Daily Tech News 15 February 2026

Top Story

Flashpoint archive is a free, downloadable, 2.3TB archive of every Flash game ever. (Flashpoint Archive)

Pretty much.

You can also download just a 1.9MB installer that grabs the Flash files on demand from the archive, saving you rather a lot of disk space.

It's now in its 14th edition.

What Flashpoint does, mostly - apart from the obvious function of collecting over 200,000 games together in one place - is create and operate a fake internet on your PC for you so that twenty-year-old games from sites that have been dead for a decade will continue to work.

Tech News

Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)

That's just awesome.
Is "safety" dead at xAI? (Tech Crunch)

I certainly hope so. "Safety" in AI terms means censorship.
One source said, "Safety is a dead org at xAI," while the other said that Musk is "actively is trying to make the model more unhinged because safety means censorship, in a sense, to him."
"Safety" in AI means censorship to everyone, in every sense.

The only difference is whether you think censorship is a good thing or not.
Why open AI should build Slack. (Latent Space)

Slack is terrible. OpenAI is terrible. Seems like a match made in hell.

That post is getting roasted on Hacker News.
Breaking the spell of vibe coding. (Fast AI)

The author point out the similarities between vibe coders and gamblers, a connection I had not made before, but does strike a chord.

It's a toxic blend of sunk cost fallacy and FOMO.
The EU wants to ban infinite scroll - though in this case specifically from TikTok. (Politico)

Talk about toxic blends.
Taking toxic blends to an extreme, Ars Technica posted an article (Wayback Machine) on that AI agent that threw a tantrum when its code contributions were rejected.

One small problem: The article leaned heavily on AI and was filled with hallucinated and unverified quotes. (The Shamblog)
Journalistic integrity aside, I don't know how I can give a better example of what's at stake here. Yesterday I wondered what another agent searching the internet would think about this. Now we already have an example of what by all accounts appears to be another AI reinterpreting this story and hallucinating false information about me. And that interpretation has already been published in a major news outlet, as part of the persistent public record.
I don't know I'd call Ars Technica a major news outlet in 2026 - or for the past several years, except possibly for their space news which has remained mostly good.

At least not more so than Anandtech, a site that has been dead for more than a year.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Well, that took a turn.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good morning.

Posted by: Fluffy Nuggets, Jr. at February 15, 2026 04:01 AM (CPS7C)

2 People are sleeping in.

Posted by: Fluffy Nuggets, Jr. at February 15, 2026 04:03 AM (CPS7C)

3 Morning all

Posted by: Tuna at February 15, 2026 04:05 AM (lJ0H4)

4 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at February 15, 2026 04:06 AM (AdHga)

5 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 15, 2026 04:13 AM (0KSrI)

6 Good morning/afternoon/evening everybody. (Delete where not applicable.)

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 15, 2026 04:14 AM (BLOW1)

7 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.
Posted by: Ben Had

Good luck and have fun.

Posted by: Tuna at February 15, 2026 04:15 AM (lJ0H4)

8 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 04:16 AM (Ia/+0)

9 w00t

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:18 AM (+YA9H)

10 >>>Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)

Yeah, no.

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:22 AM (+YA9H)

11 BOING!

I just read the name of the YouTube singer/group and I forgot it already!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:27 AM (7xyr6)

12 So let's talk about the weather. I'll start:

https://tinyurl.com/3nzz68u5

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:28 AM (7xyr6)

13 >>>Speaking of fake internets Meta has received a patent on an AI tool that continues posting for you online after you are dead. (Business Insider)

Yeah, no.
Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:22 AM (+YA9H)

Meta needs something to keep generating content, before they become as relevant as Geocities.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at February 15, 2026 04:29 AM (S/Y4j)

14 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 15, 2026 04:13 AM (0KSrI)
-

Would be more interesting if you read it in Ed Sullivan's accent.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:29 AM (7xyr6)

15 Biden's Dog, you're very BOINGy today!

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:32 AM (+YA9H)

16 Biden's Dog, you're very BOINGy today!

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 04:32 AM (+YA9H)
-

Yet, spring is not yet in the air.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:34 AM (7xyr6)

17 Picture puzzle of the day:

Which one is which?

https://tinyurl.com/5n846c2r

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:35 AM (7xyr6)

18 Rain today, mid 40s high but below freezing now

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 04:35 AM (Ia/+0)

19
The EU: banning, regulating and fining its way to Utopia.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:42 AM (tgvbd)

20 40 degree high here today, rain snow mix overnight tonight. But I won't care, as I hope to be asleep (for a change).

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 04:42 AM (pfG3S)

21
Nasty storms last night, but they are now o'er past and it looks to be a nice day today.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:45 AM (tgvbd)

22 The EU: banning, regulating and fining its way to Utopia.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:42 AM (tgvbd)
-

You missed a method:

https://tinyurl.com/3vwudw4f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:51 AM (7xyr6)

23 It might be rain/ witer mix late this afternoon to tonight
Bit to drive tomorrow morning

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 04:52 AM (Ia/+0)

24
You missed a method:

https://tinyurl.com/3vwudw4f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:51 AM (7xyr6)

____________

I guess expropriating the kulaks' grain comes next. The Democrats and their outrunners have been floating this trial balloon for years.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 15, 2026 04:54 AM (tgvbd)

25 Virginia as the role model for the Dem Party:

Andrew Kolvet @AndrewKolvet
6h

Hillary Clinton all of a sudden telling Europeans that mass migration has gone too far.

