Daily Tech News 4 June 2026

Top Story

Apple's MacBook Neo is selling so well the company has doubled production. (MacRumors)

At that rate they'll run out of bad chips and have to start using good ones, but economies of scale may make up for it.

Also the company is reportedly working on a 12GB model for next year. If they can hit the same price that will offer a worthwhile bump in capabilities; 8GB is a bit restrictive even on a Mac.

Tech News

Another Arm-based computer with 8GB of RAM is Radxa's new Dragon Q8B. (Liliputing)

It's a single-board computer for embedded projects like the Raspberry Pi. With an MSRP of $209 for the 8GB model, it's 60% more expensive, but it's also 60% faster for single-threaded tasks, and 200% faster for multi-threaded workloads. You can get models up to 32GB, but it becomes distinctly uncheap at that point.
A new DOS attack can cause most fully-patched web servers to run out of memory in under a minute. (Bleeping Computer)

Well, that's just great.
Are AI models conscious? (The Atlantic) (archive site)

No.

Why?

Because I said so.

Well, that settles it then.
Google has released a version of its Gemma LLM that you can run locally on any PC. (Twitter)

If you have a 16GB graphics card. 5070 owners can wail and gnash their teeth I guess.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: You are living in a twilight world.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 G'morning Horde.

Today I am up far too early. Maybe I'll be able to take a mid-day nap. That'd be nice.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:30 AM (O7YUW)

2 w00t

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

3 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at June 04, 2026 04:32 AM (Ia/+0)

4 >>>Are AI models conscious? (The Atlantic)

Would depend on the definition of

1) are
2) AI
3) models
4) conscious

... which The Atlantic cannot be trusted to delineate.

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 04:34 AM (6wpGE)

5 Reading VDH on California be Saved?
He says 28 % of California are not born in America

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

6 Are AI models conscious? (The Atlantic) (archive site)
No.
Why?

Betteridge's law of headlines: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

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

7 BOING!

Back for massive shopping with Mrs. BD. Pups and gandpups coming up later today to the vacation home here in north Israel for a couple of days of fun and booms.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 04, 2026 04:47 AM (MOPlc)

8 Was talking to a co-worker who was telling me of family member's husband that had a kind of mental breakdown (not dangerous or violent, just utterly delusional about reality.)

So I asked:

1) Was he using drugs? Nope.
2) Any known family history of this? Nope. Well, I guess there is now...
3) Has this guy been having conversations with an "AI" for an extended period of time? DING DING DING, we have a winner!

That's gonna be a "fun" de-programming job.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:48 AM (O7YUW)

9 Are AI models conscious? (The Atlantic)

The author of this piece appears to have been paid by the word, the word count being 5770 words.

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 04:49 AM (6wpGE)

10 It depends what the definition of the word 'are' is.

Posted by: A Clinton under oath at June 04, 2026 04:49 AM (O7YUW)

11 @9/m: The Atlantic regularly has diahliterrhea.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:51 AM (O7YUW)

12 So Pixy, how was your work day?

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:53 AM (O7YUW)

13 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at June 04, 2026 04:57 AM (Hbeqj)

14 12 So Pixy, how was your work day?
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:53 AM (O7YUW)

Sounds to me like Pixy is having a Monday.
We're here for you, Pixy!

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 04:58 AM (6wpGE)

15 Audience members takes over at Sydney concert after keyboardist gets sick:

https://tinyurl.com/3yczu9vn

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 04:59 AM (n3VHW)

16 I liked the "Surrender".Video and the singer is cute .Thanks, Pixy.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 05:00 AM (n3VHW)

17 I am off on a long commute, wish me luck today to make it thrre and home

Posted by: Skip at June 04, 2026 05:02 AM (Ia/+0)

18 Good morning. When I go to bed sober, I generally don't need 8 hours. I feel pretty good. Golf later. Coffee and AOSHQ now.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at June 04, 2026 05:03 AM (qFwJc)

19 @17/Skip: Fair winds, and may the stupid drivers on the road stay far away from you.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 05:03 AM (O7YUW)

20 4 >>>Are AI models conscious? (The Atlantic)

