Links für 2023 KW 45
Zusammengefasst von LlongOrca.
NousResearch/Yarn-Mistral-7b-128k · Hugging Face:
Nous-Yarn-Mistral-7b-128k is a state-of-the-art language model pretrained on long context data for 1500 steps using the YaRN extension method. It is an extension of Mistral-7B-v0.1 and supports a 128k token context window.
01-ai/Yi-34B-200K · Hugging Face:
The article discusses Yi series models, a set of large language models developed by 01.AI that are trained from scratch. These models have base versions with parameter sizes of 6 billion (Yi-6B) and 34 billion (Yi-34B), which can be extended to 32K during inference time. The latest public release includes Yi-6B-200K and Yi-34B-200K with a 200K context length. It highlights the performance of various models on different tasks, such as language understanding, math, reading comprehension, reasoning, and more. The article also emphasizes that while benchmarking open-source models, there might be differences in reported results due to variations in prompts, post-processing strategies, and sampling techniques. Lastly, the usage of Yi series models is allowed for academic research and free commercial purposes with permission, under the Model License Agreement 2.0.
car-right-to-repair/ohne Paywall:
The article discusses how car dealerships are losing potential customers due to car manufacturers disabling some of their own software in response to a state law that aims to let people share their car's wireless repair information with any service shop, not just the authorized dealer. Subaru and Kia have turned off remote access features in new vehicles in the state. The article also touches on the implications of this situation on data control in modern vehicles, such as potential manipulation of information by manufacturers or repair shops.
Rats have an imagination, new research suggests:
Researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus have discovered that animals possess an imagination similar to humans. A team developed a virtual reality and brain-machine interface system to explore the rat's thoughts and found they could think about places and objects not in front of them, recalling remote locations and even moving items to specific spots using their thoughts. This discovery shows that rats, like humans, have an imagination and can activate specific neural activity patterns related to spatial memory in the hippocampus region of their brain.
Oregon Decriminalized Hard Drugs. It Isn't Working:
The conversation on Hacker News about the decriminalization of hard drugs in Oregon is centered around the perceived failures of the implementation of Measure 110. The measure, which passed in 2020, decriminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. It also aimed to fund treatment with $300 million from cannabis taxes.
Critics argue that the measure has not been successful due to a lack of proper support structures and procedures in place to mitigate the problems that arise from decriminalization. They point out that Oregon took years to decide who to give the treatment money to, and only started funding treatment last year. This, they say, led to a situation where drug use was ignored for a couple of years, as police didn't write tickets due to the lack of treatment options.
Supporters of the measure, on the other hand, argue that the problem is not with decriminalization itself, but with the way it was implemented. They point out that the rollout has been slow and that the state has not yet set up the necessary support structures. They also argue that decriminalization has led to a reduction in the burden on the court system, with the state saving about $40 million over the first three years.
The conversation also touches on the issue of public drug use. Due to the decriminalization of hard drugs, Oregon has no law against public drug use, leaving this issue to cities and counties. If they don't have such a law, public drug use is essentially legal, as police used to rely on possession to stop it.
In conclusion, the debate on Hacker News is ongoing, with some arguing that the measure is a failure due to its implementation, while others argue that it is too soon to make a judgment and that the state needs to properly set up the support structures and procedures to make it successful.
Debunking the Myth of “Anonymous” Data:
This article discusses how digital records of people's lives are being collected and used without their knowledge or consent, primarily for profit. It highlights that even when corporations claim to de-identify personal data or aggregate it, such information can often be re-identified and can still have implications on user privacy. The article emphasizes the importance of ensuring consent from individuals before collecting and using their personal information.
This article provides a guide on using a website to find private or deleted YouTube videos if you have their link. It advises copying and pasting the link into the provided box, clicking „Search for Captures,“ and then waiting patiently as the service queries its sources. Once completed, the results will show whether or not the video was found along with any helpful information. The article also mentions the importance of metadata in searching for videos and provides contact details for asking questions or seeking further help.
The Timeshare Comes for Us All:
The article discusses the author's experience with a timeshare presentation at a Hilton Grand Vacations resort in Hawaii. It highlights the high-pressure sales tactics employed by the company and provides insights into the business model of timeshares, including maintenance fees and perpetuity clauses that can cause financial hardship for owners. The article also shares tips on how to avoid being scammed by timeshare companies and suggests alternative vacation options.
Suits ignored IT’s warnings, so the tech team throttled them:
On Call Friday is a reader-contributed series that shares tech support incidents from frontline workers. In this story, „Bruce“ recounts how he and his team used their technical knowledge to manipulate the internet connection of their bank's executives in order to get approval for an additional ISDN line to handle increased traffic due to growing internet banking demands. After a month of throttling their connections, they finally got the new line approved and installed, solving the issue at hand while also teaching the execs a lesson on the importance of fast internet connectivity.
BitTorrent Pirates Won't Receive ISP Warnings (It Will Be Something Worse) * TorrentFreak:
The Dutch anti-piracy group BREIN attempted to reach alleged BitTorrent pirates by monitoring BitTorrent swarms and identifying IP addresses sharing content frequently or long-term, then matching them to local ISPs, with the goal of changing their behavior. However, when targeting Ziggo, the largest ISP in the Netherlands, they were denied cooperation on privacy grounds due to the implementation of GDPR in the Netherlands. The court ruled that without obtaining permission from the data protection authority, the law didn't allow Ziggo to comply with BREIN's request. In March 2023, BREIN announced it would not appeal the decision and will adopt a tit-for-tat policy, identifying major or frequent infringers and holding them accountable for their actions.
