Bonum Certa Men Certa

Lenovo Ships ThinkBook 15 Gen2 ITL Series Full of UEFI BIOS ACPI Bugs, Releases Half a Dozen BIOS Updates, and Doesn’t Fix the Bugs

Guest post by Ryan, reprinted with permission from the original

For those who wonder what an OEM like Lenovo actually ships in their uEFI firmware, and what Microsoft Windows simply works around and helps them hide, take a gander at the Linux kernel’s log below.



Linux works around the bugs too, but Windows actually hides them from you!



Here’s a Google search from some of LOL NO VO’s other satisfied customers, with their “business grade” solution.



Lenovo’s “support” people in the forums don’t know anything, but they mostly deal with crap like Windows and tell people how to turn it off and back on again.



Here’s an Ubuntu bug and what a Ubuntu developer has to say about at least some of this. (The person in question has a Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH according to his DMI Decode dump. Which suggests these errors affect more than one of their product lines.)



But they slapped an Ubuntu Certified label on this ThinkBook 15 Gen2 ITL model I use, and other than this damned mess I had to sort out with the AX210 Wifi chip, it’s an okay laptop.



I just wish it wouldn’t shove all of this garbage in my face every time I boot it up. It appears right before the Debian bootsplash, and although LOL NO VO Ubuntu Certified this thing with some sort of Linux 5.6-OEM kernel that Ubuntu 20.04 autodetects, I can’t imagine that it could work very well with that kernel. The Wifi is still touch and go and you have to put it in AC only mode and cherry pick Linux 5.10.70 out of Debian-Proposed (or wait until Debian 11.1 to install it, but you can probably make it work okay until you can cherry pick the newer kernel. Just remember to turn off fast boot in Windows and shut the system down to fully clear the Windows driver out of the chipset’s memory first!).



Now, I will directly quote the Ubuntu developer, Alex Hung:



“There are two types of ACPI errors observed: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS and AE_NOT_FOUND



The former, AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, usually happens



1) when BIOS loads multiple SSDTs (in /sys/firmware/acpi/tables) that contains the objects with the same names (and usually the same functions too). Naming conflicts prevent kernel to load all of them correctly.



2) BIOS’s ACPI methods are not serialized and multiple calls the same methods occur.



I would guess we are seeing scenario 1 here. They are usually harmless because a copy of working SSDT is loaded while duplicated ones are discarded.



The later, AE_NOT_FOUND, is the opposite. This occurs when BIOS does NOT load SSDTs and therefore kernel is not able to get information and perform accordingly.



Neither types of error messages can be fixed without BIOS fixes.



Fortunately, all of the failing ACPI methods are optional, and there are good chances that Linux / Ubuntu will work without them. There are three types of devices *might* be affected according to the error messages:



1. USB (\_SB.PCI0.XHC.RHUB…)- but USB ports and devices should just-work without BIOS code, which are usually for OEM customization.



2. Touchpad (\_SB.PCI0.I2Cx…) – error messages are reported for i2c-2 and i2c-3, but it is likely the touchpad is connected to i2c-1. Please check whether you are experience problems with your touchpad.



3. Switchable graphics (\_SB.PCI0.PEG0…)- but error messages are “AE_ALREADY_EXISTS”. lspci also shows no discrete VGA present on this system, and nothing to worry about.”



In other words:



Lenovo has made a damned mess, but left it there because of reasons, including the fact that operating systems don’t generally use uEFI drivers for anything because operating systems have their own, they perform better, and if I’m remembering the gist of this, once you exit boot services, you can’t use the ones from the system firmware anyway. Everything on this laptop works fine, including the HDMI port. The only exception is the fingerprint scanner built into the power button, but who cares?



Errors for touchpad devices that don’t even exist where it’s printing the error message for? My touchpad works fine. So, whatever I guess. I use a bluetooth mouse anyway.



