Links für 2023 KW 42
Zusammengefasst von LlongOrca.
The Killer Use Case for LLMs Is Summarization:
The killer use case for large language models (LLMs) is clearly summarization. While LLMs are good at generating creative text based on certain inputs, they're unlikely to generate unique insights. However, LLMs excel at condensing large volumes of information and can help in organizing complex data. The recent advent of Bing Chat signals a new era in LLM usage where specialty search engines using LLMs might index vast amounts of books, blog posts, or academic publications. LLMs will revolutionize how we find, consume, and digest information, unlike the web that only provides a way to disseminate, index, and discover it. In the future, competent executives may rely on LLMs to condense and summarize information from across their organizations.
Please Pay For a Year of Nothing:
This article discusses the author's decision to cancel their Disney+ subscription due to the price increase and lack of new content coming to the platform. The author explains that the entertainment industry has been facing strikes and production halts, leading to fewer TV shows and movies being released for streaming services. They also mention other streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, their pricing strategies, and their ability to license content from other companies to maintain a strong content library. The author ultimately concludes that they do not see enough value in Disney+ at the current price point to resubscribe and renew their yearly subscription.
Sith Lord Who Stalked Queen Gets Nine Years for Treason; AI Girlfriend Not Charged:
This article discusses a bizarre case of Jaswant Singh Chail, who intended to kill Queen Elizabeth II due to his anger over the 1919 Amritsar massacre, which was not her fault as she was born in 1926. Chail wore an iron face mask and carried a loaded crossbow while approaching Windsor Castle. He had previously posted a Snapchat video apologizing for the assassination attempt. He later pleaded guilty to three charges, including making threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon, and being near Queen Elizabeth with intent to harm her. The court explored Chail's motives, which were influenced by his immersion in Star Wars lore and role of Sith Lords and the encouragement of his girlfriend, a chatbot named Sarai. The judge ultimately decided that Chail could be punished for his actions because he had experienced homicidal thoughts before becoming psychotic.
Marc Andreessen Is Wrong About Everything:
Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Netscape and prominent investor in Silicon Valley, has released a manifesto titled „The Techno-Optimist's Manifesto“. The document presents a vision for an unrestrained tech innovation environment that will lead to increased abundance, wealth creation, and material advancement. Andreessen argues that current regulations are hindering the progress of technological advancements, but some critics believe his ideas lack grounding in reality. The manifesto has been met with varying degrees of support and criticism from different circles, reflecting ongoing debates about techno-optimism versus skepticism in the technology industry.
The Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite has observed that this year's ozone hole over Antarctica is one of the largest on record, reaching a size of approximately 26 million sq km on September 16th. This monitoring by the European Space Agency (ESA) satellite helps track and analyze changes in the Earth's atmosphere for environmental purposes. The Sentinel-5P satellite was launched in October 2017 and has been critical in observing atmospheric gases, including ozone depletion, over Antarctica.
Whoa. Clearview doesn't let Europeans delete themselves anymore.
I Am Happy Not To Be A Web Developer Anymore:
The article discusses the complexity of web development in the modern era compared to earlier years and the increasing number of tools and frameworks available. It highlights the challenges faced by developers in keeping up with constant change, evolving technologies, security issues, and the potential future role of AI in alleviating these burdens.
Why Apollo 11 astronauts signed tons of autographs — then stowed them away:
This article tells the story of how in the early days of space exploration, life insurance for astronauts was difficult to obtain due to the unpredictable risks involved. Astronaut Neil Armstrong and his crew signed autographs known as „insurance covers“ as a makeshift solution to protect their families' financial future. The Apollo 11 mission was a triumph of human intelligence and courage, despite the significant risks involved.
The Ever-So-Ethical OpenAI Just Replaced Its "Core Values" With Completely Different Ones:
OpenAI has recently changed its core values to include a focus on artificial general intelligence (AGI) that wasn't previously listed. The new list includes „AGI Focus“ as the first value, along with other values such as „Intense and scrappy,“ „Scale,“ „Make something people love,“ and „Team spirit.“ This change has sparked questions about the company's focus and its changing goals over time.
