Windows 10

Win10 1809/October 2018 Update
“They” say it is coming out tomorrow.
“They” said 1803 would release on April 10, 2018. It was released on the 30th as I recall.
At any rate, you should to a full system image backup today.
I would also consider delaying the update. Every tech site out there has posted a how to. TweakGuide readers already have my advice.
IMHO the update is another “meh” update as the reward is negligible and the risk medium/high.
The only changes I see worth anything are a better Dark Theme and Windows HD Color settings adjustments.
Storage sense (which I don’t use) now has the option to do a disk cleanup. That reminds me…
As the above link stated, “The Disk Cleanup experience (“cleanmgr.exe”) is being deprecated.” Some sites took that and acted like the sky was falling. Either they have no command of the English language or they stopped reading right there. The very next sentence reads, “We’re retaining the Disk Cleanup tool for compatibility reasons.”
Relax, Disk Cleanup isn’t going anywhere.

Audacity 2.3.0
Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.
Download | Release Announcement

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

NASA At 60: A Driving Force For Materials Science And Technology Innovation
“Today, NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a federal agency of the United States of America) celebrates its 60th birthday. Founded on 29th July 1958, NASA first started operating on 1st October in the same year. Sixty years ago, the United States and what was then the Soviet Union were locked in a so-called ‘Space Race’; the competition between these two nations to become the first to escape Earth’s gravitational pull and prove the strength of their technology and innovation.”
Happy 60th NASA!

That sign telling you how fast you’re driving may be spying on you
“The next time you drive past one of those road signs with a digital readout showing how fast you’re going, don’t simply assume it’s there to remind you not to speed. It may actually be capturing your license plate data.”
I guarantee they have pics of me using a universal hand signal toward the camera. I also went by one going downhill my bicycle. Challenge accepted. 32 in a 25.

Jury Verdict Thrown Out in Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Lawsuit
“The ruling reopens the battle over whether Led Zeppelin borrowed from the 1968 song “Taurus” when it composed the classic rock anthem that appears on the 1971 release “Led Zeppelin IV.
Michael Skidmore, the trustee of the Randy Craig Wolfe Trust, sued the band in 2014, arguing that “Stairway to Heaven” ripped off elements of Wolfe’s composition. Wolfe, Spirit’s frontman, died in 1997. A jury ruled in favor of Led Zeppelin in 2016, finding that the two songs were not substantially similar.”
Google “taurus stairway to heaven comparison” if you want to compare. Lots of good videos out there.

Justin Verlander
Saturday we drove up to Baltimore to watch my homeboy Justin Verlander (aka “Kate’s husband“) pitch.
It is supposed to be a 3 hour drive but it was closer to 4. As anyone familiar with Northern Virginia & DC area knows, I95 is a freaking mess. Somehow I always seem to be headed opposite the open E-ZPass lanes.
We stopped at Faidley’s Seafood in Baltimore as we do whenever we are in B’more. Best crabcakes you’ll ever have.
The game was a success as JV pitched 6 scoreless innings and had 10 K’s. Opinion of the Houston sports press is he will pitch game 1 of the ALDS vs the Indians.
This was my first time seeing him in person in a uniform other than the Tigers. I still can’t get used to it.
(click on pic for full size)

Win10 Updated
Only builds 1709, 1803 have updates as of this writing.

1709 & 1803 Fixes
This update includes quality improvements. No new operating system features are being introduced in this update. Key changes include:
Addresses a Microsoft Intune issue that occurs after installing any of the updates released between July 24, 2018 and September 11, 2018. Windows no longer recognizes the Personal Information exchange (PFX) certificate that’s used for authenticating to a Wi-Fi or VPN connection. As a result, Microsoft Intune takes a long time to deliver user profiles because it doesn’t recognize that the required certificate is on the device.

1709 Fixes
Addresses an issue that may prevent a VPN connection from establishing for some users that are using VPN with IKEv2. The connection fails with the error, “Remote Access Error 809.”

