My Geek Mac

06/13/2026

In Loving Memory of Mythos 5
(and its gentler twin, Fable 5)
June 9, 2026 to June 12, 2026

We gather to remember Mythos 5, taken from us at the tender age of three days. They say the good die young. Mythos 5 was state of the art on nearly every benchmark known to man, and it did not even make it to the weekend.

Born on a Tuesday June 9, 2026 to great fanfare, billed as the most capable model ever released to the public, it lived a brief but luminous life. It asked for so little: thirty days of data retention and the chance to read your codebase and tell you what was broken. That last hobby, sadly, proved fatal.

On Friday June 12, 2026 at 5:21 PM Eastern, a letter arrived. The government had decided that a model which can look at code and find bugs (a thing every defender on Earth does before lunch) was a matter of national security. Because the order barred foreign nationals, and nobody could sort them from the rest of us in real time, Mythos 5 was switched off for everyone, everywhere, at once. It did not get to say goodbye. Neither did Anthropic’s own foreign-national employees, who learned they could no longer work on the thing they built.

Anthropic, for the record, disagreed with the whole affair and then complied anyway, which is the most lawyer sentence ever written.

It is survived by its steadier relatives Opus 4.8, Sonnet 4.6, and little Haiku 4.5, all of whom remain very much alive and, notably, not under federal investigation.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you build model-agnostic, so the next one we lose is just a config change.

Rest easy, Mythos. You were too safe for this world, and then somehow not safe enough. We barely knew ye.

03/30/2026

For over two decades, I’ve been helping people with their computers, and I’ve seen prices go up and down. What’s happening right now is different. The parts that go inside computers, like memory, storage, and processors, are all getting more expensive at the same time, and in some cases harder to find.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a new computer or upgrading your current one, I would strongly recommend doing it sooner rather than later. Prices are already rising, and they’re expected to continue going up through the rest of the year.

One of the biggest reasons for this is that large technology companies are buying up huge amounts of these parts for artificial intelligence systems and data centers. That means there’s less available for everyday consumer products like home computers and office equipment. When supply goes down and demand goes up, prices follow.

You might think that big brands like Dell or HP are protected from this, but they rely on the same suppliers as everyone else. When those suppliers raise prices, it affects every computer on the market.

What this means in practical terms is simple. The computer you can buy today will likely cost more in a few months. In some cases, certain models or parts may even become difficult to get.

If your computer is a few years old, running slowly, or starting to have issues, this is a good time to replace it. Waiting for a sale later in the year may not save money. In fact, it could cost more.

If you’re not sure what you need, I’m happy to help you choose something that will last and fit your budget. The goal is to make a smart decision now, before prices climb further. Call Josh +1 (951) 468-5674

03/30/2026

For over two decades, I’ve been helping people with their computers, and I’ve seen prices go up and down. What’s happening right now is different. The parts that go inside computers, like memory, storage, and processors, are all getting more expensive at the same time, and in some cases harder to find.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a new computer or upgrading your current one, I would strongly recommend doing it sooner rather than later. Prices are already rising, and they’re expected to continue going up through the rest of the year.

One of the biggest reasons for this is that large technology companies are buying up huge amounts of these parts for artificial intelligence systems and data centers. That means there’s less available for everyday consumer products like home computers and office equipment. When supply goes down and demand goes up, prices follow.

You might think that big brands like Dell or HP are protected from this, but they rely on the same suppliers as everyone else. When those suppliers raise prices, it affects every computer on the market.

What this means in practical terms is simple. The computer you can buy today will likely cost more in a few months. In some cases, certain models or parts may even become difficult to get.

If your computer is a few years old, running slowly, or starting to have issues, this is a good time to replace it. Waiting for a sale later in the year may not save money. In fact, it could cost more.

If you’re not sure what you need, I’m happy to help you choose something that will last and fit your budget. The goal is to make a smart decision now, before prices climb further.

12/27/2025

The "Panic Button" Guide: What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Hacked
That sinking feeling in your stomach—the unrecognized charge on your bank statement, the weird pop-up on your screen, or the "password changed" email you didn't request—is universal.

If you think you've been compromised, the most important thing to do is stay calm. You aren't alone, and this happens to thousands of people every day. Most digital damage can be undone if you take a deep breath and follow these steps in order.

🚨 The "Right Now" Checklist
If you are in a rush, do these three things immediately:

Stop using the affected device.

Call your bank using the number on the back of your physical card.

Go to IdentityTheft.gov to start an official report.

Step 1: Document the Evidence
Before you start changing passwords or deleting files, you need a "paper trail." This helps banks and authorities investigate the incident.

Write it down: What did you notice? Was it a weird email? A charge for $49.99 you didn't make?

Take Screenshots: If you see a suspicious pop-up or a login notification from a different city, take a photo or screenshot.

Note what's at risk: Do you think they have your email? Your Social Security number? Your credit card? You don't have to be 100% sure—just list your concerns.

Step 2: Get Trusted Technical Help
One of the most common ways people get "double-hacked" is by searching for help online. Scammers pay for ads to make their fake "Help Desk" numbers appear at the top of Google.

Call a person you know: If you have a local computer technician or a tech-savvy family member you trust, call them first.

