Daily Tech News 31 December 2025

Top Story

The problem with letting AI do the grunt work. (The Atlantic) (archive site)
Fresh out of college in the mid 2010s, I'd scored a copy job for a how-to website. An early task involved expanding upon an article titled "How to Get Rid of Dark Lips." For the next two years, I worked on articles with headlines such as "How to Speak Like a Stereotypical New Yorker (With Examples)", "How to Eat an Insect or Arachnid," and "How to Acquire a Gun License in New Jersey." I didn't get rich or win literary awards, but I did learn how to write a clean sentence, convey information in a logical sequence, and modulate my tone for the intended audience - skills that I use daily in my current work in screenwriting, film editing, and corporate communications.
Not seeing the problem here to be honest.

The author's latest feature film, How to Write Slop for Fun and Profit, is airing nowhere now.
2025 was Hollywood's year of creative bankruptcy. (PCGamer)

I mean, more so than usual.

Tech News

Asus is reportedly planning to increase production of DDR4 motherboards next year - both AMD's AM4 and Intel's LGA 1700. (WCCFTech)

Good, because I have a lot of DDR4 memory I could transplant to new systems.
Digging deeper into Honey's Dieselgate. (VPT Digital)

Online purchasing tool Honey, which was supposed to find you the best deals, actually stole affiliate links and redirected the money to itself.

It also detected if you might be looking for bad behaviour and stopped doing it if it suspected you might be watching.
With new computers priced out of reach you may have thought of picking up a Nintendo 3DS to play some classic games. Bad timing because a second-hand 3DS suddenly costs almost as much as a brand new Switch 2. (Tom's Hardware)

Nobody knows why, though, because (a) there are 75 million of them and (b) they have the computing capacity of a potato.
Nvidia's purchase of $5 billion worth of Intel shares has just completed. (The Register)

Since they struck a deal at the price in September and Intel's share price has increased by 50% since then, Nvidia just made an instant $2.5 billion.

Nice work if you can get it.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Yes, there's a pattern.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:00 AM (RuTUS)

2 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:01 AM (Ia/+0)

3 Suzanna Hoff is still very fine looking

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:02 AM (Ia/+0)

4 Morning all. Happy (almost) New Year!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 31, 2025 04:02 AM (BLOW1)

5 Disclaimer: Yes, there's a pattern.

They're all chicks?

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:03 AM (RuTUS)

6 Honey got advertised by a lot of youtubers who didn't do any diligence on the scam. It showed how mercenary so many of them are.

Posted by: gKWVE at December 31, 2025 04:06 AM (gKWVE)

7 Belle Stars - The clapping song 1982

The audience response--visible at the end of the video--is much like my own.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:08 AM (RuTUS)

8 Daily Tech News 31 December 2025

That's ... normal.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:09 AM (RuTUS)

9 5 Disclaimer: Yes, there's a pattern.

They're all chicks?
Posted by: m

No. I mean, yes, but that's not the pattern.

https://ai.mee.nu/daily_news_stuff_
31_december_2024

Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 31, 2025 04:13 AM (BLOW1)

10 Bangles and B-52s might be "chicks". Madonna is a [censored]

Posted by: gKWVE at December 31, 2025 04:15 AM (gKWVE)

11 from the Atlantic AI article:

The optimistic case for AI is that new artistic tools will yield new forms of art, much as the invention of the camera created the art of photography and pushed painters to explore less realistic forms.

Yep.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:16 AM (RuTUS)

12
Not seeing the problem here to be honest.

==============

"the cultivation of art also requires the cultivation of artists," says The Atlantic guy.

Honestly, get the bean-counters and DEI-obsessed "artists" out of the way and let AI write some scripts. It couldn't be worse than what we're getting now.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 31, 2025 04:25 AM (2YF7/)

13 The optimistic case for AI is that new artistic tools will yield new forms of art, much as the invention of the camera created the art of photography and pushed painters to explore less realistic forms.

I had a lot of time yesterday, so I did a quick look into using AI to create trailers for my book, like the one my friend has for hers:

https://tinyurl.com/3r9h9s79

But. . .

My enthusiasm for doing that went right out the window when I got an e-mail from her yesterday. Her agent has been frantically trying to get in touch with her because Kathleen Kennedy* wants to set up a meeting.

Why should I even fucking bother?

*yes, I know. And I saw Ace's post about media and Hollywood dying. But the way her luck is going, she'll be an NYT best-seller before 2026 ends. Again, I hate being jealous, but I don't know why I am even bothering.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2025 04:26 AM (ufSfZ)

14 9 5 Disclaimer: Yes, there's a pattern.