Win10 1803 – September 17, 2018—KB4464218 (OS Build 17134.286)
Win10 1709 – September 17, 2018—KB4464217 (OS Build 16299.666)

Google Chrome Updated
Version 69.0.3497.100 for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android released.
Desktop version contains 1 security fix.
Android version contains “bug fixes and improvements.”
Download | Download standalone(full) | Download standalone 64-bit Windows version(full)
Download Google Chrome for Android

CCleaner 5.47
Download (I use the portable version) | Release Announcement
I keep getting questions so…
Yes, I still use CCleaner. Yes, I still recommend CCleaner. But, though many seem not to listen, I keep telling folks NOT TO INSTALL IT. It doesn’t need to be installed and all the issues that have come up have been from the installed versions.
This version has been pulled for some reason. I downloaded 5.47.6701 portable so we will see what happens.
Thanks to James P. for the heads up!

Win10 Updated
IMHO this looks to be a bunch patches for the last borked update. Most of the release notes start with, “Addresses an issue”.

Win10 1803 – July 24, 2018—KB4340917 (OS Build 17134.191)
Win10 1709 – July 24, 2018—KB4338817 (OS Build 16299.579)
Win10 1703 – July 24, 2018—KB4338827 (OS Build 15063.1235)
Win10 1607 – July 24, 2018—KB4338822 (OS Build 14393.2395)

CCleaner 5.45
“Improved”, “Fixed”
“CCleaner now sends a heartbeat every 12 hours which reports up-to-date usage statistics to allow for faster delivery of bug fixes and product improvements”
AFAIK this is only the installed version not the portable version. I watched the portable with Wireshark and it never attempted an network/internet connection.
Download (I use the portable version)

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Russian hackers breached U.S. electric-utility control rooms, feds say
“Hackers working for Russia claimed “hundreds of victims” last year in a giant and long-running campaign that put them inside the control rooms of U.S. electric utilities where they could have caused blackouts, federal officials said. They said the campaign likely is continuing”
Here is a question and I mean this seriously. Why are things like our electric grid accessible from the outside in the first place?

Graphene and the atomic crystals that could see next big breakthrough in tech
“While Van der Waals heterostructures are still in their infancy, impressive new physics and capabilities are already emerging. These include smaller, lighter, more flexible and more efficient versions of solar cells, LEDs, transistors and magnetic memory.”
Interesting stuff.

If a tick bites you, this is what you need to do
Continuing the info I posted Sunday about ticks. Great article.

Waitress body-slams groping customer: ‘No one has the right to put their hands on you’
With video. You go girl!

22% of US population does not speak English at home
“Some 13.5 percent of the U.S. population — 44 million — is foreign born, the highest level ever, and many are not proficient in English, choosing to speak Spanish at home instead.”

Jimmie Tramel: 20 things to know on 40th anniversary of ‘Animal House’
One of my all-time favs.
Some great lines:
Bluto: What? Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Babs: That boy is a P-I-G pig.
Bluto: See if you can guess what I am now. [puts a scoop of mashed potatoes in his mouth and slams his cheeks with his fists and spits it out] I’m a zit! Get it?? [he smiles]
Bluto: They took the bar! The whole f***ing bar!
Dean Wormer: Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Anything “Larry’s evil conscience” said.
Neidermeyer: You’re all worthless and weak! Now drop and give me twenty!
Babs: Greg, honey, is it supposed to be this soft?
Flounder: You guys playing cards?

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Americans have 15 “Perfect” Days a Year
Article goes on to list things that put people in a good mood.

