Links für 2023 KW 48
Meine „Wollte ich noch Lesen“-Liste, zusammengefasst von LlongOrca.
Left-sided Cancer: Blame your bed and TV?:
This article discusses a potential cause for higher rates of cancer, specifically breast cancer and melanoma, on the left side of the body in both men and women. Researchers suggest that sleeping habits may be contributing to this phenomenon, as people tend to sleep on their right sides more often in Western countries. In Japan, where cancer rates are lower, beds typically do not have metal parts which could act as antennas for FM/TV broadcast radiation. The authors propose that replacing metal bed frames with non-metallic materials or reorienting the bed away from transmission towers may help reduce the risk of left-side cancers and associated health issues.
Sorry you feel that way: why passive aggression took over the world:
Passive aggression refers to indirect expression of noncompliance or hostility while maintaining plausible deniability. It thrives in situations where direct expressions of frustration are considered unprofessional, particularly in workplace settings. Examples include procrastination, forgetfulness, and antipathy projected onto others through insincerity. Passive aggression also breeds quickly and can lead to a range of responses such as resentment or anger in both the boss class and minions. This behavior is often difficult to confront and resolve due to societal norms that discourage direct confrontation. As a result, it's important for individuals and organizations to develop healthier communication strategies.
The Sense-U Baby Monitor 3 is a new device that tracks your baby's breathing movement, sleep position, and feel temperature from anywhere. This ensures parents can intervene before anything bad happens to their child, such as slow movements, sleeping on the stomach, or overheating. It offers more peace of mind and better sleep for parents.
Tax, healthcare, immigration: why Dutch people voted for Geert Wilders:
The triumph of Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Dutch polls has significant implications for European politics, similar to Brexit. In Rotterdam, where PVV is now the largest political group, there was a general acceptance of the result. Voters cited economic concerns and cost-of-living struggles as their main motivation for voting for Wilders. However, opinions on immigration and other socioeconomic issues are varied, with some voters expressing resentment at what they perceive as preferential treatment of migrants.
Sinkende Spermienzahl – ein globales Problem:
Since 2017, sperm count in men has been declining in Western countries. A new study now shows that this phenomenon occurs not only in industrialized nations but worldwide, and it is progressing rapidly. Sperm concentration decreased by more than 51% between 1973 and 2018; from 101.2 million to an average of 49 million sperm per milliliter seminal fluid. The study's findings suggest that not only is there a global issue with declining sperm counts, but it also shows the importance of addressing factors contributing to environmental concerns and overpopulation.
„New Outlook is good, both for yourself and 766 third parties.“
U.N. Predicts Disaster if Global Warming Not Checked:
A senior UN environmental official warns that entire countries could be wiped out by rising sea levels if global warming trends are not reversed by the year 2000. This would lead to coastal flooding, crop failures, and an exodus of eco-refugees, potentially causing political chaos. Governments have a window of opportunity to solve the greenhouse effect before it becomes uncontrollable. Rising sea levels could cover countries like Maldives, while one sixth of Bangladesh might be flooded displacing millions of people. UNEP estimates that it would cost at least $100 billion for the US alone to protect its east coast. If global warming continues unchecked, storms, hurricanes, and wind shear will become more severe. The UN Environment Program is working on a scientific plan of action and hopes to adopt a global climate treaty by 1992, urging nations to reduce fossil fuel use, cut carbon dioxide emissions, and preserve rainforests.
Cheaper microscope could bring protein mapping technique to the masses:
A new development in cryo-EM technology, created by researchers at the Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), could make the technique more accessible and affordable for researchers worldwide. The prototype cryo-EM microscope is designed to be built and sold for just $500,000, a significant reduction from current high-end machines that can cost up to $5 million or more. This „cheap little hatchback“ model could potentially rival the capabilities of top-of-the-line systems at a fraction of the price. The LMB team has already used their prototype to solve the structures of 11 proteins with sufficient resolution for creating atomic models, and they believe it can be further improved upon by potential manufacturers in the future.
The official Rails job board is live:
The Rails Foundation has introduced the official Rails Job Board, a platform connecting programmers and companies working with Rails. This platform is ideal for developers seeking new roles or companies looking to hire Rails developers. Employers can advertise on the job board, ranging from $199 to $299, while all proceeds directly contribute to the Rails Foundation's mission. The Job Board aims to foster growth and sustainability within the Rails ecosystem.
No-Bullshit Games aims to provide users with high-quality mobile games that are free of intrusive ads and unnecessary in-app purchases. It helps users find fun and enjoyable games without the hassle of being bombarded by advertisements or pressured into making additional in-game purchases.
Nutrient found in beef and dairy improves immune response to cancer:
Trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), a fatty acid found in meat and dairy products from grazing animals, has been discovered to improve the ability of CD8+ T cells to infiltrate tumors and kill cancer cells, according to research by the University of Chicago. The study also showed that patients with higher levels of TVA circulating in their blood responded better to immunotherapy, suggesting potential as a nutritional supplement for cancer treatment. TVA could be used as a dietary supplement to help various T cell-based cancer treatments, but it is important to determine the appropriate amount of the nutrient itself and not just the food source.
Kampf gegen Dürre: Wassergewinnung aus vorbeiziehenden Wolken:
Weltspiegelnetze auf Bergen, die Wassertropfen aus vorbeiziehenden Wolken fangen: Eine Idee im Kampf gegen Dürre. Auf den Kanarischen Inseln und in Marokko gibt es vielversprechende Projekte, in denen solche Netzwerke am Berg Boutmezguida eingesetzt werden. Der Wind drückt auf gut 1.200 Meter hohen Bergen Wolkenfetzen durch Stahlträger-Netze, die Wassertropfen abfangen und so Wasser sammeln. Die Technische Universität München experimentierte dort zwei Jahre lang an solchen Netzen mit Unterstützung von deutschen Stiftungen und dem Bundesministerium für Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung. 16 Dörfer leben nun von diesem „Wolkenwasser“.
