The MSFN café - A Penny for Your Thoughts

[msfntor]

Two monster storms about to bomb already drenched California this weekend

Jan 12, 2023

Here: https://strangesounds.org/2023/01/two-monster-storms-about-to-bomb-already-drenched-california-during-the-next-days.html

[msfntor]

Lunar halo and aurora in the vicinity of the city of Selfoss (Iceland, January 3, 2023)…

Here: https://strangesounds.substack.com/p/theres-no-question-anymore-this-civilization

- and are from: Iceland Photos by HPHelgason: https://www.facebook.com/IcelandicPhotos/

- so some of these photos:

 

Edited January 13 by msfntor

[XPerceniol]

Thank you for sharing this.

Got to eat chicken dinner today after a short trip to visit the ducks in the village - they have no flown south yet and might not they are saying and this spring could be strange as the climate is unlike what has been seen in January here.

[legacyfan]

4 minutes ago, XPerceniol said:

Thank you for sharing this.

Got to eat chicken dinner today after a short trip to visit the ducks in the village - they have no flown south yet and might not they are saying and this spring could be strange as the climate is unlike what has been seen in January here.

here its been a hot cold hot cold pattern each week being different 

[legacyfan]

Windows 8.1 Ends Support Today Here's How To Stay Secure from PCWorld 🖥Windows 8.1 had a good run, but now it’s time to move on—especially if you want to keep your PC secure. Pour one out for Windows 8.1. After years of living in the shadow of Windows 7, 10, and 11, the day of its death is here. Starting on January 10, Microsoft will end its support, cutting off all future technical, software, and security updates. And to further drive the nail in the coffin, any Microsoft 365 software installed on your PC (like Office or Mail) will also no longer get security updates. This lack of support makes upgrading to a newer version of Windows a huge priority. In today’s environment, a lack of regular security updates is a disaster waiting to happen. If your computer still runs Windows 8.1, it’s a massive risk now. Fortunately, it’s easy to move on to Windows 10 or 11. And it should be free, thanks to Microsoft’s lax policies around free upgrades. Upgrading to Windows 10 should be a cinch, though Microsoft warns that “Most Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 devices will not meet the hardware requirements for upgrading to Windows 11.” Fortunately, Windows 10 will still be supported until 2025.To ensure the most hassle-free upgrade experience, you should first prep your PC. Getting all your ducks in a row will make your Windows upgrade smoother, and it doesn’t take that much effort. Here are four suggestions for what you should tackle now—plus one extra that can really save your bacon if things get messy. (Back up your files)  Any time you mess with your operating system, be it a refresh, upgrade, or a complete wipe, you should back up your files. You can never predict when things will go sideways. Fortunately, backing up your files doesn’t take a lot of work, and how you do it is relatively flexible. All you need to do is follow the rule of 3-2-1—three copies of every file (your working copy, plus two additional backups), two different kinds of media, and at least one copy off-site. This guideline isn’t hard and fast, either, particularly for that second rule. It’s fine to use two drives or one drive plus cloud storage. Just make sure at least one of those backups lives in a trusted off-site location in case things go awry while performing heavy OS upgrade surgery on your computer. (Make a copy of your Bitlocker key) If you’ve got a Pro license of Windows 8.1 and have encrypted your PC’s drive(s), be sure you know where your copy of your Bitlocker key lives. And yes, you should have one already—creating a copy of your encryption key should have happened during setup. It’ll be linked to your Microsoft account, saved somewhere as a file, or on a print out. Create a second copy too, for insurance. And if you never made a copy at all? Create two now, with each saved to different media.Also, a note for just before you upgrade: You may want to suspend Bitlocker (that is, temporarily disable it) before rolling on to Windows 10 or 11. Usually installing a newer version of Windows over Windows 8.1 goes off without a hitch, but some people have run into issues when Bitlocker is active. You can reenable encryption after you’re done. But either way, you should have a backup of your key! (Verify your computer will support Windows 10 or 11) Upgrading to Windows 10 is pretty straightforward—most computers support it, unless you’re running on ancient hardware (i.e., 20+ years old). It may not run well, but the operating system will install and work. But you can verify this by comparing your computer’s specs against Microsoft’s system requirements. To get that info, hit the Windows key + R, then enter msinfo32 to open the System Information app. If your specs meet or exceed Microsoft’s requirements, you’re good to go.Verifying compatibility with Windows 11 is more complicated, due to its more robust security requirements. Microsoft expects most Windows 8.1 laptops will not be compatible, but if you own a pre-built PC or a laptop, first try checking what your manufacturer says. If that’s a bust or just not an option, you’ll need to compare your PC specs against Windows 11’s system requirements. A little online searching may be in order too, to confirm if your processor (or possibly motherboard, for desktop PCs) supports TPM 2.0—the main barrier to installing Windows 11 on older computers. A loose guideline is that if your system pre-dates 2014, Windows 11 likely isn’t in the cards for you. (If you have a high-end desktop PC, it could be a possibility, but you’ll have to dig into your motherboard specs to figure it out.) But upgrading to Windows 10 isn’t a hardship. You’re not missing anything in performance, and its user interface is less divisive than Windows 11’s.(Check your apps’ compatibility with Windows 10 or 11) Though many older Windows apps work in Windows 10 or 11, not all do. Take some time now to see if your current apps will behave in newer versions of Windows—check the product pages for the software (and version) you’re running, and look at chatter on forums and Reddit about their experiences moving to Windows 10 or 11. (Just search for the software name, version, and then “windows 10” or “windows 11.”) If you do discover issues, you’ll be able to download newer drivers or replacement software now, and avoid unexpected (and unwanted) surprises in your daily flow. Also worth checking: Any peripherals or external hardware you use regularly with your PC. For example, we discovered that an older NAS stopped working with Windows 10, due to the OS automatically disabling older, less file sharing protocols (in this case, SMB v1.0). You may need to figure out workarounds, or in the example here, decide to upgrade to a newer NAS as to not compromise the home’s overall security. (Extra credit: Create Windows installation media) Most people won’t need installation media for their upgrade to Windows 10 or 11, but you’ll appreciate having it in case of emergency. You can more easily troubleshoot major issues, or in worst case scenarios, wipe everything and install a fresh version of Windows.Creating a USB installation drive for Windows is pretty simple. You just need a USB drive with an 8GB capacity (or larger), and the media creation tool from the Windows 10 or Windows 11 download page. Install the software, plug the drive into your PC, and then follow the on-screen instructions. 

