Daily Tech News 19 March 2026

Top Story

A bipartisan gaggle of US senators is looking at blowing up DMCA Section 230, the law that makes modern social networks - and to a certain degree, blogs and forums - possible. (The Verge)

Section 230 shields website operators from lawsuit over the behaviour of commenters. But it also serves as a shield for website operators that deliberately inculcate certain behaviours in their users - or that censor users to block behaviour they find undesirable.

It's a people problem, basically. There is not single technical or legislative answer to this mess.

Tech News

Federal cybersecurity experts thought Microsoft's cloud service offering to the government was "a pile of shit". (ProPublica)

They approved it anyway.
Apple dropped the Musi app - which streams music from YouTube, apparently without paying anyone or making ads visible - from its app store. A judge ruled they can do that. (Ars Technica)

And sanctioned Musi's lawyers for making shit up.
AI job losses aren't particularly high, unless you're writing for a fourth-tier news outlet that prevents people from reading your articles, in which case you're boned. (404Media)

Sign up to access this post?

No, I don't think I shall.
SK Hynix says memory shortages will last until 2030. (Tom's Hardware)

Production currently only covers 80% of demand, and nobody is rushing to fill the gap because everyone who behaved that way went bankrupt in previous memory boom/bust cycles.
Remove your Ring camera with a claw hammer. (How Things Work)

From the same tertiary syphilis patient who brough us such hits as The Subway Is Not Scary, Quit Your Evil Job, and Things You Can Lie About.
A new font-rendering trick hides malicious commands from AI tools. (Bleeping Computer)

That is, the commands are visible to humans but invisible to AI agents.

I'm more concerned about the opposite approach, where invisible-to-human instructions are fed to AI agents, but I see no reason why this couldn't be used that way as well.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Eee, ecky thump!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 !!

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 04:00 AM (7lOC+)

2 And it's gone.

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 04:03 AM (7lOC+)

3 ??

Posted by: Pixy Misa at March 19, 2026 04:03 AM (BLOW1)

4 And then it comes back.

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 04:04 AM (7lOC+)

5 Hey, even pixy noticed.

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 04:04 AM (7lOC+)

6 ONT is informed

Posted by: SciVo at March 19, 2026 04:05 AM (Sy6m/)

7 Where are all the slackers this morning?

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 04:05 AM (7lOC+)

8 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 04:08 AM (Ia/+0)

9 Ihave been stuck on late start jobs lately

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 04:09 AM (Ia/+0)

10 New video game.

Indie Game Joe
@IndieGameJoe

Two indie devs made a game where you run your own video store in the early 90s. It’s currently the #5 top-selling game on Steam.

- Rent out VHS tapes & manage customers
- Charge Late & Broken Fees
- Upgrade & customise your store

It’s called Retro Rewind - Video Store Simulator

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at March 19, 2026 04:18 AM (ndZc7)

11 Not a lot of positive tech news lately.

About the musi app, the judge basically said that you're stupid and your shit is retarded.

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 04:18 AM (7lOC+)

12 It’s called Retro Rewind
****

Tell me that the devs were Blockbuster staff or executives. Lie to me if you must. 😀

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 04:22 AM (7lOC+)

13 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at March 19, 2026 04:26 AM (s1NDj)

14 10 New video game.

Indie Game Joe
@IndieGameJoe

Two indie devs made a game where you run your own video store in the early 90s. It’s currently the #5 top-selling game on Steam.

- Rent out VHS tapes & manage customers
- Charge Late & Broken Fees
- Upgrade & customise your store

It’s called Retro Rewind - Video Store Simulator
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

I'm amused that its #5 on Steam. If you build it, they will buy, I guess.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at March 19, 2026 04:32 AM (s1NDj)

15
I've spent 2 days installing and configuring 2 different open-source image fixers (make Face B conform to Face A) with the varying help of Gemini, ChatGPT, and Grok. Incredibly tedious setups, but okay, it's common for open source, especially when some AI is giving you instructions ("You are correct; the 2026 UI does not, in fact, have a dropdown where I told you to look").

