Computer News

Weekend? I dunno, my weekend seems just like the rest of my week anymore.
Watched lately:
Community on Hulu
Stephen King’s The Stand again
Tried to watch The Pillars of the Earth but lost interest despite a great cast.

Chrome & Firefox Updated
Chrome = bugfixes
Firefox = “Security fixes”

Off topic:

Adam Schlesinger, Fountains of Wayne co-founder, dead at 52 from Covid-19
“Adam Schlesinger, the co-founder of pop-rock band Fountains of Wayne and an Oscar-nominated songwriter, has died from complications related to coronavirus. He was 52.”
I was driving home and heard the news on NPR. I didn’t know anything about him except he wrote the title song for the movie That Thing You Do. I loved that movie (it didn’t hurt that Liv Tyler was at her most adorable). I love that song.
MP3 audio:

Microsoft PowerToys 0.16
“FancyZone improvements, New Utilities! Fixed over 100 issues!”
The Image Resizer tool looks cool.
Download & Info

Off Topic:

Updated “About Me” Pages
My DVD Collection
My CD Collection
My Digital Music Collection

Tucker Carlson: We understand there’s a shortage of medical masks. Stop lying to us and tell the truth
“So look, we understand there’s a shortage of masks. We understand only certain people should get them because it’s a triage moment. We get it. But stop lying to us. It makes us cynical. It divides the country. Tell the truth. We can handle it.”

RIP Joe Diffie
“Fix me up with a mannequin just remember I like blondes”
“Is it cold in here, Or is it just you”
Fantastic country artist. His hits are like a walk through the 90’s for me.
Joe Diffie made you turn up the volume
If you want his greatest hits get this one: Joe Diffie – 16 Biggest Hits. There is a newer one but they are rerecorded stuff.
Joe Diffie Wiki | Discography
So here’s to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in.

My State Governor has issued a “Stay At Home ” order because too many twat-waffles either cannot understand the concept of social distancing or they don’t care about anyone but themselves.

Had a nice bike ride yesterday on the Virginia Capital Trail. Folks were out and about and staying the appropriate distances. Bathrooms along the way were closed as they should be. A couple of pics at the bottom of this article.

EMDB 3.56
Freeware movie database software. 2 updates this month
Download

MP3tag 3.01
Fixes, support for .webm
Download

Bosses Panic-Buy Spy Software to Keep Tabs on Remote Workers
“We’re watching you, it told Axos Financial Inc. employees working from home. We’re capturing your keystrokes. We’re logging the websites you visit. Every 10 minutes or so, we’re taking a screen shot.
So get to work — or face the consequences…
Employers so worried about workers’ every moves might have a bigger issue to deal with, said Sutton of software maker Teramind.
“It’s not about spying on the user,” Sutton said. “If you hired them, you should trust them. If you don’t, they have no reason to be part of the organization.””

Alcohol will not help with managing stress of self isolation, World Health Organization warns
I have Buffalo Trace and Makers Mark bourbons on my kitchen counter right now. I have in the fridge right now a 1/2 dozen high octane stouts and 5 times that many in my hutch.
WHO can go f*** itself. Perhaps if it was made in China they would be OK with it.

Pics From My Ride
Spotted a Bad Eagle (sorry for the bad quality). I’ve seen lots of animals on the trail. Almost hit a deer when I came around a corner once. He just stared at me like I had lost my mind and strutted away.

Chickahominy Riverfront Park Bridge, a rare selfie

Day 10 of quarantine, still haven’t done taxes…

Intel Graphics Drivers
Version: 15.33.50.5129, “Security Fixes”, Windows 7-10
Download | Release Notes
Intel Win10 DCH Drivers
Version: 26.20.100.7985, Intel 6th generation (Skylake) and up.
Support for 1/2 a dozen games, fixes
Download | Release Notes

Intel Wi-Fi Drivers
Windows 10 | Windows 8.1 | Windows 7
***IMPORTANT:
“Intel Wireless 21.40.5 driver has been updated to include functional and security updates for the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. No further Wireless driver updates are planned for these operating systems. Users should update to the latest version.”

Intel Bluetooth Drivers
Version: 21.80.0, Win10 only
Download & Info
“Intel Wireless Bluetooth 21.80.0 driver has been updated to include functional and security updates. Users should update to the latest version.”