How to Boss Without Being Bossy – Holy Ghost Stories:
The article discusses the challenge of being an effective leader without coming off as bossy. It suggests that while most of what leaders do involves directing team members, communication is key in ensuring clarity and respect. Different command forms can be used depending on context, with imperatives like „Do this“ often the harshest, and more polite options like „Would you mind taking out the trash?“ being gentler but still clear. The article encourages leaders to experiment with different command styles to find what works best for them and their team.
Perfectly legal for cars to harvest your texts, call logs:
The Washington appeals court ruled that Honda and other automakers did not violate privacy laws by storing text messages and call records from connected smartphones in their vehicles. The class-action lawsuits against these companies were dismissed earlier this year, as the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit decided to uphold their dismissal. The judges stated that the claims did not meet the Washington Privacy Act's statutory injury requirements. While privacy concerns may exist over data extraction by third-party software like Berla Corporation, it was determined that there wasn't sufficient evidence of actual harm in these cases to proceed with litigation. The Honda case and others involving Toyota, Volkswagen, and General Motors were dismissed with prejudice, but further appeals could be possible.
GitHub - Ghvstcode/Rust-Tcp: Implementing TCP In Rust(WIP):
This article introduces a book called „Implementing TCP in Rust,“ which walks readers through the process of implementing the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) within the programming language Rust. The author, who was inspired by Jon Gjengset's live stream on building a TCP stack in Rust, wanted to create a more accessible version for those who prefer reading and doing over watching. The book covers the basics of network programming and provides practical knowledge in Rust while emphasizing the importance of understanding protocols that power the internet.
Monaspace is a new type system that advances the state of the art for displaying code on screens. This innovation offers a more expressive palette for code and the tools developers use to work with it. Included in this superfamily are fonts that provide ligatures for various programming languages, organized into stylistic sets that users can enable or disable according to their preferences. Monaspace also features texture healing, which evens out the density of monospaced type, bringing it closer to how proportional type has looked for centuries. The result is a more visually appealing and legible code display for developers.
The article discusses a viral video claiming that the Black Plague had a lot to do with cats and how it spread misinformation about medieval history. According to the cat video, religious leaders in the fourteenth century labeled cats as evil and caused a mass cull of them across Europe. However, this is not accurate since there are no historical documents that support this claim. Cats were actually highly valued in medieval times for their ability to hunt mice and prevent damage to valuable manuscripts. The author also debunks the idea that witch panics were a feature of medieval society by emphasizing that people often did not follow the dictates of the Church. Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the Black Death, is spread by fleas on rats and not directly by rats themselves. The article concludes with a request to avoid spreading misinformation about medieval history through false claims about cats and the Black Plague.
Link-time optimization (LTO) has evolved significantly over the years. Today, there are multiple dimensions of LTO that differ across compilers and linkers. This living guide aims to cover various aspects of LTO encountered thus far and will be continuously updated as new information emerges. LTO's goal is improved runtime performance through whole-program analysis and cross-module optimizations.
In the default workflow without LTO, each unit of source code is compiled separately into object files for the target architecture. With LTO, the output of compilation is an internal representation (IR) instead of machine code. The linking stage then performs a complex optimization process on the whole program, allowing further optimizations such as removing unused symbols and inlining functions from other units.
Various features and variants of LTO exist, including basic LTO, parallel LTO, unified LTO, fat LTO objects, distributed build support, symbol visibility, and linker caching. Toolchains continue to offer new strategies for improving the efficiency of LTO processes, such as using machine code and IR files in object files.
Canonical documents how to use Snaps without the Snap Store:
The article discusses debunking some myths about Ubuntu's Snap packaging format, such as it being entirely closed source or restricted to Canonical control. During the Ubuntu Summit in Rga, Latvia, the Reg FOSS desk talked with Ubuntu developer advocate Igor Ljubuncic about Snap, and addressed other fallacies surrounding it. The article provides information on distributing without the Store, installing without assertions, running Snaps without snapd, proxying and caching Snap packages, running your own Snap Store, and controlling snapd's built-in update mechanism.
The 20 Farming Families Who Use More Water From the Colorado River Than Some Western States:
The article discusses how the Colorado River, an essential source of water for tens of millions of people and farmlands across the Southwest United States, is facing a significant issue due to its dwindling supply. The agricultural industry has been using the river as its largest source of water, with California's Imperial Irrigation District having some of the earliest claims and the biggest access to this resource. This district provides farmers with cheap water from the shrinking river, leading to potential problems in water management.
The article highlights that as the federal government considers paying more than half a billion dollars to the irrigation district and its farmers to use less water, questions have been raised about who exactly benefits from this vast supply of water and how it is used. The researchers utilized satellite data combined with records on field ownership to estimate for the first time the exact beneficiaries of the water allocation and their usage patterns.
The investigation found that 20 farming families are responsible for most of the district's use of the Colorado River, with some using an estimated 260,000 acre-feet—more than the entire Las Vegas metropolitan area consumes. However, it is important to note that although these figures are estimates, they closely match the total water deliveries reported by the Imperial Irrigation District and have been deemed reliable and sound by experts in the field.
The article raises concerns about this unequal distribution of water resources and the lack of accountability for those who consume the most water. It emphasizes that as global warming continues to reduce the Colorado River's supply, tough decisions will need to be made to save it, possibly by ending farming in desert areas like Imperial Valley or shifting it to other parts of the country with more available water sources.
