AT2k Design BBS - Friendly Debate (18+ please)

California's Age Verifica

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:50:00 -0600

From: MIKE POWELL @133.min_deba *61
To: ARELOR @Echomail *61
Subject: California's Age Verifica

> Of course it is an initial step towards user identification. One which is
> doomed to fail.

Let us all hope so.

> What are going to do with multiuser operating systems? Whose age is reported
> a machine running 50 virtual machines and which is administrated by a senior
> sysadmin and some juniors? Does each administrator need to input his age?

Being legislators, I am certain they didn't think this very far through.

Mike
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California's age verification law is proving controversial

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:48:41 -0600

From: Sean Dennis @618:618/1 *61
To: Arelor @2469.min_debate *61
Subject: California's age verification law is proving controversial

Hello Arelor,

03 Mar 26 16:59, you wrote to Mike Powell:

Ar> Bonkers.

California is like a botique salad: full of fruits and nuts.

-- Sean

... Computer hacker wanted. Must have own axe.
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California's age verification law is proving controversial

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:59:25 -0600

From: Arelor @2469.min_debate *61
To: Mike Powell @2669.min_dbaf *61
Subject: California's age verification law is proving controversial

Re: California's age verification law is proving controversial
By: Mike Powell to All on Tue Mar 03 2026 10:46 am

>
> Another issue that's causing controversy here, though, is that some believe
> this is an initial implementation designed to get the door open in order to
> bring through stricter legislation (that does use ID verification) at a
> later date.
>

Of course it is an initial step towards user identification. One which is doomed
to fail.

What are going to do with multiuser operating systems? Whose age is reported in
a machine running 50 virtual machines and which is administrated by a senior
sysadmin and some juniors? Does each administrator need to input his age?

Bonkers.

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California's age verification law is proving controversial

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:46:37 -0600

From: Mike Powell @2669.min_dbaf *61
To: All @Echomail *61
Subject: California's age verification law is proving controversial

California's age verification law is proving controversial - here's what you
need to know, and why some Linux distros are in the firing line

By Darren Allan published 17 hours ago

Smaller, more niche Linux distros could be left out in the cold

California's Digital Age Assurance Act comes into effect on January 1, 2027
The legislation means any OS will need to collect age data at setup
This will be a self-reported age declaration with no verification, but it
could prove problematic in some ways - particularly for some Linux distros

California has new legislation, which means that any provider of an operating
system must ascertain the age of the user setting up the OS.

As Tom's Hardware reports, this is California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB
1043), and it comes into effect on January 1, 2027.

As of next year, any operating system will need to not only collect age data at
setup, but also transmit that data to developers of any apps running on the OS
via a real-time API.

That's to facilitate software developers being able to verify any age
requirements when their apps are downloaded or run. Under the legislation, OS
users will be categorized into four age brackets: under 13, 13 to 15, 16 to 17,
and 18 or older.

The idea is that developers are then responsible for applying verification
based on the provided age. If the content of the app isn't age-appropriate, the
onus is on the developer to ensure the person cannot use the software, or the
dev is liable and will be penalized to the tune of up to $2,500 per affected
child (for negligent violations - intentional violations run up to a fine of
$7,500 in each instance).

However, it's a simple self-reported age check; there's no photo ID
verification or similar process (as is the case in other US states with this
kind of regulation).

As Tom's Hardware points out, there's a broad definition of an operating system
provider, which is any organization that "develops, licenses, or controls the
operating system software on a computer, mobile device, or any other general
purpose computing device".

Any OS platform - be it mobile or desktop - is subject to AB 1043, whether
that's the giants like Android and iOS, Windows 11, or smaller desktop fry like
macOS and Linux. The latter is a wide net, of course, and includes the likes of
handhelds running SteamOS.

Analysis: complications around trust

Of course, a trust-based age-verification system is problematic because a child
can simply lie about their age to get around it, and no one will be the wiser.

