Okay, so I saw this thing, right? About stamps. I didnāt know people *still* collected stamps, but apparently they do. Like, a lot. And these aren't just *any* stamps. These are fancy, *digital* stamps. Stamps that are, according to this thing I read, "inspired by the universe of... 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'." I don't think I saw that one. I saw the blue people one. Pretty sure there was no fire or ash. But, hey, maybe I missed a sequel. Anyway, these stamps are special. They're NFTs, whatever *those* are. Iām still trying to figure out bitcoin. NFTs are like bitcoin's weird cousin. And they're putting themā¦ on stamps? It feels like they're just trying to use all the buzzwords at once, you know? Like they just threw a dart at a wall of technology terms and said, "Letās make a stamp!" So La Poste, you know, the post office, like the guys who *deliver* these *stamps* are making *digital* stamps. They're releasing them on the same day this 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' comes out. Which I bet someone is gonna say is like the *perfect* gift for someone this holiday season, andā¦well, theyād be wrong! Unless that someone is into super niche collectibles. And get this: they arenāt making very many of them. Which, supposedly, is going to make them really expensive. Which I just donāt understand. You put them on a letter, it *still* costs the same to mail it, right? So who pays big bucks for that ? Maybe you could trade it for more NFTs? I justā¦ I donāt know. Iām gonna stick to paying for things with cash. At least with cash, I *know* what Iām getting. Usually a candy bar, or something. Stamps ? I'm just lost!
2025-12-05 22:04
Okay, so I heard this thing the other day, and it's about drones. I don't really get drones, to be honest. Like, what are we doing with drones? Is it just, we're too lazy to walk, so we send a robot bird to do it? I don't know. Anyway, apparently, over at this base, I guess it's near...a place...with water... Brest, yeah, that's what they called it. Five of these drone things show up, right around 7:30 at night. Now, I don't know about you, but if five random flying machines show up at my house, I'm calling somebody. Like, is this Amazon delivering something I didn't order? Are they checking to see if I mowed? I don't know. I don't *think* I forgot to mow. But these drones, they're just flying over this base. And I'm thinking, "Okay, are they lost?" I've been lost before. You ever been driving, and you just realize, "I have no idea where I am"? Yeah. But I pull over and ask for directions. Do drones do that? Do they have little maps, or do they just keep buzzing around until the battery dies? I don't know. So, five drones. Over a base. At night. Nobody knows why. I'm guessing itās probably just kids. You know how kids are with those drone things. They just love to buzz them around. I saw a kid the other day. He almost took off my hat with one of them. I mean, come on, kid! Thatās my favorite hat, itās the only one that fits. You'd think they would check to see if the airspace is clear before they start buzzing around over military bases. Anyway, the point is, five drones showed up. They flew around a base. And now everyone's wondering why. Maybe it was the Russian or the Chinese, maybe it was just the kids who tried to grab my hat. I don't know. Maybe it was just five lost drones. See, and that's how things happen, you know? You get five lost drones. Next thing you know, they think you are up to something, but you are actually just really bad with drones. That's my life.
2025-12-05 15:34
Okay, so I was reading... well, I *tried* to read something. It was one of those articles, you know, where you read the first sentence and you're like, "Alright, I'm on board." Then the second sentence hits and you're already lost. You gotta love the news. Anyway, it seems like... Meta. You know, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp ā the places where you see your aunt arguing about politics. Meta, they made a deal. So, theseā¦ uh... publications. Like, news places. Apparently, they have stuff online. Articles, I guess. News stuff. And Meta, they wanna use it forā¦ *AI*. AI! Like those robots that are gonna take our jobs, but probably just end up messing up your coffee order, right? So, Meta's gonna use these news articles to train the AI. That's what I think is happening, anyway. Iām still trying to understand it, to be honest. It's like, these news places are letting Meta use their articles, but with a few rules, probably because they don't want the AI writing fake news about their articles and, well, this whole thing seems like a headache and a half. Iām just worried the AI will start posting my baby pictures on Facebook. I donāt even know how to stop that. Do you think itāll tag me? Because I donāt want to be tagged. It was a *terrible* haircut. My mom thought it was good. Sheās a good woman, butā¦ the haircut. The AIās gotta see that photo. But yeah, that's the gist of it. Meta and these news places areā¦ doing something with AI. I hope it works out. I mean, Iām not sure what *that* means but I hope it works out. Iām just trying to stay out of the robotsā way, ya know? If the robots want the news, Iām not gonna argue with them. Seems like the right thing to do.
2025-12-05 14:34
Okay, so I was reading this thing, and it's aboutā¦ well, it's about the internet, which Iām still trying to figure out. You know, the cloud? I picture it just being a big room full of computers, and a guy named Cloud just keeps everything organized. Anyway, so there's thisā¦ place on the internet. Big one. Run by thisā¦ guy. A smart guy. Too smart for me, honestly. He's got rockets and electric cars and now this internet place. Seems like a lot to keep up with, right? I can barely keep my lawn mowed. And apparently, this place, run by this guy, has, you know, *rules*. I didn't even know the internet *had* rules. Seems like the kind of place where you *don't* have rules. Like a free-for-all. Like mini golf, but with information. So, these peopleā¦ important people, in Europe, maybe Brussels sprouts are involved, I donāt knowā¦ they think this guy's place isn't following the rules. Apparently, there are rules about, like, not having bad stuff on there. You know, the kind of stuff you don't want your kids seeing. Which, my kids already see stuff they shouldn't. We have a TV. So, these European folks, theyāre investigating. They said it broke *three* rules. I don't know what the rules are. I'm lucky if I remember to put the toilet seat down. But get this, even though they think he broke three rules, they're *still* looking into it. They're like, "Yeah, he messed up, but we wanna see if he messed up even *more*." Thatās dedication, right there. Theyāre really going after this stuff with lies and misinformation and making sure you donāt believe things that arenāt true. Youād think people could figure that out on their own, but, hey, I still think the Earth might be flat so what do I know? So, basically, a very smart guy, whoās running a very popular website, might be in trouble with some people in Europe, for not following internet rules. Thatās the whole thing. And frankly, I'm exhausted just trying to explain it. I think I'm gonna go take a nap. Wake me up when they figure out how to make a self-folding fitted sheet. Thatās a real problem.