Get started with technical writing - OpenSource.net:
Technical writing is an essential aspect of daily life, found in user manuals and safety instructions. It communicates complex technical information concisely. With the help of open source software like Joplin, Asciidoctor, and GNU groff, writers create content on topics they find interesting. Research plays a vital role in developing new writing ideas, while Technically We Write serves as an excellent platform for sharing articles on open knowledge.
Autobahn speed limit would cut carbon and bring €1bn in benefits, study says - Carbon Brief:
Introducing a nationwide speed limit on Germany's motorways could result in nearly 1 billion euros ($1.03 billion) in welfare savings, according to a new study published in the Ecological Economics journal. The research estimates that implementing a speed limit of 130kph (80mph) would avoid around 293 million euros in CO2 emissions and provide other social benefits such as reduced traffic congestion and increased safety. Currently, over 96% of German roads have permanent or temporary speed limits, but just 30% of the country's 13,000km motorway network has any restrictions.
Beej's Guide to Interprocess Communication:
The article is a comprehensive guide on interprocess communication (IPC) methods available in Unix systems. It covers various techniques such as fork(), signals, pipes, FIFOs, file locking, message queues, semaphores, shared memory segments, and memory-mapped files. Additionally, it introduces Unix domain sockets for bidirectional data exchange between processes on the same system.
The summary outlines how each method works, provides examples of their usage in C programming, and discusses some potential issues or limitations associated with them. The guide is intended as a starting point for those interested in learning about IPC techniques, but it does not cover all aspects of these methods in detail due to its focus on providing an overview rather than an exhaustive treatment.
The article emphasizes the importance of error checking and proper handling of signals when using IPC methods. It also highlights the potential dangers of concurrency issues, especially with shared memory segments, and suggests using semaphores or other synchronization mechanisms to address these concerns.
Toot from Dan's Festive Coin-Ops:
The toot discusses the phenomenon of people recommending Brother printers as a solution for printing needs. It suggests that Brother has become the preferred brand not because their printers are particularly superior or innovative, but rather due to the fact that other printer manufacturers have made numerous changes and „innovations“ which have resulted in subpar products. By contrast, Brother's consistent focus on providing functional, reliable printers without overcomplicating them has positioned them as a top choice for those seeking an efficient printing experience.
Simple Mobile Tools bought by ZipoApps? · Issue #241 · SimpleMobileTools/General-Discussion:
This github issue is about the sale of Simple Mobile Tools by its creator, @tibbi, to ZipoApps. The issue was opened by @inson1 and has received a lot of comments from various users expressing their disappointment with the decision and concern over potential changes to the apps' privacy standards and open-source nature.
The main points of contention are:
- The fact that the sale seems to have been kept secret until after it was completed, leading to a sense of betrayal among some community members who feel they were not given an opportunity to voice their opinions or contribute financially if desired.
- Concerns about potential changes in app behavior under new ownership, such as adding ads, trackers, and other revenue-generating features that could compromise user privacy and disrupt the user experience.
- Legal issues surrounding the sale of open-source projects like Simple Mobile Tools, which may not allow for a full transfer of rights without consent from all contributors to the codebase.
- The possibility of forking the project by other community members in order to maintain its original values and principles if necessary.
As of now, @naveensingh has expressed interest in maintaining a fork of Simple Mobile Tools under different conditions that preserve user privacy and adhere to open-source standards. Another option mentioned is using Astian's forked versions of the apps, which have also promised not to add ads or sell user data.
The creator, @tibbi, has responded by stating that he owns the majority of the codebase himself and other paid developers, thus mitigating concerns about potential licensing issues related to third-party contributions. However, this statement does not address the broader ethical questions raised by selling a project with significant community involvement without prior notice or discussion.
The issue was closed on December 4th, 2023, after @tibbi locked it and expressed his thanks for everyone's support but indicated that further conversation would not be productive at this time.
This article discusses the indirect methods used to detect ionizing radiation, with a focus on the Geiger counter. It explains how Geiger counters work and highlights that their sound is not the actual sound of radiation but rather the sound of an audio loudspeaker being fed an electric pulse produced by an electron avalanche in an encapsulated gas.
The article also covers various means of detecting ionizing radiation, such as Cherenkov radiation from nuclear reactors and cosmic ray visual phenomena experienced by astronauts. It talks about scintillography, the study of how to record radiation by observing the dots it leaves behind, and proposes using graphical scintillation in cartography (scintillocartography) to convey radioactivity. The prototype implementation uses WebGL shaders to render a map with an element of randomness and scintillating pixels based on radon potential data.
While the prototype is functional, it has limitations, such as lacking persistence in the scintillation animation. Improvements could be made through further technical developments like additional rendering passes or Montecarlo algorithms to improve the conveyance of radioactivity.
Samsung Dual Audio: What it is and how to use it:
Samsung Dual Audio is a feature that allows users to share audio from a single Samsung device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or Galaxy Buds, to two wireless Bluetooth headsets at the same time. To set up and use the feature, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth on your Samsung device, then select Media from the notification shade. This enables you to connect two compatible devices simultaneously and adjust their volume levels.