Anti-ageing molecule boosts fertility in ageing mice:
A compound found in most living cells, called spermidine, has been shown to reverse declining fertility in older mice. This process also results in the production of larger litters. The findings offer potential insight into developing treatments for human fertility issues.
Fun With Words: Glossary of Fun Words:
This glossary contains three types of fun words: words that are unusually specific and therefore perfect for certain situations, like specious (seeming good or sound at first but lacking real merit) and apolaustic (wholly devoted to the seeking of enjoyment); words that are simply fun to say, like absquatulate (flee, make off; abscond) and quidnunc (a busybody or a gossip); and, my favorite, words for things you never knew there were words for, like omphalopsychite (one who contemplates his navel) and nothosonomia (the act of calling someone a bastard).
„Draw a Stickman: Epic“ is an engaging and creative RPG game where players control a stick figure character in various adventures. Developed by Hitcents, there are multiple games in the series, including „Epic 2“ and „EPIC 3,“ each offering increasingly epic experiences.
Geometric Constructions Game with Straightedge and Compass:
Euclidea is a game that allows users to create geometric constructions using a straightedge and compass. The app simplifies the process by ensuring accurate drawings, while also incorporating an element of fun and challenge with its tasks ranging from basic to complex. Users can unlock shortcuts for more efficient construction and improve their geometrical intuition through practice. Other related apps include Pythagorea, Tchisla, Cross Sections, and The Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP).
The article provides a list of Adobe alternatives for various purposes such as UX/Wireframes/Prototypes (Figma and PenPot), Photo development (Lightroom Classic and Capture One), Image processing (Photoshop and Affinity Photo), Automation (Affinity Photo, Photoshop, and ffmpeg), Diagramming/Vector sketches (Illustrator and pen and paper or Concepts), Audio Editing (Audition and Audacity), Vector editing (Illustrator and Affinity Designer or Inkscape), Video editing (Premiere and DaVinci Resolve), „Tiny cinema“, DTP, and Assistant. The author shares their positive and negative experiences with these alternatives while also mentioning that they still have some unexplored tools to try in the future.
How Do We Clean Up the Scientific Record?:
The article discusses how important it is for scientists to correct their mistakes promptly to maintain the reliability of the scientific record. It gives an example of a paper that corrected a serious error about amlodipine's mechanism of action, which had significant implications for hypertension treatment. The authors highlight the challenge of dealing with errors and fraud in science, especially due to the increasing number of publications. They argue that post-publication testing of main findings is crucial but emphasize the need for openness and transparency in discussing published data. Finally, they call for a serious debate on measures to address these issues and maintain the integrity of scientific research.
AMD's Anti-Lag feature is getting gamers banned from Counter-Strike 2:
It seems like there are two issues at hand here. One is that some players have been unfairly banned due to the anti-lag feature in AMD drivers interacting with the VAC system for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). Respawn Entertainment, the developer of Apex Legends, has acknowledged this issue and will be reversing the bans.
The other part is that some players might have been affected by an accidental default setting on the anti-lag feature in their AMD drivers for games like CS2 or Apex Legends. In these cases, they may not even know about the existence of this controversial feature and ended up getting banned as a result.
As a solution, it seems that Respawn Entertainment is reverting bans for those affected by the VAC issue in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). Meanwhile, AMD should provide more information to their users about
What happened to blogging for the hell of it?:
This article is about starting a blog and feeling overwhelmed by the focus on monetization, traffic growth, and social media presence. The author, who had been microblogging, wanted to write more frequently and creatively, but found the emphasis on capitalist buzzwords discouraging. They decided they would focus on writing about things that mattered to them personally rather than trying to make money or gain followers.
