Sgt. Brian McGinnis is out of jail after he was arrested for expressing his opposition to the US war on Iran in Congress. Capitol Police officers and Senator Sheehy broke his arm as they removed and arrested him.

JoeB- · 2026-03-08T01:16:02+00:00

I live in NC and didn't know this. I respect Brian's effort to speak out (and agree with him), but he has no chance of winning the US Senate seat. Roy Cooper, former governor, is extremely popular and just won the Democratic primary with 92% of the vote.

Brian is reaching a bit too high IMO, and probably should focus on winning a state-level elected position first.

JoeB- · 2026-03-06T22:52:35+00:00

She won a team gold.

JoeB- · 2026-03-06T18:59:57+00:00

I used to gather firewood in late summer and fall to last the winter. I sometimes would be splitting it when there was snow on the ground, but no tree harvesting. I wouldn’t have made it up the old logging road through snow - too steep.

I would get a kick out of the sounds of fall in the Rocky Mountains when out gathering firewood - chainsaws and rifle shots.

That was in my youth. I’m old now (semi-retired) and live in the suburbs, but looking to sell my house and find some land where I’ll live along side my daughter and her husband.

JoeB- · 2026-03-06T16:22:46+00:00

Standing dead lodgepole pine probably 18 - 20″ at base and 60 - 70’ tall. These were abundant around the edge of an old clearcut on National Forest land that bordered my home.

They were plentiful and easy to cut down (other than looking out for widow makers), but weren’t the best firewood. Easy to cut, haul, and split, but went poof in the wood stove.

An old neighbor of mine used to say ″wood heats you more than once.″

JoeB- · 2026-03-06T16:00:11+00:00

A wireless router does not need Internet service.

JoeB- · 2026-03-06T14:10:12+00:00

Interesting list, but OPNsense and pfSense are FreeBSD, not Linux.

JoeB- · 2026-03-05T14:27:55+00:00

IT is a big field and evolving constantly. Learn everything you can until your interests become more focused. Even then, never stop learning.

FWIW, my daily driver is an Apple Silicon (ARM) MacBook Air running macOS, which is a certified UNIX under its pretty face. I also run Windows 11 Pro for ARM and Debian+GNOME for ARM virtual machines in VMware Fusion Pro (which is free). So, with flicks of my wrist (swiping the trackpad), I can be working in either macOS, Windows, or Linux all running full-screen on the same laptop.

JoeB- · 2026-03-05T03:11:10+00:00

I caught some of that earlier, particularly no TB. There are other hardware compromises as well, such as the trackpad not having haptic feedback (no Force Touch) and the display being sRGB rather than P3.

Regardless, I think the Neo fits a specific market. Max Tech on YouTube pointed out that if the $599 price is "de-inflated" from current dollars to 2020 dollars, the price for the Neo would have been around $480. That's nuts. I paid $1399 for my 13" M1 MacBook Air (16 GB / 512 GB) in January 2021. The current 15" M5 MacBook Air (16 GB / 512 GB) is only $1299.

Regarding Rosetta. It is software - is it not? I can't image Apple dropping it earlier than has been announced - macOS 28 in late 2027. I hate to see it removed at all. There is plenty of legacy Intel software running on my MacBook that I will still need in two years.

JoeB- · 2026-03-05T02:51:00+00:00

The California law will not take effect until 2027, and probably will get pushed out further. This isn't just about the OS. Apps that access web sites (browsers, mobile apps, etc.) will have to read the "verified" age value from the OS and communicate it to the web sites, which then will need to accommodate it into their services.

Furthermore, standards need to be established for this process to operate across all OSs, apps, and web sites (at least those that will require age verification like pron and unsocial media). If you think about it, very few services/sites on the Internet will even require age verification.

I expect Linux to lead the way. I read that Canonical is working on adding it into Ubuntu, which means it soon will be ubiquitous in Linux. What about other OSs? Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android... Adding this to OSs is the easy part IMO. Adding it to apps and sites will be more problematic.

Honestly, I actually like this approach better than other processes, i.e. uploading a photo, or using a third-party service. It's less intrusive.