The problem was... Awful results. Tinkering and resetting parameters and reconnecting nodes and still awful, AWFUL results.

So I uploaded two images to ChatGPT and told it to conform Face B to Face A. Boom, done.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at March 19, 2026 04:34 AM (n7rxJ)

16 Haytham Kaafarani
@hayfarani
I am a US citizen & Surgeon who took care of the Boston Maraton Bombing victims in 2013. I paid for 7 years to own a small apartment in downtown #Beirut for my 3 kids to enjoy summers there. Today, #Israel reduced my dream home to rubble, with american weapons, paid by my taxes.

-
Who wouldn't want to vacation in beautiful downtown Beirut?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at March 19, 2026 04:37 AM (ndZc7)

17
It’s called Retro Rewind - Video Store Simulator
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

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

That sounds great! I have an idea: you're running a gym and managing membership. Women use the ladies' locker room and men use the men's. So retro!

But seriously, it sounds hellaciously cool, and I bet many copycats will follow. Apps to set up rotary phones? Hi-fi systems?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at March 19, 2026 04:38 AM (n7rxJ)

18
Who wouldn't want to vacation in beautiful downtown Beirut?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

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

Or send their kids there for summer vacay?

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at March 19, 2026 04:40 AM (n7rxJ)

19 16 Haytham Kaafarani
@hayfarani
I am a US citizen & Surgeon who took care of the Boston Maraton Bombing victims in 2013. I paid for 7 years to own a small apartment in downtown #Beirut for my 3 kids to enjoy summers there. Today, #Israel reduced my dream home to rubble, with american weapons, paid by my taxes.

-
Who wouldn't want to vacation in beautiful downtown Beirut?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

So, uh, it was well spent then?

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at March 19, 2026 04:43 AM (s1NDj)

20 Morning all

Posted by: Tuna at March 19, 2026 04:49 AM (lJ0H4)

21 What is destructive is the insidious belief that the world outside your front door is to be treated with suspicion; that every passerby is a potential threat; that every neighbor is a potential enemy; that every human interaction must be stored and cataloged as evidence of possible crime. This attitude is destructive of good will, of brotherhood, of peace, of love. This is the attitude of the Gestapo. This is the attitude of the paranoid lunatic. This is totalitarianism creeping into your home disguised as safety.

Dude, a lot of people get them just to stop porch pirates.
That was the very reason I considered getting one.
Several years back somebody stole a brand new TV off the porch that had just been delivered a few hours earlier.

He makes a half-ass argument on people stealing Amazon packages but blames poverty and envy like a typical socialist.

His attitude is "So what? Let them rob you, or assault you out of love."

I don't even own a doorbell camera, but I certainly understand the reasons behind cameras, and people are more than able to determine their needs on their own.

What a dipshit point of view.
If I was a criminal this prick would be my first target.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 04:52 AM (6ydKt)

22 My local weather guy has the dew point charts out. It has about 20° to go before it hits normal summer.
Seaside villa in Haiti> summer place in Beirut

Posted by: Accomack at March 19, 2026 04:52 AM (GbONR)

23 w00t

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 04:53 AM (+YA9H)

24 Man writes on waiting on God in this Christian devotional. Scripture is James 2:1-8:

https://tinyurl.com/235vd8za

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 19, 2026 04:56 AM (IYIYn)

25 16 Haytham Kaafarani
@hayfarani
I am a US citizen & Surgeon who took care of the Boston Maraton Bombing victims in 2013. I paid for 7 years to own a small apartment in downtown #Beirut for my 3 kids to enjoy summers there. Today, #Israel reduced my dream home to rubble, with american weapons, paid by my taxes.

-
Who wouldn't want to vacation in beautiful downtown Beirut?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at March 19, 2026 04:37 AM (ndZc7)

But living next door to terrorists that Israel had to take out didn't really bother him?

They don't have Hezbolah Bombing/IDF Missile Strike insurance in Lebanon? It seems like that'd be quite a large market in Beirut.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 05:01 AM (6ydKt)

26 >>>Section 230 shields website operators from lawsuit over the behaviour of commenters.