Ghostlike dusty galaxy reappears in James Webb Space Telescope image:
A dusty, star-forming galaxy from the early universe reappeared in images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Previously undetected due to its obscured appearance, this discovery suggests that these galaxies may be more common than previously thought. The COSMOS-Web collaboration aims to identify and study hundreds of thousands of such galaxies to better understand the early universe's structure.
Researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science have discovered rare neurons in the eye that play a crucial role in maintaining a sharp and steady image of the world. These neurons are involved in gaze stabilization, which is important for everyday vision as we navigate busy streets or look out train windows. The findings will impact our understanding of human retinas and provide insights into eye movement disorders that cause visual impairment.
clang now makes binaries an original Pi B+ can't run:
This article discusses an issue where C++ programs built with clang don't work on Raspberry Pi B+ systems or older models such as the original Pi Zero. The error occurs due to the compiler effectively cross-compiling for armv7 by default instead of the required armv6l architecture. The solution is provided in the article, which recommends using the –target=armv6-unknown-linux-gnueabihf flag when compiling the C++ program with clang.
One year later, the problem with social media is clear: PEBKAC — As in guillotine...:
The article discusses the author's experience with leaving Twitter and their observation of how people still haven't found a personal „last straw“ for staying on the platform. The focus then shifts towards the tech world's constant need to innovate, decentralize, and rethink social media platforms. The author shares their journey through various online platforms since the 90s, mentioning that followers have become a vanity metric and how platforms like Twitter have influenced people's behavior.
The article also mentions other platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, where the author sees potential for innovation and decentralization in social media. In conclusion, the author highlights their commitment to keeping one strategic hub (their blog) as a way to avoid relying on other platforms that may subvert it.
A new approach to domain ranking:
The article discusses a new approach to the PageRank algorithm which uses cosine similarity from explore2.marginalia.nu as an alternative to the link graph. This modification resists manipulation techniques and maintains a high level of relevance, potentially improving the efficiency and reliability of domain ranking systems.
FRiENDLY FiRE 9! Start Pre-Show 14 Uhr, FF9 Event 15 Uhr 🔥 !spenden !vereine - gronkh on Twitch:
The article appears to be a combination of phrases and words that do not form a coherent summary. However, it mentions an event called „GRONKH FRiENDLY FiRE 9“ with a start time at 15:00 (3 PM) and pre-show beginning at 14:00 (2 PM). The article also refers to GTV0466, which seems to be an episode or event ID. The date mentioned is January 29, 2021. Finally, the #F18 - FALAFEL KING - Capsule Hotel - Dyson Sphere suggests that it might be related to a Just Chatting category with over 530K views.
Big Techs heimliches Interesse an der Kryptobranche:
In this article, it discusses how technology companies have quietly expanded their presence in the crypto industry through partnerships and collaborations. Big tech firms such as Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are investing in blockchain technologies to integrate them into various services. While some companies like Apple and Meta hold back from entering the cryptocurrency market due to regulatory hurdles, others have been more active in exploring opportunities.
balkonkraftwerke-sind-ueber-die-hausratpolice-versichert:
The article explains that home contents insurance policies in Germany can cover balcony power plants without needing specialized solar energy insurance. New policies from the German Insurance Association include these small-scale photovoltaic systems, and existing ones may be updated to include this coverage. Tenants should check their lease agreements before installing such a system.
Ancient redwoods recover from fire by sprouting 1000-year-old buds:
The discussion on Hacker News revolved around a science article titled „Ancient redwoods recover from fire by sprouting 1000-year-old buds“ which explores how some ancient trees can survive and even thrive after being exposed to fires. The conversation touched upon the importance of controlled burns in forest management, as well as the role that these practices play in maintaining biodiversity and preventing larger wildfires.
Several users shared personal anecdotes about landowners using prescribed burns on their property for various reasons such as reducing fuel load, aiding in hunting, or clearing out unwanted vegetation. They also discussed the challenges associated with getting permits for controlled burns due to safety concerns and public perception of fires.
Some users highlighted that while these practices are beneficial for certain types of forests, they may not be applicable across all ecosystems. The discussion then evolved into a debate about the role of human intervention in nature and whether it is necessary or even appropriate to manipulate natural processes like fire to maintain ecological balance.
ancient-redwoods-recover-fire-sprouting-1000-year-old-buds:
The article discusses how ancient redwood trees recover from fire by sprouting buds that were formed centuries ago and mobilizing energy reserves, some of which date back nearly 60 years. These findings suggest that the trees have the tools to cope with catastrophic fires driven by climate change, but it is unclear whether they could withstand regular infernos under a warmer climate regime.
10-dark-patterns-in-ux-design:
This article discusses the concept of „dark patterns“ in UX design, which refers to manipulative tactics used by companies to trick users into performing actions that benefit the company but may not serve the user's best interests. These patterns are carefully crafted to appear during specific moments in a user interaction process and often rely on human psychology and marketing strategies to elicit emotional responses from users.
The article provides several examples of dark patterns, such as confirmshaming (using emotional blackmail to persuade people), creating fake urgency, nagging (not accepting a „No“ for an answer), sneaking (including secondary actions in the middle of primary ones), and intentional misdirection (creating ambiguous outcomes with visual or text content).
To avoid dark patterns, companies should focus on transparency, user control, and common sense principles in their design process. By doing so, they can build trust with users, maintain customer satisfaction, and adhere to ethical standards while still achieving business goals. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of learning about dark patterns to enhance user experiences and promote a more transparent and ethical approach to UX design.
