Table of Contents

Welcome From The Chief Editor

Paul's 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Meemaw's 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

David's 2022 Top 10 Holiday Gift Picks

PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner: Cheese Frenchee

Short Topix: If Your Password Is Listed, CHANGE IT NOW!

Repo Review: Free Download Manager

Inkscape Tutorial: Stamp With The Spray Paint Tool

PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner Extra: Fantastic Zucchini & Tomatoes

Crunch Time: The Dark Side Of Video Games

Good Words, Good Deeds, Good News

PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner Bonus: Quesadilla Burger

PCLinuxOS Puzzled Partitions

Screenshot Showcase

From The Chief Editor's Desk...

"They" (the so-called experts) have been warning us to brace ourselves for the return of influenza and other respiratory viruses. They have been saying that the recently lifted COVID mask mandates have also helped keep the other respiratory infections lower than normal.

This time, "they" were right.

Around the globe, influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) have erupted. In my town, hospitals are inundated. The local children's hospital is out of beds, and patients are being directed to hospitals over two hours away.

At our house, influenza A made a wildfire sweep through its occupants. My daughter brought home influenza A from Kindergarten. She then proceeded to give it to mom, who gave it to me and my son. Luckily, my son got the mildest case of it, getting over it in 36 to 48 hours. The rest of us weren't so lucky.

My daughter missed a whole week of school. My wife got the worst case of it, and has been trying to get over the aftereffects for about three weeks. And me ... well, I'm going on a week and a half of trying to get over the aftereffects, and I'm FINALLY just about there. But that's the sickest I can remember being in about 25 years. Oh ... and this year's annual flu vaccine ... it totally missed on this one! Working in healthcare, me and my wife are required to have the annual flu shot.

I had originally planned to have part three of my PDF article series ready for the December issue. But, influenza A had other ideas. The time I had set aside to write the third part of my article series was consumed by getting over influenza. So, the PDF article series will just have to resume with the January 2023 issue.

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This month's cover was designed by me. The image is an adaptation of a graphic by Larisa-K on Pixabay.

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Until next month, we bid you peace, happiness, serenity, prosperity and continued good health.

Happy Holidays! Peace on Earth! Good will to all!

Paul's 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

by Paul Arnote (parnote)

EEeeekkkkk! It's the holiday season ... already! It sure doesn't seem like a whole year has passed.

As we usually do, we here at The PCLinuxOS Magazine are offering up holiday gift ideas for those on your holiday gift lists ... or even for yourself. Between The_CrankyZombie, Meemaw and myself, you will have 30 gift ideas for that favorite PCLinuxOS user on your holiday gift list.

As these things typically go, all prices are expressed in U.S. dollars. The prices listed were current at the time of the writing of the article. Also, because of import/export restrictions and VAT charges that grease the pockets of politicians' bottomless coffers, all gift suggestions may not be available in all areas.

So, here are my 10 holiday gift suggestions for 2022.

LG External CD/DVD Rewriter   Newegg.com $24.99

Ok. I know Texstar recently (multiple times) stated that optical discs are obsolete. Today's laptops typically come without any kind of optical disc reader/writer. So then, what are we to do with all of these DVDs and BluRay discs that we've accumulated over the past 25 or so years?

Sure, you could go through all of the time and trouble to rip those discs to digital files (typically MP4 video ... and be careful ... doing so may or may not be legal in your area). OR, you could just buy one of these and plug it into your computer's USB port. Doing so will allow you to view those optical discs on your computer. Alright, this one is pretty much limited to DVDs and CDs. I don't know about you, but I have hundreds of optical discs around that I've purchased over the years, with many of them on DVDs.

I know that streaming services are all the rage (nope ... I don't even have a Netflix or Hulu account, but we do have Amazon Prime and Disney+), but that requires a network connection. I'm often in places where I don't have a network connection, so that leaves me out when it comes to streaming. But with this external DVD drive, I can cart along some choice movies and watch them on my laptop whenever I want.

Oh, and this external drive is also a DVD and CD burner, so you can create your own discs, full of your home movies or to use to backup the data on your computer.

SanDisk 256GB Ultra microSDXC A1 UHS-I/U1 Class 10 Memory Card with Adapter   Newegg.com $19.38

The other storage medium I like to use are SD memory cards. This microSD card is about 1/4th the size of a postage stamp, but holds 256GiB of data. Compare that to the 4.3GiB of storage space on a DVD, this little thing will hold the same amount of data as more than 60 DVDs.

This microSD card comes with an adapter that allows you to read/write from/to the card in a standard SD card slot. The high read and write speeds for this card are perfect for carrying around many high resolution movies, ripped from their optical media (again, check the laws in your area regarding the legality of ripping your DVD collection to digital formats). I have yet to find a movie that doesn't play flawlessly from these microSD cards.

Oakcastle Portable MP3/FM Radio Player   Amazon.com $28.95

I actually have this item. My wife and kids got it for me for my birthday in August. While my "old... MP3 player still works very well, it doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity. I wanted one that allowed me to use my Bluetooth earbuds, instead of being tethered by the cable of my other earphones.

This thing is awesome. I have the 8GiB version (the one depicted here), and have all of my programming (mostly podcasts) on a separate 32GiB microSD card. I actually have a "dedicated... set of Bluetooth earbuds, so they don't interfere with the ones I use with my phone.

The player will playback all of your MP3 files, and will tune into local FM radio stations. The color display is nice, and the controls are very easy and self-explanatory to use. The device is rechargeable, and features up to 30 hours playback time. It's also quite small and lightweight. It measures only 1.42 x 2.28 x 0.67 inches, and weighs only 27g.

AUKEY Hybrid Active Noise Canceling Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds   Newegg.com $25.99

As much as I like to "embrace... technology, I also don't want to pay through the nose in the process. As such, I have a hard time justifying spending a couple hundred dollars on a pair of Bluetooth earbuds, like what the prices for the "big name... earbuds sell for.

I have two different models of the Aukey earbuds from Newegg.com, and I have to say that both sets have outstanding sound quality ... at least to my ears. I also use one of them when I make phone calls on my cell phone (the sound is much better using the Bluetooth versus the microphone in the phone). Plus, it allows me to use my phone "hands free....

These feature a seven hour playback/call time, and the charging case extends that to 35 hours. They are also IPX5 certified water resistant. The charging case utilizes quick charging to reach a full charge in 120 minutes, via a USB-C connection.

(Psssst ... if you subscribe to Newegg.com's daily sales email, you can frequently catch them on sale at much lower prices. I picked up my first pair (I bought two pairs, one for me and one for my wife) for under $15 each, and I bought 4 pairs of another model for under $25 ... total! Still, the "regular... price is far less than you'll pay for the same "big name... brands.)