However, that obvious flaw aside, there are a lot of people who are relieved to
see that this won't be based on demanding a photo ID of some kind for proof of
who you are. As we've seen with the Discord controversy of late, there are
trust (and privacy) issues around supplying sensitive data like IDs to third
parties (especially if those firms then end up suffering a data breach).

Another issue that's causing controversy here, though, is that some believe
this is an initial implementation designed to get the door open in order to
bring through stricter legislation (that does use ID verification) at a later
date.

You can see why there's a fair bit of skepticism floating around, one way or
another, about AB 1043, and there's another problem for some operating system
developers, too. If you look at the more niche Linux distros, they're run by
small teams of enthusiasts who simply don't have the resources to tackle
implementing the necessary systems and real-time API - it's just not going to
happen. In those cases, as Tom's Hardware notes, their approach is likely to be
labelling the OS as not intended for use in California.

There are further nuances around what an 'account' is with an operating system,
too. What about OS installations with multiple user accounts, with various
family members sharing a PC - how exactly will that work under the new
regulations? There are already folks pushing for clarity and amendments on that
particular issue.

It's a rather muddy law, then, in more than a few respects, yet there's no
shortage of folks welcoming it as a better outcome for California than what
could have been (meaning full ID checks).

https://tinyurl.com/5bwakvh5

https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/...
s-proving-controversial-heres-what-you-need-to-know-and-why-some-linux-distros-
are-in-the-firing-line

$$
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Else ... Not Getting Shit

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:18:00 -0600

From: MIKE POWELL @129.min_deba *61
To: ARELOR @Echomail *61
Subject: Else ... Not Getting Shit

> I had the idea it was bad but know I am writting it down it reads even worse.

Reading it I had a similar reaction... it does read even worse. :(

Mike
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Else ... Not Getting Shit

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:39:35 -0600

From: Arelor @2466.min_debate *61
To: MIKE POWELL @127.min_deba *61
Subject: Else ... Not Getting Shit

Re: Else ... Not Getting Shit
By: MIKE POWELL to ARELOR on Wed Feb 25 2026 08:08 am

>
> Sounds like Spanish managers have not got creative or maybe don't have the
> tight budgets that we do.

I think it is a combination of factors.

First of all, tendency here is to have a French style reaction when the
administration threatens any budget cut and people goes out on the streets and
starts burning things, and budget cuts are extremely impopular so they try
really hard not to do them. They'd rather increase tax presure.

But then, when they do it, affected departments defund the wrong components of
the apparatus.

Say you lower the budget for a public University that is known for throwing
parties and conventions and whatever which aren't stricly necessary. They will
fire administrative personal and sell office machinery rather than stop the
parties and conventions.

So yeah, University gets a budget cut, and some essentials are removed. Maybe
they fire all the Xerox operators and sell all Xerox machines but one so there
is a permanent infinite queue of students trying to use the last machine
standing - meanwhile some wall in a building is falling off. But the head honcho
has his parties and a plasma TV in his office.

I had the idea it was bad but know I am writting it down it reads even worse.

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Else ... Not Getting Shit

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:08:00 -0600

From: MIKE POWELL @127.min_deba *61
To: ARELOR @Echomail *61
Subject: Else ... Not Getting Shit

> I think that claiming they are actually doing work is a bit of a heavy
> estatement in a huge lot of cases.

In the 1990s/early 2000s I would have agreed that this was also my state
government. However, as times got tighter, they stopped filling positions
when people left. The departments that didn't get creative with getting
rid of dead weight really had problems, so most of them figured it out.

The people who were still around when I left in 2023 were mostly working
their asses off.

Sounds like Spanish managers have not got creative or maybe don't have the
tight budgets that we do.
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Re: Too scared to date

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:58:49 -0600

From: Rob Mccart @2665.min_dbaf *61
To: ARELOR @2458.min_debate *61
Subject: Re: Too scared to date

RM> > At least if you own a place you can always sell it to get funds as
> > you always have to keep in mind that some day you may get to the
> > point where you end up in a care facilty where the monthly cost can
> > be 2 or 3 times what your pension pays.

