"Another fun technique was storing a string of bytes in one of these buffers, and then executing it as machine code"

Ah, brings back memories of my compiler class long ago and in an era far, far away. We'd compile into an array and then jump into the array executing it. It probably saved disk space since intermediate compiled files were not hanging around. Since it was at uni on a CDC 6500 (60 bit words), it was probably harmless....probably.

As for the Taiwanese, I think it will come down to greed vs. self-determination. Emperor Xi will offer greed. The U.S. will not be there to back up Taiwan self-determination until el Bunko leaves office. I believe he's done a deal with Emperor Xi to sell them Taiwan.

Ukraine might be a point in favor of self-determination. After having been thoroughly screwed by being part of the USSR, and making moves towards the West, the Great Putini thought it was not a real country and his for the taking. He MADE Ukraine into a real country. When they turned back the original invasion, I think the Ukrainians were as surprised as the Russians. They started to feel like they were somebody (if a country can feel that) rather than a Soviet doorstop. The harder the Great Putini tried, the deeper became their resolve. When they discovered drone warfare, they realized they might have a chance at surviving. Now if la Presidenta (Putin's bitch) in the U.S. hadn't pulled the rug out from under Ukraine, they'd be a'marching on Moscow right now.

"that as being in Huang's or NVIDIA's favor." it is if you have done a deal with Emperor Xi and el Bunko to get chips from Taiwan after el Bunko sells it to China.

Nope, el Bunko has done a deal with Emperor Xi, he'll sell them Taiwan for some golden gewgaws and dibs on any chips still produced in Taiwan after the takeover. Huang is in on the deal, he wouldn't be doing this if he thought Taiwan was toast after the takeover. He'd want some assurances he'll get remunerated, and probably a yields a kickback to el Bunko.

No responsible parent would do such a thing. And any reasonably intelligent kid will get around whatever the parents did, or the kid will ask a reasonably intelligent friend to do it for them.

Check your beliefs, it is the right wingnuts that are grabbing everyone else stuff and giving it away to themselves. What do you think the Big Stupid Bill was all about? Girl Scout cookies? Look at what el Bunko is going with his Monuments to his Ego. Or his stealing $1.76 Billion to pay off his thugs. Or his turning bits and bobs of the Fed. Government over to his rich friends for tidy little kickback under the table. Or protecting the Oil and Gas industry to keep a lock on U.S. energy markets and those big fat contributions to Republicans flowing, minus bit off the top for his own bank account.

I'm sure the poor will belly right up the corporate stocks, bonds, and wealth funds will all the money the rich haven't yet taken from them. Tell you what, quit your job, move to Smalltown, U.S.A., try to find a job, and attempt to make ends meet. Oh, and you'll be wanting to pay for your health insurance by yourself.

""The project was founded by entrepreneurs Aron D'Souza and Maximilian Martin in 2023," the artidcle points out, "and has attracted backing from prominent investors including billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.""

I prefer to think of them as scavengers, ready to pounce on the not-quite-dead-yet-but-we-have-hopes. If the participants die, they cannot file lawsuits. It is all very tidy for the wealthy.

Yep, here the SNL skit I like the best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

"What economists call a “low-hire, low-fire” job market is rough for job seekers, acknowledged Jerome H. Powell, who is set to depart as chair of the Federal Reserve.

“The labor market is in balance,” Powell said at a news conference last month. “But it’s an unusual and uncomfortable kind of a balance where people who don’t have jobs will have a hard time breaking in.”"

The job market for tech, reading the rest of the article, is just flat. That's the problem as Powell alludes to. It means that youngins cannot easily break in, and if you lose a job, you'll have trouble finding another. The economy is mainly picking up jobs in healthcare.

This is just another transparent attempt by el Bunko to sell off a piece of fed. control to his Maggots in industry for a tidy kickback. Before this, it was EPA regs on forever chemicals. Before that it was pollutants in coal fired power plants.

They won't take notice. They cannot believe the incompetence because that would mean denying the last 5 (at least) years of their beliefs. And all their Bunko Buddies would disown them if they uttered a word against el Bunko. It is their reward system and they are quite happy with it.

You got that right. If that asshole had any balls, he'd skip the middlemen (the "investing" part) and go straight to shaking down the billionaires. Oh, I see he already does this. Too bad they have no balls as well. "Ah sir, I shall now bend over, I know how you like it."

"Or the death panel will decide that your death was at least 80% your responsibility." Insurance companies already have these; they are staffed with actuaries that can put a price on your aunt's dog's life. Let's hear it for the free market in health care, you only exist to pay your insurance premiums.

"That's how the government can turn anything into a boogieman: just announce X is unhealthy, the health-conscious people will stop doing this"

Not any longer. No one believes anything the current U.S. government says about anything, much less health. This is what happens when you populate the upper levels of government with dingbats that have no ability to understand science or think deeply about anything.

WW 3 you say:

Armageddon: It’s a’coming ‘round the corner when it comes

God is puzzled. He picks up his iPhone and dials.

