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...
Brazillian city enacts an ordinance that was written by ChatGPT | AP News
A city in Brazil has a law that was written by ChatGPT, and nobody knew until the councilman revealed it. Another crazy stunt in our crazy world. City lawmakers in Brazil passed the nation’s first legislation written entirely by AI — even if they didn’t know it at the...
Sam Altman returns as CEO, OpenAI has a new initial board
In the past couple of weeks, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was fired along with some of the management team, the workers freaked, and everyone was then brought back four days later. Interestingly enough the entire leadership team is back in place, and no employees were lost....
PSA: Apple’s NameDrop Feature Is Not a Security Nightmare | PCMag
The Apple NameDrop feature is a new way to share contact information between two iPhones. It's great, and high tech, but because people don't always understand tech, this past week, some ill-informed police departments stokes some paranoia. Quick notes to set you at...
PSA: Apple’s NameDrop Feature Is Not a Security Nightmare | PCMag
The Apple NameDrop feature is a new way to share contact information between two iPhones. It's great, and high tech, but because people don't always understand tech, this past week, some ill-informed police departments stokes some paranoia. Quick notes to set you at...
Parental Advisory: This Chatbot May Talk to Your Child About Sex and Alcohol | WIRED
News is coming out that the Snapchat AI chatbot may be talking with kids about adult beverages, and the things adults do behind closed bedroom doors. As always, closely monitor what your youth are doing. Common Sense Media’s first ratings for chatbots and other AI...
After 50 years, US to return to Moon on January 25
A new mission will land an unmanned craft on the Moon, from the United States on January 25th. It's likely to be the first private company to touch down as well. Takeoff from Florida, will be on Christmas Eve. More to come...More than 50 years after the last Apollo...
Popular Science Shuts Online Magazine in Another Sign of Decline – The New York Times
Popular Science has been around since 1872. Over my life, I think I probably had a subscription to it for more years than just about any of the other magazines that I had. It was likely where I saw my first advertisements for the ZX-80 series of computers, and I'm...
Who will partner with Apple Card now and what does this shakeup mean for its users? | ZDNET
I have the Apple Card, and I'm rather pleased with it. Who isn't pleased, is Goldman Sachs, who is currently in the middle of working out an exit strategy. At the request of Goldman Sachs, Apple has proposed terminating the partnership, including the Card, but also...
Meta sues FTC to block new restrictions on monetizing kids’ data
This one has creep factor all over it. Meta, aka Facebook, aka Instagram, aka Whatsapp, is fighting the FTC again. This time, the FTC is trying to make new restrictions on the monetization of data of youth. This has been an ongoing issue, but how Meta is moving these...
Tesla Cybertruck delivery event: everything Elon revealed about the EV pickup | TechCrunch
The Tesla Cybertruck is now officially a road vehicle. Elon Musk rolled into a short 30 minute event to start off the deliveries to people who have been waiting years for this thing. The bad news for right now is that the truck is more expensive than what was ever...