Daily Tech News 25 May 2026

Top Story

Space combat game Star Citizen has raised a billion dollars. (Roberts Space Industries)

It's still in alpha.

As it has been since 2012.

And people are still throwing money at it.

I guess they have to be doing something right.

Tech News

Everything new is old again: Firefox now has support for serial ports. (Mozilla)

Directly, I mean, not for dialup internet access using PPP.
AMD has released its Advanced Shader Delivery, which means you can just download the shaders for games you download rather than having to sit and wait while your computer compiles them. (Tom's Hardware)

This can reduce the time to start a game for the first time from minutes to seconds. It only happens once, but it's amazing that it happens at all.

Nvidia does not support this yet.
Migrating from Python to Rust. (Corrode)

That's a big jump. You probably don't want to do it.

Musical Interlude

I noticed when grabbing the video that they'll be touring the US starting in August. They released their latest album in March.

Disclaimer: What I tell you three times is truthy.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 04:30 AM (6wpGE)

2 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 25, 2026 04:31 AM (XyZGq)

3 Spencer Pratt running for LA Mayor:

Spencer Pratt’s team is power-washing stencils onto city sidewalks, creating visible messages where the cleaned sections contrast sharply with the surrounding dirt and grime.

"Imagine if the streets were this clean"

The only way to fully erase them? Actually clean the streets.

A great reminder about infrastructure and basic maintenance in a city that is declining under long-time Democratic leadership.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 25, 2026 04:32 AM (2PamV)

4 Pixy, shouldn't you be off somewhere playing ENreco?

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 04:36 AM (6wpGE)

5 So long, Paterson, NJ!

https://tinyurl.com/27asksaf

Maybe Paterson can become Mamdani's NYC's 6th borough.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 25, 2026 04:36 AM (XyZGq)

6 A great reminder about infrastructure and basic maintenance in a city that is declining under long-time Democratic leadership.
Posted by: rickb223
+++
Not sure Democrat and leadership should ever be used in the same sentence.

Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 04:36 AM (yAu9Y)

7 Memorial Day reminder:

https://tinyurl.com/4kjztjfa

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 25, 2026 04:40 AM (XyZGq)

8 So long, Paterson, NJ!

https://tinyurl.com/27asksaf

Maybe Paterson can become Mamdani's NYC's 6th borough.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey,
+++
I wonder if they're replacing the Ukrainian flag.
Don't we stand with Ukraine anymore?

Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 04:42 AM (yAu9Y)

9 Dorothy Kilgallen did not die from circumstances unknown.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at May 25, 2026 04:44 AM (glnUu)

10 >>>Nvidia does not support this year.

.. this feature.

?

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 04:44 AM (6wpGE)

11 Skip went back to bed.

538 Way too early to get up
Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 03:17 AM (Ia/+0)

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 04:45 AM (6wpGE)

12 4 Pixy, shouldn't you be off somewhere playing ENreco?
Posted by: m

They're finished for the day. They run on Japan time so it's basically the same hours I work.

At least I get to listen to it.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at May 25, 2026 04:50 AM (BLOW1)

13 Memorial Day reminder:

https://tinyurl.com/4kjztjfa
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey
+++
And yet she is supposedly leading in the polls for '28.
What a country we live in.

Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 04:50 AM (yAu9Y)

14 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at May 25, 2026 04:51 AM (wrsGP)

15 12 4 Pixy, shouldn't you be off somewhere playing ENreco?
Posted by: m

They're finished for the day. They run on Japan time so it's basically the same hours I work.

At least I get to listen to it.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at May 25, 2026 04:50 AM (BLOW1)

Oh!

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 04:57 AM (6wpGE)

16 13 Memorial Day reminder:

https://tinyurl.com/4kjztjfa
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey
+++
And yet she is supposedly leading in the polls for '28.
What a country we live in.
Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 04:50 AM (yAu9Y)

... or

Is SHE leading in the polls?

Stephen L. Miller retweeted
Siraj Hashmi
@SirajAHashmi
7h
And now we’re joined by Global Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassador Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez…

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 05:00 AM (6wpGE)

17
Siraj Hashmi
@SirajAHashmi
7h
And now we’re joined by Global Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassador Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez…

https://xcancel.com/t.co/u8BAprsRy4

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 05:01 AM (6wpGE)

18 Pixy speaks in a language I mostly don't understand, until I read the links. I used to code in machine language and punch cards. I don't find it too hard of a time figuring these things out. It keeps me sharp.