They're all chicks?
Posted by: m

No. I mean, yes, but that's not the pattern.

https://ai.mee.nu/daily_news_stuff_31_
december_2024
Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 31, 2025 04:13 AM (BLOW1)

None of them have been in my house?

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:26 AM (RuTUS)

15
the invention of the camera created the art of photography and pushed painters to explore less realistic forms.

Yep.
Posted by: m

=============

Is that really what happened? Is impressionism a reaction to photography?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 31, 2025 04:28 AM (2YF7/)

16 22 degrees here at Stately Poppins Manor. It's supposed to be a cold, cloudy day and a 70% chance of snow tomorrow. About a full hour's worth of work ahead, if I ignore distractions and just buckle down.*

I suppose I might as well start now. I need a distraction from my friend's good fortune. Talk to you all later.

*Winsocki

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2025 04:30 AM (ufSfZ)

17 Belle Stars are I think best known for their cover of Iko Iko. They failed as a band but that cover ended up on Rain Man (after they broke up) so became a hit.

Posted by: gKWVE at December 31, 2025 04:30 AM (gKWVE)

18 from the Atlantic AI article:

"AI is also displacing the humans doing many of my subsequent jobs"

Welp, learn to code or learn to write.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:32 AM (RuTUS)

19 15 the invention of the camera created the art of photography and pushed painters to explore less realistic forms.

Yep.
Posted by: m

=============

Is that really what happened? Is impressionism a reaction to photography?
Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 31, 2025 04:28 AM (2YF7/)

Hmm. The claim seemed fine to me, but maybe it is oversimplifying the matter. "Pushed painters to explore less realistic forms"--maybe "encouraged"?

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:37 AM (RuTUS)

20 Is that really what happened? Is impressionism a reaction to photography?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 31, 2025 04:28 AM (2YF7/)

Or Impressionism is the artistic equivalent of a photographic snapshot.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 31, 2025 04:38 AM (n9ltV)

21 Disclaimer: Yes, there's a pattern.

All the band names begin with a "B" except for Madonna's?

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:41 AM (RuTUS)

22 So in 3 hours and 13 minutes it will be New Year in Australia

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:47 AM (Ia/+0)

23 Madonna is a train wreck

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:48 AM (Ia/+0)

24 17 Belle Stars are I think best known for their cover of Iko Iko. They failed as a band but that cover ended up on Rain Man (after they broke up) so became a hit.
Posted by: gKWVE at December 31, 2025 04:30 AM (gKWVE)

Iko Iko is at Pixy's link:

9 5 Disclaimer: Yes, there's a pattern.

They're all chicks?
Posted by: m

that's not the pattern

https://ai.mee.nu/daily_news_stuff_
31_december_2024
Posted by: Pixy Misa at December 31, 2025 04:13 AM (BLOW1)

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:48 AM (RuTUS)

25 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 31, 2025 04:53 AM (sAmhv)

26 Morning all

Posted by: rickb223 at December 31, 2025 04:55 AM (c115l)

27
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at December 31, 2025 04:55 AM (tljrc)

28 10 Madonna is a [censored]
Posted by: gKWVE at December 31, 2025 04:15 AM (gKWVE)

23 Madonna is a train wreck
Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:48 AM (Ia/+0)

Tough audience!

Wikipedia: Madonna Louise Ciccone; born August 16, 195

is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Queen of Pop", she is regarded as a cultural icon spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries. ... Madonna is the best-selling female music artist of all time and the first female performer to accumulate US$1 billion from her concerts.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 04:56 AM (RuTUS)

29 G'mornin' everyone!

24 degrees, overcast, breezy.

meh. want coffee.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 31, 2025 05:01 AM (Cjt/F)

30
she is regarded as a cultural icon spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries. ... Madonna is the best-selling female music artist of all time and the first female performer to accumulate US$1 billion from her concerts.
Posted by: m

=============

Some days I feel like carving in stone for future generations that I, Blonde Morticia, had nothing to do with this.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 31, 2025 05:04 AM (2YF7/)

31 She still looks like Hell in human form

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 05:05 AM (Ia/+0)

32 Very belated BOING!

Too much shopping!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at December 31, 2025 05:05 AM (Pmfrl)

33 And, right on cue, from the Minnesota Star-Tribune:

"Police investigating overnight burglary of Somali day care in south Minneapolis. The break-in comes in the aftermath of a viral video alleging fraud by several Somali child care centers."

