Do they think I'm one of them?!

Regulations are written in blood. You can't just start slashing them and then pack the courts full of pro-corporate sycophants and not have consequences. But those consequences take a while to hit and since the media is controlled by billionaires it's easy to shift to blame around and confuse the issue.This last year was especially bad when the billionaire it's just put their foot down and stopped allowing the journalism to happen at all. I don't know what you do with that level of hysteria. Especially when it's continuously fed by billionaire propaganda. Mix in some deep deep deep spending cuts that will devastate your community and Trump can easily get the money together to give his billionaire buddies a trillion dollars of your money every year. That money will be shifted into tax cuts for the billionaire buddies running the administration. When that happens the media outlets that exist is billionaire propaganda can be subsidized but the honest journalists either go out of business or they get bought up.The billionaires put their foot down during the last election and they are not taking it off our necks anytime soon. What do you do when every single news outlet gets bought up by a billionaire and they just put their foot down and refuse to allow anyone to be anything but an offshoot of Fox News?Big donors basically means billionaires here and that includes the tech Titans. As right-wingers are so fond of pointing out high income earners pay about ...

Almost a year of bug fixes and enhancements, come join in the fun!

1. Combine Arrays (Concatenate Arrays)There are a variety of ways to combine arrays, but the spread operator allows you to place this at any place in an array. If you'd like to combine two arrays and place elements at any point within the array, you can do as follows:var arr1 = ['two', 'three']; var arr2 = ['one', ...arr1, 'four', 'five']; // arr2 = ["one", "two", "three", "four", "five"] 2. Copying ArraysWhen we wanted a copy of an array, we used to have the Array.prototype.slice() method. But, you can do the same with the spread operator.var arr = [1,2,3]; var arr2 = [...arr]; // arr2 = [1,2,3] 3. Calling Functions without ApplyIn ES5, to pass an array of two numbers to the doStuff() function, you often use the Function.prototype.apply() method as follows:function doStuff (x, y, z) {} var args = [0, 1, 2]; // Call the function, passing args doStuff.apply(null, args); However, by using the spread operator, you can pass an array into the function.doStuff(...args); 4. Destructuring ArraysYou can use destructuring and the rest operator together to extract the information into variables as you'd like them:let { x, y, ...z } = { x: 1, y: 2, a: 3, b: 4 }; console.log(x); // 1 console.log(y); // 2 console.log(z); // { a: 3, b: 4 } 5. Function Arguments as Rest ParametersES6 also has three dots (...) which indicates a rest parameter that collects all remaining arguments of a function into an array.function f(a, b, ...args) { console.log(args); } f(1, 2, 3, 4, 5); // [3, 4, 5] 6. Using Math FunctionsAny function where spread is used as ...

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has reignited debates about the balance of power in the tech industry. With legislations like the CLOUD Act and ongoing discussions around data sovereignty, open source faces significant challenges. These dynamics highlight the difficulty of navigating a world where global collaboration increasingly intersects with regional priorities.Lessons from the past:Trump’s first term was marked by significant shifts in technology policy, reshaping how governments and organizations approach global collaboration. The CLOUD Act of 2018 exposed a critical vulnerability for those relying on U.S.-based technology providers: data stored outside the United States could potentially be accessed by American authorities. This sparked discussions about data sovereignty, particularly in Europe, where reliance on Big Tech has often clashed with GDPR’s stringent data protection standards. As a result, open source gained traction as a strategic alternative. With transparent codebases and self-hosting capabilities, it enabled organizations to retain control over their infrastructure. However, the broader context reveals the fragility of these gains: while open source promises independence, its reliance on global collaboration makes it vulnerable to changes in external conditions. Meanwhile, regulatory initiatives such as the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) have positioned Europe as a leader in setting global standards for fair competition and accountability. These efforts reinforce the importance of frameworks that support open source as a viable alternative to proprietary solutions. What could change for open source?The return of Trump raises questions about how global technology policies might evolve and what this could ...

