Where would life be without fascinations? Where would life be without exploring the different aspects of our world through laughter, amazement, curiosity, and that childlike glee when we see something anew for the first time? I only wish that I could somehow bring many of the different treats that arrive on my web doorstep to your attention. Of course, through the magic of the Internet, there are few constraints to this excitement.
On the last workday of the week (usually Friday), we will bring you something at 12:00 noon Pacific Time (that’s late afternoon on the East Coast, so you have something before leaving the office). It’s here to tickle your fancy, entice you to learn, entertain you, or simply explore your funny bone. It may not always be humor, but it should never be boring. It will be clean, safe for work and the family, and will be related to our core topics at Computer Talk Radio, that’s computers and technology, and occasionally just plain nerdy.
Further, like many of the other things around here, if you submit something that we use in our Friday Fascinations, I’ll also send you something from the grab box(es).
Benjamin Rockwell
Freedom of Speech is disappearing.
This isn't about left or right. I would scream about this no matter who is working to keep our voices silent. I despised the efforts years ago to censor music. I was against the censorship of a certain comedian who I found to be foul and obnoxious, as it made him more...
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 01-15-2022
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 01-15-2022; YouTube, Baby Shark, Metaverse, crypto; Uber experience; Oculus and metaverse; clickbait highlights; free tablet scam; flash drive fashions; dislikes of IT; ransomware and spies; Complaints for IT; smoking laptop
Metaverse Hype Is Like Communist Propaganda: Soviet-Born Tech Founder
Keith and I are going to talk more about the metaverse, but Phil Libin, creator of Evernote, has his own insight. He grew up in the Soviet Union, and says that all of what we see now is just the same propaganda he saw as a youth. His insight of "no one wants to spend...
Kim Kardashian sued for alleged crypto pump and dump scheme – Axios
Short and simple: Many celebrities are getting involved in crypto, and these is all going to be a big loss for each of us. Who wins? The celebrities who bounce in for a few minutes, and then drop out before we lose our shirts. Don't play in that crazy world. The...
Baby Shark is the first YouTube video to surpass 10 billion views – The Verge
I was at a wedding recently, and for whatever strange reason, a song played... and we all enjoyed it. Baby Shark! I never thought I'd speak to it on my tech show, but it just became the first YouTube video to surpass 10 Billion views. Amazingly simple, actually an old...
Philip Rosedale returns to Second Life as adviser – Axios
Ages ago, there was a virtual world called Second Life, and it was comical because people were wasting money and their First Life there. It was a topic on CSI, and a few other shows of the day. The creator of the virtual world just went back to it... and my surprise...
China Created an AI ‘Prosecutor’ That Can Charge People with Crimes
Lawyers, judges, and juries may all be headed away, at least in China. Apparently, a new AI set of programming has been developed and tested that will gather information and file charges based on the information it gathers. The accuracy is claimed at 97%, and that...
Google is manipulating browser extensions to stifle competitors, DuckDuckGo CEO says
I've talked about Dark Patterns before, and DuckDuckGo is facing some problems recently. Google apparently has been doing some manipulations to get you to stop using DuckDuckGo extensions. Various pop-ups come up to "change back to Google search" and then giving an...
Sci-fi types of medical implants will be here soon
The past days have been filled with odd news items out of CES, trying to tell us the future again. One such spin was how sci-fi medical implants are coming. It's all based on a product which I reviewed back at CES five or so years ago... a glucose monitor in a watch....
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 01-08-2022
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 01-08-2022; CES a shell of former self; Tech for Mars trip; Two tech experiences; nerds avoiding outdoors; variation on BF/GF scams; voice recognition; larger C drive; hiring tech consultants; Complaints for IT; Office 365
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 01-01-2022
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 01-01-2022; Blackberry, Alexa, Tesla, Metaverse; Benjamin’s rare walkback; Keith’s new virtual reality; Marty’s CES reality; blackmail scams; Steves predictions; Benjamin’s musings; saving money; having backups; hibernation