Podcasts about Help desk

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Liquid Death Mango Chainsaw and Dr Death -Some of the scientists are rising up: https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/06/scientists-ejected-from-diabetes-conference-for-distributing-journal-reprints/ Jarron: -BS: Donut Labs are a bunch of liars. Sigh. https://electrek.co/2026/06/08/donut-lab-solid-state-battery-exposed-lithium-ion-fraud/ -WWDC https://www.theverge.com/tech/945693/apple-wwdc-2026-biggest-announcements-ios-27 https://www.engadget.com/2190035/apple-is-dropping-support-for-some-pretty-modern-watch-models/ Owen: -This can't go wrong. Ai generated podcasts from amazon+ https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/amazon-alexa-plus-ai-podcasts-1236752477/

Episode summary Host Justin Lake sits down with Leza Isadora, Organizational Change Manager at Puget Sound Energy, who brings more than a decade of experience guiding digital transformations across healthcare, entertainment, government, nonprofit, and energy. Leza makes the case that frontline rollouts rarely fail because of the technology. They fail because leaders move fast on change and rarely stop to see it through the workforce's eyes. Justin and Leza dig into the operational consequences of broken trust, the metrics that translate "warm fuzzy people issues" into the language leadership actually responds to, and the practical mechanics of building support that lasts past go-live. Along the way, Leza shares a true story about a help desk turnover spiral, why 30-60-90 day follow-up plans matter, how to reach frontline workers who never read email, and why a willingness to pause an initiative is often the most strategic move a change leader can make. Key topics covered The operational fallout when frontline workers lose trust in a rollout: workarounds, call-outs, turnover, and erosion of legacy knowledge Connecting change strategy to the metrics leadership cares about, like trouble-ticket volume, time-to-resolution, and turnover rates Building a super user network that draws on early adopters across departments, not just the technically adept Recognizing change champions in ways that stick (callouts, gift cards, and the underrated currency of extra time off) Why personalization at scale starts with surveying past initiatives and reading the data already sitting in HR and engagement dashboards Replacing the project mindset with a sustained model: 30-60-90 day follow-up, hyper-care handoff, and ongoing support Closing the communication gap with field workers who do not read email, do not attend town halls, and do not pick up the phone Why "people don't resist change, they resist being changed" reframes how leaders ask for buy-in Two pieces of advice for change leaders running large-scale technology deployments: always have the conversation, and never be afraid to take a pause About Leza Leza Isadora is an Organizational Change Manager at Puget Sound Energy. She has spent more than ten years supporting digital transformations across healthcare, entertainment, government, nonprofit, and energy sectors, with a current focus on frontline workers navigating wave after wave of new technology. Her background in strategic communications and branding shapes a change approach grounded in trust, transparent dialogue, and respect for the field employees who actually carry the work. Resources & Links Frontline Innovators Podcast: https://skyllful.com/podcast Ginger Luttrell's Super User Revolution: https://sapinsight.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/super-user-revolution-pre-sale Connect with Leza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lezaisadora/