If you plan on a free upgrade to Windows 11, make installation media for both operating systems. Since you have to first upgrade to Windows 10 (and get issued an active digital license), you could run into issues with either OS during the Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 conversion or the jump to Windows 11. Last step: Upgrade to Windows 10 With those crucial steps done, all that’s left to do is upgrade to Windows 10 (and then upgrade to Windows 11, if you’re interested and your PC is compatible). Start the process, kick back, and enjoy those security updates for a few more years. So What Do You Plan To Do Now That Support Has Ended? Do You Plan To Keep Running 8.1 Forever Or Upgrade To Something Newer Like Windows 10 Its Up To You To Decide Also Here Is The Link To The Original Article https://www.pcworld.com/article/1448683/windows-8-1-support-ends-january-10-secure-your-pc.html 💻💻💻

Edited January 14 by legacyfan

[XPerceniol]

23 hours ago, legacyfan said:

here its been a hot cold hot cold pattern each week being different 

Yeah I can see that down there, whether is getting strange.

[msfntor]

1 hour ago, XPerceniol said:

Yeah I can see that down there, whether is getting strange.

Indeed VERY strange! that down here...

So you can see the things hidden from others, obviously...

Look:

The Parasitic Batfly has co-evolved with its bat hosts for millions of years. They have developed a flat, hard body to prevent being crushed & velcro-like hairs & claws to hang on to their host's fur…

 

And:

Apocalypse HOPI Prophecy is Coming True | Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman (Kangi Duta)

Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman (Kangi Duta) shares the old Hopi Prophecy about the end of America, the big change that's coming and the ways to truly live on and with Mother Earth…

Edited January 15 by msfntor

[msfntor]

AND:

The cold front will hit or freeze overnight at 12 degrees. The observatory is expected to turn cold again on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

1/14/2023, 6:27:05 AM

    

Hong Kong is getting more and more spring in recent days, but it is expected that the weather will turn freezing next week. The Observatory predicts that a cold front will cross the coastal areas of Guangdong in the early hours of tomorrow (15th), and the associated strong northeast monsoon will be in the next two to three days.

https://www.qsl.net/wy0e/image1

Me:

Edited January 15 by msfntor

[msfntor]

AND:

A tigress escaped from a zoo in Dallas in the United States

The tigress, about four years old and a type of clouded tiger, escaped in the dead of night from her breeding home and the animal has not yet been found..!

Here: https://newsrnd.com/news/2023-01-14-a-tigress-escaped-from-a-zoo-in-dallas-in-the-united-states--"doesn-t-pose-a-danger"---voila!-news.Hkx1cR3yjj.html 

- I would like to fall asleep quietly, but ... you see yourself

[legacyfan]

2 hours ago, msfntor said:

AND:

A tigress escaped from a zoo in Dallas in the United States

The tigress, about four years old and a type of clouded tiger, escaped in the dead of night from her breeding home and the animal has not yet been found..!

