or treating in the dark.
Posted by: no one of any consequence

Before DST, we loved going trick or treating in the dark. That was half the fun. Of course this was before it seems parents had to escort their kids. We were given our bags and out the door we went never to return until that bag was full.

Posted by: Tuna at October 04, 2025 07:57 AM (lJ0H4)

146 A woman, Sanae Takaichi, was elected as the Japanese Prime Minister.

She is known as a strong ally of Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated. And Abe and Trump got along very well.

The world is changing, folks. And not always in a crap direction.

Posted by: naturalfake at October 04, 2025 07:50 AM (iJfKG)

First I've heard of it.

And that's a first for Japan, female prime minister.

You never know, she could be their version of Thatcher.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 04, 2025 08:01 AM (6ydKt)

147

Although I've given up on leaf removal, I willingly am going to continue the snow removal segment of suburban life. That I have complete control over, there's plenty of room for the snow and the machine is more than adequate.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 04, 2025 08:13 AM (vFbHf)

148 Irwin Allen did that with most of his shows - blow his budget on the pilot, then leave the show to scrap on shoestring dollars the rest of the way. See Time Tunnel, and (to a lesser degree) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Land of the Giants. Fun to watch for what they are, but a shame they could not keep up to their promise.

Posted by: One of many lone wolves at October 04, 2025 08:13 AM (OVaMN)

149 Sorry I'm late. Had to step over all the dead bodies from the shutdown that were in my driveway. I'll do better.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at October 04, 2025 08:17 AM (5xuJ/)

150 I am gratified, in the grammatical sense, that Daylight Saving Time was not pluralized. My work here is not yet done here, supposably.

Posted by: Common Tater at October 04, 2025 08:26 AM (j41FZ)

151 My friend's son received a letter looking very official saying he had missed jury duty and there was a warranty out on him. He's 22yrs old and in college. He called the number on the letter. Man answered and was well spoken told him he need to turn himself in and pay the fine. The kid said he was just going to class and was very sorry for missing jury duty and that he didn't have $5000. The guy said, hang on, let me talk to the judge. The kid hung up and took the letter to his professor who had been involve with las enforcement for decades. The prof said it looked extremely legal but decided it wasn't and called a judge in DC. The judge called the kid and told him he did the right thing by bring this scam to someone's attention. The judge said this was an extremely disturbing scam and he would send the letter and all the other info the kid told him to the correct authorities. Now how many people do you think fell for this $5K scam? Probably more than we think.

Posted by: sidney at October 04, 2025 08:56 AM (rzwGB)

152 151 My friend's son received a letter looking very official saying he had missed jury duty and there was a warranty out on him. He's 22yrs old and in college. He called the number on the letter. Man answered and was well spoken told him he need to turn himself in and pay the fine. The kid said he was just going to class and was very sorry for missing jury duty and that he didn't have $5000. The guy said, hang on, let me talk to the judge. The kid hung up and took the letter to his professor who had been involve with las enforcement for decades. The prof said it looked extremely legal but decided it wasn't and called a judge in DC. The judge called the kid and told him he did the right thing by bring this scam to someone's attention. The judge said this was an extremely disturbing scam and he would send the letter and all the other info the kid told him to the correct authorities. Now how many people do you think fell for this $5K scam? Probably more than we think.
Posted by: sidney at October 04, 2025 08:56 AM (rzwGB)

Great story!

Posted by: m at October 04, 2025 09:35 AM (aURVT)

153 There has to be video of the people assembling these cell-spoof sites. Street video, or whatever. People going in and out of the sites, carrying the gear in ETC.

Posted by: SamIam at October 04, 2025 09:54 AM (cjT1m)

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