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews François Beaume about the AMRAE 2026 RMIS Panorama available now and about the RISKWORLD 2026 session that François presented. Justin and François discuss ESG functional coverage. They discuss how François uses AI daily. They discuss the continuing increase in RMIS users, moving RIMS out of the niche tool category into an enterprise governance platform. They discuss the 2026 RMIS Panorama findings, the Panorama database, and how you can access it. Listen for insight into the 2026 RMIS Panorama and how your organization compares.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:16] About this episode of RIMScast. We are delighted to welcome back to RIMScast AMRAE President François Beaume. He's here to discuss the findings of the 2026 AMRAE RMIS Panorama. We'll talk all about emerging trends. But first… [:48] RIMS Virtual Workshops. The next RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep with AFERM will be held on June 16th and 17th. The next RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep with PARIMA will be held virtually on July 21st and 22nd. Links to registration are in this episode's notes. [1:06] You can enroll now in the RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management hosted by the famous James Lam. Beginning July 15th, workshops will be held bi-weekly from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The registration link is in the show notes. [1:27] The RIMS ERM Conference 2026 will be held on November 19th and 20th in Columbus, Ohio. We want to hear from you. Submit a session proposal by June 19th to reach engaged practitioners, innovators, and leaders looking for guidance they can utilize right away. [1:45] Help define what's next for Enterprise Risk Management. Submit a session proposal by Friday, June 19th. A link is in this episode's show notes. [1:53] Folks, through the generosity of industry partners, RIMS has launched The Foundation for Risk Management™, which provides scholarships for early-career professionals to attend RIMS events like the RIMS Texas Regional Conference, RIMS Canada Conference, and RISKWORLD. [2:11] The Foundation also helps beneficiaries earn their RIMS-CRMP and fund research projects. To learn more or contribute to the Foundation, visit RIMS.org/FRM and visit the link in this episode's show notes. [2:27] RIMS is back on YouTube. Our handle is @RIMSOfficialChannel. We've got plenty of videos there, including RIMScast, RIMScast Canada video podcasts, and other informative and entertaining content from RIMS. Subscribe to the channel today! [2:46] On with the Show! Our guest today is making his third appearance here on RIMScast. He is the Senior Vice President for Risks and Insurance at Sonepar, and he is the President of AMRAE, the Association for the Management of Risks and Insurance in Enterprises. [3:04] François Beaume is here to discuss the 2026 RMIS Panorama, published by AMRAE, in partnership with EY. Panorama is free and publicly available. [3:14] Panorama provides an in-depth look at the organizations and professionals who are using risk management information systems, how well they've adapted, and guidance for those seeking their first or newest framework. It's always great to speak with him. Let's get to it! [3:28] Interview! François Beaume, Welcome Back to RIMScast! [3:36] François has been Chairman at AMRAE for a year and will be for two more years. Because of his role at AMRAE, Justin wanted to have him on the show to speak about this year's RMIS Panorama. [4:04] Justin mentions a difference between last year's RMIS Panorama and this year's RMIS Panorama. Last year, AI felt like an emerging capability. This year's report shows a 20-point jump in planned or actual AI integration and an 8-point increase in functional coverage. [4:19] At the same time, people aren't always happy with AI. The satisfaction part is still a little bit behind. Justin asks, Are we entering a phase where expectations are outpacing execution? [4:32] François says, Yes, probably. AI has moved faster in CEOs' and leaders' minds than in the organization. Everyone wants the data, governance, and skills. Educating the workforce users takes time. The ambition was there, but the "plumbing" is catching up. [5:11] François says that is what is being reflected in the 2026 RMIS Panorama's deep dive on AI. [5:29] François says he uses AI all day long for various things. As a risk manager, he uses it to increase his efficiency and daily productivity. He thinks that is quite common. He says it's also what we need for faster and better analysis. [6:00] Daily analysis from an AI engine using trusted sources is much faster than manual analysis. Now he has the time to tighten it, understand it, and complement it. [6:44] SONEPAR is using it for their benefit and to better spread risk management principles throughout the organization through Helpdesk or Chatbot, allowing people who are less skilled in risk management or insurance to ask questions through the tools to get support. [7:05] Those tools answer almost 90% of the questions. The remaining questions go to the Risk Management team because they are in a gray area. SONEPAR is using AI more and more and is entering a phase where they are looking at automating some risk management processes. [7:33] François says he is looking at automating business partner assessments, a cumbersome and complex process that the Risk Management team is doing with multiple tools. [7:49] Now, they are trying to streamline it, still with humans making the decisions, based on an AI data set that will be faster and easier to produce and much more reliable. [8:24] Justin says one of the more surprising findings in the RMIS Panorama is that ESG Functional Coverage dropped by 15 points this year. François explains why he thinks this is the case. It's not ESG fatigue, but it's in the way companies are approaching ESG. [9:22] François says a lot of ESG features are moved out of risk management information systems into dedicated tools and sometimes into dedicated teams. In the beginning, some ESG features were encapsulated in Risk Management systems. [9:39] François says it's less and less the case, at least in the tools that are sold in Europe. In the U.S., it could be more mixed. Separating ESG from Risk Management is more linked to maturity and topical evolution, rather than fatigue or a decrease in the importance of ESG. [10:06] Justin says the report also suggests that functional coverage overall has stabilized, which Justin asks if that indicates a mature market. François speaks of maturity and breaks down the RMIS Panorama, made from three surveys: Vendors, Risk Managers, and Insurers. [10:43] Maturity is reflected by a mix of these studies. Almost 250 Risk Managers from 36 countries took the survey. They want smarter features, better insight, better connections, and better decisions. They want the tools RMIS is using to be part of the group's way of functioning. [11:27] François says this is not yet the case. The tools are a bit apart and not fully connected with the CRM and other tools. François says they are starting to change. The risk managers using these tools are expecting change to come in the next few years. [11:52] Justin asks if it's easier today for a startup to build from the ground up with their Risk Management Information System embedded in their processes, or for an established organization. François says today it's easier for both, but big groups are more complex. [12:39] A Quick Break! There are so many other wonderful RIMS events coming up in 2026. The 2026 Florida RIMS Educational Conference will be held from July 28th through August 1st at the lovely Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida. A link to the event is in this episode's show notes. [12:57] Register now for the Second Annual RIMS Texas Regional Conference, which will be held from August 10th through 12th at the Grand Hyatt on the San Antonio River Walk. [13:08] The 11th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will return to the Old Post Office on Thursday, September 24th, 2026, in Chicago. Visit ChicagolandRiskForum.org for more information. [13:18] The RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held from October 4th through the 7th in Seattle, Washington. Registration is open, and you can also submit a session. Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and the link in this episode's show notes for more information. [13:35] Save the dates October 18th through the 21st. We will be in Quebec City to celebrate the 50th Live RIMS Canada Conference. Booth sales are already open. Advance registration will open on June 10th. [13:50] Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca for more information. Also, remember to check out RIMS.org/Canada for our spinoff show, RIMScast Canada, hosted by National Conference Committee Chair, Aaron Lukoni. [14:04] The RIMS ERM Conference 2026 will be held on November 18th and 19th in Columbus, Ohio. The deadline for educational content submissions is Friday, June 19th. Get submissions in now. The link is in this episode's show notes. Registration opens in July. [14:27] Let's Return to Our Interview with François Beaume! [14:36] François Beaume presented at RISKWORLD 2026. You can check out the materials from his presentation on RIMS.org/ASC. You will have had to have registered for or attended RISKWORLD 2026 to check it out. We're here to continue the dialog. [15:12] François feels his session went well. There were 50 to 55 people gathered there to listen and take notes. For François, it was pleasant to do. [16:00] François says you have a feeling when you are connecting with an audience. You can see that they are following you, and the message is passing from you to them. [16:51] François says, If you are losing your audience, you can try to use humor. Sometimes you succeed. He tells of a session in a noisy room, where everybody, including himself, was provided with a helmet, to listen to like a podcast. He could not feel if they were getting the message or not. [17:47] When presenting, you try to hold the attention of the room. Justin says that sometimes he locks eyes with somebody who's listening and then talks to that person and hopes that others will pick up on that energy. [18:18] Justin says risk management is not the easiest topic to make exciting. You have to figure out ways to jazz it up a little bit. [18:31] François says if you are convinced that the topic is interesting, that conviction, at a certain point, will pass through the mic and go to the room. If you are not convinced, the public will feel it. Justin says, If you are not excited to present, the audience will not be captivated. [18:58] François notes that he is French and speaks English like a Frenchman, so he has to manage that. His message may not be phrased as the audience expects. The way an American would phrase it is not the way I am using it. Justin stresses listening better to different accents. [19:58] Justin says François is a very good presenter, and the RISKWORLD audience seemed engaged in his message. Justin says if one person walks away with something actionable, it was worthwhile. François says, "Mission accomplished!" [20:23] Another Quick Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's Risk Manager on Campus application period is now open, and it will close on June 30th. Grant awardees, colleges, and universities are typically notified in September. [20:43] The Course Development Grant application deadline for Interval Number 2 will be on June 15th, 2026. Award notifications will be sent out in late July. [20:58] General Grant applications are open, and the application deadline is July 30th. Internship Grant applications open on August 15th and close on October 15th. [21:09] Links to each of these grants are in this episode's show notes. Visit SpencerEd.org for more information. [21:17] The Spencer 2026 Funding Their Future Gala will be held on Thursday, September 17th, from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. at a different venue this year. It will be at the fabulous Waldorf Astoria in New York City. [21:32] Sponsorship opportunities and benefits are available now. A link to the Funding Their Future Gala is in this episode's show notes. [21:40] Next week's guest is the Funding Their Future Gala Honoree, Marya Propis! More Spencer celebrities and board members will be making appearances on RIMScast this summer, as well. [21:53] Let's Conclude Our Interview with François Beaume! [22:09] Justin says the Panorama notes an increase in organizations with more than 200 RMIS users. Does that signal that RMIS is becoming an enterprise-wide infrastructure, or is it still a niche tool for risk teams? [22:26] François says that this is really positive. A Risk Management Information System is not a niche risk tool anymore. It's becoming part of the company infrastructure. [22:44] Once you have hundreds of users, expectations explode, the momentum is there, and user patience drops. As the tool starts to become more massive and interconnected with other tools, you have to manage expectations. The scope of usage of these tools is widening. [23:16] You have not only niche risk usage, but you also have risk management, internal control, insurance, compliance, etc., that are managed inside the tool. The tool reaches all areas of development. The momentum is self-generating. [24:15] François says executive involvement in RMIS usage is positive. Executives want clarity from dashboards. They want to know what matters, why it matters, and what we can do next. They want the deep insight of the tool. They may not go into the tool, but will use the dashboard. [25:10] François speaks of the progress of the techniques of Risk Management Information Systems. Data mining, SaaS contracts, and AI usage have contributed to making RMIS easier to deploy, connect, and access in order to load data, analyze data, and extract data. [26:08] Now is a time of wider usage of Risk Management Information Systems; once they have been adopted, they are there for life, and then you have to make them evolve. [26:21] This means that we have more discussions inside the corporations on RMIS evolutions and replacement. Are we able to make it evolve on its own, or is it time to change? If yes, what kind of process can I depend on to contemplate and manage that change? [26:56] This is executive level. You have created expectations. You have provided dashboards and KPIs, and you have to manage the production. Once it's done, you need a different momentum to run the production and make it better and more accurate over time. It's not easy. [27:40] With their partner EY, AMRAE is finalizing the deployment of the 2026 Panorama Sessions. The French translation will be released by mid-June, and explanation sessions will be run with vendors, risk managers, insurers, and brokers. [28:05] François says AMRAE is already working on the 2027 Panorama, which will be ready for the next RISKWORLD session in New Orleans. [28:27] If someone wants to participate in the Panorama, they need to contact AMRAE. Risk managers will be contacted by the risk management association of the country where they operate. If you are a vendor, you can contact AMRAE. AMRAE contacts insurers and brokers. [29:35] Justin says if you wish to participate, reach out. Go through your risk association where you have membership, like RIMS, FIRMA, or IFRIMA. The confidential information collected helps educate the global risk community. This Panorama is very important for us. [30:08] François says that inside the Panorama, all the contact details are available. As part of the panel, you have access to an online data form. The Panorama has a PDF version, a snapshot of what's in the database. The full database is accessible to anyone. [30:27] François says that as a risk manager or a vendor, you can run your own analysis by filtering and sorting the Panorama database. [30:45] Justin says that's the nice thing about it: AMRAE has made it complimentary and is broadening the horizons of the global risk community by doing so. [30:57] Justin says, I do miss recording with you in person. So, next year, hopefully we get a chance to see each other and have some Cajun food, put the mic up, and eat some jambalaya and talk. It will be great. I want to thank you again, and you're welcome back any time. [31:17] Special thanks again to François Beaume for joining us here on RIMScast! We look forward to seeing him at a future RIMS event. You can visit AMRAE.fr to access the free and publicly available RMIS Panorama 2026. [31:34] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [32:03] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [32:21] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [32:39] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [32:55] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [33:09] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [33:21] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continued support!   Links: RIMS ERM Conference 2026 | November 19‒20 in Columbus, Ohio | Session Submission Deadline: Friday, June 19 RIMS Canada Conference — Oct. 18‒21, 2026 | Quebec City | www.rimscanadaconference.ca | Registration Opens June 10 RIMScast on YouTube! Spencer Educational Foundation — Scholarships and Grants | Open Calls and Timelines. RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | July‒Sept. 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam | Register Now! 2026 Florida RIMS Educational Conference | July 28‒Aug. 1 | Register Now RIMS Texas Regional Conference 2026 | Aug. 10‒12 in San Antonio | Register Now! ChicagoLand Risk Forum | Sept. 24, 2026 RIMS Western Regional Conference — Oct. 4‒7, 2026 | Seattle, WA | Register Today and Submit an Educational Session! RIMS Risk Management Magazine | Contribute | Look for the Awards Edition in "Digital Issues"! RIMS Now RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) | Insights Video Series Featuring Joe Milan! RIMS, the Foundation for Risk Management The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS-CRMP Stories RIMScast Canada — Episodes Now Live RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RISKWORLD 2026 Presentations Available via Attendee Service Center — www.RIMS.org/Asc - and via the RIMS Events App RMIS Panorama: https://www.amrae.fr/bibliotheque-de-amrae/2026-rmis-panorama Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep with PARIMA | July 21‒22, 2026 RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep with AFERM | June 16‒17, 2026 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops   Upcoming RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "Strategy and Change with Ward Ching and Aaron Olson" "Live from RISKWORLD 2026!" "The Evolving Role of the Risk Analyst" "AI and the Future of Risk with Dan Chuparkoff" "Live from RISKWORLD 2025" "AI Risks and Compliance with Chris Maguire"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: "AI-Scale, Risk Ready: Engineering Controls for the New Data Center Boom" (New!) | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Facing Into Risk: Navigating the New Risk Landscape" (New!) | Sponsored by AXA XL "Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges" | Sponsored by AXA XL "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL 'Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against an Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Manny Padilla!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: François Beaume, SVP Risks and Insurance, Sonepar President of AMRAE   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.

Welcome to this week's episode of the PEBCAK Podcast!  We've got four amazing stories this week so sit back, relax, and keep being awesome!  Be sure to stick around for our Dad Joke of the Week. (DJOW) Follow us on Instagram @pebcakpodcast   Please share this podcast with someone you know!  It helps us grow the podcast and we really appreciate it!   Simple 6 signup link https://simple6.co/r/CFUR98   Meta's AI support bot was weaponized to hijack Instagram accounts, including the Obama White House page, by tricking it into adding attacker-controlled emails during password resets. https://x.com/zachxbt/status/2061251183675949365?s=46 https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/instagram-users-locked-out-after-meta-ai-abused-to-steal-accounts/ https://krebsonsecurity.com/2026/06/hackers-used-metas-ai-support-bot-to-seize-instagram-accounts/ Meta's AI customer support bot was socially engineered into resetting account passwords for targets, exposing the new attack surface that AI-powered support creates — and enabling hijacks that MFA would have blocked.   A Google security engineer was arrested and charged with insider trading after using confidential "Year in Search" data to pocket $1.2M on the prediction market Polymarket. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-charges-google-security-engineer-with-polymarket-insider-trading/ Operating under the alias "AlphaRaccoon," Michele Spagnuolo went 22-for-23 on Google search trend bets using nonpublic internal data — marking the second high-profile Polymarket insider trading arrest this year, following a Special Forces soldier who bet on the Maduro raid he was part of.   New data shows 55% of companies regret their AI-driven layoffs, with half already quietly reversing them — the so-called "Layoff Boomerang." https://medium.com/@curiouser.ai/the-great-ai-layoff-boomerang-68e38c88fa7d Forrester, Gartner, and PwC data confirm the "replace humans with AI" thesis is failing: companies that cut aggressively are scrambling to rehire at higher cost, while firms that augmented their workers are seeing 3x revenue growth per employee.   Google's Verily is seeking EPA approval to release up to 64 million Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes in Florida and California to crash disease-carrying mosquito populations. https://x.com/bulltheoryio/status/2060810332831129782?s=46 https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/06/04/google-mosquito-release-florida-california/90384899007/ The Debug Project's sterile male mosquitoes mate with wild females but produce no viable eggs — a technique that's already shown 80–90% suppression of Aedes aegypti in prior trials and has the internet predictably losing its mind.   Dad Joke of the Week (DJOW)   Find the hosts on LinkedIn: Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlouie/ Glenn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennmedina/ Raja - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajazkhalid/

