TECHNOLOGY: Use Amazon locker delivery for … … surprise gifts

Saturday, December 14, 2024

https://www.makeuseof.com/use-amazon-lockers-maximum-privacy/?user=cmVpbmtlZmpAZ21haWwuY29t&lctg=7e6c3cd411d6a815afa18582d54bd455914c43c5f69df1448b8ec20ee4959f71

Why I Use Amazon Lockers for Maximum Privacy (and So Should You)
By Vinayak Guhanarayan
Published 1 day ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-12-10>>

*** begin quote ***

  • The Basics of Amazon Lockers
  • Make Sure Only You Open Your Packages
  • Keep Your Home Address Private
  • Prevent Package Theft
  • Convenience When You’re Away
  • They’re Perfect for Surprise Gifts

One of the perks of shopping on Amazon is that anything you order is delivered right to your doorstep. And while this is an undeniable benefit for many, there are times when doorstep delivery isn’t practical or even feasible. It’s times like these that Amazon Lockers come in handy.

*** and ***

They’re Perfect for Surprise Gifts

When purchasing surprise gifts for my family and friends, I use Amazon’s Archive Order feature for privacy. I also opt for these deliveries to end up at an Amazon Locker. This way, I don’t have to worry about the recipient accidentally opening the package.

This is especially helpful during the holiday season, when most people are likely to order several gifts.

*** end quote ***

I recently had two surprise gifts ruined by delivery at the door.

I really had not considered this option.  (Yeah, I’m old, dumb, and don’t think things through to their logical conclusion.  My bad!)

The use cases the author outlines are prefect for anyone like me who doesn’t want surprise ruined or package theft.

YMMV but I like this idea.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: What’s the boundary between “backdoor for government surveillance” and crime prevention?

Friday, December 13, 2024

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/08/apple-sued-over-abandoning-csam-detection-for-icloud/

Apple sued over abandoning CSAM detection for iCloud
Anthony Ha
10:26 AM PST · December 8, 2024

*** begin quote ***

Apple is being sued over its decision not to implement a system that would have scanned iCloud photos for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The lawsuit argues that by not doing more to prevent the spread of this material, it’s forcing victims to relive their trauma, according to The New York Times. The suit describes Apple as announcing “a widely touted improved design aimed at protecting children,” then failing to “implement those designs or take any measures to detect and limit” this material.

Apple first announced the system in 2021, explaining that it would use digital signatures from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and other groups to detect known CSAM content in users’ iCloud libraries. However, it appeared to abandon those plans after security and privacy advocates suggested they could create a backdoor for government surveillance.

*** end quote ***

In this case, I think the risk of “backdoor for government surveillance” is less valuable than the prevention of Child Abuse.  IMHO.

I’d be pushing the tech companies hard in the war against children’s exploitation.

Maybe even their devices (i.e., iPhone, Android phones, tablets) should use digital signatures from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

—30— 

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TECHNOLOGY: Free media content from Walmart’s Vizio

Thursday, December 12, 2024

https://cordcuttersnews.com/walmarts-vizio-watchfree-has-a-ton-of-action-holiday-movies-in-december/

As the weather cools, VIZIO brings the heat with a lineup of thrilling action films this December! Whether you’re in the mood for heart-pounding chases, explosive showdowns, or sharp-witted humor, WatchFree+ has something for everyone. Stream these cinematic favorites for free on your VIZIO TV or the VIZIO mobile app—no subscription required, just a free VIZIO account. Cozy up and enjoy these action-packed blockbusters at no cost.

# – # – # – # – #

I’m always up for free content.  You too?

https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Could everyone get access to the better data?

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/robot-balloons-capture-nyc-sized-areas

12-pound US robot balloons capture NYC-sized areas in jaw-dropping details

  • These autonomous balloons operate at altitudes ranging from 60,000 to 85,000 feet.

Updated: Nov 28, 2024 07:36 AM EST
Mrigakshi Dixit

*** begin quote ***

As per Space.com, a single balloon can capture the same amount of data as 800,000 drones in a single flight.

Moreover, the balloons can map large disaster zones in detail within hours, rather than weeks.

“Many insurance companies are still relying on aerial data collection methods from the 1950s to assess 2024’s climate risks,” said Rema Matevosyan, CEO of Near Space Labs. 