...

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:01 AM (+YA9H)

27 26 >>>Section 230 shields website operators from lawsuit over the behaviour of commenters.

...

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:01 AM (+YA9H)

Ace hardest hit.
He & Pixy are going to have to take out Commenter Liability Insurance.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 05:05 AM (6ydKt)

28 >>>website operators ... that censor users to block behaviour they find undesirable

Like the AoSHq barrel!

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:08 AM (+YA9H)

29 How writers on the Storm came to be.
https://youtube.com/shorts/0gSxU1VmNiA

Such exceptional musicians.

Jim Morrison Vocal Part Isolated
https://youtu.be/I0fw4_fFvt8

Ray Manzarek Piano Part Isolated
https://youtu.be/UsuAqc4Ezps

Robbie Krieger Guitar Part Isolated
https://youtu.be/3Y3x6S8ApdE

John Densmore. Drum Part Isolated
https://youtu.be/ds9JgDuIQkk

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at March 19, 2026 05:12 AM (glnUu)

30
Ace hardest hit.
He & Pixy are going to have to take out Commenter Liability Insurance.
Posted by: SpeakingOf

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

And after an adjuster goes over 3 years of comments, they'll hit him with sky-high premiums.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at March 19, 2026 05:13 AM (n7rxJ)

31 The problem was... Awful results. Tinkering and resetting parameters and reconnecting nodes and still awful, AWFUL results.

So I uploaded two images to ChatGPT and told it to conform Face B to Face A. Boom, done.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at March 19, 2026 04:34 AM (n7rxJ)

The various open source models are getting easier to use but it's still a pain, and is often limited by hardware unless you can afford to lay out a few thousand to get enough memory to hold the larger models.

Hopefully in a few years they'll be easier to install and use, but it's not there yet for people who aren't IT enthusiasts with high-end equipment and large amounts of RAM/VRAM.

Which is why ChatGPT and the rest of the subscription models are still so popular.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 05:15 AM (6ydKt)

32 And after an adjuster goes over 3 years of comments, they'll hit him with sky-high premiums.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at March 19, 2026 05:13 AM (n7rxJ)

Let's hope they never click on Admiral Ackbar's links.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 05:17 AM (6ydKt)

33 29 How writers on the Storm came to be.
https://youtube.com/shorts/0gSxU1VmNiA

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at March 19, 2026 05:12 AM (glnUu)

Riders

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:20 AM (+YA9H)

34 BOING?

Beirut for his kids?

His boy lucked out!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at March 19, 2026 05:20 AM (1o8D5)

35 29
https://youtube.com/shorts/0gSxU1VmNiA
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at March 19, 2026 05:12 AM (glnUu)

Tons of fun!

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:24 AM (+YA9H)

36 Just waiting until I leave for work, in 40 minutes

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 05:26 AM (Ia/+0)

37 Riders ofthe Storm is supposedly the modt played during storms on rock stations

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 05:27 AM (Ia/+0)

38 Good morning! Looks like it's gonna be a warm breezy day here in Cowtown. Perfect for going to the garden center to get some new landscape plants. And an afternoon nap on the patio.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at March 19, 2026 05:27 AM (3Ope8)

39 14 I'm amused that its #5 on Steam. If you build it, they will buy, I guess.
Posted by: Puddleglum

Given the garbage that is being made by big name companies, this is not a surprise.

Posted by: NR Pax at March 19, 2026 05:27 AM (NR6c1)

40 Mornin' Horde.

(There, now I won't accidentally step on the 100th comment.)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at March 19, 2026 05:28 AM (O7YUW)

41 So, Pixy getting any bad weather down there?

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 05:33 AM (Ia/+0)

42 40 Mornin' Horde.

(There, now I won't accidentally step on the 100th comment.)
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at March 19, 2026 05:28 AM (O7YUW)

You might.

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:36 AM (+YA9H)

43 41 So, Pixy getting any bad weather down there?
Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 05:33 AM (Ia/+0)

All the weather happens counterclockwise down there, so it's okay.