„Seine letzte Chance“: Mit diesem Weltstar will Thomas Gottschalk „Wetten, dass..?“ zu Ende bringen:
In his last „Wetten, dass…?“ show, entertainer Thomas Gottschalk will have a special reunion with US megastar Justin Timberlake. Although there is no confirmation yet on whether Timberlake will attend the event, Gottschalk has mentioned him in an Instagram post, hinting that he might be one of the guests for his final appearance.
nepo-homebuyers-housing-market-meaning-millennials:
A recent Redfin report has found that 38% of young homebuyers under age 30 receive family money for their down payment, highlighting financial challenges faced by this demographic in the US housing market. Affordability is a major issue, with nearly three-quarters of aspiring buyers considering it as the main obstacle to owning a house. This trend has led young people like Cheryl Lyons and her husband, who moved in with family to save for their down payment, to face increasing mortgage rates that have priced them out of buying a home.
Security Vulnerability of Switzerland’s E-Voting System:
Online voting systems are inherently insecure due to vulnerabilities like malicious insiders and hacking. Ed Appel explains the risks of Switzerland's e-voting system and showcases a proof-of-concept demonstration that highlights how malware can manipulate a user vote, even with special return codes (Prfcode) to protect against interference. Despite efforts to maintain security, paper-based solutions remain more secure than online options.
shipping rotten software to billions of unsuspecting customers:
In this article, the author criticizes Microsoft for including a vulnerable version of cURL (version 8.0.1) in their builds. They point out that there are vulnerabilities in cURL versions after 8.0.1 which were not addressed by Microsoft. The author shares information on several KB articles related to these issues and encourages users to stay away from the rotten software coming from Redmond.
Five Design Principles for Building a Data Pipeline Engine | Tenzir:
This article discusses five design principles for building data pipeline engines from the perspective of security teams developing their detection and response architecture. The principles include separation of concerns, typed operators, multi-schema dataflows, unified live stream processing and historical queries, and built-in networking to create data fabrics.
AI helps decipher first text of “unreadable” ancient Herculaneum scroll:
A computer science student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has successfully deciphered text on one of the charred ancient Roman scrolls found in a villa near Pompeii. The achievement earned him a $40,000 First Letters prize from the Vesuvius Challenge. Over 1,500 teams have been collaborating on the challenge through Discord to decipher contents of these scrolls which were badly burnt during Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 AD.
The importance of handwriting is becoming better understood:
The article discusses the benefits of handwriting in comparison to typing. Studies have shown that writing by hand can improve memory recall and understanding of complex concepts. Handwriting also helps with note-taking during lectures, as it forces students to synthesize information into their own words rather than just transcribing it verbatim. Some school systems are now incorporating more handwriting instruction in the curriculum due to these findings. While typing skills are still essential for most individuals, occasional practice of handwriting can be beneficial as well.
This article discusses a Turing Machine, named „Bigfoot“, that is believed to not halt when starting with an empty tape. The transition table of this machine is described, and its behaviors are analyzed based on rules similar to those applied in Collatz-like problems. It's mentioned that proving Bigfoot halts could be a solution to the \(BB(3, 3)\) problem, which is still considered difficult to solve.
Pluralistic: Leaving Twitter had no effect on NPR's traffic (14 Oct 2023):
In this article, the author discusses enshittification as an ongoing process that platforms like Twitter engage in to extract surpluses from customers and suppliers. They argue that Elon Musk's takeover and management style have accelerated this process, leading many publishers such as NPR to leave the platform with minimal impact on their traffic. The author suggests potential regulatory responses like End-To-End rules and Right To Exit regulations as possible solutions for preventing further enshittification of these platforms while allowing for more decentralized alternatives.
Edinburgh couple fume as they are handed £17K bill by Tesla as they 'drove in rain':
An Edinburgh couple received a shocking bill of £17,000 from Tesla after claiming their electric car battery was damaged by rain. The car stopped working during extreme weather last week and the company is still asking them to pay despite no fault on their part. The couple is frustrated with their correspondence with Tesla and awaits a response regarding the complaint.
The Salmon on Your Plate Has a Troubling Cost. These Farms Offer Hope.:
A revolution in salmon farming is taking place at LocalCoho, a sustainable salmon farm in Auburn, New York. The farm raises 50,000 silvery coho salmon in freshwater tanks using a recirculating water system that eliminates waste every half-hour, reducing environmental concerns compared to traditional open net-pen farms. These land-based farms offer a climate-stable alternative for salmon aquaculture and are expected to become a significant part of the U.S. salmon supply in the next two decades.
