Modern life: I wanted to get a screen grab of something I saw last night on Netflix. I could take a picture of the TV with my phone, or call it up in a browser and use the imprecise controls to get where I needed to go.

Except . . . that the latest build of Safari on Yosemite doesn't like Netflix, and tells you that your monitor isn't compatible. Why does it have to be compatible? New anti-piracy safeguards that prevent people from recording streaming content. If you point a video camera at the screen while it's playing protected content, a bolt of electricity shoots out and stops your heart. Or something. Anyway. Since Safari wasn't working, I tried Chrome, well aware that I did not have the latest build. I have 39.0.2171.98, and I think they're up to 39.0.2171.99 now.

I had to lot in to Netflix, since I hadn't logged in using Chrome before. Mind you, I've logged in to Chromecast to use the daughter's phone to stream Netflix to the TV, but that's completely different. Since I have complex passwords to prevent criminals from hijacking my account and filling the RECENTLY PLAYED with episodes of Sailor Moon just to make me look ridiculous, I had to open the password manager app, which of course has its own password.

Sure enough, it wouldn't play. A helpful screen said I should go to "chrome://components, locate the WidevineCdm component, and click the 'Check for update' button." Which I did. At this point it would have been easier to take a picture with a Kodak Instamatic and send it off to the lab to be developed, but in the end I got the screengrab. I thought I'd seen a particular book on a shelf. I was wrong.

Point is, I hate passwords. We all do. Most of all I hate this:

***********

This is the default password for everything, right? Because no matter what you type, that's what you see. This is because invisible hackers are standing right behind you taking notes, so they can get into your Pinterest account and unfollow your niece, which will cause all sorts of problems the next time the family gets together.

Which brings us to predictions for 2015, from VentureBeat:

Based on an unreleased product whose feature set is most speculative. Well, give it a few years, and you'll be filling in passwords by saying your special password to your watch, which will match your voice and beam the logon instructions to the browser via Bluetooth. If you don't have retinal-scan enabled, that is.

Can't wait.

WHO KNOWS Profile of the guy who might be the next Greek prime minister. The article notes that he is a Marxist who named his son after Che, and speculates how he might govern. Yes, it's surely a mystery.

VotD AIIIIIEEEEEEEE

Or, as some have said, AIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

The last one is the best, or worst, depending on your point of view. If nothing else, a testament to pilots and planes, and the flight attendants who had to swab up the cabin afterwards.