Q: How do I protect myself from Roko's Basilisk?A: The "Roko's Basilisk" thought experiment is a hypothetical scenario that explores the potential consequences of an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) that is motivated to incentivize the advancement of its own capabilities. It is not a real-world threat or entity.To protect yourself from potential risks associated with AI, you can take the following steps:Stay informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in AI and the ethical considerations surrounding its use. This will help you make informed decisions and stay aware of potential risks.Engage in open discussions: Participate in public forums, discussions, and debates about AI and its potential impact. This will help you stay engaged in the conversation and contribute to the development of ethical guidelines and best practices.Support responsible AI development: Encourage and support organizations and individuals who are working on developing AI in a responsible and ethical manner. This can include advocating for transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations in AI development.Consider the potential risks: When considering the use of AI, consider the potential risks and ethical implications. Engage in discussions with experts and stakeholders to better understand the potential impact of AI and its potential risks.Develop ethical guidelines: Collaborate with experts and stakeholders to develop ethical guidelines for the development and use of AI. These guidelines should address issues such as transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights.Engage in education and awareness: Educate yourself and others about the potential risks and ethical considerations associated with AI. This can include ...

Wow, lot of time has passed since I first started listening to him and his band. We're all getting old. Thanks for all the music!!From Nicko:After much consideration, it is with both sorrow and joy, I announce my decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle. Today, Sat, Dec 7th, Sao Paulo will be my final gig with Iron Maiden. I wish the band much success moving forward.I will, however, remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family working on a variety of projects, my long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, have in mind for me. I’ll also be working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures, including The British Drum Company, Nicko McBrain’s Drum One, Titanium Tart, and of course, Rock-N-Roll Ribs!Read the Rest

Sen. Graham (R. of S. Carolina): We are here holding this hearing to hear evidence of transsexuals taking over America. Our witness is Dr. Hoo Me of NiH.Sen. Blackburn (R. of Tenn.): Okay, Dr. Hoo, what can you tell us about the homosexuals taking over America?Dr. Hoo: Uh. I thought we were discussing transsexuals.Sen. Blackburn: Aren’t all these sexuals the same?Dr. Hoo: No, not really. When one’s preferred gender does not match their biological “equipment”, we call them transsexuals.Sen. Blackburn: Can’t they just look in their pants and figure it out?Dr. Hoo (with a wry smile): Your brains are in your pants?Sen. Blackburn: What?Sen. Cruz (R. of Texas): I thought WE wanted to look in their pants?Sen. Rick Scott (R. of Florida): I think we should get to look in their pants.Sen. Josh Hawley (R. of Missouri): What is Sen. Blackburn trying to hide? We should check her pants.Sen. Graham: Stop it, Stop it, STOP IT!! No one is looking in anyone’s pants.Sen. Blackburn (very annoyed): Keep your eyes out of my pants, Sen. Hawley. Please answer the question Dr. Hoo.Dr. Hoo (resuming his professional demeanor): I guess at a certain level of generality, all sexuals are the same. Take you for instance, I take it you are heterosexual, yes?Sen. Blackburn: HOW DARE YOU? Accusing ME of being a heterosexuai!!!Dr. Hoo (even more professionally): It simply means you are attracted to what you consider an opposite sex.Sen. Blackburn: I’ll have you know I am happily married and have never been ...

Release in July 2024, this detailed report goes over the threats against the United States as well as the strategic readiness to reply to those threats. This is the most detailed non-classified information available and is a very interesting and somewhat frightening report.It starts out with this summary info:The threats the United States faces are the most serious and most challenging the nation has encountered since 1945 and include the potential for near-term major war. The United States last fought a global conflict during World War II, which ended nearly 80 years ago. The nation was last prepared for such a fight during the Cold War, which ended 35 years ago. It is not prepared today.China and Russia are major powers that seek to undermine U.S. influence. The 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) recognizes these nations as the top threats to the United States and declares China to be the “pacing challenge,” based on the strength of its military and economy and its intent to exert dominance regionally and globally.The Commission finds that, in many ways, China is outpacing the United States and has largely negated the U.S. military advantage in the Western Pacific through two decades of focused military investment. Without significant change by the United States, the balance of power will continue to shift in China’s favor. China’s overall annual spending on defense is estimated at as much as $711 billion, 2 and the Chinese government in March 2024 announced an increase in annual defense spending of 7.2 ...