2025-12-05 12:35
Alright, so I was readingā¦ well, someone was telling me about this thing. Itās about this Mark Zuckerberg guy, right? He had this idea, back in, like, 2021. You know, the year we all thought things were finally going to be normal again. Turns out, we were wrong about that too. Anyway, he had this idea for a, uhā¦ a *virtual world*. Iām still not completely sure what that is. Is it like a video game? But with more meetings? I don't know. I picture everyone wearing those big headsets, bumping into furniture... which, honestly, I already do that *without* the headset. So, apparently this virtual worldā¦ it didnāt go so well. I mean, you hear about things not going well, but this was like, *Billions* of dollars not going well. I donāt even know what to do with a billion dollars! Probably buy a whole bunch of those headsets and then justā¦ still bump into furniture. But here's the thing. This company, Meta, they still have, like, regular stuff going on, right? Like Facebook and Instagram. And *thatās* making money. Which is good, I guess. Because now theyāre taking *that* money, the money from all the cat videos and recipe fails, and theyāre putting it intoā¦ something called *superintelligence*. Superintelligence. That just sounds like a movie, doesn't it? Like the robots are finally gonna start judging our online behavior. āYeah, Karen, those Minion memes? Weāve seen āem.ā So, to recap: Zuckerberg tried to build a virtual world, it cost a ton of money and didn't work. And now, they're going to try to be superintelligent. I'm not sure what's scarier, spending money like it's water or becoming superintelligent. I guess we'll find out together. I'll let you know what happens, assuming the robots let me talk.
2025-12-05 11:04
You know, I was reading about this thing that happened the other day, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Apparently, there were these... drones, right? Five of 'em. And they were just flying around, doing their thing, over this military base. Now, I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that's not exactly where you're supposed to be flying your drone. I mean, I've gotten in trouble for flying mine over my neighbor's yard, and that's just a guy who likes to garden. So, these drones, they were spotted on Thursday evening, around 7:30. Which, you know, is a pretty decent time to be out flying a drone, if you ask me. The sun's setting, it's not too windy... although, I guess if you're trying to spy on a military base, you might want to do it when it's a little darker out. Just saying. But anyway, the base is right on the water, which is nice, I guess. I mean, if you're going to be flying drones around, you might as well have a good view, right? It's like, "Hey, I'm spying on the military, but at least I can see the ocean." (laughs) I don't know, maybe I'm just not understanding the whole drone thing. I mean, I've got a drone, and I just use it to take pictures of my house from above. Which, let's be real, is not that exciting. I'm like, "Oh, yeah, that's my roof. And there's my car. And... oh, wait, is that a bird?" (laughs) But I guess these drones were doing something a little more... sophisticated. Although, I'm not really sure what. I mean, were they just flying around, looking for something to do? "Hey, let's go check out the military base. I heard they have some nice fences." (laughs) I don't know, it's just weird to me. But hey, I'm no expert. I'm just a guy who likes to fly his drone around the backyard and take pictures of his roof. (laughs)
2025-12-05 11:04
Okay, so, I was reading this thing, right? And it's about this guy... he's got a name, but it's, uh... let's just call him "Geoffrey." That's easier. Geoffrey...Petit-Jean-Genat. It's a lot, right? Like, why so many names? I feel like if you have that many names, you should at least be royalty. Anyway, Geoffrey, back in 2013, this guy shows up on YouTube. Apparently, he does these impressions. Like, *really* good impressions. I don't know *what* kind of impressions, because the thing I was reading didn't say. Just "bluffantes." Which, I'm pretty sure, means "really good." I mean, I *think* it does. I should probably look that up. So he's doing impressions on YouTube, but then, about five years later ā and this is where it gets weird for me ā he starts making up his *own* stories. Which, okay, that's fine. Everyone's got a hobby. But then *he* plays all the characters. All of them. I'm thinking, "Geoffrey, you got a lot of time on your hands, buddy." Like, I can barely manage to get myself ready in the morning. I usually just wear the same shirt I wore the day before. My wife's not thrilled about it, but, you know, sometimes you just gotta prioritize. So, Geoffrey's doing all these voices, all these characters, on his own little audio platform. Which, again, I didn't even know was a thing. There's an audio platform? I'm still trying to figure out TikTok. And the kicker? Every December, he puts out *more* episodes about this same guy. This "recurrent hero." I don't know what kind of hero he is. Maybe he saves cats from trees? Maybe he helps old ladies cross the street? All I know is that Geoffrey is busy. Real busy. I mean, I'm impressed. I'm also a little confused. It's a lot of commitment. I can barely commit to what I'm going to have for dinner tonight. I usually end up just eating whatever my daughter, Harper, doesn't finish. It's a good system, actually. Less dishes. But yeah, this Geoffrey guy... he's got a hero. He plays everyone. And he releases it all every December. It's like his own little Christmas tradition. I just hope he gets some sleep. He's probably exhausted. I know *I'm* tired just thinking about it.
2025-12-05 05:34
Okay, so I was reading something the other day ā well, I *tried* to read it. Turns out, it was about money, which is already confusing. You know, like when people say "cryptocurrency?" I always think it's something you bury, like pirate treasure. Turns out, it's digital money, which makes it even weirder because how can you bury something that's not even there? Anyway, apparently there's this...top crypto-thingy, the main one, you know? It's going down. I don't know much about this crypto-stuff, to be honest. I tried to get into it, my neighbor was telling me all about it. He uses words I don't even understand. He kept saying "blockchain". I thought he was talking about Legos. I told him I stepped on a Lego once, nearly broke my foot. He didn't think it was as funny as I did. So, yeah, this top crypto-thing is having a rough time. See, people are scared. They're scared of losing money, which, honestly, I understand completely. Iām scared of losing the $7 I carry around in my wallet. And apparently, it's also something with "interest rates." Now, I understand interest, like, if you're interested in something, but these are...different interest rates. These are rates about *money*. Itās all so confusing! I wish they'd just say "Hey, things are shaky, maybe donāt spend all your money on the invisible money." Iād get that.