“When you consider that only six percent of the $250 billion in losses from Hurricane Helene may be covered by insurance, it becomes clear that outdated risk assessment methods are creating a domino effect: poor data leads to inadequate policy pricing, which leads to carrier losses, which ultimately forces insurers to abandon entire markets—leaving homeowners stranded and unable to secure mortgages,” Matevosyan added. 

*** end quote ***

While I don’t pity the “poor” insurance companies, it makes sense that better data can help EVERYONE properly assess risk.

My personal experience with “federal flood insurance” is dismal.  

In the case of shore house, I carried the required policy even after the mortgage was paid off.  When there was a flood, I wasn’t covered because it wasn’t my primary residence.  So why did I pay those premiums for all those years?  “You made a mistake” was their response.  Luckily, all I lost was an outside hot water heater; my neighbor’s house, which was 4 inches lower than mine, had a ¼ of a million dollars in repairs.  It literally killed him when he was ripped off by contractors.

In the case of my primary residence, I paid flood insurance for decades.  When the flood hit, my neignborhood was three feet ABOVE the high water mark.  Asking about that was another exercise in stupidity.  “You’re in the flood plain.”  Revise the map.  “No, it’s set by the Federal Government.”  Argh!

So maybe if  had access to better topology, some politicians and bureaucrats could accurately assess my risk,

Argh!  Sure as soon as pigs fly.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Comedy of errors failing over to my backup mac

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Well, Hello from Mac Book Air aka BLUE aka MCBA5.

It’s my fifth iteration of Mac Book Airs.  Officially known as FVHFD4SHQ6L4.  When I spilled coffee on it, I bought MCBA6 aka ROSE while iBLUE was in for repair.  When it came back, it was demoted to “spare”.  From time to time, I’d fire it up and use it a little.

So the cockatoo got to ROSE and feasted on the keyboard.  So I backed it up to portable hard drive in prep for the Apple Store.

B38082CD EB5B 49D6 A63A 7756FFADA197 1 105 c

Luckily it’s still has an active Apple Care. The repair is supposedly covered under accidental damage and will get a new keyboard.  Yay.  It’ll be back in a week or so.

No problem,! I’ll just fail over to BLUE.

Wow was that an over estimation of the process.

Now, I am a belt ’n’ suspenders guy.  One is none; two is one; and three is bliss.

Sure.  Unfortunately all the passwords were screwed up since my last use.  

No problem it’s easy now to reset them using the Apple Account to reset them.

(Even my extra DUMMYADMIN account which has the same password across all my MCBXs was trashed?)

Of course, BLUE needs to update the OS and a whole load of apps.

No problem.  After the FireFox update, all my settings were trashed.

No problem. I use Mozilla’s sync so it recovered all my settings.  Almost.

All my extensions were not on the toolbar. Argh!  After about a calendar day, I found the fix.

I’m now back to “business”.  Until the next troll, gremlin, or bug pops up.

(Imagine if I didn’t use BLUE for one day on the First of Every Month. Argh!)

YMMV!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Free dikw (i.e., data, information, knowledge, wisdom) from the internet and public ibraries

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/11/apple-shares-the-most-popular-podcasts-of-2024/?utm_placement=newsletter

# – # – # – # – # 

While I don’t miss the traffic on Route 287 when I was working, I do miss having two or three or more hours listening to my self-improvement cassettes.  (Imagine how less “wonderful” I’d be if I hadn’t “improved” with all those great suggestions.  Laugh!).

If podcasts were available then, I could have saved a lot of money on cassettes.

I remember often griping about having to buy the same content to “upgrade” from cassette to cd. Especially if the tape broke or tangled.  Why did I have to pay to replace it? Argh!

And, today, audio content is available free from the local library via Libby or other open sources.

Anyway, here’s an “interesting” list of things that might be worth listening to.  Now, if I just had a long commute, treks from Fairfax VA to the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee, or drives to and from Keene NH and NJ, I could “improve” even more  — if such was possible.

(Not too much ego?  Right!)

As always YMMV and FWIW,
Crazy Old Ferd

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: An idea for a competive App store?