Posted by: Climate Changed Primate at March 19, 2026 05:37 AM (pVqKB)

44 42 40 Mornin' Horde.

(There, now I won't accidentally step on the 100th comment.)
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at March 19, 2026 05:28 AM (O7YUW)

You might.
Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:36 AM (+YA9H)

I've done it myself.

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:40 AM (+YA9H)

45 Part of my family, 2 nephews and family had a two week Hawaiian vacation planned and saved for the 2 week stay. They got pretty much washed out and lost their rental car. They fly back today, such is life. Best planned vacations kind of washed away, but at least they got back in one piece. I hope.

Posted by: colin at March 19, 2026 05:42 AM (e8qy3)

46 tech on 𝕏:

Nikita Bier
@nikitabier
17h
The fortress we are building—and the layers of redundancy—to protect the platform against the AI Slopacalypse will seem obvious in a few months.

Whether we use every tool in our toolkit is TBD, but it would be negligent to not have them ready.

Nikita Bier
@nikitabier
16h
The Iron Slopdome, if you will.

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 05:43 AM (+YA9H)

47 21 What a dipshit point of view.

I think the point he is trying to make is that we’re turning into a surveillance state in order to have things delivered to our porches.

Ben Franklin said:
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Now replace the word “safety” with the word “convenience”.

Posted by: Buzz Adrenaline at March 19, 2026 05:43 AM (JRP2U)

48 Roof work today, at least better weather thsn other day.
5ps today, improving to 70 Sunday then colder next week

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 05:49 AM (Ia/+0)

49 >>Where are all the slackers this morning?

Gettin' docked a day's pay for nappin' on the job.

Posted by: Lyle at March 19, 2026 05:50 AM (NcvvS)

50 Something on my phone is sucking up data. Yesterday had no mobile internet yet data was getting drained. Finally put it on airplane to stop it.

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 05:51 AM (Ia/+0)

51 Morning Horde. This is a rare day where I'm out of my routine (up earlier than usual). I've always loved Riders on the Storm; haunting melody

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 19, 2026 05:51 AM (xT8gx)

52 I will see the slackers soon at work

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 05:55 AM (Ia/+0)

53 The top 50 Best, selling laptops on Amazon. Six of the top 10 are Apple computers with the Neo being number one.

The rest are from various manufacturers. Without sitting down and grinding through the math, it seems the average selling price of all non -apple laptops on the Amazon list is around $450 and $500. Most of these are the usual budget dreck of which I've owned more than two or three just like these. This list squares with the type of budget laptops I see at the Walmart, Staples, and Best Buy all the time.

The average budget laptop buyer now has a choice . They can grind through trying to sort out the inscrutable differences between these endless budget laptops or they can walk over to the Apple counter and pick up a Neo. One is a gravel bed of friction and one of them is the a nearly frictionless buy.

In the 2000s PC manufacturers cannibalized their average selling prices in an ever downward spiral partly from competition and partly from silicon being good enough that it ended the every few years replacement cycle. This led to the birth of the plastic fantastic laptops. These manufacturers are again faced with a similar dilemma.

https://is.gd/nsEush

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at March 19, 2026 05:57 AM (glnUu)

54 Something interesting I learned recently (meaning, within the past two
decades) was that _Riders on the Storm_ was inspired by a Charles Bronson
euro movie:
https://tinyurl.com/mu3x95dn

Posted by: 6eyes at March 19, 2026 06:00 AM (n/le7)

55 “ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 5:43-45

Posted by: Marcus T at March 19, 2026 06:01 AM (E/qck)

56 G'morning, all!

38 degrees out.

Will walk later when it's warm out.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 19, 2026 06:02 AM (iMotb)

57 52 I will see the slackers soon at work
Posted by: Skip
****

You said last week? that the slackers had been caught leaving early. Any punishment there?

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 06:02 AM (7lOC+)

58 I always appreciate your scripture references, Marcus

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 19, 2026 06:04 AM (xT8gx)

59 Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at March 19, 2026 06:06 AM (Ia/+0)

60 >> Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 19, 2026 06:04 AM (xT8gx)

Thank you. Amen. All glory to God, may He bless you all this day and always.