The Go-Go’s
I was just listening to the album Beauty and the Beat yesterday (yes I have the original vinyl). Absolutely magnificent. I like the non-hits better than the hits.
The fact that this band isn’t in the R&R HOF is just another example of what a joke that place is.
They were supposed to be on tour this summer. So many bands I love never come near here.
There is supposed to be a documentary out or coming out or something. I can’t find it. Promo Video
Home Page | Wikipedia | Discography
My Favs:

Macrium Reflect 7.2.4808
Two versions released in the last week.
Download (Just click Continue on the pop-up. No need to fill it out.) | Release Notes

Cleanmgr+ 1.32.1000
Added support for high DPI Scaling (e.g. displays with 4k resolution and scaling up to 200%)
Fixed critical bug in cleanup of WinSxS folder on x64-bit environments #5
Optimized cleanup of Thumbnails (there is no need anymore to restart explorer.exe)
Minor stability Improvements, Minor UI Improvements, Minor bug fixes
Download & Info

Amazon soliciting public donations to pay workers’ sick leave (click “let me read it first”.)
“Isn’t it a bit unseemly for Amazon, a company owned by the richest person in the world, to be soliciting donations to pay for workers’ sick leave? Why isn’t Amazon just paying people who contracted COVID-19 while doing essential work for Amazon?”

CBS All Access is offering a free one-month trial, just in time to binge Star Trek: Picard
To take advantage of the deal, sign up for CBS All Access using the code GIFT anytime before April 23rd. As part of that process, you’ll need to create an account and give CBS a credit card to charge when the month is up; the monthly payment will automatically renew once the free trial is up.
CBS also allows you to cancel the plan immediately and still use the entire month — so you can sign up, cancel the plan immediately, and still enjoy the full free month without having to worry about remembering to cancel at the end of the trial.
To do that, head over to the CBS All Access account page, scroll down to the “Subscription” line of the “Subscription & Billing” section, and hit “Cancel Subscription.” Your account will still work for the remainder of the 30-day trial, and it will shut down at the end (unless, of course, you enjoy the content so much that you decide to pay for another month, which is likely the whole point).

Win10 1903 & 1909 Updated
These are the “Addresses an issue” updates that came out for prior builds last week.
March 24, 2020—KB4541335 (OS Builds 18362.752 and 18363.752)

CCleaner 5.65
If you’re a Internet Explorer or Edge Chromium then go ahead and update. Then, please explain why you are using that garbage. Everyone else can skip this release.
Download (I use portable) | Release Info
See also: Blocking A Programs Internet Access Via The Windows Firewall

O&O ShutUp10 Updated
1.8.1409 – released March 24, 2020
NEW: Combination of multiple settings in a single setting (yeah, I don’t know what that means either.)
Download & Info | Changelog

Nvidia Geforce Game Ready WHQL Drivers 445.75
Game Ready for Half-Life: Alyx
The new Game Ready Driver provides the latest performance optimizations, profiles, and bug fixes for Half-Life: Alyx. In addition, this release also provides optimal support for Resident Evil 3, Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s Ghost Experience update, and the addition of NVIDIA DLSS 2.0 to Control and MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries.
Download | Release Notes

Tor Browser 9.0.7
All Platforms:
Bump NoScript to 11.0.19
Bug 33613: Disable Javascript on Safest security level
Windows, OS X, Linux:
Bump Tor to 0.4.2.7
Download | Release Info

Off Topic

Virginia Closed
My state has basically been shut down.
“This order goes into effect at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and will remain in place until 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 23, 2020…All gatherings of more than 10 people are banned statewide, beginning at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020…All schools will remain closed through the end of this academic year.
– – –
*note – Most of these are already closed.

