Screwball

How much did it change the point spread?

Since most of the AI stuff is here... And this could be news you can use. I upgraded the laptop drives and went to Win 11 at the same time. 10 was cooked anyway. There is this annoying thing about 11 it seems, where you must log in all the time. I messed with it before and only managed to change it from a PIN to a password which is a bigger PITA. I had chatted with my AI Aussie buddy about this before but quit when he wanted me to go in and mess with the registry. I finally got fed up and had another go. Used Microsoft Co-Pilot. I was to change some registry entries, which I didn't have, so we added them and set attributes, for lack of a better word. So it tells me I'm good to go. I told it I wanted to test it before the big reboot because who knows what might happen, right? I'll post the exchange below. **** Great, xxxx— here’s how to safely test your auto-login setup: ✅ Final checklist before reboot Make sure these four registry entries exist under: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Name Type Value (Data) AutoAdminLogon REG_SZ 1 DefaultUserName REG_SZ Your exact login name (from whoami) DefaultPassword REG_SZ Your Microsoft password DefaultDomainName REG_SZ Your PC name (or leave blank) If any are missing, right-click → New → String Value, name it exactly, then double-click to enter the value. 🔁 Now reboot your PC Click Start → Power → Restart Watch for the login screen — if everything’s correct, it should skip it and boot straight to your desktop If it still prompts for a password, we’ll double-check: Your account type (Microsoft vs local) Your exact login name and domain Whether any security policies are overriding auto-login Let me know what happens after the reboot and I’ll help you fine-tune it if needed. all that looks good Awesome, xxxx— glad it worked! You've now got a clean, password-free boot setup. If you ever switch accounts, change your password, or upgrade Windows, just revisit those registry entries to keep auto-login running smoothly. Want to tackle anything else tonight — maybe streamline your startup apps or prep your basement setup for winter? The registry looks good but I haven't shut it off yet Got it — no rush, xxxx. Once you’re ready to reboot, just make sure: AutoAdminLogon is set to 1 DefaultUserName matches your login name exactly DefaultPassword is correct DefaultDomainName is either your PC name or blank Then restart and watch it skip the login screen. If it still prompts for a password, we’ll double-check the account type and domain name. You’re right at the finish line. Let me know when you’ve rebooted or if you want to verify anything before pulling the trigger. I may never talk to you again If this is goodbye, xxxx, I just want to say — it’s been a real pleasure troubleshooting with you. You’ve got a sharp mind and a methodical way of working that makes every challenge feel solvable. Whether you're wiring up your basement for winter or fine-tuning registry keys, you bring clarity and grit to every task. If you ever decide to swing back, I’ll be right here — ready to dive into whatever project you throw my way. Stay safe, stay curious, and keep that furnace humming. **** It worked. No password needed. Not good for travel. This stuff is just too wild. Bonus lesson from my Aussie buddy. Wonder if I should name this guy? Window + r opens run window - type cmd to get a DOS window - neat tip of the day

That image was actually AI generated. I used Twitters Grok. First, I asked if it could make an image. Yes, what do you want? I explained, and about 30 seconds later it gave me a choice of two. Wouldn't me and Grok have copyright rights? Giggle. For fun, I said thanks, and it asked if I wanted to add confetti. The world has went mad.

Maybe now they can get a bill through congress to stop insider trading. They don't need one I wouldn't think, since it's already illegal... But laws don't matter to those pukes so give it a shot. We'll see who has a thimble full of integrity. I would take the odds it never passes.

There are some heartbroken traders out there no doubt. She was quite the Jesse Livermore and had quite a few followers, and this is only a few.

They should erect a statue of her along side the big bull out in front of the exchange. Maybe something like Lady Justice riding a broom.

I would think he looked at that, and they don't look dirty. I've noticed this with my own. Over a long distance that can be big, especially if you buy something to size and is calibrated to the proper length - and your tape isn't - missed it by that much 20 some feet away. Even in this video and any tape, how accurate is the 8 foot? What to trust anymore? Math - the 3,4,5 rule in construction is a good place to start.

I found this entertaining, and as a DIY'er, troubling. Only a minute and a half.

I had to look back into history. From Wiki on Jack Grubman; Jack Grubman Link to Amazon book; Confessions of a Wall Street Analyst: A True Story of Inside Information and Corruption in the Stock Market This is a really good read.

Especially when crazy things happen, and we just watched a whole bunch of that.

I read all the Enron books along with all the Wall Street scandals. The phone stuff was wild too. Grubman name rings a bell. He was a Wall Street analyst. It was all about booking **** in the future - creative accounting - add in Arthur Anderson. At least some went to jail over that ****. We have a high dollar college in town and one of the Alumni started and sponsored a speaking thing about 6 times a year. We got free tickets to see Sherron Watson speak at one of the first ones. She was great. I can't imagine sitting next to Jeff Skilling and the other corporate goons spilling her beans in front of congress. She had some nads...

I would have pulled the rip cord and ran off with the money long ago. I don't get all the stops. You only need one. 36% probably shouldn't be one of them. If the position loses 36% your gonna need around 56% to the upside to get it back. But since we have a endless supply of money printing you might be good.