2025-12-05 05:04
Alright, so, I heard about this thing withā¦ Meta. You know, Facebook, right? They changed the name. Why? Still don't know. Nobody asked me. But anyway... So, this guy, used to work at Meta, real smart guy, with the AI and everything. He was talking about this "new generation of AI." Sounds fancy. I donāt know much about AI. I tried to ask my kid about it, but he just started talking about robots and taking over the world. I was like, āEasy there, son. Just trying to figure out whatās happening with Facebook." Anyway, this AI thingā¦ apparently, Meta's gonna be a "partner." Partner. Thatās what he said. But not an "investor." Which isā¦ different? I guess? It's like saying, "Yeah, we'll bring the snacks, but we ain't paying for the pizza." Makes you wonder what *that* relationship is gonna be like. So, theyāre gonna be āpartners,ā but not putting in any moneyā¦ Thatās the story. It's like when my wife says, "Honey, can you help me with this?" And then it turns out to be a seven-hour furniture assembly project. Partner in spirit, maybe? Not so much in labor, or, in this case, money. I donāt know. Maybe theyāll just be giving themā¦ advice? āYeah, that robotā¦ maybe make it a little less murdery?ā Sounds like my kind of partnership. Low commitment. High reward if the robots don't take over. I'd be okay with that. Just keep me out of the robots. I got enough problems just trying to figure out how to use my phone.
2025-12-04 18:04
Alright, so I was reading this article, right? I don't know why I was reading it, but I was. And it's about these cars, right? In California. You know California, it's got a lot of...stuff. Sunshine, I guess. Anyway, so Google ā you know, Google. They're in everything. Like, you try to find a restaurant, Google's there. You're looking for a weird rash, Google's probably got pictures of it. They have these cars, these self-driving cars. I guess theyāre called SUVs, which always sounds fancier than it needs to be. Itās just a big car, right? So they got like, 800 of these things just driving around. By themselves. Now, I get nervous when *I'm* driving. I still use maps, like paper maps. My wife makes fun of me. Says itās safer for everyone if I just stay home. Which, you know, maybe she has a point. But these cars...no driver. They're driving themselves. People are riding in them. They're like, "Hey, Google, take me to the In-N-Out Burger." And the car just *goes*. I guess it uses GPS. GPS, right? Always telling you to make a left when you need to make a right. And then youāre in a field somewhere. But people are using these cars. Tourists love them. Apparently, a quarter of all the ride-sharing in that area is these self-driving cars. A *quarter*. That's a lot. I thought people liked talking to the driver, you know? Asking about the best route, complaining about traffic. But apparently, nobody wants to talk anymore. I guess thatās fine, Iām not much of a talker myself. So the article said that these Google cars are thinking about going to London next. London! Imagine those little roundabouts. The self-driving cars trying to figure that out. That sounds like a reality show Iād actually watch. Just a bunch of confused cars in a roundabout. I mean, *I* get confused in a roundabout. I just keep going until I find something familiar. So yeah, self-driving cars. In California. And maybe London. It's the future, I guess. Me? Iām sticking with the map. And maybe a ride from my wife. If she lets me leave the house.
2025-12-04 14:04
Okay, so I was reading this thing... and it's about WhatsApp. You guys use WhatsApp? I do. I think. Is that the one where you can send, like, pictures of your kids to your family? Or is that a different one? They all kind of look the same to me. My wife sets it all up. Anyway, so apparently, this company... a big one, over in America, theyāre in trouble. Iām not sure which company they're talking about, but I'm guessing it's one you've heard of. Theyāre being accused of... uh... well, basically, they're being accused of being *too* good at something. Which is a weird thing to get in trouble for, right? See, WhatsApp Business, thatās the one where businesses can talk to you, I think. My dentist uses it, and honestly, I'm not sure why. They just text me to say "remember your appointment" and then I get nervous all day. Feels unnecessary. So, apparently, this company... the big one... they're not letting other companies that make AI stuffā¦ you know, like the computers that can answer questions and write poems and whateverā¦ they aren't letting those companies work with WhatsApp Business. They're keeping it all to themselves. Now, I don't know anything about AI. I still struggle with figuring out the microwave settings. Like, what *is* "defrost?" Is that just a slow cook? It seems like it. But apparently, some people are saying that this big company is being unfair. That theyāre keeping everyone else from playing in their sandbox. They're saying theyāre using their power to keep other companies from providing the same service. I donāt know if thatās true or not. Iām just telling you what I read. But Iām thinkingā¦ shouldn't companies be able to choose who they work with? Itās likeā¦ if I open a lemonade stand, do I *have* to buy my lemons from every single lemon farmer out there? Maybe I just like one guy's lemons better. I donāt know. It seems complicated. So, thatās the whole thing. This big company, WhatsApp, maybe... is in trouble because they're allegedly not sharing their platform with other AI companies. And I'm just trying to figure out how to work the remote control. We all have our problems. You know what I mean?
2025-12-04 13:04
Alright, so I heard about this company, right? I don't know *which* company, it just came across the news, and I was listening, trying to pay attention, but...you know how that goes. Anyway, apparently they had a...a data thing. Like, a problem with the data. Which, okay, happens. I mean, I have problems with data all the time. Like, I try to remember my wife's birthday and that'sā¦data. Not going great. So, this company, they said the "contact data" got, I guess, touched? I don't know what that means, "touched". Did somebody just walk by and brush against it? Iām picturing a little data cloud, and someone goes āwhoops, sorry!ā But apparently, "touched" means, like, names, phone numbers, addresses...you know, all the stuff that if somebody had it, they could send you, like, a fruitcake in July. Which, by the way, who sends fruitcake? And why? But here's the good part, they said the *bank* data wasn't "touched". And your passwords. So your moneyās still safe. And you can keep forgetting your password, and resetting it, and then forgetting it again. Just me? Okay. So, bottom line: they messed up, but not, like, *totally* messed up. Just...you might get more calls. You know, maybe someone wanting to extend your car warranty. Which, I don't even *have* a car warranty anymore, because my car is so old, it's practically a dinosaur. So yeah. A data touch. Thatās what theyāre calling it. I donāt know. Seems a littleā¦ light. You know? "Touch" sounds like something you do to a baby. I think maybe they need a new word.