Bass Pro Shops Folding Filet Table   Bass Pro Shops $79.99/$49.98

It's no secret I like to fish and hunt. But one of the drawbacks is finding a place to clean your catch. This folding filet table from Bass Pro Shops solves that problem. This table is 36 1/2... tall, to help relieve back strain. It also features a hand-pump operated faucet so you can rinse off your fish or game as you clean it, with a separate drain for all of your wastewater. Made of heavy duty polyethylene plastic, this filet table will provide many years of service for cleaning your daily limit. The "regular... price is $79.99, but the day I added this to my gift guide, it was on sale for $49.98. As the holidays approach, I wouldn't be surprised to see it on sale again. But, even the "regular... price isn't too bad, either.

Bass Pro Shops Travel Lite Tripod Stool   Bass Pro Shops $9.99

Whether you're spending the day fishing off the bank of your favorite lake or stream, or spending the day hunkered down in a deer blind, you're gonna want to have somewhere to park your derriere ... other than on the ground.

This lightweight tripod chair may be just what you're looking for. This 1.9 lb (0.86 Kg) chair folds out to provide a stable platform to sit on. It comes with a shoulder strap, making it easier to carry with all of the rest of your gear. The chair is 18.5... tall (47 cm), and 15... wide and deep (38 cm). Maximum weight capacity of the chair is 225 lbs (102 Kg). It is available in black, red or blue. It features a tough powder-coated finish, with a durable, water resistant polyester seat.

Classic Recipes Photo Book   Shutterfly $39.98/$19.99

If you're like most people, you have a collection of "family favorite... recipes, many that may have been handed down throughout the years. With this recipe photo book, you can have all of your recipes in one central location, with photos of each dish. You can "publish... your own family recipe cookbook, to give as gifts to help keep family traditions alive. You can then order multiple copies of your family recipe book to give as gifts to everyone on your holiday gift list. This fully customizable book measures 8... x 11... (U.S. Letter size), and comes with 20 pages for you to fill. Other assorted sizes are also available, if you desire. If you need more pages, they can be added for $1.53 per page. The "regular... price is $39.98, but Shutterfly frequently has these books on sale, especially around the holidays. The day I added this to my gift guide, it was on sale for $19.99. Allow some "lead time... to insure that you receive it before the holidays (as in, this probably isn't going to make a great "last minute... gift idea). You will need to plan ahead to get it delivered by the holidays.

RYOBI ONE+ 18V Dual Function Inflator/Deflator (Tool Only)   Home Depot $69.97

I may have included this (or something like it) in my previous holiday gift guides, but that should stand as a testament to just how valuable this little item is. I have several of the Ryobi 18V cordless power tools for use around my home (once you start with a particular brand of cordless tools, you're pretty much a captive since it's rather expensive to switch brands after that), and this inflator has seen a LOT of use. It's mild enough to handle a bicycle tire, an air mattress, or an inflatable ball, and tough enough to pump up the tires on my wife's car and my pickup truck.

To use, simply load one of your Ryobi LiON One+ 18V batteries into the battery bay (bottom center), set the desired pressure on the screen using the "-... and "+... buttons, and hook up the hose. Press start, and sit back. The inflator will automatically shut off when the desired pressure is reached. You can also use this little gem to help deflate inflatables around the home, like a small child's inflatable swimming pool or an inflatable air mattress.

PCLinuxOS Polo Shirt   PCLinuxOS Cafe Press Store $24.99

This soft cotton polo is an everyday favorite. A style staple for classic comfort, our 100% preshrunk cotton jersey polo shirts are perfect for work or play. This everyday favorite can be dressed up for a business casual look or relaxed a bit for a day on the links or a night out. It feels like you're wearing your favorite T-shirt! Great for layering too.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of items in the PCLinuxOS Cafe Press store go to help support the ongoing and continuing development of PCLinuxOS.

PCLinuxOS Donation   PCLinuxOS Website $????

Of course, you can always make a donation to PCLinuxOS. Your donation will help the ongoing and continuing development of PCLinuxOS, and help keep all of the "bills... paid that make PCLinuxOS happen (web servers, feeding and housing the lead developer, etc.). You can make a donation in your own name, or in the name of another PCLinuxOS user as their holiday gift.

There are three ways to donate. First, you can donate any amount by visiting the PCLinuxOS account on Stripe. Or, you can use the Gumroad Donation Center to set up a regular monthly or yearly donation. Or, you can send a money order or check (drawn on a U.S. bank ONLY) directly to Bill Reynolds (address on the web page linked above). Any way you choose to do it, you'll know that your donation goes towards helping keep PCLinuxOS alive, breathing, and well.

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From all of us at The PCLinuxOS Magazine, we want to send our wishes for the happiest of holidays to you and your family!

Happy Holidays!

Meemaw's 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

by Meemaw

I know I say this every year, but wow! The time has sure flown! Before we know it, the year will be ending yet again. Every December, parnote, The_CrankyZombie and I all explore possibilities for holiday gifts, and share them with you. I hope you find our lists, all within the pages of this month's issue, informative and interesting.

I also know I seem to visit the same sites every year, but I think these sites have some really great gift ideas. I'll try to branch out to others as well.

Snoopy Shirt   LL Bean $49.95

This holiday season, LL Bean's site has a collection of LL Bean and Peanuts products. On their site, "Our favorite Beagle Scout Leader agrees, time outside is even better when we're all together. This limited-edition collection celebrates the outdoors with Snoopy and friends."

LL Bean has a lot of other products, though, including many items for use outdoors, but also things like pajamas, travel bags, dog beds, and toys. They also sell kitchenware and gifts, in addition to holiday decorations, like this wreath shown below, or Christmas stockings.

Canella Berry Wreath   LL Bean $54.95

This wreath, like the others, is made from live greenery. Each includes a door hanger. From personal experience, I can tell you that they last for a long time. One of my brothers used to send me one for Christmas. It would arrive in early December and last until at least February.

Tabletop Ice Maker   Amazon $339.99

Some people like to eat ice and seem to use it up faster than their freezers can make it. If you need extra, or your refrigerator's ice maker is slow, this ice maker can sit on the counter and make it pretty quickly. Rather than having a water line to it, you have to add water to the machine, but it works really well.

This one seems expensive, though, and a quick search on Amazon will show that you can get these for prices from $90.00 to $400.00. A similar search at Walmart will give you several from $85.00 to $400.00.

Sequence   Amazon $13.50 - $50.00

Some people like board games, and this one's really fun!

Play a card from your hand, and place a chip on a corresponding space on the game board - when you have five in a row, it's a SEQUENCE.

Each player or team tries to score the required number of five-card SEQUENCES before their opponents.

Easy enough for children, challenging for adults!

Includes 1 Game Board, 2 Decks of SEQUENCE Playing Cards, Playing Chips (Green, Blue and Red), and Complete Instructions.

For 2-12 players, ages 7 and up.

The price depends on what size game you get. You can get a small one with a folding board in a 9" x 12" box, or you can get a deluxe version with a 27" x 32" vinyl mat, all packed in a 3' long tube. My whole family loves this game.