"Regardless, I think Techrights needs to add this to why uEFI is no good."Switchable (hybrid) graphics errors. I don’t have hybrid graphics on this system. In fact, when laptops usually ship with that, they tend to use an Nvidia “card” for the high performance chip, and I’ve had enough of Nvidia’s proprietary driver for 10 life times already. In fact, there _may_ be a BIOS option regarding hybrid graphics in my firmware setup. I may look there at some point and see if I can shut it up. Lenovo may have just left the setting on/off for laptops they ship like that?



Of course, some people on Gigabyte motherboards, as well as Dell and Acer laptops, seem to have these problems and some that actually affect the operation of the computer. So I guess Lenovo isn’t the absolute worst.



Regardless, I think Techrights needs to add this to why uEFI is no good. These are the same class of problems, and then some, that the buggiest of Legacy PC BIOS systems were known to sometimes have, and we were lied to and told that Microsoft and Intel would clean up that mess with uEFI, and they obviously didn’t. Windows is just the fridge that the equally proverbial cockroaches hide under.



However harmless some of these errors are, in practice, to a person who didn’t know better, they make Linux appear broken when it’s not.



But this behavior isn’t new at Microsoft.



What the user is supposed to do is feel uncomfortable, and when he has bugs, suspect that the problem is [the competitor’s product], and then go buy [our product].

Former Microsoft Senior Vice President Brad Silverberg


Regardless, here’s the eyesore I get to read about on my screen when my system is booting. Thanks, Lenovo.






[ 0.175571] ACPI: Added _OSI(Module Device)
[ 0.175571] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Device)
[ 0.175571] ACPI: Added _OSI(3.0 _SCP Extensions)
[ 0.175571] ACPI: Added _OSI(Processor Aggregator Device)
[ 0.175571] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-Dell-Video)
[ 0.175571] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-Lenovo-NV-HDMI-Audio)
[ 0.175571] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-HPI-Hybrid-Graphics)
[ 0.223165] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS01._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223171] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223173] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223174] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS01._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223177] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223178] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223180] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS02._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223183] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223184] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223185] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS02._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223187] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223188] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223190] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS03._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223192] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223194] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223195] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS03._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223197] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223198] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223200] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS04._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223202] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223204] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223205] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.TXHC.RHUB.SS04._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223207] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223208] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223210] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS01._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223212] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223213] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223214] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS01._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223217] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223218] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223337] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS02._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223340] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223341] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223342] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS02._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223344] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223346] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223347] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS03._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223349] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223351] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223352] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS03._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223354] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223355] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223407] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS04._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223409] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223411] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223412] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS04._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223414] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223415] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223417] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS05._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223419] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223421] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223422] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS05._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223424] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223425] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223427] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS06._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223429] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223430] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223431] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS06._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223433] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223435] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223436] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS07._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223438] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223440] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223441] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS07._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223443] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223444] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223446] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS08._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223448] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223450] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223450] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS08._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223453] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223454] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223572] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS09._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223574] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223576] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223577] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS09._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223579] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223580] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223698] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS10._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223700] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223702] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223703] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.HS10._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223705] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223706] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223824] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS01._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223826] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223827] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223828] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS01._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223830] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223832] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223833] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS02._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223836] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223837] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223838] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS02._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223840] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223842] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223843] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS03._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223845] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223847] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223848] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS03._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223850] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223851] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223853] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS04._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223855] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223856] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223857] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS04._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223859] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223861] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223862] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS05._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223864] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223866] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223867] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS05._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223869] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223870] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223872] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS06._UPC], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223874] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223875] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.223876] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Failure creating named object [_SB.PC00.XHCI.RHUB.SS06._PLD], AE_ALREADY_EXISTS (20200925/dswload2-326)
[ 0.223878] ACPI Error: AE_ALREADY_EXISTS, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.223880] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0014)
[ 0.224477] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [_SB.PC00.I2C0.TPD0], AE_NOT_FOUND (20200925/dswload2-162)
[ 0.224480] ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.224481] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0010)
[ 0.224500] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [_SB.PC00.I2C0.TPL1], AE_NOT_FOUND (20200925/dswload2-162)
[ 0.224502] ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.224503] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0010)
[ 0.225016] ACPI BIOS Error (bug): Could not resolve symbol [_SB.PCI0], AE_NOT_FOUND (20200925/dswload2-162)
[ 0.225018] ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, During name lookup/catalog (20200925/psobject-220)
[ 0.225020] ACPI: Skipping parse of AML opcode: OpcodeName unavailable (0x0010)
[ 0.225234] ACPI: 19 ACPI AML tables successfully acquired and loaded
[ 0.225830] ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, While resolving a named reference package element – ^SPI1.SPFD.CVFD (20200925/dspkginit-438)
[ 0.225833] ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, While resolving a named reference package element – ^SPI1.SPFD.CVFD (20200925/dspkginit-438)
[ 0.225836] ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, While resolving a named reference package element – ^XHCI.RHUB.HS04.VI2C (20200925/dspkginit-438)
[ 0.225845] ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, While resolving a named reference package element – ^XHCI.RHUB.HS04.VI2C (20200925/dspkginit-438)