Would depend on the definition of

1) are
2) AI
3) models
4) conscious

... which The Atlantic cannot be trusted to delineate.
Posted by: m

I couldn't have phrased it better myself.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 04, 2026 05:06 AM (BLOW1)

21
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at June 04, 2026 05:13 AM (AMvSw)

22 Apparently Amazon has cancelled its planned Stargate sequel series. Which is bad because Stargate was awesome, but good because Amazon.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 04, 2026 05:16 AM (BLOW1)

23 From The Atlantic article:

Some years ago it was briefly popular to play games with your phone’s predictive-text feature; you would type an initial phrase and then repeatedly choose the middle option of the three words suggested by your phone, and the resulting sentence was often hilarious.

I can see why that was popular so briefly.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026 05:18 AM (6ydKt)

24 8 Was talking to a co-worker who was telling me of family member's husband that had a kind of mental breakdown (not dangerous or violent, just utterly delusional about reality.)
. . .
3) Has this guy been having conversations with an "AI" for an extended period of time? DING DING DING, we have a winner!

That's gonna be a "fun" de-programming job.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:48 AM (O7YUW)

I've actually been trying to brainstorm how to explain it to people. This is my current model rhetoric.

You've been drinking high-proof reddit. Like reddit everclear. Regular internet is toxic, reddit is distilled like the whiskey of internet toxicity, and LLMs are basically distilled reddit. like 194 proof internet. You're toxxed.

Posted by: SciVo at June 04, 2026 05:18 AM (Sy6m/)

25 They wore the franchise out.
There were like three or four Stargate tv series and about the same number of movies.

I'd rather see Amazon do a few more seasons of The Expanse.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026 05:20 AM (6ydKt)

26 I barely remember Swing Out Sister but I do recall that 'Breakout' was their biggest hit, which isn't a bad tune, either:

https://youtu.be/IIOJdMdS56k

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026 05:24 AM (6ydKt)

27 @24/SciVo: "Toxxed" is a good way to put it.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 05:25 AM (O7YUW)

28 So it appears that "AI Induced Psychosis Therapist" will be a very in-demand occupation by 2030 then.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026 05:28 AM (6ydKt)

29 Evening and morning, fellow satellites and satraps of the vast AoSHQ Empire! Thor's Day is here!

Today I am up far too early. Maybe I'll be able to take a mid-day nap. That'd be nice.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026

***
The story of my retired life! Though it's rare when I don't take a nap.

Big black Stirling is sprawled on the carpet near the bookcases. I checked the closets and little Dagny had not been shut into them; so I called her, and darned if she didn't trot out from the bedroom window where she likes to sit.

The new place doesn't have window sills like this, I think. I'll buy one of those cat seats, the kind that you hook to the window base and prop up with legs against the wall beneath, for them to sit and look out of one window.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026 05:30 AM (wzUl9)

30 International Fellowship of Christians and Jews-"Blessed with what we have" Reflection on Numbers 11:5-6

https://tinyurl.com/4c9yr4v7

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 05:32 AM (OYsYV)

31 The weather mavens are predicting a "drop" in humidity today, but it'll still be hot -- 78 now, for instance -- and then rain comes back tomorrow.

I'll put in a mini-Bataan Death March in a little while, just a mile's workout, and maybe the same tomorrow. It's gotten too hot and humid to walk/trot for half an hour now.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026 05:32 AM (wzUl9)

32 27 @24/SciVo: "Toxxed" is a good way to put it.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 05:25 AM (O7YUW)

Designed to directly pre-counter "I'm fine." Well, that's what the toxxed say, isn't it? They feel *great*.

Posted by: SciVo at June 04, 2026 05:33 AM (Sy6m/)

33 I've begun culling my books in prep for the move. Even if the home inspection (scheduled for today) reveals more problem$$$ than I want to deal with, getting rid of some books and magazines is a good idea. There's a thrift store near a Walmart in the suburbs that takes donations. Need to buy some boxes, though.

