Daily Tech News 11 February 2026

Top Story

The global memory market is set to hit $550 billion this year. (Trendforce)

Thanks a bunch, Sam Altman.

Speaking of which, two of the SSDs I ordered during the brief sale late last year seem to have disappeared into the Twilight Zone. Amazon gave me a refund without a fuss, but now I have to pay twice as much to replace them. Though, given the compression of SSD prices, that does give me much better drives - Crucial T710 vs. P310.
And while the Big Three memory makers don't plan to do anything to alleviate the shortage - quite the opposite - TSMC is planning to invest $45 billion on new factories this year. (Tom's Hardware)

The company is also working on a 1nm process due around 2030.

Tech News

Europe is working - well, not working so much, because they don't do that over there, but scheming - towards yet another failed attempt at breaking away from the clutches of the American payment processors. (European Business Magazine)

I don't know. Have you tried... Cash?
Meanwhile in Japan the stock market gained $3 trillion on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's extremely successful re-election bid. (European Business Magazine)

Takaichi's party won a two-thirds supermajority in Japan's parliament even without the help of their coalition partner. Her election platform includes plans to invest $700 billion in AI, semiconductor manufacturing, and quantum.
Python's dynamic typing problem. (While For Loop)

The Python programming language is designed for rapid development of small, simple applications, but the exact features that make it shine there are a massive pain when your application stops being small and simple.

I maintain an application containing about a million lines of Python at my day job, which is a long way beyond small or simple. When your programming language does not force rigour upon you, you had better be prepared to provide it yourself.
Microsoft has announced plans to make Windows 11 more confusing. (Thurrott)

And that's not my editorialising, that's straight from the article.
And also more annoying. (The Register)

Same deal.
Microsoft also issued a DMCA takedown against indie block game Allumeria. (Notebook Check)

The takedown has since despawned, but the developers thank the three trillion dollar company for the free publicity.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: EVERYTHING IS NOT ALRIGHT!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at February 11, 2026 04:05 AM (Ia/+0)

2 Guten morgen, horde.

Posted by: clarence at February 11, 2026 04:06 AM (4nyld)

3 Good morning

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 11, 2026 04:06 AM (qlUA+)

4 Morning all.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 11, 2026 04:06 AM (BLOW1)

5 BOING!

Exercise done. To the shower!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 04:09 AM (gK5jz)

6 Good morning.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 04:13 AM (0KSrI)

7 Mornin'

I have to go into work today. Not to my office, another office to pick up some paperwork. Nothing major and what its for, I'll never do. But fED guVeRMinT is demanding it, and I work for them. Whatever. I'll take some comp time for this! An hour anyway.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at February 11, 2026 04:14 AM (sAmhv)

8 Has M$ decided to stress test their ability to survive? Doing so many stupid moves lately.

Posted by: clarence at February 11, 2026 04:14 AM (4nyld)

9 Her election platform includes plans to invest $700 billion in AI, semiconductor manufacturing, and quantum.
---

Toto Commodes, they've been making them since 1917. Top of the line. You can purchase them fitted with bidets and seat warmers. They also make little ceramic clamps that hold chips while they are being fabricated or something like that.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 11, 2026 04:22 AM (/LXUT)

10 Female singer is cute. Looked her up. Aussie, 59, still in the music biz. Seems to be a fan girl of Ron L Hubbard's weird little cult, at least according to IMDb and Wiki.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at February 11, 2026 04:24 AM (sAmhv)

11 Chick has a spooky. Would not want to be in a room alone with her.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 11, 2026 04:27 AM (/LXUT)

12 Canadian shooter goes on a killing rampage. Too bad they only have the Mounties to rely upon.

Dudley Do-Right’s horse response time is about 8 minutes out.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 11, 2026 04:35 AM (xFfhU)

13 Testing

Posted by: Tuna at February 11, 2026 04:37 AM (lJ0H4)

14 Video was nice

Posted by: Skip at February 11, 2026 04:38 AM (Ia/+0)

15 Morning, 'rons and 'ronettes. 29 degrees here at Stately Poppins Manor, which is a heat wave compared to temperatures over the last few days. We had snow last night, but at this time of the morning, I can't tell how much the plows have piled up around me, so I don't know how long it's going to take me to dig out after work.

