Posts by bombastic bob

Asahi Linux developer warns the one true way is Wayland

Re: Nope

With X11 I can set up a login, and with some care, set up a shell that uses DISPLAY to run an X11 application in the context of THAT user, and by use of ssh with a cert, NOT have top enter a password.

That way you can (for example) sandbox everything you do with a web browser within that login TO that login. If web site 'a' tracks you, you can completely sandbox your history etc. JUST to that login. You can ignore using NoScript for THAT login, and things work, and maybe even (with firefox) have it PURGE HISTORY on exit.

As an example I need to use slack for work. So, the slack login has its own Firefox with its own history etc. allowing script and completely separate from anything ELSE I might do.

And also, if you work on embedded stuff, you can run an editor on the embedded platform (running Linux, let's say) and by setting DISPLAY you can use your desktop for an editor like 'pluma' or the 'meld' application or one of many OTHER useful GUI-based programming tools. Good luck doing that with WAYLAND. [I have heard about the workarounds. No thanks]

Microsoft will upgrade Windows 10 21H2 users whether they like it or not

upvote for obvious snark

pwned

who owns my computer again?

OK I am running 10 in a VM for testing and other things that *MUST* have Win-10-nic, and I do regularly force-run windows update for those few times I use 10, but still the basic attitude from THEM that "they own YOUR computer" is worse than irritating.

It reminds me of the days when autoexec.bat and config.sys would get "things" added to them whether you wanted it or not - because - whatever thing you just installed IS the ONLY thing your PC could POSSIBLY run, and therefore taking over and mucking with stuff is just fine. Seriously.

NASA InSight lander spills the beans on Mars' core

martian canals

It was once said that Mars had 'canals' from early observers with much less sophisticated telescopes. Maybe the water did not disappear as long ago as people think?

Or then again it was from optical illusions caused by primitive optics...

In any case it's worth a mention

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_canals

Re: Dusty Panels

Send a robot maid to clean the panels, like a 'Nan-droid' maybe?

Re: Core composition

From my experience on a submarine and from what I know about Sonar back THEN, it is still pretty amazing what sound alone can tell you

A lot of this probably has to do with speed of sound which can generate curved paths among other things (due to change in density). Who knows, maybe sound resonance gives you some kind of 'spectral line' to identify material...

.

Uncle Sam probes H-1B abuse surge: What do our vultures make of it?

Re: Its a joke

"lack of the thoroughly unnecessary postgraduate degree"

which should always be conditional with "or equivalent experience", especially when tech moves forward faster than academia!

Re: yes, prosecute

I do not have issue with H1-B visas. However like you said, the unchecked FLOOD of MILLIONS of unskilled people with NO real way of supporting themselves (except thrpugh slave labor to cartels) is where the REAL problem lies. The citizens of one nation do NOT deserve to be LOOTED by illegal migrants from another nation (via use of social services and increased crime, for starters), no matter how anyone *FEELZ* about it.

But H1-B when done properly is fine with me. Unless, of course, some people abuse it on the HIRING end to hold visa status over the heads of employees... [and exploit, etc.].

Eco warriors sue FAA over Starship fallout, claim watchdog is lost in space

Re: Parked car

"seems to be the usual environmental shakedown

As you pointed out, if it were REALLY about the environment, these people would care about windmills killing birds and off-shore windmill construction killing whales, both of which have been an issue recently. I saw a video online where a windmill smacked into a vulture circling around (probably because of OTHER dead birds on the ground) and the vulture dropped to the ground, only able to move half of its neck and its head. Nevermind all of the farmland being covered up by solar panels...

It's really about manipulation, control, power, and money by attacking modern tech and great accomplishments, and not about saving whales or buzzards [especially not from "green" energy windmills].

(I think their goal is WEF style socialism and CCP type control over everyone's life - and making us eat BUGS)

Re: X-rays

X rays are everywhere. "Mr. Sun" makes them. Flying at 30,000 feet exposes you to considerably more than living at sea level.

When I was in the Navy on a nuclear sub, I could point a gamma radiation detector upwards while on the surface and easily get 20-30 counts per minute. While underway (reactor running), about the same pointing towards the reactor compartment (from that .location). But pointing straight up, it was ZERO.