Singing to babies is vital to help them learn language, say scientists:
This article discusses a study by scientists at the University of Cambridge that indicates singsong speech is crucial to helping babies learn languages. The research suggests that infants learn from rhythmic information, such as in nursery rhymes or songs, rather than phonetic elements represented by the alphabet. The study concludes that children do not process phonetic information until around seven months old, and it proposes that dyslexia and developmental language disorders might be associated with rhythm perception issues rather than difficulties in processing phonetic information. Researchers believe that speech rhythm information serves as the foundation for developing a well-functioning language system.
New study confirms: Many adults opt for child-free life without regret:
Researchers at Michigan State University have confirmed that around one in five adults in Michigan, or more than 1.6 million individuals, consciously choose not to have children. This study aligns with previous estimates and highlights the growing number of people opting for a child-free lifestyle. Understanding why some choose this lifestyle is an essential area of research, as it challenges traditional norms. The study also explored factors such as interpersonal warmth toward child-free adults compared to parents and age of decision making. However, the research is limited to Michigan and requires further investigation to generalize nationally.
Purported earlier version of da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' wows art lovers after going on display:
A painting believed to be by Leonardo da Vinci, known as the „Isleworth Mona Lisa,“ has recently been put on public display in Turin, Italy. The artwork is thought to depict a younger version of the famous Mona Lisa and was acquired from England in 1913. Some experts have doubts about its authenticity, while others believe it could be an early version of Leonardo's iconic painting. The work is currently owned by private owners who want to share it with the public.
I’m a doctor living with diabetes and I learned 3 key points about the disease and mental health:
Diabetes is a significant health issue affecting many people worldwide. It requires continuous management and can lead to stress, fatigue, and mental health issues such as depression. The connection between diabetes and mental well-being is vital for individuals with the condition. Awareness of this link needs to be increased among both medical professionals and patients alike. This could include understanding the impact of stress on blood sugar control, recognizing emotions experienced by people with diabetes, and creating an environment where they can openly discuss their feelings. Improving mental health support for those with diabetes can lead to better overall self-care, emotional well-being, and diabetes management.
King Charles III draws attention by wearing a Greek flag tie after London-Athens dispute:
King Charles III wore a tie adorned with Greek flags to the COP28 climate summit, causing controversy amidst a diplomatic spat between the UK government and Greece over the Parthenon Marbles. While Buckingham Palace did not comment on the king's neckwear, many in Greece perceived it as a gesture of solidarity with their cause. The tie was complemented by a matching blue-and-white pocket handkerchief, and King Charles has worn it before.
The first ever United Nations climate conference placed a strong emphasis on food and agriculture as key elements in addressing climate change. Over 130 countries signed a declaration committing to incorporate sustainable practices into their national strategies. The global food supply has become increasingly unstable due to extreme weather events, and the agricultural sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. To feed an anticipated world population of 10 billion by 2050, farmland expansion will likely lead to further deforestation. However, innovations can help mitigate these challenges.
Innovative solutions include improving access to accurate weather forecasts for farmers, expanding the use of microbial fertilizers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing methane from livestock production. Additionally, scaling up agricultural innovation through investment in technology, insurance, digital agriculture, alternative proteins, and rainwater harvesting can help increase resource efficiency for farmers worldwide.
How to communicate software testing needs to C-Suites:
Test automation plays a crucial role in helping companies deliver better software in shorter cycles, as it is widely used by businesses to ensure quality and minimize errors. Despite this, many organizations still rely heavily on manual testing, which can lead to issues with insufficiently tested software being released into the market. CEOs often cite a lack of skilled developers and inadequate timeframes as factors contributing to this problem. However, 85% of CEOs are willing to accept software without thorough testing, indicating a disconnect between test automation teams and C-Suite executives.
To bridge this gap, it's essential for QA teams to communicate the importance of proper software testing in terms that C-suite executives can understand. Examples include highlighting cases of severe damage caused by buggy software such as financial losses or even fatalities. Additionally, using clear language, providing data and case studies to support the use of test automation, addressing potential concerns related to budget, familiarity with existing processes, and IT security, and being prepared for their questions can help QA teams gain buy-in from C-Suite executives to prioritize test automation.
Chrome’s next weapon in the War on Ad Blockers: Slower extension updates:
The article discusses Google's war on ad blockers with YouTube aiming to detect and block ad blockers and Chrome rolling out the ad block-limiting Manifest V3 extension platform in June 2024. This arms race has given Google a dramatic update advantage over ad blockers, allowing them to force developers of privacy extensions to slow down and respond less quickly to changes. The article also highlights that other browsers like Firefox are not shutting down support for Manifest V2, which doesn't have the same limitations as Manifest V3.
This article discusses the author's perspective on MySQL and PHP, highlighting their drawbacks and the reasons behind their popularity in the field of web development. The author emphasizes the need for better solutions such as PostgresSQL or NoSQL databases to overcome the limitations of traditional relational databases like MySQL, which have become prevalent due to the ease of use and low barrier to entry they offer. Moreover, the article touches upon the significance of maintaining data integrity and proper application of database logic by designing systems that rely less on SQL-based solutions.
Modern XMPP Server — Valhalla’s Docs documentation:
This article provides a guide on installing prosody, an XMPP server for Debian systems. It outlines the packages needed, prerequisites like TLS certificates and port configurations, and configuring various settings in prosody.cfg.lua. The article also mentions additional modules that can be added to enable features such as video calls, message archiving, and file transfers.
Tinnitus Linked to Hidden Undetected Auditory Nerve Damage – A Step Towards a Cure:
A recent study conducted by researchers at Mass Eye and Ear has connected tinnitus, a prevalent condition affecting over 10% of adults worldwide, to undetected auditory nerve damage. This finding suggests that even individuals with normal hearing test results may suffer from this hidden hearing loss, opening up new treatment pathways focused on nerve regeneration. The study's findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports and offer a better understanding of tinnitus origins.
