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Rob Pegoraro

@robpegoraro.com

8.4K followers 660 following 4.6K posts

D.C.-based freelance technology journalist covering, and often vexed by, computers, gadgets, and other things that beep. May or may not be notable. He/him. Read: PCMag, Fast Company, etc. Write: [email protected]

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · Jan 16

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🔎 disclosures: robpegoraro.com/disclosures
📷 photos: flickr.com/robpegoraro
🤳 less-edited photos: instagram.com/robpegoraro
🧾 resume: linkedin.com/in/robpegoraro
➕ B-sides, outtakes, other extras: patreon.com/robpegoraro

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creating technology journalism for the curious and the skeptical

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2h

Won the EWR lottery today--"won" meaning that while ATC and a runway closure delayed my flight to Newark for 3+ hours, they also held up the flight from there for almost two, both flights were two gates apart, and my checked bag got from plane to plane in seven minutes. (Respect to EWR rampers.)

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 3h

Can confirm that the Starlink WiFi on United's regional jets is a massive improvement over the old air-to-ground connectivity--even setting aside this outlier of a download speed. (This is from an E175 northeast of NYC with 18 of its 76 seats empty, per the seat map shown in UA's app.)

Screenshot of the Speedtest app for Android shows a download speed of 479 Mbps and an upload of 18.2 Mbps, with a United Airlines ad below.

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 9h

One of the least-scalable transit systems I've ever used.

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 9h

From this report by @harrymccracken.com, the San Francisco version of Tesla's Robotaxi is unserious as a Waymo competitor. Also weird: How the safety drivers/observers apparently aren't allowed to chat with passengers, unlike the Tesla Loop drivers in Vegas who have actual driving to do.

Tesla’s ‘Robotaxi’ service is no Waymo

My rides in Elon Musk’s supposedly autonomous ride-hailing cars still involved a human overseer in the driver’s seat—among other notable rough edges.

www.fastcompany.com

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

This is a presale for Citi cardholders.

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

Stunning plot twist: Ticketmaster's site worked reasonably well, but Citi's payment system struggled with displaying the in-page frame for the call/text-based authentication system that they somehow require instead of letting me confirm a purchase in the Citi app on my phone.

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

Hello, fellow Rush fans.

Screengrab from Ticketmaster's site:

You Are Now In The Queue

27,624
People Ahead Of You

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

Takeaways from watching the debate on YouTube:
• Earle-Sears' interruptions were annoying, as were her idiotic talking points about wind and solar power;
• Spanberger's studious vagueness on some issues did not help her cause;
• aside from one Spanberger ad, every ad pitched quack health advice.

Virginia Mercury @virginiamercury.com · 1d

Spanberger didn't answer "yes" or "no" when asked if she still supported Jay Jones's AG race, while Earle-Sears dodged policy questions and didn't spell out how she would follow through on her pledge to eliminate the car tax. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/09/s...

Spanberger, Earle-Sears clash over violence, abortion, and taxes in lone Va. governor’s debate • Virginia Mercury

After months of polarized campaigning, the two women faced off at Norfolk State University, sparring over the Jay Jones controversy, political rhetoric, and abortion as moderators pushed hard to keep…

virginiamercury.com

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

The rapid progress of Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind must enrage the fossil-fuel fetishists in the White House. Have they considered trying to self-soothe by snorting some coal dust? #CVOW

America’s biggest offshore wind farm will be online in six months

Dominion Energy’s 2.6 GW project off Virginia’s coast is progressing fast. The utility has a new, more definitive target to plug into the grid: March 2026.

www.canarymedia.com

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

Would eat

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

It's so good.

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 1d

Yet another karaoke bar has failed me by not having Richard and Linda Thompson's "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" on their list.

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2d

He got a sword! An attendee drew him this - note the Techdirt and Bluesky logos.

Drawing on a piece of paper with hand-torn edges, labeled "A sword for Mike Masnick" with the caption below "Because my dad didn't give you one" (it's from the kid of i2 Coalition exec director Christian Dawson)

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2d

Showed up late to the Internet Infrastructure Coalition's awards reception--which turned out to be the right time to see them give @mmasnick.bsky.social their "Internet Infrastructure Protection Award" award, with Mike joking that he was only going to accept that honor if it came with a sword.

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2d

Duly noted.

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2d

Great lede!

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2d

A four-door hatchback EV with fast NACS charging that starts at under $29,000? At that price, I might be able to overlook GM deciding its cars are too good for Android Auto and CarPlay.

Revamped Chevy Bolt Arrives in January, Will Be Most Affordable EV in the US

GM resurrects the popular electric car with a $29,000 starting price, four new colors, a larger dash screen, and a different battery.

www.pcmag.com

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2d

Love the 757, don't love the woeful upgrade odds on it.

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 2d

Getting another IAD-KEF option will be exciting news to @samer.is.

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 3d

Number of times I could cancel Clear (United had been paying for my membership) and get another month or so comped: two. Third time, they processed the cancellation request immediately.

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 3d

"The U.S. is no longer perceived as being a reliable partner," says Michael Daniel, CEO of the Cyber Threat Alliance, about how EU security leaders see the States. In remarks wrapping up the CyberNextDC conference, he then repeats that phrase for emphasis.

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Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 3d

Yup: Summit takes up all four FIL halls, plus the MEO Arena.

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 3d

Looks convenient for my Web Summit commute.

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 3d

Bookmarking this for my own LIS trip next month (any particular bakery or chain thereof?)

Rob Pegoraro @robpegoraro.com · 3d

The FlyerTalk thread on this will be epic (assuming an FTer was on the flight, which seems a safe bet).

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