Posted by: Marcus T at March 19, 2026 06:07 AM (E/qck)

61 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at March 19, 2026 06:08 AM (bQ4nt)

62 56 G'morning, all!

38 degrees out.

Will walk later when it's warm out.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 19, 2026 06:02 AM (iMotb)

.......
Ha! I woke up and saw it was 38 here and thought to myself "oh my gosh it's a beautiful morning for a walk!" And it was. 2 days ago we had wind chills below zero with crazy wind, today and tomorrow 70's and Sat 86. It's been a crazy winter

Posted by: Molly k. at March 19, 2026 06:09 AM (j/yko)

63
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at March 19, 2026 06:10 AM (tljrc)

64 Parenting is not an option, it's a requirement. Get your child off of the internet and social media, and see how the problems go away.

Children are the ward of you, the parent, not some fucking legislator.

Can't we all be friends? No, I'm you parent.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at March 19, 2026 06:10 AM (M9gjJ)

65 62 56 I woke up and saw it was 38 here and thought to myself "oh my gosh it's a beautiful morning for a walk!" And it was. 2 days ago we had wind chills below zero with crazy wind, today and tomorrow 70's and Sat 86. It's been a crazy winter
Posted by: Molly k. at March 19, 2026 06:09 AM (j/yko)

Crazy enough!

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:12 AM (+YA9H)

66 I've got my Ecky Thump Black belt and braces.

Posted by: Fritzy at March 19, 2026 06:16 AM (2GIh1)

67 Ha! I woke up and saw it was 38 here and thought to myself "oh my gosh it's a beautiful morning for a walk!" And it was. 2 days ago we had wind chills below zero with crazy wind, today and tomorrow 70's and Sat 86. It's been a crazy winter
Posted by: Molly k. at March 19, 2026 06:09 AM (j/yko)

Just a few days ago here in north Texas we had an overnight low of 32 degrees... This weekend we'll be above 90 degrees. I reminds me of my college days in Iowa when we used to joke: Don't worry if you don't like the weather here, it'll be different tomorrow!

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 19, 2026 06:17 AM (xT8gx)

68 mornin yall. I told that cat "In or out, make up your mind, I'm not a damn doorman"..

Posted by: fd at March 19, 2026 06:17 AM (vFG9F)

69 The Doors were unique, one of a kind. Interesting video.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at March 19, 2026 06:19 AM (M9gjJ)

70 68 mornin yall. I told that cat "In or out, make up your mind, I'm not a damn doorman"..
Posted by: fd at March 19, 2026 06:17 AM (vFG9F)

Uh-oh, now it's going to slash your tires.

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:19 AM (+YA9H)

71 Evening and morning, late Thor's Day toilers and early risers! Somehow big black Stirling did not wake me early today, so I feel somewhat rested for a change. Howz about choo?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:21 AM (wzUl9)

72 Ah, someone else who practices the martial art of Yorkshire. Those poor tom kittens!

Posted by: Epobirs at March 19, 2026 06:22 AM (/0z9K)

73 Things are . . . I wouldn't say *moving*, but shifting as regards my move idea. Salty and Notsothoreau have been beating the drum for Kansas, and I decided to take another look. After seeing houses I liked on Realtor, I emailed some agents, and one not only got back to me, she recommended some lenders there. I've spoken to both the agent and the lender and gotten the pre-approval process started with the latter. Of course I'll call another lender to be on the safe side. But these people are actually moving, unlike the agent I was talking with in Owensboro, and unlike the agents from Evansville who never called me back at all.

By the time I go up to visit, next month is the plan, the houses I see and like now may be gone. But something is actually happening!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:24 AM (wzUl9)

74 38F in Kentuckiana, going to 70F. Two mornings ago low was in the teens.