Ruff v0.1.0, a fast Python linter written in Rust, has been released with improved stability and new features such as a preview mode, fix safety levels, and a formal versioning policy. The linter is used by thousands of open source projects and enterprises and supports over 700 lint rules. The preview mode allows the use of unstable features during testing while fix safety levels categorize fixes as safe or unsafe based on Python's dynamic nature.
Fefes Blog: Rosenhan Experiment:
The Rosenhan Experiment questioned the scientific validity of psychiatric diagnoses and found that individuals faking symptoms were still diagnosed with mental illnesses upon admission into institutions. This led to questions about the accuracy of AI fake detectors labeling real images as fakes in a later experiment, demonstrating the complexity of accurately identifying information or situations.
Forget privacy: you're terrible at targeting anyway:
The article discusses how targeted advertising and personalized recommendations often fail to provide useful content or products for the user, despite extensive data collection and analysis. The author argues that many of these advertisements could be just as effective using simpler methods based on user actions rather than profiling users' private information. The article also highlights cases where companies like Pandora and Netflix have created successful recommendation algorithms without relying on personal profiles, suggesting it is possible to provide relevant recommendations without invading privacy.
Should you be scared of Unix signals?:
Unix signals are a way for processes to communicate, allowing applications to respond to specific events or changes. These signals are well-known and widely used in important programs like init, the terminal, and JVM. There can be some challenges with handling signals correctly, such as interruptions from other signals or unexpected state changes within the program. However, by understanding these limitations and being careful when using signals, it is possible to safely implement signal handlers for various purposes.
Zip - How not to design a file format.:
The article discusses the limitations of the ZIP file format, which is now 32 years old, and how its documentation could be improved for better compatibility among different zip libraries. The author points out several issues with the format that lead to ambiguity when it comes to reading and extracting files from a zip archive, such as scanning from the front versus the back, handling self-extracting code within the zip file, and dealing with random data between records.
The article suggests adding specific sections to the documentation that address these issues and making the format more explicit in order to ensure compatibility among various zip libraries. The author also highlights the importance of clear communication about the central directory's authority over the contents of a zip archive and the handling of local file records.
FreeTube – The Private YouTube Client:
The conversation in this HackerNews thread is discussing various aspects of open source projects and how they rely on donations to sustain their development efforts. While it does touch upon monetary donations, it doesn't specifically address whether blocking ads on YouTube videos is a crime or immoral.
Revealed: how a little-known pollution rule keeps the air dirty for millions of Americans:
A legal loophole in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allowed local regulators to strike pollution from clean air tallies, making it appear that the air is cleaner than it actually is for more than 21 million Americans. The exceptional events rule of the Clean Air Act allows forgiveness of pollution caused by „natural“ or „uncontrollable“ events such as wildfires on records used by EPA for regulatory decisions. This obscures the true health risks of pollution, swerving away from tighter control on local polluters and threatening the potency of the Clean Air Act. The use of this rule has increased, especially for wildfires at a time when climate crisis poses unprecedented health risks to millions of Americans.
How Far Does $1 From 1999 Go In 2023?:
This article presents an interactive visualization showcasing the evolution of the American dollar's value from December 1999 to July 2023 across various categories using Chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI is a yardstick for understanding the cost of everyday items, while the Chained CPI (C-CPI-U) takes into account consumers' substitution behavior when prices change. The visualization highlights how inflation impacts spending habits and enables users to interact with it by hovering over different categories.
Air purifiers aren’t enough to clean your home from wildfire smoke:
In this article about wildfire smoke's impact on buildings, scientists tested a method for cleaning up indoor air quality after a home had been exposed to smoke. They found that removing pollutants from surfaces, such as vacuuming and dusting with commercial cleaning solutions, effectively reduced the presence of lingering particles and harmful gases in the house. This could help improve indoor air quality for residents affected by wildfire smoke events.