Tony: -Carbonation Station: C4 Jolly Ranchers -Asus ProArt P16 (Timely): https://press.asus.com/news/press-releases/asus-proart-p16-p14-mini-pc-nvidia-rtx-spark-computex-2026/ -Nvidia consumer SoC breaks cover (Timely): https://www.engadget.com/2184558/nvidia-rtx-spark-chip-windows-pcs/ -Bambu A2L (lightning): https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/new-bambu-lab-a2l-3d-printer-technical-specifications-and-pricing-252057/ Jarron:  -A single-dose drug can drastically lower your cholesterol:⚡ https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/05/one-dose-of-gene-editing-drug-cut-bad-cholesterol-62-for-months-in-small-trial/ -Timely-AMD socket support is unparalleled:⚡ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/06/amd-extends-socket-am5-support-through-at-least-2029-am4-refuses-to-die/ -But also, their output is just pretty sad lately:⚡ https://www.theverge.com/tech/940524/amd-computex-am5-promise-2029-rx9070gre-7700x3d-5800x3d -Timely-Slate truck goes up for preorder on June 24th:⚡ https://www.engadget.com/2183143/slate-ev-truck-pre-orders-will-open-on-june-24/ Owen: -The risks of building on Open Source technology https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/05/inside-the-fight-to-force-vizio-to-share-linux-based-source-code-for-its-tvs-os/ Lando: -Distributed Data Center! SPAN wants to use your home to host AI Servers! https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/05/the-newest-ai-boom-pitch-host-a-mini-data-center-at-your-home/

Tony: -Carbonation Station: El Jefe -Trump phone update: https://www.engadget.com/2179503/trump-mobile-has-exposed-customer-personal-data-including-home-addresses-and-phone-numbers/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox-Engadget&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1779467521 Jarron:  -New Ferrari looks…interesting: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/937077/ferrari-luce-ev-apple-car-jony-ive-design -Dyson PencilWash review Owen: -Nature finds a way…OpenAI 5.5 https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/04/openai-codex-system-prompt-includes-explicit-directive-to-never-talk-about-goblins/ -I'm not crazy YOU'RE crazy! https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/26/05/23/0039205/pentagon-releases-second-batch-of-ufo-videos-first-hand-testimony Lando: -AI Radio Stations and DJs - (This will probably be a bit longer of an item, especially for me) https://andonlabs.com/blog/andon-fm 

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Redbull Summer Edition -The Android Show I/O 2026: https://www.engadget.com/2171038/everything-announced-at-android-show-google-io-2026/ -New super high end Sony headphones: https://www.engadget.com/2176369/sony-1000x-the-collexion-review/ Jarron:  -Hauntings could be caused by infrasound: https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/04/that-spooky-sensation-likely-due-to-rumbling-pipes-not-spirits/ -Google I/O: https://www.theverge.com/tech/933415/google-io-2026-biggest-announcements-ai-gemini -Elon Musk loses. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Elon Musk Loses Lawsuit Against OpenAI -Hell has frozen over: AT＆amp;T, Verizon, T-Mobile Team Up To Eliminate 'Dead Zones' Across US Owen: -Sad Musk. https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/05/18/1845222/elon-musk-loses-lawsuit-against-openai -WTF Plex?! Plex's lifetime subscription cost is tripling to $750 Lando: -We are living in the future!! Pizza delivery by drone! https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/little-caesars-just-made-history-with-drone-delivery

Tony: -Carbonation Station: The Battle of Blue Razz -Ebay tells Gamestop to pound sand: https://www.engadget.com/2170578/ebay-rejects-gamestop-offer/#Echobox=1778585519 -Some more info on the mega datacenter coming to Utah: https://www.abc4.com/news/northern-utah/box-elder-data-center-heat-atomic-bombs/   Owen: -Scientists have cured a particular form of deafness: https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/04/24/2042247/fda-gives-green-light-to-the-first-gene-therapy-for-deafness?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -The FCC (wisely) decides to soften foreign consumer router ban, proving once again they have no idea what they're doing. https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint-security/fcc-softens-foreign-router-ban   Lando: -Copyright Lawsuit Updates; specifically around if ISPs are to be held accountable to pirated content on their networks https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/05/sonys-failed-war-against-internet-piracy-may-doom-other-copyright-lawsuits/   Lang: -Spilling NIH grant approval tea https://www.science.org/content/article/nih-shake-grant-decision-making-draws-concerns-political-meddling -Thanks Covid, you just keep on giving https://news.ohsu.edu/2025/07/24/study-suggests-long-covid-is-more-prevalent-than-previously-thought

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Celsius Electric Vibe -Run from Gamestop while you still can TD: https://www.ign.com/articles/gamestop-ceo-ryan-cohen-gives-bizarre-new-interview-on-56-billion-ebay-offer-cant-say-exactly-where-hell-get-all-the-money-from -Utah passes unenforceable law to curb online anonymity: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/vpn/utah-becomes-first-us-state-to-target-vpn-use-with-age-verification-law -Utah approves world largest data center: https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/05/04/utah-data-center-final-vote-box/ Jarron:  -Dyson HushJet Mini review -iOS 26.5 coming with encryption for RCS: https://www.engadget.com/2164303/ios-26-5-will-add-end-to-end-encryption-for-rcs-messages/ Owen: -Jeeve's and his home ask.com are no more.  https://www.ask.com/ https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/05/03/1939253/its-goodbye-time-for-jeeves-and-askcom---relics-of-yesterdays-internet -New Lithium-Plasma Rocket Engine from NASA https://www.universetoday.com/articles/new-lithium-plasma-engine-passes-key-mars-propulsion-test Sqinky:  -Do you ever have a STL that you want to print, but you want to add a texture to it?  This is what you're looking for https://bumpmesh.com/

Enabling mid-market businesses to ramp up customer support and employee experience is Freshworks' primary focus. The company is expanding its AI suite — AI Agents, AI Copilot and AI Insights — to handle a range of business tasks, from password resets to product returns, for its 75,000 customers. In this Tech Disruptors podcast episode, Freshworks CEO Dennis Woodside speaks with Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Niraj Patel about the company's evolution from a small-business software provider to serving mid-market (500-5,000 employees) and enterprise clients. Tune in as Woodside discusses the SaaSpocalypse, opportunities beyond the IT service desk such as asset and operations management, evolving buyer behavior with AI tools, AI pricing and more.

No matter what late April got up to, the first day of May brings another shower of sonic stories made up of various reports from this week's text editions of Charlottesville Community Engagement. I'm Sean Tubbs and I got my professional start as an intern at a public radio in Roanoke over thirty years ago and believe the audio form is a good way to get information out to people. If you've not heard any of these stories before, today is a good day to listen. If not, this Friday edition of the newsletter provides links to just some of what I've reported this week:In this edition:* City Council allows CRHA to form a nonprofit for fundraising purposes (read the story)* Charlottesville Area Transit director briefs CARTA (read the story)* Emily Couric Leadership Forum awards $250,000 in scholarships (read the story)* Regional cigarette tax board turns five this October (read the story)* UVA Finance Committee briefed on need for tuition increase (read the story)First shout-out: Piedmont Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale Spring is well underway but there's still time to get your home and garden the way you want. Get ready for the Piedmont Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale coming up on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Albemarle Square Shopping Center, U.S. 29 North at Rio Road, Charlottesville. The Piedmont Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale will offer thousands of annuals, perennials, vegetables, fruit-bearing plants, herbs and houseplants, including a wide selection of native plants. Bags of locally produced compost also will be available.In addition, shoppers can purchase gently used tools, yard ornaments and outdoor furniture at The Green Elephant, a garden-themed thrift store. Cash and credit cards will be accepted. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help customers with their plant selections and will staff a Help Desk for answering gardening questions. An array of displays and information tables will cover such topics as conservation landscaping, soil health, composting, pest management, and controlling invasive plants.All proceeds support the many free and low-cost programs the Piedmont Master Gardeners offer to the community. Learn more at their website! Second shout-out: Inaugural Charlottesville Filipino Spring FestivalThe Inaugural Charlottesville Filipino Spring Festival is coming to the IX Art Park on this Saturday from 3:00 to 8:00pm. This free, family-friendly event celebrates Filipino culture through cuisine, music, and dance, with performances by local and regional artists, including traditional and contemporary Filipino dance and musical groups. There'll be a marketplace showcasing food vendors, retail businesses, artists, crafters, and nonprofits. The celebration aims to promote greater understanding of the Filipino American community in Central Virginia. Check them out on Instagram! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Tony: -Carbonation Station: NOS Guava -Support free overhang printing: https://hackaday.com/2026/04/28/new-slicer-enables-horizontal-overhangs-without-support/ -Food science! https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-create-a-safe-and-natural-wash-that-strips-pesticides-off-fruit-and-slows-spoilage/ Jarron:  -Our real-life three body problem is just a conspiracy theory: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/04/22/1934234/the-missing-scientist-story-is-unbelievably-dumb?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Zephyrus Duo is pricey, but cool: https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/asus-dual-screen-rog-zephyrus-duo-is-now-on-pre-order-starting-at-4500-130041463.html?src=rss -Framework debuts Laptop 13 Pro: https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/915508/framework-announces-laptop-13-pro-the-macbook-pro-for-linux-users -Elon Musk and Tesla once again promised something they did not deliver: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/917167/elon-musk-tesla-hw3-fsd Owen: -You guys said this website was reputable. https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/fitness-trackers/forget-smart-glasses-i-saw-the-future-of-smart-contact-lenses-and-theyre-coming-sooner-than-you-think https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/fitness/an-iphone-moment-for-your-eyes-why-xpanceo-is-betting-big-on-smart-contact-lenses-as-the-future-of-ar?shem=dsdf,sharefoc,agadiscoversdl,,sh/x/discover/m1/4 Lando: -Origins of Screen Addiction (Timely!) https://www.npr.org/2026/04/21/nx-s1-5776665/surprising-origin-features-superglue-kids-adults-to-screens -Fire on the Moon, for science! https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/04/nasa-plans-to-start-a-fire-on-the-moon/

The Cybercrime Magazine Podcast brings you daily cybercrime news on WCYB Digital Radio, the first and only 7x24x365 internet radio station devoted to cybersecurity. Stay updated on the latest cyberattacks, hacks, data breaches, and more with our host. Don't miss an episode, airing every half-hour on WCYB Digital Radio and daily on our podcast. Listen to today's news at https://soundcloud.com/cybercrimemagazine/sets/cybercrime-daily-news. Brought to you by our Partner, Evolution Equity Partners, an international venture capital investor partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs to develop market leading cyber-security and enterprise software companies. Learn more at https://evolutionequity.com

Cosmetics giant Rituals discloses data breach Apple fixes iOS flaw exploited by the FBI Microsoft Teams Helpdesk impersonation Get the show notes here: https://cisoseries.com/cybersecurity-news-rituals-cosmetics-breach-fbi-ios-flaw-fixed-teams-helpdesk-malware-impersonation/ Huge thanks to our sponsor, ThreatLocker ThreatLocker is extending Zero Trust beyond endpoint control. With their recent releaseof Zero Trust Network Access and Zero Trust Cloud Access, access isn't based on credentials alone, it requires the right user, the right device, and the right conditions. Because as we've seen in recent large-scale CRM breaches, stolen credentials and misconfigurations can expose massive amounts of data. With ThreatLocker, nothing is exposed, and access is limited to exactly what's needed. Learn more and start your free trial today at ThreatLocker.com/CISO.

