Daily Tech News 5 September 2026

Top Story

Bob is back. (IBM)

This time as an AI-assisted coding tool from IBM, rather than... Bob.

Tech News

I hope there's a certain amount of sibling rivalry between Claude Opus and Fable; I just gave Opus access to a complete history of my personal blog where I am complimentary to it and much less so to Fable.

And even less so to OpenAI, to be fair.

Which is to say, Minx 2.0 is finally under way. The database and language limitations that blocked me - there's no database that works the way I need and no language with the set of tradeoffs I want - are gone. I didn't have enums or multi-valued indexes or sharded search in MySQL, and while Python is not bad, making it fast is a juggling act.

So I built my own.

Aiming for a release on my own blog on the 21st followed by wider availability once it's proven itself.
Meanwhile work continues on porting Hack to a 1983 10-bit imaginary home computer. The level generation took 15 seconds initially, but chasing down the code paths in the Basic runtime plus a few clever software optimisations got that down to about 500 milliseconds. It blinks and the new level appears - but that blinking is doing magic, because high-resolution text display really taxes the memory bus and it's the trick of hiding the map that allows it to be drawn so fast.
Lenovo being Lenovo. (Bleeping Computer)

If you have a Lenovo account - which I do - and a Dropbox account - which I do - you might also have some bad news - which I personally do not.
Coder's (the company's) security registry infrastructure was compromised. (Bleeping Computer)
The Coder platform enables organizations to provide developers with secure, self-hosted cloud development environments for building and deploying software, including AI applications.
"Secure."
The project is used by prominent private and government organizations, including Dropbox, Palantir, Square, Mercedes-Benz, KKR, EnBW, the U.S. government, and defense companies.
Dropbox needs to find better partners to work with.
Burnt out on a three day week. (Jenny Wanger)

AI slop or just regular slop? You decide!

I'm burnt out on a two day week right now, in the sense that across Monday and Tuesday I clocked a full week's worth of hours.
AMD has unveiled a new home computer. (Tom's Hardware)

Not one you put inside your home. It costs $150,000. You buy one instead of a home.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: If it hadn't been for Copperhead Road
I'd be making moonshine long time ago
Where did they come from, where did they go
How did the feds find Copperhead Road?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 04:32 AM (odBC9)

2 On an empty comment section nobody can hear you woot.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 05, 2026 04:36 AM (BLOW1)

3 Who’s here?

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 05, 2026 04:36 AM (1paM0)

4 Here!

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 04:38 AM (odBC9)

5 I thought the image on the 1983 10-bit imaginary home computer was a car or some kind of vehicle.
Moar covfefe.

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 04:39 AM (odBC9)

6 Bob? BOB? What about me? Have you forgotten me?

Posted by: Clippy at September 05, 2026 04:45 AM (llBIB)

7 We could never!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 05, 2026 04:46 AM (BLOW1)

8 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 05, 2026 04:48 AM (wrXPz)

9 Guten morgen, horde.

Posted by: clarence at September 05, 2026 04:49 AM (311fa)

10
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at September 05, 2026 04:52 AM (AMvSw)

11 The Hack map looks a lot like Rogue, which I cannot find anywhere these days. Spent more than a few hours in that underworld.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at September 05, 2026 04:52 AM (llBIB)

12 2 On an empty comment section nobody can hear you woot.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at September 05, 2026 04:36 AM (BLOW1)

Lurkers can hear you w00t.
Pixies can hear you w00t!

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 04:53 AM (odBC9)

13
And today, Sept 5, is the 49th anniversary of the launch of Voyager 1.

V'ger 1 will reach one light day distance from earth on Nov 18th, 10:16:07 Z, or 5:16:07 AM EST.

49 years and just one light day. Just a little glimpse of just how big space is.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at September 05, 2026 04:57 AM (w6EFb)

14 Wikipedia ASCII art has a self-propelled howitzer and truck made using ASCII art.

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 04:58 AM (odBC9)

15 Leaflit on youtube has a righteous rant about Clancy fans ("They are not people"), toward the end of which she says (something like) these TikTok-crazed idiots will see a SpaceX test rocket explode and they'll say, stupid SpaceX rocket people; no; this is how people learn; you try something, you fail, you ask what could I do better; you learn; you get better at it.

It's great. Starts at ca. 55:00/59:43.

https://tinyurl.com/mvnhw9rr

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 05:15 AM (odBC9)

16
I think 95% of these burned-out stories, the whining that a 9-5 job 5 days a week is slavery, the yammering about "survival mode" are from women.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 05, 2026 05:16 AM (eRlcH)

17 If you have a Lenovo account - which I do - and a Dropbox account - which I do - you might also have some bad news - which I personally do not.

I have two Lenovo laptops, a Lenovo account and a Dropbox account.
I’m not sure if I ever linked Dropbox to the Lenovo account during setup, but I haven’t received an email from Dropbox on any problems.

Also, there’s nothing in my Dropbox I’d be worried about losing or getting ransomed.

