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I have a question for other users of VOIP. Over the last couple of years, we've encountered several businesses/services that will not approve us or accept our orders because we use VOIP for our phone system. We've used it for ten years, but this problem has only shown up in the last 2 years. (We don't do any business at all on our cell phones; in our situation, they are mainly for emergencies. But some places don't accept those numbers either, because they are TracFones, and not some major telecom provider.) Has anyone else encountered this? Our phones work fine...

Working from home remains an overwhelmingly popular option for people across the world, with new research finding the vast majority (83%) saying they felt more productive in hybrid/remote settings rather than in-office or on site.A survey from Zoom focusing on knowledge workers seemingly confirmed many companies back the trend of post-Covid remote working to continue, with 50% of leaders saying they have introduced more flexible working styles over the last two years, and 82% plan to carry this on into the future.And despite the distance, hybrid workers even report that they are feeling more connected to their teams and managers,...

Well, out in the holler, 'neath the southern sun, Was a boy named Harry, he’s a special one. Born to the Potters, but they done got zapped, Now he's livin’ in a trailer with the Dursley pack. Aunt Petunia’s his cousin, Uncle Vernon's his bro, And that Dudley boy, well, he's his kin, y'all know. He’s a wand-wavin', spell-castin', good ol' boy, Ridin' broomsticks, ain't no toy. Down in the holler, magic runs free, But you best not mess with that ol' Snape creep. Y’all know Harry, he's a redneck wizard, Got that southern drawl, but he ain’t no quitter....

“Kamala Harris will memorize and repeat anything to get re-elected. But when we look at her record, the truth becomes clear: Harris’ record of war and tyranny vs. Trump’s record of peace and freedom.” (Tulsi’s post this afternoon) Link to her Tulsi’s X account, for the post: https://x.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1829101234948846073?

Near term major advances in artificial Intelligence

Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut is set to host a course this upcoming fall semester that will ask students to focus on 'Queer Science.' The course will use 'scholarly' and 'political interventions' as methods to introduce to students how each has 'attempted to short-circuit the idea that sex is stable and knowable by science.' Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut is set to host a course this upcoming fall semester that will ask students to focus on “Queer Science.” Students who enroll in the course are offered introductory questions to gauge their interest in the topic, including questions like:...

Here is one for our FR computer gurus: Why are PCIe expansion cards with a DisplayPort capable USB-C port (DP alternate mode) hard to find for desktop PC's? Many laptops, like my Dell Latitude 5490, have a DisplayPort capable USB-C port. Yet it seems most desktops of roughly the same vintage, such as my Dell Precision 3430 (and many a newer desktop too), do not have a DisplayPort capable USB-C port. (My 3430 has a high speed USB-C port, but it is not DP capable.) Why the omission on the desktops?

Clark G the Dog, better known as the talking dog from YouTube‘s famously viral “Ultimate Dog Tease” video, has passed away over a decade after becoming an internet sensation. The video, which currently has over 210 million views on the Talking Animals channel, was one of YouTube’s original viral hits. In the video, Clark G the dog, is dubbed with a comedic human voice to make it appear as if he is talking to his owner, with the joke being that he is jealous that his owner got to eat some tasty food. You can watch the original video below:...

Before she left Congress last winter, the former Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard introduced two bills: one restricting abortion; the other, banning trans women from participating in women’s sports. The bills, which had no chance of passing, nevertheless sent a message: the onetime darling of the Bernie Sanders appeared to leave Congress intent on cultivating a right-wing following. Now her move to the right is just about complete. Gabbard, appearing on Fox News channel’s Hannity in November 2021, declared that the Democratic Party’s social-spending bill, known as Build Back Better, was part of a deeper problem. The government was “too powerful...

FBI : New symbols guide leaked which indicated that terms such as “Molon Labae”, “Prepping”, and “Second Amendment (2A) can be sign of 'militia violent extremists(MVE) according to the document and the Ammoland article. "Lawyer Stephan Stamboulieh on X (formerly Twitter) released more documents from the FBI’s symbol guide. This list seems to be an updated list of those previously released to the public. At the same time AmmoLand News received the same print outs.”