Hanlon's Razor is an English saying that suggests the most likely reason for human error is not malice but stupidity. It states, „Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.“ This concept serves as a reminder to avoid attributing negative intentions when a simple lack of knowledge or understanding could explain an event or action. Hanlon's Razor often helps debunk conspiracy theories and is used in various contexts to encourage a more balanced view of situations and events.
This article highlights how EE, O2, and Vodafone sell anonymized, aggregated data on users' physical movements to local authorities and other companies. Transport for London (TfL) uses this data through its Project EDMOND. The data helps transport planners and policy makers make decisions about where to run buses or implement Ultra-Low Emissions Zones, for example. TfL uses aggregated data from O2 and does not have access to personal information of individual users.
Fernwärme: Verbraucherschützer finden große Preisunterschiede:
The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) has found significant regional differences in heating oil prices and is urging consumers to compare prices before making a purchase, as it believes that comparisons are currently difficult due to lack of transparency. The vzbv observed the heating oil market since January 2023 and discovered considerable variations in prices across Germany's different regions. Private households with detached houses, for instance, paid 27 cents per kWh in Cologne's largest network during the third quarter of that year, while those living in Halle (Saale) paid only 12 cents. The vzbv stressed that understanding how prices are formed in the heating oil market is difficult for consumers and they cannot change suppliers if they are dissatisfied with prices or service. It is important to check a heating oil provider's offer before deciding on a contract. Not only are prices regionally different, but they can also develop differently regionally. The vzbv pointed out that in a typical detached house in Erfurt's network, the effective price per kWh fell from 36 cents in the first quarter to 20 cents in the third quarter of 2023, while it rose from 13 cents to 19 cents in a Hanover network during the same period.
Northernlights-live - Landhotel:
In this article, a hotel offers an opportunity for guests to witness the Northern Lights and mountain scenery through their exclusive webcam. The hotel encourages people from around the world to join in on this experience by accessing the live footage of these natural wonders. Additionally, visitors can view time-lapse videos of earlier nights' experiences by clicking on an arrow icon.
SQLSync - Stop building databases:
This article discusses the need for a frontend optimized database stack as frontend engineers often end up building data management features similar to those found in databases. It highlights issues such as recursive cache invalidation and how they can consume developer time and correctness verification. The writer proposes SQLSync, a frontend optimized database stack built on SQLite with synchronization capabilities inspired by Git and distributed systems. This approach provides durable caches, indexes, optimistic mutations, smart cache invalidation, reactive queries, among other features.
How China is tearing down Islam:
The article highlights the significant alterations made to mosques in China under Beijing's suppression of Islamic culture, which has led to thousands of mosques being either altered or destroyed. Officials have referred to these changes as „renovations“ rather than modifications that erode religious freedoms. The investigation by the Financial Times reveals that more than 1,700 buildings bearing Islamic architecture have had their features removed since 2018, with most of the alterations happening in regions with high populations of ethnic groups practicing Islam. The Chinese government states that the changes are intended to „modernize“ mosques and „harmonise“ them with Chinese culture, but critics argue that this policy targets religious freedoms and aims to assimilate non-Chinese groups into Chinese culture.
“Useless Ruby sugar”: Endless (one-line) methods:
Thank you for the summary! It sounds like Ruby's new one-line method definition syntax allows for more concise code while still maintaining readability. However, there are some potential issues with non-obvious parsing priorities and possible confusion between values and methods. Overall, this change seems to provide both benefits and challenges, but it will be interesting to see how Ruby programmers adapt their code writing practices in response to this syntax update.
The universe's expansion rate is one of cosmology's biggest mysteries, with recent challenges to Hubble's constant creating a tension between predictions and observations. A new study suggests that we might live in a giant void within space, which could inflate local measurements due to matter outflows from the void. This scenario may explain the discrepancies between predicted and observed expansion rates. By tweaking the laws of gravity through Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), the study presents an alternative explanation for the Hubble tension that matches recent observations.
A bride to be discovers a reality bending mistake in Apple's computational photography:
A U.K. woman, Tessa Coates, was photographed standing in a mirror where her reflections didn't match, not due to a glitch in the Matrix but an iPhone computational photography mistake. When she was trying on wedding dresses, three different poses of her were captured in an instant as she moved, resulting in three versions of her in the photo. This is because Apple's algorithm treats mirrors as separate people and captures multiple images. The phenomenon can be replicated on other smartphones with computational photography limitations.
Social Cooling - big data's unintended side effect:
This article discusses the concept of „social cooling,“ where people change their behavior when they feel like they are being watched by Big Data systems that collect and analyze personal information. The chilling effects of these systems could potentially limit individual freedom, including free speech and risk-taking behavior over time. Examples provided in the article demonstrate how this data can be used to discriminate or manipulate individuals in various aspects of their lives. The article also highlights potential negative consequences such as a culture of conformity, increased social rigidity, and the impact on creativity and evolution in society.
Nearly 100,000 Gaza buildings may be damaged, satellite images show:
According to satellite images commissioned by BBC, widespread destruction is seen across Gaza with nearly 98,000 buildings potentially suffering damage. Northern Gaza was the primary focus of Israeli offensive and bore the brunt of the devastation. Drone footage and verified video show entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble due to Israeli air strikes and on-the-ground fighting. Satellite data maps reveal that nearly 98,000 buildings across the whole Gaza Strip may have sustained damage, mostly in the north. Israel targets Hamas commanders and fighters, accusing the group of embedding itself in civilian areas.