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

18 https://youtu.be/s2rkDG87H3U

Dirty Sanchez. Only 90 seconds from Silver Fox Hot Takes.

Posted by: you really don't want to know at September 05, 2026 05:21 AM (NxbVa)

19 Wrapping up a night of appellate briefing with a half oz of Balvenie single barrel 12 yo. They sure got that right.

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at September 05, 2026 05:22 AM (Fv808)

20 Just logged into Dropbox. Nothing untoward there.

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at September 05, 2026 05:25 AM (Fv808)

21 GGG on G20

https://youtu.be/B1ae0MTgBec

70 minutes of the latest in Tom Luongo's crazyness. Trump kicked the media to the curb (finally).

Posted by: you really don't want to know at September 05, 2026 05:25 AM (NxbVa)

22 Not one you put inside your home. It costs $150,000. You buy one instead of a home.

Asus has a new 20th Anniversary collection of PC parts and accessories that if you bought everything to have the complete matching set would set you back about $20,000, if you want a PC price a little closer to earth.

A few YouTubers (Linus & JayzTwoCents) have actually put the PC itself together (just the PC with the ROG Astral 20th Edition RTX 5090 runs about $15k).

It looks interesting but you’d have to be quite the wealthy gamer, and love some Asus ROG, to ever buy the thing.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 05, 2026 05:26 AM (6ydKt)

23
abovethelaw.com

Lindsay Clancy’s Lawyer Tells Us How He Really Feels About His Case

@moodienews

"I don't want a mistrial. Why would I want a mistrial? I kicked the s**t out of their case." - Reddington

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 05:30 AM (odBC9)

24 23
abovethelaw.com

Lindsay Clancy’s Lawyer Tells Us How He Really Feels About His Case

@moodienews

"I don't want a mistrial. Why would I want a mistrial? I kicked the s**t out of their case." - Reddington
Posted by: m

I miss the moral clarity of Michael Avenatti, who lives in a van, down by the river.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 05, 2026 05:37 AM (wrXPz)

25
"I don't want a mistrial. Why would I want a mistrial? I kicked the s**t out of their case." - Reddington
Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 05:30 AM (odBC9)

Frightening. He'll push for dismissal of charges.

Even more frightening: He'll probably succeed.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 05, 2026 05:38 AM (eRlcH)

26 "I don't want a mistrial. Why would I want a mistrial? I kicked the s**t out of their case." - Reddington

LOL, having not followed the case enough, my first thought was Raymond Reddington. I can totally hear James Spader saying that quote.

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at September 05, 2026 05:39 AM (Fv808)

27 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at September 05, 2026 05:39 AM (Ia/+0)

28 And today, Sept 5, is the 49th anniversary of the launch of Voyager 1.

V'ger 1 will reach one light day distance from earth on Nov 18th, 10:16:07 Z, or 5:16:07 AM EST.

49 years and just one light day. Just a little glimpse of just how big space is.
Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at September 05, 2026 04:57 AM (w6EFb)

Louie Giglio (a preacher of sorts) has a little talk he gives about God called Indescribable IIRC… in it he talks about the massive scale of the universe and objects therein. Truly mind boggling; if you believe God created it all, the proper reaction is one of awe (to say the least) for the Creator

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at September 05, 2026 05:39 AM (n7Rsm)

29 Evening and morning, late toilers and early risers on this first Saturn's Day of September!

I thought "Bob" was That Guy in those old TV ads for a male enhancement product.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 05, 2026 05:40 AM (wzUl9)

30 Nvidia’s DLSS 5 is getting closer to release.
People are testing it out on YT and elsewhere.

The new AI enhancer to faces and lighting can look good if the developers don’t overdo it, but be prepared to see all of your favorite cartoonish/anime looking game characters to suddenly have their faces filled with skin pores and their eyes to go deep into uncanny valley.

Not to mention that turning on DLSS 5 seems to drop framerates by about 50%, especially on amything lower than a 5070 Ti.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 05, 2026 05:41 AM (6ydKt)

31 Dreamed I was trying to fix door hardware that isn't real even in reality

Posted by: Skip at September 05, 2026 05:44 AM (Ia/+0)

32 “Bob”

I’m thinking Bill Murray as Bob driving his psychiatrist absolutely nuts over the course of a family vacation.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 05, 2026 05:46 AM (6ydKt)

33 31 Dreamed I was trying to fix door hardware that isn't real even in reality
Posted by: Skip at September 05, 2026 05:44 AM (Ia/+0)

Did you fix it?

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 05:49 AM (odBC9)

34 Couldn't get it to latch that was on top of the door. So was trying to rig some parts

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

35 34 Couldn't get it to latch that was on top of the door. So was trying to rig some parts
Posted by: Skip at September 05, 2026 05:51 AM (Ia/+0)

Be careful on the ladder!

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 05:52 AM (odBC9)

36 I *was* dreaming something, but being kicked awake by big cat Stirling -- three times, starting on the stroke of 3:45 am -- knocked it right out of me.