The British government subsidized the publication of North America's first continuously published newspaper which was produced for the first time ever on April 24, 1704. All issues of The Boston Newsletter had to be approved by the Royal Governor. Aside from one very brief ad buy that was discontinued, Charlottesville Community Engagement receives no contribution from the government and relies on readers and listeners to maintain its independence. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I'm glad to get to report on the details of local and state government as best as I can.The links below go to Information Charlottesville, the companion website to this newsletter. In this edition:* Albemarle County Supervisors adopt a budget for FY2027 that includes $7 million for affordable housing and $386,000 for the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial Foundation (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors thank staff for turning meeting minutes around faster (read the story)* Council briefed on use of just under $4.5 million in surplus funds including $1.1 million for Angus Road crosswalk improvements (read the story)* City Council poised to reallocate $1.8M to cover cost overruns for Meadow Creek Trail, Pollocks Branch bridge (read the story)* Charlottesville City Manager Sanders provides update on work plan (read the story)* Charlottesville seeks applicants for boards and commissions (learn more)New here? Sign up via email to get all of the various items. Next up: The Week Ahead on Sunday!First shout-out: Piedmont Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale Spring is well underway but there's still time to get your home and garden the way you want. Get ready for the Piedmont Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale coming up on Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Albemarle Square Shopping Center, U.S. 29 North at Rio Road, Charlottesville. The Piedmont Master Gardeners' Spring Plant Sale will offer thousands of annuals, perennials, vegetables, fruit-bearing plants, herbs and houseplants, including a wide selection of native plants. Bags of locally produced compost also will be available.In addition, shoppers can purchase gently used tools, yard ornaments and outdoor furniture at The Green Elephant, a garden-themed thrift store. Cash and credit cards will be accepted. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help customers with their plant selections and will staff a Help Desk for answering gardening questions. An array of displays and information tables will cover such topics as conservation landscaping, soil health, composting, pest management, and controlling invasive plants.All proceeds support the many free and low-cost programs the Piedmont Master Gardeners offer to the community. Learn more at their website!Second shout-out is a PSA for ways to pay for this newsletterThe above shout-out is something someone has paid for at an introductory rate that enables me to continue experimenting with using this space to bring in a little extra revenue in order to keep my living afloat. I'm not ready to publish the media kit, but the hope is to have a low-cost way for businesses to get their work out and for me to have a little more of a cushion.Running Town Crier Productions is a seven day a week job, something I'm very glad to do because I believe this work is important. About 90 percent of my time goes into the reporting and other production related tasks. The other ten percent? Murky. Mysterious. Crucially important.We're close to 5,000 subscribers on Substack, and just under a fifth of the audience is a paid subscriber or makes a charitable contribution. . These days there's very little premium content and there likely won't be for a while. There could be in the future, but I do this work because I want as many people as possible to know what's happening in local and regional government. I want to double the number of stories.Want to help? There are many ways to do so and let me once again put all the social media links.* I created a BlueSky account because I missed Twitter but I don't do much except post links to Information Charlottesville stories. I'm not interested in live-posting anything, but I do miss interaction sometimes. I may experiment.* There are 442 followers of the Town Crier Productions Facebook page which is currently solely used to let people know when a story has been posted to Information Charlottesville. I may begin using this to do live video of podcast recording. Interested?* There are slightly more followers on Instagram, but I have paused posting here because I want to make the images look better and so far that's not been worth investing the time.* I post a version of the Week Ahead on Reddit each Sunday which is a little shorter. This is intended to attract people to the newsletter and many of you got here from there. But there is no official page and you have to know my username. Maybe I'll change that in the future?* There is no TikTok page nor anything else with video because I do not know how to do that very well. One day I'd like to experiment, but I also don't like being seen.* There is no new content on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network but it predates this newsletter by 15 years. I had a good idea and all I wanted to do was use to to tell stories about the community. Here I am still, hoping to get more people involved.Now on to the next set of stories but I think I may take the afternoon off now that this is posted. Thanks for reading or listening!Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Kirkland Energy Driiiiiinks!!!! -Need anymore proof that AI is an overhyped buzzword?: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/15/allbirds-bird-stock-shoes-ai.html -Voyager 1 - C'mon little buddy! You can make it! https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/voyager-1-gets-emergency-instrument-shutdown-to-solve-escalating-power-crisis-and-give-it-about-a-year-of-breathing-room-interstellar-spacecrafts-nuclear-power-source-is-dying-leading-to-intensifying-countermeasures -Amazon Accused of Price Fixing: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-allegedly-pressured-companies-to-raise-product-prices-with-other-retailers-115302642.html Jarron:  -Wearable airbag for cyclists: A sleek, wearable airbag for cyclists is nearly here -Goodbye Tim Apple.  https://www.theverge.com/tech/915213/tim-cook-apple-ceo-stepping-down-john-ternus -Goodbye stupid 32GB FAT32 limit: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/04/17/1623236/microsoft-increases-the-fat32-limit-from-32gb-to-2tb?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Trouble in Donut Lab's paradise? https://www.engadget.com/transportation/donut-labs-battery-claims-reportedly-subject-of-whistleblower-complaint-142133269.html?src=rss -Artificial smells with no chemicals needed: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/04/16/079216/researchers-induce-smells-with-ultrasound-no-chemical-cartridges-required?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed Owen: -The future is now. SnapMaker Coffee maker. https://www.voxelmatters.com/a-3d-printer-that-can-brew-coffee-snapmakers-done-it/ -Another wonderful amalgamation. https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cryptomining/inventor-showcases-3d-printer-filament-dryer-that-mines-bitcoins-and-dries-filament-with-waste-heat-capable-of-6-th-s-at-140w-joins-bitcoin-mining-3d-printer-in-hobbyist-focused-miner-lineup -WorldID to fight Deepfakes. Isn't this like the gatemaster and the keymaster being the same person? https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/17/sam-altman-s-world-project-launches-major-upgrade-to-fight-deepfakes-and-bots?shem=dsdf,sharefoc,agadiscoversdl,,sh/x/discover/m1/4 Lando: -OpenClaw AI Discussion and Questions (This can save) https://openclaw.ai/ -Apple ends Intel Support https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/18/macos-27-compatibility-change/

In Episode 178 of the Cyber Threat Perspective podcast, hosts Spencer and Tyler take a practitioner-first look at the internal security controls that genuinely make attackers' lives difficult, drawing directly from their experience conducting hundreds of internal penetration tests every year.This isn't a vendor comparison or a theoretical framework. It's an honest account of what works, what gets misconfigured, and what separates organizations that slow attackers down from those that don't.Topics covered include:Application Control — ThreatLocker and Magic Sword — why app control is probably the single most effective endpoint control against attackers, how the learning period works, why jumping straight to enforcement mode is a mistake, and why executive buy-in is as critical as the technical implementationWDAC vs. traditional App Locker — the differences, what closed-book enforcement actually means for attackers, and the two schools of thought on allow-list vs. block-list approachesStrong identity controls — MFA beyond RDP including SMB, WinRM, and HTTP via products like Silverfort, why push notification MFA falls short, and why number matching mattersProtected Users Group — one of the most powerful and underused Active Directory controls, with a real-world story of how it nearly matched a full third-party identity product in effectiveness during a law firm pen testLeast privilege and admin tiering — why Help Desk is one of the most targeted groups for social engineering, how over-permissioned service accounts hand attackers domain admin in minutes, and the real cost of control path vulnerabilitiesNetwork segmentation and zero trust — why domain controllers don't need internet access, how segmentation limits attacker recon, and where products like Zscaler fit inEDR baselining and UEBA — why plugging in an EDR tool and expecting it to work isn't enough, the case for getting back to behavior-based detection, and why catching recon activity matters more than catching executionDeception — honeypots, canaries, and fake assets — why deception is underrated, why high-fidelity low-false-positive alerts change the game, and what it actually feels like as a pen tester to trip on a well-placed decoy without knowing itAlso mentioned: Spencer and Brad's Tools of the Trade workshop at ILTA Evolve — Denver, end of April.Blog: https://offsec.blog/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cyberthreatpovTwitter: https://x.com/cyberthreatpovFollow Spencer on social ⬇Spencer's Links: https://spenceralessi.comWork with Us: https://securit360.com | Find vulnerabilities that matter, learn about how we do internal pentesting here.