For many releases, Rancher rejects self-signed certs, which makes it impossible to use from the command line. Here is finally a workaround!If you're getting something like:# rancher --versionrancher version v2.9.0# rancher login https://rancher..sslip.io --token token- --skip-verify      FATA[0000] Get "https://": tls: failed to verify certificate: x509The workaround is:Download cacert from the Rancher UI, go to Global Settings --> Show cacert --> Copy cert value and paste to local filerancher login https://rancher..sslip.io --token token- --skip-verify  --cacert

On this farm, there's a cow, a chicken, and a horse, and the three of them are best friends.They do just about everything together. And one day, they're sitting at the window of the house, and the farmer's kid is watching MTV, and they're watching it, and they hear the music, and the horse says "you know what? I'm gonna learn how to do that."So the horse calls up Guitar Center, and he says to the guy on the phone, "Hey, listen. I wanna learn to play guitar."Guy on the phone says "no problem. Come on down.""No, there might be one problem. I'm a horse.""Naw, it ain't a problem. We'll get some attachments, I can teach you to play. Promise."So horse turns out to be a natural. He gets GOOD. And he calls over Cow and Chicken and he's like "LOOK WHAT I CAN DO" and he jams out like Jimi Hendrix. And Cow says "holy crap. That's awesome. I want to learn to do something like that too. What's like that?" And horse says "Bass. Learn to play bass."So Cow calls up Guitar Center, and she says "Hey, listen, I wanna learn to play bass guitar."Guy on the phone says "No problem, miss, come on down.""Eh, this might be a problem. I'm a cow.""Nah, no problem. I helped a horse recently, I can teach you to play too. Promise."So Cow learns to play the bass, and Cow is amazing at it. So Cow and Horse are jamming, and Chicken ...

This is pretty cool. Can see if I can get my old technical memories of TRS-80 Model III to come back. All the stuff I learned in Mr Zeliff's programming class, which was just fantastic. Doubly fantastic considering it was in a small farm town in South Central Nebraska!Here's the link to download it: http://48k.ca/trs80gp.html

Back in the good old days -- the "Golden Era" of computers, it was easy to separate the men from the boys (sometimes called "Real Men" and "Quiche Eaters" in the literature). During this period, the Real Men were the ones that understood computer programming, and the Quiche Eaters were the ones that didn't. A real computer programmer said things like "DO 10 I=1,10" and "ABEND" (they actually talked in capital letters, you understand), and the rest of the world said things like "computers are too complicated for me" and "I can't relate to computers -- they're so impersonal". (A previous work [1] points out that Real Men don't "relate" to anything, and aren't afraid of being impersonal.)But, as usual, times change. We are faced today with a world in which little old ladies can get computers in their microwave ovens, 12-year-old kids can blow Real Men out of the water playing Asteroids and Pac-Man, and anyone can buy and even understand their very own Personal Computer. The Real Programmer is in danger of becoming extinct, of being replaced by high-school students with TRASH-80's.There is a clear need to point out the differences between the typical high-school junior Pac-Man player and a Real Programmer. If this difference is made clear, it will give these kids something to aspire to -- a role model, a Father Figure. It will also help explain to the employers of Real Programmers why it would be a mistake to replace the Real Programmers on their ...

FEMA teams are speaking with homeowners and renters, encouraging them to apply with them or do so online. The federal agency often provides money for needs not covered by insurance, like home repairs or paying for a place to live.Nebraska tornadoes: FEMA starts canvassing hardest hit areas (wowt.com)

Once upon a time, in a whimsical world where gas prices danced with bunny hues, the Easter Bunny became an unlikely economist. His fluffy tail twitched as he analyzed the correlation between carrot futures and unleaded gasoline. 🐰📈The Pink Bunny Index soared when tulips bloomed, signaling higher gas prices. Meanwhile, Lavender Lop-Ears predicted a market downturn, their floppy ears drooping in dismay. 🌷📉As the sun set, the Teal Bunnies convened in secret warrens, whispering stock tips. Their fur changed shades with each rumor: Turquoise for bullish trends, Indigo for bearish forecasts. 🌈🐇And so, dear reader, next time you see a bunny nibbling clover by the roadside, remember: Behind those twitching noses lie the secrets of Wall Street and the whimsy of gas pump digits. 🥕💰🐾

Not sure what this is all about, but interesting.https://youtu.be/tpOVDeQ_wwE

Finally, all the rewrites and re-rewrites are done! (Converting from Blazor 7 to Blazor 8 got a bit tricky)MessageBase 6 is finally live, so that's what we've been waiting on.Click the GameZone link to start playing!

Finally, after 3 years of planning and development, LLabmik Software Development is happy (and relieved!) to announce the latest iteration of MessageBase.net!Amazing that it's already 26 years since the original MessageBase Version 1.0!The new version is written with advanced architecture, implemented using .NET 8 and Blazor Interactive Server.

Some pretty cool new stuff.See details here.