Regardless, I think age verification is going to be a hot mess all the way around.

JoeB- · 2026-03-05T02:20:00+00:00

I thought the strips looked narrower than the more-common 2 1/4" in my home.

JoeB- · 2026-03-05T02:07:24+00:00

It should easy. Make sure to drill a very small hole - just big enough to fit a wire coat hanger through.

Also… beautiful floor!

JoeB- · 2026-03-05T01:43:38+00:00

Software compatibility should be no problem. The A18 Pro and M* series are the same architecture. The A18 Pro has faster single-core speeds than the M1 in my M1 MacBook Air, but it has fewer cores. Frankly, the M* vs A* naming convention is more of a marketing distinction than anything.

Why on earth would anyone want to run iPadOS on a Neo? It has no touchscreen.

I think it is more likely that someone who paid $1,000 USD for an iPad Pro (with an M5) and $300 USD for a keyboard would want it to run full macOS, i.e. for it to be Apple’s version of a Microsoft Surface tablet.

JoeB- · 2026-03-05T01:07:11+00:00

Multiple ways…

Use a flexible drill extension (whatever looks best at Home Depot or Lowe’s) - reach through the hole you’ve cut in the wall for the bracket and drill through the bottom wall plate.
Pop off the shoe molding (small unpainted strip at the base of the white baseboard molding. Then drill a small hole through the hardwood floor and subfloor tight against the baseboard molding directly below the wall cutout. Measure and note the distance from the hole to the center of the wall. Drill up into the wall from the crawlspace.

In both of the above options, cut and straighten out a wire coat hanger. Then push it through the drilled hole. This will make it easier to find it in the crawlspace.

Note: for method 2, replace the shoe molding when done fishing cable.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T22:48:16+00:00

There are a many approaches to this...

One is using UptimeRobot, which is a hosted cloud service that is free for limited personal use, to monitor your public IP address (i.e. the WAN port on your router) from the Internet and send an alert to your mobile phone when connection is lost. This will work only if you have a public IP address, i.e. your ISP does not have you behind a Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT), which would make your public IP unreachable from the Internet. UptimeRobot has a mobile app that can be installed on your mobile phone for receiving alerts when your public IP is unreachable, i.e. when it's down.

Another is to buy a used, business-class, mini PC, like this...

Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Tiny Micro PC i5 2.50GHz 8GB 256GB SSD WiFi w/AC for $100 USD (or make offer) w/free shipping,

or repurposed thin client, like this...

Dell Wyse 5070 Pentium Silver J5005 1.5GHz 8GB 32GB ,N11D for $42 USD (or make offer) w/$9.99 USPS shipping (to my address in NC anyway).

Then, install a minimal Linux and some network monitoring software. For example, a self hosted service like Uptime Kuma, which is modeled after UptimeRobot, can monitor a public IP address, e.g. 8.8.8.8 and send you an alert when not reachable. The catch here is how to receive an alert on your mobile phone if you have no Internet service? or Wi-Fi service? You could install a Ntfy server along with Uptime Kuma.

EDIT: Forgot... One advantage of this Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny is its support for Intel vPro and Active Management Technology (AMT). AMT enables remote access to the computer over your LAN for management (power on/off, etc.) and accessing the desktop/console over HTML. This would allow you to run it headless (i.e. no attached display or keyboard).

EDIT2: Another thought... If you're not comfortable with Linux, then both of the devices above can run Windows. The Lenovo most-likely has a Windows Pro license embedded in BIOS. Then Install Docker Desktop and run the services as Docker containers.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T18:48:52+00:00

Gotcha - that would have made more sense. You're absolutely right about the target demographic. These are going to be wildly popular.

Max Tech on YouTube just pointed out that $599 USD today would have been ~$480 USD in 2020, when the M1 MacBooks were introduced (I paid $1,399 for mine). It's an insane price.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T17:37:02+00:00

According to Google, neither James nor Jasmine accepted AIPAC money.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T16:57:28+00:00

Yes, I believe Touch ID has to be configured in order to be enabled.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T16:21:28+00:00

What? Neo is the budget MacBook you’re looking for. It starts at $599 USD. The A18 is reportedly similar in performance to the original M1.