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Redbull White Peach Sugary, Dirty Mtn Dew Zero   -Artemis 2 is a success: https://www.engadget.com/science/space/the-artemis-ii-astronauts-are-back-after-a-10-day-journey-around-the-moon-033800654.html   -Anthropic still fighting to remove absurd “supply chain risk” label from DoD: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/08/d-c-circuit-rejects-anthropic-plea-to-pause-supply-chain-risk-label-00864880?experience_id=EXYF89KVT5UQ&is_login_link=true&template_id=OTJIR2CRKUD6&variant_id=OTV632IE7RALS   Jarron:  -An Intel laptop with insane battery life: https://www.notebookcheck.net/43-hours-battery-life-Dell-XPS-14-2026-lasts-almost-3x-longer-vs-MacBook-Air-15-M5-in-web-browsing-test.1262947.0.html   -A phone detox can restore 10 years to your brain: Two-Week Social Media 'Detox' Erases a Decade of Age-Related Decline, Study Finds   -Dyson put out a handheld fan that looks amaz….what is that shape?! Dyson just announced its first-ever handheld fan, with a motor that spins up to 65,000 RPM   Owen: -Kash Patel hacked by Iran. Im not surprised. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/iran-linked-hackers-claim-breach-of-fbi-directors-personal-email-doj-official-2026-03-27/   -Ok so we know sora is being shut down… but canceling erotic mode?!?! https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/26/openai-abandons-yet-another-side-quest-chatgpts-erotic-mode/ -Whose “ethics and morality” are we adding to AI? Is this the next Nicene Creed? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/can-ai-be-a-child-of-god-inside-anthropic-s-meeting-with-christian-leaders/ar-AA20Eb2w

In this spring‑cleaned episode of Linux Out Loud, Wendy, Bill, and Nate dust off their homelabs and see just how far Linux can push “retired” hardware. Bill talks about guiding a Linux‑first startup, Fyra Stack, as they build a colo and VPS business in downtown Chicago, wiring it all together with Proxmox, PostgreSQL, Snipe‑IT, and osTicket—plus a few cursed Zigbee light bulbs along the way. Nate dives into one of his favorite pastimes: installing openSUSE Tumbleweed on everything from a 2007 white MacBook to a 2015 MacBook Air and a pair of well‑worn Surface Pros, comparing battery life, sleep quirks, and how “modern” Plasma feels on ancient gear. Wendy rounds things out with creative test‑taking workarounds using ChromeOS Flex and a quick look at VDO.Ninja for remote recording, before the trio wraps up the cleaning spree. Show Links: Fyra Stack – Linux‑focused startup (colo and VPS) – https://fyrastack.com/ Proxmox VE – virtual environment and homelab hypervisor – https://www.proxmox.com/en/proxmox-ve PostgreSQL – open‑source relational database – https://www.postgresql.org/ Snipe‑IT – open‑source IT asset management – https://snipeitapp.com/ osTicket – open‑source support ticket system – https://osticket.com/ openSUSE Tumbleweed – rolling release Linux – https://get.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/ MX Linux – lightweight Linux for older hardware – https://mxlinux.org/ Arch Linux – general‑purpose rolling Linux distribution – https://archlinux.org/ ChromeOS Flex – ChromeOS for older PCs and Macs – https://chromeenterprise.google/os/chromeos-flex/ iFixit – repair guides (example: Surface Pro 7 battery replacement) – https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Microsoft+Surface+Pro+7+Battery+Replacement/144417 Framework Laptop 12 – modular, repairable laptop – https://frame.work/laptop12 StarLabs Starlite – Linux laptop – https://us.starlabs.systems/products/starlite VDO.Ninja – peer‑to‑peer live video – https://vdo.ninja/Special Guest: Bill.

In this episode, Service Delivery Director, Rob Broida,  argues that “people first” and AI-enabled support are compatible, emphasizing AI as a background tool that assists humans rather than replacing them. A people-first, AI-enabled help desk should feel like the agent knows the client's business and environment, using AI to reduce effort, provide context, summarize requests, categorize tickets, and spot patterns while keeping ownership and relationships with users. He stresses that automation should handle repeatable tasks, but humans must lead when nuance, accountability, urgency, business impact, or heightened emotions arise, avoiding frustrating handoffs. Key AI adoption mistakes include automating before documenting processes and using AI primarily for cost cutting, which can create “fast mess.” FIT avoids pitfalls by automating documented low-friction work, keeping clear human escalation paths, and measuring quality, resolution, satisfaction, and confidence—not just speed.Learn more: https://www.fittechnologies.com/it-services/managed-it-msa/

How are you storing and managing your internal documents? Do you have a process or a system? Our guest today is Therman Trotman, who shares with us how SharePoint might be the best kept secret for your business. TODAY'S WIN-WIN:People over technology.LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:Schedule your free franchise consultation with Big Sky Franchise Team: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. You can visit our guest's website at:     www.talksharepoint.comAttend our Franchise Sales Training Workshop:  https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/franchisesalestraining/Connect with our guests on social:https://www.linkedin.com/in/therman-trotman-15790b33/ABOUT OUR GUEST:Therman Trotman is the Founder of The SharePoint Helpdesk, where he teaches people how to use SharePoint and other Microsoft 365 Suite technologies to improve their organization and job performance. With more than 20 years of IT expertise in both the public and private sector, he excels at demystifying technology and calming spreadsheet chaos while avoiding the typical "IT guy" vibe. Therman is a veteran, entrepreneur, and family man who also hosts the SharePoint Helpdesk Podcast.This episode is powered by Big Sky Franchise Team. Big Sky Franchise Team is consistently recognized as one of the best franchise consulting firms in the United States, helping business owners franchise their businesses through a proven 3-Step franchise process rooted in ethical principles, hands-on guidance, and customized deliverables.  If you are ready to talk about franchising your business you can schedule your free, no-obligation, franchise consultation online at: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any business decisions. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Big Sky Franchise Team, or our affiliates. Additionally, this podcast may feature sponsors or advertisers, but any mention of products or services does not constitute an endorsement. Please do your own research before making any purchasing or business decisions.

Tony: -Carbonation Station: 7-11 Fusion Paradise Pulse -Gmail Aliases are going live: https://www.engadget.com/computing/all-google-users-in-the-us-can-now-change-their-gmail-address-141818676.html -Alas poor Mac Pro… We hardly knew ye: https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-discontinues-the-mac-pro-221502339.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky Jarron:  -ALL HAIL TURBOQUANT. TURBOQUANT WILL SAVE US ALL! https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/03/google-says-new-turboquant-compression-can-lower-ai-memory-usage-without-sacrificing-quality/ -Oppo Find N6 looks like an incredible foldable: https://www.talkandroid.com/523230-oppo-find-n6-review-best-foldabe/ -Apple is 50. What is the product that finally got you? -Avoid that Erythritol: https://gizmodo.com/popular-sweetener-found-in-protein-bars-tied-to-stroke-blood-clot-risk-2000739931 Owen: -Anti Matter in motion https://phys.org/news/2026-03-world-antimatter-cern.html -A nuclear fusion powered rocket.  https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/03/26/world-first-uk-startup-ignites-plasma-inside-nuclear-fusion-rocket-in-major-step-for-space Lando: -Ear buds do cool new things! https://9to5google.com/2026/03/30/samsung-built-a-motion-sickness-app-for-galaxy-buds/ -How to combat the AI Slop https://petapixel.com/2026/03/30/researchers-come-up-with-foolproof-method-to-certify-real-photos/

Tony: -Carbonation Station: C4 Mango Fuego -Eufymake E1 review Progress -WWDC Announced: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/apple-will-talk-ios-27-macos-27-and-more-at-wwdc-2026-on-june-8/ -Vizio continues its decent into darkness: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/newly-purchased-vizio-tvs-now-require-walmart-accounts-to-use-smart-features/ Jarron:  -1Hz LCD displays for laptops: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/lg-display-starts-mass-producing-ltpo-like-1-hz-lcd-displays-for-laptops/ -Goodbye Sora. A sign of things to come? Hopefully? https://slashdot.org/story/26/03/24/2050222/openai-discontinues-sora-video-platform-app?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Another Donut Labs test: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/898881/donut-lab-solid-state-battery-damage-test -Microsoft claims they're going to fix Windows 11: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/03/20/2043213/microsoft-says-it-is-fixing-windows-11?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Google is making sideloading apps more difficult: https://developers.slashdot.org/story/26/03/19/1832217/google-details-new-24-hour-process-to-sideload-unverified-android-apps?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed Owen: -Mr. Nvidia Huang, did you just say we've achieved AGI?  https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/899086/jensen-huang-nvidia-agi -I hope this backfires on Walmart. Digital price tags in all stores by the end of 2026 https://slashdot.org/story/26/03/22/2346224/walmart-announces-digital-price-labels-for-every-store-in-the-us-by-the-end-of-2026 -Should there be a “manual override” on self driving taxis?  https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/03/22/2246209/trapped-inside-a-self-driving-car-during-an-anti-robot-attack Lando: -Order Light, ON DEMAND! https://www.astronomy.com/science/new-satellite-constellations-could-ruin-the-night-sky-astronomers-warn/ -Banning mor things from China! https://gizmodo.com/fcc-bans-all-new-routers-not-made-in-america-2000737176 -Long nail owners Rejoice! https://www.livescience.com/chemistry/chemistry-student-develops-clear-polish-that-turns-your-fingernail-into-a-touch-screen-stylus  

-Carbonation Station: Reign Guava Strawberry -What a time to be alive: https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-is-buying-moltbook-the-ridiculous-social-network-populated-by-ai-bots-152732453.html -Snapmaker U1 continued review in progress: State of the App, issues I've encountered, etc -Eufymake E1 first impressions: App, first prints quality, setup process, etc Jarron:  -Donut Labs continues its independent testing: https://www.theverge.com/transportation/891310/donut-lab-solid-state-battery-supercapacitor-test-result -DJI is paying the robovac hacker: https://www.theverge.com/news/890982/dji-pay-sammy-azdoufal-robot-vacuum-hack-romo-security -The Macbook Neo is what cheap Windows computers dream to be: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/the-599-macbook-neo-is-apples-long-awaited-colorful-lower-cost-macbook/ Owen: -New apocalyptic achievement! REEEWAAAARD? AI inference as compensation. https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/03/10/200253/silicon-valley-is-buzzing-about-this-new-idea-ai-compute-as-compensation  

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Bucked Up LFG Green Apple, New Cherry Red Bull -Donut Labs Testing Continues: https://electrek.co/2026/03/02/donut-lab-solid-state-battery-high-temperature-test-vtt/ -All the Apple Hardware Announced: https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/everything-apple-announced-this-week-iphone-17e-new-macbooks-m4-ipad-air-and-more-155617625.html -AI, the government, and YOU: https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-will-amend-defense-department-deal-to-prevent-mass-surveillance-in-the-us-050637400.html Jarron:  -Samsung's privacy display is insane: https://9to5google.com/2026/02/25/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-privacy-display-demo-hands-on/ -New M-Series chips: https://daringfireball.net/linked/2026/03/03/apple-debuts-m5-pro-and-m5-max -This projector is pure gadget madness: https://www.theverge.com/tech/881788/soundcore-nebula-x1-pro-review-comparison-x1 Owen: -Microsoft doesn't like CoPilot's new nickname….Likey cementing the nickname forever. https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/03/02/1847201/microsoft-bans-microslop-on-its-discord-then-locks-the-server -This is what you came for. https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/02/heres-why-scotch-tape-screeches-when-its-peeled/ Lando: -Please confirm your age! California's new OS age verification Law https://www.tomshardware.com/software/operating-systems/california-introduces-age-verification-law