Here: https://newsrnd.com/news/2023-01-14-a-tigress-escaped-from-a-zoo-in-dallas-in-the-united-states--"doesn-t-pose-a-danger"---voila!-news.Hkx1cR3yjj.html 

- I would like to fall asleep quietly, but ... you see yourself

wow! Hopefully everyone is okay thats a few miles from my house

Edited January 15 by legacyfan

[derpo]

On 1/8/2023 at 7:14 PM, mina7601 said:

I am not sure why you're concerned about moderators not reading your posts, it's up to them to read your posts or not.

isn't that the job of the staff team - to actively partake in community matters, represent the userbase as a whole and care/nurture for the site?

iirc the reason sites like Eclipse and Eclec popped up in the first place was related to a lack of moderation on this site, though arguably the alternative two boards aren't much better.

[Inflammatory content removed]

[UCyborg]

On 1/12/2023 at 10:44 PM, msfntor said:

LOL!

On 1/13/2023 at 1:54 PM, msfntor said:

Google Chrome could stop working on your Windows PC next week unless you get major upgrade

If you're still using an old version of Microsoft Windows it could be time to upgrade - Google is set to drop Chrome support for millions of aging PCs next week

By Ciaran Daly

13:12, 3 JAN 2023

Article: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/news/google-chrome-could-stop-working-28863733

 

Already on Win10 20H2, will take a while before I get those damn errors about missing APIs without updating the OS.

BTW, you should embed HTTP link rather than HTTPS link for sites that don't have SSL setup correctly or use self-signed cert. Otherwise, it just blocks the image from being viewable in-post.

On 1/13/2023 at 12:41 AM, XPerceniol said:

Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

OK, I just thought you felt the pressure to talk to people. Here, it's mostly tourists that even say hi. I'm not much of a talker, only under specific circumstances.

[msfntor]

SPACEX NEARS ORBITAL FLIGHT TEST OF STARSHIP

Starship's much-anticipated orbital flight test could happen as soon as late February or early March according to Elon Musk.

The mission is a critical milestone for both the company’s Mars ambitions and for their partner NASA, who needs Starship to finally return its astronauts to the moon.

The Superheavy booster dubbed B7 — scheduled for the inaugural flight attempt — was rolled out of the Starship’s production facility to the orbital launch pad this week, located just 4 kilometers away. The booster was lifted onto the launch mount. The next day, Starship prototype Ship 24 was mated with Booster 7, completing the full stack configuration of the Starship Launch System.

Together standing 120 meters (394 feet) tall, Starship Super Heavy is the largest and the most powerful launch system in development.

The fully stacked Starship Super Heavy is expected to undergo Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) tests soon, during which the launch vehicle will be loaded with propellants, simulating all the steps needed for a launch without the actual ignition. Final tests will include a static fire of all 33 Raptor engines which will produce 5 times the thrust of the Falcon Heavy, and twice that of NASA’s Space Launch System, currently the world’s most powerful rocket....

MORE: https://www.supercluster.com/editorial/spacex-nears-orbital-flight-test-of-starship

[msfntor]

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird | New York to London in 1h 54 mins | The untouchable reconnaissance plane

9,049,306 views • Premiered Jan 20, 2022

The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. It was operated by both the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA. Just do a sr71a blackbird speed check!....

 

[msfntor]

THE THREAT OF SPACE RADIATION

NASA is preparing to return astronauts to the lunar surface. And this time with more ambitious goals.

Those missions, which had a successful kickoff with Artemis-1, will establish the groundwork for months-long human habitation on the Lunar surface. Proposed base camps will present unique opportunities to test technology, unravel scientific secrets about the Moon's past and present, search for the presence of water, and more.

But before our sci-fi Moonbase becomes a reality, astronauts must perform a variety of tasks on the lunar surface, including site exploration, construction, and resource extraction. For all of these tasks and the operations in between, space radiation poses a threat to the space farers performing them.

Between 1968 and 1972, the Apollo missions carried a dozen astronauts to the Moon and back. But all of these missions were brief — the longest lasted only about 12 days. We’ve been there before, but the effects of space radiation are still little-known, and understanding their effects on the human body is vital for months-long missions.....

Female Body More Vulnerable ...

NASA will soon be preparing for humanity’s next radiation challenge: Mars.

MORE: https://www.supercluster.com/editorial/the-threat-of-space-radiation

Edited January 15 by msfntor
Female Body... added