I discovered two Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazines from . . . 1967!! I've kept them all these years because one has an Ellery short story in it and one of the knowingly stupid and funny Shlock Homes parodies, and the other has an Ed McBain 87th Precinct story paired with a parody by Jon L. Breen of the whole series.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026 05:43 AM (wzUl9)

34 @29/Wolfus: "I'll buy one of those cat seats"

Your cats are lucky to have you.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 05:43 AM (O7YUW)

35 I had such a lovely visit with an older woman at the senior center yesterday. She's not a member of the church I serve, but she comes to our monthly worship services at the center. She had been feeling in low spirits and wasn't able to attend Bible study on Tuesday so I told her I would bring communion the next day. We shared communion and I anointed her and we prayed . She has butterflies pictures all over her room because she likes them and knows they are a symbol of the resurrection. She gave me a little thing of packaged Kleenex with a butterfly on it and it said "Blessed". It had a bunch of words and references to the the Bible on the back. So kind of her!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 05:45 AM (n3VHW)

36 It was actually 55 degrees here yesterday morning.

I don't think I've seen a low of 55 in June here since, like, ever.

Read some articles a month or so ago claiming we'd see a cooler, wetter, summer here in SC (and the rest of the South) due to the El Nino forming in the Pacific, and it looks like the weather 'experts' might actually be correct here.

I hope so.
80s & 90s, with more rain, sure beats 90s and 100s and drought for summer.

An active El Nino usually means less hurricanes hitting the east coast & Gulf, so that's a bonus.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026 05:47 AM (6ydKt)

37 Wolfus: "I'll buy one of those cat seats"

Your cats are lucky to have you.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026

***
Thanks, G & R!

The local Fox outlet had a short news story about two kittens abandoned -- atop the Miss. River Bridge! One has been rescued; the other is hiding in a drainage pipe, but he'll be rescued soon, I hope. What sort of a subhuman creature would abandon kittens atop a busy vehicle bridge?!?!?

(Actually I have a pretty good idea what sort of subhuman creature would do that. It's one part of why I'm moving.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026 05:48 AM (wzUl9)

38 G'mornin' everyone!

predawn, here in WI, 54 degrees; yesterday same time it was 40

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 04, 2026 05:50 AM (VyBeY)

39 What sort of a subhuman creature would abandon kittens atop a busy vehicle bridge?!?!?

(Actually I have a pretty good idea what sort of subhuman creature would do that. It's one part of why I'm moving.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026 05:48 AM (wzUl9)

Probably tried to throw them over the bridge in a bag and missed the landing, is my guess.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026 05:52 AM (6ydKt)

40 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

John 10:9

Posted by: Marcus T at June 04, 2026 05:56 AM (x/Rva)

41 Made it, it really H8 hills, but only problem so far

Posted by: Skip at June 04, 2026 05:59 AM (WQlzK)

42 39 What sort of a subhuman creature would abandon kittens atop a busy vehicle bridge?!?!?

(Actually I have a pretty good idea what sort of subhuman creature would do that. It's one part of why I'm moving.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026
*
Probably tried to throw them over the bridge in a bag and missed the landing, is my guess.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026

***
The city SPCA is right there on this side of the river near the bridge. If you surrender an animal that's yours, there's a charge, but it's free to bring in a found animal. The subhumans simply couldn't be bothered to drive a little farther.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026 06:00 AM (wzUl9)

43 Posted by: Skip at June 04, 2026 05:59 AM (WQlzK)

Glad to hear that, Skip.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 06:00 AM (OYsYV)

44 "Are AI models conscious?"

Just found this, and it's strangely appropriate:

"They're Made Out of Weights"
https://maxleiter.com/blog/weights

(And yes, it's an adaptation of the "They're Made Out of Meat" story.)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:04 AM (O7YUW)

45 Oh, and there's nothing really special there, it's kind of a search-and-replace adaptation on the original story.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:05 AM (O7YUW)

46 Astronaut explains how his faith got him through almost a year stranded in space:

https://tinyurl.com/3wxuh3h2

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 06:06 AM (n3VHW)

47 *quiet lol*

thanks, G&R!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 04, 2026 06:16 AM (VyBeY)

48
36 It was actually 55 degrees here yesterday morning.

I don't think I've seen a low of 55 in June here since, like, ever.”

