RANT: Like click bait, it disclosed nothing.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/09/24/sports/how-erin-dolan-bet-on-herself-with-new-espn-contract/

How Erin Dolan bet on herself with new ESPN contract — and the ‘double-edged sword’ that comes with it
By Jenna Lemoncelli
Published Sep. 24, 2025, 9:27 a.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Dolan, who joined ESPN in December of 2021, said she knew exactly what she wanted when it was time to negotiate her contract.

She did not share the exact details of the deal.

*** end quote ***

TL;DR (Too long; don’t read)

I was interested in what she “negotiated” to “bet on herself”.  But like most click bait, it disclosed nothing.

Argh!

Wasted my valuable time.  Don’t waste yours.

Argh!

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MEME: Jeff Bezos circa 1999

Monday, September 29, 2025

Image

“Sometimes what seems possible is impossible. The whizdom comes from knowing when to quit.”

IN RESPONSE TO

“Never let someone tell you what’s possible. “https://tinyurl.com/y2yuweao —Jason Stapleton @Jason_Stapleton

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SECURITY: Q-day threats — post-quantum security

Monday, September 29, 2025

https://blog.cloudflare.com/you-dont-need-quantum-hardware/?utm_source=tldrinfosec/

You don’t need quantum hardware for post-quantum security

2025-09-19

Luke Valenta

*** begin quote ***

You don’t need quantum hardware for post-quantum security (15 minute read)

Organizations can prepare for quantum computing threats (Q-day) using post-quantum cryptography (PQC) deployed on existing hardware without needing expensive quantum technologies like quantum key distribution (QKD) or quantum random number generators (QRNG). Being “quantum ready” means systems remain secure after quantum computers can break conventional cryptography. Beware of vendor claims that quantum hardware products are necessary for quantum-resistant security. Organizations should prioritize implementing PQC algorithms on current infrastructure rather than investing in quantum hardware solutions that are neither necessary nor sufficient for protection against quantum adversaries.

*** end quote ***

This has huge implications for both digital signatures and ₿itcoin.

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SECURITY: Fake US and Canadian IDs

Sunday, September 28, 2025

https://hackread.com/chinese-network-ofake-us-canadian-ids/?utm_source=tldrinfosec

Chinese Network Selling Thousands of Fake US and Canadian IDs

  • New investigation exposes a China-based ring that sold over 6,500 fake United States and Canadian IDs using well-planned covert packaging. Learn how this operation threatens national security and enables financial crime.

by Deeba Ahmed — September 19, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Chinese Network Selling Thousands of Fake US and Canadian IDs (3 minute read)

CloudSEK exposed a China-based operation called “ForgeCraft” that sold over 6,500 counterfeit US and Canadian driver’s licenses and Social Security cards to more than 4,500 buyers, generating over $785,000 in revenue through 83 websites and using covert packaging methods to ship fake IDs hidden in everyday items. The sophisticated fake documents feature scannable barcodes, holograms, and UV markings and pose national security risks by enabling financial fraud, bypassing border checks, and potentially facilitating voter fraud. CloudSEK researchers identified the main operator’s location in Xiamen, China, and shared evidence with authorities to disrupt the operation.

*** end quote ***

So how do we stop this?

Clearly, this is an “epidemic” and undermines everything that needs “security”.

Must be a way to create a crypto hash and block chain implementation to compare it with.

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HEALTH: My favorite heuristic (rule of thumb) — “factoids” but not “evidence”

Saturday, September 27, 2025

FROM A REPLY TO ONE OF MY FORWARDED MEME-FILLED EMAILS

*** begin quote ***

FJohn, do you actually believe that vaccines are a hoax?

*** end quote ***

Well, … … … …

 … … … … Just off the top of my head:

  • “Covid vaccines” are not what we knew as “vaccines”. Certainly not studied for “safety”. 
  • Older “true” vaccines have a track record. But again never studied for “safety”. 
  • Flu “vaccines” are of dubious value; I never took them. Many times I’ve heard people bitch that they took it and then got the flu. To me that’s was an “interesting factoid”, but not real “evidence”. But enough to make me skeptical.
  • Hep B vaxes are given to ALL babies even if their mother is NOT carrting the Hep B infection? That is at least unnecessary and maybe worse.
  • As far as the autism vaccine link, it’s reported that the Amish don’t get vaxed and they have zero cases of autism. 
  • Japan doesn’t vax children until 4. 
  • My middle age niece remarked, when discussing this, that when her boys were young vaxes were spread out over time; not bunched up at once. 
  • Throw in that Big Pharma is legally immune from vax injury damages. 
  • And that hospitals are incentivized to give them. 
  • And, doctors are paid based on the percentage of their practice that are vaxed.
  • Recently, the Gooferment under RFKjr reported that there was linkage between autism and young black males. 
  • The “advisory panel” for vaxes were merely a rubber stamp for Big Pharma. “Regulatory capture revolving door. They were replaced with respected people with no ties to Big Pharma. Now they are being more circumspect in their recommendation. This maybe be better, but not assured.

Again to repeat my favorite heuristic (rule of thumb) — “factoids” but not “evidence”.

I remember thalidomide when a “harmless” drug cause birth defects in mother’s  GRANDCHILDREN!

So I don’t think they are a “hoax”, but they are not “innocuous”.

Hope that helps understand my thoughts about them.