First-Time Dog Owner: Training Tips:
This article provides seven essential tips for first-time dog owners embarking on their journey to train and develop a strong bond with their new furry companion. The tips include socialization, focusing on fundamental commands such as „sit,“ „stay,“ and „come“; setting the right tone for proper behavior; avoiding punishment or negative reinforcement; crate training; practicing patience; and maintaining consistency throughout the dog's life. By following these guidelines, new pet owners can establish a successful, positive relationship with their dog while also ensuring the best possible environment for their pet to thrive in.
termination - Terminating an employee with a bus factor of 1 - The Workplace Stack Exchange:
The original poster is asking for advice on how to deal with a problematic employee with a bus factor of 1, who holds critical knowledge and has an unwelcome attitude. Several potential solutions are discussed, such as hiring a replacement, immediately terminating the employee, setting a task for the employee to document their knowledge, hiring a contracting firm to work with the employee for knowledge transfer, terminating the employee and having other technical staff take over, and holding out until the system is stable before terminating the employee.
A few recommendations include considering hiring a complementary staff member, working out issues with the employee instead of firing them, and potentially turning the employee into a consultant post-termination. It's important to note that the employer-employee relationship appears strained, and various legal, ethical, and practical considerations should be taken into account when deciding on a course of action.
Omegle Was Forced to Shut Down by a Lawsuit From a Sexual Abuse Survivor:
Omegle, a video and text chat website that connected strangers to communicate, was forced to shut down due to legal mediation with a female user who sued the company. The plaintiff claimed that Omegle's design enabled her to be sexually abused through the platform. In response, Omegle reached a settlement with the user and permanently closed its service.
The article discusses the trend of businesses in tech blindly following each other without necessarily considering their own specific needs or circumstances, resulting in a lemming-like behavior. The author cites examples such as mass layoffs and return to office (RTO) policies being adopted by companies solely because others are doing so, illustrating the power of trends in shaping industry practices. This phenomenon has also been observed in tech infrastructure decisions, with businesses frequently choosing specific tools or services simply because they're popular among their peers.
Faster compilation with the parallel front-end in nightly | Rust Blog:
The Rust compiler's front-end has now adopted parallel execution capabilities, which significantly reduce compile times. To try this feature in a nightly compiler, use the -Z threads=8 option. This innovation is currently experimental and aims for inclusion in the stable compiler by 2024. Parallelism within each process allows Rust users to benefit from three kinds of parallelism in their programs. The introduction of interprocess parallelism, intraprocess parallelism, and now the front-end parallelism has been significant for improvements in compile times, memory usage, and binary size.
Microsoft krallt sich Zugangsdaten: Achtung vor dem neuen Outlook:
New Outlook has attracted caution due to data transfer risks. Microsoft is encouraging users to switch, potentially leading to IMAP and SMTP data being transferred to their servers. The new Outlook is still in development and will replace Mail and the built-in calendar in Windows around 2024. It currently supports Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and IMAP accounts. The risks include potential privacy concerns and lack of information on data transfer.
Geheime Liste: Wie der Sicherheitsapparat die Chatkontrolle prägt:
The EU's ePrivacy Regulation, also known as the Chat Control, has been criticized for being shaped by a one-sided group of experts that mainly favored expanding indiscriminate mass surveillance and were against end-to-end encryption. The list of experts included few from academia, non-governmental organizations, and industry with representatives from tech giants Microsoft and Google. Critics argue there were too few experts in the field of digital rights and too many representatives of organizations with ties to governmental and private surveillance interests.
What I learned getting acquired by Google:
This article describes the acquisition of Socratic by Google in 2018 and how the former CEO integrated the camera-based homework helper app into the latter's products. The author shares his experience working at Google, highlighting key aspects such as its unique corporate culture, the importance of playing the „Google game,“ and navigating internal hierarchies. He also discusses the challenges he faced in building an AI-powered tutor and integrating it into various Google products. The article concludes by addressing the mixed success of Socratic's acquisition and the pursuits of its former team members.
Rust, a programming language known for its safety and reliability, has been gaining popularity among technology leaders such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Despite its maturing ecosystem, many companies value productivity, stability, and long-term maintainability over performance when considering its use in production settings. Rust offers benefits like cost savings, low runtime overhead, improved developer experience, and long-term sustainability for businesses looking to leverage it in their software projects. However, it also comes with challenges such as the steep learning curve, immature ecosystem, and slow compile times. The decision to adopt Rust depends on companies carefully considering its benefits against specific requirements.
The price of olive oil soars, and thieves go after century-old trees in the Mediterranean:
In Athens, criminals are stealing olive trees due to surging prices for olive oil, caused in part by two years of drought in Spain and subsequent global market disruption. Increasing thefts include warehouse break-ins, product dilution, and fraudulent shipping data. Greek farmers hope to reinstate a rural police division phased out in 2010, while Italian growers seek the creation of an agriculture division within their local police force.
Every story in the world has one of these six basic plots:
Researchers have identified six story types by analyzing over 1700 novels using text-mining techniques. These six story shapes can be found in more than 1700 English novels and include Rags to Riches, Riches to Rags, Icarus, Oedipus, Cinderella, and Man in a Hole. The researchers at Washington State University and the University of Vermont's Computational Story Lab applied sentiment analysis to plot mood changes over time in these novels, revealing emotional narratives behind them. These story types can be used to study more complex stories and shed light on various literary works.
Sonnensystem: Saturnringe für astronomische Beobachtung fast unsichtbar:
The article discusses the decreasing visibility of Saturn's rings for those using simple telescopes over the next two years. In 2023, the rings will still be easily visible but their appearance will change as Earth’s viewing angle alters from an almost direct perspective to a more sideways approach. By around 2025, Saturn's rings will nearly disappear for observers on Earth. As of now, the rings are approximately 140,000 kilometers in diameter and only about 90-400 meters thick, appearing as thin bands when viewed from the side. The tilt of Saturn's ring system toward the Earth's viewing axis is currently around nine degrees; it will be near zero degrees by 2025, making it virtually indistinguishable from other planets. Sightings of the rings will gradually increase over time, reaching a maximum tilt of 27 degrees in about 300 million years when most of the rings will have evaporated due to the moons' consumption of material on their orbits. Saturn has the highest number of natural satellites in our solar system, raising debates as to whether it is a true gas giant or not.
