After installing the optional Win10 Update Preview KB5003214 this morning, the mythical Microsoft News and interests widget finally appeared.
What a steaming pile.
[Read more…] about Microsoft Microsoft News And Interests Widget
Google Chrome 91
“This update includes 32 security fixes.” Also supposedly fixes the crashing issue some folks had.
Download | Release Info
Eric’s Salsa Recipe
I’m not a fan of vegetables. About the only way I eat them is if they are in spicy Asian style dishes or in fajitas.
Salsa helps me get my veggies in. I use it for “taco salads”, on southwestern fare, on a burger, and as a snack. It’s fresh, delicious, and good for you.

[Read more…] about Eric’s Salsa Recipe
Saturday Random Stuff…
Mp3tag 3.07
2 fixes, support for for formats.
Download | Release Info
Stuff I bookmarked recently. Some off topic, some not:
Google Chrome 90 is crashing for some Windows users; temporary fix available
“Some Windows users are seeing Chrome 90 crash on their machines, though, now that it’s rolling out widely. It appears the issue has mainly been noticed by users in the past 24 hours. When Chrome 90 crashes, the browser as a whole doesn’t close. Instead, individual tabs stop working, and extensions can also crash at random. In some cases, the browser just refuses to launch.”
NirSoft – New “Manage Wireless Networks” tool
“alternative tool to the standard ‘Manage Wireless Networks’ of Windows”
NirSoft creates some of the best Windows utilities on the web. Password recovery, network and system info, and more. I’ve been using Nir Sofer’s programs for years.
Download & Info
Tim Cook plays innocent in Epic v Apple’s culminating testimony
“Apple CEO Tim Cook took his first turn in the witness chair this morning in what is probably the most anticipated testimony of the Epic v. Apple antitrust case. But rather than a fiery condemnation of Epic’s shenanigans and allegations, Cook offered a mild, carefully tended ignorance that left many of the lawsuit’s key questions unanswered, or unanswerable.”
I expect corporate CEOs to lie, but why can’t the press call that out instead of saying “carefully tended ignorance”?
How to install Multimedia Codecs in Linux
“In this brief tutorial, we’ll show you how to install Media Codes on Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE systems.”
Or, you can just use Linux Mint and be done with it.
$649 Dyson Fan vs. $15 Walmart Fan: The Hard Truth
600 Lumens 90 Degree Waterproof Led Tactical Flashlight
Was: $16.99
With Deal: $9.99
You Save: $7.00 (41%)
Coupon shows for some people: Save an extra 5% when you apply coupon.
Deal expired.
Tweaking Windows 10 – Version 21H2
***December 24th, 2021
There are no significant changes from 20H2 (Windows 10 October 2020 Update), to 21H1 (Windows May 2021 Update), to 21H2 (Windows 10 November 2021 Update)
This guide will remain unchanged until 22H1.
The only reasons I’ve put this guide here is to avoid confusion and because…Google…
[Read more…] about Tweaking Windows 10 – Version 21H2
Win10 May 21H1 Is Out
The Windows 10 May 2021 Update is “available”. It is showing up on Windows Update for some but not for me.
I ran the Windows 10 Update Assistant here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
It took about 20 minutes. All I’ve done so far is run O&O Shutup10 to undo the changes the update made.
From the Windows Blog: How to get the Windows 10 May 2021 Update
Bleeping Computer has a good article on the changes: Windows 10 is gaining these nifty enhancements in the next update
Tuesday News
Macrium Reflect 8
“We’re excited to announce the official release of Macrium Reflect v8.0.