Recent Techrights' Posts

Security and blobs, by Alex Oliva (GNU Linux-Libre)
Reprinted with permission from Alex Oliva
Techrights Thanks Every Single EPO Worker Who Went on Strike Today
We have so much in common
EPO Staff Union: The Strike Actions and Other Industrial Actions "Have Already Delivered Measurable Gains."
SUEPO Munich has just issued a statement to staff
Based on Insider Leaks, Asha Sharma's Job is to Kill XBox While Talking About "AI"
They cite SneakerSO
Linux Kernel 7.0 Release Candidate Comes Out, Stallman Turns 73 in Three Weeks
It predates Microsoft and Apple
In Greenland, Firefox's Gecko and KHTML (KDE, But Bastardised by Apple) Bigger Than Chrome
Are those Danes recognising the risk of monoculture?
IBM Layoffs Definitely Still Happening
Contrary to what some apologists try to say
 
Probably IBM's Worst Day in Wall Street in Well Over a Decade
They try to blame some Anthropic slop, but that's just a distraction from IBM having nothing to offer
The Monday After the 9PM-on-Friday Prepared Puff Pieces-Under-Embargo Microsoft Strategy for XBox Collapse
There are more layoffs ahead at Microsoft's XBox
Kyndryl Also in a Freefall Today, James Kavanaugh's Accounting Skills Seem to be Based on Pumping and Dumping
What is the real value of Kyndryl when its debt is about twice its alleged "worth"?
Not Much Left to "Pump" in This Slop Bubble
let's hope that by the end of the year the whole bubble fully implodes
IBM Common Stock Crashes Hard (Almost $100 Below the Levels of February's Beginning)
Another Kyndryl?
Links 23/02/2026: Withdrawal From Slop and Ukraine Invasion Enters Fifth Year
Links for the day
Gemini Links 23/02/2026: Moving to Gentoo, Wake-on-LAN Script
Links for the day
Kyndryl Fell by About 50% in One Day, IBM Fell 23% in 20 Days
the IBM Titanic
Trusting the Evil Maids
Don't listen to liars and frauds
Aaron Swartz Has Already Explained What Reddit/Conde Nast Meant to Him and Why We Should All Avoid Reddit If We Value Software Freedom
Aaron Swartz did not start Reddit
Valnet's Good Legacy of GNU/Linux Advocacy in Journalism Form
Let's hope they carry on like this
Coders and Thinkers
I used to be a hyper-productive coder; these days I do more thinking and writing
Slop (So-called 'genAI') is Not a Skill, Slop Gets You Suspended or Even Sacked, It Can Eventually End Your Career
Benj Edwards, a so-called 'Senior' so-called 'AI' so-called 'Reporter'
Quitting Reddit (Social Control Media Controlled by Conde Nast)
There is a new post in Reddit
There is No Such Thing as "AI Skills", "AI Competency", "AI Fluency" Etc.
Slop does not give anybody an advantage
Links 23/02/2026: "What Boston Will Cost Me" and Women as Hostages
Links for the day
IRC Usage Levels Seem to be Rebounding This Year
it looks like the total count (tally) of users increased a lot lately
Microsoft Tricked the Media Into Lying About Microsoft Layoffs in January. Now It Does the Same (in February).
Microsoft has got the media by the wallet (or balls)
Free Software Projects Become Slow Due to Slop
It does not improve efficiency or productivity, it reduces both
EPO Strike Has Begun (or Resumed)
The EPO status quo is untenable
Links 23/02/2026: US Surrenders to Climate Change (to Benefit Oil Companies and Slop), UK Court of Appeal to Hear Mazur
Links for the day
GAFAM Jobs No Longer Lucrative
Those days are long gone
Germans Recognise the Contagion is Digital, Not Racial
How to dismantle or neutralise those weapons? Turn them off
Free Software (or Software Freedom) Ain't No Religion