All of that solar radiation (X and gamma rays) was being shielded by >100 feet of water.

No more feature updates for Windows 10 – current version is final

Re: Truly, certainly not

Give me windows 10 with a windows 7 START menu and I'm happy.

Unfortunately that half solution STILL uses the butt-ugly 2D FLATSO TIFKAM look that I happen to *HATE*

I'll gladly take XP's "bulbous" look over THAT!

forcing "up"grades upon us all. again.

they (Microps~1 and their 'partners') just want to force us into buying new hardware with TPM 2

China again signals desire to shape global IPv6 standards

I have not yet heard any compelling arguments NOT to implement IPv6 as it currently exists, even if it is imperfect.

I just do not want CHINA/CCP dictating internet protocols, no matter HOW much "Hunny" Xi Jing Pooh spreads on it (to make it more 'palatable')

Re: Dodgy stats

There are also many free IPv4 to IPv6 tunnels out there. (I happen to use he.net)

It helps with implementation if you can make an IPv6 tunnel and correctly support it with your WiFi router.

Re: Dodgy stats

I have been using an IPv6 tunnel for several years and I think it works just fine, except that my personal domain does not have the ability to be served up with an IPv6 address directly (this is the name provider's fault but I am too lazy to switch providers).

Otherwise it's fine, performance-wise and everything else. For me, anyway...

(and this is with my updated connection, not the old one with a pathetically slow DSL)

Re: I'd just like to say don't trust CHINA

From the article: "New IP, which has its roots at Huawei, included features that would allow governments greater control over the internet".

China is run by the CCP, aka COMMUNISTS. They mistreat their own people, use "social credit score" to intimidate and ensure COMPLIANCE, and are JUST as much of an 'Evil Emptire' with their NEW AXIS that includes Russia and Iran.

Do we REALLY want THESE people DICTATING to the rest of us how we should conduct online communication worldwide??

** NO ** !!! Xi Jing Pooh may have the biggest "balloons" but we do NOT need to surrender ANY more worldwide power/influence to the CCP!!!

Microsoft is busy rewriting core Windows code in memory-safe Rust

"Yes, dynamic arrays will change (and checking each time is safer)"

How 'safe' does it need to be inside the kernel though? When properly designed, kernel functions will always get valid pointers, so they do not need to be checked and re-checked over and over.

One could argue that going 25MPH on an open highway is "safe". But people do not LIKE going slow. People want AUTOBAHN speeds!

Same with computer performanced. Overly-unnecessary 'paranoid' pointer safety is another concern with using Rust (for me, behind garbage collection)

Yes, but isn't it fun to watch a monolithic software company come to a near-halt screeching tires and heading off at a 90 degree angle with foot to the floor?

(in my mind I see a tall 'over-compensation' building nearly toppling over in the process)

But give it to Micros~1 to re-re-re-re-write "New, Shiny" because "New, Shiny" regardless of common sense, actual improvement, or profitability.

My biggest concern is the same as it is for Linux kernel using Rust: garbage collection

(it does not belong in code ANYWHERE and is so often abused nowadays that mail readers and browsers left running will ultimately allocate EVERY FREE BYTE OF RAM, causing performance stutfers when you switch to something else, because 'hang onto RAM' for THAT is the ONLY application worth running on YOUR computer, at least in the devs' less than brilliant minds)

US Supreme Court snubs that guy who wants AI recognized as patent inventors

Re: So sue

well if ChatGPT can pass a BAR EXAM...

Microsoft suggests businesses buy fewer PCs. No, really

would be more "sustainable" if each version of windows did not require new hardware...

And of course Micros~1 wants us to use "the cloud" instead of a REAL computer, so that they have even MORE control, MORE lock-in, and MORE spyware.

(please do not look behind the curtain, the manipulation is for your own good, nothing to see here, Jedi business, move along)

Wrong time to weaken encryption, UK IT chartered institute tells government

Re: Whose Encryption Might Be "Weakened"?

FYI - you should NOT have to "prove innocence". THEY *MUST* need to PROVE GUILT.