Monday, November 18, 2024

FROM: TLDR Information Security 2024-11-18

North Korean-Linked Hackers Were Caught Experimenting With New macOS Malware (2 minute read)

Three variants of a new macOS malware have been detected. One variant was written in Python, one in Golang, and one using Flutter, which heavily obfuscates code by default. The malware was embedded in a clone of Minesweeper. No evidence of exploitation has been found – the callback domain returns a 404. The malware appeared to target cryptocurrency developers. It had several of the hallmarks of a Lazarus group attack. 

# – # – # – # – # 

If someone would make an App Store that certified apps as “malware free”, then I bet they could make a lot of money.  I’d just surcharge the app’s price by a dollar or two.  Maybe even just charge a fraction of a bitcoin.

If I was younger and richer, then I’d try to exploit that niche.  Alternative App Stores to Google Play and Apple Apps Stores.  The EU and the US Gooferment are going to force Google and Apple to support alternatives.  So you have to make that alternative App Store have a significant value proposition.

IMHO

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: AI generated books are killing real authors?

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

https://www.survivalmonkey.com/threads/note-to-my-readers-ive-pulled-my-books-from-sale.72020/

FROM A POSTER:

*** begin quote ***

Have to sell books to make $$$.

The market is saturated with BS AI generated ‘survival ‘ books.

Last year I logged $37 in sales for the year…. 

*** end quote ***

AI generated books are killing real authors?

I guess that it is possible to generate a “book” by AI.  Not sure how it’s done, but if I knew I’d do it too.  It’s the old conundrum.  If the cost to “publish” an AI generated book is zero or negligible, then one could “generate” a million and post them.  Regardless of quality, if you can “sell” a few for a profit, then you might hit the mother lode and make some real money.

Argh!

Not sure how to exploit this finding?

Maybe take old blog content and “publish” “2001 Thoughts on Guns”, or “2012 Thoughts on Money”, or even “2007 Thoughts”. 

Could that work?

Opinions?

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Was able to reread Stainless Steel Rat

Saturday, November 9, 2024

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/harry-harrison/the-stainless-steel-rat

The Stainless Steel Rat
Harry Harrison

James “Slippery Jim” diGriz is a criminal in a galaxy where crime has almost been eradicated. In his own words, he’s a rat in the wainscoting of society, and now that society is all ferroconcrete and stainless steel only a stainless steel rat can find the gaps. Despite a nose for the hustle and a healthily paranoid survival instinct, Jim’s luck has to run out at some point—and when it does, it isn’t a prison cell he’s offered, but a job with the Special Corps.

The Stainless Steel Rat—a fix-up novel based on two earlier short stories for Astounding magazine—was the first in a long series of books by Harry Harrison to star the anti-hero. It is never less than a breathless ride, with twists and turns at every corner. As well as the twelve novels and additional short stories, the Stainless Steel Rat has appeared in numerous comics and games over the years, and has become Harrison’s most enduring character.

# – # – # – # – # 

As good as I remember reading it decades ago.

Funny that the technology makes it so available.

If this had existed when I was a kid, I’d have never stopped reading EVERY sci-fi book available.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Vivaldi, yet another browser with some unique features

Monday, November 4, 2024

https://vivaldi.com/

https://www.makeuseof.com/vivaldi-most-customizable-web-browser-without-extensions/?user=cmVpbmtlZmpAZ21haWwuY29t&lctg=7e6c3cd411d6a815afa18582d54bd455914c43c5f69df1448b8ec20ee4959f71

This Is the Most Customizable Web Browser Without Extensions
By Ali Haider
Published 3 days ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-10-25>>

*** begin quote ***

If you’ve ever felt restricted by your current browser’s customization options, Vivaldi is the solution you’re looking for. It’s highly customizable and packed with a bunch of built-in tools that might easily become your favorite.

1 Interface Customization in Vivaldi

Vivaldi was created with one primary goal: to give users extensive control over how their browsers look and feel. It’s built on Chromium, the same open-source browser used by Chrome and Edge. This means you won’t miss out on essential security features or sacrificing performance.

*** end quote ***

Anyone, who follows this blog or knows me, knows I am a browser junkie.

I have several different browsers installed for when I “support” different people.  Plus one or two just for “fun”.

