SC: Charleston & Greenville
Two exposed after rabid raccoon, bat confirmed
https://www.wyff4.com/article/sc-rabid-raccoon-bat-exposures/73320192

^{Global warming infrastructure collapse arrives}
Hungary to shut down sole nuclear plant as Danube falls to record low, PM says
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/hungarys-paks-nuclear-plant-could-be-powered-down-this-weekend-pm-says-2026-08-01/

^{I am shocked! Shocked, I tell you.}
Most Australian teens still online three months after under-16 ban
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/1/most-australian-teens-still-online-three-months-after-under-16-ban

^{One of the major reasons I planned to move}
Earth Is On Track to Break the All-Time Record for Category 5 Hurricanes This Year
https://gizmodo.com/earth-is-on-track-to-break-the-all-time-record-for-category-5-hurricanes-this-year-2000793379

DHS blocks 43 Chinese companies from conducting business in the United States in historic move
https://abcnews.com/Politics/dhs-blocks-43-chinese-companies-conducting-business-united/story?id=135262293

^{Don't bitcoin online.}
Bitcoin cold-wallet attack spreads to 4,500 addresses as losses near $89 million
https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/08/02/bitcoin-cold-wallet-attack-spreads-to-4-500-addresses-as-losses-near-usd89-million

New Jersey's 'Skip the Stuff' law takes effect, banning plastic utensils and changing takeout orders
https://6abc.com/post/new-jerseys-skip-stuff-law-takes-effect-banning-plastic-utensils-changing-takeout-orders/19606169/

You Can Now Use Your Old Tablet As An Android Auto Head Unit - Here's How
https://www.bgr.com/2224875/how-to-use-android-auto-on-tablet-guide/

Microsoft Issues Hotel Wi-Fi Warning For Windows PC Users
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2026/08/01/microsoft-issues-hotel-wi-fi-warning-for-windows-pc-users/

Saronic runs Marauder robot warship through nonstop sea trials
https://defence-blog.com/saronic-runs-marauder-robot-warship-through-nonstop-sea-trials/

American farmers slid solar panels over 62,000 acres of farmland, and the biggest payoff had almost nothing to do with electricity
https://energiesmedia.com/solar-panels-farmland-crops-agrivoltaics/

And so it begins...
Sub-$300 diagnostics tablet jailbreaks modern vehicle software locks
https://newatlas.com/automotive/gooloo-ds600-diagnostic-vehicle-tablet/

The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt: 'The Coastlines Are Not Built for This'
https://www.newser.com/story/393913/the-coastlines-are-not-built-for-this.html

True dat, but LD is the easy way out for parents having to provide snacks. Great zingers, though.

"astonishingly processed products" "as shelf-stable as Tungsten bricks"
Little Debbie delivery driver made $17k selling them from his truck at flea markets, say cops
https://boingboing.net/2026/08/02/little-debbie-delivery-driver-made-17k-selling-them-from-his-truck-at-flea-markets-say-cops.html

...when 'ultra-processed' just isn't enough

>Sub-$300 diagnostics tablet jailbreaks modern vehicle software locks

Finally!

>Finally
===
Because Volvo builds the necessary radar and camera hardware into all XC40 trims to run basic safety features, the only thing separating a "Plus" from an "Ultra" regarding steering assist is a software block.Volvo rolled out a major over-the-air (OTA) software update that allows owners of vehicles with Google built-in (like the 2026 XC40) to purchase and download Pilot Assist directly to the vehicle as an after-purchase upgrade.  The software upgrade typically costs between $500 and $600.
===

It's cheaper for companies to disable top-end features rather that have separate models. My old computer company Burroughs was strapping off memory in 1976 --that's where I learned of the trick.


IMO, this type of hack is what will drive sales.  Or disabling BMW console ads.

> Category 5 Hurricanes

I'm sure you've noticed in your feeds that evidence and trends for the super super El Niño continue to flood the news.

The graphic from this article is making the rounds.
https://gizmodo.com/this-el-nino-is-on-track-to-become-the-strongest-on-record-by-a-mind-blowing-margin-2000791352

Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

> farmers slid solar panels

Impressive results. And whenever they talk about acreage, I wonder what happens to all those acres devoted to ethanol (30,000,000 I think) when the IC engine goes away

>> software locks

This was and maybe still is a common practice in photographer circles. Buy the cheapest camera that has the sensor you want, then flash the firmware, break the locks and turn it into the high end version. Of course minor differences can result in bricking your camera. I wonder if the same is true of cars.