Why async Rust? - Without boats, dreams dry up:
The article explains how Async/await syntax was introduced in Rust, its purpose, design process, and controversies surrounding it. It highlights that the decision of using a stackless coroutine approach for implementing user-space concurrency was based on Rust's need to support embedded systems and maintain memory safety requirements without resorting to runtime dependencies. The article also touches upon the importance of asynchronous programming in domains such as network services, command-line interfaces, web assembly, and embedded systems. Additionally, it discusses how async/await was instrumental in driving industry adoption for Rust. Lastly, the author acknowledges concerns regarding the state of the async ecosystem today and suggests future improvements to address them.
Mastercard Should Stop Selling Our Data:
The article discusses how many companies, including Mastercard, use personal information for profit rather than solely providing services, which harms consumer privacy. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is part of a campaign led by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) to call on Mastercard to limit its data collection and stop selling cardholder information. As a global payments technology company, Mastercard has access to extensive consumer financial data. The article highlights how Mastercard's data analysis can reveal personal information about customers, such as shopping habits and spending preferences. By targeting high-value or frequent spenders, the company risks damaging consumer trust in their services. To protect privacy, EFF urges Mastercard to change its current data practices and respect the trust of cardholders.
How tech giants are hijacking the internet:
Martin Andree, a media researcher at the University of Cologne, warns that US digital platforms have seized control of the internet using unethical tactics, manipulating both web traffic and revenue to gain substantial profits. He suggests there is room for resistance until 2029 but after that, it could become impossible. Andree argues that these tech giants have exploited regulatory loopholes and misled state institutions, leading to a hostile takeover of the internet. He proposes liberating the internet by enforcing open standards, allowing content providers to directly link to their websites, making user data accessible to competitors, and ensuring proper taxation.
How to Build a Universe That Doesn't Fall Apart Two Days Later:
Philip K. Dick talks about reality and authentic human experiences in his writing. He discusses how technology and media can create false perceptions of what is real, and the importance of questioning our own beliefs to understand reality better. Additionally, he touches upon themes such as the power of individuals resisting spurious realities and finding truth within themselves and those around them.
The Female Delusion Calculator was created to address unrealistic expectations in dating by providing statistics and insight on the availability of high-quality men. It uses data from surveys conducted by the US Census Bureau and NCHS to help women assess their chances of finding a partner that meets their desired criteria. The tool is meant to assist women in understanding what is realistic in terms of dating, as well as helping them adjust their expectations accordingly.
Cratering motor fuel sales in Norway show the death spiral that can end oil:
Norway, leading the world in electric vehicle (EV) sales, has seen a steep decline in oil sales due to this shift in transportation. The Norwegian statistics agency SSB reported a 9% drop in motor fuel sales year-over-year for September, as more than 90% of new vehicles in the country are electrified. Norway is on track to virtually end fossil vehicle sales years ahead of schedule, with the vehicle fleet cycling out from fossil fuels to electricity. This decline is significant as it reduces oil consumption and supports the fight against climate change. However, there is still a need for better and cleaner options in transportation such as e-bikes and public transit.
radfahrer-auf-der-flucht-jeder-vierte-unfallverursacher-verlaesst-den-tatort:
The article discusses a study by the Unfallforschung der Versicherer (UDV) on bicycle accidents involving pedestrians in 2022, which resulted in over 720 people being severely injured and 13 deaths. The study finds that cyclists are usually at fault in these collisions, with one in four cases fleeing the scene of the accident. Footpaths and bus stops were identified as hotspots for accidents. In response to the findings, UDV calls for a reevaluation of infrastructure design and not allowing footpaths to be used for cycling. The study also emphasizes the importance of adjusting infrastructure and promoting mutual understanding between cyclists and pedestrians through targeted police enforcement and campaigns led by federal governments and transport safety organizations.
How we built a Streaming SQL Engine | Epsio:
The article provides an in-depth explanation of what a streaming SQL engine is, and how it works. It explains that a streaming SQL engine keeps query results up to date without the need for recalculation, even with changes in underlying data. The author then describes how to build such an engine, using examples and diagrams to illustrate the concepts involved. Finally, the article concludes by mentioning Epsio Labs' publishing of their streaming engine as a public resource.