As always, I visited one of my favorite sites, Bits & Pieces. Aside from the wonderful collection of jigsaw puzzles, which was what made them popular, they expanded to metal and wooden puzzles, yard art, toys and games and even novelty items like t-shirts and cups with funny sayings on them. I go to some Christmas parties during the season, and a couple of the parties have a gift exchange with gag gifts. Here are two that might be fun!

Sneaker Socks   Bits & Pieces $9.99

The sneakers come in red and black... and they also have football, soccer and baseball socks and sandal socks.

LED Flashing Tie   Bits & Pieces $5.99

This tie has flashing lights in it so you can always be visible at any party you attend! It comes in three colors.

Sports Tastic Activity Center   Newegg $83.51

For those of you with small grandchildren (or great grandchildren), Newegg has some toys. This is a slide with steps, but it also has several activities on the sides. You can see a baseball and a bat, along with a basketball (the basket's on the other side). This is for toddlers 12 months of age and older.

Ooze Labs - Chemistry Station   Newegg $40.54

From newegg's site: "Grab your beakers and test tubes and step up to your special laboratory station for some exciting chemistry experiments. See how much fun chemistry can be as you do slimy, fizzy, colorful, and bubbly experiments. This cool laboratory setup has lots of different vessels and pieces of lab equipment so kids can play the role of chemist while doing real, safe experiments. All of the experiments use non-hazardous chemicals. This playful introduction to the basics of chemistry includes approximately 20 experiments. The experiments are presented on printed cards that can be clipped onto the lab station for easy reference. Experiments include glowing slime, color-changing slime, fizzing reactions, oozing bubbles, rainbow in a test tube, chromatography, Cabbage juice pH tests, solutions, filtering, crystals, fire extinguisher, and underwater VOLCANO. The kit includes a large plastic chemistry station, experiment cards, various vessels in different sizes, syringe, measuring cup, pipette, spatula, tube, petri dish, funnel, non-hazardous chemicals for the experiments, and experiment manual." Recommended age is 8 years or older.

Wind Spinner   Amazon $69.89

I love wind chimes and spinners, but I don't have a spinner yet. It's a yard ornament that spins around when the wind blows. This one has two colors that show evenly on one side but if you turn it around, the bronze color shows up as predominant. The spinner itself is 23" wide but a stand is included which makes it 83" tall when set up. Amazon has many different styles.

Fire Pit   Amazon $82.99

My grandson welded a fire pit for a 4-H project one year, and it turned out to be a grand prize winner! If you don't have a welder in the family, Amazon has many styles of fire pits you can purchase. This one has to be assembled, but it's a nice one, approximately 32" x 32" and 14.5" tall. It comes with a screen to keep the burning wood from popping out on you, a rack to cook food on and a vinyl cover for when it's cooled down and not in use. There's also a handle to prevent burns if you have to take the screen cover off and move the cooking rack to replace the wood. There are many designs and sizes at Amazon.

I hope some of our items have given you ideas for shopping this year! I also wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

David's 2022 Top 10 Holiday Gift Picks

by YouCanToo/The_CrankyZombie

Santa says, "Ho... Ho... Ho..." It's that time of the year once again. So let's get to it.....

Pripaso 1080P Wireless Rechargeable Battery Powered IP CCTV Indoor/Outdoor Camera   Banggood $45.99

Waterproof, Motion Detection, Low Power, Night Vision, Two-way Audio, Ultra Wide Angle, Works with Apple and Android Phones and Tablets. Simple push button pairing to your cell phone. For those that do not want to keep recharging their camera there is the 5W Solar Panel For Rechargeable Battery Powered Camera.

Popcorn Night Bamboo Personalized Serving Bowl   Personalization Mall $39.99

Who doesn't like popcorn? Take your popcorn night to a whole new level. Popcorn Night Bamboo Personalized Bowls will be the star at your next family movie night! Perfect for family movie night, birthday sleep-overs or late-night snack attacks. With its brilliant, red color, this bold splash of color takes natural bamboo to a whole new level.

Logitech Litra GlowPremium Streaming Light   Logitech $59.95

This LED light is designed specifically for content creators, but its compact build and relatively attainable price make it a great option for anyone who wants to look better on camera from their home office - especially if that office is a dimly lit bedroom.

Kitchen Compost Bin Counter top -- 1.0 Gallon Compost Bucket for Kitchen   Amazon $34.99

THE PERFECT SIZE 1.0 gallon compost bins - enough to hold days of organic food waste. Designed to fit under a sink or use as a kitchen counter compost container for stylish decor. Makes a great gift for gardeners!

WASTE NO MORE and go eco-friendly with an indoor composter. This indoor compost bin for kitchen counter recycling is great for your home and great for our planet.

EASY CLEANING! Hand wash with soap and warm water. Remove the food scrap bin to clean in the dishwasher. This small compost bin makes a huge impact.

Fresh Brewed Coffee Smell Candle | Coffee Non-Toxic Soy Candle   Etsy $24.00

For that coffee lover that just can't get enough of that "Fresh Brewed" coffee smell. Once lit, you can smell the candle instantly and the aroma is still present even when the candle has been blown out.

Colsen Tabletop Rubbing Alcohol Fireplace Indoor Outdoor Fire Pit   Amazon $44.96

DESIGNED FOR: This portable fire tabletop fueled by smokeless, odorless, rubbing alcohol can be used indoor or outdoor. This Fireplace will make any space the place to be.

INSTANT AMBIANCE OF A REAL FIRE. Quick and easy to use with no mess, or clean-up. Easy to light and extinguish. No better way to spend time with family and friends than sitting around a real fire.

West Coast-Style IPA Beer Brewing Kit   Uncommon Goods $20.00 - $ 50.00

Oh Hoppy Day

Isn't it time you made the leap from beer drinker to beer brewer? Show your love for the legendary, seafaring ale of the British Empire with this IPA brewing kit containing everything you'll need to turn your kitchen into a craft brewery: 100% malt extract, specialty grains, high quality yeast, and, of course, aromatic Summit and Cascade hops sourced from Washington state's Yakima Valley. Transformed through the simple techniques and included equipment, the finished ale brandishes a delightfully complex hop profile with citrus, floral, and spicy notes. Doesn't that sound more rewarding than just using a bottle opener? Makes one gallon, or ten 12 oz. bottles.

Pollinator Garden - Set of 3   Uncommon Goods $19.00

Flower Power

For the tiny pollinators essential to our food production, life isn't always a bed of roses. Make their jobs a little easier with these cute and convenient wildflower gardens. Each is designed with a custom collection of seeds to attract specific pollen lovers--bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. They include nutrient-rich material and instructions for planting a one square-foot garden patch in a few simple steps.

3 pack Wall Plate Night Light - LED Night Lights Built Into Electrical Outlet Wall Plates   Amazon $39.99

The Hello Light is a plug-and-play replacement for standard plug-in night lights and hardwired lights. It installs within seconds and requires no wires or batteries. Hello Light is designed to look like a standard outlet cover by day with beautiful LEDs that provide ambient lighting at night.