Work! It is, finally, after 40+ years, my last day! I've got a couple of hours' work ahead of me, but once that is done, I told the office that if things are clear at 10.30, I am signing out. We shall see.

Talk to you all on the Morning Report.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 11, 2026 04:41 AM (ufSfZ)

16 Congratulations MP4. Hope your last work day is short.

Posted by: Tuna at February 11, 2026 04:43 AM (lJ0H4)

17 FDA rejects Moderna's new flu vaccine

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 04:47 AM (0KSrI)

18 Canadian shooter goes on a killing rampage.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 11, 2026 04:35 AM (xFfhU)
-

Guess ~~who~~ the gender?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 04:48 AM (7xyr6)

19 Ron L Hubbard's weird little cult..Not so small actually, and I used to listen to his radio broadcast.
Relatives got hooked and spent a lot of money on the cult. He milked them for all he could and traveled by private jet. They held huge conventions in Orlando, Niagara Falls and probably other places. You had to give a certain amount of money each month or year, no matter how poor (or rich) you were. Now they look back on it and wonder what the hell they were thinking. But Ron had a way with words that sort of made sense.

Posted by: Colin at February 11, 2026 04:49 AM (e8qy3)

20 Guess ~~who~~ the gender?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 04:48 AM (7xyr6)
-

https://tinyurl.com/3uxmuezh

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 04:50 AM (7xyr6)

21 Took.his own life. Good

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 04:53 AM (0KSrI)

22 I would rather go back to bed then go to work

Posted by: Skip at February 11, 2026 04:54 AM (Ia/+0)

23 Evening and morning for this Woden's Day in (almost) mid-February -- and congratulations to MP4 on his last work day!

I'm awake early, no blame to attach to the cats; it just happened. Which happens. It's 66 F. outside, but I have no plans to work out today after yesterday's vigorous session. Later, Miss Linda wants to go to the Macy's at the suburban mall, and I can visit the nearby pipe shop and probably spend money I shouldn't.

Howzabout you?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 04:55 AM (wzUl9)

24 10 dead, 25 injured after a 'woman wearing a dress' opens fire in a school

Umm, yeah play right into their game why don't you

Posted by: Skip at February 11, 2026 04:57 AM (Ia/+0)

25 Revolver News has a picture of the man

Posted by: Skip at February 11, 2026 04:58 AM (Ia/+0)

26 But Ron had a way with words that sort of made sense.
Posted by: Colin at February 11, 2026

***
Hubbard began as a pulp SF writer; Heinlein knew him in the '40s. The story goes that they had stepped outside at a party, and a dust devil was whirling along a nearly alley, stirring up papers. Ron said, "Oh, that's just Kitten," and went back inside. Heinlein wrote that down and turned it into his story "Our Fair City," which features a living whirlwind, Kitten, who helps her humans take down a corrupt mayor. (I think that's how it plays out; it's been a while since I read it.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 04:59 AM (wzUl9)

27 Work! It is, finally, after 40+ years. Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing.
Congratulations on 40 years of work.
I was amazed that how quickly the company shut off my assess to anything in the building. Computer didn't log on, had to be let out by the security person as the turnstile wouldn't open. Files locked, good bye and have a nice day. I did have a nice farewell party though.

Posted by: Colin at February 11, 2026 04:59 AM (e8qy3)

28 My current job starts at 6:30 but it is only 20 minutes away. Out the door at 6 and home by 3. The only time it sux is when I have to work in Millsboro when the commute 90 minutes. I feel your pain, Skip

Posted by: Accomack at February 11, 2026 05:00 AM (T8bqm)

29 My job site is one step out my door.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 05:01 AM (0KSrI)

30 My job site is one step out my door.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 05:01 AM (0KSrI)
-

Hall monitor?

