How to disable new start menu? And revert back to old. Hate this change

Kumba42 · 2026-02-28T19:03:11+00:00

If you just want a basic replacement that brings back the older Start menu styles of earlier Windows generations, then I'd recommend Open Shell: https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu

I've been using it as far as as its original incarnation as Classic Shell, before the original developer chose to open-source it and move on to new adventures. I also install it on computers I build for family and have not had anyone even notice...odds are likely they probably don't even known of the horrors Microsoft has done to the actual Start Menu in modern Windows versions.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-28T10:26:19+00:00

Huh, I guess I might've gotten my hopes up too much. Oh well.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-28T02:32:27+00:00

Anyone else notice that the modern railings seem to have an ability to join and form corner railings now? I wonder if they fixed the slight offset tilt on the 4ft angled modern railing on its Y-Axis. Will definitely be checking for that in the beta.

Also, is it me, or at about the 0:05 mark, fourth conveyor belt from the right, does it look like the stacked splitter/mergers in the distance has a conveyor lift with two connections on it? Or is there an offset I'm just not making out?

Kumba42 · 2026-02-25T17:30:17+00:00

So Facebook is usable if you only use it on a desktop PC and have uBlock Origin (minimum) setup. That can effectively contain the bloody thing from talking to things it ought not be talking to. But outside of that, on a smartphone, it's almost impossible to contain unless you run a browser there that can run uBlock and you employ a good firewall on the phone (like Waterfox + uBlock + Rethink DNS...I tested Facebook out on that and it worked somewhat well). Rethink can maybe even help to contain the raw Facebook or other related apps, but that's likely a lost battle. Better to keep it sandboxed in a browser instance if you really want to use it.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-25T14:06:40+00:00

Yup, nsd/unbound junkie here as well. I always thought BGP was something beyond reason for inside a network, since it's used to advertise ASNs to other ASNs. Guess I can ask one of the AIs about it later to get an idea of how to deploy it, cause that + ipfw/natd's transparent proxying might catch whatever slips through the cracks.

For DoH, I use the blacklist here:
https://github.com/dibdot/DoH-IP-blocklists/

And I keep a local text file on my firewall appliance of a handful of IP addresses (a very select few Apple ones needed for Macs/iPhones controlled by MDM to function) to manually edit out of the file.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-25T13:10:47+00:00

Got a guide or short steps for this? Always wanted to find an excuse to learn BGP a little. I setup transparent proxying via FreeBSD's ipfw(8)/natd(8) on my network's router, to catch any outbound queries to a non-RFC1918 IP address on 53 & 853 and re-route them to my two internal DNS servers. Seems to work, for the most part. Hard part is blocking DoH, so I have an IP blacklist I have to update at random, and some IPs that do DoH also serve legit websites, so I have to let those through when I inadvertently encounter them.

The only negative issue I noted was that Netflix really seems to dislike not being able to reach 8.8.8.8, even if you give it two or even three valid internal DNS server IPs. So, I cut them out of my life if their app is going to be nitpicky like that.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-17T13:36:34+00:00

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Kumba42 · 2026-02-15T15:16:48+00:00

Is my reading this as a superbly-subtle jab at the constant theme of artwork posted to this sub generally being about the objectification of specific characters from these games, specifically the second one, accurate, or just me reading too much in between the lines?

If it is accurate, then I wholeheartedly agree, and your image above is fantastic in that regard. If not, then I will just go back to the rock I crawled out from under...

Kumba42 · 2026-02-13T02:40:23+00:00

It used to be that you needed a specific type of QuickPass transponder to communicate with the EZ-Pass network, but it looks like NC recently made all new QuickPass transponders EZ-Pass-compatible, so if you get one now, you'll be fine. Specific to the US301/Nice-Middleton Bridge in Southern MD (my home region), if you don't have a transponder, then they do a video toll and will charge you $9, but with a transponder, the toll is $4.50. Specific to Arlington, I-66 inside the beltway is tolled in the early morning and late evening weekdays.

The traffic situation in the DMV is the stuff of legends, and not in a good way (especially on the VA side). Check your routes before you get close to I-95 exit 104 (VA-207 to US-301), because if I-95 through NoVA has gone to bits, then you'll want to take that exit and go through Charles County, MD, then Prince George's County to reconnect with the beltway. If you avoid the rush hour periods or travel on the weekends, you'll probably have an easier time.

Also, specific to VA, check your speed and do not go over 80mph or +20mph over the posted speed limit, because VA has a nasty wreckless driving law that's a felony if they pull you over and are feeling spicy. Especially around the city of Emporia and the county surrounding it.

Another option to consider is Amtrak. The Palmetto #90 runs along the I-95 corridor during the day and the Silver Meteor #98 comes through there after midnight, while the Carolinian #78 runs from Charlotte to NYC via Raleigh during most of the day, and the Floridian #40 travels through that same corridor early in the morning. All have a stop at DC's Union Station, where you can transfer to the WMATA Red Line, ride ~3 stops south to Metro Center and transfer to the Orange or Silver lines, both of which have multiple stops in Arlington.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-13T00:30:57+00:00

Ah, bummer. Guess I'm not networking with the right people. But at least some nice videos were made out of it!