St. Peter’s iPhone rings..a dinka dink, a dinko doo..: Yo, Einstein, what can I do you for?

God: I got a gonzo-whopper of a puzzle. Can you send Jesus up immediately?

St. Peter: A puzzle problem? You? (snickers) Sure thing, I’ll send him right up.

St. Peter hangs up, looks over at Jesus: I thought Einstein told you to stop playing strip poker with the nuns!! He wants you, pronto. You know how excited he gets.

Jesus pulls out magic wand and apparates up to the Holy Throne: Hey Einstein, you called?

God: It seems some of your followers are running around saying you are using a certain Orange Clown to start Armageddon. What the Hell is an “Armageddon” and why are you using an Orange Clown to get one?

BLAM...Beelzebub blasts up through the floor boards with much flame and fume. Eyes a’glowin, tail a’swishing, he’s in bad mood: You rang?

Jesus: Hey there, Beelz, how are they hanging?

Beelzebub: They were hanging just like fine, like Wonder Woman skipping rope with no bra. Now they are drooping.

God: Why are they drooping, Beelz?

Beelzebub: Because I know why I’m here, Smart Ass. Armageddon is the final War to End All Wars.

God: Okay, Jesus, why is your Orange Clown trying to start this?

Jesus: I am not using the Orange Clown. You wouldn’t believe what those crazy Christians believe these days.

God: What gave them idea you’d have a Second Coming if they started a big ol’ war? You must have told them that!!

Jesus: Ummm...(looking shifty) did I? My memory is bit hazy on this whole Second Coming thing.

God, eyeing Jesus suspiciously: St. Peter, did Jesus tell you he would Come Again?

St. Peter: Hmmm...it might of come up...errrmr....just in passing...maybe he said something in like locker room talk. Maybe St. Paul thought he heard that.

God: Nice try, Ace. St. Paul never met Jesus and you know it.

Beelzebub: How about we get one of the Evangelical Yokels up here, explain things, and then send them down again to explain it to the Orange Clown?

Jesus: Yeah!!! I have just the yokel in mind. Paula White. She’s the Spiritual Advisor to the Orange Clown. She can explain it all to him and have him call off the war.

So they bring up Paula White, shaking and fearful to be in God’s awful presence.

God: Get up off your knees, Paula, I am not Jeffrey Epstein.

Paula gets up, looks around: What’s Mike Pence doing here?

Beelzebub: Damnit, I’m sick and tired of being confused with that jackass. Can he do this? (Beelzebub takes his flaming tail and whips her in the ass with it).

Paula White: Wheeee!! Thanks Mike!!

Beelzebub: !?!

Paula is soooooo excited she starts speaking in tongues again:

Up on the hill where they do the boogie
(Do-do-do-do-do-do-do the boogie)
I wonder what they're doin' when they do-do the boogie
And I wonder what I'm doin' here *

God: Okay, okay. Beelz, stop exciting Paula. Here’s the deal. Armageddon, it ain’t happening. We held an...errr...Executive Meeting, and decided the time is not yet right.

Paula White: But when will that be?

Jesus: It’s hard to say. We’ll get back to you.

The Orange Clown in the meantime has Pete Hegseth schedule an Armageddon. Pete Hegseth makes the preparations.

God sends Paula White back down. She fills in the Orange Clown.

Paula White: Mr. Orange, Jesus cannot come even if we have an Armageddon.

Orange Clown: Nonsense! If we have an Armageddon, he’ll have to come. Says it right here the Bibles I sell.

The Orange Clown has a press conference later that week.

Orange Clown: My fellow Americans, I have done a deal with Jesus, he’s coming back. Pete Hegseth is making the preparations. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

FOX Yokel: When?

Orange Clown: Just buy a ticket through Orange Clown Ticket Service! All information is on the ticket.

Pete Hegseth on the scheduled date, presses the Big Orange Button.

News Headlines from CNN: It seems all of the Orange Clown’s golf courses have mysteriously disappeared in explosions. Everybody remain calm, no golf balls were lost.

Orange Clown (watching TV): What the Hell happened to my golf courses?!?

BLAM...Beelzebub blasts up through the floor boards with much flame and fume. Eyes a’glowin, tail a’swishing, he’s in bad mood: You rang?

Orange Clown: Mike Pence!! Get outta here!!

Paula White...now bending over: Oooooo...do me with the tail again, I LOVE that!!!

Beelzebub leaves in horror knowing what fate has in store for him when she goes tits up.

The Second Coming did not come and did not go, no one took notice except the Orange Clown.

Orange Clown: My fellow Americans, I take great pleasure in announcing Jesus has Come Secondly. He’s now my special advisor on the economy.

God looking over at Jesus: Now look what you did, ya Big Dummy!

Jesus (looking at God): I swear I never left Heaven. Just ask the nuns, they’ll tell you I was with them all this time.

God: I would if they weren’t buck naked.

* Special thanx to John Hartford