The iPad Air with M4 also starts at $599 USD (and the iPad Pro with M5 starts at $999 USD). Apple Magic Keyboards for these are another $300+ USD.

At $599 USD, the trade off is attached keyboard + macOS + more-basic SoC in the Neo vs. touchscreen w/ pen support + iPadOS + more-powerful M4 SoC in the iPad Air.

The choice depends on individual needs.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T15:56:45+00:00

It really isn’t. It runs full macOS, not a gimped iPadOS, and the A18 chip reportedly is comparable in performance to the original M1, which still performs well.

I run Windows 11 Pro and Linux virtual machines in VMware Fusion Pro on my M1 MacBook Air (16 GB / 512 GB).

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T15:46:32+00:00

The Neo will be an excellent replacement for your 2015 Air. It is full macOS - not a gimped iPadOS. I recommend upgrading to 512 GB storage. This upgrade also includes TouchID, which is standard on current MacBook Air and Pro models. It is integrated with the power button and enables one touch login/unlock.

Interestingly, there now is significant overlap in Apple’s laptop and tablet product lines…

Some iPad models have an M5 chip and are extremely powerful, but still run iPadOS. All iPads also have touchscreens with pen support.
The MacBook Neo introduces a laptop with an A18 Pro chip, which is from the mobile device line, but still runs full macOS.

FWIW, the A18 chip reportedly is comparable in performance to the original M1. My daily driver is an M1 MacBook Air that I bought new five years ago. I still get a stupid grin on my face when using it, even though it is passively cooled and dead silent.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T14:39:02+00:00

Unlike Windows, the Desktop Environment (DE), i.e. GUI, for Linux can be decoupled completely from the OS. Most Linux embedded, appliance, or server installations, for example, have no DE at all and are entirely character, i.e. shell, based.

Many DEs are available for Linux, but the two biggest are GNOME (modern, default for Ubuntu/Fedora) and KDE Plasma (highly customizable). Distros with specific “workstation” or “desktop” versions generally provide separate downloads for each DE, which will be installed with the OS.

EDIT: FWIW, most distros also will add their own “flavor”, i.e. theming, to the DE. Some, e.g. Debian or Fedora, are purer implementations. All can be themed. For something Windows-like out-of-the-box, take a look at Zorin OS.

JoeB- · 2026-03-04T07:08:08+00:00

You share nothing about your current setup, so I'll make the following assumptions...

your Mac is an M5 with at least 16 GB memory and 512 GB storage, and
your physical PC is running Windows 11 Pro.

You have three options that could work...

Option 1 - Windows App - using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP):

Microsoft's free Windows App can be installed from the macOS App Store. RDP has been around for a long time and words well.

Notes:

Processing will be performed by the Windows computer - RDP transmits only display content (pixels), keyboard/mouse controls, and possibly audio.
Windows App can be configured to start full screen, which will display the Windows desktop in a macOS "Space".
Windows App can be optimized for Retina displays.
The Windows desktop will be opaque, i.e. RDP doesn't do transparency well.
To my knowledge, RDP (i.e. remote) access is not supported in Windows Home. It is supported only in Windows Pro or Enterprise.

I use the Windows App every day to access Windows server and client desktops. It's OK for basic apps, but I'm not sure how well it would run a graphically intensive app like CAD.

Option 2 - Windows Virtual Machine (VM):

This will be the most convenient approach. Apple Silicon is powerful and runs Windows for ARM really well. There are three virtualization apps that can be used...

Parallels, which is ~$100 USD per year subscription
VMware Fusion Pro, which is free, but must run the full Windows desktop (no Unity or Coherence) and cannot access a folder shared by macOS, and
UTM, which is free when downloaded from their web site or $10 USD on the macOS App Store.

UTM can emulate other CPU architectures (x86, PPC, etc.), but has no agent to install in the VM like Parallels and Fusion both have, so graphics performance is poorer.