Oh, well. Coffee comes first.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 05, 2026 05:52 AM (wzUl9)

37 I often have dreams about building things that either can't be done in reality.

Posted by: Skip at September 05, 2026 05:53 AM (Ia/+0)

38 AMD has unveiled a new home computer.

Hm... I wonder if employee discounts apply on that one?

Posted by: Bitblt at September 05, 2026 05:57 AM (kj+zZ)

39 >>>I'm burnt out on a two day week right now, in the sense that across Monday and Tuesday I clocked a full week's worth of hours.

All of those hours Working For the Man, or including Pixy-stuff?

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 06:00 AM (odBC9)

40 Had to look it up. Enzyte was the name of that spurious male enhancement product in the notorious TV ads with "Bob."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 05, 2026 06:05 AM (wzUl9)

41 Roy Orbison was on a whole other level. My mother grew listening to his artistry.

But when she heard Van Halen's cover of pretty woman, she loved it. You just never know.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at September 05, 2026 06:05 AM (eP2ub)

42 ... because there's Work and then there's work-skills-application-to-stuff-outside-work. Which can feel like work but is somewhat voluntary.

Posted by: m at September 05, 2026 06:06 AM (odBC9)

43 Time to think about breakfast, and to run some water in the furry thugs' bowls so they'll be clean at feeding time -- about 6 am these days.

Miss Linda and I will go to the library this morning. The Book Club meeting Wednesday night will focus on Westerns, so she wants to get at least one to read. My choice is Loren Estleman's White Desert, in which deputy U.S. marshal Page Murdock pursues a nasty outlaw into western Canada and has to deal with Mounties and a colony of former slaves (historically real, I think) who've established a community out on the plains there. (WHY has none of Estleman's books ever been turned into a movie?) But I need to get a copy if I can to re-read.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 05, 2026 06:14 AM (wzUl9)

44
Have to run out this morning and to gift cards and mail them to the reverend gentlemen of my parish for International-Buy-a-Priest-a-Beer Day.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 05, 2026 06:19 AM (eRlcH)

45 Big posting by Pixy. Thanks.

Posted by: From about That Time at September 05, 2026 06:20 AM (sl73Y)

46 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Tweeter and the Monkey Man were hard up for cash
They stayed up all night selling cocaine and hash
Till an undercover cop with a sister named Jan
For reasons unexplained, she loved the Monkey Man

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at September 05, 2026 06:21 AM (amcLV)

47 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 05, 2026 06:14 AM (wzUl9)

Sounds like a wonderful time. Beats a lecture about vasectomies !😉

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 05, 2026 06:21 AM (rHgXV)

48 Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at September 05, 2026 06:21 AM (amcLV

LOL. Are you a writer.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 05, 2026 06:22 AM (rHgXV)

49 Good morning! Got a lot of indoor work to do today including clean out the closet and donate a heap o' clothes that I no longer need like slacks, dress shirts, jackets, etc...

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at September 05, 2026 06:24 AM (3Ope8)

50 My gluteus maximus is sore. After replacing the shifter cable bushing, putting the dashboard (lower half) was a chore. I am feeling it today. But I get to declare Victory!

Two or more hours of work to replace a $6 part. It's an old car that already has a salvage title. Anything major and I will sell it for parts.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 05, 2026 06:24 AM (36x1j)

51 LOL. Are you a writer.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 05, 2026 06:22 AM (rHgXV)
---------
No, that's a song from the Traveling Wilburys album.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at September 05, 2026 06:25 AM (amcLV)

52 Hail to indoor work.

It's going to be "hotter than Hades" here today.

Indoor work!

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 05, 2026 06:26 AM (36x1j)

53 So I saying on the ONT that I am looking after my friend's cats while she and their daughter go to Disney World where they will meet with her son, son-in-law and grandkids. I am looking after their three cats, one of whom is the biggest cat I have ever seen in my life . He's over 30 lbs!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 05, 2026 06:26 AM (rHgXV)

54
If it hadn't been for Copperhead Road
I'd be making moonshine long time ago
Where did they come from, where did they go
How did the feds find Copperhead Road?

Now, Pixy, you know better than to go about posting lyrics set to 'billy tunes. Next thing you know, all our 'billies hereabouts will be a fiddlin', stompin', clappin', whistlin' and carryin' on like this place was a regular ol' hootenanny.

You be more careful, ya hear?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 05, 2026 06:26 AM (trSL4)

55 Me, in the shower, 25 minutes ago:
"WTH, why won't this shampoo lather up?"

Me, in the shower, 24 minutes ago:
"My hair is wet enough after rinsing... it still won't bubble up!"

Me, in the shower, 23 minutes ago:
"Oh, that was the conditioner."

Me, in the shower, 22 minutes ago with shampoo in my hair:
*Laughing maniacally while questioning my own sanity and why I'm up this early on a Saturday*

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 05, 2026 06:27 AM (6ydKt)

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