2025-12-04 12:04
Alright, so I was reading this thing, and it was talking about Australia. You know, Australia? Down there. Theyāre thinking about kicking a bunch of kids off social media. Like, really young kids. I donāt know why. I mean, I barely understand social media *now*, and I'm a grownupā¦ish. My wife, Natalie, she's always on it. Sheās trying to get me on there more, but I just donāt get it. It's justā¦pictures. And complaining. So, Australia wants to block these kids. Now, Meta and YouTube ā those are the things my wife's always showing me? ā they're saying it's not going to work. They say itās gonna beā¦paradoxical. Which, you know, is a fancy word for "confusing," which I deal with every day. I'm thinking, "How are they going to *do* that?" Like, are they gonna check IDs at the internet? You gotta show your ID to buy allergy medicine now; are they going to ID you to use TikTok? It's all very complex. It sounds like more paperwork, and I'm already overwhelmed by the paperwork for the car. And whatās gonna happen? The kids are just going to figure out a way around it, right? Thatās what *I* would have done. I probably wouldnāt have even been *on* social media, but if they told me I *couldN'T* be on it? Suddenly, I'd be building computers in my basement. So basically, Australia is trying something new with social media and kids, and these internet companies are saying, āGood luck with that!ā Which, I think, means nobody really knows what theyāre doing. Just like me. With everything.
2025-12-04 11:34
Alright, so I was reading this thing, and it's about computers... and death. Stay with me. I know, heavy. But it's kinda funny too, in a... confusing way. So, apparently, there's this new thing now, where you can take a picture ā like, a picture of someone, right? ā and you can use computers to make the person in the picture... move. Yeah. They blink, maybe they even smile a little. It's like... a ghost, but, you know, digital. And people are doing this, right? They're taking pictures of theirā¦ well, their *dead* relatives. Yeah. Grandparents, parents, aunts, unclesā¦ you name it. And they're having the computers make them move. Now, I'm not a tech guy. I barely know how to work the TV remote. My wife always has to set it up so that it is simple. All I need is the volume. So the whole AI thingā¦ it's just... confusing. Like, how does that even work? Do they just, like, guess what your grandma would look like blinking? Seems like a gamble. But here's the thing that really got me. They're doing this because... well, because they miss these people. Which makes sense. You miss people when they're gone. I miss ordering room service. That's why my wife and I are always going back to the same hotel. But then, you gotta think... is it really *them* moving? Or is it just a computer doing its best impression? I mean, computers aren't exactly known for their emotional intelligence. My GPS keeps trying to get me to drive into lakes. And then they are saying that this isn't necessarily a great process for people that are grieving. And I kinda see what they are getting at. I don't know, it just seems like a weird thing to me. Like, instead of remembering your grandpa, you're remembering what a computer *thinks* your grandpa looked like. And honestly? I don't trust computers that much. I'm barely able to check my e-mails. I feel like they'd probably make my grandpa look like he was constantly trying to sell me timeshares. And I feel like my own relatives would probably be pretty upset if I tried to bring them back with computers. So, yeah. Computers... death... and probably some confused feelings along the way. It's the world we live in, folks. Iām just trying to figure out how to work the microwave.
2025-12-03 21:34
Alright, so I saw this thing, right? It was in... well, it was *somewhere*. Doesn't matter where. The point is, a bunch of smart people, like, *really* smart, the kind that build robots and stuff, they got together and wrote something. Apparently, they're all into this Artificial Intelligence thing. You know, AI? It's when computers start thinking, which, honestly, sometimes I think my microwave is smarter than me. I asked it to reheat pizza for one minute, and it didn't burn it. I can't even do that. Anyway, these AI guys, they're saying we need to use, like, our brains. Which, that's usually a good idea, right? When something complicated comes up, like figuring out which remote controls the TV, you gotta use your brain. Unless, of course, you just give up and watch whatever's on. I've done that. So, they're saying we need to use brain power, and also...talent. Talent is good, I guess. I mean, I have a talent for forgetting where I put my keys. That's... a talent, right? And they said we need to use "science." Science is...well, it's like math, but with beakers. And sometimes explosions. Iām not great with science, but I appreciate the effort, I guess. So basically, these AI people are saying, "Let's be smart about being smart." Which sounds redundant, but coming from these AI robot guys, they know what they are talking about, right?
2025-12-03 16:34
Alright, so I was reading this thingā¦ and you know how sometimes you read something and youāre pretty sure youāre missing a whole section? Like, maybe the pages got stuck together at the factory? This was one of those. Basically, this super-rich tech guy ā I'm not gonna name names, because honestly, remembering names is not my strong suit. I once introduced my wife to my neighbor asā¦ well, letās just say it involved the word "dog." Anyway, this guy is complaining about things being tooā¦ still, I guess. Like progress is stuck in cement. That's what the article says anyway, I don't see it myself. I mean, we got self-driving cars, right? I'm not sure I trust them, but they are happening. But then, there's this lady, a researcher. She's saying, āHold on a minute, buddy. Youāre not fixing anything. Youāre just trying to replace the old thing withā¦ something else you came up with.ā And Iām reading this, and Iām thinking, āOkay, but what is the 'something else'?" Apparently, she thinks theyāre trying to make a technology takeover. Like, instead of the government, or whatever, running things, it'll beā¦ apps. Which, if you think about it, isn't that far off from what's happening now, right? I already get all my news from social media, which is the main reason I think the world is about to end any day now. And then sheās saying that Europe shouldnāt go along with it. So, itās a whole international thing now. All I wanted to do was read about the weather. I don't know anything about Europe, except they have those tiny cars. I'm not sure I could even fit in one of those. So, to recap: rich guy complaining, smart lady complaining about the rich guy, and Europe is involved somehow. It's a whole thing, and honestly, I'm just gonna go back to watching home improvement shows. Less confusing. Less pressure. And you usually know who's doing what. You want a bigger kitchen, you call a contractor. Simple. This tech stuff? Who do you even call? I guess, maybe the tech guy? And then the researcher is gonna yell at you about it, I don't know. I'm just gonna stick with my kitchen.