And the genie has been out of the bottle for a LONG time. A user-downloadable-from-anywhere APK for encrypt/decrypt with end-end capability would be very easy, using PGP even, hosted on github or gitlab and 100% open source.

The only way that politicians COULD EVER STOP threatening such things is when it becomes obvious EVERYONE will DISOBEY.

"Compliance" is what *they* rely on. Sadly, *they* will never stop TRYING these sorts of things.

Deplatforming hate forums doesn't work, British boffins warn

deplatforming does not work to stop spam but should happen anyway

comparison of criminal trolling/harassing with spamming, if you shut down a spam-scam site it quickly pops back up somewhere else. Infamous rolex watch and fashion purse fake goods sites come to mind.

(of course you still take down criminal sites, and prosecute when possible)

Re: Missing half the population?

I'd be interested to know what the researchers define as 'misogynistic attitudes'.

When I see these kinds of terms being tossed about my skeptic hat goes on and I look further down for accusations about masculinity being "toxic" [an instant hit from my B.S. detector]. Then when it becomes obvious it was written from a ridiculous position of bias against masculinity I can either lampoon it or ignore it entirely.

Re: If you feed the trolls ...

what are the targets supposed to do?

In general, get the cops involved, track down the perpetrators (who are violating various laws) and file lawsuits.

Re: If you feed the trolls ...

whenever I think of "Feeding Trolls" I am reminded of an old Screwball Squirrel cartoon (and a similar Bugs Bunny cartoon)

"I will love him and hug him and call him George"

(Screwy Squirrel was literally squished to death when the dog hugged him a bit too much...)

Cardboard drones running open source flight software take off in Ukraine and beyond

Re: We've been here before ...

I have to wonder what the radar signature of cardboard looks like when compared to plastic...

US Navy turns to hull-climbing bots to combat maintenance backlog

Re: Danger of Sabotage

basically we still need human "supervision" along with high security.

Having been in a Navy shipyard involving drydocks a few times, there are a LOT of people doing these kinds of tasks - welding, painting, visual inspections, x-ray the hull, etc.

Robots would help a LOT. But of course people need to supervise them.

Tesla ordered to pay worker $3M-plus over racist treatment

Re: Wow easy money

"It does not seem right."

On the surface without seeing any of the evidence4 in the case, I would initially react the same way.

Cali-FORN-You is a hostile environment for business in general these days, and Fremont (between San Jose and Oakland) is no exception I'm sure, but if the case WAS legit, then whatever was awarded was done to punish actual violations, including legal costs in litigating it.

So yeah, I suspect a LOT of these cases are nuisance claims from disgruntled employees looking to screw over the former boss. But if bad actors actually DID act like racists etc, and the corporation had inadequate (or no) response to legit claims, it's on the company, not the plaintiff.

Bank rewrote ads for infosec jobs to stop scaring away women

Re: So they removed the impossible?

I think it might've been Graham Chapman.

The only reason he was standing up during the interview was that his feet were nailed to the floor.

(ok this thread has gotten way too silly)

Re: So they removed the impossible?

"Far too many job ads include things like" XXX

Yeah it's like a running gag. But if this running gag keeps women from applying, it's time to replace it with a new one.

"Or equivalent [whatever] in a similar area of expertise"

^^== may be a good start ==^^

Re: So

"Is there not science and fact to fall back on?"

I was thinking that we should fall back on whatever is funniest - or maybe a nice comfy chair!

(NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!)

NASA names astronauts picked for next Artemis Moon test flight

Re: What are the criteria for inclusion as crew?

I'm waiting for modern society to GROW UP to the point where "identity accomplishments" become MEANINGLESS.

Until then, in the name of doing the COOL thing of sending humans to the moon again [and it is MOST definitely WAY cool!], I have to keep an adequate supply of pink liquid containing bismuth salicylate on hand, in case of emergency projectile vomiting... because a VERY LOUD *MINORITY* of us *FEEL* (not think) that identity accomplishments actually MEAN something (and aren't merely the hackneyed ebony/ivory style virtue signalling, preachiness, and passively divisive manipulative messaging from THE LEFT that a LOT of us have grown sick of over the years)

Reg fashion: Here's what the well-dressed astronaut will wear on the Moon in 2025

Re: Badump-kssh!

you can't really 'moonwalk' to that...