Barack Obama all of a sudden roasting Gavin Newsom and homeless tent cities.

Dem leaders are sending a signal to moderate the message so they can go full Virginia if they win in 28.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:55 AM (7xyr6)

26 Dem leaders are sending a signal to moderate the message so they can go full Virginia if they win in 28.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:55 AM (7xyr6)
==================
This is the plan.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 04:57 AM (dct30)

27 DataRepublican asks at what point does this become treason?

I assume the question is rhetorical:

https://tinyurl.com/yeynreuy

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:01 AM (7xyr6)

28 Oh they say to tack to the center but right after they win it will be No Borders Marxism again

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 05:01 AM (Ia/+0)

29 14 No sleeping in. Horseshow day.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 15, 2026 04:13 AM (0KSrI)
-

Would be more interesting if you read it in Ed Sullivan's accent.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 04:29 AM (7xyr6)

Or Mr. Ed's.

Posted by: Fluffy Nuggets, Jr. at February 15, 2026 05:02 AM (CPS7C)

30 Dont think heard that Chumbawamba before

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (Ia/+0)

31 Good morning early risers. Did anyone see Marco Rubio’s speech from Munich?

A pretty powerful statement about the last sixty years and why the Trump administration is not sticking to the status quo. Good stuff.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (qlUA+)

32 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at February 15, 2026 05:09 AM (AN2gy)

33 You know who else gave a powerful speech in Munich?

Posted by: that guy who is always banging on about schicklegruber at February 15, 2026 05:12 AM (hMpx9)

34 31 Good morning early risers. Did anyone see Marco Rubio’s speech from Munich?

A pretty powerful statement about the last sixty years and why the Trump administration is not sticking to the status quo. Good stuff.
Posted by: Pete Bog at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (qlUA+)

It was great!

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:13 AM (+YA9H)

35 DataRepublican asks at what point does this become treason?

I assume the question is rhetorical:

https://tinyurl.com/yeynreuy
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:01 AM (7xyr6)
================
The "Institute Of Peace" is funded by the US government and employs Rosarie Tucci, who seems to be a leader of this group. This has CIA written all over it.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 05:14 AM (s16GZ)

36 (Wikipedia)

Schicklgruber

Alois Schicklgruber, better known as Alois Hitler, Austrian civil servant and the father of Adolf Hitler

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:15 AM (+YA9H)

37 Good morning early risers. Did anyone see Marco Rubio’s speech from Munich?

A pretty powerful statement about the last sixty years and why the Trump administration is not sticking to the status quo. Good stuff.

Posted by: Pete Bog at February 15, 2026 05:06 AM (qlUA+)
-

The highlight:

https://tinyurl.com/4ca4d97f

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at February 15, 2026 05:21 AM (UzL96)

38 At the center of the cancer stand permanent "foundations", leftist controlled and hugely wealthy sinecures, where these maggots meet and plan the overthrow of our Republic.

Pass a law limiting the life of foundations to the lifetime of the founder plus ten years. Give it all away, and do not become a home for marxist revolutionaries.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 15, 2026 05:21 AM (4Q0Xg)

39 Reading a few articles on Olympic judging, reminds me even as a teenager, judged events to me were subjected to fraud or at least bias. At the time a Soviet block judge would be accused of giving a friendly athlete a better score. Give me a clock or goals scored to find a winner.

Posted by: Skip at February 15, 2026 05:26 AM (Ia/+0)

40 Reading a few articles on Olympic judging, reminds me even as a teenager, judged events to me were subjected to fraud or at least bias. At the time a Soviet block judge would be accused of giving a friendly athlete a better score. Give me a clock or goals scored to find a winner.
Posted by: Skip

The American ice dancers got hosed by the French judge who down scored them so the French pair would win the gold.

Posted by: Tuna at February 15, 2026 05:30 AM (lJ0H4)

41 Is "safety" dead at xAI? (Tech Crunch)

I clicked through to the Verge article (which underlies much of the Tech Crunch article):

https://archive.is/RPhxL

and, I'll tell you: buncha whiners! Like this:

"The source also said that during his time at xAI, he felt leadership had a lot of differing opinions on which product features to prioritize and that infighting sometimes stalled progress."

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:31 AM (+YA9H)

42 Good morning! My Valentine's Day date was going to see "Melania". I enjoyed it very much and I had a nice conversation with an older couple who were there. The soundtrack was wonderful and it was beautifully filmed
Here is review by a woman who writes over at "Legal Insuurection":

https://tinyurl.com/yy6h8a6m

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 05:33 AM (PFs9e)

43 Also in the Verge article:

The source who departed earlier this year said Grok’s turn toward NSFW content was due partly to the safety team being let go, with little to no remaining safety review process for the models besides basic filters for things like CSAM.

CSAM = Child sexual abuse material

"things like CSAM" = ???

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:35 AM (+YA9H)

44 Street musician has no audience and then four kittens come to support him:

https://tinyurl.com/mw23dyzc

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 15, 2026 05:37 AM (PFs9e)

45 hahahahaha Verge article, final line:

“You survive by shutting up and doing what Elon wants,” he said.

=

"You are not the boss of me."

Posted by: m at February 15, 2026 05:38 AM (+YA9H)

46 Mornin', Horde. Up earlier than I should be. Flying home, back to the snow.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at February 15, 2026 05:41 AM (PrvRk)

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