The following recreation and entertainment businesses are considered non-essential and must close to the public beginning at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020:
Theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, and other indoor entertainment centers;
Fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities;
Beauty salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors, tanning salons, tattoo shops, and any other location where personal care or personal grooming services are performed that would not allow compliance with social distancing guidelines to remain six feet apart;
Racetracks and historic horse racing facilities;
Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs, and all other places of indoor public amusement.
– – –
All dining and congregation areas in the following establishments must close to the public beginning at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. These establishments may continue to offer delivery and/or takeout services. Establishments include:
Restaurants;
Dining establishments;
Food courts;
Farmers markets;
Breweries;
Microbreweries;
Distilleries;
Wineries; and
Tasting rooms.
– – –
The following retail businesses are considered essential and may remain open during normal business hours:
Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers that sell food and beverage products or pharmacy products, including dollar stores, and department stores with grocery or pharmacy operations;
Medical, laboratory, and vision supply retailers;
Electronic retailers that sell or service cell phones, computers, tablets, and other communications technology;
Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers as well as automotive repair facilities;
Home improvement, hardware, building material, and building supply retailers;
Lawn and garden equipment retailers;
Beer, wine, and liquor stores;
Retail functions of gas stations and convenience stores;
Retail located within healthcare facilities;
Banks and other financial institutions with retail functions;
Pet stores and feed stores;
Printing and office supply stores; and
Laundromats and dry cleaners.
– – –
Businesses in violation of this order may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Code of Virginia – § 18.2-11. Punishment for conviction of misdemeanor
The authorized punishments for conviction of a misdemeanor are:
(a) For Class 1 misdemeanors, confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both.

Win10 Updated
Versions 1809 and below have been updated.
“This non-security update includes quality improvements. Key changes include:” a bunch of “Addresses an issue” stuff.
March 17, 2020—KB4541331 (OS Build 17763.1131)

Google Chrome Updated
“This update includes 13 security fixes.”
Download | Release Info
Chrome for Android updated too, update via the play store

Samsung SSD Magician 6.1.0
Will appear here when download restrictions removed.
The only change from the previous versions:
“Changed the character(O →√, X→“”)in Supported Features by model”
I’m skipping it.

Adobe Reader Updated
Security Updates. Lots of Adobe products patched.

Cleanmgr+ Updated
This is a disk cleanup tool. I had previously not been discussing this program because I didn’t like the name. Cleanmgr.exe is Windows Disk Cleanup and it sounded to me like they were pimping Cleanmgr+ as a Disk Cleanup enhancement which it is not. Still, it’s a good program and I’ve been using it for several months. Recommended.
Download & Info

VMware Workstation 15.5.2
“bug fixes and security updates”
Be sure to update tools too.
Download | Release Notes

Tor Browser 9.0.6
Browse Privately. Explore Freely. Defend yourself against tracking and surveillance. Circumvent censorship.
“This release features important security updates to Firefox. This release updates Firefox to 68.6.0esr and NoScript to 11.0.15.”
Download | Release Info

Tails 4.4
Tails is a live operating system that you can start on almost any computer from a USB stick or a DVD. It aims at preserving your privacy and anonymity.
“This release fixes many security vulnerabilities. You should upgrade as soon as possible.”
Download | Release Info

Clonezilla Updated
Free partition and disk imaging/cloning program.
Download | Release Info

Off topic:

OZZY OSBOURNE’s Son JACK Blasts People For Toilet Paper Hoarding: ‘Chronic S**tting Isn’t A Symptom Of Corona’

Meat department this morning at Wegmans Food Market in Short Pump, Virginia.

Win10 Updated
Out of band update today, “Updates a Microsoft Server Message Block 3.1.1 protocol issue that provides shared access to files and printers.”

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Google: You know we said that Chrome tracker contained no personally identifiable info? Forget we ever said that
“Google has stopped claiming that an identifier it uses internally to track experimental features and variations in its Chrome browser contains no personally identifiable information.”

WTF?
What’s wrong with people? I made my weekly run to the store. “Really busy for a Thursday”, I thought as I drove up. I grab a few things to make chili and head over to get paper towels and toilet paper…
I…
Uh…
What the F***???
The aisle is almost empty, there is no toilet paper. A lady, seeing the stunned expression on my face says,”Yep, I went to Costco and you can’t even park there.”
Seriously, hoarding toilet paper? To everyone that did this, YOU SUCK.

Goodbye Old Friend
A computer I built in 2008 finally bit the dust. It was my main rig for about 6 years. Twin Raptor 150’s, oof! Those were the days…

GREYHOUND – Official Trailer (HD)
Definitely gonna see this in the theater…if they’re still open.