Marker is a tool that converts PDF, EPUB, and MOBI files into markdown format. This software offers faster speed (10x faster than nougat), better accuracy on most documents, and lower hallucination risk compared to other text extraction methods. It supports various types of PDF files, including those designed for books and scientific papers. Additionally, it can detect page layouts and clean and format each block in the document, making it suitable for a wide range of purposes.
How to pick more beautiful colors for your data visualizations - Datawrapper Blog:
Choosing good colors for charts can be challenging, but this article provides some guidance to help make the process easier. It emphasizes broadening your understanding of colors and learning from others' work, using saturation and lightness to make hues work together, making warm colors and blue stand out, avoiding pure colors, avoiding bright, saturated colors, combining colors with different lightness, and choosing a desaturated background. These tips can help improve the overall visual appeal of charts and make the data easier for viewers to understand.
The article emphasizes the importance of considering users, developers, and maintainers while developing software. It suggests that code should be kept simple and maintainable to ensure long-term readability and reliability. By understanding the entire software development cycle, including production and operations, developers can create better software experiences for users. Additionally, balancing business requirements with user needs is crucial to create successful software products.
Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union:
This discussion thread mainly revolves around various users sharing their opinions, experiences, and comments on a certain topic or subject. However, the summary is not provided due to lack of context and specific subject discussed in this conversation.
Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the EU — BTUI:
The Barcelona Declaration on Time Policies working group has agreed on a plan to end clock changes and implement permanent time zones closer to solar time (natural time) in Europe. The proposal recommends specific time zones for EU member states and suggests a transition period of 1-2 steps depending on the country. Political considerations will need to be taken into account, especially for territories with different time zones.
The Weirdest Bug I’ve Seen Yet:
The article explains a situation where a seemingly unrelated Chrome crash was investigated by the author and their team to find out that it was caused by an animated GIF in one of Gusto's internal software pages. With persistence and collaboration, they were able to solve the issue.
Visual Anagrams is a paper presented by Daniel Geng, Inbum Park, and Andrew Owens from the University of Michigan. The article discusses a simple zero-shot method to generate multi-view optical illusions using pretrained diffusion models. These optical illusions transform images that appear as one thing but change their appearance or identity when manipulated. The method supports various transformations, such as rotations, flips, color inversions, skews, jigsaw rearrangements, and random permutations. The process involves using an off-the-shelf diffusion model to estimate noise in different views or transformations of images and aligning the noise estimates by applying inverse view functions. The method requires that the view function is linear and statistically consistent with standard normal distribution assumptions. This research builds upon previous works like Diffusion Illusions and Colab notebooks, improving the quality, range of transformations, and theoretical analysis.
Schufa prüft Gehaltsabrechnung - dafür besserer Score?:
Schufa, a German credit reporting agency, plans to collect more positive data from customers' bank accounts and pay slips in order to improve their creditworthiness score. The agency believes that this will enable more participation among consumers and create more opportunities for them by storing positive data longer than the current regulations allow. Consumers can also provide new, positive information that Schufa does not currently have knowledge of. This creditworthiness score is important for private individuals and helps banks, mail-order companies, mobile phone operators, or energy providers to assess their customers' creditworthiness by checking with credit agencies like the Schufa. The score is calculated based on financial data obtained from around 10,000 contract partners of the company, such as opening a bank account, issuing a credit card, or concluding a loan agreement.
How to Ripen and Store Avocados:
Avocados have a unique ripening process where they do not ripen on the tree but instead begin their ripening journey when picked. This poses challenges for commercial avocado growers who want to delay this process for longer shelf life, while home cooks often prefer speeding up the process. To help with these issues, understanding ways to moderate the ripening rate and how to store and handle ripe avocados can be beneficial.
Life lessons from a 44 year old.:
This article discusses various life lessons and perspectives, emphasizing the importance of focusing on personal well-being, mental health, relationships, and prioritizing meaningful experiences over social media and material possessions. Among the points made are: valuing exercise for strength rather than weight loss, acknowledging the impact of relationships on emotions, appreciating small joys in daily life, allowing friendships to evolve naturally, recognizing when to walk away from harmful situations, maintaining curiosity and engagement with kids, being present and undividedly attentive with loved ones, and disconnecting from smartphones for a more meaningful life.
XREAL Air Sehstärke-Linsen Einsätze:
The article provides installation instructions for a VR/AR headset that doesn't include the glasses in the package, allowing for a more comfortable and immersive gaming experience without the need for bulky glasses. It also mentions that there is no need to send back your XREAL Air for this purpose as pre-cut lenses are provided. The article also mentions potential customs fees and taxes for international shipments which will be collected upon arrival at the destination.
The pneumatic tire has played a crucial role in modern transportation, as vehicles equipped with such tires carry twice as much freight compared to those without them. Invented around fifteen years before the velocipede, the first pneumatic tire was a result of the vulcanization process by Charles Goodyear. Robert Thomson's „aerial wheel“ in 1846 described it as an „elastic bearing,“ which provided comfort to passengers and decreased vehicle drag by 68%. Despite its potential, pneumatic tires did not see widespread use until John Boyd Dunlop reinvented them in 1888. Today, pneumatic tires consume three-quarters of global natural rubber production and are essential for various transportation modes such as bicycles, automobiles, and e-scooters.
BLUFFS: Bluetooth Forward and Future Secrecy Attacks and Defenses | Daniele Antonioli:
The article discusses issues related to breaking and fixing the Bluetooth standard, focusing on vulnerabilities such as CVE-2023-24023. The author, Daniele Antonioli, a Research Assistant Professor in cyber-physical and wireless system security, emphasizes the need for further research and development in this area to ensure the safety and security of Bluetooth technology.