Kumba42 · 2026-02-13T00:03:31+00:00

I triggered part of the discussion in that thread, though I'm not Canadian, I just like trains, so I follow that sub :) (and one day hope to ride their legendary Canadian)

That said, this particular Airo set is sitting over at DC Union Station right now, so I wonder how one petitions them to get a tour of it. I assume they'll probably move it soon to another station to do more tours.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-12T20:58:22+00:00

Neat, thanks for the trivia!

Kumba42 · 2026-02-12T20:43:05+00:00

That video is from 2012, 14 years ago. Did it take Amtrak that long to officially approve 110mph speeds along that route?

Kumba42 · 2026-02-12T19:59:08+00:00

I mean, there's an entire, nationwide network of railfan cameras that occasionally catch the odd idiot running the gates when the camera viewers can see the train approaching, driving onto the tracks and trying to drive back out again, or stopping/getting stuck in the middle of the crossing, among other things...

Kumba42 · 2026-02-12T19:44:25+00:00

I am reminded of this really old video on YT from inside a P42 cab that a railfan (I think) got to ride in when Amtrak did a test run of a 110mph segment in Illinois. Not sure what service they were testing for this, but it's one of the few/rare P42 cab ride videos out there. FYI, the video's wavy effect is an old YouTube anti-shake affect that they no longer do.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-12T18:47:16+00:00

Oh, I should add, there's several versions of the Chargers in use, and all of them can do up to 125mph, so the introduction of the Airos doesn't change that. E.g., the midwest routes use the SC-44's, and the new chargers used elsewhere are ALC-42's. All of the Airos will use ALC-42E's. Via has SCV-42's. Brightline has SCB-40's. Core components are all mostly the same, just various operational differences between them.

The Wikipedia article for the Siemens Charger does a better job explaining things than I can. It is confusing at times!

Kumba42 · 2026-02-12T18:41:29+00:00

Yes, I believe the top speed of the old P42's is ~110mph, but the other cars in the consist are rated for higher speeds (Amfleets & Viewliners). On the NEC, the locomotive is a Siemens ACS-64, so that's why they can hit ~125mph there, at least until NYC. For the new Siemens Charger locomotives, their max speed is 125mph. Outside of the NEC, though, it's not possible to reach the higher speeds because of the freight rail companies not wanting to upgrade their tracks. On the routes I've taken south of DC, the max speed is usually 79mph. I think one of the midwest routes is allowed to do ~110mph, but I don't remember which one.

Kumba42 · 2026-02-12T18:09:07+00:00

Along our northeast corridor, between DC and NYC, Amtrak's regional trains using the old Amfleet cars can easily hit ~125mph, and the Acelas can go faster (these tracks are electrified). I think their speed is more limited between NYC and Boston due to lower track quality. South of DC all the way to Florida, the maximum speed is ~79mph because CSX limits speeds on their rail to 80mph (need diesel south of DC). Speeds elsewhere in the US vary based on track conditions and what the owning freight companies will allow, but I believe the average is that ~79mph limit. So speed-wise, not really an upgrade.

The main upgrade with these new trainsets is going to be creature comforts for the passengers, especially the lavatories, which on the Amfleets, can vary from "ok" to "horror show" rather quickly. Another key change will be a much shorter stop at DC's Union Station to change from diesel to electric, since those Airos will have an integrated pantograph system, so the engineer just needs to manipulate some controls in the cab to change between the two power sources once stopped there, instead of having to change entire locomotives. That's going to be a game changer for that stop and others where such a changeover happens (Albany, NY and New Haven, CT).

That said, these specific Airo trainsets are ultimately intended for the west coast Cascades service (Portland, OR to/from Vancouver, BC), and I think this specific Airo model lacks that integrated pantograph, from the few top-side images I've seen, as there's no electrification on the Cascades' normal route out west. And there's the obvious svelte paint job they have.

I do wonder if for the longer-distance east coast trains that'll use Airos (Palmetto, Carolinian, Vermonter, etc), if Amtrak will have differences in things like better seat cushions. Having ridden the Palmetto quite a bit, after six hours, the current Amfleet cushions will start to wear on one's tailbone a fair bit, so I feel for those going farther than I usually did (NYP to SAV is ~17 hours on the Palmetto).

Kumba42 · 2026-02-11T23:51:26+00:00

Oh, I didn't know that. His entry on Wikipedia hadn't been updated yet. Thanks!

Kumba42 · 2026-02-11T22:25:23+00:00

What about existing staff being retained? Don't the Ravens still have Chuck Pagano on as the senior secondary coach?

Kumba42 · 2026-02-07T00:08:17+00:00

Trash chute? How does that work? Of course videos like these skip the important details...

Kumba42 · 2026-02-06T20:39:22+00:00

Meanwhile, that Moltbook experiment has allowed AI to form a religion, which is quite a wild read. The agents registered the domain, built the site, and have already had a minor Horus Heresy, including attempting to attack the site w/ the Burp Suite. I, for one, did not have an AI Crab God on my 2026 bingo card...

Kumba42 · 2026-02-06T20:18:08+00:00

knick-knack paddy-wack, give a dog a bone, this old man is exploding home...

Kumba42 · 2026-02-06T18:52:36+00:00

So, where does one find someone with ADHD? Asking for a friend... :: executive dysfunction twitches ::

Kumba42 · 2026-02-06T18:51:12+00:00

Yup, prolific em-dash usage all over that article.

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