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2025 05:06 AM (ufSfZ)

34 A robbery to cover up the crime
How convenient

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 05:12 AM (Ia/+0)

35
"Police investigating overnight burglary of Somali day care

==============

Why? Do they keep cash and other valuables in the day care? If you're going to commit a burglary, why not hit a jewelry store or a pharmacy? Or a home belonging to a Somali day care owner? Just go to the expensive area of town where everyone drives late-model luxury cars.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 31, 2025 05:14 AM (2YF7/)

36 33, yup, right on schedule.
false-flag bomb, or a jussie smollet coming up next.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 31, 2025 05:14 AM (Cjt/F)

37 Good morning! Currently 39, looking for a bright sunshiny day in the high 60s. Perfect golf weather.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2025 05:14 AM (3Ope8)

38 31 She still looks like Hell in human form
Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 05:05 AM (Ia/+0)

Rode hard and put up wet!

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:15 AM (RuTUS)

39 all the songs involve some sort of distinct hand movement?

Posted by: guessing without watching at December 31, 2025 05:15 AM (H0uS/)

40 Last work day of the year, and to think could have quit 2 months ago.

Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 05:16 AM (Ia/+0)

41
A robbery to cover up the crime
How convenient
Posted by: Skip

=============

This is going to be great. First you make millions from your fake day care, then you burn it down to destroy the evidence, and BONUS -- and collect the insurance. By the time all the tribes have passed around your wages and premiums, it's a win-win-win-win-win-win!!

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at December 31, 2025 05:16 AM (2YF7/)

42 The Bangles video was good. The video of them doing walk like an Egyptian is prime 80s.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2025 05:18 AM (3Ope8)

43 Let me know when you get to this point with RAM. I find it interesting to see how chips are programmed

https://tinyurl.com/3xjv8eh8

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 31, 2025 05:20 AM (+mUZM)

44 22 So in 3 hours and 13 minutes it will be New Year in Australia
Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:47 AM (Ia/+0)

And we'll be in another thread by then, I think.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:22 AM (RuTUS)

45 And, more or less on the same topic -

I think Althouse's commenters are, in the main, self-centered assholes, but "FormerLawClerk" nails it, IMO:

"Donald J Trump had better start perp-walking these fuckers on national television and putting them on planes to be tossed out with parachutes over Africa. Or he's going to find the last 2 years of his presidency without a single person to protect him from what the Democrats are going to do to him."

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2025 05:23 AM (ufSfZ)

46 CBD, You posted some months ago a 19th century painting that looks exactly like a black and white print. It struck me that it addressed, in a rather recursive manner, the issue of how photography impacted painting.

Whether or not photography caused artists to start painting in a manner that would become modern art Is not a linear story; however, it is clear, at least to me, photography did have some effect here.

A lot of early photographers spent their time imitating the romantic and classical forms of painting while also exploring purely photographic techniques and more modern ideas such as photojournalism. With this in mind, it's not unreasonable to consider how photography impacted painting and my sense his photography trigger to some extent caused to think more abstractly.

Photography came into its own as own art form roughly in the 1920s with Alfred Steiglitz being a highly influential character here. Group f/64, beginning in 1932, created some of the greatest photographs ever made. The impact of smaller and lighter cameras gave rise to what we now consider to be street photography was Robert Franks the Americans being highly influential.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at December 31, 2025 05:24 AM (HTCU3)

47 Female guitar players plus vocals in each band. (Madonna apparently plays guitar, all girl Belle Stars, All girl Bangles, and Cindy Wilson in the B-52s).

Posted by: actually inside the beltway at December 31, 2025 05:25 AM (aKh6S)

48 23 Madonna is a train wreck
Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:48 AM (Ia/+0)

This might be the answer Pixy was after. At the blog give he gives, he posts this after videos of these same four bands:

Disclaimer: What holds up a train?

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:25 AM (RuTUS)

49 Disclaimer: What holds up a train?
Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:25 AM (RuTUS)

The turtles.

It's turtles all the way down.

Posted by: I Like Turtles at December 31, 2025 05:27 AM (zr9Ey)

50 *At the blog link he gives

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:27 AM (RuTUS)

51 Oh, and Happy New Year to the horde.

Posted by: actually inside the beltway at December 31, 2025 05:28 AM (aKh6S)

52 All the (well deserved) smack about Madonna doesn't diminish her music. She had some great music and videos.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2025 05:29 AM (3Ope8)

53 Happy Almost New Year's everyone. It's bitterly cold over here in the GPROMD and after my shift is done, I'm buying snacks for home (Including sushi) and will be hunkering down to mark the passing of the year.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 05:32 AM (svLOV)

54
GROUP F/64
( AMERICAN GROUP )

Group f/64 was a group founded by seven 20th-century San Francisco Bay Area photographers who shared a common photographic style characterized by sharply focused and carefully framed images seen through a particularly Western (U.S.) viewpoint.