Posted by: Lyle at March 19, 2026 06:24 AM (NcvvS)

75 54 Something interesting I learned recently (meaning, within the past two
decades) was that _Riders on the Storm_ was inspired by a Charles Bronson
euro movie:
https://tinyurl.com/mu3x95dn
Posted by: 6eyes at March 19, 2026 06:00 AM (n/le7)

The 1971 song by The Doors "Riders on the Storm" was reputedly influenced by this film [Riders on the Rain (1970)]. Jim Morrison allegedly was so taken in by the film and in particular its plot that he wrote the song as a result.

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:25 AM (+YA9H)

76 I learned recently was that "Riders on the Storm" was inspired by a Charles Bronson euro movie
Posted by: 6eye

Riders on the Rain Wikipedia
https://is.gd/MJ9cTl

Riders on the Rain Movie Trailer
https://youtu.be/Q9eigtoAccs

Le passager de la pluie Movie Theme
The Passenger in the Rain
https://youtu.be/dMwcZUNqxt8

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026 06:25 AM (glnUu)

77 /off sock.

Posted by: Nazdar at March 19, 2026 06:25 AM (NcvvS)

78 A large portion of the internet is garbage. Put a paperclip in your phone's charging port and wrap your car keys in aluminum foil. I bet millions of people with hanging belly fat and toe fungus do this everyday. This is what technology has brought us, shittons of stupid.

Posted by: fd at March 19, 2026 06:25 AM (vFG9F)

79 mornin yall. I told that cat "In or out, make up your mind, I'm not a damn doorman"..
Posted by: fd at March 19, 2026

***
"The fact you were considered sacred in Ancient Egypt cuts no ice with me."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:25 AM (wzUl9)

80 By the time I go up to visit, next month is the plan, the houses I see and like now may be gone. But something is actually happening!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

Look into the property tax costs. It seems to me that Kansas was on the high side. Kansas is spot on livable.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026 06:28 AM (glnUu)

81 By the time I go up to visit, next month is the plan, the houses I see and like now may be gone. But something is actually happening!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:24 AM (wzUl9)

Good luck, Wolfus! We have some potential changes in the works; it's both exciting and daunting all at the same time

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 19, 2026 06:28 AM (xT8gx)

82 Remove your Ring camera with a claw hammer. (How Things Work)

next episode: Remove your claw hammer with a Ring camera.

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:30 AM (+YA9H)

83 Look into the property tax costs. It seems to me that Kansas was on the high side. Kansas is spot on livable.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026

***
Yes, property taxes are higher than in IN or KY, at least the areas I've looked at. But the houses themselves are more appealing than many I see for sale in Owensboro, nice as that place is.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:30 AM (wzUl9)

84 47 21 What a dipshit point of view.

I think the point he is trying to make is that we’re turning into a surveillance state in order to have things delivered to our porches.

Ben Franklin said:
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Now replace the word “safety” with the word “convenience”.

Posted by: Buzz Adrenaline at March 19, 2026 05:43 AM (JRP2U)

Franklin was referring to government and the state, not criminals on the street stealing packages.

You're free to believe that but that I don't see a problem with "convenience".

Franklin was also the first U.S. Postmaster General.
How do you think he'd feel about people stealing mail out of mailboxes? It's still a federal crime, right?
Should we not prosecute people caught on camera stealing mail?

Is it an argument against convenience to have surveillance cameras around your home to prevent home invasions or burglaries? I'm sure Nancy Guthrie's family wish they had some better security around her home.

This socialist's problem isn't convenience or surveillance, it's that he doesn't care about crime by poor people.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 06:31 AM (6ydKt)

85 Remove your Ring camera with a claw hammer. (How Things Work)

next episode: Remove your claw hammer with a Ring camera.
Posted by: m

The Las Cruces police are pushing people to register that they have front door cameras (presumably the others too if they have them). Yeah. No.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026 06:32 AM (glnUu)

86 The fallen leaves sleep
Morning beckons for the rapt
All lost is now found

fin

Posted by: clarence at March 19, 2026 06:33 AM (7lOC+)

87 By the time I go up to visit, next month is the plan, the houses I see and like now may be gone. But something is actually happening!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026
*
Good luck, Wolfus! We have some potential changes in the works; it's both exciting and daunting all at the same time
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 19, 2026

***
I know -- very daunting. But until this week I had no idea where to begin and had only the vaguest idea of how to proceed. Local lenders vs. national, how much of the approval and loan process could be done remotely, etc. The agent tells me that she can even do a FaceTime with me to show me a potential house in detail if I can't be there. That's what they do with military relocating from overseas, so the buyer can at least see the house before he arrives.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:35 AM (wzUl9)

88 Is it an argument against convenience to have surveillance cameras around your home to prevent home invasions or burglaries? I'm sure Nancy Guthrie's family wish they had some better security around her home.