(I love when tech support people try and blame my “problem” on my browser because I don’t call in  — I hate people  — until I’ve tried it on my big 3 (Firefox, Chrome, and Opera).  Maybe even Arc, Brave, or Edge if I am really a glutton for punishing myself.)

Well here’s one that has a lot of “features” that claims to be “simple”.  We’ll see.  In any event, it’s nice to have another in the stable,

—30— 

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TECHNOLOGY: If you don’t pay for the product, then you get what you pay for … …

Friday, November 1, 2024

https://www.androidauthority.com/dead-android-apps-3491528/

It’s been years, but I still miss these dead Android apps dearly
Not every great Android app stands the test of time.
By Andy Walker 21 hours ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2024-10-22>>

*** begin quote ***

I’ve used some great Android apps over the years. Many of these still exist and find a home on my home screen to this day. However, a slew of apps have come and gone. Feeling particularly nostalgic, I donned my rose-tinted glasses and took a longing look back at some of the dead Android apps that I still wish were actively developed, listed on the Play Store, or weren’t shuttered by their owners.

*** end quote ***

Well, before I “invest” my time, attention, effort, and dikw (i.e., data, information, knowledge, wisdom) in any application, I consider that if I am not paying for it, it COULD, and likely will, disappear at the most inconvenient moment in time.  And, I could gripe but it would be my own fault.

As an old Info Sec DR practioner, I always worry about backup and recovery (i.e., one is none, two is one, and three is glee).  As well as export and import of my data.  For example, it does me no good to EXPORT my data if there is no way to or no place to IMPORT it too.  

(Anyone ever think of that?  Notably my Apple Contacts app and Google Contacts app.  Both can export and import but something always prevents it.  Argh!  My solution is to keep contacts in a note in a NOTEPAD app.  PIA to update stuff in THREE places.  But, I just shake my head when people complain about losing their data.  Or search their call logs and message log to find a long ago contact.)

FWIW YMMV faiwwypfi (Free Advice Is Worth What You Pay For It! ?zero?)

—30—

 

“A key point to bear in mind: The value of attentiveness varies in proportion to its object. You’re better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

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APPLICATION: LASTPASS extendion in firefox not working

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Subject:

Lastpass externsion stopped working in Firefox

Description:

Something has gone bad. Can’t tell if it is Firefox, MacOsx, or Lastpass. The lastpass icon no longer shows in the area to the right of the browser address bar. Lastpass no longer fills is the credentials for any site.

Case Number:

02734442

# – # – # – # – # 

Update 2024-Oct-31 0909

All now back to sort of normal after numerous restarts and poking / eroding around.

EXCEPT

GMAIL in a FIREFOX window will not reload itself in.  Have “signin” that spawns a new tab.  That has to be pinned and the old pinned tab quit. Argh!

Still don’t understand what happened.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Not all USB-C / USB-A cables are the same?

Sunday, October 27, 2024

 

2024-10Oct-27 horsebpower box. 

Interesting that their “usb” won’t power anything else.  And my usual “usbs” won’t charge the scrubber.  Their “directions” say you must use their usb to  charge the scrubber but no reason why is given.

Argh!

So what did they do to screw up the usb?  And, I guess if you damage it or lose it, you have to buy a replacement from them?

Argh!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Looking for a cross platform notepad

Friday, October 25, 2024

Looking for a cross platform notepad

  • Tried EVERNOTE  — not free
  • Using Apple NOTE app free but doesn’t share with Android
  • Tried OBSIDEON  — too complex
  • Tried NOTATION  — too complex
  • Trying ANYTYPE  — initial setup was easy across MAC, IOS, and ANDROID 

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: What is old becomes new again! Pagers have a use case!

Friday, October 25, 2024

https://pagersdirect.net/pages/are-pagers-still-a-thing

Are pagers still a thing?

ARE PAGERS MAKING A COMEBACK…ARE THEY STILL A THING?

What???? Do Pagers even exist anymore?

Who’s still using pagers in 2024 and why?

*** begin quote ***

If you find yourself using a cell phone by itself and it works for you as most people do…That’s great, but if you are like the majority of our clients, you most likely have a specific task that a pager or pager app on a cell phone does even better than just texting or voicemail on their phone. Perhaps you have cell phone signal reception issues in your area or need another way for your IMPORTANT calls to get through and get your attention…whatever the reason, the people using pagers today have found specific niche reasons why a pager or pager app compliments their cell phone and smart watch.