Easy to Install! Simply replace your old plate with the Hello Light for LED night lighting

Turns On/Of automatically with a Light Sensor

Fits All Standard Outlets

Leaves Both Outlets Free for Use!

Penguin Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumblers Travel Mug Tea Water Bottle Coffee Flask   Amazon $24.41

The trendy and eye-catching animal styling makes this insulated coffee mug a stylish accessory for the office and home, you'll love showing off all around town.It is also a great gift for any occasion for family or friends.

Perfect for water, coffee, tea, milk, juice, etc!

VACUUM INSULATED

This double walled vacuum insulated flask water bottle locks in your drink's temperature. Hot drinks up to 24 hours, and cold drinks up to 12 hours.

LEAK PROOF LID & NARROW MOUTH

This coffee mug has a leak-proof and BPA-free lid to prevent any spills.The right size of the narrow mouth makes drinking easy and adding ice cubes easy.

Comes in Black, Grey, Red and Blue

PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner:

Cheese Frenchee

Serves 1

INGREDIENTS:

2 slices thick-sliced bread (such as Texas toast)
2-3 slices American or cheddar cheese
4 teaspoons mayonnaise
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornflakes, crushed
Canola or vegetable oil, for frying

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Assemble - Spread 2 teaspoons of mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread. Then, on one piece of bread, place a slice of cheese on top of the mayonnaise. Top with the other slice of bread to make a sandwich.

Step 2: Trim - Using a sharp knife, trim the crusts off the sandwich on all sides. Then, cut in half diagonally so you have two triangle-shaped halves. Set aside.

Fill a deep fryer or Dutch oven with 2-3 inches of oil and preheat to 350F.

Step 3: Mix and Prep - While the oil preheats, whisk together the egg, flour, milk and salt until a smooth batter forms. If the batter seems too heavy, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time. In a second shallow bowl, add the crushed cornflakes.

Step 4: Dip - Taking half of the sandwich, dip the triangle into the batter, evenly coating all sides.

Step 5: Coat - Next, dredge the batter-covered sandwich in the cornflakes, pressing the crumbs gently onto all sides of the sandwich.

Step 6: Fry - Carefully lower one half of the sandwich into the hot oil. Deep fry the sandwich until golden and crisp on all sides, about 3-4 minutes. Remove to a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet to cool. Repeat with the second half of the sandwich.

Step 7: - Serve warm while the cheese is still melty and gooey. Enjoy!

TIPS: Serve with a cup of tomato soup or a side of fries.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 650           Carbs: 44g           Fiber: 0g           Sodium: 1533mg           Protein: 14g

Short Topix: If Your Password Is Listed, CHANGE IT NOW!

by Paul Arnote (parnote)

Assault On Your Privacy: Monthly Update

Four malware apps on the Google Play Store have been discovered by Malwarebytes Labs, according to an article on BGR.com. These apps don't perform any nefarious activities when they are first downloaded. Instead, they wait 72 hours, and then begin connecting the user to phishing sites, loading them in Chrome even when the phone is not in use. The apps are Bluetooth Auto Connect, Bluetooth App Sender, Driver: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, and Mobile transfer: smart switch. Because the author has uploaded "clean" versions of these apps in the past, Google has decided to allow them to remain in the Google Play Store.

A browser botnet, called Cloud9, is effectively a remote access trojan (RAT) for the Chromium web browser, including Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, allowing the threat actor to remotely execute commands, according to an article on BleepingComputer. The malware can steal online accounts, log keystrokes (like passwords and credit card numbers), inject ads and malicious JS code, and enlist the victim's browser in DDoS attacks.

A new information-stealing malware named 'StrelaStealer' is actively stealing email account credentials from Outlook and Thunderbird, two widely used email clients, according to an article on BleepingComputer.

Hundreds of databases on Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) are exposing personal identifiable information (PII), new findings from Mitiga, a cloud incident response company, show, according to an article on The Hacker News.

A new collection of malicious Android apps posing as harmless file managers had infiltrated the official Google Play app store, infecting users with the Sharkbot banking trojan, according to an article on BleepingComputer. The apps do not carry the malicious payload upon installation to evade detection when submitted on Google Play but instead fetch it later from a remote resource.

On November 16, an actor posted an ad on a well-known hacking community forum, claiming they were selling a 2022 database of 487 million WhatsApp user mobile numbers, according to an article on CyberNews. The dataset allegedly contains WhatsApp user data from 84 countries. The threat actor claims there are over 32 million U.S. and 11 million U.K. user records included, among other countries.

Coming Soon To Your Gmail Account...

Google is preparing to roll out a new feature to Gmail users, and the timing couldn't be better than around the holidays.

According to an article on CNBC (also widely reported in other media outlets), Google is planning on adding a package tracking feature. The option will allow Google to scan your emails for shipping tracking number, and then place a small green flag on your email, telling you "Arriving Wednesday," or "Arriving Fri, Dec. 2."

The new feature is not automatic. Users will have to go into their Gmail settings to enable the feature. But with so many people purchasing holiday gifts online and waiting for them to be shipped to their homes, this should help those online shoppers get updated information quickly, at a glance.

Google will let users know when the feature is available to them by displaying a popup that lets users choose whether or not to allow the status updates for shipped packages. Users will then be able to toggle the setting in the settings for their account.

No firm date has been announced for the new feature. Google has said on its blog "in the coming weeks."

If Your Password Is Listed, CHANGE IT NOW!

The team behind NordPass, the same people behind NordVPN, have released their 2022 list of the 200 most common passwords. Many of these notoriously WEAK passwords can be hacked in less than one second.

The number one most common (and exceptionally weak) password is ... drum roll ... password. Perennial favorites like "123456789" or "7654321" or "1234554321" are also on the list, and are all capable of being guessed by a hacker in under one second.

We've run password security articles so many times during my 13.5 years tenure as the editor of The PCLinuxOS Magazine that I've actually lost count. I've attempted to go through past issues several times to count the number of times we've run password security articles, but I keep coming up with a different number every time. Your mileage may vary.

But, there are common and recurring themes. To better protect your private, personally identifiable information, adhere to these basic security rules that follow.

Don't reuse passwords. By reusing passwords -- especially weak passwords -- you grant access to multiple accounts to hackers.

Use a password manager. There are several available, so all you have to do is make a choice. I use Bitwarden, which is available both as a browser add-on, and as a standalone program that's installable on PCLinuxOS via Synaptic. Others use KeepassX. Others use the free version of LastPass (which I ditched in favor of Bitwarden when they switched to a subscription-based service for use on multiple devices). There are others, but employing the use of a password manager allows you to create a complex and unique password for every site/account, and helps remember them for you. These are WAY more secure and better to use than writing passwords in a notebook or (even worse) in an unencrypted text file on your computer.