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Redbull White Peach Sugar Free, Protein Pop Plus (Citrus, Orange Cream, Peach) Liquid Death Tropical Terror -ASML EUV is The Height of Human Technology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiUHjLxm3V0 -Donut Labs SSB update: https://electrek.co/2026/02/23/donut-lab-vtt-solid-state-battery-test-results-fast-charging/ -Maybe Tech isn't always the answer: https://fortune.com/2026/02/21/laptops-tablets-schools-gen-z-less-cognitively-capable-parents-first-time-cellphone-bans-standardized-test-scores/ -Lizard man defends Instagram: https://www.engadget.com/social-media/mark-zuckerberg-testifies-in-social-media-addiction-trial-that-meta-just-wants-instagram-to-be-useful-234332316.html?guccounter=1 -Artemis 2 pushed back again: https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasas-crewed-artemis-ii-launch-gets-pushed-back-again-this-time-due-to-a-helium-issue-231010042.html Jarron:  -Google Pixel 10a is the same phone as the Pixel 9a: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/02/18/2152215/googles-pixel-10a-is-the-same-damn-phone-as-the-pixel-9a?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Dyson still sucks its way to my heart: https://www.theverge.com/tech/880594/dyson-pencilwash-wet-floor-cleaner-thin-battery-handle -MAHA supporters are freaking out about RFK Jr's sudden flip on pesticide: https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/maha-moms-threaten-to-turn-this-car-around-as-rfk-jr-flips-on-pesticide/ -DJI is suing the FCC: https://www.theverge.com/tech/883734/dji-fcc-lawsuit-drone-import-ban -Lisan al-Gaib designed this shower head: https://www.theverge.com/tech/883006/kohler-anthem-evocycle-smart-shower-system-water-recirculate-filter-recycle Owen: -Just what we need! Detachable robot hands! https://www.sciencenews.org/article/detached-hand-robot-fingertips-ai -Maybe this is some evidence of DJI being banned? https://www.theverge.com/tech/879088/dji-romo-hack-vulnerability-remote-control-camera-access-mqtt Lando: -YT Lite Gets Better! https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/youtube-premium-lite-is-now-the-best-option-for-most-people  

What's your favorite mixed drink? Retired CIA professor John Fisher joins us to offer tips and tricks to make your favorite cocktail even better. Ray Graf hosts.

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Georgia Peach Arizona Energy   -Snapmaker U1 early Impressions   -Incoming Apple Event: https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apples-next-event-is-set-for-march-4-145931890.html   -Update on the Moderna Flu Shot Rejection: https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/trump-official-overruled-fda-scientists-to-reject-modernas-flu-shot/ Jarron:  -Rivian reported a profit! https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/02/15/2333200/rivians-stock-spikes-27-after-reporting-144-million-profit-in-2025?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed   -Micron produces PCIe 6.0 SSD: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/02/17/1710225/microns-pcie-60-ssd-hits-mass-production-at-28-gbs?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed   -Western Digital is out of hard drives: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/02/16/188251/western-digital-is-sold-out-of-hard-drives-for-2026?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed   -End-to-end encrypted RCS coming to iPhones: https://www.theverge.com/tech/879792/apple-iphone-android-rcs-messages-end-to-end-encrypted Owen: -Robot. Boxing. Need I say more. https://restofworld.org/2026/chinese-robot-boxing-unitree-rek/   -This tracks. https://www.theverge.com/report/879327/eva-ai-cafe-dating-ai-companions Lando: -Elon Musk wants to move the cloud to space! https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-orbital-ai-data-centers-xai-spacex-92bc8ad95593bf3b5b801ddf36427194   -New law to prevent electronic price gouging. https://gizmodo.com/dems-want-to-ban-surveillance-pricing-at-big-grocery-stores-2000722182

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Lando Reviews Lando!   -More Autonomous Lies: https://www.techspot.com/news/111233-waymo-admits-autopilot-often-guys-philippines.html   -Trump Phone situation continues to amaze: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/trump-mobiles-t1-phone-is-apparently-still-coming-but-itll-be-uglier-and-more-expensive-190626835.html   -Another possibly awesome BT option: https://www.audioreviews.org/noble-announces-sceptre/   -The FDA continues to circle the drain: https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/fda-refuses-to-review-modernas-mrna-flu-vaccine/   -Snapmaker U1 has arrived!   Jarron:  -Tesla is canceling Model S and Model X https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/business/tesla-q4-2025-earnings   -Sodium Ion batteries incoming: The World's First Sodium-Ion Battery in Commercial EVs - Great at Low Temperatures   -Biohacking to get ahead at the Olympics: https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/penisgate-erupts-at-olympics-scandal-exposes-risks-of-bulking-your-budge/   -Rivian R2 shown off https://www.theverge.com/transportation/876441/the-early-reviews-of-the-rivian-r2-are-starting-to-roll-in   Owen: -Discord cracking down https://www.theverge.com/tech/875309/discord-age-verification-global-roll-out -Discord Clarification: https://discord.com/press-releases/discord-launches-teen-by-default-settings-globally Lando:   -AI Ads https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/09/chatgpt-rolls-out-ads/   -Fart Tech https://gizmodo.com/how-many-times-do-you-fart-a-day-smart-underwear-says-its-way-more-than-you-think-2000719805

-Carbonation Station: Ghost Blue Raspberry (New New) and New Blue Red Bull Iced Vanilla Berry -Artemis 2 pushed back: https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasa-moves-artemis-2-launch-to-march-after-hydrogen-leak-during-testing-140000351.html -Elon's Shell Game Continues: https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musks-spacex-has-acquired-his-ai-company-xai-221617040.html Jarron:  -Bitcoin's selloff seems different this time: https://slashdot.org/story/26/02/01/2146224/bitcoin-drops-40-in-four-months-bloomberg-blames-absence-of-buyers-and-belief?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Walmart rolling out EV charging nationwide: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/02/01/1959234/walmart-begins-building-out-nationwide-ev-charging-network-across-america?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Lemonade cuts rates 50% for FSD: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/24/0736248/us-insurer-lemonade-cuts-rates-50-for-drivers-using-teslas-full-self-driving-software?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -THE PENCILVAC IS OUT! https://www.theverge.com/tech/872981/dyson-pencilvac-fluffycones-vacuum-hands-on-review Owen: -Not quite the end of the “Line” https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/01/26/1528240/saudi-arabia-to-scale-back-neom-megaproject -Update your Notepad++ manually. https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/hijacked-incident-info-update/ -Solar panels? Nah Lunar Panels! https://www.extremetech.com/science/reverse-solar-panel-generates-electricity-at-night -Have you checked to see if you're in the Epstein files? Another dump of the Epstein files go public and wooooah baby. https://www.justice.gov/epstein

Ukraine tightens controls on Starlink terminals VMware ESXi flaw now exploited SolarWinds Web Help Desk bug under attack Get the show notes here: https://cisoseries.com/cybersecurity-news-ukraine-tightens-controls-on-starlink-terminals-vmware-esxi-flaw-now-exploited-solarwinds-web-help-desk-bug-under-attack/ Huge thanks to our sponsor, Strike48 Strike48 is the Agentic Log Intelligence Platform that actually puts AI agents to work, maximizing log visibility without blowing your budget. Find threats your siloed tools miss. Get started today with pre-built AI agents and workflows that investigate, detect, and respond 24/7 or build your own at strike48.com/security.

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Lando Norris Monster Zero Sugar -How much?!?!: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-samsung-galaxy-z-trifold-will-cost-2900-in-the-us-140000013.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky -BS Updates: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/650-miles-from-one-charge-volvos-parent-company-beats-tesla-to-the-punch-with-first-production-ready-solid-state-battery https://www.autoblog.com/news/honda-and-toyota-reveal-why-solid-state-batteries-still-arent-here -Tik Tok gets sold: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3edd1l328lo Jarron:  -New Jersey is making crazy eBike laws: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/22/221222/new-jersey-law-requires-e-bike-drivers-to-have-license-insurance?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -RadPower is being sold for pennies on the dollar: https://www.geekwire.com/2026/rad-power-bikes-asset-auction-attracts-two-successful-bidders-as-part-of-e-bike-makers-bankruptcy/ -Sonos announces an amplifier: https://www.theverge.com/tech/868671/sonos-amp-multi-amplifier-wireless-audio-speakers Owen: -Only one minute and 25 seconds left boys! We can hold on that long! https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/01/27/175237/doomsday-clock-ticks-to-85-seconds-before-midnight-its-closest-ever -The Tiktok drama is real, and it's scary. https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/27/0036229/tiktok-alternative-skylight-soars-to-380k-users-after-tiktok-us-deal-finalized Lang: -Straight from the primate center's defense: Oregon National Primate Research Center Board of Director's meeting  https://www.youtube.com/live/p7r8idHVQlw?si=fyhVtM8LsiwniaG3

Tony: -Carbonation Station: C4 Cereal Killer and Monster Bad Apple -Bad News for Rad Power Bikes: https://www.engadget.com/transportation/rad-power-bikes-warehouse-catches-fire-following-flammable-battery-warnings-133056542.html?guccounter=1 -Another reminder that the old Sony is dead:: https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/sony-is-handing-control-of-its-bravia-tv-business-to-chinas-tcl-120957252.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&guccounter=1 -Another reminder not to buy the Trump Phone: https://gizmodo.com/the-trump-phone-is-still-checks-notes-a-deflating-vortex-of-bs-2000711144 Jarron:  -Phone batteries are getting biiiiig: https://www.theverge.com/news/864254/realme-promises-days-of-battery-from-its-10001mah-phone -Yes, the world can get worse: https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/01/be-on-the-lookout-for-flesh-eating-flies-cdc-tells-clinicians-in-alert/ -Most companies have seen zero financial return from AI: https://slashdot.org/story/26/01/20/1924238/56-of-companies-have-seen-zero-financial-return-from-ai-investments-pwc-survey-says?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed Owen: -When something is popular…. Flood the zone. Fallout reality TV. https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/amazon-is-making-a-fallout-shelter-competition-reality-tv-show-190151855.html -This will probably be fine. Grok into the pentagon. https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/hegseth-wants-to-integrate-musks-grok-ai-into-military-networks-this-month/ -Shooting for the moon… literally. https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/you-can-now-reserve-a-hotel-room-on-the-moon-for-250000/

On this podcast, we often talk about getting started in the IT field by applying for help desk gigs, and we talk to C-suite and business owners, but this week, we’re filling in the middle of the story. Brad Woessner (you’ll recognize him from our meetups!) joins us to talk about his IT career and what it’s like to crew the help desk.