Primarily, a separate pager phone number offers privacy and a means for urgent notifications that stand out above and beyond text messaging and helps differentiate a normal text or phone call from a high priority, urgent phone call.

In 2024, our clients are faced with some unique challenges and situations that didn’t exist even 5 years ago…

One example is robocalls / spam phone calls. Millions of junk phone calls are made daily. Some people are just fed up with getting calls from unknown numbers about their car warranty expiring or other scams and don’t even answer the phone when they see a number they don’t recognize. Today’s latest smartphone operating systems allow smartphones to silence calls from unknown callers and send the calls directly to voicemail. With this enabled, sometimes important calls are missed. 

Another example is the banning of cellphones in schools. Want a simple way to be able to get in touch with your child and let them know of an urgent message such as a schedule change or emergency at home? Perhaps just a positive emotional reinforcement such as a “Good luck, You’ve got this” on the day of a big exam. Give them an alphanumeric pager and simply send a short email to the pager’s email address.

*** end quote ***

I found this “use case” very persuasive.  I was thinking about school shootings.  Schools are banning cell phones, but I don’t agree.  Parents need to know their child is safe!  I think of the victims  — parent and child  — saying “I love you”, “I’m coming for you”, even “Hide!”.  Maybe I just don’t understand the problem.

—30—

2024-09Sep-24

California Schools Must Restrict Phones Under New Law Signed by Newsom

Argh!

—30—

Shawn Hubler, Troy Closson

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TECHNOLOGY: Kiss of Death — Google URL Shortener

Friday, July 26, 2024

https://www.androidauthority.com/when-google-will-break-googl-links-3462692/

General technology
Google’s kiss of death is coming for your goo.gl links

  • It’s time to replace your short links before the tech overlord breaks them.

By Mahmoud Itani

*** begin quote ***

In typical Google fashion, the company killed its goo.gl short link generator on March 30, 2019. Since then, users have still been able to access goo.gl links created before the generator’s shutdown. However, this will change next year, as Google will completely sunset the service, breaking the short links in the process.

*** end quote ***

# – # – # – # – # 

https://developers.googleblog.com/en/google-url-shortener-links-will-no-longer-be-available/

Google URL Shortener links will no longer be available
JUL 18, 2024
Sumit Chandel Developer Relations Engineer
Eldhose Mathokkil Babu Software Engineer

*** begin quote ***

In 2018, we announced the deprecation and transition of Google URL Shortener to Firebase Dynamic Links because of the changes we’ve seen in how people find content on the internet, and the number of new popular URL shortening services that emerged in that time. This meant that we no longer accepted new URLs to shorten but that we would continue serving existing URLs.

*** end quote ***

And off to the Google Graveyard, it goes.

Unfortunately I was on a kick using them on my blog for a while until for whatever reason, I stopped.  Now I had to waste two hours correcting that link headed mistake.  Sigh!  Some links were broken and one of my favorite authors died unnoticed.  But I did find some old forgotten content that made me laugh, cry, and wonder where my skills went.  Some of the content was timeless.  Me not so much!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: When to we own what we purchase

Sunday, June 2, 2024

https://www.404media.co/samsung-requires-independent-repair-shops-to-share-customer-data-snitch-on-people-who-use-aftermarket-parts-leaked-contract-shows/

Samsung Requires Independent Repair Shops to Share Customer Data, Snitch on People Who Use Aftermarket Parts, Leaked Contract Shows
Jason Koebler
May 23, 2024 at 9:19 AM

*** begin quote ***

The contract requires repair shops to “immediately disassemble” devices that have parts “not purchased from Samsung.”

In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name, contact information, phone identifier, and customer complaint details of everyone who gets their phone repaired at these shops, according to a contract obtained by 404 Media. Stunningly, it also requires these nominally independent shops to “immediately disassemble” any phones that customers have brought them that have been previously repaired with aftermarket or third-party parts and to “immediately notify” Samsung that the customer has used third-party parts.