Apple insists 8GB unified memory equals 16GB regular RAM:
Apple is facing criticism for providing limited RAM in its iMac and MacBooks, but it claims that Apple Silicon uses memory more efficiently due to the Unified Memory Architecture (UMA). This design change allows memory to be accessed faster as it's hard-wired into the processor. While some users argue that Apple provides less RAM compared to other systems, Apple vice president Bob Borchers states that 8GB on an M3 MacBook Pro is equivalent to 16GB on others, and that it can be used more efficiently. Despite this, there are professional workflows that require additional RAM for peak performance.
After luring customers with low prices, Amazon stuffs Fire TVs with ads:
In an effort to increase revenue, Amazon is planning to implement several changes to the Fire TV interface aimed at placing ads prominently within its software. These changes include displaying ads on search queries, banner ads appearing on the home screen, and contextual sponsored tiles using machine learning to display ads based on users' browsing history. While these updates may generate advertising dollars for Amazon, they could also jeopardize customer satisfaction and potentially undermine user experience.
Nations That Vowed to Halt Warming Are Expanding Fossil Fuels, Report Finds:
The world is on track to produce more oil, gas, and coal than would be consistent with relatively safe levels of heating, according to a new United Nations-backed report. In 2030, if current projections hold, the US will drill for more oil and gas than at any point in its history. Russia and Saudi Arabia are also planning to do the same. Together, these fossil fuel giants are set to produce twice the amount of fossil fuels as a critical global warming threshold allows this decade. The report found that nations plan to keep increasing coal production until 2030 and oil and gas production decades beyond that. This means the world remains on track to produce around 110% more oil, gas, and coal through 2030 than would be allowable if governments wanted to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Microservices aren't the problem. Incompetent people are:
Microservices aren't a problem in and of themselves; rather, it's the lack of engineering competence and a „giving a shit“ culture that can lead to complex systems that nobody can efficiently work on. The software engineering world is incredibly hype-driven, with new technologies often adopted without fully understanding them. This can result in an emphasis on the new technology over experience and quality, leading to problems down the line. To address this issue, companies should focus on investing in education and mentorship for their employees, promoting a culture that values engineering competence and encourages innovation within reason.
Microsoft won’t let you close OneDrive on Windows until you explain yourself:
Microsoft has implemented a new feature in its OneDrive for Windows app, requiring users to select a reason for closing the app from a drop-down box before it allows them to do so. This action is aimed at understanding user behavior and providing better services. Options include reasons such as wanting OneDrive to run only when needed or not knowing what OneDrive is. Users can close OneDrive by ending its task through Task Manager if desired.
Omegle is a website that was launched by 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks when he was still living with his parents. The platform enables users to randomly chat with others online in an anonymous environment, allowing people to meet new people and engage in conversations. Over the years, Omegle has been a tool for exploring foreign cultures, seeking advice, and alleviating feelings of loneliness and isolation. However, it also attracted misuse, such as criminal activity. Despite its positive impacts, Leif K-Brooks announced that he could no longer sustain the site financially or psychologically due to ongoing attacks on it.
A city library in Gothenburg experienced a unique incident when it was accidentally left open on All Saints Day, a day it should have been closed. Despite the mistake, around 446 visitors entered the building to borrow books or read newspapers. While some realized the library was technically closed and left, others did not. The City Library later thanked its visitors for their well-behaved visits, highlighting that libraries are more than just buildings - they serve as cornerstones of community, education, and trust.
Validating with an XML schema in Python:
To validate an XML file against an XSD in Python, you can use the lxml library to parse both the XML file and XSD.
Validating XML with Python: A Step-by-Step Guide:
XML nodes serve as the building blocks of XML documents, consisting of elements, attributes, or text nodes. In Python, there are two primary methods for validating these nodes: using the built-in xml.etree.ElementTree module or an external XML schema. The ElementTree module offers functions like find(), findall(), and get() to validate nodes, while XML schemas define the structure and content of XML documents, allowing them to be validated through methods like .validate().
„Transitions“ is an open-source Python library that provides a lightweight and object-oriented state machine implementation. It allows you to manage states within your application models, enabling complex state management with transitions between different states. The library supports various features such as callbacks, conditions, queued transitions, diagrams for visual representation of the state machine, hierarchical state machines, threading, async callbacks, and more.
The GitHub page includes a comprehensive documentation that explains how to use the library, provides examples, and details on each feature it offers. It also mentions extensions like Django integration for using „transitions“ with the popular Python web framework.
Kommentar: Die analoge Verwaltung als tickende Zeitbombe:
In this article, the author criticizes the slow and inefficient progress of digitalization in German administration and justice. He argues that the current state of digitalization threatens to paralyze the entire country and highlights how politics have been neglectful and inattentive towards the issue. The lack of attention has resulted in numerous failed or stagnant projects such as the new personal ID card (nPA), E-prescriptions, electronic patient files (ePA), and specialized electronic lawyer mailboxes (beA). Furthermore, the author criticizes Germany's reliance on fax technology for communication with certain administrative bodies and the recent decision to cut funding for digitalization. The article calls for immediate action in order to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Elektrisch steuerbar: Dieser Transistor schaltet Wärmefluss:
A team of researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles has developed a heat transistor that can control its thermal conductivity according to applied voltage. The transistor is made from three layers and includes an organic middle layer called Carboranethiol (9-SH-o-C2B10H11). When a voltage is applied, the strength of the bonds between atoms changes, and this affects how heat can pass through the material. Although specific applications for this discovery were not provided, potential uses include processors, heating and cooling systems in buildings, or even batteries with variable thermal conductivity to keep them functional both in winter and summer.