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 05:07 AM (7xyr6)

31 I really detest article writers who don't flat out dismiss Trannies for their mental illness beliefs

Posted by: Skip at February 11, 2026 05:07 AM (Ia/+0)

32 Files locked, good bye and have a nice day. I did have a nice farewell party though.
Posted by: Colin

I was working from home when I retired so I didn't have to deal with any of the in office stuff. Packed up my computer and laptop the next day and that was that.

Posted by: Tuna at February 11, 2026 05:08 AM (lJ0H4)

33 Biden's Dog, barndominium. Livestock is 24/7/365

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 05:08 AM (0KSrI)

34 Used to read about workers in SF spending hours a week getting to work, because SF was to expensive to even think of buying a house. Now that the new high speed rail is coming along, commute should be quick assuming you work in Bakersfield or Merced. Progress under Newsom is amazing.
/sarc.

Posted by: Colin at February 11, 2026 05:08 AM (e8qy3)

35 My first job, a part-time gig, was as a phone solicitor for a magazine publisher, selling subscriptions. That was in early 1974. Then I worked -- in radio, as a van driver/courier, as a waiter (very briefly), in radio again, as an office assistant, a computer programmer and analyst, and finally as an office manager -- for a hair over fifty-one years.

Egad. I'm amazed I could afford to retire.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 05:08 AM (wzUl9)

36 Biden's Dog, barndominium. Livestock is 24/7/365

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 05:08 AM (0KSrI)
-

/hums to self green acres theme

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 05:10 AM (7xyr6)

37 The Saks Fifth Avenue store in downtown is closing. The local "news" blames it on a poor economy and online sales. Nobody mentions an important detail: that no one wants to go downtown to shop. Traffic, paying $$$ to park even on Saturday, homeless and panhandlers abounding -- of course you'd rather go online, or drive to stores and park for free in the suburbs, where most of the people with disposable income here live.

And the prices at Saks are enough to give you heart palpitations, too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 05:14 AM (wzUl9)

38 Big black Stirling cat just hoicked up a hairball. I got to him in time to slide him onto the kitchen tile floor. He does that very rarely compared to his longer-haired predecessors Wolf and Chekov. With them I was always having to spot-clean the carpet.

Little Dagny is bushy-furred too, but she doesn't seem to do that often.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 05:16 AM (wzUl9)

39 Horrible situation. The Left has created an army of Frankensteins to rampage and murder innocents. Mental illness should be treated, not exploited for mayhem.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 11, 2026 05:18 AM (xFfhU)

40 My cats must be exceptional. They are 10 and have never hooked up anything. They are on a wet food only diet with an occasional dry treat thrown in.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 05:20 AM (0KSrI)

41 When I started one of first jobs after college the downtown of the city I lived near was a bustling place. Dept. stores, and malls and restaurants and lots of people. All is gone now and the only store downtown is a Family Dollar which gets robbed often. Shopping is all in the suburbs now, with easy access by all the new expressways. Having traveled a lot the last 15 years, its that way all over the country, not just in the blue states.

Posted by: Colin at February 11, 2026 05:21 AM (e8qy3)

42 G'morning, all!

Canadian shooter is being referred to as a 'gunperson'.

Hmmmm.....I think I know how this ends.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 11, 2026 05:23 AM (iMotb)

43 Ben Had, I think longer-haired cats, even if brushed regularly (and most of mine have hated that), will tend to hairballs a bit more than their shorter-haired cousins. Stirling is a medium-hair, with a silky-plushy but not long coat.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 05:23 AM (wzUl9)

44 59.8 degrees outside.