“Company shall immediately disassemble all products that are created or assembled out of, comprised of, or that contain any Service Parts not purchased from Samsung,” a section of the agreement reads. “And shall immediately notify Samsung in writing of the details and circumstances of any unauthorized use or misappropriation of any Service Part for any purpose other than pursuant to this Agreement. Samsung may terminate this Agreement if these terms are violated.”

*** end quote ***

Sorry but this seems to be a monopoly behavior.  At what point do we actually own things that we buy?  Not rent  Not license.  Not lease.  But “buy”.

I think that Samsung needs a lesson in free market capitalism.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Gooferment Skrules ban what they don’t understand

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/25/ai-tutors-are-quietly-changing-how-kids-in-the-us-study-and-the-leading-apps-are-from-china/

AI tutors are quietly changing how kids in the US study, and the leading apps are from China
Rita Liao
6:00 AM PDT • May 25, 2024

*** begin quote ***

Several public school districts in the U.S. have banned access to ChatGPT on school devices, but enforcing a ban on generative AI outright becomes challenging as soon as students leave school premises.

*** end quote ***

This story made me laugh.  

Typical of anything Gooferment’s “Let’s just ban it” approach to something new and strange.

Worked so well for the drug war and innumerable other Gooferment actions.

Guess they don’t know that humans are infinitely adaptable and equally hard to control. 

(A four year old has taught me that you can’t make someone do what they don’t want to do.  So you better find a better way to get them dressed.)

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: Comcast to begine the streaming content wars?

Monday, May 20, 2024
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/peacock-netflix-apple-tv-plus-bundle-streaming-comcast-1236002375/
 
May 14, 2024 5:28am PT
Comcast to Launch Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ Bundle at a ‘Vastly Reduced Price’ 
 
*** begin quote ***
 
Get ready for the next cable-like streaming bundle: Comcast later this month will launch a three-way bundle — with Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ — offered at a deep discount, Comcast chief Brian Roberts said.
 
*** end quote ***
 
​Maybe time to inventory all the streaming services in prep for “better deals”.  I suspect that everyone will be scrambling to match so as not to be Comcast’s “lunch”.
 
—30—
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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TECHNOLOGY: why can’t I … …

Friday, March 8, 2024

My knee hurts. I have a doctor’s appointment (first available and will take some else’s cancellation). I am sitting in my car and have my leg stuck out the door because my knee doesn’t hurt when stretch that way. My car insists that I close the door by an incessant unending annoying beeping. So even if put the accessories on, it keeps beeping.

Now here is the funny part. If I start the engine, it stops. Isn’t it more dangerous to have the door open with the car running than when it is off?

Hence to me this is a tech fail. And I hope the designer and the engineer who implemented it spend some time in Purgatory listening to this torture.

Argh!

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: No help for you if you ext to a land line

Saturday, February 24, 2024

A now funny incident pointed out a “hidden flaw” in the process of sending a text message.

A recent “I’m hone safe” text message was not received which led to a comedy of errors worthy of a Marx Brothers’ skit.  

An “after action” review  — although it wasn’t called that  — revealed that the text message was sent to a land line.

No error message was “thrown up”.

It would seem that Apple and Android could easily validate mobile versus landline and prevent such a blunder.

But, I guess there’s no demand for such “smarts”; just AI to produce revenue.

Argh!

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TECHNOLOGY: Great stickers for social media

Monday, February 19, 2024

https://kottke.org/24/02/virtual-stickers-to-manage-replies-by

 

 

a virtual sticker that reads 'Do not reply to tell me you don't have this problem'

a virtual sticker that reads 'Do not reply unless you have direct experience'

 

a virtual sticker that reads ‘Do not reply, I’m just complaining, not asking for help’

 

a virtual sticker that reads 'This is an observation. Do not attempt to help. No reply necessary.'

*** end quote ***

Great idea!

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TECHNOLOGY: Get eyeglass prescriptions on paper

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Get eyeglass prescriptions on paper

My cousin is now in a nursing home and broke her glasses. The lens was lost. I which I had gotten that Rx on paper to get a replacement. Never thought of it. So thought I’d share it to help someone avoid my frustration. (I have my own prescriptions on a credit card type thing that I got from USAGLASSES mail order.). Just never thought of it for my old relatives. Argh!