OLG Köln: Cloudflare haftet bei Urheberrechtsverletzungen als Täter:
The Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Cologne has ruled that CDN provider Cloudflare must block access to an illegally downloaded copyrighted music album through a third party. The court found that Cloudflare, as the operator of a content delivery network (CDN), is not only liable for transmitting the content but also as an infringer and not just as a hoster. This decision strengthens protection of intellectual property on the internet and may have implications for other CDN providers in future cases regarding copyright infringements.
Analysten zu Videostreaming: Abonnenten sollen in Werbeabos gelockt werden:
Many streaming services are introducing advertisement-supported subscriptions, including Disney and Netflix, to attract as many customers as possible. These advertisement-supported subscriptions allow companies to increase their revenue without raising prices. Disney CEO Bob Iger has stated that the price strategy for Disney+ is designed to acquire more subscribers for its ad-supported subscription. In Germany, Disney and Netflix already provide ad-supported subscriptions, with Amazon set to follow suit in early 2024. These advertisement-supported options are expected to be less affected by price increases compared to their ad-free counterparts, potentially leading more subscribers to switch to the ad-supported option when the cost of the ad-free version becomes too high.
The problem isn’t inflation. It’s prices.:
The article discusses how people are experiencing sticker shock with higher prices for goods as inflation remains high but starts to decrease in the United States. The economy is doing well, but many Americans still think it's in bad shape, primarily because they dislike paying more for things than before. Prices might not be going down en masse, but they are not increasing as rapidly as in previous years. Inflation has been slowed by the Fed's interest rate hikes, which have also led to higher costs for consumers such as buying a house or car and paying credit card bills. Some prices have come down from their peak, but it is unlikely that they will return to pre-pandemic levels. Deflation is not considered favorable by economists due to its potential impact on the economy. In conclusion, life in 2023 is characterized by higher prices that have become a new normal, and people might need to adjust their expectations accordingly.
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This article discusses an experimental social movement called „The Third Wave,“ created by California high school teacher Ron Jones in 1967. The experiment aimed to demonstrate how the German population could have accepted the actions of the Nazi regime during World War II. Over the course of five days, Jones conducted a series of exercises emphasizing discipline and community, modeled after certain characteristics of the Nazi movement. The project eventually spiraled out of control, leading to an unintended lesson in fascism for the students.
The experiment has been adapted into various forms of media, such as documentaries, dramatizations, and stage plays.
This article discusses a randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of time-restricted eating (TRE) with daily calorie restriction (CR) for weight reduction and glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that TRE was more effective for weight loss and lowering HbA1c levels compared to CR without causing any serious adverse events. However, larger RCTs with longer follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.
ridding-the-berlin-subway-graph-database-adventure-with-memgraph-lab:
This article demonstrates how to use Memgraph Lab and graph databases to analyze relationships in data using the Berlin subway system as an example. It covers importing CSV files into Memgraph, visualizing nodes (stations) and relationships (lines connecting them) with Cypher queries, applying algorithms like weighted shortest path for finding connections between nodes, and styling graphs for better understanding. The article also explains how to identify common stations between specific lines or find the shortest path between two stations. It encourages further exploration of graph databases beyond subway systems.
The MyQ integration will be removed from Home Assistant in release 2023.12 on December 6, 2023 due to continuous issues caused by MyQ blocking access for third-party apps. Chamberlain Group has stated they want to provide the best experience for their users and prioritize authorized partners. Home Assistant recommends using ratgdo as an alternative solution that physically connects to the garage door opener, offering local control and additional features.
Banning End-to-End Encryption is Stupid:
Various lawmakers from different countries are proposing to require messaging services, such as Signal and WhatsApp, to provide a mechanism for law enforcement to decrypt end-to-end encrypted messages. This type of legislation fundamentally misunderstands how easy it is for bad people to build their own encryption layers on top of existing messaging systems.
Criminals can easily create or purchase an extra layer of encryption, enabling them to exchange unreadable messages. The proposed requirement would weaken overall security by introducing vulnerabilities into legitimate services. If a backdoor exists and is exploited by authorized users, it will likely be abused by malicious individuals as well.
To demonstrate this point, a repository was created containing a simple tool that enables the sending of end-to-end encrypted messages over any messaging service using 186 lines of code and taking about an hour to write. The tool allows users to exchange messages securely without compromising the integrity of existing communication methods.
In conclusion, imposing such regulations on messaging services would do more harm than good by providing opportunities for malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in legitimate systems. Instead, policymakers should focus on promoting strong encryption practices and supporting secure communication platforms.
Europe prepares to break browser security with eIDAS 2.0:
Lawmakers in Europe are set to adopt eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services) 2.0, a digital identity rules legislation which has been criticized by civil society groups for potentially making the internet less secure and increasing online surveillance risks. The new rules require browser makers to trust government-approved Certificate Authorities (CA), limiting their ability to take countermeasures against misuse or interception of encrypted traffic. Critics argue that this could enable governments to intercept and decrypt HTTPS traffic, potentially violating citizens' privacy.
10 hard-to-swallow truths they won't tell you about software engineer job:
The article discusses the reality of software engineering jobs for fresh graduates and highlights some harsh realities they might not be prepared for. These include college not preparing them enough for the job, rarely working on greenfield projects, receiving little praise for clean code, dealing with incompetent colleagues, spending hours in meetings, encountering bugs constantly, coping with uncertainty, and struggling to disconnect from work. The article also emphasizes the importance of good soft skills compared to technical skills, as well as some benefits of working in software engineering.
