The grift never ends.

Trump Guitars.

kingdragonfly: Calling this Microsoft computer a computer is a bit of a stretch. But at least no one will steal it.

Microsoft’s New Computer Stinks

When I saw it announced my immediate reaction was that I couldn't imagine what the target market for this turkey was.  It costs more than an actual real computer with better specs in the same form factor, so the selling point is ... people who have lost a bet?  The editor of This Year's Dumbest Ideas in Tech article in PC Magazine or whatever one does that?

Edited to add: Just the first Google hit since I'm lazy, Beelink mini PC with 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD for USD 159, less than half the price of Microsoft's turkey.  It actually looks sufficiently close to some of Beelink's other devices that they may have OEM'd it for MS.

Windows 365 Link - not a consumer market device

The specs are boring old hat downright inadequate for many consumers.

-Dual 4K monitor support

-three USB-A 3.2 ports

-one USB-C 3.2 port

-one HDMI port

-one DisplayPort

-3.5mm headphone jack

-ethernet port

-Kensington lock port

-Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi.

Lightweight management savings and out of the box integration with all the Microsoft endpoint management is the selling point for enterprises.

Nice publicity shot - mouse, keyboard, monitors, camera, not included.

they don't sell ether-powered wireless monitors and cameras yet ;  )

freitasm:

 

It's a terminal (er, "thin client").

 

It doesn't stink. It runs a remote desktop. That's all.

 

At that price it is terrible value tho.

I just went to Caltex for the first time in a while, and scanned my Airpoints card for the fuel discount.

Person A: "Sorry, we don't take Fly Buys any more, only Airpoints."

Me: "It is Airpoints."

Person A: (blank look)

Me: (shows him the card with its Airpoints logo)

Person A: "Oh, try it again."

Me: (scans it again)

Person A: "It's not working"

(At this point the guy from the next till looks over)

Person B: "We don't take Fly Buys any more."

I'll spare you the rest of it, but it transpires that when they removed Fly Buys, they also managed to break support for some types of Airpoints cards. I happened to have a second card (linked to the same account) and that one worked. But the first card has always worked in the past.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360495281/ridiculous-santas-elves-told-wear-seatbelt-floats-christchurch-parade

floydbloke:

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360495281/ridiculous-santas-elves-told-wear-seatbelt-floats-christchurch-parade

 

 

 

I guess we'll be needing seat belts on push bikes next. 

Where does this stupidity end? I'll bet there's been far more injuries from getting on and getting off the floats than have occurred while they were moving. Seat belts and safety bars won't stop that. 

Time for a bit more critical thinking instead of knee jerk reactions. 

Technofreak:

 

floydbloke:

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360495281/ridiculous-santas-elves-told-wear-seatbelt-floats-christchurch-parade

 

 

 

 

I guess we'll be needing seat belts on push bikes next. 

 

 

 

Where does this stupidity end? I'll bet there's been far more injuries from getting on and getting off the floats than have occurred while they were moving. Seat belts and safety bars won't stop that. 

 

 

 

Time for a bit more critical thinking instead of knee jerk reactions. 

 

It's elf and safety gone mad.

I'll see myself out ...

It isn't a big deal. As the article states:

"Auckland’s Farmers Santa Parade event director Pam Glaser said safety barriers and belts had been used on floats for many years. “We have a huge responsibility to keep spectators and participants safe and lots of measures are put in to do that. Accidents still happen but our record is really good.”

How is this handled in other cities and countries? New Zealand does seem excessively obsessed with risk mitigation whether warranted or not. Infants, sure, but anyone else ought to be able to handle a float collision at 0.5 km/h!

Hard to believe what's happening in my town right now, but then it is our second set of traffic lights ever.

The upper set was added today, but it's giving out different signals to the one below, both are for the same traffic.

Bung: If it's that small a place you should have no trouble reaching someone to urgently fix or turn off the recently added lights.

I can't edit my post.

Those upper lights aren't new today after all. They are for the traffic coming downhill from left to right.

Someone has hit the lights (apparently in something very tall) and knocked them round 90 degrees.

I've never come through that intersection from that direction so I've never noticed them before.

There was a chap with a ladder there when I left.