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POLITICAL: Jasmine Crockett Provides Head-Scratching Explanation

Friday, September 26, 2025

https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/18/jasmine-crockett-provides-head-scratching-explanation-about-law/

Jasmine Crockett Provides Head-Scratching Explanation About Law: Committing Crime ‘Doesn’t Make’ Person ‘Criminal’
Jason Cohen
DCNF Reporter/Clipper

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-09-19>>

*** begin quote ***

Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett claimed on “Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness” Wednesday that committing crimes does not make a person a “criminal.”

*** and ***

“I do want people to know that just because someone has committed a crime, it doesn’t make them a criminal,” the continually entertaining congresswoman said. “That is completely different. Being a criminal is more so about your mindset.”

*** end quote ***

Most amusing quote.

I hope the voters in Texas take this to heart.

Maybe it’s me, but that seems “stupid”?

No wonder that the D’s are losing with quotes like these.

Maybe “three strikes and your out” is harsh criminal policy.  But surely “14 strikes and you’re still out” is just stupid. “We, The Sheeple” need the Judges to step up and protect us.

Argh!

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QUOTE: Success – Freddie Mercury

Thursday, September 25, 2025

“Success has brought me world idolization and millions of pounds. But it’s prevented me from having the one thing we all need: A loving, ongoing relationship.” – Freddie Mercury

[JR: Guess we should pity all the “celebrities”]

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MONEY: The Federal Reserve has been unable to “provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system”

Thursday, September 25, 2025

FROM 1440 https://join1440.com/

*** begin quote ***

Federal Reserve Cuts Rates

The Federal Reserve announced a quarter-percentage-point cut in benchmark rates yesterday, bringing the range to between 4% and 4.25%—the lowest level in almost three years. The bank signaled the possibility of two additional cuts this year.

The decision saw the Federal Reserve prioritizing a hiring slowdown over inflation. A sluggish 22,000 jobs were added last month; weekly jobless claims reached their highest level in four years last week. The US has also downwardly revised job growth by 911,000 for the one-year period ending in March. Those concerns trumped sticky inflation, with consumer prices rising 2.9% annually last month.

The bank voted 11-1 in yesterday’s decision, with the only dissenter being newly appointed Fed Governor Stephen Miran, who preferred a half-point cut. Governor Lisa Cook participated in the meeting after an appeals court ruled the White House lacked authority to fire her. The White House plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.

*** end quote ***

“Only government can take perfectly good paper, cover it with perfectly good ink and make the combination worthless.” — Milton Friedman

"Paper money eventually returns to it's intrinsic value, zero ...

Why do we have a “Federal Reserve Bank”?

The Federal Reserve Bank is a misnomer. IT ain’t “federal”. It reserves nothing. And, it ain’t a “bank”. It is a private cartel of the elite banks run for their benefit and that of the entrenched politicians.

Why do we need them to “set” interest rates?

We don’t,  In essence, they are “price fixers”.  And, as we know, no one can know the correct “price” of anything.  The free market allows buyers and sellers to set a price where they are both “satisfied”.  Otherwise, it “win-win” or “no deal”.  

Why is there one “prime rate” of interest?

Because that allows the Gooferment to manipulate the market.  By hiding the “true cost” of money (i.e., the interest rate), buyers and sellers are making decision based on a fiction.  Everyone loses.

Why do we have “inflation”?

Milton Friedman: ‘Inflation is taxation without legislation.’  The FED “prints” money and the market reacts to the change in “the supply of dollars”.  It’s a silent thief that steals wealth from everyone who has an “old dollar” especially the poor, those on fixed incomes, and savers. 

# – # – # – # – #

As gun-owning pro-life pro-choice little L libertarian, the market for money should be free from Gooferment.  The Federal Reserve has been unable to “provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system” which is its intended purpose.  So let’s follow Andrew Jackson’s lead and end the Federal Reserve Bank.

FYI, he was the last President to have zero debt.

Argh!

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MEME: Protect us from what?

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

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TECHNOLOGY: Why can’t I compile a spreadsheet?

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

https://a.tldrnewsletter.com/web-version?ep=1&lc=834d23bc-ea90-11ec-9258-0241b9615763&p=fed2061c-8fbc-11f0-a7bf-214dec94fde6&pt=campaign&t=1757673580&s=aa29e0273801d56e71f15cc32a41f44053f1403baf33cd1ccbc2231fcfb6c211

TLDR 2025-09-12

*** begin quote ***

That giant mountain of spreadsheets and screenshots standing between your startup and your success. 

*** end quote ***

Why hasn’t someone come out with a simple way to “compile” a spreadsheet?

Once I’ve “perfected” my spreadsheet, why can’t I “freeze” into an app.  That app would allow input BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), not allow formulas or formatting changes.

When I was the bar manager at my local American Legion post, I had several spreadsheets for various functions.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t share them with my team because invariably some one would mess it up the formulas or format.  So even when we got square to take credit cards, my data entry work didn’t ease up; it increased.  Argh!

I could have coded an app in assembler, Fortran, or COBOL, but why bother?  That was more work than just entering, and in some cases, reentering the same data.  Luckly, COVID came an killed the Post’s business.  Thanks to Gooferment diktats and no reduction in fees to non-profits, we went from stay afloat to being underwater. Argh!

I still would like  de able to “freeze” a spreadsheet.  Maybe I should apply to Apple, Microsoft, or Google to develop it for them.  I don’t see them doing much to advance spreadsheet technology? 

FWIW!

# – # – # – # – # 

p.s., I’d like some TLDR swag. Laugh!

https://refer.tldr.tech/3dabce84/

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