Chamberlain blocks smart garage door opener from working with smart homes:
Chamberlain Group, the owner of major garage door opener brands like LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Merlin, and Grifco, has issued a statement condemning „unauthorized usage“ of its smart garage door openers through third-party apps. Home Assistant blog reveals that Chamberlain has been sabotaging support for myQ integration in the popular open-source platform. The decision appears to be related to displaying ads and upselling customers on services, which customers can avoid by using third-party apps or a circuit board called „ratgdo.“
antidepressantsortolkien.vercel.app:
This is a game where you have to guess if a work is a Tolkien character or an antidepressant.
Stop making every conversation about yourself. Be more private. Think more speak less:
The article discusses how the author realized they were trying too hard to agree or disagree with people in conversations, focusing more on their experiences rather than genuinely engaging with others. They also mention the importance of finding a calm and quiet center within oneself for true happiness, which can lead to having only true friends who align with one's values. The article emphasizes the need to be mindful when sharing information and stories with others in order to avoid oversharing or creating negative impressions.
Go, Containers, and the Linux Scheduler:
This article explains how to manage Go applications running in containers with CPU limits to avoid high latency issues caused by garbage collection and Linux scheduler limitations. Setting the GOMAXPROCS environment variable appropriately can help ensure that the runtime is aware of the CPU quota, leading to more efficient performance.
Article 45 Will Roll Back Web Security by 12 Years:
eIDAS 2.0, a new regulation by the EU, contains Article 45 that may lead to privacy concerns. This article allows certificate authorities (CAs), which can be operated by governments, to monitor encrypted traffic, potentially leading to widespread government surveillance. Browser makers will likely have to create two versions of their software to accommodate this regulation, echoing a similar situation from 2011 when cryptography export controls led to the release of weak cryptography for some users. This may set back web security significantly. Article 45 could ban enforcement of Certificate Transparency, an essential measure to detect misconduct within CAs, further increasing the risk of government surveillance. The eIDAS 2.0 text is not finalized but will be discussed behind closed doors on November 8th.
The trouble with ingredients in sunscreens | EWG's Guide to Sunscreens:
This article discusses the concerns surrounding sunscreen ingredients and their potential long-term health effects on users. The FDA has proposed that only two ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, can be classified as safe and effective based on current data. Other sunscreen ingredients, such as oxybenzone, have been linked to hormone disruption and other health concerns. The article highlights the need for additional safety testing and restrictions on some chemicals used in sunscreens, as well as the importance of investigating the safety of all sunscreen ingredients.
Tiny Turbocharged Race Engine Doesn't Need Gas Or Diesel To Make 410 HP:
Automakers are increasingly investing in electric vehicles, with billions of dollars being poured into the electric revolution. Governments are also supporting the shift to cleaner transportation through subsidies and tax breaks, as well as bans on combustion engines. Despite this focus on battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), hydrogen technology remains attractive to many companies like AVL, which recently revealed a new prototype hydrogen combustion race engine that generates 410 horsepower. AVL's hydrogen combustion engine concept features port fuel injection injecting water into the intake air, effectively eliminating unwanted premature ignition and delivering stoichiometric combustion for higher performance figures. The company plans to further test this technology in vehicles on race tracks after its successful development.
“I cannot wait to possess you”: Reading 18th-century letters for the first time:
University of Cambridge historian Renaud Morieux discovered a collection of three piles of sealed letters addressed to 18th-century French sailors from their loved ones at the National Archives in Kew, London. The letters were seized by Great Britain's Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). Morieux analyzed these personal messages, finding them relatable to universal human experiences and similar to how people cope with life challenges today, using Zoom and WhatsApp. The letters showcased the daily lives of shipmen and their families during the war period.
How a 'Refund Fraud' Gang Stole $700,000 From Amazon:
The article discusses how the U.S. government has indicted alleged members of a criminal group involved in „refund fraud“ on a massive scale. The scheme involves ordering an item, receiving it, and then using various tricks to get money back from retailers like Walmart. The criminals sell the items online and take a fee for their services. The indictment reveals some specifics about „Did Not Arrive“ or DNA scams methods, which can be simple and discussed openly on platforms like Reddit, Discord, hacking forums, and Telegram. The article explains that refund fraud is part of a larger ecosystem of lying to online retailers in both straightforward and sophisticated ways.
Why only 1% of the Snowden Archive will ever be published | Computer Weekly:
In an interview with Computer Weekly, Ewen MacAskill discussed the Snowden files ten years after meeting Edward Snowden in Hong Kong. Computer Weekly uncovered new facts from the archive, reviving debate about why it has not been published. MacAskill believes there is a case for keeping the documents for future generations of historians and that journalists could have done more to expose the mass-surveillance state's threat to democracy.
This article discusses why banks often close customer accounts without any apparent reason or notification to customers. The author explains that this issue is rooted in structural problems within bank systems, such as a lack of object permanence and poor recordkeeping practices. Additionally, the tiered support model for banks adds complexity to these issues. The author suggests that improvements in technology, consolidation, external partnerships, and regulatory changes could help address these challenges in the future.
Datenschutzgutachten: Doctolib mahnt Marktkonkurrenten ab:
The German medical appointment booking platform Doctolib has warned competitors who rely on criticisms of its data protection practices, according to privacy expert Thilo Weichert in his latest report on the company. Organizations that continue to refer to Doctolib's criticism after submitting a cease-and-desist notice should be subject to damages of 50,000 euros plus attorney fees of approximately €2700. Weichert says, „In the entire warning, no single fact presented in these reports is refuted. It limits itself to disputing the legal assessments made by the network without proving these assessments.“
Doctolib claims to have collected health data from 80 million patients after amassing a database of around 340,000 medical professionals and operating its own website. Weichert accuses the company in multiple reports of acting illegally with its services and causing healthcare institutions to violate patient privacy. This erodes the doctor-patient confidentiality and trust between healthcare providers and patients.