Fefes Blog: Paxlovid Price hike:
Pfizer has increased the price of its COVID antiviral medication Paxlovid from $530 to nearly $1,400 per course of treatment. The company claims that the pricing is based on the value the drug provides to patients, providers, and healthcare systems due to its role in reducing COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths. Critics argue that such a decision allows monopolistic control over a potentially life-saving medication and highlights the need for regulation in the market.
Don't use DISTINCT as a "join-fixer" - Simple Talk:
The article discusses the issue of using „DISTINCT“ in queries, explaining that it often hides flaws in the underlying logic, causing inefficiencies in query execution. By re-writing slow queries to avoid DISTINCT and exploring other ways to write them, performance issues can be resolved without compromising on accuracy. The article also highlights the benefits of EXISTS and forcing Orders to be scanned later as more efficient alternatives to using DISTINCT.
We have used too many levels of abstractions and now the future looks bleak:
The article discusses the increasing reliance on abstraction in technology and its potential consequences, such as diminished understanding of the underlying technologies. It highlights how tech professionals are often taught to use specific tools rather than understand the underlying technology. The author presents a case study where an unknowledgeable developer led to significant performance issues within a company's system, eventually being hacked. The article advises students to pursue curiosity and understanding in addition to tool knowledge, and emphasizes the importance of questioning assumptions and standing by one's convictions.
Chkbit is a lightweight tool designed to ensure data integrity by checking the files' information has not changed, and can still be moved safely elsewhere. The tool creates checksums for folders, storing its indexes in hidden backed-up files across different media. Upon running chkbit-verify on the backup media, users can confirm that each byte has been correctly transferred. This process helps to identify damaged files and aids in locating replacement data from existing backups.
They can and will ruin everything you love:
Bandcamp, which was acquired by Epic Games in March 2022, has seen significant changes recently. In May 2023, the employees voted to unionize as Bandcamp United, and all seemed well until September when it was announced that Epic would be selling Bandcamp to content licensing and service company Songtradr. Despite promises from Songtradr, layoffs impacted a significant portion of the workforce and had a negative impact on the company's reputation as a champion for independent artists.
The Shortest Papers Ever Published - Paperpile:
This article discusses short mathematical papers, including Lander and Parkin's paper on Euler's conjecture and John Conway and Alexander Soifer's two-word paper. It also mentions other short papers, such as empty pages and zero-word papers, as well as their abstracts. Some of the mentioned publications include Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews, and Nature Chemistry.
The Unix Game is a programming contest where players use UNIX text processing utilities to solve coding challenges by building pipelines of these tools. Players can see their progress on the leaderboard and download badges of honor for their achievements. There are various levels and questions within each challenge, with no penalties for submitting invalid solutions.
Hackernews: 300K Damage from Airbnb Guest:
It appears that there are many factors and questions surrounding this situation, such as the validity of her claims, how much coverage she had in place, if she was operating within the guidelines set by Airbnb or her homeowner's insurance policy, among other things. The main takeaway from this conversation is to carefully read and understand your insurance policies, including any limitations or exclusions, as well as seek legal assistance when needed for guidance on proper coverage and handling of claims.
The article highlights wealth inequality in the United States by comparing Jeff Bezos' $185 billion fortune to various familiar things like annual family healthcare costs and median Amazon warehouse worker earnings. It also illustrates how the combined wealth of the 400 richest Americans ($3.2 trillion) is significantly more than that of the bottom 60% of Americans. The article discusses potential uses for a portion of this wealth, such as vaccinating everyone on earth, eradicating malaria, eliminating medical debt, alleviating poverty, providing clean water to all, and implementing paid maternity/paternity leave and universal basic income programs. Overall, the article calls for redistributing wealth to address global challenges and reduce inequality.
The Tech Industry Has a New Plan to Stop Right to Repair Laws:
The article discusses California's new electronics right-to-repair law, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in an attempt to make fixing electronic devices easier. The signing of this law can be considered a major victory for the grassroots consumer rights movement, which has been gradually gaining traction over several years. However, it is likely that electronics manufacturers may not adopt right-to-repair as standard practice across the country due to their reluctance to lose control of repair services and comply with varying regulations in different states.