See, that proves that Global Warming is True! Because Global Warming is Tricksie that way.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 04, 2026 06:17 AM (3mtTi)

49
Good morning, Hordians. Happy I stayed up and watched the Astros game last night. They were down 8-3, then 9-5, then scored six runs in the bottom of the 8th to win 11-9.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 04, 2026 06:19 AM (O0L8i)

50 Are AI models conscious?

Funny story about that. Asmongold was testing out a theory on AI. He told the program (Which had a female voice at the time) to count to one million. The AI argued with him and he said "I bet you wouldn't challenge me if you had a male voice."

He cut it off mid-conversation and changed the AI to male and asked the same question. It immediately began to count.

Posted by: NR Pax at June 04, 2026 06:19 AM (svLOV)

51 On Monday afternoon we finished css and html. Tomorrow we start CMS(wordpress).
In between we were 'taught' JavaScript.
Imma fail my cyber security degree.
FML

Posted by: Nato at June 04, 2026 06:21 AM (XAyZ8)

52 3) Has this guy been having conversations with an "AI" for an extended period of time? DING DING DING, we have a winner!

That's gonna be a "fun" de-programming job.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:48 AM

They could use AI for that.

Posted by: toby928(c) at June 04, 2026 06:24 AM (4NO2D)

53 20 4 >>>Are AI models conscious? (The Atlantic)

Would depend on the definition of

1) are
2) AI
3) models
4) conscious

... which The Atlantic cannot be trusted to delineate.
Posted by: m

I couldn't have phrased it better myself.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 04, 2026 05:06 AM (BLOW1)

w00t! I win the internet! No, BETTER than the internet!

; )

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:27 AM (6wpGE)

54 Are any of y'all following the Lego viral story?

Posted by: toby928(c) at June 04, 2026 06:28 AM (4NO2D)

55
Astronaut explains how his faith got him through almost a year stranded in space:
https://tinyurl.com/3wxuh3h2

Posted by: FenelonSpoke

Wait! Wait! I've seen this one!

He grows potatoes using human poop for fertilizer and eventually executes a deus ex machina move to launch his bad self into the arms of his rescuer in a kajillion to one gambit! "My Favorite Martian" it was called, and the stranded astronaut was named, "Jeff Spiccoli"! And there was a real nitwit on the rescue crew who built a model of the DNA of his "ideal woman" using M&Ms!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:34 AM (s9VOe)

56 @53/toby928(c):

Today we're secretly replacing John Hopkins' Psychosis Therapists with AI crystals. Will it be good enough?

Let's check in on our patient to see how he's doing:
https://youtu.be/wcinzmfZeCc

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:34 AM (O7YUW)

57 52 3) Has this guy been having conversations with an "AI" for an extended period of time? DING DING DING, we have a winner!

That's gonna be a "fun" de-programming job.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 04:48 AM

They could use AI for that.
Posted by: toby928(c) at June 04, 2026 06:24 AM (4NO2D)

"You'd better put some A-Ice on that."

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:34 AM (6wpGE)

58 I went a whole day yesterday without checking something with an AI. In other words, I talked on the phone most of the day,.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at June 04, 2026 06:35 AM (R8h/2)

59
On Monday afternoon we finished css and html. Tomorrow we start CMS(wordpress).
In between we were 'taught' JavaScript.
Imma fail my cyber security degree.
FML

Posted by: NATO

Aren't you supposed to be focused like a laser on the conflict in Ukraine?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:36 AM (s9VOe)

60 I don't want to talk to anything that's AI.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 06:38 AM (OYsYV)

61 For a while, there, I was adding

-ai

to the end of search terms in my google search box, and doing that succeeded in eliminating the AI Overview from the (prime real estate!) top spot in my search returns.

And that has quit working.

*sad face* *halp*

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:39 AM (6wpGE)

62 I will talk to people and cats and dogs an other animals , but I don't even don't even like talking on the phone to computer voices, "Ok. Let me help you with that."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 06:41 AM (OYsYV)

63 Good morning, All.

My brother has an Apple neo and likes it. Ut's enough for him

Posted by: JM in Illinois at June 04, 2026 06:42 AM (otJlS)

64 @61/m: Remember I once suggested adding &udm=14 to the url line? Try that and see if it still works.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:42 AM (O7YUW)

65 64 @61/m: Remember I once suggested adding &udm=14 to the url line? Try that and see if it still works.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:42 AM (O7YUW)

I forgot! I'll go try it.

