I banished Windows from my life a long time ago. My quality of life improved shortly thereafter. I had reached rock bottom after spending a day trying to unbugger my mother in law’s computer. It felt like waking up after a long bender in a pile of my own sick. She caused the pain herself because Windows invited it without guardrails - yet somehow I was holding the bag. I’m Windows-clean now and no longer offer to try (or agree) to help. I know the personal risks. I support you if you’re still enraptured by the Windows range and despair. I get it. Getting clean isn’t easy. Gather the strength.

Proper dumbass. Bigly.

He knows he’s tanking. This is just a way to distract the dumbass base that believes in flat earth and unicorns.

Literary genius. Thank you to the author for writing this entertaining piece. Plus, while tongue in cheek, there are some very true observations about corporate branding becoming bland and uncreative. Definitely involve some element of adolescent feedback in your focus group.

Or a variation of this is TailScale configured to use NextDNS and a TS exit node. That’s for anyone who doesn’t want to maintain a PiHole. I’ve done both. Personal choice.

They have a predatory business model. “Hey we’re cheaper than the competition”. Once you’re soaking in it and need features, they have options but it’ll cost you. I reckon they have slick sales people who know how to pander to the egos of middle management as well. You know … The people who don’t actually have to use the tool but sure like to feel like they somehow matter.

I’m kind of a big deal

Agreed. This was rolled out without any regard whatsoever for people’s interest in data privacy. That kind of entitled behavior from any government agency is just plain gross.

Traditional QA is horse and buggy shit anyway. Shift left and make your tests the requirements (ATDD). Testing is self service, automated and there’s zero delta between behavior intended and behavior tested. Put product owners on the hook to learn Gherkin and Bob’s your uncle.

All the shitter domains are on my DNS block list. Happier for it.

I like it. And any OSS licence model is better than closed IMO. Let’s see how it shakes out.

Opt out. If we don’t exercise our rights, we lose them.

"What if they retaliate and make life difficult for me? "

That’s both illegal and against policy. If someone delays your right to travel for this specific reason, delay their job by asking for their supervisor and their name and employee number. Then file a complaint. That will dissuade that public servant (and their leadership) from exhibiting such behavior and encouraging it respectively.

“But they are capturing your image in 10 skillion other public locations.”

1. Sure, and you have the option to create your own privacy in public.
2. Further, what’s the real purpose of the scanner at the TSA check if they already have that detailed image of your retina, your facial pore patterns and whatever the fsck else they store? They don’t have that level of detail yet on CCTV.

If you don’t care, then that’s fine. Some people don’t mind the slow encroachments on 4th Amendment protections. Cool. Others do. Cool also. That’s why we can opt out.

She got more than she Home Bargained for

Honestly if you do truly value having control over your privacy take this advice to heart. There are so many good Linux options now that are even easier than Windows to install. All it takes is a few clicks. You can even choose which UI you prefer in many cases. All those previous barriers to entry no longer exist.

Not that it excuses his behavior but isn’t he on the autism spectrum? People on the spectrum sometimes have no filter and are very literal. Like saying a 13 year old is more adolescent than child.

Agreed on all of that. As I understand it, periods of better worker markets make for less of that nonsense people are willing endure. I’ve seen a recent trend of corporations turning up the BS because the job market has been tightening up and people are less willing to take risks.

Fair! I intended to have it in the original post but it didn’t take. Likely my error.

Article link https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/cable-tv-companies-tell-fcc-early-termination-fees-are-good-actually/

I guess the shame and expense Sony learned the hard way in 2005 has faded and now kernel invasion has become acceptable.

We had a CVS Pharmacy location near me that decided to leave that location. Self checkout there was based on assuming everyone was a thief. All their wounds were self inflicted. Almost everything was locked up and you could never find someone to get your item for you. The genius management thought it was going to help profitability by deterring theft. Instead it was a deterrent to willing and eager customers wanting to buy their stuff. When you step over a dollar to get to a dime, your business is on borrowed time.