Moore's Law has gone over the falls into the eddy currents. Where is the direction? Cryptocurrency? AI? Interplanetary Space? We're losing our grip.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 25, 2026 05:01 AM (D1E+2)

19 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at May 25, 2026 05:07 AM (V0/Sp)

20 7 Memorial Day reminder:

https://tinyurl.com/4kjztjfa
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at May 25, 2026 04:40 AM (XyZGq)

It is UN BELIEVABLE.

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 05:09 AM (6wpGE)

21 13 Memorial Day reminder:

https://tinyurl.com/4kjztjfa
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey
+++
And yet she is supposedly leading in the polls for '28.
What a country we live in.
Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 04:50 AM (yAu9Y)

Look at it from their perspective. If they believe even half of the things they say about Trump, then it means that a corrupt low-functioning coward came back to win after losing. So, if the System is so easy/random that even he could do it... then anyone can!

They can't accept that Trump is a centurial talent; they can't even accept that he's average, let alone above, let alone far above. And since they can't accept that he's elite, they can't conceive of themselves as being unable to replicate his achievements. The demented logic of their studious unreality dooms them to be certain that Coconut Kam can do the same.

Posted by: SciVo at May 25, 2026 05:11 AM (Sy6m/)

22 21 13
Coconut Kam
Posted by: SciVo at May 25, 2026 05:11 AM (Sy6m/)

heh

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 05:13 AM (6wpGE)

23 Brown on the outside, white on the inside. Her mom's Brahmin; and her dad's line includes a slave owner, not a slave.

Posted by: SciVo at May 25, 2026 05:16 AM (Sy6m/)

24 Morning Techsters. Feels like spring is really setting in to the high plains.

Posted by: Pete Bog at May 25, 2026 05:18 AM (YZcg9)

25
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at May 25, 2026 05:20 AM (AMvSw)

26 They can't accept that Trump is a centurial talent; they can't even accept that he's average, let alone above, let alone far above. And since they can't accept that he's elite, they can't conceive of themselves as being unable to replicate his achievements. The demented logic of their studious unreality dooms them to be certain that Coconut Kam can do the same.
Posted by: SciVo
+++
I don't believe the polls at all. I'll be really surprised if Coconut Kam is their nominee. Unless maybe they just appoint her again.

Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 05:26 AM (yAu9Y)

27 I would like to see a catfight between Coconut Kam and AOC.

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 05:29 AM (6wpGE)

28 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at May 25, 2026 05:35 AM (VyBeY)

29 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 05:37 AM (Ia/+0)

30 "Not sure Democrat and leadership should ever be used in the same sentence.

Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 04:36 AM (yAu9Y) "

just put it in quotes; there are lots of words that need that treatment

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at May 25, 2026 05:40 AM (VyBeY)

31 Coconut Kam

23 Brown on the outside, white on the inside. Her mom's Brahmin; and her dad's line includes a slave owner, not a slave.
Posted by: SciVo at May 25, 2026 05:16 AM (Sy6m/)

and also:

My mother used to—she would give us a hard time sometimes, and she would say to us, "I don't know what's wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?" (Laughs.)

--Kamala Harris, May 10, 2023

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 05:41 AM (6wpGE)

32 Seymour Bernstein on Bach
Ben Laude - piano

J. S. Bach
Invention No. 1 in C Major

The video captures a master class about how to interpret Invention No. 1. The artistry of Mr. Bernstein is in bringing to life the nuances of Bach's musical mind.

https://youtu.be/RXCm6033JvM

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at May 25, 2026 05:43 AM (glnUu)

33 (Laughs.) --> (Cackles.)