The Red State Brain Drain Isn’t Coming. It’s Happening Right Now.:
The article discusses how the increasing political climate in red states is pushing young professionals, particularly doctors, to move to more liberal areas such as Washington D.C., New York, and California. The factors leading to this migration include restrictive abortion laws, transgender healthcare limitations, tenure restrictions, and book banning in schools and universities. This „Red State Brain Drain“ is causing states like Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Idaho to lose skilled professionals, negatively impacting their economies and access to quality healthcare services. The article highlights the stories of Kate Arnold, Caroline Flint, Tyler Hallstedt, and others who have decided to leave red states for greener pastures. This trend could potentially further divide the country along political lines and create a two-tiered system where more liberal states thrive while less progressive states struggle.
Rust std fs slower than Python!? No, it's hardware!:
Thank you for sharing your experience and findings. It's fascinating how deep you went into the investigation, from the opendal binding issue, OpenDAL FS service, Rust std::fs, mmap syscall, memory allocators, to AMD CPU bugs.
I believe it is important to note that while it might be beneficial for Rust developers to switch to jemallocator (or other efficient allocators) in the future, it would not necessarily resolve this specific issue on AMD CPUs that use FSRM. Other languages might also experience performance degradation due to similar architectural optimizations. In such cases, it's best to wait for CPU vendors to fix these issues (if they can be classified as bugs) or provide a flag to disable the feature in question.
As for OpenDAL, implementing the Python binding in Rust with an FFI or C++ interface might help improve performance on both AMD and non-AMD architectures while avoiding any potential pitfalls associated with rust std::fs.
Additionally, it would be interesting to investigate if there's a way to detect whether the FSRM is active on the system and then enable or disable specific memory access optimizations accordingly (similar to the mprotect() function in Linux).
Overall, your journey has shed light on some intriguing aspects of systems programming and memory management. It demonstrates the importance of understanding hardware-software interactions and how they can affect performance.
Guide to Tolkien's Letters: Letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien:
The article discusses various Tolkien-related topics, including the Witch King and Saruman, with several users replying to comments. Additionally, it mentions a listing of interesting collectibles related to J.R.R. Tolkien, an upcoming auction at Sotheby's, and a 2024 calendar titled „Beyond Bree.“ The article also includes discussion about Letter #450 from J.R.R. Tolkien to the Royal Insurance Co., as well as upcoming books in the Tolkien Studies series.
So berechnet sich die Mindestleistung beim Lademanagement:
The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has revised its guidelines, which will now no longer differentiate between controllable consumers and controllable grid connections. Instead, the distinction is made whether consumers can be directly controlled or are connected through an energy management system (EMS). The initially planned drastic reduction to 5 kW per network connection is therefore no longer applicable. This is important for charging systems in multi-family homes.
The minimum power is now calculated using formulas that differentiate between heat pumps and air conditioners on one side, and wallboxes and battery storage devices on the other. Different simultaneity factors must be taken into account depending on the number of consumers. The factor is smaller if there are more consumers.
For example: In a car park, 10 wallboxes should operate at 11 kW via an energy management system. The minimum power required is then calculated using the formula: „P = 4.2 kW + (number of wallboxes x synchronization factor 0.45 x 4.2 kW“. This results in a minimum power requirement of 21.21 kW, which the network operator must provide.
If the 10 wallboxes were to be connected separately without an EMS, the network operator would have to guarantee a total minimum power of 42 kW. Diminishing only as an ultima ratio: However, when can the power be reduced at all? According to paragraph 4 of Annex 1, the network operator is „entitled and obliged“ to reduce power in cases of threats to electrical safety or grid integrity due to overload of operating equipment in a network area. This reduction must be suitable and objectively necessary to prevent the threat or danger.
There is no time limitation on this reduction, as stated in the decision: „From its nature as an ultima ratio-tool (…), it follows that energy-management-systems (EMS) can be deployed as long as their preconditions exist. As long as this situation continues, there is a justification for using it.“ The Federal Network Agency also states: „Absolute upper limits for the allowed duration of an individual control measure or an absolute number of intervention measures, as occasionally demanded by consultation participants, must be rejected in view of the nature of the network-oriented steering as ultima ratio tool“.
Preventive reduction only two hours a day: An electric car owner thus has no guarantee that the power will only be reduced for a few hours at night. However, the network operator must have the ability to perform a so-called net status determination beforehand. Real-time status data from at least 15 percent of the connections in the network area or, alternatively, from at least 7 percent of all connection points and additional data on net conditions collected at transformer stations are required.
If this is not the case, the operator can discretionarily reduce power until the end of 2028 as a preventive measure. For example, during periods of peak demand in the evening hours. Such preventive reduction may only occur for two hours daily.
Network fees are reduced: In return, network operators must reduce the connection fees for such connections. This can be either per consumer or as a percentage of consumption, as stated in the relevant decision (PDF). The flat fee reduction amounts to €80 annually „plus an individual stabilization surcharge“. According to estimates by the Federal Network Agency, this may range between 110 and 190 euros per year.