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TECHNOLOGY: The demise of Blu-Rays and DVDs allows real time “book burnings”

Sunday, January 14, 2024

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2024/01/05/nolte-best-buy-end-sales-blu-rays-dvds/

Nolte: Best Buy to End Sales of Blu-Rays and DVDs
John Nolte 5 Jan 2024

  • Best Buy will stop selling physical media this year, according to numerous reports.

*** begin quote ***

“The move away from physical media has been attributed to the changing habits of [stupid] consumers, who increasingly prefer streaming and digital downloads over traditional physical formats,” per the report. “This trend has been evident over the last decade as DVD and Blu-ray sales have experienced a significant decline.”

*** and ***

What’s the matter with you people?

This is our art! And you’re going to leave it in the hands of left-wing multinational corporations like Disney, Apple, and Amazon?

Hey, it’s no skin off my nose. I got mine, and I’m going to keep right on getting mine. But if you have a movie or book or TV show or video game you love, you are facing a future where it will either get disappeared, be censored, or made available only through a monthly subscription service.

I refuse to live in that future.

*** end quote ***

I learned this lesson when all my books on cassette were made obsolete and I was urged to rebut the same content on CDs.  I griped to anyone who listen and fell on the deaf ears  of all the politicians and bureaucrats. I refused to buy it all again. 

Then the car makers dropped the cassette players.  And, I was really screwed.  So I used drive with a portable cassette player in my truck and my car.  Finally the tapes began to wear out and I just gave up.

I still hate the Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats for “copyright” law that makes me “license” content that I “buy”.   

Sorry, but I’m not buying into the whole scam.

Like “lifetime guarantees”, the value of a dollar, and “jumbo shrimp”, I can recognize a scam from a long way off and here comes the next one.  Before long, every streaming “service” will force you to pay for everything al la carte IN ADDITION TO a low monthly “membership fee”.  

Argh!

And the rubes aka “We, The Sheeple” will hail “progress”.   Not me.

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TECHNOLOGY: Drones become the future of warfare?

Thursday, January 11, 2024

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12926561/I-saw-naked-children-eyes-gouged-cheer-time-dead-Russian-Ukrainian-drone-unit-reveals-secrets-hunting-Putins-forces-champion-killing-500-day-despite-bizarre-trick-enemy-troops-use-stay-alive.html

Ukraine has seen the most intensive use of drones in the history of warfare

  •     Sergey Panashchuk spoke to operators deep underground on the frontlines

By Sergey Panashchuk
Published: 03:21 EST, 6 January 2024 | Updated: 06:31 EST, 6 January 2024 

*** begin quote ***

I could not ever imagine that 30 years later, I would be sitting in a bunker and watching a similar picture, and both the bunker and the picture would be as real as it gets.

Our bunker is just a mile from the frontline, and it is well hidden underground. It can probably survive a direct hit from a 500-kilo KAB [Russian air-guided bomb]; no one would want to check if that is true, of course. But chances are high, as Russians constantly use their air sovereignty and KAB’s as the last argument, up to 10 times a day.

I am a guest here, but the bunker is a temporary home for four army men. It is equipped with four bunk beds, Starlink, boxes with ammunition, and food.

An operator sits at the table and monitors online streaming from the drones. Casually clicking the mouse and choosing one live stream over another. Another two soldiers are playing backgammon. The fourth is cleaning his AK rifle.

‘Look guys, that might be interesting!’ calls the operator. All of us are glued to the screen. A drone detected a group of four Russian soldiers.

*** end quote ***

I worry what happens when this “technology” comes to the criminals (i.e., drug gangs; street thugs; other gangs like Gooferment politicians and bureaucrats).

It’s just a matter of time.

How will “We, The Sheeple” respond?

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TECHNOLOGY: DIRECT TV STREAMING did a complete restart this morning.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

ATT DIRECT TV STREAMING

Lost the ability to adjust the volume.

Started to troubleshoot, by resetting the dongle.

Things now worse

After trying all sorts of “stuff”.

Called their tech support.

They instructed us to do a few thing we’d already done.

Then, they discovered that the definition of what TV was connected was <NONE>.

Reset that to “SAMSUNG”.

Problem solved.

# – # – # – # – # 

OF course, no explanation of why the problem occurred in the first place!!!

Argh!

Wasted almost an hour on the problem.

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