Posted by: m at May 25, 2026 05:45 AM (6wpGE)

34 Crazy Ivan says everything must go, no offer is to crazy for Crazy Ivan, No credit? No problem? Free doorbuster prizes every hour on all your favorite tech gear including the hottest z80 PCs. And bring the kids for their free shot of vodka, it'll be like a date night out with the mistress!

https://youtu.be/7Zf9xe53hEg

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at May 25, 2026 05:52 AM (glnUu)

35 Evening and morning for the Memorial Day toilers and early risers!

Working today, Bunkie? And your mother-in-law has piles and she's taking it out on you, and it's a Monday to boot? Is that what's worrying you? Well, just remember:

"Compared to being on the wrong side of the ground, even a bad Monday is pretty small kumquats, nicht wahr?"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 25, 2026 05:54 AM (wzUl9)

36 Political Mud 'Raslin Death Match
McChompers vs. McCoconuts
Four tits enter, Two tits leave.

Posted by: Alteria Pilgram - My President has convictions. at May 25, 2026 05:55 AM (glnUu)

37 (Laughs.) --> (Cackles.)
Posted by: m
+++
It's pretty sad when laughing like a hyena makes you look more intelligent than opening your mouth and trying to actually answer a question.

Posted by: Florida Peasant at May 25, 2026 05:58 AM (yAu9Y)

38 I hear thunder grumbling and muttering off in the distance, or the gods are bowling; pick your metaphor. We have a 100% chance of rain today. Something tells me I ain't gonna be able to work out this morning, and I'm . . . not sad. Yesterday's session was pretty good and a day off would not be a bad thing.

Howz ever'body doin'?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 25, 2026 05:58 AM (wzUl9)

39 Re Star Citizen: I'm so glad I never took a chance on that thing.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 25, 2026 06:02 AM (O7YUW)

40 Still not up yet, wait too much longer and might as well just stay here until tomorrow

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 06:06 AM (Ia/+0)

41 Re Star Citizen: I'm so glad I never took a chance on that thing.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 25, 2026 06:02 AM (O7YUW)

There's a suckered born every minute.

Elite: Dangerous has been out as a playable game for nearly as long that's still updated to this day.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at May 25, 2026 06:09 AM (dK+Kv)

42 In a world where c and c++ exist, why anyone would use rust is a mystery.

Fun fact:

The Python interpreter and the rust backend compiler are written in c/c++.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026 06:16 AM (XV/Pl)

43 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at May 25, 2026 06:18 AM (2Ez/1)

44 Howz ever'body doin'?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

Great!
Off work today.
Went to bed at 11:30 last night. Woke up at 2:30.
Been up ever since. 😡

Posted by: rickb223 at May 25, 2026 06:19 AM (2PamV)

45
Migrating from Python to Rust. (Corrode)

That's a big jump. You probably don't want to do It.

But "Rust never sleeps", according to a guitar playing old lesbian.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at May 25, 2026 06:20 AM (s9VOe)

46 Here is a c++ function:

int sum(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}

Here is a Rust function:

fn sum(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32 {
a + b
}

Nuff said.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026 06:23 AM (XV/Pl)

47 One of the Universal Rathbone/Bruce films, Sherlock Holmes in Terror By Night, is on Movies! It appears to be a "locked train compartment" murder so far, with the theft of a priceless diamond thrown in.

Rathbone really was the best at the role until Jeremy Brett, wasn't he?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 25, 2026 06:24 AM (wzUl9)

48 It also might be down to the fact that I’ve been looking at and using c/c++ for 40 years and that’s how my brain is wired.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026 06:26 AM (XV/Pl)

49
My 2010 Mazda 6 has, I believe, expired. All that remains is to decide which firm is to take it off my hands.

It was my Scoutmaster car, as it served me during the time that I served in that role. Many an interesting conversation occurred in her because of that:

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at May 25, 2026 06:27 AM (s9VOe)

50 Its going to clear up, just seems to be taking its time today

Posted by: Skip at May 25, 2026 06:28 AM (Ia/+0)

51 So much rain here in Hochul country. The great lakes are near or at flood stage. Much depends on how much water they release into the St. Lawrence River. Some think that Hochul can loose, but I think her and Zohran Mamdani will one way or another win. Mamdani gets his grocery stores up at running at a huge cost, Life will be grand in NYC.

Posted by: Colin at May 25, 2026 06:28 AM (CiQE7)

52 Here is a c++ function:

int sum(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}

Here is a Rust function:

fn sum(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32 {
a + b
}

Nuff said.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026 06:23 AM (XV/Pl)

So, that's what Greek looks like.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 25, 2026 06:28 AM (1Ff7Z)

53 It was my Scoutmaster car, as it served me during the time that I served in that role. Many an interesting conversation occurred in her because of that:

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at May 25, 2026 06:27 AM (s9VOe)

lol

Our Scoutmaster has the same. Must be something in the upholstery fumes.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at May 25, 2026 06:29 AM (dK+Kv)

54 My former employer used to give us Good Friday off as well as Memorial Day. They took the former away some years ago and tossed us an "extra vacation day" bone that we could use anytime.