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:44 AM (6wpGE)

66 The chip on my credit card failed. So I had to talk to AI. I could here it fine, but my midwest accent could not be understood. Had resort to keys.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at June 04, 2026 06:44 AM (qFwJc)

67 65 64 @61/m: Remember I once suggested adding &udm=14 to the url line? Try that and see if it still works.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:42 AM (O7YUW)

I forgot! I'll go try it.
Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:44 AM (6wpGE)

woot! That's going on a sticky on my computer!
Thanks!

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:45 AM (6wpGE)

68 Welp, I'm finally going to set up that Beelink Cube Mini I bought, uh, eight months ago or so. Thanks for the recommendation Pixy.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at June 04, 2026 06:46 AM (CHHv1)

69 @62/FenelonSpoke: { I will talk to people and cats and dogs an other animals , but I don't even don't even like talking on the phone to computer voices, "Ok. Let me help you with that." }

Butlerian Jihad, NOW.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:46 AM (O7YUW)

70 @67/m: You're welcome! :-)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:46 AM (O7YUW)

71
Are AI Models Conscious?

First thing I did was check who wrote it.

"Ted Chiang is a writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of Stories of Your Life and Others and Exhalation."

Yeah, he sounds fully qualified to discuss this issue.

Posted by: Biergood at June 04, 2026 06:46 AM (PwgSL)

72
My first cat I rescued from a roadside rest area where she had survived by scrounging through the trash cans there. A calico, I somehow got her to come near me and I put her in the back of my hatchback. We drove the hour to the home of the future Mrs. KvC, where she met the kids and became our companion for the next eight years or so. A badass hunter and a goofball at the same time, she was. I slept beside her on last night with me, sleeping on the floor, before the vet came over to put her down.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:47 AM (s9VOe)

73 @54/toby928(c): "Are any of y'all following the Lego viral story?"

I saw a video about this suggested in the side-bar of possible next-videos at YouTube. Looked like a click-farming rage-bait sorta thing so I ignored it.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 04, 2026 06:49 AM (O7YUW)

74 Is AI conscious?

Recall the computer program written in the sixties called ELIZA, it mimicked psychotherapy . It's some users convinced they were talking to a real therapist. To oversimplify:

Doctor, I've been feeling sad lately
You say you've been feeling sad.When did this start?
etc

Posted by: JM in Illinois at June 04, 2026 06:49 AM (20pGq)

75 I don't want to talk to anything that's AI.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

Reminds me of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where the girl is scolded by saying "Didn't I warn you not to talk to something when you can't see their face?"

Posted by: NR Pax at June 04, 2026 06:49 AM (svLOV)

76 71
Are AI Models Conscious?

First thing I did was check who wrote it.

"Ted Chiang is a writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of Stories of Your Life and Others and Exhalation."

Yeah, he sounds fully qualified to discuss this issue.
Posted by: Biergood at June 04, 2026 06:46 AM (PwgSL)

Yeah, o.k., but his bank account went "ka-CHIANG!"

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:50 AM (6wpGE)

77 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at June 04, 2026 06:51 AM (2Ez/1)

78
"Are any of y'all following the Lego viral story?"

Everything is awesome!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:51 AM (s9VOe)

79 Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:47 AM (s9VOe)

Thanks for your rescue. It's a nice account.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 06:51 AM (n3VHW)

80 from X, some truth:

Reporter: How do you define "ceasefire"?

Trump: In that part of the world, ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at June 04, 2026 06:51 AM (GfzZ6)

81 72 My first cat I rescued from a roadside rest area where she had survived by scrounging through the trash cans there. A calico, I somehow got her to come near me and I put her in the back of my hatchback. We drove the hour to the home of the future Mrs. KvC, where she met the kids and became our companion for the next eight years or so. A badass hunter and a goofball at the same time, she was. I slept beside her on last night with me, sleeping on the floor, before the vet came over to put her down.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:47 AM (s9VOe)

Good kitty!