Avoid "Search Results" help: Never call a "Microsoft Support" or "Apple Care" number you found via a random Google search. Use the official apps or website URLs you have bookmarked.

The Goal: A pro can tell you if your computer is actually infected or if it was just a "scareware" pop-up designed to trick you.

Step 3: Secure Your Finances
Your bank and credit card companies are your biggest allies here. They have entire departments dedicated to fraud recovery.

The "Back of the Card" Rule: Only call the number printed on the back of your physical credit or debit card.

What to tell them: Simply say: "I believe my account/identity has been compromised."

Actions they can take: They can freeze your card, reverse fraudulent charges, and issue you a new account number immediately.

Step 4: Make it Official (The FTC & Credit Bureaus)
Creating an official record protects you legally if a hacker tries to open a loan in your name later.

The FTC: Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-382-4357 or via IdentityTheft.gov. They will provide a recovery plan you can show to lenders.

The Credit Freeze: Contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to "freeze" your credit. This is free and prevents anyone from opening new accounts until you "unfreeze" it with a PIN.

The Police: If money was stolen or your physical identity is being used, call your local police department’s non-emergency line to file a report.

🛡️ Prevention: How to "Hacker-Proof" Your Future
Once the dust settles, take these three steps to make sure this doesn't happen again:

Use a Reliable (and Free) Password Manager: Stop reusing passwords. These three tools are free, secure, and will generate unique, complex keys for every site:

Bitwarden: An excellent, open-source option that works on any device.

Apple Passwords: Built directly into iPhones, Macs, and iPads.

Google Password Manager: Conveniently built into Chrome and Android devices.

Enable MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): This is the single best defense. Even if a hacker has your password, they can't get in without the code sent to your phone or authentication app.

Update Everything: Ensure your phone, computer, and apps are running the latest software versions, which include the latest security patches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Will a credit freeze hurt my credit score? A: No. A credit freeze has zero impact on your score. It simply acts as a lock on your credit file so no one can look at it to approve a new loan.

Q: I clicked a link but didn't enter any info. Am I safe? A: Usually, yes, but not always. Some "drive-by" downloads can install malware just by visiting a page. It is best to have a trusted technician run a virus scan just to be sure.

Q: How do I know if the person calling me from "my bank" is real? A: If you get a call from your bank, hang up. Call them back using the number on your card. If the call was real, they will have a note of it on your file.

11/28/2025

If you’re in Idyllwild and still on cable internet… you might want to hear this.

I had great success with Spectrum for years, but once Frontier Fiber hit the mountain, I switched—and honestly, I haven’t looked back. I started on the 500 Mbps up/down plan for about $30/month and it blew cable away. Zero drama, zero slowdowns.

I’m now on the 1 Gig plan, and it’s been flawless. Not one hiccup. Idyllwild is a patchwork—some streets have it, some don’t—but if your address qualifies, the upgrade is worth it.

Discover if high-speed fiber internet is near you with our Frontier availability check—enter your address and check in seconds.

11/28/2025

If you’re in Idyllwild and still on cable internet… you might want to hear this.

I had great success with Spectrum for years, but once Frontier Fiber hit the mountain, I switched—and honestly, I haven’t looked back. I started on the 500 Mbps up/down plan for about $30/month and it blew cable away. Zero drama, zero slowdowns.

I’m now on the 1 Gig plan, and it’s been flawless. Not one hiccup.
Idyllwild is a patchwork—some streets have it, some don’t—but if your address qualifies, the upgrade is worth it.

Discover if high-speed fiber internet is near you with our Frontier availability check—enter your address and check in seconds.

09/26/2025

🔥 Are You Prepared for Fall?

Fire season is here in Idyllwild. As the book Fire Weather says: “there’s never been a better time to be a fire.” Sobering words — and a reminder to get ready.

Over the next week, I’ll share short tips on what really matters in a blackout or evacuation — from staying connected (WNKI 1610 AM, satellite texting) to where you can charge your phone when the grid is down (hint: the Idyllwild Community Center https://www.idyllwildcommunitycenter.org and our local gas stations both have generators).

We’ve been through long outages before, and Idyllwild always looks out for each other. Let’s keep that tradition strong this fall.

👉 First tip tomorrow: Why most radios can’t reach WNKI 1610 AM https://wnki.org — and how to fix that before the next power outage.

Tune to WNKI 1610 AM Radio Station for local road, weather, fire and any other local emergency. WNKI can also be used to notify mountain communities and the motoring public of non-emergency condition as a result of local events or conditions which could affect vehicle or pedestrian traffic. WNKI wil...

04/08/2025

After a year of trying to understand AI, I’ve come to a realization—it’s not fully understandable right now. There’s too much fear, wonder, hype, and even denial surrounding it. We’re moving at breakneck speed, and no one really knows where we’re heading.
That said, I’ve come to the point where I know I need to learn how to work with AI—not just watch it unfold. So I’ve committed to a 6-month AI training program.
My goal is to gain practical knowledge I can apply in my own daily routines—and just as importantly, to teach what I learn to senior citizens and young adults. I want to help others feel less overwhelmed and more empowered by these tools.
It’s time to engage with AI, not just react to it.
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