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
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 05-07-2022
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 05-07-2022; Apple, Twitter, what3words, CDC, WFH, more; spotting spam scams; Apples hits and misses; Mothers Day tech; student loan scam; talking watches; ghost guns; 3D printed guns; Zoom calls concealing; budget laptops
Carmakers adopt What3words for voice navigation
I've always been fond of what3words as guidance to locations around the world. Now, it seems that nearly a dozen car manufacturers have provided this precise location guidance down as to where to drive. This helps when talking about Uber and Lyft drivers picking up...
Elon Musk could make some Twitter users pay ‘slight’ fee to tweet – will you be affected?
People are all atwitter about Musks plans for charging for Twitter. It's clickbait to some extent. He clearly stated not the standard users, but for businesses and government entities. Oddly enough, that still will come out of our pockets, through taxes, increased...
CDC Tracked Millions of Phones to See If Americans Followed COVID Lockdown Orders
The government, in the form of the CDC, has been spying on us, tracking our travels to see if we obeyed COVID lockdown orders. Never mind the fact that this is a warrantless search of our whereabouts, of people who have committed no crimes, by an agency that isn't...
Ukrainian John Deere tractors stolen by Russia ‘bricked’ • The Register
A strange twist has arisen on the "you don't own your software" that's needed for your hardware. Yes, John Deere tractors have long held that only their software can be used on their tractors, and charged extra support prices to increase profits. Some tractors...
Apple employees are unhappy with CEO Tim Cook’s hybrid work plan | Fortune
The return to office mode, even in the hybrid model of one day a week is already wearing thin. 3/4's of Apple workers have already voiced their frustrations. This goes against a lot of what managers are saying, with equal numbers on the other side fighting back. It'll...
This write-once portable SSD can never be erased | PCWorld
Verbatim has come up with a WORM drive. Write Once Read Many was something from ages ago. It was cheaper than standard, but it was useful for throwaway situations. The selling points are for one-time usage for critical one-time backups, or spy craft, but at this size,...
Average consumer cutting 3 streaming services from their lineup in 2022 – Study Finds
After last weeks announcement of the average household having 4.7 streaming services, someone asked "you changing anything?" The response, the prediction, was not good for the services. The average person is looking to exit, not 1, not 2, but 3 services in the rest of...
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 04-30-2022
Computer Talk Radio Broadcast 04-30-2022; Amazon, Twitter, Musk, spying, news, more; Facebook knows you; Mac OS Server gone; computer security game; package scam; continuing education; tech bummers; better wifi; work romance; bad connections
FCC to vote on new plan to curb robocalls
The FCC now wants the carriers to fight robocalls. An upcoming vote may try to stop by leveraging against the varriers of international calls. The carriers must now try to determine if their paying customers are using services to perform robocalls, and then cut them...