Daily Tech News 20 October 2026

Top Story

Anthropic has pledged to give 5% of its shared to a public benefit fund. (CNBC)

By which they mean trying to buy off the communists, who hate them and want them dead.
Elon Musk meanwhile plans to give a share in SpaceX to every child in America. (CNN)

Some of whom aren't communists or at least could grow out of it.

Tech News

People are using AI to dumb their smart TVs. (Tech Crunch)

Good.
Amazon is funding the development of twelve small nuclear reactors at a decommissioned coal-fired power plan in Indiana. (Tech Crunch)

Also good.
Hackers breached something to with with Microsoft 365 via an old third-party backup service. (Bleeping Computer)

Not directly Microsoft's fault so far as I can tell.
But maybe you should use an open-source alternative like Nextcloud instead. Oh. (Bleeping Computer)

Maybe not.

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Take five, they're small.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:00 AM (odBC9)

2 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:01 AM (gsBYv)

3 I demand a recount!

Anyhoo, out for exercise!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:01 AM (gsBYv)

4 from the ONT

asmongold
It's spreading all across Europe..
https://tinyurl.com/4muhb9kp
(53:10)

"What would it take for them to declare martial law?"
starting at 42:47

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (odBC9)

5 2 BOING!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:01 AM (gsBYv)

Slacker!

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (odBC9)

6 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (sAmhv)

7 "What would it take for them to declare martial law?"

An army?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (BLOW1)

8 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2026 04:03 AM (Ia/+0)

9 7 "What would it take for them to declare martial law?"

An army?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (BLOW1)

A Marshal?

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:03 AM (l3cgK)

10 BOING!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:01 AM (gsBYv)

Slacker!

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (odBC9)
-

/takes glove off and slaps m

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:04 AM (gsBYv)

11 7 "What would it take for them to declare martial law?"
An army?
Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (BLOW1)

426 408 405 France can stop the revolt overnight. ... The fact that they aren’t stopping it now means someone in power wants it to go on.
Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at October 20, 2026 01:11 AM (wWuuh)

Or someone doesn't want to stop it, which is the same difference, effectively.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 20, 2026 01:15 AM (l3cgK)

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:04 AM (odBC9)

12 By which they mean trying to buy off the communists, who hate them and want them dead.

The communists will gleefully take the money, and then throw them in a gulag.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at October 20, 2026 04:05 AM (sAmhv)

13 "What would it take for them to declare martial law?"

An army?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (BLOW1)

A Marshal?

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:03 AM (l3cgK)
-

Martians. Paging Elon Musk!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:05 AM (gsBYv)

14 10 BOING!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:01 AM (gsBYv)

Slacker!

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (odBC9)

/takes glove off and slaps m
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:04 AM (gsBYv)

*ouch*

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:05 AM (odBC9)

15 13 "What would it take for them to declare martial law?"

An army?

Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 20, 2026 04:02 AM (BLOW1)

A Marshal?

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:03 AM (l3cgK)
-

Martians. Paging Elon Musk!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:05 AM (gsBYv)

A Martian Marshal Martial law...

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:06 AM (l3cgK)

16 Or someone doesn't want to stop it, which is the same difference, effectively.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 20, 2026 01:15 AM (l3cgK)
-

Why dontcha all just have patience and wait for Macaroon or whoever to return from whatever concert they're at today.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:07 AM (gsBYv)

17 15 13 A Martian Marshal Martial law...
Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:06 AM (l3cgK)

... walk into a bar.

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:08 AM (odBC9)

18 A Martian Marshal Martial law...

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:06 AM (l3cgK)
-

Her name is Michelle.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:08 AM (gsBYv)

19 Is it 1848 already?

I still have my Revolution decorations up.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at October 20, 2026 04:08 AM (aKiSo)

20 /takes glove off and slaps m

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:04 AM (gsBYv)

*ouch*

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:05 AM (odBC9)
-

It was a velvet glove, Francis.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:09 AM (gsBYv)

21 Why dontcha all just have patience and wait for Macaroon or whoever to return from whatever concert they're at today.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:07 AM (gsBYv)

Just let the guy eat his Belgian waffle.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at October 20, 2026 04:09 AM (aKiSo)

22 BBC

Father of suspect in Australian MP attack says politician was long-time family friend

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:09 AM (odBC9)

23 3 I demand a recount!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:01 AM (gsBYv)

HE STARTED IT!