2025-12-03 14:04
Okay, so, I was reading the news the other day, which, you know, I try to do. I'm not great at it. Itās a lot. And this one article was talking aboutā¦ ah, what was it calledā¦Coimisiun na Mean. Yeah, thatās right. Coimisiun na Mean. Say it out loud, itās kinda fun. I don't know what it is, but they were investigating X. Which, I know *that* is Twitter. They had the name, but I just know them by the logo. Itās the bird. So, Coimisiun na Mean, theyāreā¦ theyāre looking into Twitter. Doing an investigation, they called it. Like, a *real* investigation. See, usually, when *I* investigate something, itās like, "Whereās my left sock?" or "Did I already eat lunch?" That's usually the extent of it. This sounds more involved. I assume there's some paperwork. The article said it was the first investigation *of its kind*. Meaning nobody had investigated Twitter like this before. Which got me thinking, what even *IS* investigating a social media company? Do they go undercover? Do they have to, like, friend Elon Musk? I don't know how that works. So, yeah. Coimisiun na Mean is investigating X. I think itās a country. I don't know. The first time anyone is doing this, apparently. I'll let you know if I find my sock.
2025-12-03 11:35
Alright, so I was reading something the other day, well, *reading* is a strong word. I was looking at something with wordsā¦and apparently, this artificial intelligence thing is getting pretty good. You know, the computers that are smarter than me. Which, let's be honest, isn't saying much. I still struggle with the self-checkout line. I always end up needing assistance and then *they're* annoyed that I need assistance, but I mean, it's right there in the title, isn't it? But anyway, this AI stuffā¦theyāre saying itās gonna help people. Which is good. Iām all for helping people. If someone needs help, Iāll usually point them in the right directionā¦of someone who *can* help them. You know, "Try that guy, he looks like he knows what he's doing." So, apparently, if you have trouble seeing or hearing, this AI can make things easier. Like, I guess it can read stuff out loud if you can't see it. Which is great! You know, I kinda wish I had that for my wife's directions sometimes. āTake a left, no, a right, wait I think that was the left after allā¦ā Maybe AI could just tell me where to go and save us all some grief. And it can help with hearing, too. I donāt know exactly *how*, but Iām assuming it involves computers doing computer things. I don't pretend to understand all the technology. I still think Bluetooth is some kind of pirate thing. The main thing is, these computers are going to start doing some actual good. So instead of using them to figure out what kind of toaster oven I should buy, they can actually help people who need it. So yeah, AI. It's scary and confusing, but alsoā¦maybe it'll help someone. And that's a win, I guess. I'll try to figure out how it all works later. Right now, I gotta go figure out how to set the clock on the microwave. That thingās been blinking for like 3 years.
2025-12-03 07:04
Alright, alright, settle down folks. I gotta tell you about this thing I heard. Itās aboutā¦ uhā¦ taxes. Yeah. Taxes. You know, the thing that nobody *really* understands. I mean, I pay āem, but I donāt *get* āem. It's like magic, only less entertaining. So, apparently, and this is what I'm trying to figure out, it has something to do with your kids. Now, I got one kid. Harley. Good kid. Lazy, but good. You know, sleeps ātil noon. But hey, at least he's consistent. Anyway, apparently, if your kid is still, like, technically living with you, you know, under your roof, eating all your food, and complaining about the Wi-Fiā¦ if theyāre still on your taxesā¦and they have, likeā¦some kind of, I don't know, separate bank account thing going onā¦ things can get complicated. See, the government, they're always lookin'. Always watchin'. I don't know why. Maybe they're bored. But if they start lookin' at your taxes, and they see something weird with your kid's accountsā¦ well, things can get messy. Like, messy enough to whereā¦ you could owe them money. More money. And nobody wants to owe the government more money. They already have plenty of mine, I'm pretty sure. They probably use it to buyā¦ I don't knowā¦ more calculators? To figure out how to take more money? So the deal is this, pay attention, if you can. If you have kids still leeching, I mean living, at home, and they have their own separate money things going on... you might want to double-check your taxes. Because if you don't, you might end up with a big surprise. Not a fun surprise. The kind of surprise that involves a lot of paperwork and probably someone telling you they don't understand why you didn't do this in the first place. It's all very confusing. I'm confused just telling you about it. Maybe I should just hire someone to do my taxes. But then I gotta find someone I trust with my moneyā¦ which is another problem altogether. *sigh*... You know, sometimes I think I should have just become a clown. At least then the only thing I'd have to worry about is balloon animals and oversized shoes.
2025-12-03 07:04
Okay, so I was reading this thing... this article, right? And it was talking about... digital stuff. You know, the internet, the computers... things I still haven't totally figured out, to be honest. I feel like I *should* know, but then I try to explain Bluetooth to my dad, and it's just... it's chaos. Anyway, this article, it's saying the internet is making way for these... new groups of people. Like, almost little *secret* groups. Think of it likeā¦ remember when you were a kid and you had your own clubhouse? Except now the clubhouse is on, like, TikTok. And instead of trading baseball cards, they're... well, I don't know *what* they're trading. Probably cat memes or something. I wouldnāt know. So these groups, theyāre doing their own thing, separate from what everyone else is doing. The article called what everyone else does āmainstreamā culture, and you know what I thought? Man, that sounds like a boring party. I bet they play the same songs over and over again. But itās these *other* groups that I donāt understand. The lady they interviewed, sheās some kind of expert. She said they're a lot like "witches". I saw the word and I was like, "Witches? Really?" Like, is this still happening? Are they flying around on brooms? I doubt it, or I feel like I would have seen it by now. I'm pretty observant, even if I am kind of slow sometimes. So, apparently, these "witch" groups are doing... witchcraft... online. Which, I donāt know about you, but that sounds like a slow internet connection is a real problem. Imagine trying to cast a spell and the buffering symbol pops up. That's not intimidating, that's just annoying. So yeah, basically, the internet is creating little pockets ofā¦ *alternative* activities. And one of them might involve, like, online witchcraft. I donāt know. Maybe itās just a good way to meet people with similar interests. Itās probably better than going to a party where they only play the hits. Iām not judging. I just donāt understand. You know? I don't know what anyone does anymore. I just came to tell jokes.