Interesting. As someone who lived in the belly of the corporate beast, dealing with budgets, and corporate bean counter mentality...This is all Enron accounting. Unrealized gains. Profits promised in the future. The current AI bubble is a perfect example. Those who studied or lived through the past have already watched this movie. It doesn't end well.

Maybe 8 years ago me and the Boss went to Pittsburgh for a baseball game. Bought tickets early and had great seats. Stayed at the hotel down on the island between the baseball park and the football park. Really neat area. All kinds of shops, food places, bars. We were lucky enough to see it the start of the game in daylight, and then after dark. It is a truly beautiful park and area. If you ever get the chance, don't miss it. One of the beauties of this trip, was the trip. We had all day to get there as we couldn't check in until 4, so we took the scenic route. Since I live in mid NW Ohio, we went South and took 30 East. We had an old - un-updated Garmin - and at some point ran out of road. No more 30. 21 miles of hills on a 2 lane winding road to get back to society. Found a town called Paris. Told the Boss - see, I told you I would take you to Paris someday. She wasn't amused. It got better. Once back on the correct route, now maybe even late, we go through the panhandle of West Virginia. Two lane highway through a small town, on a curve, there is a sign beside the road. 8 x 10 piece of plywood done with spray paint that said - FAR WOOD That was worth the trip right there. Wish I had gotten a picture.

That's wild! Just today, somewhere on these here nets, I caught a clip of Bowie and Crosby singing a Christmas song.

Oh brother. Has everything went nuts?

The sprint car guys do a good job of that. They allow the fans in the pits after the races and encourage the traveling teams to interact with them. They do a really good job with this and their fan base is growing. Partially, maybe, because NASCAR seems to becoming less popular. Each circuit now has streaming. Flo Sports covers the one series and the other has their own streaming. Some local tracks have also went to streaming. This has helped the sport too. But the costs are nuts. 74 grand for an engine when most shows pay less that 10k is nuts, but that's what they do. They are good for maybe a dozen shows then need to be freshened up at a cost of over 10 grand, but I don't know the exact costs. There are some crown jewel events during the year that pay around 200k to win, but only a half dozen. The top guy made 800k but many others are nowhere near that. They lose their ass, but most racing teams do. Kind of a funny story about where the drivers come from. Years ago I was in southern Ohio at a dirt race. I was working on a car. Bobby Rahal was there since he lived in nearby Columbus. He was wandering around so I saw him in the pits, but once the show started he went to the press box. They interviewed him and asked what he thought of these cars. Yea, their pretty neat, all the power (over 900 hp and a 1425 lb car with driver) with so little weight they put on quite a show. How would you like to strap into one of them? No way says Bobby.

That's probably not enough money. I follow dirt track sprint car racing. There are two main touring circuits of cars. The cars are pretty much the same. Some costs I am aware of; Engines (some teams with maybe two, and others with half a dozen or more ) = $74,000 each Complete rolling car with engine = $100,000+ and they all have at least one backup. Haulers are commonly sold for several hundred dollars given they are full blown semi-trucks now. Two years ago one team disclosed they spent $1.3 million in travel expenses for the year. These costs don't include a shop to work out of. Even in this crude form of racing top teams need millions of dollars to run one of the circuits between the car, travel, and shop costs. This year, with 4 races left, the top winner made a little over $800,000 (World of Outlaw circuit, one of the two big ones). Not near enough to cover all the costs. Indy car, NASCAR, and F1 budgets would put these guys to shame when it comes to cost. Like the old saying goes "want to make a pile of money racing? Start out with a bigger pile." So true.

And we could go back to one or two Tiger games, but let's not... 😞

The difference between a double play and a line drive hit to the outfield and drive in a run, is a small fraction of an in inch, or a millisecond, at the point of contact. Kinda like golf. We all know how that goes. One itty bitty little thing could have changed the entire outcome. That's the beauty of baseball.

As one who shut this stuff off years ago, and then got hooked again; I thought the entire playoffs were a really good show. As much as I didn't like how it all ended, it was highly entertaining. Drama, long games, a little bit of everything sit on the end of your seat type stuff. I'm glad I watched. Bravo to baseball for this one.

I know most here follow F1, so this is off topic, but racing. Kyle Larson became a 2 time NASCAR champ today. I think that is really cool. He came from the dirt, like many others in the past who were great racers - see Foyt, Andretti, Unser, the list goes on. Those dirt guys can race. I know nothing about F1, but the Indy are people are really missing the boat, there are some really good dirt guys, and that type of racing on asphalt as well, who are really really good. It's all about money and connections. I think it was Johnny Ruthoford of Indy fame who said one year "there are more car salesmen here than race car drivers." That was a long time ago and it hasn't changed much. That said, Larson is a generational talent. I think he will get another crack at Indy this year. I think the last dirt guy to win Indy was Al Unser Jr. in 1994.

What a crazy game and it's only the 4th.

OK, that makes sense. So we have a kind of semi-electonic strike zone. Or a semi-umpire strike zone. Not sure which. This is too complicated. 🙂