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:10 AM (odBC9)

24 BBC

Father of suspect in Australian MP attack says politician was long-time family friend

https://tinyurl.com/ymu5u2x4

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:11 AM (odBC9)

25 BBC

[Australian MP] Haines, 65, is in a critical but stable condition and has reportedly lost a leg after being hit by the suspect's car outside her office in Victoria

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:12 AM (odBC9)

26 golly

The New York Times

"The Failures of Emmanuel Macron"

1 hour ago

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:14 AM (odBC9)

27 18 A Martian Marshal Martial law...

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:06 AM (l3cgK)
-

Her name is Michelle.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:08 AM (gsBYv)

And here I was expecting Marsha, the Martian Marshal...

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:15 AM (l3cgK)

28 27 18 A Martian Marshal Martial law...

Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:06 AM (l3cgK)
-

Her name is Michelle.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 04:08 AM (gsBYv)

And here I was expecting Marsha, the Martian Marshal...
Posted by: jim (in Kallifornia) at October 20, 2026 04:15 AM (l3cgK)

Marianne

(Wikipedia)

Marianne ... has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as an emblem of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty.

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:17 AM (odBC9)

29 DOOMED!

Now it’s better. It’s a bit discomforting to watch the structures of society willfully collapsing. We may yet have to fight tooth and nail to preserve our freedoms and way of life.

I’m going to buy more Ammo.

Posted by: Pete Bog at October 20, 2026 04:19 AM (QmrQW)

30 Revival - Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi Opening

That's kinda fun.

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:24 AM (odBC9)

31 Asian Kung Fu Generation - Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi

longplay!

Also kinda fun. But long.

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:31 AM (odBC9)

32 Morning, 'rons and 'ettes.

Posted by: olddog in mo at October 20, 2026 04:31 AM (Hbeqj)

33 31 Asian Kung Fu Generation - Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi

longplay!

Also kinda fun. But long.
Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:31 AM (odBC9)

In before somebody says:

That's what she said.

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:31 AM (odBC9)

34 The Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town

I've had as an earworm since Pixy posted it!

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:34 AM (odBC9)

35 Clear but dark outside with no moon
Should be a nice day
Have a great day horde

Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2026 04:37 AM (Ia/+0)

36 34 The Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town

I've had as an earworm since Pixy posted it!
Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:34 AM (odBC9)

Now being challenged by Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi.

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:38 AM (odBC9)

37 "Some of whom aren't communists or at least could grow out of it."
Sounds dangerous. I bet this will intensify the left's calls to nationalize Musk's businesses.

Posted by: PG at October 20, 2026 04:39 AM (yOA5+)

38 asmongold

695K views
8h ago

wild

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 04:52 AM (odBC9)

39
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at October 20, 2026 05:09 AM (AMvSw)

40 Store clerk stops robber by talking to him about Jesus. Faithpot site:

https://tinyurl.com/36v85kp6

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026 05:10 AM (JrHfD)

41 BBC
Suspect arrested after historic town hall set alight during disorder - French media

https://tinyurl.com/ys23e2f8

in which there is only one mention of Macron, in only this context:

[Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez] was strongly criticised by opposition politicians over authorities' preparedness for the disorder, leading him to offer his resignation on Monday, which was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron.

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 05:18 AM (odBC9)

42 >>>Hackers breached something to with with Microsoft 365

to do with

Posted by: m at October 20, 2026 05:32 AM (odBC9)

43 I'm quite happy about the article regarding Amazon investing in nuclear power. Hopefully this is the start of a trend and the tears of greenies are ignored.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 20, 2026 05:35 AM (lXoJ5)

44 I bet this will intensify the left's calls to nationalize Musk's businesses.
Posted by: PG

Ya know, there is this old story from Aesop about a farmer who had a goose that laid golden eggs...

Posted by: NR Pax at October 20, 2026 05:37 AM (lXoJ5)

45 People are using AI to dumb their smart TVs

From reading the comments on the thread, he's disabling packages via the user's profile, in /data rather than uninstalling system packages. All the poison is still there waiting to be turned back on.

So now that this has gone public, the manufacturers will counter with restrictions at the system level that removes the ability of the users to disable certain packages, and re-enables those that were already disabled, as well as doing a CRC check on the launcher to ensure it hasn't been tampered with. Their justification? "You agreed to this in the Terms of Service."

This will escalate to hacks to rootkit the TVs, along with replacement firmware that is open source, and TV manufacturers will respond by forcing the app-makers to perform checks on their environment to make sure they're running on an "approved device" or refuse to function. App-makers that won't comply will find their apps de-certified.

And then open-source versions of the apps themselves appear, and services connected to by the apps then respond by locking down their APIs and/or adding encryption to the data streams.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at October 20, 2026 05:37 AM (O7YUW)

46 45: The easy solution is for the manufacturers to just give the consumer what they want but that goes against what is taught in every Business school.