In part, they formed in opposition to the pictorial photographic style that had dominated much of the early 20th century, but moreover, they wanted to promote a new modernist aesthetic that was based on precisely exposed images of natural forms and found objects.

https://www.westongallery.com

direct link to the webpage:

https://tinyurl.com/4wky2bmf

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:33 AM (RuTUS)

55 I think painters had mostly been aiming for more and more realism up until the late 1800s.

Then Matisse and Picasso came along and personally stylized, abstract aesthetics in painting became the thing to do.

Did photography have something to do with that?
Probably, as most professional painters before photography did portraits and as photography progressed it took away 90% of their business and mostly wealthy patrons paid to have a painting made.

Landscape artists still held onto painting until the likes of Ansel Adams came along.

It's certainly an interesting question but I think photography did change traditional fine arts, along with other social and cultural factors of the past 150 years.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 05:35 AM (6ydKt)

56 And we will also be watching the series finale of Stranger Things in the vain hope that they atoned for the crappy episode they left off with. But I plan on making margaritas to help with the pain just in case.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 05:37 AM (svLOV)

57
Disclaimer: Yes, there's a pattern.

Awwwww ... you brought the bands back together!

Gonna try for a three-peat, Pixy?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:42 AM (xG4kz)

58 I have no plans for New Years here in Babylon DC. I'll order some chinese food to eat. Then, I'm just going to watch Twilight Zone and kill off the gluhwein I bought earlier this month (mulled wine). Isn't much left anyway. Go back to work tomorrow night. Might watch Bladerunner too. I haven't watched that in a while.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at December 31, 2025 05:42 AM (sAmhv)

59
A track holds up a train ... 'lessin' the train thinks its grass will be greener off the track.

Use the words ... detail / defeat / defense ... in a sentence

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:44 AM (xG4kz)

60 Evening and morning to all the NYE toilers and early risers! It's almost 2026 for Pixy, some hours to go for most of us. Been one hell of a rollercoaster year, huh?

All the (well deserved) smack about Madonna doesn't diminish her music. She had some great music and videos.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2025

***
I always liked "Vogue" for its old-school smoothness and elegance. The tune and its arrangement, I mean. In the video, well, *she* is sleekly attractive. I don't much care for the gay men posing, but maybe that's just me.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 05:45 AM (wzUl9)

61 59
A track holds up a train ... 'lessin' the train thinks its grass will be greener off the track.

Use the words ... detail / defeat / defense ... in a sentence
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:44 AM (xG4kz)

A train wreck on the tracks ahead would hold up a train, too.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:45 AM (RuTUS)

62 The only thing I can think of that these four acts have in common is they all became famous in the 1980s, that the women in these acts were essential to what defined each of them, and that all of them had music that landed in a soundtrack.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at December 31, 2025 05:47 AM (HTCU3)

63 All the (well deserved) smack about Madonna doesn't diminish her music. She had some great music and videos.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead

I dislike her music and her personality. However, I can admire her for building an empire like that.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 05:47 AM (svLOV)

64 I believe it was Prince who wrote "Manic Monday" for the Bangles. As with Bruce Springsteen, even if you don't like Prince's own stuff, and I never did, he could apparently turn out a good tune as a songwriter.

(Bruce wrote "This Girl Is Mine" for Gary U.S. Bonds, and "Fire" for the Pointer Sisters.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 05:47 AM (wzUl9)

65 Disclaimer: What holds up a train?

Finding enough guys.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 31, 2025 05:47 AM (ufSfZ)

66 59 Use the words ... detail / defeat / defense ... in a sentence
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:44 AM (xG4kz)

O.k., here goes:

Use the words ... detail / defeat / defense ... in a sentence.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:48 AM (RuTUS)

67 I liked Madonna in the 80s.
Even owned a few of her cassettes.
By the time CDs came out, I don't think I bought any of her music from then on. But I did have a few of Janet Jackson's CDs as I think she had almost as much talent as her older brother.

The last song of Madonna's I really liked was Ray of Light which came out in 1998 and was quite a departure for her with its EDM beat and style.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 05:50 AM (6ydKt)

68 The cute little puppy tried to jump over de fense, but did not get de feat nor de tail over the top.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:51 AM (RuTUS)

69 OK, folks, leftover work caught up. Guess I'll make tea and stare into the darkness for a while.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2025 05:51 AM (ufSfZ)

70
gKids ar spending the night. Last night, while getting their beds ready, gSon and I were engaged in word play.

I kept trying to get him to say "but" or "butt" in our conversation (yes, this activity started from as lofty a perch as you can imagine). Then gSon decided that he would NOT say either of those words. At one point, he got himself trapped in a position from which he kept trying to use "but" to complete his thought.