This socialist's problem isn't convenience or surveillance, it's that he doesn't care about crime by poor people.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 06:31 AM (6ydKt)

I see both sides of this issue so ultimately I'm ambivalent. We love the convenience and security aspects of our Ring camera (yes we have one). At the same time I'm aware that every house in our entire neighborhood has a similar camera (or multiple cameras) and it does bother me that every time I leave the house for whatever reason I'm on camera. The notion that my every moment is filmed does bother me... but there's nothing I can do about it; I can't force my neighbors to remove theirs. The only way I could avoid this is to move to a very remote location, but I like suburbia so I live with it.

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 19, 2026 06:37 AM (xT8gx)

89 The visit plan is to drive: one day to Memphis, one day to KCMO, and then hit Salina, KS, the third day. Stay a week, then return the same way. Gas may be $4 a gallon by mid-April, but I gotta do it. Naturally I'll let the agent lady drive me around town as much as possible!

In '97 I drove to CO, and in '01 back to Lousy-ana, in two three-day sessions. The first was a horrible strain with a moving truck, towing my car; the second, in my vintage Mercedes sedan. And I was, hrm, a bit younger then. But I may only have to do this twice: once to visit, the second time with the cats and my clothes to stay.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:41 AM (wzUl9)

90 It is going to be 90 in Las Cruces today. This is to early in the year for that.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026 06:41 AM (glnUu)

91 heh
Jarvis retweeted
David Burge
@iowahawkblog
18h
I'm excited to announce a $1000 bounty for every fugitive runaway billionaire you capture in Florida and return to New York

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:42 AM (+YA9H)

92 I like the organ playing in the Doors rendition of that song. Always have.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at March 19, 2026 06:44 AM (h00VL)

93 Meanwhile, we are getting four guest dogs tomorrow. Once again, the house will be in chaos.

Posted by: NR Pax at March 19, 2026 06:47 AM (NR6c1)

94 It is going to be 90 in Las Cruces today. This is to early in the year for that.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026

***
Hitting 90 in north-central KS too -- but 60s again next week. As the agent lady told me, "We can get all four seasons in one week."

Here? 74 today, 84 after that, and I expect no cooler weather in this effin' swamp until December. People keep telling me Kansas can be humid. But I hope it won't be as bad as this place, and certainly it won't last as long.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:47 AM (wzUl9)

95 We have no cameras at our house, retrograde as we are. But we are not defenseless either.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at March 19, 2026 06:47 AM (h00VL)

96 The visit plan is to drive: one day to Memphis, one day to KCMO, and then hit Salina, KS, the third day. Stay a week, then return the same way. Naturally I'll let the agent lady drive me around town as much as possible!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

You might want to investigate Wichita too. El Dorado is a beautiful town in that area. That area caught my attention when I went through there last year.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026 06:47 AM (glnUu)

97 Anyway! Today Miss Linda and I are going to a spaghetti lunch at a local church. A nice free event, so that's good to look forward to. I just need to be sure I wear something I won't mind getting pasta sauce on -- while still not dressing like Bart Simpson.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:48 AM (wzUl9)

98 Whoopy Goldberg says she still trolls bars for one night stands. There are no second dates with Whoopy, even Cthulhu blanches.