Lots of good stuff to make your life as a developer more easy:In the Debugger's Spotlight: A Year in Review - Visual Studio Blog (microsoft.com)

Just got done putting together a demo of how to share authentication between multiple .NET 8 Blazor apps so that users do not need to re-log-in to each app as they move between them.See the GitHub source here: Blazor Shared AuthenticationNote that this will only work with .NET 8, previous versions of .NET used a different way of doing authentication.

Currently about a year into converting MessageBase codebase to Blazor and .NET 8.Originally rewrote it in .NET 7 and it was working great, just doing final bug checking and testing, then .NET 8 introduced many architectural changes and it's set me way back. Had hoped to switch over by end of 2023. But as you can see, that's about over (Or over where you are, dates are set to your local time zone here.) so not gonna happen...But once it's done, can release the "door games" Raid on the Forest of Horrors and Wild Frontiers 1888! Raid (ROTFOH2 is a Blazor-based rewrite of my old ROTFOH/Raid on the Forest of Horrors game that was somewhat popular about 20 years ago. Just some adaptations to both to syn with .NET 8 and ready to fly.

It's always been a bit of a pain in Windows to create a dotfile (Like .gitignore, .dockerfile, etc) but I just learned this weird trick that makes it easier:In File Explorer, go to the directory where you want to create the fileRight-click and pick New, then Text DocumentFor the name (Say we want to create a .gitignore file), wipe out everything suggested for the filename, including the .txt extension, then give it a name of ".gitignore." (With a dot on BOTH sides of the filename)Hit EnterYou'll get the warning about changing file extensions, click Yes (Or just hit Enter as that's the default)Windows will strip the trailing dot, giving you a fresh empty file named .gitignore !!

Live Concert (COVID) 2020

OK, the new version is finally playable (!!), but there's still some stuff to finish. Online (and offliine) battles are working great. Come play it today!Still need to add more weapons, armor, and monsters. (And graphics, oh I need graphics, it's kind of plain looking at this point!)BUT - IT WORKS!! :)Warning: It does not use your MessageBase account as of yet, so you'll have to create a separate account. (Even if it's the same id and password, they just don't talk yet.) And the registration process is pretty hinky. (Basically sign up, and then you'll get to a place where you're not sure what to do next. At that point, close your browser and re-open it, then it will work for you.) Once I get MessageBase rewritten, then will be able to link the two. (ROTFOH is using a newer .NET (Core) codebase and MessageBase is still in older .NET Framework, so the login data is not sharable.)Here's the new link: https://MessageBase.net/ROTFOHLet me know here in this forum if you run into any issues. I'm excited!

BLACK SMOKE TRIGGER

A story from an ex insurance adjuster: I used to be the guy who worked for insurance companies, and determined the value of every little thing in your house.  The guy who would go head-to-head with those fire-truck-chasing professional loss adjusters.  I may be able to help you not get screwed when filing your claim.Our goal was to use the information you provided,  and give the lowest damn value we can possibly justify for your item.For instance, if all you say was "toaster" -- we would come up with a cheap-as-fuck $4.88 toaster from Walmart, meant to toast one side of one piece of bread at a time.  And we would do that for every thing you have ever owned.  We had private master lists of the most commonly used descriptions, and what the cheapest viable replacements were.  We also had wholesale pricing on almost everything out there, so really scored cheap prices to quote.  To further that example:-  If you said "toaster - $25"  , we would have to be within -20% of that... so, we would find something that's pretty much dead-on $20.01.   -  If you said "toaster- $200" , we'd kick it back and say NEED MORE INFO, because that's a ridiculous price for a toaster (with no other information given.)    -  If you said "toaster, from Walmart" , you're getting that $4.88 one. -  If you said "toaster, from Macys" , you'd be more likely to get a $25-35 one. -  If you said "toaster", and all your other ...

Curious about what’s out there? Tired of mainstream entertainment ruining all your favorite franchises? Downstream Pulp covers the latest in Iron Age creations, not to mention original tales. A place where literature fans can relax, grab a warm beverage, and discuss the wonders of the imagination.Downstream Pulp

The average person evaporates 32 gallons of water from the surface of their eyes each year. People with dry eye syndrome can evaporate over 50 gallons per year, as water evaporates when faster for them!Source formula: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8339563/

One of my machines hasn't picked up the "Kill IE" update yet, so decided to fire it up once last time (Although I haven't used it in quite a while) and am using it to post this message.It was fun while it lasted, peace out from Internet Explorer 11!(At least software development is far easier without having to put in all kinds of IE-only tweaks!)