Macrium Reflect v8.0 has been comprehensively overhauled to provide a better user experience, and we’ve added some great new functionality as well…
Resilient File System (ReFS) and exFAT support
Dark Theme
Intra-Daily scheduled backups
Removable media Imaging and Cloning support
Automatic partiton resizing when restoring or cloning to different sized disks
New ‘Existing Backups’ view
Improved File and Folder backup wizard
Improved backup file name functionality
New tbFAT driver for mounting File and Folder backups
Redesigned and Improved ‘Log’ view
OAuth 2.0 email authentication for Gmail and Outlook 365
viBoot now includes Oracle VirtualBox support
Please visit our knowledgebase for more information: New in Macrium Reflect 8.0”
Download | Release Notes
AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.5.2 OPTIONAL Drivers
1/2 dozen fixes. Support for Days Gone, Microsoft DirectX 12 Agility SDK & Microsoft Shader Model 6.6.
Download | Release Notes
VMware Workstation 16.1.2
“This release contains security updates and updates VMware Tools to version 11.2.6.”
Download & Info
HWiNFO 7.04
“HWiNFO is an all-in-one solution for hardware analysis and monitoring”
Fixes, improvements, new hardware support.
Download (I use portable) | Release Info
O&O Lanytix 1.0.1339
“portable application that enables quick and easy analysis of the local network”
Minor update.
Download | Changelog
Weekend Random Stuff…
Wise Disk Cleaner v10.4.4
1. Fix the problem that Advanced Cleaner failed to delete files when using Safe deletion.
2. Optimize the scanning speed of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
3. Added for cleaning Sogou Explorer.
4. GUI and usability improvements.
Download (I use portable) | Release Info
Intel Graphics – Windows 10 DCH Drivers
Version: 27.20.100.9466, Date: 5/14/2021
HIGHLIGHTS
Supports 11th Generation Intel Core H-Series mobile Processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics (Codename Tiger Lake – H)
GAMING HIGHLIGHTS
Fix for crash and graphic anomalies seen in Cyberpunk 2077(DX12).
Download & Info
EVGA 600 Ba, 80 Plus Bronze 600w, Power Supply
List Price: $74.99, Price: $39.99, You Save:$35.00 (47%)

[Read more…] about Weekend Random Stuff…
FragAttacks
Lots of news in the last 2 days about newly discovered old “vulnerabilities that affect Wi-Fi devices called “FragAttacks” (which is an awesome name BTW). The press is issuing it’s usual gloom and doom, patch now or you’re finished, dire warnings.
Point one: Wi-Fi Alliance, “There is no evidence of the vulnerabilities being used against Wi-Fi users maliciously.”
Point two direct from https://www.fragattacks.com/ :
The bad news –
“The discovered vulnerabilities affect all modern security protocols of Wi-Fi, including the latest WPA3 specification. Even the original security protocol of Wi-Fi, called WEP, is affected.”
The good news – “Fortunately, the design flaws are hard to abuse because doing so requires user interaction or is only possible when using uncommon network settings…By default devices don’t send fragmented frames. This means that the mixed key attack and the fragment cache attack, on their own, will be hard to exploit in practice, unless Wi-Fi 6 is used.”
Windows is patched, Linux kernel patches imminent, vendors are patching hardware… Use HTTPS, update your OS, patch your stuff, and go on about your business.
How to update your Home WIFI router – SecurityStudio
Security Advisories / Bulletins linked to FragAttacks
These are links to vendors pages which you can use to find updates for your device.
[Read more…] about FragAttacks
Wednesday News
Intel Killer Performance Suite Updated
Version: 2.4.1549, Date: 5/11/2021
Includes wi-fi drivers for several cards and the Killer Networking Software. See release info.
Download & Info
Microsoft Office Updated
Security and other fixes.
How to Install Office Updates.
VIDEOS: ‘Panic buying’ means long lines at gas pumps in Virginia and North Carolina
I had posted a pic of my nearest gas station being out of gas yesterday. I got it at Wawa a few miles away. Now look at what’s happening. There are pics out there of folks hoarding gas in multiple portable containers, fights, and worse. Many places have gas but the lines are ridiculously long. Some are calling it a “panic”. I guess there is some of that but hell, people still gotta get to work.