He must have tried four or five times and failed, laughing, each time. I came to his rescue by suggesting that "however" would release him from his self-constructed trap. We larfed together a lot during this.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:52 AM (xG4kz)

71 Saw my doctor yesterday afternoon: All is well. The little wound on my cheek that hasn't healed is a squamous cell carcinoma, about the best thing you can have if you have to get a cancer, and I'll have it excised (leaving, the dermatologist says cheerfully, "a pretty little scar") on Monday morning. The doctor doing it has "cosmetology and plastic surgery" listed on her website; so I hope he's right about the result winding up little, if not "pretty."

Probably not the best omen for 2026, but . . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 05:52 AM (wzUl9)

72 I always liked "Vogue" for its old-school smoothness and elegance.

La Isla Bonita is a pretty good tune, and there's not a lot of poncing pillow biters.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2025 05:53 AM (3Ope8)

73 De cat caught detail and defeat in defence and I had to get it destuck

mornin yall

Posted by: fd at December 31, 2025 05:53 AM (vFG9F)

74 70 I kept trying to get him to say "but" or "butt" in our conversation (yes, this activity started from as lofty a perch as you can imagine). Then gSon decided that he would NOT say either of those words. At one point, he got himself trapped in a position from which he kept trying to use "but" to complete his thought.

... I came to his rescue by suggesting that "however" would release him from his self-constructed trap.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:52 AM (xG4kz)

Great game. Maybe he could make a list of possible replacement terms.

"and yet"

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:56 AM (RuTUS)

75
68

"Well done, m!", rejoindered Little Johnny. "I, myself. prefer, 'When de horse jumps over de fence, de feat go over before de tail!'"

(from an old, old joke that I recall from when I was but a chronological child)

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:56 AM (xG4kz)

76 When I first knew Miss Linda, I thought she looked quite a bit like the young Madonna with dark hair. Except, you know, not trashy.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 05:57 AM (wzUl9)

77 75 68 "Well done, m!", rejoindered Little Johnny. "I, myself. prefer, 'When de horse jumps over de fence, de feat go over before de tail!'"

(from an old, old joke that I recall from when I was but a chronological child)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 05:56 AM (xG4kz)

Muuuuch better!

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 05:57 AM (RuTUS)

78 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 31, 2025 05:57 AM (2Ez/1)

79 69 OK, folks, leftover work caught up. Guess I'll make tea and stare into the darkness for a while.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at December 31, 2025 05:51 AM (ufSfZ)

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 05:59 AM (6ydKt)

80
Once the gKids go home later this afternoon, my preparation for teaching the metalworking class one Saturday and Sunday will begin in earnest.

Ernest is not pleased at that prospect.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:01 AM (xG4kz)

81 Depending who you ask, it's either 40 or 43 F. in Da Swamp. Not much wind, but at 40 it's enough to lower the wind chill to 37. (When did "wind chill" become "feels like"?)

I need to exchange, or maybe return, the too-small Tecovas boots I bought on Monday. Somehow the thought of driving 1.5 hours up the highway to the store and another 1.5 back is daunting. Might be better to do it today when there might be fewer cars clogging the roads thanks to the holiday week. I certainly want to be back home before the evening's craziness starts.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 06:01 AM (wzUl9)

82 A broader and equally interesting question is how photography, recorded music, and movies impacted the arts. The critical connection is that they all used technology to capture what was being expressed and in effect lowered the bar, democratized if you will, who could participate in a meaningful way in the arts.

Once again, with the rise of AI, we're in a similar situation it seems to me; in effect we might be on the cusp of an age of the ubiquity of masterpieces all generated by AI. How this plays out is an interesting question. Ultimately, I think AI generated works are only going to make human generated works more valuable because it will draw the sharp line between the creative human mind and the imitative AI output The only thing that seems clear to me is that AI technology is going to trigger artists to create in different ways with the additional bonus this time around is literature will be affected too.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at December 31, 2025 06:01 AM (HTCU3)

83 La Isla Bonita is a pretty good tune, and there's not a lot of poncing pillow biters.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2025 05:53 AM (3Ope

I'm pretty sure that was on one of the cassettes I owned.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 06:01 AM (6ydKt)

84 The only thing that seems clear to me is that AI technology is going to trigger artists to create in different ways with the additional bonus this time around is literature will be affected too.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at December 31, 2025 06:01 AM (HTCU3)

I'm afraid it's going to fill the world with 95% slop.
But, honestly, it's not much different from what we have now with everybody carrying a camera in their pockets and social media.