Microsoft is known for their signature, “my way or the highway” approach when it comes to their offerings, with the Windows operating system being the most prominent one among those.Many in the FOSS community disagree with that approach, with a strong rejection of such practices, suggesting people go for more open options for their operating systems and applications, and I agree with them.Unfortunately, that same approach has now affected many Linux distribution users, who were sent scampering searching for a fix to a problem caused by a Windows update (who would've expected that?).Microsoft Slips Up: Linux Users Beware!Source: paku1234First spotted...

(Based Underground)—In a strategic move to circumvent U.S. export restrictions, Chinese AI developers are tapping into global computing resources, bypassing the need to import high-end American chips like those from Nvidia directly into China. This workaround involves collaborating with brokers to access computing power abroad, often under the cover of anonymity techniques borrowed from the cryptocurrency sector. The U.S. has imposed stringent export controls on advanced chips, particularly Nvidia’s powerful H100 chips, aiming to curb technological advancements in China that could have military applications. However, the demand for these chips in China remains high, leading to innovative solutions like those...

Since Pavel Durov, the Russian-born billionaire and founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested on landing in Paris on Saturday evening, there has been more speculation than substance about his fate. The headline in a Russian newspaper summed up the story: “The arrest (or detention) of ‘Russia’s Zuckerberg’, Pavel Durov, is one of the most important, but mysterious global news stories,” declared Nezavisimaya Gazeta. True. Except that "mysterious" is a bit of an understatement. Why did French police detain him? What charges will he face? Has it anything at all to do with his recent visit to Azerbaijan, where...

@JudiciaryGOP Mark Zuckerberg just admitted three things: 1. Biden-Harris Admin "pressured" Facebook to censor Americans. 2. Facebook censored Americans. 3. Facebook throttled the Hunter Biden laptop story. Big win for free speech.

The detention of Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, in Paris on Saturday has raised questions about the future of a platform that has come to define the public perception of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion in 2022 helped transform Telegram from a niche communication tool for Russia’s educated classes into a global phenomenon. The app has allowed millions of people to follow battlefield developments in near real time, turned soldiers into the narrators of the conflict unfolding around them and gave both propagandists and dissidents a pulpit in the struggle for the hearts and minds...

I have a question for LINUX users: We ran updates for LINUX last night, and when I turned on the computer this morning, I had no sound. It doesn't seem to be a problem with the speakers, and my Bluetooth ear buds are still getting sound when I listen to various YT sites; but nothing is coming out of the computer/speakers otherwise. Has anyone experienced this? We have Mint, I think it's 21. We have never had an issue like this. Thanks to anyone who has time to respond.

Researchers have introduced the world’s fastest battery-charging technology for smartphones. This new technology can fully charge a smartphone in under five minutes. The 320-watt charging technology, called “320W SuperSonic Charge,” was developed by the Chinese electronics company Realme. This advancement surpasses earlier chargers. Previously, the smartphone company Redmi, a part of Xiaomi, revealed a 300-watt charger in February 2023. It could charge a device in just 4 minutes and 55 seconds. Until now, no other manufacturer had managed to go beyond this speed, as reported by Live Science. Realme representatives showcased the new charging technology at the Realme 828 Fanfest...

Conspiracy theories. What to some is a sign of critical thinking is, to others, a sign of dangerous insubordination. I was taught by my father that a good argument can stand up to criticism and that finding someone who disagreed was a fine way to test your theory. I’ve never been too bothered when folks disagree with me. In fact, I’m eager to know why. I want to learn whether or not I’m missing something. But these days, it seems that I’m in the minority. The “danger” of conspiracy theories The term has long been used in a derogatory fashion...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNGbfxbh-bY Starbucks is Leaving NYC… Over Crime Cash Jordan 1M subscribers 625,495 views Aug 18, 2024 Starbucks just closed a 30 year location that operated in Manhattan NYC since the 90's, and was once the largest of its kind in the city. Store workers blame rent increases which the landlord disputes, but local residents think the store may have had other problems that lead to its closure...

Newly developed battery-powered electric bandages could help wounds heal more quickly, a new study reports. In animal testing, wounds treated with electric bandages healed 30% faster than wounds treated with conventional bandages, researchers reported Aug. 7 in the journal Science Advances. The bandages could be a game-changer in treating slow-healing wounds caused by diabetes and other chronic illnesses, researchers say. Those sorts of wounds significantly increase a person’s risk of amputation and death. “Our goal here was to develop a far less expensive technology that accelerates healing in patients with chronic wounds,” said researcher Amay Bandodkar, an assistant professor of...