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Comment Incapable? (Score 3, Insightful) 108

This is probably why Microsoft has been aggressively pushing users to upgrade to Windows 11 after the previous version of the OS loses support -- so that its users would install the latest version of Windows on their current system (or get a new PC if their system is incapable of running the latest version).

Rather, "not allowed". Sure, my Dell XPS 420, that a friend gave me, is old, but it runs Windows 10 like a champ - though I did replace the HDD with a SSD; I imagine it would run Windows 11 just as well if not for the (arbitrary) hardware "requirements" Microsoft imposed for Windows 11. Same for my other systems. Instead of buying something new(er), I'll be switching to using my Linux Mint 22 system full-time instead - which is also old, but works great (i7-3770, ASRock Z77 Extreme3, 32 GB RAM, Samsung SSD).

Comment Re:This is why (Score 1) 64

Until your phone dies and then you find that you don't have a backup, or if you did backup the authenticator app, it requires the same login, gated by the authenticator app that you just lost access to in order to recover from the backup.

Yes, if you plan things carefully, you can work around these issues, but most people don't have the knowledge and skills to do this.

I had thought about this and was why I initially used Authy as they had a Windows app I could use as my backup/alternate - "had" being the operative word. I've since switched to 2FAS where I can export the data to JSON and manually copy the TOTP seeds into KeePassXC, which runs on Windows, Linux, ... I can also keep encrypted copies (via 2FAS directly or something like AxCrypt) of the 2FAS data where ever I want as well in the Google online backup. Another route would be to stand up a virtual phone/tablet device in something like Android Studio and install a copy of your authenticator app on that -- 2FAS could load the existing data from the online backup.

Comment Re:Raise your hand if you're surprised (Score 4, Informative) 198

Between all the permafrost melting across Russia to methane to massive fossil fuel use, how can anybody be surprised?

I recommend this NOVA episode Arctic Sinkholes (full episode) from Feb 2022, described in the articles below.

In the Arctic, enormous releases of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, threaten the climate.

Colossal explosions shake a remote corner of the Siberian tundra, leaving behind massive sinkholes. In Alaska, a huge lake erupts with bubbles of inflammable gas. Scientists are discovering that these mystifying phenomena add up to a ticking time bomb, as long-frozen permafrost melts and releases vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What are the implications of these dramatic developments in the Arctic? Scientists and local communities alike are struggling to grasp the scale of the methane threat and what it means for our climate future.

- Methane craters documentary highlights rapid Arctic warming
- Nova episode explores Arctic methane explosions

Comment Here's what bugs me (Score 1) 83

I don't mind a little triage at the beginning of a call to get some basic information that will be passed along, but (a) I much prefer to press buttons than "speak or say" and (b) there's a point at which all the prompting becomes annoying. What's often lacking is a clear way to end/bypass this and just get to a person. While the secret word is usually "operator", "representative", or pressing zero, etc... they often don't tell you and you have to guess or deal with "I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. Please enter your..." over and over again until some built-in limit is reached and you're passed along - or you or they hang-up.

Comment Re:Call me cynical .. (Score 1) 373

From TFA. Not RFK, but ...

It’s worth noting that the current nominee for the U.S. Surgeon General, Casey Means, is the co-founder of a company that provides continuous glucose monitors and other health trackers to clients. Means has argued that CGM is the “most powerful technology for generating the data and awareness to rectify our Bad Energy crisis in the Western world.”

Comment Call me cynical .. (Score 1) 373

Okay, the architect of the mass-deportation effort Steven Miller owns stock in Palantir, a company with a $30M contract with ICE to track and manage deportations, so... what "wearable" companies does RFK, Jr. own stock in, or get donations from? Noting Medical device makers’ shares surge on RFK Jr.’s wearable push. Can't even start to imagine the privacy concerns w/everyone wearing theses. The bizarre thing RFK Jr. wants Americans wearing by 2029.

Stephen Miller owns stock in ICE contractor Palantir — a company powering deportations

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, the architect of much of the Trump administration’s anti-immigration agenda, owns up to $250,000 dollars in stock in government contractor Palantir, according to disclosures.

In April, the firm won a $30 million Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract to deliver an operating system tracking and managing deportations, as well as granting “near real-time visibility” on those who “self-deport.”

/cynical

Comment Re:Why does Microsoft want your data so bad? (Score 1) 70

It's really really suspicious that they're trying to get you to send all your files to the microsoft cloud. What purpose does that serve?

Once they have your files it will be easier to coerce you into getting a new Windows 11, so you can keep having access to your files when the extension period expires, or they put up some other roadblock.

Comment Re:"Hue Play Wall Washer" (Score 1) 38

Plus, consumption taxes are inherently regressive; this has been explained to death.

As have who actually pays tariffs. Yet here we are with a leader who somehow got a degree from Wharton and thinks, or at least says, it's the exporter (actually, exporting country - China!) and people who believe him - and, apparently, can't use Google or Wikipedia.

Comment I have an HP MFP M477fdw (Score 1) 92

I know people rail against HP, some of it for good reasons, but I've had several w/o any problems. I currently have a HP Color LaserJet MFP M477fdw All-in-One, with high-yield "X" cartridges. I got it in July 2017 on Amazon for $399 and it still works like a champ. This specific model is discontinued, but it's still available and there is a newer model as well as similar models available.

I have a friend with (I think) a Brother Color MFC-L8600CDW All-in-One, also now discontinued, and he's pretty happy with it. I'm sure the price in 2017 was inline with what I paid for my HP. Whatever he has was my other choice, but the printer wouldn't fit in the space I had available, so I got the HP.

They're both small business class printers with both wired and wireless networking, duplexing, print, copy, scan, fax, etc... I've used every feature except the fax.

While I'll never get another Inkjet for regular printing, I'd consider one for for specific/specialized photo printing.

Comment Re:Like it or not... (Score 1) 110

Like it or not, this ( and others before it ) herald the beginning of the future of transportation.
It will dramatically improve our cities and our lives, and save many lives.

Can't wait for driver-less car settings like in the Amazon series Upload ... :-)
(a) Prioritize occupant.
(b) Prioritize pedestrian.

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