Develop/use a password strategy. Create a method for making secure, complex passwords. Your method can be unique to you. But, be sure to avoid addresses, birthdays, anniversaries, names of your pets, children and spouse, and other easily obtainable and relatable personal information. Do be sure to mix uppercase and lowercase characters, use numbers, and throw in a special character or two. You could use a "root" password, which you then alter for each site you log into. Or, you could just string together four completely unrelated words. Whichever method you use, stick with it and use it every single time you create a new password for a new site.

Recycling Breakthrough Could Eliminate Billions Of Tons Of Plastics From Landfills

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have created a breakthrough that has the potential to reduce billions of tons of plastic waste from landfills, according to an article on Yahoo News.

The researchers modified an enzyme, which when applied to PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastics, breaks the plastic down within a matter of days. The time for the plastic to be consumed by the enzyme varies from a day and a half to four and a half days. PET plastics are the most commonly used plastics, used in everything from water bottles to clamshell packaging for food.

"This mutation actually changed everything," said Danny Diaz, a graduate student who worked on the project.

"You can see we can degrade all of these post-consumer plastics, anywhere from a day and a half to four and a half days," Diaz said. "By tweaking a protein through engineering, we were able to essentially accelerate plastic degradation significantly."

The enzyme is still in the study phase but eventually, you could see it used in landfills and possibly even at polluted sites.

One concern is that much of the infrastructure, from bins to pipes, is built from plastic.

PCLinuxOS Magazine Short Topix Roundup

Two researchers from Japan have run new numerical simulations, and now think that Earth-like exoplanets may be more common than originally thought, according to an article on SciTechDaily.

This one sounded a bit scary to me. Did you know that starting with iOS 15 on iPhone 11 and newer, you can locate your lost iPhone, even if it's turned off? According to the article on HuffPost, turning on the "Find My Network" setting on your iPhone will allow you to locate your lost iPhone, even if it has been turned off.

Researchers at Stanford University have designed a smart bandage capable of monitoring wounds' healing in real time, as well as accelerate tissue growth and blood flow around them while reducing scar severity, according to an article on Popular Science. The new smart bandage can accelerate healing by 25%.

The CharaChorder X dongle can legitimately and dramatically improve a user's typing speed by up to 600% — assuming they're willing to put the work in to learn how to use it, according to an article on Gizmodo.

In 2015, David Hole was prospecting for gold in Maryborough Regional Park near Melbourne, Australia, according to an article on Science Alert. Convinced the rock contained a gold nugget, Hole tried everything to break open the rock, but to no avail. It turns out, the rock is even more valuable: it was a rare meteorite.

A universal flu vaccine developed at the University of Pennsylvania that protects against all strains of the virus could be available in the next two years, according to a leading scientist speaking in an article on The Guardian. The experimental vaccine is based on the same mRNA technology used to create the highly successful COVID vaccines.

Repo Review: Free Download Manager

by CgBoy

Free Download Manager is a popular download accelerator and organizer with many powerful features. It is available for most major platforms, and was recently added to the PCLinuxOS repositories. Some of its features include support for HTTP, BitTorrent, downloading videos, speed throttling, download scheduling, web browser integration, and more.

It has a nice, clean and modern look to the interface, and is very easy to use. From the toolbar at the top, you can add new downloads, pause and resume current downloads, and delete or move finished downloads. Tags can be used to help organize your downloads, allowing you to sort them by their type, such as torrents, music, videos, or your own custom tags.

Starting a new download is as simple as clicking on the + button in the top left corner and pasting in your download URL, or loading in a torrent file. You can easily choose which parts of a torrent you want to save. Downloads can be scheduled to only run at certain times on specific days of the week. Free Download Manager also supports downloading videos, but no longer from YouTube. Apparently, Google issued a claim and the developers have had to remove YouTube support for the moment.

Free Download Manager can accelerate your download speeds by splitting files into multiple segments while saving them simultaneously. After a file has finished downloading, you can use a built-in tool to check the file integrity by calculating and comparing the checksums. Free Download Manager also gives you the option of converting saved media files to MP3 or MP4.

Free Download Manager lets you quickly and easily throttle the download and upload speeds from the menu at the bottom of the window. By default it's set on High mode, giving you unlimited download and upload speeds, but you can also choose Medium mode, which throttles the speed to 2048 KB/s, or Low mode which slows the speed down to only 256 KB/s. You can also enable Snail mode, which slows downloads to an absolute crawl to free up bandwidth, but doesn't stop them entirely. Custom speed settings can also be adjusted from the preferences.

One of Free Download Manager's interesting features is the ability to remotely create and start new downloads on your computer from another device, such as an Android smartphone. Free Download Manager needs to be configured for remote access on both devices, though.

A system tray icon is enabled by default to allow easy access to Free Download Manager, and you can also set the program to automatically launch at startup as well. There is also an option available to shutdown or put the computer into sleep when all current downloads have finished.

Free Download Manager provides web browser integration through extensions which are available for Firefox and Google Chrome. These extensions allow Free Download Manager to automatically intercept and add new downloads from your web browser into the program.

Summary

In general, I found Free Download Manager to work very well for accelerating the download of large files. Occasionally I would encounter errors when trying to add new downloads, but this was usually resolved by simply restarting the application. All in all, I'd definitely recommend Free Download Manager to anyone looking for a convenient tool to handle their large download needs.

Inkscape Tutorial: Stamp With The Spray Paint Tool

by Meemaw

I watched another tutorial recently by Rick at IronEcho Design. He has done several tutorials about making landscape scenes. In another tutorial, he shows us how to make "brushes" to use with the spray paint tool, and makes trees. Actually, the spray paint tool allows you to use any object you want as a brush. Since it's close to the holidays, let's make some trees. First, let's look at the tool we're going to use.

If you open Inkscape and choose the spray paint tool, you'll see that there are many settings. The first three on the left are the modes of the tool. You can set it so it paints copies, clones or paths.

When you hover your mouse over them, the first one on the left says "Spray copies of the initial selection", which means that every object created is a copy of the one you started with. The one in the center says "Spray clones of the initial selection", and that means that each object created is a clone of the original. That opens up possibilities that the others don't have, like being able to change color and size of the original and having it change all the clones. The one on the right says "Spray objects in a single path". This means that everything you create with one click is a single path which can be edited. To the right of those is an eraser, which lets you delete some of the objects you painted. To the right of those tool settings are changeable settings to change size, amount, rotation and scale of the paint spray.

All right, let's start an evergreen tree. Since we're going to paint it, let's just create one branch to stamp with. Here I created one shape that could make the branch. I just used the bezier tool and drew it. We're going to end up making it really small so a great deal of detail isn't necessary, but at least give it some shape.

I gave it a dark green color for fill and a tiny dark gray stroke. Then I duplicated this one and changed the fill to a little bit lighter green.

To get a little texture and depth, I stacked them, then used the path editor to line up the points on each end, then grouped my two branches.