AR>I will admit that the idea of becoming too old and frail to keep my
>current home scares me a bit because I have no current contingency
>plan for it.

Yes, you don't tend to think about things like that if you are not
too old or in pretty good shape. I'm 71 but my doctor says that
a 50 year old would be lucky to be in as good a shape as I am, but
time catches up with us all eventually if we don't die suddenly
from something..

AR>I don t think my house is sellable. It is like a Roman Villa at this point. I
>ten see big rural properties for sale in classified ads but they don t sell b
>use they are not cheap and there is not many people in the need for those.

That can be another issue.. My current place is simple and old but it's
in a vacation area where water frontage building lots sell for a million
dollars and are hard to find so it has a built in market, although in my
case my family expects me to pass it on to the next generation rather
than ever sell it, which is another problem. But I have a decent amount
of savings and got a fair amount in an inheritance this past year so I
have other options at least.

I remember a line from an old TV show where one of the characters
was working out if he would be able to retire or not, and when a
co-worker asked him if he was going to be able to do it, he replied
that he should be okay, as long as he didn't live too long.. B)

('Fish' on Barney Miller)

---
* SLMR Rob * Don't take life too seriously, it's not permanent...
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Re: Too Scared To Date

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:15:13 -0600

From: Arelor @2463.min_debate *61
To: MIKE POWELL @123.min_deba *61
Subject: Re: Too Scared To Date

Re: Re: Too Scared To Date
By: MIKE POWELL to ARELOR on Tue Feb 24 2026 09:49 am

>
> Here places like that sell so that they can subdivide them into a expensive
> subdivision or, depending where they are, maybe an industrial estate.

I am aware these things typically get broken into manageable pieces, but doing
this is a bit complicated in this case.

The previous owner bribed the town hall into classifying the whole place as
"Urban", which gives us rights to build and develop and to get utilities such as
water and electricity.

If we broke the property into smaller pieces chances are they would reclassify
most of it as farm grounds which loses the owner lots of rights and hits the
valuation very badly.

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Else ... Not Getting Shit

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:09:48 -0600

From: Arelor @2462.min_debate *61
To: MIKE POWELL @121.min_deba *61
Subject: Else ... Not Getting Shit

Re: Else ... Not Getting Shit
By: MIKE POWELL to AUGUST ABOLINS on Mon Feb 23 2026 11:07 am

>
> If you mean the people who are actually doing the work, not so much. Those
> people the ones that keep everything going, don't usually get paid a whole
> lot for doing it, *and* they also pay taxes. If they entered government
> with an agreement that there'd be a pension for them when they retire, they
> deserve (and are owed!) that pension.
>

I think that claiming they are actually doing work is a bit of a heavy
estatement in a huge lot of cases.

My experience when need to do something involving the administration is
something like:

1) Call to get an appointment. It takes ages because nobody takes the phone
ever.
2) Go there at the appointed time. The guy in charge is not there because he is
having a coffee break. The coffee break takes hours, apparently.
3) A random messup happens and you need to repeat the cycle a couple of times
until it gets fixed.

So yeah apparently we are paying these guys just to have the illusion that
somebody is at the helm. I am not gonna run in defense of these guys.

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Re: Too Scared To Date

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:49:00 -0600

From: MIKE POWELL @123.min_deba *61
To: ARELOR @Echomail *61
Subject: Re: Too Scared To Date

> I don t think my house is sellable. It is like a Roman Villa at this point. I
> often see big rural properties for sale in classified ads but they don t sell
> because they are not cheap and there is not many people in the need for those.
> You might be sitting on a ton of money on paper but you would not be able to
> cash it out unless you sold it at a pityful price. The fact property here gets
> taxed to death does not help because people knows a fancy house on fancy lands
> costs a ton in government protection money.

Here places like that sell so that they can subdivide them into a expensive
subdivision or, depending where they are, maybe an industrial estate.

Mike

* SLMR 2.1a * ETHERNET - A device for catching the ether bunny.

