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[magz]

"7 Of The Best Linux Distros For Beginners"

Article Date: April 8, 2024.

"Using Windows just keeps getting worse. If it's not Microsoft pestering you to use Edge — or making it harder for you to change the default browser — then it's how the platform has almost become spyware, driving many users to change privacy settings immediately after installing. We could go on all day about reasons you should abandon Windows, whether it's Microsoft effectively ruining sleep mode for laptops or giving nonstop forced updates. Sadly, the grass isn't always greener on the other side with Macintosh. Sure, Apple doesn't have the issues we mentioned, but it remains a very un-customizable operating system with expensive apps and a comically high price of entry. Oh, and if you've got an Apple Silicon Mac, there's now an unfixable vulnerability in your chipset – so much for Apple security. If ever there was a time to switch to Linux, it's now. [Continued In Article]"

The ones on the list (more info in article):

Ubuntu

Zorin OS

Linux Mint

Elementary OS

Manjaro

MX Linux

Puppy Linux

Thoughts on the recommended Linux distros there?

[adtothebone]

Hey, if it worked for the Pontiac Aztek…

[usafphantom2]

How the legendary A-10 Warthog received this name

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 05/15/23 - 10:00am History, Military

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as Warthog, is considered by some to be just a large Gatling machine gun with wings. This fearsome aircraft tested in battle by the United States armed forces became legendary during the Gulf War not only because of its unmistakable appearance, but also because of the pure firepower it brings to the battlefield - and the resulting unmistakable sound it emits in doing so.

During its time in Operation Desert Storm, the A-10 was responsible for destroying more than 900 tanks, 1,200 artillery pieces, thousands of other land vehicles and even some helicopters.

Initially built by the Fairchild Republic Company, the Warthog was put into service in 1976 and has been used only by the U.S. Air Force as its main low-altitude approximate air support aircraft since then. In 1987, Grumman Corporation bought all of Fairchild's A-10 assets.

He did his job so well that the USAF still uses it today. In fact, he managed to avoid being relegated to the air museum a few times, first by the F-16 and then by the F-35 Lightning II. Currently, 281 A-10s jets are still in operational use.

An aircraft with any other name would not sound the same

One of the most recognizable features of the A-10 is the Gatling GAU-8 Avenger 30mm seven-barrell machine gun perched on its nose, which is capable of firing 3,900 shots per minute. Interestingly, the plane was built around the gun, not the other way around. In 1970, the U.S. Air Force requested a 30 mm fast-shot cannon.

A year later, General Electric and Philco Ford created the GAU-8, which produces a "BRRRT!" sound. when it's fired. The weapon itself is larger than a Volkswagen Beetle and occupies 16% of the total weight of 12 tons of the A-10.

The nickname Warthog (Javali) was allegedly coined by Robert "Boomer" Ettinger, an A-10 pilot of the 104º Fighter Squadron of the Maryland National Air Guard. This is due to the robust and stocky appearance of the A-10, more similar to the wild boar, a common species of African wild pig.

The Warthog was designed to be a "Tank Buster", capable of carrying out attacks on ground targets and machine-gun them with highly explosive PGU-13/B incendiary cartridges or PGU-14/B armor piercing incendiary cartridges. Remember that each shot round of GAU-8 is larger than a standard beer bottle.

It can carry up to 16,000 pounds of mixed ammunition, including drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, anti-mine ammunition and missiles such as the AGM-65 Maverick and the AIM-9 Sidewinder. If this is not impressive enough, it can even withstand direct impacts of 23 mm explosive and piercing ammunition.

It was recently announced that the U.S. Air Force will begin to retire the remaining A-10s still in use, so that they can be completely out of service by 2029. However, considering his past success in avoiding retirement... we would not bet against Boar.

Source: Slashgear - Edition: Cavok

Tags: A-10 Thunderbolt IIMilitary AviationUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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[itscarshub]

4 Cheaper But Smaller Alternatives To The Cadillac Escalade

What do David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, and Taylor Swift have in common? They are just three of the many celebrities that own a Cadillac Escalade. Known for their luxury and comfort, this SUV has become a symbol of success as more and more celebrities are spotted with their own model. Its plush, detailed upholstery, paired with its huge screens, scream old-school money and classy comfort. But at a minimum price of around $90,000, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade may not be attainable for everyone looking for a spacious, high-end SUV. The Cadillac has grown into an iconic car brand since it was established in 1902. However, the Escalade isn't the only big, bold, and beautiful SUV available for fans of its roomy and feature-heavy interior and tasteful exterior. There are some cost-effective alternatives to the Cadillac Escalade for drivers that want the same red carpet effect without breaking the bank. These SUVs may be smaller, but they still have a plethora of high-tech and comfort-focused features — some of which may even surpass the Escalade.

Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90 touts itself as a luxury SUV, promising a refined, intuitive, and stylish experience. What makes it a direct competitor to the Escalade is its focus on old-school vibes blended with up-to-date technology for maximum comfort and convenience. The Volvo XC90 has three rows of seats, an air purifier, and plenty of assistance options. Its performance is equally focused on comfort, promising smooth takeoffs and decent fuel economy. It actually has much better miles per gallon than the Escalade, at 26 mpg compared to the Escalade's average of 16. A 2025 Volvo XC90 starts at $57,400, putting it at a much lower price point to the Escalade. Even the plug-in hybrid Volvo XC90 model will save you some racks compared to the Escalade at $71,900. This price point does come with some downsides, however, like the Volvo XC90's lack of power. Its four-cylinder engine produces under 300 horsepower despite it being over 4,500 pounds.

