Technology, politics, and stuff
I did a 12-day Philmont trek in late July 2026, trek 12-12. I packed using the Philmont 2026 Guidebook to Adventure (p. 14), with some exceptions. My LighterPack inventory is at bottom. The Philmont packing list is good. I recommend packing everything on it. I brought a few more things, described further down. Before you Continue reading Philmont backpack packing list: my deltas
I like to keep my Windows `11 computers fully patched. The 0x800f0922 error with Windows 11 s 2025-12 and 2026-01 Security Updates blocked me. That error caused the update to be rolled back. Windows Update kept presenting this update, which caused repetitive, lengthy reboot cycles that only ended with failure. The fix is easy. Mitigating root Continue reading Fixing 0x800f0922 error with Windows…
FAQs are a bad practice. They signal a poor product or poor documentation. Avoid FAQs.
I downgraded my failing Jabra Elite 75t earbuds to Beats Fit Pro. Yes, downgraded! The Beats Fit Pros amplify wind noise. Above about 5 mph, wind causes a roar. Turn on noise cancellation, the wind roar gets much louder! Beats s website laughably claims the Fit Pro is for athletes of all kinds and workouts . Nope! Continue reading Defective by design: Beats Fit Pro earbuds
Summary: Facebook abets a shadowy, intellectual-property thief. This thief has stolen rights to all of my videos since June 2022. Details: I broadcast my bike rides. I throw a GoPro HERO9 on my helmet and live-stream the ride to Facebook. The camera uses my phone s hotspot for data. I know, it s silly. It s a gambit Continue reading Facebook is abetting intellectual-property thieves
Why is Apache clinging to OpenOffice? It s dead. Its last major release was version 4.1, from 2014! In contrast, LibreOffice s release schedule is robust: In 2020, LibreOffice wrote a constructive letter, outlining a path for OpenOffice to acknowledge reality. Apache s OpenOffice page doesn t hint that it s dead. By declining to set the record straight, Apache Continue reading Why is Apache…
I hate cold sales calls or emails. All of these end up on a block list. If I want your service, I ll initiate the contact. Skype for Business lacks a native call-blocking functionality. Here s a workaround, if you also use Outlook. How to block spam callers Follow these steps: Now the caller will usually be Continue reading Blocking unsolicited calls on Skype for Business
I am putting together Bad FC, a 40 and up soccer team to play in the North Texas Premier Soccer Association s summer league. I plan for it to continue in the fall season. We re not bad. We re Bad! Details on summer season Dates: June 27 through August 8 (no play on July 4 weekend) Number Continue reading Bad FC 40 and up soccer team
Between my undergraduate years in the late 1990s and his death in the late 2010s, I got to know John Wesley Hardt, a bishop in the United Methodist Church. He knew my grandmother. She was the secretary to the United Methodist district superintendent while John was pastor at First United Methodist Church of Beaumont, Texas. Continue reading The Rise of Liberalism in the United Methodist Church
Yesterday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas is generally dropping COVID-related restrictions. He did this with executive order GA-34. While not well publicized, this also repeals the group-size limits. Outside of defined exceptions (churches, etc.) and in some rural areas, Texans weren t permitted to congregate in groups larger than 10. GA-34 rescinds GA-17, GA-25, Continue reading…