In the video, he suggests duplicating and resizing the branches to three different sizes, then making a set for each side of the tree. You should also put a trunk in your tree, using the bezier tool with the setting "Triangle Out" so that when you draw the line from top to bottom, it's wider at the bottom, like a tree trunk.

Click on your spray can to see the tools. Start with these settings: Width - 5, Amount - 10, Rotation - 8, Scale - 30, Scatter - 5 and Focus - 0. As always, changing these settings will give you different results, but after you are familiar with the tool, feel free to test different settings.

Now, starting at the bottom, select your bigger branch, then click on the spray can, then click on your page and drag the mouse upward. When you get higher, change to a smaller branch, and work your way up.

Go back and delete any you don't want. Feel free to move any you think should be repositioned. I've done this twice. The darker tree below was the first one.

When you're happy with it, group all the branches and trunk. As always, this can be resized (tall & thin or short & fat) or reversed. Since all trees are different, you can either do it several times, or edit the one you created. Using these, you can create a winter scene. Resize the tree itself and use it as the stamp for the spray paint, but change the rotation setting to 0. Below, I just did a really simple snow scene with the trees. I know yours will be much more awesome! Happy Holidays!

PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner Extra:

by Ramchu

Fantastic Zucchini & Tomatoes

This is a quick and easy dish using vegetables fresh from your garden. Almost any cheese can be used if you're not fond of Parmesan cheese.

Prep time: 10 minutes       Cook time: 15 minutes       Ready in: 25 minutes

Ingredients

2 slices bacon (or more if you prefer)
4 cups fresh Zucchini (cut into small bite size cubes)
1/2 red onion (thinly sliced)
2 tomatoes (cut into wedges)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon basal
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)

Directions

Cook bacon over medium high heat in a skillet until evenly browned. Remove from skillet, retaining bacon grease.

Add zucchini, onion, basel, lemon pepper, salt and black pepper to skillet and cook until tender-crisp (about five minutes), stirring frequently.

Crumble the bacon, when it's cool enough to handle, into bite size pieces.

Move fried zucchini to a bowl and immediately add in the tomato wedges, bacon and 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese and toss until mixed.

Top with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and serve while still warm.

Crunch Time: The Dark Side Of Video Games

by Agent Smith (Alessandro Ebersol)

Have you ever wondered how many people sacrificed themselves so that you could defeat Bowser on your NES? Or Dr. Robotnik on your Sega Genesis? Well... You must be asking yourself: Sacrifice? What is this all about? Video games are just fun, where nobody gets hurt...

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but unfortunately, people get hurt in video games, and even die. Sadly, video games have a very dangerous dark side that few people talk about. I am referring to Crunch Time.

What is Crunch Time?

Crunch time is an old term. According to the definition, from Stanford University's Crunch Crunch Mode: Programming to the Extreme project: "Crunch mode," also called "crunch time," is the term used by those in the software development industry to describe working overtime for long periods of time in order to complete a project or meet a deadline. It is associated with management expecting employees to work 50, 60, 70, and sometimes even 80 hours a week for months on end.

Crunch time, however, is not something new. In fact, it is something very old that has been happening ever since software development became a commercial activity. And, it is known by another name as well: Death March, which shows that it is not pleasant at all.

Crunch time already existed, even before the software industry

The attention on crunch time and the terrible working conditions in the software and games industry was brought to light by the famous letter from EA's spouse (ea_spouse), in a livejournal post that is accessible until today. But strenuous and extremely stressful work in this industry goes back a long way. And, we can cite several cases of Crunch Time, before the term was even coined. And, we can trace a line back to the days of the Atari 2600...

ET - The Extra-Terrestrial, the alien that destroyed Atari

Considered by many to be the worst game in history, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, for the Atari 2600, has a curious story, one of great pain, suffering, tight deadlines and employer pressure. It is unfair to only call it the worst game without knowing this story. And, there is a lot of crunch time involved in it.

The development of ET, the Atari game

Following the commercial success of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in June 1982, Steve Ross, CEO of Atari's parent company Warner Communications, began negotiations with the film's director, Steven Spielberg, and its distributor Universal Pictures to acquire a license to produce a video game based on the film. Later that month, Warner announced its exclusive worldwide rights to market coin-operated games and consoles based on E.T. Although the exact details of the transaction were not disclosed in the announcement, it was reported later that Atari had paid $20-25 million ($56-70 million when adjusted for 2022 inflation) for the rights, a high figure for video game licensing at the time. When asked by Ross what he thought about making a video game based on E.T., Atari CEO Ray Kassar replied, "I think it's a dumb idea. We've never made an action game out of a movie." An arcade game based on the E.T. property had also been planned, but this was considered impossible given the short time frame.

On July 27, 1982, after negotiations were completed, Kassar called Howard Scott Warshaw to commission him as developer of the video game adaptation. Kassar informed him that Spielberg specifically asked for Warshaw and that development had to be completed by September 1st to meet a production schedule for the Christmas season.

Tight deadlines + Too much pressure: Flop

The problems started early, as he was only given five weeks to go from concept to final product. Warshaw was assisted by Jerome Domurat, a graphic designer at Atari.

Howard Warshaw, 2015

Although the game was finished on time, it was poorly received and seen as confusing and frustrating. Atari took a large financial loss on the project which, combined with the company's other poor business decisions and the video game crash of 1983, led to the company being split up and sold within two years. During this time Warshaw developed and almost finished another game called Saboteur. He left the company before it was completed. It was then re-adapted to a game based on the television series The A-Team, but this also remained unfinished. Atari was disbanded before either version could be released.

So, the failure of this specific game completely changed the landscape of the (then) nascent and booming videogame industry. With the colossal flop of ET, the game, the industry went into decline, which would only be reversed years later with the entry of Japanese Nintendo into the American market with the NES. Many wonder if the developer had had more time, more people on staff, how the game could have been different? But pressures, tight deadlines and a lot of money at stake were ingredients for a failure that cost a lot: An entire industry was destroyed. And Howard Warshaw never programmed a game again. He went on to work in film, documentaries, and more recently became a psychotherapist, having written two books about his experiences as a game developer. Well, we will see below that changing careers is one of the effects of crunch time. But there are still stories to be told about crunch time. Follow me and we will see how the crunch took over the life of a young Japanese developer.

The guy who committed suicide because of a game

SuperGrafx had a brief life in Japan, where it died after just over half a dozen games were released. Strider was not one of them. Although prototypes are rumored to exist, the SuperGrafx Strider never saw the light of day. Eventually a port to NEC's PC Engine Arcade Card was released in the mid-1990s, but it looked much worse, compared to even the flawed Sega Genesis version. It was this failure to surpass even the quality level of the Genesis/Megadrive that apparently drove one of its programmers to suicide. Although this is a completely unfounded rumor, there are very reliable sources that tell that one of the programmers took his own life in a bout of depression supposedly caused by the poor quality of the game.