2025-12-03 05:04
Alright, so I was reading this thingā¦ it was talking aboutā¦ books. Christmas is coming up, you know? Always does. Every year. They try to surprise you with it, but itās always December 25th. And this articleā¦ itās like, "Here's some good books to get as presents.ā Which is fine, I guess. People read. Iām trying to read more. My wife reads. She *says* I should read more. Anyway, these names, though... they're authors. And they are something else. There's this Gao Yan. Which, you know, sounds like you're clearing your throat. "Gao Yan!" See? I think he writes action novels, so he makes you practice that. Then there's Quentin Zuttion. That sounds like an alien. I can see it on a spaceship. "Quentin Zuttion, report to the bridge!" And then this Fanny MichaĆ«lisā¦ Iām not sure how you say that. I donāt want to mispronounce it. It's just... a name. I think these writers are starting to mess with me. David Prudhommeā¦ that sounds French, maybe? Theyāre always up to something, those people... Then we got Jean-Paul Krassinsky. He sounds very serious. Like he's gonna write you a serious book. Probably about France. Laurie Agustiā¦ alright, Laurie. I can do that. Laurie's a normal name. Thank God. Jesse Lonergan. This one is weird. That's the name of a horse at a Kentucky Derby, I think... he's the dark horse writer. So, yeah, this article is saying, āBuy these books for Christmas presents.ā And they got some interesting names. Maybe one of them wrote a book Iād understand. You know, aboutā¦ things. So basically, there are some books from writers with names that are prettyā¦ memorable. The article suggested they'd make good Christmas gifts. You know, if you're into that kind of thing. I'm just trying to figure out how to say some of these names, mostly.
2025-12-03 05:04
Alright, alright, settle down. So, I was on theā¦ you know, the phone. Theā¦ *thing*. Scrolling. You know how it is. Just endlessā¦ stuff. I don't even know what I'm looking at half the time. But I noticed something weird. Real weird. Thereās theseā¦ videos. And theyāre, like, funny. Real funny. But nobodyā¦ famous is doing them. See, I'm always trying to figure out whoās funny. Like, is *I* funny? Still working on that. I thought you *had* to be famous to be funny. That's how it works, right? Like, I had to get on television. Thatās the rule. But these aren't like those influencer videos. I donāt even know what influencers *do*. Are they influencing people? To do *what*? Buy more pillows? Iām already pretty influenced to buy pillows. My wife keeps buying them. I think we have twenty pillows on the bed. Itās ridiculous. Anyway, these videos are funny because regular people are making them. Justā¦ normal people. And theyāre making each other laugh. Justā¦ anonymously, online. It's like everyone decided to play the game. You know like, solitaire, but on the internet. And it just spread, from there. I don't get it. I just got that maybe everyone is funny and I'm trying to charge people to hear it.
2025-12-03 05:04
Alright, so I heard about this new video game, right? Been waiting on it forā¦ eighteen years! Eighteen years. Thatās like, almost old enough to vote, this video game. I'm just saying. So, they finally put it out, and people are saying itās goodā¦ *sort of.* See, the thing is, it's got these puzzle parts, right? And theyāre saying those are really good. Really makes you think. Which, you know, I donāt *love* thinking that hard. But, whatever, itās a game. And then, they said there's these "confined zones," which I'm not sure why you'd want to be confined when you're playing a game, but apparently that's where the good stuff is. But then ā this is where it gets weird ā it's got this "open world" too, right? Like, you can just go anywhere! Which sounds cool at first, but then they're saying it's... bland. I guess too much space or something? Youād think more is better. Like, if someone said, "Hey, you want more pizza?" I'd never say no. Unless it was pineapple. Then Iād say no. So, it's like, they made a good, intense game, and then they were like, "Nah, letās add a whole bunch of nothing around it." It's like putting ketchup on a steak. You *can* do it, but why *would* you? I donāt know, man. Eighteen years to make something confusing like that? Iām pretty sure I could have confused people faster. Probably by just trying to explain this game.
2025-12-02 16:34
Okay, so I heard about this new company... in Paris. Paris, France. You know, the place with the Eiffel Tower. I've seen pictures. Tall. Anyway, this company... they're doing AI stuff. Artificial Intelligence. Which, honestly, is already too smart for me. Iām still trying to figure out the self-checkout at Kroger's. Just the other day, it kept yelling at me because I didn't bag my bananas fast enough. I swear, it was judging me. So, these AI guys... they're *really* smart. Apparently, they used to work at places like... well, I wrote it down. Google-DeepMind, Meta... you know, those places where theyāre always trying to get you to click on an ad for something you looked at once, like, three years ago? And Kyutai. Kyutai? I don't even know what that *is*. Sounds like a type of sushi. Which, I like sushi. But I don't trust raw fish that's been sitting out. That's just me. Point is, these guys are smart. *Way* smarter than me. Iām pretty sure my dog is smarter than me on Mondays. He at least knows when it's time for breakfast. Me? I'm still trying to remember where I parked the car. So, yeah, theyāre building this AI company in Paris, founded by folks who worked at all those smart-people places. I donāt know *what* they're building, exactly. But Iām guessing it's something that will eventually tell me I'm putting the wrong kind of soap in the dishwasher. And it'll probably be right.