Tony: -Carbonation Station: NOSes and Monster Zero Strawberry Shot -What do you even do in this situation? https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/12/sperm-donor-with-rare-cancer-mutation-fathered-nearly-200-children-in-europe/ -Apple Goes Adobe: https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-bundles-creative-apps-such-as-final-cut-pro-and-logic-pro-into-a-single-subscription-145210038.html -Apparently you can get sued for not letting them buy you…: https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/paramount-wont-quit-files-suit-against-warner-bros-discovery-over-rejected-bid-175317166.html Jarron:  -The FCC continues to screw consumers: https://slashdot.org/story/26/01/13/1845204/verizon-to-stop-automatic-unlocking-of-phones-as-fcc-ends-60-day-unlock-rule?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Auto focusing glasses! https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/11/214203/finnish-startup-ixi-plans-new-autofocusing-eyeglasses?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Seems like Intel is finally making progress: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/01/09/2231201/intel-is-going-big-time-into-14a-says-ceo-lip-bu-tan?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed Owen: -Interesting type of bandaid: High Tech Bandaid -OpenAI… “NOW HIRING ScapeGoat! $555k Full benefits incl. WitSec. Inquire inside…” https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/29/sam-altman-openai-job-search-ai-harms Lando: -Apple Siri to use Gemini https://www.engadget.com/ai/apples-siri-ai-will-be-powered-by-gemini-153636649.html  

Automox announces its new partnership with Splashtop, bringing secure remote control directly into the Automox console. Host Peter Pflaster is joined by Italo Nava from Splashtop and Automox Product Manager Steph Rizzuto on launch day to break down the integration and what it means for IT teams.They discuss why remote access is still essential even when automation handles most of the work, the cost of switching between tools during urgent issues, and how Splashtop's 20 years of experience drives reliability and security. Steph also shares early access results, including average connection times under 10 seconds and a 95% success rate.

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Ghost Cran-Grape -Mova AtomForm 3d printer: https://atomform.tech/pages/about-us -Verge Motorcycles: https://www.vergemotorcycles.com/ -Kyocera holo-display  -Donut: Inside the BS cloud https://www.theverge.com/transportation/858514/is-this-the-worlds-first-solid-state-battery -Asus Booth Zephyrus G16 Zephyrus Duo Wifi 8 XREAL R1 Gaming Glasses -Gigabyte Booth 180 degree movie headset demo (Spatial Computing) Tandem OLED Monitor -Wolfbox -Nuphy Keyboards -Pimax Headset -Nomatic -ESR Battery pack -Tesla Tunnel -LG G6 Tandem OLED C6 Monitors Jarron:  -Clicks Communicator and Clicks Power Keyboard: https://daringfireball.net/2026/01/clicks_communicator_and_clicks_power_keyboard -Pebble Round 2 announced! https://www.theverge.com/news/852587/pebble-round-2-time-smartwatch-price-availability -Pimax -Cloudcanvas Picture Frame Lego Smart Brick Owen: CES Lego Smart Brick So many steps -Lowmesh -iceplosion -Lego smart brick -Youtuber: HughHou - Spatial Video @ Gigabyte booth https://www.youtube.com/shorts/g0oHpLRIuc0

Grant Asplund is a cybersecurity evangelist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations defend against sophisticated cyber threats. He travels globally, speaking at major conferences like RSA, engaging with analysts, partners, and media to advance security across cloud, mobile, and infrastructure. Grant has held leadership roles across sales, marketing, and executive management at companies including Dome9, Blue Coat, Neustar, and Altor Networks, and previously led MetaInfo through its acquisition by Neustar. He also hosts the CISO Secrets and Talking Cloud podcasts, where he explores cloud security trends and real-world leadership insights.00:00 intro03:00 Our Guest05:13 Start with a Helpdesk role10:00 Ai taking over roles13:35 AI first mindset35:10 The future of AI tools45:07 CISOs report to the board  49:05 More about Grant

#SecurityConfidential #DarkRhiinoSecurityGrant Asplund is a cybersecurity evangelist with over 25 years of experience helping organizations defend against sophisticated cyber threats. He travels globally, speaking at major conferences like RSA, engaging with analysts, partners, and media to advance security across cloud, mobile, and infrastructure. Grant has held leadership roles across sales, marketing, and executive management at companies including Dome9, Blue Coat, Neustar, and Altor Networks, and previously led MetaInfo through its acquisition by Neustar. He also hosts the CISO Secrets and Talking Cloud podcasts, where he explores cloud security trends and real-world leadership insights.00:00 intro03:00 Our Guest05:13 Start with a Helpdesk role10:00 Ai taking over roles13:35 AI first mindset35:10 The future of AI tools45:07 CISOs report to the board 49:05 More about Grant----------------------------------------------------------------------To learn more about Grant visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantasplund/To learn more about Dark Rhiino Security visit https://www.darkrhiinosecurity.com----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Bucked Up Orange and Dr Bum -Tony's Top 10 (no particular order)- Ubiquiti Network Completed Status Pro X Learning that my Sengled Bulbs can just use Zigbee Traeger Woodridge XL Stuff I backed on Kickstarter?… Snapmaker U1 and Eufymake -Tony's Festivus List: AI Push and everything that entails RFK Jr is bad for medical science Microsoft in general -Freed from the shackles of your youth's gmail name: https://www.howtogeek.com/google-is-finally-letting-users-change-their-gmail-address/ Jarron:  -Favorite gadgets of the Year Apple Watch Ultra 3 Amazfit Active 2 Panasonic LUMIX S9 Arctis Gamebuds -Coolest Tech of the year Tandem OLED Pebble comeback Snapmaker U1 Dyson Pencil Vac -Festivus List AI, AI, AI ! ! ! ! RAM Shortage DJI Ban Everything about Microsoft Owen: -Neuromorphic skin for robots!  https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/12/29/2344207/researchers-make-neuromorphic-artificial-skin-for-robots -It's getting desperate out there… DIY RAM https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ddr5/russian-enthusiasts-are-building-their-own-ddr5-ram-amidst-the-worldwide-shortage-as-easy-as-sourcing-your-own-memory-modules-and-soldering-them-on-empty-pcbs -My list of stuff. ChatGPT 4.5 - 5.2, what a ride.  ProxMox Server and self hosting G-Helper Pixel 10 Pro XL Xbox Family Safety Steam Family Sharing ASUS RT-AX86U Zaku II gundam router running Merlin Xbox and GamePass - hear me out here…. Infini Mic - specifically grateful to the Patrons My biggest tech inspirations. Lando: -The Tech List!! Cancer Vax (Jan) https://gizmodo.com/three-years-after-experimental-vaccine-these-patients-are-still-cancer-free-2000559585 ABS System (Got the full go ahead in Sept) (Feb) https://www.robotics247.com/article/robot_umpire_automated_ball_strike_abs_system_debuts_at_mlb_spring_training BYD (March) https://www.theverge.com/news/631552/byd-1000kw-charging-ev-han-l-tang-l-battery Torpedo Bats (April) https://apnews.com/article/torpedo-bats-yankees-6ac6c797ea935941ed1c0d0e51a7d870 Crisper Pigs (May) https://gizmodo.com/the-fda-just-approved-the-first-crispr-edited-pigs-for-food-2000597425 Airplane Robots (June) https://kslnewsradio.com/colleges-universities/uvu-students-pioneer-aircraft-taxiing/2217924/ Stephen Hawking Upgrade (July) https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/06/a-neural-brain-implant-provides-near-instantaneous-speech/ Manipulate AI with peer and social pressure (Sept) https://www.theverge.com/news/768508/chatbots-are-susceptible-to-flattery-and-peer-pressure iPhone 17 (Oct) The Bad Flu (Nov) (Called it) https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2dr8gzdz1wo Honorable Mention? New X(Twitter) Features  (Nov) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/23/rightwing-influencers-outside-us-x-twitter-tool Pebble Returns! (Dec) Uncle Sqinky: Ubiquiti Home Network - Great way to go iPhone 17 - Great phone Snapmaker U1 - Multi color printing with much less time and material waste bonus not mentioned-5070Ti video card

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Zoa+ Pineapple Passion Fruit -iRobot files for Chap 11 bankruptcy: https://www.engadget.com/home/irobot-has-filed-for-bankruptcy-and-may-be-taken-over-by-its-primary-supplier-091602257.html -2 for 2 on Amazon getting caught: https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-pulls-its-bad-ai-video-recaps-after-fallout-fallout-220358758.html -Voyager Probe is waaaaaay out there, man: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/science/voyager-1-light-day-earth -New Telescope! https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/12/the-4-3-billion-space-telescope-trump-tried-to-cancel-is-now-complete/?utm_source=bsky&utm_medium=social Jarron:  -Lightning only strikes once: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/12/15/2127228/ford-ends-f-150-lightning-production-starts-battery-storage-business?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -The CIA lost a nuclear device: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/12/15/1541213/how-did-the-cia-lose-a-nuclear-device?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Automakers are afraid of China: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/12/141238/major-automakers-say-china-poses-clear-and-present-threat-to-us-auto-industry?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Apple loses again to Epic: https://www.theverge.com/news/842991/apple-epic-appeal-loses-contempt Owen: -Capitalism gonna capitalize. How about VaaS (Violence-as-a-Service) https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/12/08/2359222/193-cybercrims-arrested-accused-of-plotting-violence-as-a-service -Apocalypse opening moves… https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/dual-pcb-linux-computer-with-843-components-designed-by-ai-boots-on-first-attempt-project-speedrun-was-made-in-just-one-week-and-required-less-than-40-hours-of-human-work Lando: -Micro RGB TVs at CES https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/lg-will-debut-its-first-micro-rgb-television-at-ces-010037923.html?guccounter=1 -Parisidic plants are a thing! https://scitechdaily.com/this-mushroom-isnt-a-fungus-at-all-its-one-of-the-strangest-plants-on-earth/

professorjrod@gmail.comWhat if your help desk could solve recurring IT problems in minutes, not hours? In this episode, we explore the backbone of reliable IT support, focusing on clear SOPs that remove guesswork, SLAs that align technical work with business risk, and an effective ticketing flow that transforms scattered fixes into measurable outcomes. Whether you're preparing for a CompTIA exam or seeking practical IT skills development, you'll find valuable insights here. We share real-world examples—from login failures to VPN drops—that demonstrate how documentation, escalation tiers, and knowledge bases reduce time-to-resolution and prevent repeat incidents, making technology education and effective IT support attainable goals.We also get candid about the human side of support. Professionalism is not a soft skill; it is operational. We talk punctuality, clean language, and the kind of active listening that clarifies issues without talking down to users. De-escalation matters, but so do boundaries; you can stay calm without tolerating abuse. And yes, social media can cost you your job—one vague post is all it takes. These habits shape trust with customers and credibility inside the org.To round it out, we map the OS landscape you actually support: Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS on the desktop, plus iOS and Android in the field. We cover MDM realities with JAMF and Google Workspace, why file systems like NTFS and ReFS or APFS and ext4 affect security and performance, and how hardware requirements such as TPM 2.0 should drive upgrade planning. You will leave with a sharper playbook and four cert-style practice questions to test your knowledge.If you found this useful, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Got a help desk win or a hard lesson learned? Send it our way and join the conversation.Support the showArt By Sarah/DesmondMusic by Joakim KarudLittle chacha ProductionsJuan Rodriguez can be reached atTikTok @ProfessorJrodProfessorJRod@gmail.com@Prof_JRodInstagram ProfessorJRod