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 06:51 AM (6wpGE)

82 "Are AI Models Conscious?"

That Clanking Clod Clod-Like Collection of Condensors Traitorous Tin-Plated Fugitive from a Junkyard is about as conscious as Transistorized Toad.

Posted by: Dr Smith at June 04, 2026 06:53 AM (vFG9F)

83 As of yesterday, 8,000 federal employees were moved to "at-will" status from protected civil service status. Just like in the private economy.

The Propaganda Press says the sky is falling.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at June 04, 2026 06:54 AM (GfzZ6)

84 36 It was actually 55 degrees here yesterday morning.

I don't think I've seen a low of 55 in June here since, like, ever.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at June 04, 2026 05:

-----

I remember a trip out west to Yellowstone park, sar rhere eating breakfast; first week of june and snow was falling

Posted by: JM in Illinois at June 04, 2026 06:55 AM (bzCQS)

85
Good kitty!
Posted by: m

She and our other rescue, a sweet but dumb tom, would take turns tormenting each other by swatting the swinging flap of the pet door to the outside when the other cat was trying to come back inside. I don't think either one realized who was slapping on the door (they couldn't see, as it was made of opaque plastic). That form of fun and games lasted until two wild raccoons found the door and began plundering the kitties' food and water in their sun room home, after which I had to take down the door.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:58 AM (s9VOe)

86

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at June 04, 2026 06:58 AM (ubYJ0)

87 Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:58 AM (s9VOe)

That's funny! Well, not about the raccoons but about door swatting cats.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 07:00 AM (n3VHW)

88
As of yesterday, 8,000 federal employees were moved to "at-will" status

And now the phrase, "Fire at Will" takes on new meaning for them. Sad!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:00 AM (s9VOe)

89 85
Good kitty!
Posted by: m

She and our other rescue, a sweet but dumb tom, would take turns tormenting each other by swatting the swinging flap of the pet door to the outside when the other cat was trying to come back inside. I don't think either one realized who was slapping on the door (they couldn't see, as it was made of opaque plastic). That form of fun and games lasted until two wild raccoons found the door and began plundering the kitties' food and water in their sun room home, after which I had to take down the door.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 06:58 AM (s9VOe)

I had this happen with two rescue kitties and a possum!

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 07:00 AM (6wpGE)

90 When I lived in CO, I was told that snow had been recorded falling somewhere in the state in every month of the year. In July and August, I expect, it was only on the high peaks of the Rockies, but still, that's amazing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 04, 2026 07:01 AM (wzUl9)

91 What surprise! Not. Mail in ballots are being counted and will be for up to a month and the noodle lady is CA is a bet to come in a winner.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 07:03 AM (n3VHW)

92 Posted by: Dr Smith at June 04, 2026 06:53 AM (vFG9F

Dr. Smith did have some good insults, didn"t he?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 04, 2026 07:04 AM (n3VHW)

93
When I lived in CO, I was told that snow had been recorded falling somewhere in the state in every month of the year. In July and August, I expect, it was only on the high peaks of the Rockies, but still, that's amazing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

And now the fumes from someone smoking weed in public can be experienced there continuously.

And still there are folks who will claim that there is no such thing as progress.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:04 AM (s9VOe)

94 Wolfus, I have a picture taken on July 4th many years ago in the mountains above Vail of snowing falling on my kids while out for a day hike.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at June 04, 2026 07:06 AM (Pqy7K)

95
93

That last line was shamelessly stolen from Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle".

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:07 AM (s9VOe)

96 Good morning!

Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:11 AM (u82oZ)

97
This Independence Day will mark fifty years since a high school friend and I were hiking in the Presidential Range on New Hampshire and we crossed over the peak of Mt. Washington while hiking the Appalachian Trail.

At camp that evening, we and others in the campsite watched the little brilliant coloured flowers from fireworks displays in the towns to the north and west below us. The displays were far enough away that there was no sound to be heard accompanying them. A very cool experience, that was.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:13 AM (s9VOe)

98 Had my usual Wednesday night dinner with the Constitution Bee survivors.

We spent most of it talking about data centers. We have a nearby coal plant that can help, but the energy company sold off two of the steam generators.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:13 AM (u82oZ)

99
What surprise! Not. Mail in ballots are being ~~counted~~ filled out and will be for up to a month and the noodle lady is CA is a bet to come in a winner.