2025-12-02 13:04
You know, I was thinking, have you ever noticed how some people love to shop on those big crazy days like Black Friday or Cyber Monday? (pauses) I mean, I'm not one of them, I'm more of a "let me just stay home and watch TV" kind of guy. But, apparently, there are some folks out there who are like, "No, no, I'm good. I'll just find something used and make it work." (chuckles) I was talking to some people, and they were telling me about how they like to buy occasion and reconditioned stuff. And I'm like, "That's cool, I guess." I mean, I've bought some used things in my life, but it's always been more out of necessity than, like, a lifestyle choice. (laughs) But hey, to each their own, right? So, these people, they're buying used stuff, and they're like, "Yeah, it's great. We're saving money, we're helping the environment..." And I'm like, "That's awesome, but don't you worry that it's just gonna break on you?" (laughs) I mean, I've had my fair share of used stuff that's just fallen apart on me. But they're like, "No, no, it's fine. We're just being responsible consumers." And then there's the other thing, where people might think they're, you know, cheap. (laughs) Like, "Oh, you're just buying used stuff because you don't want to spend any money." But they're like, "No, we're just being smart." And I'm like, "Yeah, that's what I keep telling my wife when I buy used socks." (laughs) Anyway, it's just interesting to me that there are people out there who are making a conscious choice to buy used and reconditioned stuff. And hey, more power to them, right? I mean, I'll just stick to my new socks, thank you very much. (laughs)
2025-12-02 05:34
Alright, so I was reading this thing... about banks, you know? Banks are doing stuff. Always something going on with banks. This one, in... well, it's a bank. A big one. Number three, they say. Number three in the whole country. That's pretty good, right? Like, you don't wanna be number four. That's gotta sting a little. Anyway, they're planning on letting go... get this... *twenty percent* of their people. Twenty percent! That's a lot of people. I mean, I don't even *know* twenty percent of anyone. I struggle to remember what *my* kids look like half the time. But the reason they're doing it is... AI. Artificial Intelligence. The robots are taking our jobs. I've seen the movies, folks. I know how this ends. They're saying the AI can do all the paperwork, the filing, all that stuff. Which, I get it. Paperwork is terrible. I lost my car title, like, three years ago. Still haven't found it. Maybe I *need* an AI. I'd probably still lose it, though. It would be artificial intelligence losing it. I feel like that's still on me. But, the lady writing this article, she's asking, "How far can you *really* cut?" Like, what's the limit? How many people can you fire before you're just left with robots and nobody to plug them in? It's a good question. I don't know the answer. I barely know how to use the microwave. See, I get the idea. It's cheaper. Robots don't need health insurance, they don't take vacation, they don't complain when someone microwaves fish in the break room. But... what happens when the robots need help? You gonna call a robot doctor? I donāt know if I trust a robot doctor. Probably diagnose me with having too manyā¦ ones and zeros. It's just... a lot to think about. And I was trying to decide what to have for dinner. I don't even know what kind of robot would make a good dinner. Probably not fish. They might hold a grudge.
2025-12-02 05:06
Alright, so I saw this thingā¦ itās about dating, right? Which, Iām married, thank goodness. I couldnāt do that dating world. Itās too much. But people are using, like, this computer thingā¦ ChatGPT? Sounds like a tea, or maybe a new workout. Anyway, they're using this ChatGPT to, like, flirt for them. They type in what they want to say, and the computer makes it sound all smooth. I donāt get it. I mean, wouldn't you want to flirt yourself? I always thought flirting was, you know, you just say something you think is nice, and then hope they don't run away. It's worked out pretty well so far. I guess some dating apps are even encouraging this ChatGPT thing. Which isā¦ weird. Are we getting too lazy to even be ourselves now? I mean, Iām already pretty lazy. Iād use a robot to do my laundry, but my wife says thatās "unacceptable." Imagine going on a date, thinking this person is really into you, then finding out it's just a computer program. Itād be like ordering a steak and finding out itās made out ofā¦ I donāt knowā¦ cauliflower. Youād be disappointed. Not that I dislike cauliflower. I'm just saying...you wanted a steak. And what happens when the computer starts flirting *with itself*? Do they get married? Do they have little robot babies? Iām just asking the important questions here, folks. I'm not sure who's getting catfished more-the person being chatted to, or the guy who can't manage to write something nice himself. I tell you... dating is weird. I like being married.
2025-12-02 05:06
Okay, so I heard about this thing in... Europe. See, that's already confusing. Europe is a place, right? Like a whole bunch of places together. And they're thinking about, like, banning kids under 16 from being on social media. Social media. I still don't really get it. It's like, everyone's talking, but nobody's really saying anything, you know? It's a bunch of pictures of food that I can't eat, and people doing things that I'm too tired to do. So, these... uh... Euro-dudes... I don't know what they're called, but they make decisions over there, theyāre saying, "No social media for the young folk!" 16! That's like, almost an adult. Almost. I mean, I was still figuring out what socks to wear at 16. Pretty sure I wore sandals with socks for a good part of that year. Fashion crime. And video platforms, too! Like, I understand the concern. My daughter watches videos of other kids opening toys. Just opening them! I donāt know why. I watch her watch them. We're all wasting our lives, together, as a family. Itās beautiful. But the weirdest thing they said was that they want to ban āAI companions.ā Now, I had to look that one up. An AI companion? So, like, a robot friend? That talks to you? Weāre just making friends now? I didn't even know that was a thing. Honestly, it sounds pretty lonely. Like, if you need a robot to be your friend, maybe we should just buy you a dog. Or maybe a Roomba that insults your cleaning choices. The whole thing is just... weird. And they're banning all of this for kids under 16. That's a lot of stuff. I barely know what any of it is. I'm gonna go home and stare at a wall. I think I can handle that.
2025-12-02 05:06
You know, I was looking at the podcast charts the other day, and I saw these two shows, "Burger Ring" and "10,000 Steps". Now, I'm not exactly sure what's going on with those names, but I guess that's what happens when you let folks who are really into walking and burgers make podcasts. (pauses) So, these guys, they're pretty popular, but here's the thing: they're also saying some stuff that's not exactly... nice. I mean, we're talking racist jokes, misogynistic comments, homophobia ā the whole works. And I'm just sitting here thinking, "How do you get away with that?" I mean, I struggle to get away with making fun of my own socks, and these guys are out here... (chuckles) I don't know, maybe I'm just not cut out for this whole "influencer" thing. I mean, I've got like 12 followers on social media, and I'm pretty sure 10 of them are just my family members feeling sorry for me. (laughs) But these guys, they've got a whole following, and they're using it to... well, I'm not really sure what they're trying to accomplish, but I'm pretty sure it's not making the world a better place. It's just weird to me, you know? I was listening to one of their episodes, and I'm thinking, "Okay, this is gonna be a trainwreck." And then they start talking, and it's like... (pauses, searching for words) ...have you ever heard someone try to be funny, but they're just not? It's like watching a kid try to ride a bike for the first time ā you're just waiting for them to fall off. (laughs) Anyway, that's "Burger Ring" and "10,000 Steps" for you. I guess if you're into that sort of thing, you might enjoy it. But for me, I'll just stick to my own podcast ā the one where I talk to myself in the mirror for an hour. (laughs) Now that's entertainment.