Re: Tight fit?

The female version also needs thigh-high socks and opera gloves...

Re: Tight fit?

I always figured something similar to shoelaces would make this possible

An emergency space suit, that is 'one size fits all', could basically be a giant ziplock bag with shoelaces for arms and legs and torso to "make it fit". So as air is venting, you crawl in, zip up, pull some laces and hit the O2 bottle. "Space suit"

Silicon Valley Bank seized by officials after imploding: How this happened and why

Live by the ESG, die by the ESG?

I am looking for a 'smoking gun' connection between ESG and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

They definitely had a LOT of investment in this ESG stuff, as I research via an online search. Although I have not yet found any indication that ESG investments were failing more often (as I would expect), or whether their NOT doing venture capital for NON-ESG stuff (let's say a rifle-maker, fossil fuel exploration, a startup that focuses on 'hard workers' instead of 'diversity', or coal-fired power plants), they certainly seem to put a nice public face on their "ESG-ness".

https://www.svb.com/news/company-news/svb-releases-2022-environmental-social-and-governance-esg-report

The main reason STATED for SVB's collapse is that bond/interest rate connection. They had $BILLIONS in bonds with near-zero interest, and when interest got jacked up by 'The Fed": to (allegedly) stop inflation [by stifling economic growth, that is how this theory works], the low interest bonds basically got devalued and liquidation lost them nearly $2 bilion.

However, their bread and butter is venture capital, in the Silicon Valley area. But these businesses are laying off now, maybe even defaulting on high risk loans. So there is not a lot of startup activity, and possibly a lot of RED INK.

And if their investment policy EXCLUDES money making business that are "not woke", their potential revenue stream dries up.

I am having a hard time proving it, but my instincts tell me that this IS a major factor that is not being talked about [like so many things are being said quietly, it seems]. Until now.

Meanwhile China funds open pit cobalt mines in the Congo with child slave labor, and provides batteries for the world. Those batteries are then purchased by ESG-qualifying businesses that might be funded by banks like SVB. Solar panels, electric cars, and electricity storage banks for Solar and Wind? No PROBLEM! ESG says those businesses are *WONDERFUL*.

And banks/crypto are going under, and the possible primary driving force of SVB's low cash flow is being ignored...

Re: Federal Spending > Inflation > Rising Interest Rates

Gummint. heh. like a meme. Roger Hedgecock was the first person to coin this term I think. I've been using it for decades.

In essence, it takes a government to "gum things up" and of course it sounds kinda "red-neck" to pronounce it that way.

(You know you're a redneck when ... [fill in the blank] - Jeff Foxworthy jokes)

Glad to see the term in use.

Semiconductor industry: To Hell with the environment, start building fabs already

Re: Little people

Well a bit of a reality check here...

* nobody wants dirty air, dirty water, nor toxic waste contaminated soil

* enviro regulations often go overboard and add YEARS to planning and/or permit and construction times

* "pollute over there" is a HUGE motivation for going offshore

That being said, if governmentium is taken out of the way, below the threshold of dirty air/water/soil, I am good with it.

And, it is very hard to have a wafer fab operation without toxic waste. For starters, you need things like HF in large quantities, as well as OTHER stuff

If we plan to live on the Moon, it's going to need a time zone

Re: Just set the entire moon to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC +0) ...

"saying sync to UTC is missing a whole bunch of thinking needed."

Not if the real purpose is for humans to get a proper day/night cycle going.

For that, just sync to a radio signal from Earth that broadcasts UTC.

Good enough for us meatbags, anyway.

Re: Just set the entire moon to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC +0) ...

people who have "farmer schedules" with actual day/night cycles would resist

Re: Just set the entire moon to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC +0) ...

Lunar Regolith is, as I understand it, a bit like cement (not nearly as much calcium though but might still work). I expect you could mix with water and make things out of it

Or, heat it up and melt it into thick glass, even (it seems to have a lot of SiO2 in it). That might be very useful to have local materials to build with on the moon.