It's hardly surprising that some of the loudest opponents of Software Freedom and its luminaries also disregard or bend facts
Dr. Andy Farnell Explains Why the Slop Industry is Like Trespassers and Thieves
interesting new article about robots.txt files
The Demise of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Profession Based Around Bullying With SLAPPs and Empty Threats
For press to survive and thrive in the UK we need the hired gun to be submerged
Gemini Links 23/02/2026: Imperfect Journal, Evil, and "Progress Goes Boing!"
Links for the day
“Power is a Thing of Perception. They Don't Need to be Able to Kill You. They Just Need You to Think They are Able to Kill You” ― Julian Assange
When leadership becomes corrupt enough to lose a sense of authority its days are numbered; it'll be replaced
IBM Has Already Admitted 2026 Mass Layoffs (in 4Q Earnings Call)
We showed this earlier this month, but some people bring that up again
Reasons to Go on Strike in the European Patent Office (EPO)
If you live in Europe and don't work for the EPO, you can still help
First speech of Chanellor Hitler, Andreas Tille & Debian denounce Branden Robinson
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, February 22, 2026
IRC logs for Sunday, February 22, 2026
More and More Projects Quit Microsoft GitHub This Year, XBox Will See the Same
Microsoft GitHub's embrace of slop as "strategic" gives us a clue of what'll happen to XBox very soon
Google "Intelligence": Despite Slam-Dunk or "Smoking Gun" Proof, Drug Abuse in EPO Leadership is "Unverified Allegations"
Google's slop (so-called 'AI') lacks intelligence
8,000 Pages/Articles Per Year
We're eager to maintain a good production/publication pace and illuminate the sinister attempts to interfere with Freedom of the Press in the UK
Don't Use the Future Tense to Discuss the Slop Bubble
Wall Street does not react to reality; it reacts to panic, which is related to expectations
Gemini Links 22/02/2026: Okonomiyaki and Midcrunch Crisis
Links for the day
The Broken Window Industry and Its Ongoing Desires to Make Technology Less Dependable
Reliable computing is becoming harder to find
Freedom Means Accepting He or She Who is Different
In the Debian community we're sadly seeing some authoritarian overreach this month
New XBox CEO Typecast in Social Control Media
Microsoft apologists will fall back on (or shuffle between) the "racist" and "sexist" angle
Sites Without JavaScript Deserve Your Visits
We're not arguing that the Web should be as simple or barebones like Gemini Protocol/GemText
EPO Strikes Are Already Working
Campinos is already going "into hiding"
Microsoft Windows Falls to Another New All-Time Low in Guatemala, It is a Bottomless Pit
Maybe users come to realise that Windows means back doors and those doors are open to a regime that ought not be trusted
"XBox" Will Become Slop After Mass Layoffs
When all else fails, "AI it"
Links 22/02/2026: Hardware Price Hikes Across the Board, "Microsoft Issues Statement on Potential Layoffs"
Links for the day
Microsoft "Layoffs Incoming"
This transition isn't about promoting games; it's about canning the console
Links 22/02/2026: "Bloat of Modern Fitness Apps" and Wikipedia Deprecates Archive.today
Links for the day
Our IRC 5-Year Anniversary (for Self-Hosted) is Fast Approaching
A week from now it's March already
Gemini Links 22/02/2026: Dream Job Gone and Slop in Taskwarrior
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, February 21, 2026