Audi Q7

The 2025 Audi Q7 is known for being a luxury family SUV, so maybe it doesn't have the glamorous image of the Cadillac, but it's honestly a stylish direct competitor due to its many upgrades in the newest model. Outside, the Audi Q7 has a two-tone wheel that looks simple yet bold, an illuminated Audi logo on the grille, and blacked out trim all along the side. The biggest updates, however, are to the interior features. The high-end version has plush, memory seats, dual screens with a lot of included apps, and plenty of space and headroom. When it comes to the driving experience, Audi Q7 has a lot of fans. Owners say that the handling and turning is impressive for a car of its size. During SlashGear's first-drive review of the Audi Q7, we found that it "floats" down the road, even rockier ones. But at 5,000 pounds, don't expect the Audi Q7 to have a ton of pep or impressive top speeds. Of course, it's a family-focused SUV, so safer driving is expected. At $60,500 (or around $90,000 for the top package), the Audi Q7 is a great alternative to the Cadillac if a comforting, smooth, and luxurious ride is what you're after.

Genesis GV80

Starting at just under $60,000, the Genesis GV80 has everything you expect and more — even the base model. All 2025 Genesis GV80s come with an infotainment touchscreen, heated seats (plus arm rests), and three classy interior shades to choose from. This beautiful and feature-heavy SUV also has all-wheel drive, drives in almost complete silence, and reaches 0-60 mph in a little over six seconds. The 3.5T Advanced trim, which is still just $75,000, also has leather upholstery throughout, adaptive cruise control (with lane centering), automatic climate control, and a sunroof. With a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 300 HP, the base model 2025 Genesis GV80 doesn't perform much differently from in the past. However, SlashGear reported that the GV80 exchanges this engine for a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Not quite the Escalade's 420 to 682 horsepower, but this massive SUV also weighs around 1,000 more. When it comes to the two SUV's performances, the smooth, comfortable ride is the true comparison that shows why the GV80 is a great competitor even at its lower price point.

Porsche Macan

The other luxury SUVs on this list were first, but the Porsche Macan may do it better. It's better late than never: The 2025 Porsche Macan EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) models both blend comfort with performance in a way that others on this list don't. The trick is choosing whether you prefer the battery-powered EV or the engine-powered ICE. The Porsche Macan has an overall smaller interior than the Escalade, which comes with a few setbacks. The cargo space is on top of the list of inconveniences, followed by a lack of legroom for backseat passengers. You also have to pay extra (like a few thousand) for leather seats. But the Porsche Macan makes up for these shortcomings with an impressive driving experience beyond what you'd expect from a larger SUV. The Macan EV base model starts at $75,300 but jumps to over $107,000 when you get to the Turbo model. Meanwhile, the ICE base is just $62,900 and reaches $76,000 at the highest trim. The Porsche Macan EV is a battery-powered SUV with rear-wheel drive that generates up to 335 horsepower (355 when using launch control), and can go from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. We clocked it at 136 mph on the track. This performance is already quite better than the Escalade, making up for its lack of space and luxury. If you want even more from the Macan, however, the ICE version is even faster. This is because the EV version weighs a lot more. Whichever model you choose, however, expect it to perform better than the Escalade when winding through back roads or heading off the beaten path. Source link Read the full article

[billtj]

SlashGear: 12 Google Calendar Settings You'll Wish You Changed Sooner

[ijustwant2ride]

Are You Wearing a Top-Ranked Motorcycle Helmet?

I ran across this article from SlashGear “EVERY MAJOR MOTORCYCLE HELMET BRAND RANKED WORST TO BEST IN NHTSA COMPLIANCE TESTING”. It is a very interesting list.

I ran across this article from SlashGear “EVERY MAJOR MOTORCYCLE HELMET BRAND RANKED WORST TO BEST IN NHTSA COMPLIANCE TESTING”. It is a very interesting list. They ranked the top 14 helmet brands using the following methodology: “To determine the best motorcycle helmet brands versus the worst, we’ve taken a look at brand compliance, meaning whether helmets pass rigorous testing standards by the…

[dr-iphone]

Yaber K3 系列投影儀亮相 IFA 2024，獲 11 項媒體大獎

在柏林國際電子消費品展覽會 (IFA) 2024 上，Yaber 的 K3 系列投影儀驚艷全場，獲得多家媒體的高度評價，並斬獲 Trusted Reviews、SlashGear、Android Police、House Digest、Gadgety Awards 等 11 個「Best of IFA 2024」和「Most Innovative」獎項。 Continue reading Yaber K3 系列投影儀亮相 IFA 2024，獲 11 項媒體大獎

[kspacesite]

Hummingbird-inspired drone could one day help in a disaster

What's the buzz with Research At Purdue's tiny, insectlike robots? SlashGear's Shane McGlaun reports the elegant drones are based on hummingbirds, and could someday do search and rescue missions where people can't go.

[inazuma-fulgur]

Google is changing this service soon (or maybe it has for you already idk) to make its tracking "service" work offline as long as you have bluetooth enabled. I assume you still need to keep your location on but it's unclear to me and I'm not tech savvy enough

But either way through devices around your device google will still be able to pinpoint your location, and having bluetooth + location on turns your device into a privacy risk for others

This is also an opt out service, which imo should generally illegal and some of which are, so you need to be aware of this + not forget + be able to find where to turn the tracking off in your settings

I'll have to opt out in exactly three days for each of my android devices individually, I can't do it in advance as google has informed me today.

So for at least a brief moment I'll be much more vulnerable than I want because I made a google account at 12 years old lol

And this is not something I agreed to in the slightest

Take care, fuck google (and George Orwell (looking at you, slashgear))

[streamingfanatic1963]

Check out “Never Use WD-40 In This Way, Or You'll Regret It” on Flipboard

Never Use WD-40 In This Way, Or You'll Regret It

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