And, the EA spouse brought this massacring practice to light

In 2004, the EA spouse I mentioned above wrote an expose on the practices of video game publisher Electronic Arts. The person who used the pseudonym EA spouse, would be revealed in 2006 to be Erin Hoffman, a game developer who wrote about how various forms of crunch were destroying her fiancé's life, attacking Electronic Arts for practices she said were unethical and illegal. The blog went viral, causing widespread outrage.

Erin Hoffman, 2007

In the famous post, she wrote: "Now, it seems, is the 'real' crunch, the one for which the producers of this [video game] title so wisely prepared their staff by running them into the ground ahead of time. The current mandatory schedule is 9am to 10pm -- seven days a week -- with the occasional Saturday night free for good behavior (at 6:30pm). This averages eighty-five hours of work per week. Complaints that these once again extended hours combined with existing staff fatigue would result in a greater number of mistakes being made and an even greater amount of wasted energy would be ignored."

She continues: "Not soon after he started work, he was working under "soft" conditions of 8 hours a day, six days a week. The team was told that by working these extra hours, they would avoid the big crunch associated with the end of a project. The managers had even set a date on which this light crunch would end. The date passed and other established dates also passed; the next change in the schedule was a change to 12-hour days, six days a week. People started getting sick."

And, no, things didn't get better... But at least the workers were compensated.

The case against EA

Hoffman's actions, in part, led to the filing of three class actions against EA and some industry-wide changes in general, such as the reclassification of entry-level artists as hourly employees, thus making them eligible for overtime under California law. Her then-fiancé, EA employee Leander Hasty, was the lead plaintiff in the successful class action lawsuit on behalf of EA's software engineers, which in 2007 awarded the plaintiffs $14.9 million for unpaid overtime. After the case and the lawsuit, Hoffman and Hasty founded GameWatch, a watchdog organization designed to facilitate discussions between employees of different companies. It was shut down in 2012.

How does crunch time happen?

Another professional in the field, Joe Straitiff, a software engineer who was transferred to EA due to a merger, posted his frustrating experiences at EA on another blog, noting that "you can't spell ExploitAtion without EA." In his personal blog, Straitiff described the intense pressure to work long hours that he and his fellow employees had to deal with at EA. Straitiff's manager hung a neon sign reading "7 Days Open" in the staff common area and regularly emailed employees telling them that he would "see them over the weekend." Straitiff describes his routine, working 14-hour days to meet goals for his project, coming home well after midnight and staying up half the night caring for his sick baby daughter, and then being harassed the next day at work for arriving at 11:30.

Joe Straitiff

During his time at EA, Straitiff's relationship with his wife and daughter became extremely strained. When the EA employee was home, his daughter was usually asleep. Straitiff was often so tired from working all day that he had little energy to do anything recreational in what little free time he had. Erin Hoffman said similar things about her partner, stating that he often came home with "a headache that wouldn't go away and a chronically upset stomach."

But with all these problems, is Crunch still worth it?

No, not at all. Let's see: Imagine a team of programmers, all red-eyed, sleep-deprived, and, of course, because of this making mental mistakes that lead to bugs that break the game and cause even more work for the rest of the team. There is not much data on this subject, but a recent study by a group called The Game Outcomes Project found that crunch time led to less successful games - even though one of their indicators of success was the very imperfect Metacritic aggregate tool.

Paul Tozour of The Game Outcomes project writes: "Our study seems to reveal that what really generates "outstanding results"-the factors that really make great games-has nothing to do with mere "effort" and everything to do with focus, team cohesion, compelling direction, psychological safety, risk management, and a host of other cultural factors that enhance team effectiveness."

In other words, all this crunch time may be making the games worse. Anyone who has worked in a creative field knows that tight deadlines and occasional all-nighters can sometimes work miracles, but caffeine and adrenaline are not enough to fight off the exhaustion of outrageous hours of work for weeks or months on end. Whether you're writing dialogue or modeling characters, sleep deprivation can have a serious negative impact on what you're trying to accomplish.

And the Crunch affects workers profoundly

Combined with the abusive work culture within certain game studios, the effect of frequent overtime can result in more and more game designers leaving the industry entirely as the passion is driven out of them one by one, leading them to find a new career or an early retirement from the field of video game development. According to statistics covered in the "State of the Industry 2019: Mental Health in the Game Industry report": "only 1/3 of developers remain in the industry for 10 years or more," with the average tenure lasting three to six years.

The damage that crunch time does to an individual's psyche spills over into their life outside of work in the games industry, with developers working 80+ hour weeks and sacrificing their lives outside of their project. An adverse effect of this additional mental wear and tear can even lead developers to suffer from PTSD due to the subject matter of their particular project.

Crunch time still happens today

Cyberpunk 2077, game famous for its bugs and crunch time

Even nowadays, crunch time still happens too often. One famous case is that of the game Cyberpunk 2077. Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most anticipated video games of the last decade, has been delayed three times. The employees of CD Projekt Red, the Polish studio behind the game, were forced to work long hours, including six weekdays, for more than a year.

However, the practice of crunch time had been abolished at the company, as its co-founder Marcin Iwiński declared: he said that his company considered itself more humane than its competitors. While overtime would be allowed for those interested in working it, crunch would not become "mandatory." He called it a "non-mandatory crunch policy" and said it was something to be proud of. "We're known for treating players with respect," Iwiński told Kotaku in 2019. "And I really [wish] that we were also known for treating developers with respect." A month later he restated his words, but promising during a podcast that mandatory crunch would not be imposed on his employees.

Shortly thereafter, signs began to emerge that the Cyberpunk 2077 project was in trouble.

In January 2020, CD Projekt announced the first delay of the game. The release date was moved from April to September. The multiplayer component was also pushed back to at least 2022.

Six months later, the game was delayed for a second time - from September to November. Again, Iwiński and Adam Badowski, head of the studio, said that more time needed to be spent polishing the final game. The COVID-19 pandemic was partly to blame for the delays.

CD Projekt released Cyberpunk 2077 for PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows and Xbox One platforms on December 10, 2020, followed by PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on February 15, 2022. The game was praised by critics for its narrative, setting and graphics while some of its gameplay elements received mixed reviews. The game was also widely criticized for the presence of bugs, especially in the console versions, which suffered from performance issues. Sony removed the title from the PlayStation Store from December 2020 until June 2021 while CD Projekt worked to fix problems. CD Projekt was subject to investigations and class action lawsuits in the courts due to its attempts to minimize the severity of the technical problems prior to release; these were ultimately compensated with a $1.85 million dollar settlement.

This nefarious practice extends to other branches of the information technology industry. Recently Elon Musk bought the micro-blogging social network Twitter and has stated that he will fire all those employees who fail to meet the required deadline.

Supposedly, Musk simply counted LOC (lines of code) produced over the past year and fired half of the underperforming developers, with 75% of the non-technical moderation team. He firmly believes that Twitter will straighten itself out. He demands that the remaining workers work 80-hour weeks in the office. Several programmers and computer engineers have since resigned, so they are calling back the fired employees telling them that their names came up by mistake...