The biggest problem is going to be determining what's real and what's fake.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 06:04 AM (6ydKt)

85
I saw Poncing Pillow Biters open for Any Swinging Dick in the Castro District in the late 70s.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:04 AM (xG4kz)

86 He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025

***
I suspect the Abyss would throw up Its hands and turn away, finding me shallow and littered with snippets of scenes from Silver Age Superman comics, Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Trek episodes, great irregular chunks from novels both literary and not, and a slew of vividly-drawn yet pointless life memories and silly choices.

Take *that*, Abyss!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 06:07 AM (wzUl9)

87
Has the Swedish doom goblin fully embraced the Gazan cause by satisfying its requirement to undergo mandatory female genital mutilation?

You are just a poseur if you do not, you little Scandi troll, you!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:10 AM (xG4kz)

88 Swedish doom goblin

My favorite ones are Pippi Ragestocking and Scoldilocks.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 06:12 AM (svLOV)

89 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Walk without rhythm, don't attract the worm.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at December 31, 2025 06:12 AM (qbLEp)

90
I thoroughly enjoyed the opening sequence, with its "Iko Iko" soundtrack, in "Rain Man".

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:14 AM (xG4kz)

91
Rejoinder: Walk without rhythm, don't attract the worm.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea

Don't fear the Reaper. Moar cowbell!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:15 AM (xG4kz)

92 Don't fear the Reaper.
-----------
Non timetis messor.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at December 31, 2025 06:17 AM (qbLEp)

93 Check the link in my nic and tell me if you think this guy looks like angry Joxer from "Xena:Warrior Princess".

Posted by: fd at December 31, 2025 06:18 AM (vFG9F)

94 Good morning, folks. Last day of the year. Hope the new one is a good one for you people.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 31, 2025 06:20 AM (qE3Wr)

95 And we will also be watching the series finale of Stranger Things in the vain hope that they atoned for the crappy episode they left off with. But I plan on making margaritas to help with the pain just in case.
Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 05:37 AM (svLOV)
----
You're gonna need 'em...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 31, 2025 06:21 AM (ESVrU)

96 I s'pose it's time to feed the furry thugs. Little Dagny the aloof kitten is sitting on the arm of the sofa right by me. A signal that Feeding Time Is Nigh, Hooman.

The last three nights I've scooped her up and settled her in my lap on a pillow. And she has actually stayed, enjoying the petting. Maybe she'll be willing to leap up onto me on her own, someday.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 06:23 AM (wzUl9)

97 The biggest problem is going to be determining what's real and what's fake.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at
----

There was a comment on X the other day that he had developed a algorithm that was 90% accuracy identifying AI.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 06:23 AM (bLAch)

98 You're gonna need 'em...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

I think at this point, it's a grudge match to finish the series. It would have been cool if the reaction to the character coming out was everyone saying "Yeah, dude. We already knew." That might have saved the series.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 06:25 AM (svLOV)

99 I suspect the Abyss would throw up Its hands and turn away, finding me shallow and littered with snippets of scenes from Silver Age Superman comics, Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Trek episodes, great irregular chunks from novels both literary and not, and a slew of vividly-drawn yet pointless life memories and silly choices.

Take *that*, Abyss!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 06:07 AM (wzUl9)

C'est la vie.
https://youtu.be/CGtf9QfITQw

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 06:25 AM (6ydKt)

100 Why? Do they keep cash and other valuables in the day care?...
Posted by: Blonde Morticia a
---

Someone (a racist) stole all the children and the receipts too.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 06:26 AM (bLAch)

101 "Someone (a racist) stole all the children and the receipts too.

Posted by: Braenyard"

And all the video cameras and the DVR.

Posted by: fd at December 31, 2025 06:28 AM (vFG9F)

102
Tatiana Schlossberg, a granddaughter of JFK, is dead at 35 after cancer diagnosis

Yes, it was the diagnosis that killed her, NBC News' headline writers, you complete idiots.

And yet her talent-free nepo baby brother, Jack, continues his run for Congress.Running for The Webble's seat, he is.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:28 AM (xG4kz)

103 YouTube is really starting to piss me off with this new design and other crap they've done to the site in the past few weeks.

It's taking forever to load and always wants to add a "Mixes" playlist to any song you find through a search, and they're making it almost impossible to load the pages if you have an ad-blocker by repeatedly sending requests slowing everything down to a crawl unless you turn off the shields.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 06:28 AM (6ydKt)

104 Gonna be a cigar and coffee on the patio to watch the birds at the feeder morning. Probably have to wear the wool beanie, a robe and socks though, and use the heavy blanket.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 31, 2025 06:30 AM (3Ope8)

105 There was a comment on X the other day that he had developed a algorithm that was 90% accuracy identifying AI.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 06:23 AM (bLAch)

It's going to be needed.
There will be a big business in "AI Detection" over the next ten years.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025 06:30 AM (6ydKt)

106
Running for the Weeble's set he is.

The Weeble being Jerry "Who Sharted?" Nadler, of course.