Weichert criticizes Doctolib for using warnings against competitors „to suppress discussions about their data protection practices and gain a competitive advantage over them.“ He also accuses the company of not engaging directly with the network of data protection experts. A spokesperson for Doctolib confirmed that there have been „occasional situations“ where they had to take action against unfair competition, such as lowering their prices and defaming Doctolib. This was a legal action under German competition law.
According to Weichert, this has nothing to do with data protection issues. Doctolib argues that it values competition in the healthcare sector and is working for „a diverse ecosystem in the health sector.“ Since starting its operations in Germany, the company says it has been „in regular contact“ with the Berlin data protection authority (BlnBDI): „This exchange is valuable to us and is an integral part of our product development.“
A spokesperson for Doctolib pointed out that the competence lies with the French data protection authority CNIL, using the One-Stop-Shop procedure. When it turns out that there is a functional feature that operates in all countries, CNIL is the lead authority. For example, booking processes are handled by CNIL, which oversees all cross-border processing. While the CNIL handles all border-crossing processing, the Berlin data protection authority is the first point of contact for inquiries from employees, customers, or patients, resulting in a regular exchange with this body.
Kommentar: Microsofts schöne neue Security-Welt:
Microsoft responds to growing criticism with the Secure Future Initiative, but Jürgen Schmidt, Senior Fellow Security at Heise, remains unconvinced. The initiative aims to transform Microsoft's software development practices, implement new identity protection principles, and improve vulnerability response and security updates for its cloud platforms. However, critics argue that the initiative focuses on sales pitches for AI tools and fails to address root causes and long-term strategy.
Open Source Heroes | Showcase Your Contributions to the Community:
Open Source Heroes is an ultimate platform that showcases top-rated open source developers and organizations, enabling users to explore trends in their preferred languages. Users can read or write reviews based on real community feedback while discovering various gems, starters, and themes for different programming languages such as Ruby and Rails.
This article argues against using the term „best practice“ when referring to programming techniques and suggests alternative terms such as Community Pattern, Readability Pattern, Performance Pattern, and Guardrail Pattern. The author explains how these new classifications more accurately describe the purpose of various coding practices and help to avoid confusion among developers.
Ladder is a web proxy designed to bypass paywalls for websites, offering various features such as basic authentication, limited usage, and customization options. It is important to use this tool responsibly, keeping in mind the potential consequences of misusing it.
Maine considers electrifying proposal that would give the boot to corporate electric utilities:
Mainers are planning to vote on a proposal to remove Central Maine Power and Versant Power, two investor-owned utilities distributing 97% of electricity in the state. If passed, it would mark the first time U.S. states' utilities were forcibly removed at once. The referendum calls for dismantling both utilities to replace them with a nonprofit utility called Pine Tree Power, which would operate 28,000 miles of transmission lines. The primary selling point is that the new utility would be beholden only to ratepayers, not corporate shareholders. Critics worry about political bias and legal disputes arising from this proposal.
Noam Chomsky: The five filters of the mass media:
The article discusses Manufacturing Consent, Chomsky's work on mainstream journalism and its role in power mechanisms. The article mentions five filters affecting the media: ownership (corporate profits), advertising (audience as a product for advertisers), establishment control, flak (suppressing dissent), and common enemies (enemies used to manufacture consent).
This article discusses the fast-paced world of web development and how modern frameworks like Angular, VueJS, React, Solid, and Svelte still require knowledge of browser Document Object Model (DOM) APIs to manipulate elements on a webpage. A collection of resources has been assembled for developers to master DOM manipulation with vanilla JavaScript. The article provides examples, live demos, tips, best practices, and real-life use cases, all of which are compatible with modern browsers and even support Internet Explorer.
Why the Binding Arbitration Game Is Rigged against Customers:
A new study confirms that mandatory arbitration systems, which require customers to surrender their right to sue and submit their grievances to a private arbitrator, are biased against consumers. Corporations have a significant information advantage in selecting arbitrators who favor them over consumers. The average award to customers would be $50,000 higher if the arbitrators were selected randomly. To help level the playing field, consumers should hire experienced arbitration attorneys or band together with other consumers with similar grievances.
Debian discusses vendoring—again:
The article discusses the challenges faced by Debian in packaging applications like Greenbone Security Assistant (gsa) that have numerous dependencies from the npm repository and JavaScript libraries. Raphal Hertzog, the maintainer of gsa, proposed three potential solutions to overcome this issue but all were met with different opinions. Jonas Smedegaard suggested analyzing which packages are needed by gsa and either using existing Debian packages or creating new ones for those that are not available. Praveen believed in a mix of vendoring (bundling) for ultra-specific dependencies and creating packages for more generally useful modules as the way forward.
The discussion highlighted the difficulties faced by Debian in keeping up with changes in other ecosystems, potentially leaving out useful applications. The article concludes that this issue will continue to be a concern for Debian and the Linux distribution community, prompting ongoing debates over possible solutions.
PEP 313 – Adding Roman Numeral Literals to Python:
The Python Enhancement Proposal (PEP) CCCXIII proposed adding Roman numerals as a literal type and introducing a new built-in function „roman.“ While most users found this a nice-to-have feature, there was no consensus on how to represent numbers like nine or years such as 1990. The PEP also faced requests for support for lower-cased numerals in specific contexts. Unfortunately, it has been rejected due to disagreements among users and lack of consensus.
In a cameras-everywhere culture, science fiction becomes reality:
Science fiction author David Brin predicts a future where tiny cameras are everywhere, monitoring and predicting human behavior, leading to questions of surveillance and accountability. The article discusses how cheap technology has made everyone into potential watchers, with examples such as GoPro cameras, home security systems, police body cams, and more. There are now 245 million surveillance cameras worldwide, increasing by 15% annually. As these technologies evolve, artificial intelligence is being used to analyze vast amounts of video data. However, there are concerns about privacy and the lack of well-defined legal structures to govern surveillance practices.