Re: Just set the entire moon to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC +0) ...

Agreed. In the U.S. Navy it was called 'Zulu Time' but basically UTC +0

Since I was on a sub there was no day/night. So after a day or so on extended deployment we'd switch over to Zulu (logs and everything), then before pulling into port switch to local time zone.

The moon could remain at UTC +0 and it would be perfect.

Yukon UFO could have cost unfortunate balloon fan $12

if it is made of biodegradable plastic, not so bad really. And when the tracker stops moving you know where it is. And if you have your name/address on the side of the tracker this can allow it to be mailed to you COD or with postage pre-paid

Re: More...

if you just need something that floats (and no radio) I could probably do it with hydrogen and a trash bag. I used to make hydrogen balloons back in the day with simple household ingredients (like aluminum foil and drain cleaner) and since it is highly exothermic you use plastic soda bottle immersed and weighted down in cooling water (like a big bucket). If you do not melt the bottle you just need to snap a balloon over the hole and inflate it. But something bigger like a trashbag might need a hose of some kind.

Still for higher altitude balloons you fill it with JUST enough gas to float it. As altitude increases it will continue to expand. At some point it either bursts or has enough pressure to expand fully but NOT burst, and it reaches max altitude.

But then with no tracker you cannot tell how high up it went...

Tesla fires gigafactory staff after someone made the mistake of mentioning unions

Re: Understandable

Actually if the union is properly managed and contracts properly drafted, it can be an overall 'win' to allow the unions into a shop.

As long as there are 'right to work' provisions, and no mandatory union dues for political purposes, at any rate...

SO if I built a factory I would check with local unions in the desired locations and have them tell me what the labor will cosl and do some research on them on top of it. This way you get a fair cost estimate and the employees are already IN the union. Then you work with the union to hire/fire and do the HR, with contracts that do not limit your ability to automate or or 'adjust staffing'' or hire contractors when needed. Then you make sure the union gets a chunk of stock so that when the company does well, so does the union. Then you build your factory with a known cost and focus on process efficiency and that sort of thing, knowing the costs, knowing the likely productivity, and then adjusting the business around it.

If you are non-union it helps to pay union scale, also. And if employees "feel intimidated" about the continuous monitoring, perhaps they become more productive with INCENTIVES!

systemd 253: You're looking at the future of enterprise Linux boot processes

Re: This is perfect for a Friday story

that icon will be next to the icons for "young whippersnapper trips and falls because his nose was in the air" and "My mind is so open that my brain fell out"

Re: systemd 253: You're looking at the future of enterprise Linux boot processes

Systemd 451 would naturally be preceded by systemd 365 [no need for worry]

I also have to wonder why RH went to a monolithic "thing" that needs regular monolithic top-down updates like Windows...

(perhaps it is a form of job security? sysV makes more sense in that it does NOT need regular monolithic top-down updates)

The Linux kernel grows with new features and new hardware support and the occasional bug fix. THAT should be enough for JUST the kernel to abstract the userland from the hardware on its OWN!

EU lawmakers argue against signing US data-transfer pact

There are at least SOME of us in the USA that would like to see GDPR-like privacy protections here also. Me, for one.

End to end encryption may or may not help in the mean time.

[BUT... if you need to get something done that involves an 'executive order', just hire HUNTER BIDEN and pay him a RIDICULOUS AMOUNT, making sure to get an extra percent in there for "The Big Guy"]

Uncle Sam backs right-to-repair battle against Big Ag's John Deere

Re: It’s about increased profits, of course

For general market items like cars, "repaired by anyone" makes sense.

For industrial and farming equipment I expect a lot of customers just go to the dealer anyway [the way that managers "buy microsoft"].

It's the independent and family-owned farmer who would be hit the hardest by these practices. Corporate farmers just collect their pay and let management deal with the upkeep.

Re: And hardware DRM

Extending the 'right to repair' requirement for auto makers to tractor makers for industrial and farm equipment ONLY makes sense.

In this case the Fed Gummint is taking the correct position. Encouraging.