For regular debit/POS transactions, yeah, I think that’s universal. For ATMs, though, I think it depends on the ATM software, right?
Is it only your bank’s branded ATMs that do that?

My credit union doesn’t operate ATMs and just reimburses the fees, so I use any random ATM when I need to do something other than a deposit. Some let me do multiple transactions, some don’t. Some don’t even let me transfer funds, but those are usually the dinky little machines you find in “convenience” locations.

I’d previously just thought your alias was a deep cut

I guess it is now lol. At the time, though, I thought I was being creative.

The grammar pedant in me is annoyed they’re not called “The Beverlys Crusher” lol.

Most of the last mile fiber network is passive (doesn’t require active electronics to pass the signal like DOCSIS/cable internet or ADSL).

Cable and DSL typically have the equivalent of UPSs in their neighborhood nodes, but they often go unmaintained.

No. I’m not, and I don’t think anyone in the comments that I’ve read are saying that either. Geesh!

Stuff ages out. Stuff breaks. Old stuff gets relegated to a drawer or re-purposed. The older stuff doesn’t necessarily get thrown away, but it’s also not something I carry around daily, either.

All that (most?) people here are saying is that when you do buy something new, there’s an expectation that it use the current standard.

Yeah, that’s annoying for sure. I just bought a handful of cables of known specs that “do it all” and it’s been pretty smooth sailing.

They’re all 3ft or 6ft, 100 watt e-marked, and video capable The only one that’s not is my 10ft one - it’s “only” 100 watt rated but doesn’t do video and is limited to USB 2.0 speeds. I only use that one as a power cord for my laptop, though, and it’s bright red so it’s not like I’m gonna mistake it for anything else.

So far, I haven’t had a need to upgrade anything to the new 240 W spec since I rarely use more than 65W.

I"m not so much against it (it was good enough in its time). I’ve just come to appreciate the mostly “universal” aspect of USB-C and being able to grab any cable from my bag without looking or digging and have it be the correct cable (all my cables are 100W and video capable, so no matter my need, it will be the right cable).

In a lot of ways, I now see anything with less than USB-C as being like the old, oddly-sized barrel jack connectors. Yeah, it works. Yeah, it’s fine. But it’s also now an oddball cable I have to carry around.

I’m old and resist the future in a lot of ways, but USB-C isn’t one of them lol.

Same. I went all-in on USB-C about 3 years ago. My house is still cluttered with cables, but at least I can grab any one of them and charge any device.

That’s just for a vendor ID though for data, right? For basic 5V power (non-Power Delivery), they’d just need the socket and a couple of resistors. I’ve got some cheap-ass devices with USB-C, and even disposable vapes (yuck) have USB-C for charging.

“A Good Slap and the Surprising Health Benefits Thereof” ©2133 by Phlox

I have 4 of them, but they keep getting lost or semi-permanently attached to Raspberry Pis or ESP-32 boards. The rest of my micro-usb devices have largely been phased out.

I could not disagree more lol. Everyone likes to shit on micro USB, but of all the form factor I’ve used over the years. the mini connectors always seemed to wear out the fastest.

I have C->Micro adapters though they aren’t tethered. I’m just spoiled by only carrying C cables in my bag and being able to just grab any cable without looking or digging (they’re all 100W and video-capable except my 10ft one).

Probably, yeah. I was similarly disappointed when my Kobo came with micro USB, but considering I love everything else about it, I gave it a pass. That, and I typically only have to charge it once a month.

I’ve got USB-C to micro adapters, but I’ve only got 4 of them and either keep losing them or they get semi-permanently installed to a Raspberry Pi or something.

Laughter is the best medicine. If that doesn’t work, try 50 ccs of inaprovoline. If inaprovoline doesn’t work, slap them.

I’m currently reading “Star Trek: Destiny” and the Borg are the big bad. Enjoying it so far (only about 1/3 into the first book of the trilogy).

I don’t really have a solid answer, and have only recently gone down the TrekLit rabbit hole, but I’d venture a couple of guesses:

1. Many of them utilize existing characters, so that might be problematic given the age of the cast and/or their availability.
2. I vaguely recall that existing characters for different series have to pay royalties to the writer who invented the character. I think this was the case for Nick Locarno and why Tom Paris is basically “We have Nick Locarno at home”
3. Probably some other IP legalese mucking things up as it is wont to do

When I posted yesterday looking to get some book suggestions, many of them involved existing characters. I think the “The Fall” series is all original characters, so it would probably be a good candidate. There’s probably others, but I’m not familiar enough yet to name any more.

The actor age / availability problem is probably solvable if the series was animated, though.

The Destiny trilogy by David Mack

Bought that one yesterday and am literally reading it now. Loving it so far; the pacing is fantastic.

Not long after the end of DS9. Garak remained on Cardassia Prime helping to rebuild after the end of the Dominion War. The framing structure of the book is a series of journal entries and letters from Garak to Dr. Bashir, so it covers a lot of time periods.