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Else ... not getting shit

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:53:16 -0600

From: Rob Mccart @2661.min_dbaf *61
To: AUGUST ABOLINS @618:400/23.10 *61
Subject: Else ... not getting shit

AA>It's really too bad that governments ultimately just seem to be looking out
>for their own pensions on the backs of workers/citizens and not implement
>systems that benefit the people they are relying on for taxes.

There is a lot of that going on but I have to say they have enough
rebates and bonuses for low income people that it can make a big
difference in your life.

I'd never have been able to survive doing as little paid work as
I did over the years if not for that. Being on my own and not
needing a fancy lifestyle and, basically, being 'frugal' by nature
I've managed that where not many could and now that I am getting
older, I probably have enough savings behind me that I should be
fine if I end up in an expensive care facility some day so I
appreciate some of the things the gov't has done for us. B)

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Else ... Not Getting Shit

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:07:00 -0600

From: MIKE POWELL @121.min_deba *61
To: AUGUST ABOLINS @Echomail *61
Subject: Else ... Not Getting Shit

> A> I think these days you need to either have a bunch of actives, have a
> A> golden job (ie. be a public officer, since public officers can't be fired
> A> from their jobs for all practical purposes) or run a business as a
> A> self-employed tradesman with a minimum of antiquity. Else you are not
> A> getting shit from the bank.

> It's really too bad that governments ultimately just seem to be looking out
> for their own pensions on the backs of workers/citizens and not implement
> systems that benefit the people they are relying on for taxes.

If you mean "upper government," as in elected officials and their appointees,
I am with you.

If you mean the people who are actually doing the work, not so much. Those
people the ones that keep everything going, don't usually get paid a whole lot
for doing it, *and* they also pay taxes. If they entered government with an
agreement that there'd be a pension for them when they retire, they deserve
(and are owed!) that pension.

Mike

* SLMR 2.1a * Man who fights with wife all day gets no piece at night.

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Re: Too scared to date

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:31:55 -0600

From: Arelor @2458.min_debate *61
To: Rob Mccart @2658.min_dbaf *61
Subject: Re: Too scared to date

Re: Re: Too scared to date
By: Rob Mccart to ARELOR on Mon Feb 23 2026 07:51 am

>
> At least if you own a place you can always sell it to get funds as
> you always have to keep in mind that some day you may get to the
> point where you end up in a care facilty where the monthly cost can
> be 2 or 3 times what your pension pays.

I will admit that the idea of becoming too old and frail to keep my current home
scares me a bit because I have no current contingency plan for it.

I don t think my house is sellable. It is like a Roman Villa at this point. I
often see big rural properties for sale in classified ads but they don t sell
because they are not cheap and there is not many people in the need for those.
You might be sitting on a ton of money on paper but you would not be able to
cash it out unless you sold it at a pityful price. The fact property here gets
taxed to death does not help because people knows a fancy house on fancy lands
costs a ton in government protection money.

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Re: Too scared to date

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:51:47 -0600

From: Rob Mccart @2658.min_dbaf *61
To: ARELOR @2452.min_debate *61
Subject: Re: Too scared to date

RM> > (I believe $400,000 Cdn equals just over 41 million Pesetas there?)

AR>Only old people think in Spanish pesetas. We have been running on
>Euros for decades now.

I should have thought of that.. I just did a quick search on what the
spanish money was and it was pesetas that came up.. Blame AI.. B)

AR>In any case I doubt you would get a mortage here on a retirement pension
>unless you were so wealthy you didn't need it. Banks are no longer doing
>risky loans or mortages anymore because they can't afford not to get paid.

Yes, I run into the same thing here, although I'm sure it's worse there.

I won't be able to winter in this place too many more years, as it's a
pretty hard lifestyle, so I've been thinking on buying a second place
to spend the winter in but, as you said, my retirement income is too
low to get much of a mortgage so I'd have to wipe out most of my savings
to pay cash for another place which is not ideal either..

At least if you own a place you can always sell it to get funds as
you always have to keep in mind that some day you may get to the
point where you end up in a care facilty where the monthly cost can
be 2 or 3 times what your pension pays.

---
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