What are the causes of crunch time?

Basically, the causes of Crunch time, as enumerated by Jason Schreier, in his book Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, are as follows:

Over Promises

Limited Financing

Changing Tools

Commercial repercussions for not meeting deadlines

Creative Differences

Passion

Executives Making Creative Decisions

Studio   turmoil

Bugs and Instability before the Release

Massive Negative Reviews on Launch

But, the biggest cause of Crunch is poor management. Whether at the highest executive level, setting unrealistic deadlines, deadlines that cannot be met, the leadership level of bosses who do not manage their teams well, project management where work is being done inefficiently, or product management where the wrong work is being done.

How to avoid Crunch time?

Well, since this is an old practice already, game industry workers are starting to move in search of better working conditions, or are quiet quitting or even abandoning their careers, as the 2019 study I mentioned above showed.

The developer, 3D or 2D artist, programmer, should look for companies that do not sacrifice their employees, and several indie studios are already going in this direction, making their projects realistic and responsible. The result? More quality of life for the employees and more quality of the final product for the game publishers.

And, we, as gamers and enthusiasts, how can we help? Simple... Do you remember the boycott of western products, made in Bangladesh, with child labor? Like the Adidas balls? What did the consumers do? They boycotted Adidas, until they stopped employing child labor. The same thing applies to us gamers and enthusiasts: Don't buy games from studios that force crunch time on their employees. It's as simple as that. Vote with our wallets for better, more humane studios that produce not only good games, but good working environments.

What prompted me to write about crunch time was an article I wrote in the June 2022 issue about Psychonauts 2, where developer Tim Schafer stated that there was no crunch time in the development of Psychonauts 2, showing that he, as head of the studio, cherished the health of his collaborators.

And now that we've reached the Christmas season, when we buy gifts for others as well as ourselves, let's remember, before we buy any games, all those who suffered so that we could have fun, let's honor them, and choose companies that respect their employees. Let's make a merry Christmas for these workers, and, as with child labor, let's also wipe crunch time off the face of the earth.

Friends, I bid you a fond farewell. 2022 was a year of ups and downs, of illnesses and crises, of wars and plenty of misfortunes. But, we managed to finish it alive. And, we are ready for the next level. Let 2023 start! Happy Holidays and a great new year!

Good Words, Good Deeds, Good News

Compiled by Meemaw

Man Decorates Home For Halloween To Raise Money For Charity

Kieron has gone overboard in his Halloween decorations! The idea to raise money for charities in Kent, England came last year when people started offering donations for his decorations. He could have kept the money, of course, since the decorations cost money to make, but the family decided to donate it to a local children's hospice. Last year they made about $3,100, and hope that they did better this year. They have also set up a Just Giving page.

Woman Builds Her Autistic Brother A Cottage

Tiffany moved back to Maui from New York to help out her brother Chris, who is autistic. He said he didn't like the residential home he was in. Adopted by the same parents, they hadn't lived together for 15 years, but she knew that his behavior could be challenging, so she and her boyfriend built a small cottage at the back of their property for Chris to live in. He got to choose the colors for the structure and even help out with the construction.

Living there, she says, he has become more independent, doing chores and taking care of himself. It's good that he's so close, in case of problems, but it's also good that he has his own place, as she and her boyfriend recently welcomed a new daughter.

Dog Finds Forever Home After 2,555 Days In Shelter

Flip the dog had lived in an Ohio shelter for 2,555 days (7 years), and Jennifer had recently lost her pet due to illness. When she saw the photo of Flip that was posted on the shelter's Facebook page, she knew she wanted to adopt him. When she contacted the shelter, they said they thought he might have been abused years earlier, but she could adopt him.

She drove three hours to pick him up and there were no problems when she took him home. He is now a permanent resident of Jennifer's home.

Writer Finally Reunited With Teacher Who Taught Him To Read

Author Jamil Jan Kochai had been searching for his second grade teacher, Mrs. Lung. He was in her class when he first came to this country as an immigrant, and she used her after school time to teach him to read and write English. Amazingly, she accomplished it in that one year. After he became a published author, he searched for her to thank her for all she had done for him.

He had been contacted by her husband in 2020, and he had spoken with her on the phone, but they decided not to try to meet because of COVID. Recently, he was at a book signing for his new book 'The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories', when (in his words) "Mrs. Lung's husband, Allen, rushed up to me, introduced himself, and brought me over to Mrs. Lung, and seven-year-old-me finally got to hug my 2nd grade teacher again."

He signed a book for her, saying all the things he'd been wanting to tell her for many years.

Hero Trucker Rescues Trapped Police Officer

A Texas trucker named Gary was chosen as a Highway Angel in Arkansas after helping a police officer who was trapped in his vehicle. Gary saw the police vehicle at the side of the road, but didn't know why it was there. Traffic was heavy and moving slowly, which allowed him to see that there was an officer inside. He stopped his truck and went to the vehicle, discovering that the officer was pinned inside, and looked to be injured severely. "Some of the stuff I noticed was insane--no one's calling the police, cars are driving by, and no one stopped to help him." He called 911 to get someone out to get the officer freed. The officer had to be airlifted to a hospital.

He's still upset that no one stopped, and had no idea what caused the accident, but said he is usually the one that helps. "I'm that idiot that runs into burning buildings and pulls out pets. When I see something like that, I can't keep going on about my day."

He was named a Highway Angel for his heroic efforts.

Man Saves Siblings From House Fire

Brendon was driving one night and made a wrong turn. As he drove past a house he noticed that flames were coming across the porch ceiling. He exited his vehicle and ran to the front door, pounding on it in an attempt to alert anyone inside. Four people escaped from the house, a 22-year old man and his three younger siblings. The parents were out of town, but were able to watch the video footage from the Ring doorbell. The mother told News Nation, "Pulling up the Ring video footage and watching it, I was in shock. It was horrible but knowing they were safe, I mean, we're sitting here and there's six of us in a camper and we still feel blessed."

For some reason, the smoke alarm didn't activate. The family is very grateful to Brendon for his quick action. "He's part of the family now."

PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner Bonus:

Quesadilla Burger

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/3 pounds ground beef
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 slices pepper jack cheese
8 mini flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
4 cooked bacon strips, halved
4 lettuce leaves
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup pico de gallo

DIRECTIONS:

Shape ground beef into four 5-in.-wide patties. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add burgers; cook until a thermometer reads 160F, 4-6 minutes on each side. Remove from heat; top with pepper jack cheese. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, place tortillas on a griddle. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheddar cheese on each tortilla. Cook over low heat until the cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes; remove from heat. Top half the tortillas with the burgers, bacon, lettuce, ranch dressing and pico de gallo; top with remaining tortillas, cheese side down.

TIPS: Serve with a side of guacamole or cheese sauce dip.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 278           Carbs: 26g           Fiber: 2g           Sodium: 528mg           Protein: 27g

PCLinuxOS Puzzled Partitions

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