IRC logs for Saturday, February 21, 2026
GNU/Linux Grew a Lot in Nicaragua
We've not noticed until today
Techrights Has Over 1,000 Good Articles 'in the Tank'
Drafts, notes, and lengthy documents
New Article Challenges Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for Choosing the Wrong SLAPP Cases to Investigate
The one point we can agree on is that SRA does not know how to correctly select the worst culprits/offenders
The Brand 'Watsonx' is a Terrible Name for IBM 'Hey Hi' (Chatbots) Because Watson Agreed With Adolf Hitler
Almost a century has passed and IBM still believes that selling "intelligence", chatbots in particular, should be done under the name "Watson"
Why IBM is Still Scary and Dangerous
Keep a distance from "Big Blue" Bully
Measuring the Growth of Our Mission and Community
Something between experiment and prototype
Richard Stallman in the United States - Part III - Georgia Tech Did a Fine Job Upholding Free Speech Principles
The real problem was social control media (toxic)
Debian's Master is Deleting Criticism of SystemD and Other Things (On-Topic and Published by Debian Developers), Resorts to the Excuse Messages Are "Too Long"
Censorship serves nobody except the masters that control this censorship
Digg's Latest Incarnation Already Failed, It's Infested With LLM Slop
Many submissions go to slopfarms and some get summarised by slop
Gemini Links 21/02/2026: Veganism and DeskPi RackMate T0
Links for the day
On The Web, XBox Already a Dying Breed
Down to about 0.05% on large machines, based on statCounter [...] Microsoft will never publicly admit or say how many billions it lost on the XBox
2026 a Year of 'Top-Down' Microsoft Layoffs (Management First)
Stay tuned for what comes next
Your "Likes" Aren't Yours and They're Mostly "Worthless Clicks"
Social hermits are not popular, irrespective of how many "Facebook friends" or "likes" they get
Waggener Edstrom/Frank Shaw Lied, There Are Definitely Microsoft Layoffs
Microsoft never issued a formal statement, it made allusions by proxy
Microsoft-Controlled Media With Embargo and Press Operatives
This won't be the last example of media manipulation for narrative control or face-saving "damage control"
Slop Hype Makes Our Core Technology Less Reliable and Far Less Resilient (We Pay for the Catastrophe That Follows)
Only slop-free projects can be trusted
Going for 1,000 (Days of Uptime)
universal records are vastly better
Firefox is No-Go in China, Not Even 1% "Market Share" Anymore
Given Mozilla's utterly rubbish marketing these days (politics over technical aspects), set aside the cheerleading for slop, there's hardly a chance of Mozilla Firefox reaching or exceeding 10% again
EPO "Cocaine Communication Manager" - Part III - It's in His Eyes
Workers are free to draw their own conclusions
Links 21/02/2026: Tensions Over Iran and Illegal Cheeto Tariffs, Presidential Approval Sags
Links for the day
Links 21/02/2026: "Moving Away From Cloudflare", Many Layoffs or Shutdowns in Games (Including XBox/Microsoft)
Links for the day
GNU Linux-libre is a Grown-Up Today
"before that, every distro that wanted to respect its users' freedom had to remove itself all of the binary blobs that were distributed as part of the kernel Linux's so-called sources"
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Friday, February 20, 2026
IRC logs for Friday, February 20, 2026
Gemini Links 21/02/2026: "The Evil of Action" and Slop Bots Causing Great Harm Online (Not Just the Web)
Links for the day