2025-12-02 05:06
Alright, so I was reading this thingā¦ not sure where, probably my wife read it and then told me about it. It was aboutā¦sales. You know, when stores put things on sale? I like sales. I mean, who doesn't like a good deal? It makes you feel like you're winning at something, even if you didn't need it in the first place. But apparentlyā¦ and this is where I get confusedā¦ apparently, some stores, they might beā¦ fudging the numbers a little bit. See, they put a price on something, then they cross it out, and then they put the new, lower price. That's the sale, right? Makes sense. But, get this, sometimes... the crossed-out price? It wasn't even the real price before! Like, they just made it up! It's like they're saying, "This used to cost a million dollars, but today, for you, just five hundred!" And you're thinking, "Man, that's a steal!" But then you realize, no one has ever sold that thing for a million dollars. I don't know how they get away with that. I mean, isn't that lying? Or maybe itāsā¦ creative pricing? I donāt know, I'm not a businessman. I just tell jokes. And half the time, I don't even understand those. So the thing is, you have to be careful. You gotta do your research. Which, for me, means asking my wife. "Honey, is this a good deal?" She's usually right. Mostly because I don't argue with her. But the point is, don't just believe the crossed-out price. Maybe check online, see what other stores are charging. Itās work, I know. You gotta actually think. But hey, maybe you'll save a few bucks. And then you can buy something else you don't need! It's a vicious cycle, really. Sales are dangerous. I'm telling you. I almost bought a unicycle the other day. For a great price!
2025-12-02 05:06
Okay, so I read this thingā¦ and I'm still trying to figure it out. It's about schools, right? And phones. You know, these things we're all attached to, like leeches butā¦ smaller. So, apparently, some schools did this experiment. They took the phones away. Like, completely. They called it a "digital pause." Which soundsā¦ peaceful. Like you're at a spa, but instead of a massage, you're just staring at a wall. With no phone. I don't know if I could handle that kind of relaxation. And it was just a hundred schools at first, which, you know, isn't a lot. Like trying to teach a hundred raccoons to do your taxes. You're making an effort, but you're probably not going to get far. But now they're doing it everywhere! All the middle schools, they're taking the phones. Which, I get it. Middle school. That's tough enough without TikTok. I remember middle school... I wasn't allowed to have a phone anyway. I barely had permission to leave the house. And the President ā whoever that is ā he wants to do it at the high schools too. The high schools! These are almost adults. You gonna take their phones? That sounds like a good way to start a riot. I mean, you could just tell them not to use it, but who listens? I get told what to do all the time, but rarely do what I'm told to do. So, yeah. No phones in schools. Apparently, that's the answer. I don't know what the question was, but the answer is no phones. I guess kids are going to have to actually talk to each other now. That'll beā¦ something. Maybe they'll start writing notes again. Remember notes? Folding them all fancy? Now that was a skill. I could never get the folding right. Always looked like a crumpled napkin. But still, it was something that kept me busy. Maybe that's the pause they should bring back; folding notes... I'm just saying, it's an idea. Maybe not a good one. I donāt make the rulesā¦ I just comment on them... slowly... in a slightly confused manner.
2025-12-02 05:05
Alright, so, I heard about this thing, right? It's about finding a house. Now, usually, finding a house, that's a process. You gotta get a realtor, and I don't know about you, but realtors... they have a lot of energy. A *lot* of energy. I respect it, I do. I just don't... *understand* it. But anyway, people are trying something new now. Instead of going to websites filled with pictures that are *definitely* taken with a wide-angle lens because my living room is never going to look that big, they're talking to... chatbots. Yeah, like the things online that try to help you with a problem, but usually just end up saying, "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" Which, you know, is good advice sometimes, but not always for *finding* a house. Like, I can't just turn off and on a leaking roof. That's not gonna fix it. So, the idea is, you tell this computer program what you want, like "three bedrooms, maybe a yard for the kids to... I don't know, run around and get tired," which they *never* do, by the way. "And a garage, because I still haven't figured out how to park a car properly after all these years." And the computer goes out there and finds one for you. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I mean, it sounds easy, but part of me thinks the computer is going to get confused. I can barely explain what I want in a house, let alone a computer that can't *see* the disappointment in my face when I see the wallpaper in the dining room. I don't know. I just feel like a chatbot might send me to a house where the fridge doesnāt work. It may be *exactly* what I was looking for, in theory, but it wonāt work. I'm gonna stick with looking at open houses where they offer cheese and crackers. I understand cheese and crackers. I get that. I can handle that. Chatbotsā¦ I don't know. They're a little too futuristic for a guy who still uses a paper map sometimes. Itās simpler for me.
2025-12-02 05:05
You know, I was reading about this thing the other day, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. So, apparently, there's this group of investors, and they're throwing around some serious cash - we're talking 55 billion dollars. That's like me trying to buy a new video game, but instead of just one game, I'm buying the whole company that makes the games. (pauses) I mean, I've had some big purchases in my life, like that one time I bought a couch, but this is on a whole different level. So, this group, which includes the Saudi Public Investment Fund, is looking to buy EA Games, which is one of the biggest video game publishers out there. And I'm thinking, "Why are they doing this?" I mean, I know the Saudis have a lot of money, but what's the plan here? Are they just trying to corner the market on virtual football games or something? (chuckles) I guess it's like when I try to invest in things, but instead of buying stocks or real estate, I just end up buying more video games. I'm like, "Yeah, this will be a great investment... for my free time." (laughs) But seriously, it's interesting to think about why they're investing so heavily in the video game industry. Maybe they're just trying to diversify their portfolio, you know, like when I try to diversify my snack cabinet by buying both chips and popcorn. (smirks) I listened to this podcast with Pierre TrouvƩ, a journalist from "Le Monde", and he was explaining the whole thing. And I'm thinking, "Okay, this makes sense, I guess." But then I started thinking, "Wait, what if they start making all the characters in the games wear traditional Saudi clothing?" (laughs) I mean, it's not like that's going to happen, but you never know, right? Anyway, it's just weird to think about a country investing in video games like it's a normal thing. But hey, if it means we get more good games out of it, I'm all for it. Although, if they start making games that are just about oil production, I might have to pass. (laughs) Unless, of course, they make it a really fun game, like a simulation or something. Then I'm in. (smirks)
2025-12-02 05:05