Posted by: fd at March 19, 2026 06:49 AM (vFG9F)

99 You might want to investigate Wichita too. El Dorado is a beautiful town in that area. That area caught my attention when I went through there last year.
Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions at March 19, 2026

***
Wichita is about ninety miles away, so maybe I could.

Abilene, KS, about a half hour from Salina, is supposed to be a real charmer too, with an 1880s vibe to its old town.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:50 AM (wzUl9)

100 100

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:50 AM (+YA9H)

101 Whoopy Goldberg says she still trolls bars for one night stands. There are no second dates with Whoopy, even Cthulhu blanches.
Posted by: fd at March 19, 2026

***
My minions have been warned.
( -- Cthulhu)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:51 AM (wzUl9)

102 28 this morning here at Follywood land, heading to a high of 50. But I am informed Phoenix is going to be over 100 today, which means spring training games will feel a little warm this afternoon.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at March 19, 2026 06:51 AM (B+iHm)

103
Jarvis
@jarvis_best
22h
I’m concerned that allowing people to “dislike” will upset the positive and encouraging pro-social vibes that X has always enjoyed.

What if this transforms X from the global forum of sophisticated discourse it is today into a place of mindless conflict?

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:53 AM (+YA9H)

104 28 this morning here at Follywood land, heading to a high of 50. But I am informed Phoenix is going to be over 100 today, which means spring training games will feel a little warm this afternoon.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at March 19, 2026

***
"Yeah, Sarge, but it's a dry heat!"
( -- Cpl. Hudson, sweat streaming down his face)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:53 AM (wzUl9)

105 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at March 19, 2026 06:56 AM (2Ez/1)

106 Which reminds me, I need to get Aliens out of the library soon. I haven't seen the full movie in years.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at March 19, 2026 06:56 AM (wzUl9)

107

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at March 19, 2026 06:57 AM (DDJSl)

108 I been here 2 hour!

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 06:57 AM (+YA9H)

109 BBC

Real possum spotted on toy animal shelf at Australian airport
Passengers found a possum poking its nose out of a gift shop shelf at Hobart Airport, Australia.
The real brushtail possum had nestled among fluffy toy maruspial animals, including bilbies and dingoes.
Airport staff helped the possum safely leave the terminal unharmed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/
videos/c39w9mg3k8ro

Posted by: m at March 19, 2026 07:02 AM (+YA9H)

110 JJ nood.

Posted by: Nazdar at March 19, 2026 07:07 AM (NcvvS)

111 Chinese consumers have apparently gone crazy for OpenClaw, an AI personal agent. It can do all sorts of things for you, none of them good. It can alter your past documents, it can send emails in your name, it can buy stuff using your credit card and direct shipments randomly, etc.

Sound good?

Posted by: Huck Follywood at March 19, 2026 07:07 AM (Nf1is)

112 - Wolfus, you're in NOLA?

Unless you've got a particular reason to go to Memphis and KC, I don't get the route you're taking. NW up through Arkansas to Salina would be a lot shorter.
That aside, don't overlook the two lane highway towns between the four lane cities you've mentioned.
Also, I don't know the status but there is, or was, a bill in the works to get rid of the property taxes. SB 488(?)

Posted by: TeeJ at March 19, 2026 07:12 AM (Gk2Bn)

113 "He makes a half-ass argument on people stealing Amazon packages but blames poverty and envy like a typical socialist.

His attitude is "So what? Let them rob you, or assault you out of love."

I don't even own a doorbell camera, but I certainly understand the reasons behind cameras, and people are more than able to determine their needs on their own.

What a dipshit point of view.
If I was a criminal this prick would be my first target.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at March 19, 2026 04:52 AM (6ydKt)"

Well Ring is a shit product on account of a wild level of privacy violation as company policy, but "crime is a social construct" is certainly one of the fastest ways to get me to reach for my Pinochet helicopter.

Funny how quick one of these asshats will scream if you want to cap the porch pirate and dump them in a hole in the desert, though. They aren't pro-crime in general, only when it's against us. That's the true pragmatic definition of tribalism.

Posted by: heya at March 19, 2026 07:12 AM (h3Fno)

114 > m
> Alteria Pilgram
BTW, the movie is available for free on Plex:
https://watch.plex.tv/movie/rider-on-the-rain

Posted by: 6eyes at March 19, 2026 07:17 AM (n/le7)

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