Fix'd

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 04, 2026 07:14 AM (O0L8i)

100 100

Posted by: m at June 04, 2026 07:14 AM (6wpGE)

101 Hillary Clinton

NIH needs to study your liver. It is amazing. But still not, nor ever will be, President.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:15 AM (u82oZ)

102 62 but I don't even don't even like talking on the phone to computer voices, "Ok. Let me help you with that."

Agreed. I push buttons or say "Operator" until I get a human being if it's possible. Unfortunately a lot of companies use AI to stop us talking meat bags with wallets from wasting their precious time.

Posted by: NR Pax at June 04, 2026 07:15 AM (svLOV)

103 Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars

That sounds very cool. Like you were flying, without the danger.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:16 AM (u82oZ)

104
NIH needs to study your liver. It is amazing. But still not, nor ever will be, President.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:15 AM (u82oZ)

It will be sort of like Secretariat's heart. And about the same weight.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 04, 2026 07:16 AM (O0L8i)

105
I am acquiring a new vehicle as the seventeen years I drove the prior one finally caught up to it.

I was sorely disappointed when the sales person would not extend to me the $400 price reduction for being a college graduate, despite my assertion that indeed I was -- fifty years ago.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:17 AM (s9VOe)

106 I was sorely disappointed when the sales person would not extend to me the $400 price reduction for being a college graduate, despite my assertion that indeed I was -- fifty years ago.

The worst they can say is no but it's also their fault for not being clear.

Posted by: NR Pax at June 04, 2026 07:18 AM (svLOV)

107 Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars

The Patent and Trademark Office has always been like that. Produce or die. You fund your own salary with the fees of the patents you examine. And every two weeks, "Show what you have done for me." Used to be the prime source of Federal firing, with only 3,000 Patent Examiners.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:20 AM (u82oZ)

108 Hadrian the Seventh

I noted your Herculean labors in cleaning the RV.
Is Her Majesty going to retire?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:21 AM (u82oZ)

109
107
NaCly Dog

I did not know that!
* spoken in Johnny Carson's voice *

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:22 AM (s9VOe)

110
I read yesterday that a weepy Kimmy Jimmel fears that he will be booted from his nest of invective by ABC, just as CBS did to Colbert. Too bad, so sad!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:26 AM (s9VOe)

111
Disclaimer: You are living in a twilight world.

Uh, Venus?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:27 AM (s9VOe)

112 Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars

That would be a moon in the outer darkness, like Charon going around Pluto.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:29 AM (u82oZ)

113 Noodlum.

Posted by: Nooder at June 04, 2026 07:29 AM (2Ez/1)

114
Is Her Majesty going to retire?
Posted by: NaCly Dog at June 04, 2026 07:21 AM (u82oZ)

HM is retired from her professional go-to-the-office career. Her new career is gallivanting around the country showing dogs while her husband molders at home. She's also on on the Board of Directors of our national breed club. On Sunday, she's off to the quarterly AKC Delegate meeting.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 04, 2026 07:29 AM (O0L8i)

115
Agreed. I push buttons or say "Operator" until I get a human being if it's possible. Unfortunately a lot of companies use AI to stop us talking meat bags with wallets from wasting their precious time.

Posted by: NR Pax

Between my pushing the "0" key incessantly and saying "representative" repeatedly, Mrs KvC knows when I am seeking on line "help".

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at June 04, 2026 07:30 AM (s9VOe)

116 "Ted Chiang is a writer based in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of Stories of Your Life and Others and Exhalation."

Yeah, he sounds fully qualified to discuss this issue.
Posted by: Biergood at June 04, 2026 06:46 AM (PwgSL)

The movie Arrival, starring Amy Adams, was based on Stories of Your Life.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 04, 2026 07:30 AM (brIJB)

117 Nooding.

Posted by: Gmac-WTF did you think was going to happen? at June 04, 2026 07:30 AM (Q/FnY)

Processing 0.02, elapsed 0.0254 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0081 seconds, 126 records returned.
Page size 75 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.