And NOW, the dead link is purged from my nic.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:35 AM (xG4kz)

107
Daycare robbers are replacing daydream believers

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:37 AM (xG4kz)

108
"Put all your fruit squeezes and juiceboxes in the sack!" screamed the Somali daycare robbers to the mostly confused toddler skinnies.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:39 AM (xG4kz)

109 Running for the Weeble's set he is.

The Weeble being Jerry "Who Sharted?" Nadler, of course.

----------
Better make sure the seat is cleaned and disinfected.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at December 31, 2025 06:39 AM (qbLEp)

110 Whew! I thought this year would end without yhe Bangles. Thanks Pixie.

Posted by: Eromero at December 31, 2025 06:40 AM (Slgjz)

111
By ceding Minnesota to Canada, Toronto and Minneapolis could have their long anticipated Thunderdome bout to determine which one was the Stupidest City in Canada.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:43 AM (xG4kz)

112
Time to go hunt up my (checks the last entry in the tree) German forebears in the archival world.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:45 AM (xG4kz)

113 C'est la vie.
https://youtu.be/CGtf9QfITQw
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 31, 2025

***
Or as Mother-in-Law No. 2 (the hot one) used to say (ironically), "App-rezz voos, mawn cherry!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 06:46 AM (wzUl9)

114 What God showed me yesterday

Was out with spouse two miles from home. Neither of us brought a cell phone ( from now old fogeys need to always bring phones) . There was a loud noise and smoke and the car died right off a major highway. He walked home to get another car. Because we didn't have our phones we called AAA from a bagel shop but the dispatcher was obviously confused thinking the bagel shop number of the guy was our phone. Anyhow, if we had not been stuck by the side of the road I would not have heard Sean Hannity's replacement who had some conservative pastor ( Jack Hibbs) o.n who has a new book out about standing up courageously for your faith and apparently thinks Islam is huge danger. Good for him) and I would not have seen a beautiful sunset. I am thankful to God spouse was with me.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 06:46 AM (IEV/x)

115 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at December 31, 2025 06:47 AM (bQ4nt)

116 There are two Madonna songs I like.

This Used To Be My Playground is haunting and thought provoking.

https://youtu.be/RhXDO2a3-sE

Papa Don't Preach is quite good musically and actually carries a good message.

https://youtu.be/G333Is7VPOg

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at December 31, 2025 06:47 AM (2Ez/1)

117 87 the Swedish doom goblin
little Scandi troll
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at December 31, 2025 06:10 AM (xG4kz)

88 Pippi Ragestocking
Scoldilocks
Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 06:12 AM (svLOV)

These are all simply primo.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 06:49 AM (RuTUS)

118 I am thankful to God spouse was with me.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

Glad the story had a decent ending, Fen.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 06:50 AM (svLOV)

119 >>>I hope he's right about the result winding up little, if not "pretty."

Probably not the best omen for 2026, but . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming o
---

Seven stitches for mine, I think it's Hammer that has about that many too.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 06:50 AM (bLAch)

120 Greyhound stories.

So right now, we have two girl guests. My wife did a turnout yesterday and checked on them a few minutes later. The two girls were stalking each other and my girl was in a crouch waiting to pounce on either of them.

Thankfully that chaos was confined to the yard as opposed to inside the house.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 06:51 AM (svLOV)

121 I remember the controversy at the time over Papa Don't Preach. It turned out that a lot of the "pro-coice" crowd really only wants you to choose abortion.

Posted by: Wally at December 31, 2025 06:51 AM (Z74lS)

122 I hope he's right about the result winding up little, if not "pretty."

Probably not the best omen for 2026, but . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming o
---

Seven stitches for mine, I think it's Hammer that has about that many too.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025

***
How long ago was it, Braenyard, and is the site still noticeable?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 06:52 AM (wzUl9)

123 That Bangles chick is just rockin’ the “A” chord in that thumbnail of the vid. I bet she’s in the Rolling Stone top 20 “Greatest Guitar Players” of All Time, edging out Ted Nugent and Jorma Kaukonnen, natch

Posted by: Common Tater at December 31, 2025 06:53 AM (anZ4T)

124 Greyhound stories

So right now, we have two girl guests. My wife did a turnout yesterday and checked on them a few minutes later. The two girls were stalking each other and my girl was in a crouch waiting to pounce on either of them.