Tony: -Carbonation Station: 3D Energy Blueberry Mist   -Smart Phones are risky for kids (duh): https://futurism.com/health-medicine/grim-happenings-kids-smartphones   -Stop me if you've heard this one before…: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/researcher-finds-undocumented-microphone-and-major-security-flaws-in-sipeed-nanokvm   -New Amazfit watch leaked: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/forget-the-apple-watch-se-3-it-looks-like-a-big-sequel-to-our-best-ever-cheap-fitness-watch-has-just-leaked   Jarron:  -Dell and HP disable HEVC support in their laptops for some reason: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/11/21/0616243/hp-and-dell-disable-hevc-support-built-into-their-laptops-cpus?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed   -Cool gadget: https://www.theverge.com/news/838885/xteink-x4-e-reader-magnetic-apple-iphone-google-pixel   -Maybe don't buy that toilet camera.  https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/despite-accessing-user-data-kohler-still-says-its-smart-toilet-cameras-use-e2ee/   Owen: -Australia bans social media for kids under 16. https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/09/2112230/millions-of-australian-teens-lose-access-to-social-media-as-ban-takes-effect   -I would LOVE to see Monsanto get sued out of existence. https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/12/09/053254/science-journal-retracts-study-on-safety-of-monsantos-roundup   Lando: -New Smart Ring! https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/09/pebbles-founder-introduces-a-75-ai-smart-ring-for-recording-brief-notes-with-a-press-of-a-button/ 

This week's High Country weather brought its fair share of schedule disruptions, placing a premium on remote connectivity for the majority of us, from small business owners to local school students.As a small business, how do you stay up-to-date on the technology needs within your workplace, and how are those processes and programs accessed on a day when Old Man Winter decides we aren't going anywhere!On this amazingly topical episode of Mind Your Business, we visit with Nate Solberg and David Garner of Nordic IT Solutions and discuss technology strategies for local small businesses. We'll talk about practical IT strategies for High Country Businesses, when is the right time for small businesses to consider managed IT solutions, how a partner can take some of the tech strain off your staff, especially if this is not an area of expertise for anyone within your company. All of these answers have a local solution, ensuring your business is cared for by people that understand our area and connectivity and compatibility needs -- especially when it snows like it did Monday!We will also roll out of final grouping of Holiday Shop Local businesses for this season, featuring Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, High Country 365 Dining Pass, and River Birch Nordic Sauna.Mind Your Business is written and produced weekly by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. This podcast is made possible thanks to the sponsorship support of Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.Catch the show each Thursday afternoon at 5PM on WATA (1450AM & 96.5FM) in Boone.Support the show

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Gym Weed Tangerine -Galaxy Z Trifold: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-fully-unveils-its-galaxy-z-trifold-phone-and-itll-be-available-in-korea-in-a-few-days-010000499.html -Sony V Cox goes to the supreme court: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/211168.p.pdf -Scotus Blog: https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/court-seems-dubious-of-billion-dollar-judgment-for-copyright-infringement/ -Deal pick ups? Jarron:  -VIZZ review! -Face worms: https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/11/doctors-pull-4-inch-worm-out-of-womans-eyelid-after-monthlong-incubation/ -The Sony A7 V was announced: https://www.engadget.com/cameras/sonys-much-anticipated-a7-v-is-here-with-a-faster-33mp-sensor-and-4k-120p-video-140403371.html?src=rss Owen: -Have we learned NOTHING from movies?!?! https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/11/22/2227240/the-strange-and-totally-real-plan-to-blot-out-the-sun-and-reverse-global-warming -Please… believe in science… https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/11/rfk-jr-s-new-cdc-deputy-director-prefers-natural-immunity-over-vaccines/ Lando: -New Eye Tranplants! https://newatlas.com/medical/3d-printed-cornea-restores-sight-first-time/

Tony: -Carbonation Station: Monster Orange Dreamsicle Wickedly Creamy (Tony) and Waterloo (Jarron) -Dangerous Robots: https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/whistleblower-fired-warning-robot-crush-skull -Robots for the kids: https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/disney-teases-an-olaf-robot-for-its-parks-151017739.html -Windows is trying to make Explorer faster. Sort of…: https://www.pcgamer.com/software/windows/windows-11-is-going-to-start-quietly-preloading-file-explorer-in-the-background-to-make-it-faster-which-is-a-good-reminder-that-you-should-probably-try-a-different-file-manager-anyway/ -Speculative PC and PC components market says its time to buy parts! (you're already too late for DDR5 RAM but I did indeed panic buy something…) Jarron:  -Missing AirPod features come to Android and Linux, kind of: https://www.theverge.com/news/824953/librepods-apple-airpods-wireless-headphones-android-linux -Sounds like Apple won't be updating the Mac Pro: https://daringfireball.net/linked/2025/11/18/gurman-mac-pro -No matter how bad your life is, it can't be worse than this guy's: https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/11/why-you-dont-want-to-get-tuberculosis-on-your-penis/ Owen: -Pebble goes fully open source https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2025/11/24/pebble-open-source/ -Lava Power.  https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/one-america-most-dangerous-volcanoes-134703593.html -Even Microsoft knows Windows AI is not good/safe https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/11/23/060221/microsoft-warns-its-windows-ai-feature-brings-data-theft-and-malware-risks-and Lando: -New Features for X are making it a slightly better place… https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/23/rightwing-influencers-outside-us-x-twitter-tool -Poets are the biggest threat to AI Yet https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/poets-are-now-cybersecurity-threats-researchers-used-adversarial-poetry-to-jailbreak-ai-and-it-worked-62-percent-of-the-time/ -Trust the ISPs, I am sure they will do the right thing! https://www.techspot.com/news/110362-fcc-rolls-back-plan-make-cybersecurity-legal-duty.html

Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman sit down with Mike Reiring of RSM at InfoSec World 2025 to explore how managed service providers are reshaping IT and identity operations. They dig into the differences between MSPs and MSSPs, how to choose the right partner, and how AI is transforming help desks, problem management, and security monitoring. The conversation closes with a fun dive into Mike's passion for photography and how creativity ties into continuous learning in tech.Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mreiring/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.comChapters00:00 Intro – Live from InfoSec World 202502:00 Meet Mike Reiring of RSM04:30 Evolution of Managed Service Providers06:30 Shared Accounts, Identity, and Security Maturity09:00 Vendor Gaps and Federated Access Challenges11:30 What Makes a Good MSP Partner13:00 The Cost and Effort of Changing Providers16:30 MSP vs MSSP – Key Differences18:30 Coordination Between Managed Providers21:30 Top 3 Questions to Ask Your MSP25:00 Identity Ownership: IT or Security?27:30 Licensing, Active Directory, and Hidden Accounts30:00 RFP Challenges and Procurement Pitfalls32:00 Measuring Risk and Reducing Identity Exposure34:30 Vendor Management and Shadow IT Risks35:00 How AI Is Transforming MSP and MSSP Operations38:30 AI, Problem Management, and the Future of Help Desks42:30 Photography, Creativity, and Continuous Learning48:00 Closing Thoughts and IDAC OutroKeywordsIDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Mike Reiring, RSM, InfoSec World 2025, Managed Service Provider, MSP, MSSP, AI in Cybersecurity, Help Desk, Identity Management, Managed Identity, Partner Transparency, IT Outsourcing, Risk Reduction, Problem Management, Active Directory, DaVinci Resolve, Photography in Tech, Identity Governance, Cybersecurity Podcast

Tony: -Utah is going Nuclear for real this time! https://www.ksl.com/article/51406491 -Bambu finally shows off the H2C: https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/bambu-lab-launches-beastly-seven-nozzle-3d-printer-at-formnext-h2c-model-launches-everywhere-but-the-us-due-to-tarrifs -Great H2C review from 3D Printing Nerd: https://youtu.be/iQhyrfXk1lw?si=SzYjkhK4vfbJ20Cc -Cloudflare outage today: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/widespread-cloudflare-outage-took-many-sites-offline-but-appears-to-be-fixed-124208733.html -Jeep Recon EV announced. DOA IMO: https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-all-electric-jeep-recon-gets-official-specs-and-launch-price-000032015.html Jarron:  -ChatGPT 5.1 released: https://slashdot.org/story/25/11/12/2033254/openais-gpt-51-brings-smarter-reasoning-and-more-personality-presets-to-chatgpt?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed -Google will still allow sideloading on Android for power users: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/11/google-will-let-android-power-users-bypass-upcoming-sideloading-restrictions/ -Talking to Windows sucks so far: https://it.slashdot.org/story/25/11/18/1932202/talking-to-windows-copilot-ai-makes-a-computer-feel-incompetent?utm_source=rss0.9mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed Owen: -Now wait a dang minute! https://www.theverge.com/news/820600/google-nest-learning-thermostat-downgraded-data-collection -But also, have you heard of FULU? https://bounties.fulu.org/bounties -And while we're at it. If you have a bricked nest. Bring it back to life. https://nolongerevil.com/ -HOW did I miss this?!? https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/11/16/2339215/some-americans-are-trying-to-heat-their-homes-with-bitcoin-mining https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/heatbit-space-heater-review/ https://heatbit.com/products/heatbit-trio