Could have been worse. They used to expect us to work between Christmas and New Year's. So many people took vacation time then, I expect, that they finally decreed a "Winter Holiday" for all but essential personnel, and turned off the heat (if it were even necessary) starting at 6pm on the last work day before Christmas.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 25, 2026 06:32 AM (wzUl9)

55 Could have been worse. They used to expect us to work between Christmas and New Year's. So many people took vacation time then, I expect, that they finally decreed a "Winter Holiday" for all but essential personnel, and turned off the heat (if it were even necessary) starting at 6pm on the last work day before Christmas.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 25, 2026 06:32 AM (wzUl9)
---
Yep. My own employer has given us four "Winter Break" days between Christmas and New Year's. They discovered they actually saved money by doing that.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at May 25, 2026 06:33 AM (gnNyN)

56 @52

>> So, that's what Greek looks like.

C is not hard to understand for a lay person,

You are defining the sum function, sum is going to return an integer value, you are passing two integer variables to the function, adding them and then returning them.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026 06:34 AM (XV/Pl)

57
An example:

"I completed my report on pellagra."

"Now there's a word that you don't hear every day."

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at May 25, 2026 06:34 AM (s9VOe)

58
An actual sunny day yesterday. Went to 2:30 Mass at my usual parish, in deference to Her Majesty's wish that I didn't travel in the dark yesterday morning to the 7:00 AM Mass given the weather and roads.

It was faintly unsettling not seeing the usual backs of heads sitting in the usual seats, since I always get there early and sit in the very back.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 25, 2026 06:35 AM (HdYcL)

59 52 Here is a c++ function:

int sum(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}

Here is a Rust function:

fn sum(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32 {
a + b
}

Nuff said.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026 06:23 AM (XV/Pl)

Not bad.

Posted by: Perl fanboi at May 25, 2026 06:35 AM (/k+lW)

60 My 2010 Mazda 6 has, I believe, expired. All that remains is to decide which firm is to take it off my hands.

It was my Scoutmaster car, as it served me during the time that I served in that role. Many an interesting conversation occurred in her because of that:
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at May 25, 2026

***
A handsomely styled vehicle. The recent (last?) generation is sharp-looking too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 25, 2026 06:35 AM (wzUl9)

61 You are defining the sum function, sum is going to return an integer value, you are passing two integer variables to the function, adding them and then returning them.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026 06:34 AM (XV/Pl)

Like I said....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at May 25, 2026 06:47 AM (1Ff7Z)

62 C is not hard to understand for a lay person,

You are defining the sum function, sum is going to return an integer value, you are passing two integer variables to the function, adding them and then returning them.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at May 25, 2026

***
I got the C code all right (I never worked in it). The Rust I presumed was doing the same thing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at May 25, 2026 06:52 AM (wzUl9)

63 I never understood OOP. Write a function to do a simple operation? Nonsense.

Posted by: no one of any consequense at May 25, 2026 06:53 AM (qFwJc)

64 It's just another Merlot Monday.

Posted by: Old Lady Emhoff at May 25, 2026 06:53 AM (2Ez/1)

65 JJ is nood.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at May 25, 2026 06:53 AM (ExV1e)

66 mornin yall

"Climber dies after falling 2,000 feet down volcano as she celebrated her 42nd birthday"

This makes it sound like she was celebrating on the way down.

Anyway, whatever your troubles, be thankful you are not THAT person.

Posted by: fd at May 25, 2026 06:55 AM (vFG9F)

67 Thoroughly Ot, Vanessa Freeman has lost weight and is now smoking’.
Democrats have so isolated themselves from feedback that they can’t even hear themselves.
Rained all day yesterday. Mom says the island is to have 4 days of rain. Looks like I picked a good time to go to Maine.

Posted by: Accomack at May 25, 2026 06:57 AM (QJ2Hs)

68 "...since I always get there early and sit in the very back."
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 25, 2026 06:35 AM
++++
As every Southern Baptist knows:
You gotta get there early if you want to get a back row seat.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at May 25, 2026 07:01 AM (2Ez/1)

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