GeekNights Mondays: Science Technology Computing

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the longevity of technology. From computers to bikes, proper maintenance can greatly extend the life the right tool, though some more easily than others. We've talked about computer maintenance specifically before in 2006 and then in 2020.

In the news, Apple may be working on a 32-core processor, Pornhub runs into trouble with its payment processing, the Arecibo Telescope is sadly no more, and the devil cars sell their self-driving unit. Also don't forget to check out the Advent of Code this year! Scott's doing it!

Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Technology Longevity

Things of the Day

• Rym - How I Made a Self-Quoting Tweet
• Scott - jump onto raw eggs

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider displays. LCDs, OLEDs, "Smart" TVs, and the current state of the art. We haven't talked about this since 2006, and a lot has changed in 14 years!

In the news, we've migrated our 2-Factor Auth to NFC Yubikeys, Comcast is enforcing data caps nationally, the Apple M1 is revolutionary, Fleets are here I guess, and the GIMP is 25 years old and not much better than it was 20 years ago.

Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Displays

Things of the Day

• Rym - How the Turbines in the Kölnbrein Dam are 92% Efficient
• Scott - Ocean Photographer of the Year 2020

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the ever-present Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Originating in the era of the World Wide Web as envisioned by Ted Nelson and Tim Berners-Lee, it is surprisingly simple. In the news, Slingbox is discontinued, and there is a better way to multiply.Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Things of the Day

• Rym - My Job is to Open and Close Doors
• Scott - 【TVPP】Lee Jung Hyun (AVA) - Crazy, 이정현 - 미쳐

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the usage, potential, and ethical concerns of Facial Recognition Technology. Police are abusing it, but activists are (rightly) using it right back on them. In the news, there's water on the moon, the RIAA attacks open source software, and you absolutely have to vote for Joe Biden if you are eligible to vote in the American election.Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Facial Recognition Technology

Things of the Day

• Rym - Surface of a Comet
• Scott - Dylan Johnson

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider when devices get bricked. In the news, someone temporarily bricked their Ferrari, Spotify is working the hold your customers' data hostage angle, and SpaceX is developing military transport rockets.Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Bricked Devices

Things of the Day

• Rym - Gates Wildlife Control
• Scott - Skeleton Prank

Tonight on GeekNights, we discuss what really happens with source code leaks. In the news, troubleshooting audio can be moderately complex, you'll die without the new Apple watch, we were correct that Firefox Send is gone forever, there are problems with the 3080s, you should learn what a "founder's edition" of a video card actually is, and IFTTT goes pro.Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Source Code Leaks

Things of the Day

• Rym - Wired Sound for Wired People (warning: flashing lights)
• Scott - I wrote Task Manager and I just remembered something...

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the humble software update, from both a developer/publisher standpoint and a user/client standpoint. In the news, Nvidia buys Arm Holdings in a move that will shake up the global computing ecosystem, the American date format is terrible, and Mozilla suspended Firefox Send over malware concerns (but claims it will return one day).Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Software Updates

Things of the Day

• Rym - Morena - Witch Bunny
• Scott - Jared Mauch - Getting Fiber To My Town

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider biometrics. Biometrics bring great power, as well as great danger, and aren't just for authentication credentials.

In the War of the Apple Store news, Apple backs down against Wordpress after a "misunderstanding," Facebook isn't allowed to tell people that Apple takes a cut, and no one can download Fortnite or Infinity Blade on an Apple device. In the non-Apple news, a clever Chromium feature to detect evil DNS servers had unforeseen consequences, and don't let a late capitalist megacorporation install hardware in your brain.

Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Biometrics

Things of the Day

• Rym - The Case of the Top Secret iPod
• Scott - Lord of the Manor

Tonight on GeekNights, we revisit a topic we covered once in 2007 to update it for current times: removable media. USB sticks and such. Rym spent some $20 for a 2GB USB stick in 2007. Times have changed. In the news, Epic Games has kicked off a massive legal battle with Apple and Google, as things continue to escalate.Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Removable Media in 2020

Things of the Day

• Rym - Only in New York #16
• Scott - Pure Skill Minesweeper

Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the (largely unwise) idea of bug bounties, as well as the questions and concerns around responsible disclosure of bugs and exploits in software and services. We did talk about this once back in 2009, but times have changed.

In the news, Twitter was hacked for a bitcoin scam, Deep Fakes are getting dangerous quickly, and there are a lot of reasons you should avoid using TikTok.

Related LinksForum Thread

• GeekNights Monday - Bug Bounties and Responsible Disclosure

Things of the Day

• Rym - In the event of a moon disaster
• Scott - SOUL IN THE HORN