W
Been getting very regular requests for new member registrations. Used to be they were pretty rare but recently they are more regular, probably averaging five or six a week. About a month ago there were 50 or more that came in within a couple of hours. I was like WTF? 
Anyway, hopefully I haven't deep sixed any real new members, or old members returning under weird aliases!
Woke up around midnight to the sound of a sewer cover clanking out in front of our house. I thought it might be kids pulling a stupid prank so I looked out the window to see what was going on. No kids, just a village public works truck and a bunch of guys walking around. Oh, and a huge lake in the street a couple of houses over from us. Water main break.
We didn't get much sleep because of the noise. Generator running the water pump they use to empty the water so they can do the repair, plus trucks to take away what they dug up and trucks to bring fill and cold patch. Between the ongoing water main replacement project and this repair of the old main, our street looks a bit like a war zone.
Good news is the water was back on in time to make coffee this morning! 
Living in a community where repairs are done promptly is definitely a wonderful thing...
They became best friends - then discovered they were brother and sister
I've done refurbished iPads from Apple and they were great. Maybe not as big a savings as buying from another service selling used, but it's like getting a new device.
High-quality materials and components in a refurbished iPhone reduce its impact on the environment. All refurbished iPhone models come with a new battery, a new outer shell, a one-year limited warranty, and free delivery and returns.
This also includes:
Full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if needed), and a thorough cleaning
The original operating system or a more recent version footnote *
All accessories and cables repackaged in a brand‑new box
Interesting piece in the New Yorker.
How Biden Enabled Israel’s Aggression Toward Gaza—and Iran
Top officials from the previous Administration now express regret over their failure to rein in Netanyahu.
I see even Speed Queen is going to electronic controls on some models, but they still have some with mechanical dials. Like this one:
https://www.abt.com/Speed-Queen-Top-Load-Washer-3.2-Cu.-Ft.-in-White-AWN632SP116TW02/p/158384.html
Avoid Samsung washers (and their other large appliances), too. Have heard many complaints about their washers, refrigerators, and ranges. Customer service is horrible if you have a warranty problem; some repair shops won't touch Samsung work because of it.
When our Samsung washer dies I'll probably look at Speed Queen or one of the other old fashioned basic units that doesn't have a zillion cycles but that runs forever with no fuss.
Wow, what a beautiful house. And equally lovely grounds. They did a great job of figuring out how to furnish a round-ish house! Always a challenge.
If you own an LG smart TV, there’s a chance one of your harmless-looking apps has been moonlighting as an internet relay for someone else’s traffic. According to a report from KrebsOnSecurity, LG says it’s finally stepping in to stop this menace. This week, the company confirmed it plans to suspend any webOS app that turns a TV into what’s called a residential proxy node.
The move follows a report from security firm Spur, which found that more than 42 percent of apps on LG’s webOS store include SDKs that quietly reroute internet traffic through your TV, indefinitely. Samsung isn’t spared either, with over a quarter of Tizen apps carrying similar code.
Article explains what a residential proxy node is…
AI bet goes awry: Oracle fires 21,000 employees
Oracle laid off ~13% of its staff to fund a $300B computing deal with OpenAI. Now, a credit downgrade and $7B in required power grid guarantees put the massive project in jeopardy.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-903442
On, Wisconsin!
Riot Fest announced this week that the 95-year-old performer will debut his heavy metal band at the fest on Sunday, Sept. 20.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/17/check-out-william-shatners-unhinged-riot-fest-rider/