Thankfully that chaos was confined to the yard as opposed to inside the house.
Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025

***
I missed the "Greyhound stories" intro and was picturing something entirely different. . . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 06:53 AM (wzUl9)

125 I am thankful to God spouse was with me.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke
----------

Little things of greatness.
Hope your car turns out to be a small problem.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 06:54 AM (bLAch)

126 I missed the "Greyhound stories" intro and was picturing something entirely different. . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

I'm way too boring for anything like that but that was funny to read.

The problem we are having with one of the girls is that she's young and BOOOOORED! There have been times when we turn them out and she tries to instigate with my dog. And that's why we muzzle them when they are in the yard.

Posted by: NR Pax at December 31, 2025 06:56 AM (svLOV)

127 Oh, yes- just a note to the nice people who put up with my non techy ignorance and to dear Puxy who lets me post others things- I am not a priestess , never have been and never will be. I am not an Anglican or Episcopalian, and even in those traditions they don't call women priests "priestesses" This is used because the person here uses it as a term of derision. I not like Reverend and don't use it except officially ( I use pastor) and it would be as silly to call a woman a pastoress as it would be to call a woman doctor a "doctoress " or a nurse a "nurse-ess" And if anyone thinks I'm out at the church worshipping Astarte while dancing around a pile of molten down metal made from purity rings, they clearly haven't been readings my posts from Christian devotionals😉

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 06:57 AM (IEV/x)

128 22 So in 3 hours and 13 minutes it will be New Year in Australia
Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025 04:47 AM (Ia/+0)

There are several Australia timezones and I'm not sure which one Pixy is in.

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 06:57 AM (RuTUS)

129 Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December

Thanks. It's. Dry kind of you I think probably the car has died. It was a used car.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 06:58 AM (IEV/x)

130 ***
How long ago was it, Braenyard, and is the site still noticeable?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming
---

Only if you look at it. But it's a manly scar.
Your Honey will love itl.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 06:59 AM (bLAch)

131 It's "very..."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 07:00 AM (IEV/x)

132 He's in the other one. No, not that one. The one further over.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at December 31, 2025 07:00 AM (2Ez/1)

133 JJS NOOD

Posted by: Nazdar at December 31, 2025 07:00 AM (NcvvS)

134 So in 3 hours and 13 minutes it will be New Year in Australia
Posted by: Skip at December 31, 2025
*
There are several Australia timezones and I'm not sure which one Pixy is in.
Posted by: m at December 31, 2025

***
My local Fox outlet opened the 5 am Central segment with the news that New Zealand has welcomed in 2026. They are apparently two hours later than Sydney, which right now (6 am my time) is about an hour short of midnight.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 31, 2025 07:02 AM (wzUl9)

135
"Pastorette."

Posted by: Channelling my inner Rush Limbaugh at December 31, 2025 07:02 AM (2Ez/1)

136 @114 - always nice to turn something bad into something good, glad it all worked out for you Fen.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 31, 2025 07:04 AM (w+hdv)

137 And I woke up a 3:00 and and went downstairs. Spouse just appeared and said in the quote from
Bob Cratchit " I am a little behind my time." 😉

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 07:04 AM (uA11f)

138 Posted by: Channelling my inner Rush Limbaugh at December 31, 2025 07:02 AM (2Ez/1)

We do r call them that either. 😉It sounds like a dairy drink . Rush Limbaugh and I would get along fine even if he didn't come to me church which I serve which would have been fine.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 07:07 AM (uA11f)

139 Astarte while dancing around a pile of molten down metal made from purity rings, they clearly haven't been readings my posts from Christian devotionals😉

Posted by: FenelonSpoke
-------------

Conjures up image of barefoot woman with finger cymbals.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 07:07 AM (bLAch)

140 "The church" Did I mention. I hate tiny cell phone screen.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 07:08 AM (uA11f)

141 I spelled cymbals wrong four ways and Brave let it ride. Brave has terrible spell check.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 07:08 AM (bLAch)

142 Sharing a note:

May all the blessings of the Lord be yours in abundance in the New Year
Isaiah 43:13

Happy New Year Morning People & Pixy too.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 07:13 AM (bLAch)

143 And today's devotional for the New Year: "Resolving to do less.": John 15:4-12:

https://tinyurl.com/4s8wmfwz

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at December 31, 2025 07:13 AM (uA11f)

144 repeatedly sending requests slowing everything down to a crawl unless you turn off the shields.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
------------

Opera is easy to download and it will sit there until you enter a ewetub address and play it. Opera will open most anything.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 31, 2025 07:20 AM (bLAch)

145 Happy, Happy New Year when it's time, Pixy!

Posted by: m at December 31, 2025 08:00 AM (RuTUS)

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