As for me, I bought a dumb TV from Best Buy. The nice man was not pushy; he just said "You won't have access to certain features." Once I established that I was fine with that, he dropped the matter and loaded the TV into my cart.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 20, 2026 05:40 AM (lXoJ5)

47 Tiny black cat rescued from car engine brings joy to people having a Halloween anniversary
"Good News network":

https://tinyurl.com/y7hkdjks

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026 05:42 AM (JrHfD)

48 Evenin' and mo'nin', all! I'm sorry to have missed the vintage fun and games on last night's ONT. For some reason I thought the vintage pics were on Wednesdays.

So, Tiu's Day.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2026 05:43 AM (wzUl9)

49 I woke from a dream where I was trying to do a take-home mid-term exam in econometrics or something heavily math-y. I couldn't answer half the questions, and my MSExcel warned me I only had "613" left (no idea what -- tables, cells, characters?). Hadn't bought the textbook, either. I planned to drop the course; but the registrar's website was *hiding* the "Last Day to Drop" date. When I sought their office, I couldn't find it -- the building was being remodeled, and nobody knew where the office had moved to. I told a co-worker, "I used to have friends in that office, but not any more. And they're all so unfriendly now. They look at you like you just crossed over from the DDR!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2026 05:45 AM (wzUl9)

50 I hope you all have a blessed day and know you are a blessing to others.
I am going to do a Bible study with the dear senior citizens at the nursing home later on, so probably won't be around much ( And everyone says "Yay!)IBible study is on Revelation . We're just starting.

Consider blessings in your life and thank God today!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026 05:48 AM (JrHfD)

51 Tiny black cat rescued from car engine brings joy to people having a Halloween anniversary
"Good News network":

https://tinyurl.com/y7hkdjks
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026

***
Looks like my Stirling -- though I never knew him when he was that small. He was already pretty good-sized when I adopted him at three months old.

"Friday Shadow"? "Lucky" should be his name!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2026 05:48 AM (wzUl9)

52 44 I bet this will intensify the left's calls to nationalize Musk's businesses.
Posted by: PG

Ya know, there is this old story from Aesop about a farmer who had a goose that laid golden eggs...
Posted by: NR Pax

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded—here and there, now and then—are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.

This is known as "bad luck.” - Robert Heinlein

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at October 20, 2026 05:49 AM (sAmhv)

53 Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man.

Which explains the communist mindset. Being poor is normal so everyone (Except them) should be poor.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 20, 2026 05:53 AM (lXoJ5)

54 Pleasantly cool, 65 F., this morning. After workout, shower, and breakfast, I need to wash the car and visit the library. Monday seems to have become my default grocery day, Tuesday for the library and errands. Nothing is set for the other days, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2026 05:57 AM (wzUl9)

55 Oh, yes. I did want to share this because it made me laugh. I was drying some clothes and when I opened the door of the dryer several dollar bills fell out .(My son must have them in his pants pocket). So I guess you could call that money laundering, just not on the massive scale of Ilhan Omar.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026 06:01 AM (JrHfD)

56 We watched he last episode of the 2022 series Marie Antoinette last night. It ended on a cliffhanger, where the French Revolution was just beginning. Not a *bad* series, interesting enough with its various palace intrigues, and with good casting.

I wonder if a third season was planned but fell through? If not, if the series was to end on this note, it needed an epilogue to let the uninformed know what happened to Marie and Louis XVI, and the regime and to France.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2026 06:05 AM (wzUl9)

57 @51/Wolfus: ""Friday Shadow"? "Lucky" should be his name!"

Found in an engine compartment? I'd name him "Dipstick".

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant, a Moron behind enemy lines at October 20, 2026 06:08 AM (O7YUW)

58 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: It takes two to tango.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at October 20, 2026 06:10 AM (amcLV)

59 We watched he last episode of the 2022 series Marie Antoinette last night. It ended on a cliffhanger, where the French Revolution was just beginning.
---------
So where do they fall on the relationship between Maire and Count Fersen?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at October 20, 2026 06:11 AM (amcLV)

60 So I guess you could call that money laundering, just not on the massive scale of Ilhan Omar.

Perhaps your son was tipping out of gratitude? -:-)

Posted by: NR Pax at October 20, 2026 06:11 AM (lXoJ5)

61 Folks, are you following DataRepublican's expose? I see Ace is.

Part 2:

https://tinyurl.com/58c5hd68

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at October 20, 2026 06:11 AM (RkR9o)

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