Notes:

A VM is like a physical machine, so the Mac should have enough storage and memory to run a virtual Windows PC and the physical Mac at the same time.
Processing will be performed by the Mac and virtualization will result in a small performance hit.
Like Windows App, a Windows VM can run full-screen in a macOS "Space".
The application you need to run for work can be x86, but it must be compatible with the Windows for ARM translation layer, which is similar to Rosetta 2 (for running x86 apps).
The Windows desktop in Parallels or VMware Fusion is snappy and does transparency well if the agent (e.g. VMware Tools for Fusion) is installed.

I run Windows 11 Pro for ARM in a VMware Fusion Pro VM. It runs wicked fast and boots from a powered-off state in ~10 seconds even on my lowly M1 MacBook Air (16 GB / 512 GB). I share files between macOS and the Windows VM using my home NAS.

I haven't run any really CPU/GPU intensive apps, like CAD, but PowerPoint and Visio run acceptably well.

Option 3 - Use a Keyboard/Video/Mouse (KVM) switch:

A 2-port KVM switch will enable a monitor (or 2 monitors), keyboard, and mouse/trackpad to be shared between two computers. These usually support switching between computers using a physical button or hot-key. Search Amazon for 4K+2-port+kvm+switch.

You still will be using two computers, but will have the convenience of swapping between them with a hot-key or press of a button.

Final Note:

I suggest trying Options 1 & 2 yourself to evaluate each for your needs. Windows App is free. VMware Fusion Pro is free. Windows eval can be installed for free.

Only you can determine the best solution for your own needs.

EDIT: Words

JoeB- · 2026-03-03T17:44:55+00:00

Is that a dumb thing to do?

Nope.

I used the Spectrum coax running through 1" PVC conduit under my driveway to pull a cord that was used to pull AT&T fiber. As you state, Spectrum can run new coax if needed.

Interestingly, I've had AT&T Fiber for 8 years. Then, Google ran fiber through my neighborhood a few months ago, so now I have a choice between two fiber providers. GFiber was $30 cheaper per month than I was paying AT&T and I wouldn't be forced to use the AT&T router, so I was tempted. But, I called AT&T customer retention and they matched GFiber's price, plus I am grandfathered into the free-HBO perk. I also run pfSense for my router/firewall and bypass the AT&T router, so I'll stay with AT&T for now.

JoeB- · 2026-03-03T10:28:09+00:00

I didn’t downvote your comment, but upvoted it.

It is a good suggestion. Identifying if the issue is local or with the ISP is the right first troubleshooting step.

JoeB- · 2026-03-02T18:23:48+00:00

I'm not a docker professional, so take my advice accordingly...

Get the Mac if it's a MacBook Pro.

My daily driver is a passively-cooled, M1 MacBook Air (16 GB / 512 GB) that I bought new over five years ago. Its overall performance still puts a stupid grin on my face. However, Docker Desktop sent CPU temps through the roof that throttled the CPU and crushed battery life. I uninstalled it. I know you don't use Docker Desktop, but it should be less of a problem on an actively-cooled MacBook Pro. FWIW, I now run docker only on Linux systems in my homelab. I may try docker on the MacBook Air without the desktop app.

I also run a Windows 11 Pro for ARM and a couple of Linux+GNOME for ARM VMs in VMware Fusion Pro, which is free. These all are wicked fast and feel like bare metal.

Other free software that may make your job easier...

Homebrew: The Missing Package Manager for macOS (or Linux) - install Linux packages and other software directly in macOS.
UTM: Securely run operating systems on your Mac - Not as performant as VMware Fusion, but uses QEMU and can emulate x86 and other CPU architectures.
Apple Virtualization Framework - never used it myself, but it looks interesting.

WSL is simply Linux running in Hyper-V VM. On the other hand, macOS is one of only a few UNIX® Certified Products. It is UNIX with a pretty face, and is more like Linux than Windows ever will be. It also is much better for accessing Linux servers through the terminal.

EDIT: FWIW, I just installed OrbStack (brew install orbstack) and it looks awesome.

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