Getting ready for the morning walk.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 11, 2026 05:24 AM (iMotb)

45 Good morning! Retirement; a little story.....Retired (took the early buyout) in 2014. About a year later a friend called and asked me to help him over the summer on a project in Colorado. Spent the next 7.5 years there working full time. After the Sino Sinus Syphilis fiasco we sold the house and moved back to Texas and retired again. About a year and a half later, a friend called and said he was working a big project and needed help, so now I commute up to AFW to work almost daily. It's a work when it's busy, golf when it's not type of arrangement. Honestly, retirement was kinda boring so I can't complain and not having to work really gives you a different perspective on it. Between that and consulting, I stay pretty busy.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at February 11, 2026 05:27 AM (3Ope8)

46 When I started one of first jobs after college the downtown of the city I lived near was a bustling place. Dept. stores, and malls and restaurants and lots of people. All is gone now and the only store downtown is a Family Dollar which gets robbed often. Shopping is all in the suburbs now, with easy access by all the new expressways. Having traveled a lot the last 15 years, its that way all over the country, not just in the blue states.
Posted by: Colin at February 11, 2026

***
When I was a kid and a teen, downtown was a big shopping and business hub too. During jr. high and high school I'd walk around and peer into jewelry store windows to admire and dream of the Rolexes and Bulova Accutrons, visit the library and stock up on books, go to first-run movies, pick up books and magazines at the two newsstands, etc.

In the '90s I used to visit Meyer the Hatter often in downtown on Saturdays. Then this benighted dump decided to activate the parking meters on that day as well as M-F -- and in shopping areas uptown that used to have free parking when you could find it. And the ferry from my side of the river to downtown is now $2.00 per person, each way. Uh, no.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 05:30 AM (wzUl9)

47 So you all remember the Trump Lion King/Obama Apes clip from last week?

Now there's a Power Rangers sequel from the same video creator. Have fun!

https://tinyurl.com/ynrwza2f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 05:33 AM (7xyr6)

48 58 years doing the work I love. My retirement and obituary will arrive at the same time.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 11, 2026 05:35 AM (0KSrI)

49 Adios Valero!

https://tinyurl.com/33kp6zyn

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026 05:41 AM (7xyr6)

50 Adios Valero!

https://tinyurl.com/33kp6zyn
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 11, 2026

***
Utter insanity. California's, I mean.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 05:45 AM (wzUl9)

51 Yes, the shooter in Canada was a fake transgender. I just can't find the picture I saw last night.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 11, 2026 05:47 AM (rZCVI)

52 If you wish to access the two statements the Tumbler Ridge RCMP have made on the shooting directly:

https://tinyurl.com/9ajp58hs
(link goes to rcmp.ca)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 11, 2026 05:50 AM (O7YUW)

53 @51/FenelonSpoke: "51 Yes, the shooter in Canada was a fake transgender. I just can't find the picture I saw last night."

Biden's Dog has a post at X with a couple of pictures at comment # 20.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at February 11, 2026 05:52 AM (O7YUW)

54 The SyFy miniseries from 2007, Tin Man, is coming up on Movies! I may not watch it all, but anything with some Zooey Deschanel in it is worth checking out.

In other news, my order of shaving cream and soap plus blades arrived yesterday. I planned to shave with the Tobacco Leaf cream, but didn't get to it. This morning for sure!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 11, 2026 05:54 AM (wzUl9)

55 Greetings and good morning, everyone. I am happy to report that my concerns about my car yesterday were unfounded after my mechanic ran a check on things. This means I don't have to go car shopping.

Posted by: NR Pax at February 11, 2026 05:54 AM (99eI0)

56 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 11, 2026 05:55 AM (2Ez/1)

57 w00t late

Posted by: m at February 11, 2026 05:55 AM (+YA9H)

58
Isn't "fake transgender" a redundancy?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 11, 2026 05:56 AM (tgvbd)

59 Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 11, 2026 05:56 AM (tgvbd)

I use it because if I used "Transgender" someone would tell me there are no transgenders-that it's fake.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 11, 2026 05:57 AM (rZCVI)

60 Posted by: NR Pax at February 11, 2026 05:54 AM (99eI0

Glad to hear that.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 11, 2026 05:57 AM (rZCVI)

61 >>>The takedown has since despawned

haha

My dictionary has "respawn":

(of a character in a video game) reappear after having been killed: if someone dies—and they probably will—they simply respawn | once an operative is downed, he'll respawn as a Hunter | [with object] : If an enemy defender gets destroyed, he will be respawned after 20 seconds.

Posted by: m at February 11, 2026 05:59 AM (+YA9H)

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