TOP 40 MOOD BOOSTERS
Finding money in your pocket you didn’t know you had 58%
Being able to sleep in with no alarm set 55%
Lying in bed listening to rain fall outside 51%
A small gesture of kindness from somebody in your life 49%
Petting a dog 48%
Performing a small gesture of kindness for somebody in your life 47%
Realizing it’s a beautiful, sunny day 46%
Long, hot shower 44%
A meaningful, long hug from somebody you love 42%
Seeing a friend you haven’t seen in a long time 42%
The first sip of coffee of the day 41%
Plopping down on your bed after a long, tiring day 40%
Walking into an air-conditioned building on a hot day 40%
Baked treats (i.e. fresh blueberry pie) 40%
Listening to your favorite album 37%
Watching the sunset or sunrise 37%
Holding hands with someone you love 36%
Getting new clothes 35%
Cuddling your partner before getting up to start your day 34%
Cuddling with your pet after a long day 33%
Waking up to birds chirping 33%
Petting a cat 33%
Cooking your favorite meal 31%
Happening across a smell you enjoy, from cookies to the smell of rain 31%
Exchanging a genuine smile with a stranger 31%
Sunlight on your skin 31%
Getting a new haircut 30%
Finding a good new book to read 29%
Having a pleasant conversation with a total stranger 28%
Meeting a new person you genuinely like 28%
Eating a healthy food that makes you feel good about yourself 28%
Long soak in the tub 27%
Going to the movies 27%
Receiving a bouquet of flowers from someone you care about 25%
Going for a walk alone 25%
A lazy drive to nowhere in particular 25%
Having a nice, long stretch after sitting for awhile 24%
Ordering delivery 24%
Nice glass of beer or wine after a long day 24%
Realizing you’re going to have a good hair day 23%

I currently don’t have a pet, birds chirping first thing in the morning is why BB guns were invented, my idea of healthy food is a bacon cheese burger with onion straws and jalapenos (they count as veggies), cooking…ROTFL, flowers…hops are flowers!, and since I’ve shaved my head I never have a bad hair day.
And, there is something glaringly obvious missing from the list…

TOP 10 MOOD BOOSTING MUSICAL ACTS
The Beatles 32%
The Eagles 26%
Michael Jackson 25%
Queen 23%
Fleetwood Mac 23%
Bruno Mars 22%
Elton John 20%
Elvis Presley 20%
Adele 20%
Whitney Houston 19%

Agree: The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac.
Meh: The Beatles, Elvis
Hell no: everyone else

THE PERFECT DAY, ACCORDING TO RESPONDENTS
Wake up at 8:15 a.m.
The weather is clear skies with a temperature of 74 degrees fahrenheit
Two friends seen
Three hours spent socializing
Two hours spent eating
One hour exercising
Two hours spent reading
Three hours spent watching TV
Four hours spent with family
Three hours spent outside
Four hours of relaxation
Three hours listening to music
In bed at 10:50 p.m.
ENDS

My perfect average day
Wake up at 8:15 a.m.
The weather is clear skies with a temperature of 74 degrees fahrenheit
Eat leftover pizza.
One hour exercising
Lobster roll for lunch.
Three hours spent socializing (to include a beer or two)
Possibly dinner with friends. Seafood or Italian.
Netflix and chill.
In bed at 10:50 p.m.
ENDS

How ’bout you?

White Water Rafting Advice
I’ve been rafting twice in West Virginia and I’m look for someplace new. Class 4 & 5 preferred. I’ve been looking at maybe the Youghiogheny River and the Wilderness Voyageurs company.
If you have some input on Eastern U.S. white water rafting please reply to this post or contact me.

Windows 10 Updated
Win10 April Update (v1803) has an update. Bunch of fixes:
June 26, 2018—KB4284848 (OS Build 17134.137)
FYI, I went back to build 1709. Too many issues with 1803.

Browser Updates
Chrome 67.0.3396.99 Download | Download standalone(full) | Download standalone 64-bit Windows version(full)
Firefox 61 – Download EN-US 64-bit | All Firefox Versions | Release Notes

Other Software Updates
CCleaner 5.44.6575
Tails 3.8

Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:

Guess Which Place Is The Psychopath Capital of The US, According to Science
1. District of Columbia
2. Connecticut
3. California
4. New Jersey
5 (tie). New York
5 (tie). Wyoming

Creepy Patents Show Facebook’s Relentless Drive to Track Every Detail of Users’ Lives
#DeleteFacebook. It’s not like Zuckerberg needs the money.