Who falls for fake news? Psychological and clinical profiling evidence of fake news consumers:
„Who falls for fake news? Psychological and clinical profiling evidence of fake news consumers“ by Álex Escolà-Gascón et al. The study aimed to investigate the psychological and psychopathological profiles that characterize fake news consumption among a sample of volunteers from the general population with no previous psychiatric history.
The research found that individuals who are better at detecting online fake news have lower levels of symptoms related to disorders such as anxiety, negative affect, histrionism, schizotypy, paranoia, narcissism, simulations (Barnum Effect), suggestibility, and search for emotions compared to those who do not effectively detect fake news. The study also highlighted the importance of promoting critical thinking in social network users as a way to combat fake news consumption.
The authors proposed several clinical recommendations based on their findings, including reducing or recoding the Barnum effect, reinterpreting sensationalism in the media, and fostering critical thinking among individuals who are more suggestible and seek strong emotions. They also suggested that positive psychotic symptomatology, affective mood states, and substance use (addiction risks) were not affected by fake news consumption.
The study had some limitations, including the use of an empiricist cut-off point for organizing groups based on their effectiveness in detecting fake news and the lack of experimental evidence to support certain hypotheses. The sample was also limited to Spanish individuals, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
A truly incredible fact about the number 37:
The article discusses a fact from the book „Those Fascinating Numbers“ by Jean-Marie De Koninck, stating that 37 is the median value for the second prime factor of an integer, and that the probability of choosing a number with a smaller second prime factor than 37 is approximately 1/2. The author shares sage code to test this fact and provides a mathematical proof based on the density of numbers using the Sieve of Eratosthenes.
This article discusses the challenge of managing vast amounts of data created by workers daily. It highlights that search engines do not solve corporate information problems, as they cannot handle duplication issues and lack essential links. The focus of the article is on a system called Johnny.Decimal, which enables users to organize, sort, and manage data more efficiently. By using simple two-digit numbers with decimal points and counters for each item or category, Johnny.Decimal helps in locating files and folders quickly and easily without relying on complex folder structures. The article also provides various ways to use Johnny.Decimal to categorize and organize physical objects, making it a versatile and effective data management system.
You Paid $1,000 for an iPhone, but Apple Still Controls It:
Apple has increasingly implemented software control over its iPhones since 2017, leading to difficulties in third-party repairs. New iPhones are coded with serial numbers for original components and may malfunction if parts are replaced. Since 2016, the rate of parts causing breakdowns has risen about 20% annually. Apple's grip on repairs encourages customers to use its stores or authorized repair centers at higher costs. This issue raises questions about sustainability and whether Apple could improve carbon emissions by lowering repair costs.
Globalisation is a far, far bigger deal than you think:
This article discusses Brandauer, a factory in Birmingham, and how it contributes to the global economy through its specialization in pressing super-thin metals into micron-accurate pieces for various products. The factory produces components for items such as dental floss cutters, pacemakers, N95 face masks, and rearview mirror electrodes. Brandauer's production of these components is essential to many industries but often goes unnoticed by the public. This case demonstrates how a specific skill can become an important part of the global economy, with a small number of companies dominating the market for certain goods or parts. It also emphasizes the interconnectedness and complexity of today's world, as products are often composed of numerous inputs from different countries. The factory serves as a microcosm of the modern globalized economy, where division of labor and specialization play a significant role in efficiency and cost reduction, while also presenting potential risk due to its dependency on international trade and collaboration.
Before-and-after photos of Greenland glaciers reveal decades of change | CNN:
Climate scientist Laura Larocca and her team analyzed old aerial photographs of Greenland's coastline dating back to the 1930s, using them in combination with satellite images from today. Their study found that Greenland’s glaciers have been retreating at an alarming rate, twice as fast since the turn of the century compared to the previous one. The Arctic has also warmed four times faster than the rest of the world over recent decades, resulting in potential „dramatic“ consequences for sea level rise.
Felix' Blog - GitHub Actions are a Problem:
The article discusses the issues with GitHub-Actions (GHA) and its closed-source nature, emphasizing that many of these problems cannot be addressed by modifying behavior alone. The author explains that they started porting their team's Azure-Devops pipelines to GHA and are still not done after six months of work. Additionally, the article points out that YAML-based pipeline writing is cumbersome and requires duplicated code. The author proposes a solution: creating a language for CI providers to run scripts in parallel with constraints, potentially leading to an ecosystem of interoperable tools across platforms.
HTML First is an approach that focuses on utilizing the default capabilities of modern web browsers and leveraging the simplicity of HTML's attribute syntax. It aims to make web software development more accessible, faster, maintainable, and inclusive by relying heavily on HTML as the foundation of codebases. By avoiding complex frameworks, focusing on naked HTML, and using libraries that leverage HTML attributes, developers can create efficient and understandable code. This approach allows for a smoother and more enjoyable experience in building web software.
SanDisk Extreme Pro Failures Result From Design Flaw, Says Researcher:
A recent report from Attingo, a data recovery company, suggests that manufacturing flaws may be the cause of recent SanDisk Extreme Pro failures. The issue affects Western Digital's SanDisk Extreme Pro 4TB SSDs and 2TB/3TB SSDs, with firmware updates only promised for the 4TB drives. Attingo's Managing Director, Markus Hfele, claims that hardware problems, not firmware, are responsible for the data loss in SanDisk Extreme Pro SSDs. These issues include resistors being too big for circuit boards and soldering material causing breakage. Attingo currently sees at least one failed SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD per week. Western Digital has yet to address these concerns effectively or provide clear communication regarding the issue.