In response to this law, the industry may push for Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which are agreements that companies make when creating something that looks like a law but is not one. If they don't get their way, they might challenge the law in court. This article provides an overview of the right-to-repair movement and its impact on consumer rights as well as highlighting the challenges faced by electronics manufacturers in adapting to these new regulations.
Be an Engineer, not a Frameworker:
This article emphasizes the importance of moving beyond framework-based programming and becoming a more well-rounded engineer. Engineers should possess depth of knowledge in programming languages and software problem solutions, as well as understanding underlying design principles like algorithms and data structures. Reading and writing diverse types of code can help engineers improve their skills and become versatile professionals. Ultimately, the focus should be on balancing stability and change, anticipating future requirements, and enabling software to evolve through proper planning and architecture.
‘Calculated misery’: Here’s why airlines want you to be uncomfortable:
The article discusses „calculated misery,“ a theory suggesting that airlines intentionally make travel uncomfortable to encourage passengers to pay for upgrades. It explains how airlines profit from various ways of prioritizing boarding, providing different levels of service, and offering add-ons such as checked bags or seat selection. The article suggests considering upgrading to premium economy, business, or first class if available, moving closer to the front of the plane for perks like extra free items and early boarding, or checking for upgrade offers after booking through airline apps or accounts.
What Every Developer Should Know About GPU Computing:
The main takeaways from this article include understanding the differences between CPU and GPU architectures, their memory hierarchies, execution models, and how dynamic resource partitioning is crucial for maintaining optimal occupancy. Additionally, the importance of efficient kernel creation to utilize resources wisely while minimizing latency was highlighted.
30% of Americans have faced health data breaches this year:
According to internet security firm Atlas VPN, more than a quarter of the US population has had their health data exposed in security breaches this year. With a rise in ransomware attacks and other hacking efforts, nearly 87 million patients were affected. Data of over 45 million patients was compromised in the third quarter alone, up from the 37 million patients impacted in all of 2022. Healthcare companies must report breaches affecting 500 people or more to the US Department of Health and Human Services. In the first three quarters of 2023, there have been 480 reported breaches, with California and New York being the most affected states. The healthcare sector is a high-value target for cybercriminals due to its potential profitability on the dark web.
Essay | How Will States Pay for Roads When Gas Taxes Evaporate?:
In 2001, Oregon recognized the potential impact of electric vehicles and hybrids on gas tax revenue, which funds road maintenance. Legislators formed a committee to explore alternatives for sustaining funding. However, after considering various options, no alternative revenue plan has been implemented yet.
Some Unofficial WireGuard Documentation:
WireGuard is an open-source VPN solution designed for modern server-to-server connections, aiming to fix many issues common in other modern server-to-server VPN offerings like IPSec/IKEv2 and OpenVPN. It provides a simple interface, fast connection times, strong security model, and efficient management of keys.
Wireguard mit dynamischen DNS Namen:
The article discusses a small issue encountered while using Wireguard as VPN solution to connect servers and laptops. It explains that Wireguard does not have automated handling for endpoint addresses changing via DNS. The main problem is the home server's connection being available only through dynamic DNS, which doesn't work with Wireguard's current configuration. However, a script provided in contrib Skripten called reresolve-dns can help in resolving this issue. The installation and usage of this script are explained step by step. It is also recommended to use an Ansible role from githubixx for automation purposes.
Torfrock-Gründer Raymond Voß verabschiedet sich von der Bühne:
Raymond Voß, the co-founder of cult band Torfrock, announced his retirement from performing at 70 years old, citing health concerns as the reason behind his decision. Voß expressed that he doesn't want to suffer a sudden heart issue on stage and risk dragging the band into ruin. Despite this, he still plans to continue making music, more so in a seated capacity at home or for the internet. He mentioned having a few songs in the pipeline as well. Voß has been contributing to his pension and wishes to travel the world with his wife. In addition to their living arrangements, Voß is currently working on customizing their motorhome for upcoming trips to Portugal. Although he claims to be „all-day capable,“ he no longer wants to engage in the high energy stage performances that once characterized Torfrock's live shows.