If a home charges 2.5,000 kWh of electricity each year for an EV, the additional network fees are expected to be reduced by 50-95 percent. The reduced work price for the throttled connection should cost 40 percent of the agreed tariff. According to the FAQ of the Federal Network Agency, this option can be combined with the exemption from the metering fee for heating oil and is expected to „more frequently make sense in the field of e-mobility“. From April 2025 onwards, network operators must offer time-variable network fees as an optional alternative to the flat rate discount. Several time windows with three price levels of the geographically applicable network fees [high tariff (HT)/low tariff (NT)/standard tariff (ST)] will be set annually and must be settled in at least two quarters of a year. It is important to distinguish between the network fee and the actual electricity price, which the customer negotiates
Neue Angriffstechnik: Eingriff in verschlüsselte Bluetooth-Verbindungen möglich:
A new attack technique called Bluffs (Bluetooth Forward and Future Secrecy) threatens potentially billions of Bluetooth-enabled devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets. Daniele Antonioli, a security researcher from Eurecom, recently presented six new attack techniques on Bluetooth connections and grouped them under the name Bluffs. These techniques allow for man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks as well as impersonation of other devices' identities, compromising the privacy of Bluetooth sessions. The basis for Bluffs lies in two previously unknown and architectural vulnerabilities in the Bluetooth standard, registered as CVE-2023-24023. Affected devices include Bluetooth BR/EDR devices with support for Secure Simple Pairing and Secure Connections Pairing according to the Bluetooth Core Specification versions 4.2 through 5.4, potentially impacting many popular brands' devices. The researcher tested six different attack techniques on 18 different end-devices with various Bluetooth versions, including smartphones, laptops, speakers, and headsets from Apple, Google, Microsoft, Logitech, Xiaomi, Dell, Bose, and more. All of the tested devices were vulnerable to at least three of the tested Bluffs attacks, with a man-in-the-middle attack being successful on all devices. A toolkit demonstrating the effectiveness of Bluffs is available on Github. The Bluetooth SIG has advised developers to avoid using short key lengths below seven octets and suggests that implementations should always rely on Security Mode 4 Level 4 for continuous protection.
The article discusses common architecture antipatterns, providing guidance on how to avoid them and overcome design pitfalls. It presents valuable insights, practical advice, and real-world examples for improving software architectures and enhancing existing ones.
freetar - an alternative frontend for ultimate-guitar.com:
This article introduces an alternative to Invidious, specifically for Ultimate Guitar, called FreeTar (https://freetar.androidloves.me). It offers ad-free and simple design features while searching for tabs, saving favorite chords as favs, dark mode, auto scroll, and future improvements such as showing chords and enhancing UX on mobile devices. To use it, users need to install poetry and run the FreeTar command, then visit the specified URL in a browser.
He thought tending bar sounded like fun. Then the entire kitchen staff quit on Christmas Eve.:
Bill McCamley, a former labor secretary in New Mexico, experienced the workforce first-hand while working at a local movie theater. He observed that workers are leaving jobs due to low wages, lack of benefits, and inflexible schedules. McCamley suggests that employers need to provide better compensation, benefits, and flexibility to attract and retain employees.
Auch der Verwaltungsbeirat ist Verantwortlicher im Sinne der DSGVO:
In der Fachliteratur besteht eine weitgehende Übereinstimmung darüber, dass der Verwalter einer Immobilie als verantwortlicher im Sinne von Artikel 4 Absatz 7 der Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO) angesehen werden sollte. Dies gilt sowohl für den Wohnungseigentums-Verwalter als auch für Mieter- und Sonderberechtigungsverwalter. Der Grund dafür liegt darin, dass der Verwalter eine Reihe von gesetzlichen und vertraglichen Pflichten erfüllen muss, die es ebenfalls mit sich bringen, dass der Verwalter eigene Entscheidungen hinsichtlich der Datenverarbeitung trifft. In der Fachliteratur ist bisher noch nicht geklärt, welche Position der Verwaltungsbeirat nach der DSGVO hat.
Nach gesetzlicher Definition ist der Verantwortliche im Sinne von Artikel 4 Absatz 7 der DSGVO derjenige, der über die Zwecke und Mittel der Datenverarbeitung entscheidet. Der Verantwortliche ist daher der Entscheidungsträger darüber, ob, also zu welchen Zwecken und auf welche Weise die Datenerfassung erfolgt. Dem Verwaltungsbeirat obliegen nun durch die Reform des Wohnungseigentumsgesetzes (WEG) ab dem 1. Dezember 2020 erheblich stärkere Kompetenzen: Er hat nicht nur die Funktion, den Verwalter bei seiner Arbeit zu unterstützen, sondern ist auch verantwortlich für dessen Überwachung (nach Absatz 2 Satz 1 WEG) und muss im Fall von Datenschutzverletzungen gemäß Artikel 33 und 34 DSGVO melden.
Im Falle der Datenverarbeitung hat der Verwaltungsbeirat aufgrund seiner Funktion als Vertreter der Gemeinschaft gegenüber dem Verwalter auch die Entscheidungskompetenz über die Art und Weise der Datenverarbeitung. Diese Funktionen ergeben, dass der Verwaltungsbeirat als Verantwortlicher im Sinne der DSGVO gilt.
According to The Wall Street Journal, US workers are the most unhappy they've been in years despite increased wages, more paid time off, and greater control over their work location. This is primarily due to factors such as inflation, work-life balance issues, remote work, and micromanaging returning to in-office requirements. A Gallup report from 2023 found that the number of disengaged workers is on the rise, with job satisfaction scores reaching their lowest point since early 2020. Companies are trying to improve employee happiness through increased spending on benefits, but these efforts have not led to happier employees.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has overseen a global investment program aimed at countering efforts to reduce demand for oil and tackle climate change. This investigation by the Centre for Climate Reporting reveals that, in private, Saudi Arabia is seeking to ensure emerging economies across Africa and Asia become more dependent on oil, rather than less. The Oil Demand Sustainability Program (OSP) involves dozens of projects aimed at embedding a high-carbon, fossil fuel-dependent development model in countries across Africa and Asia, such as driving an increase in gasoline and diesel-fuelled vehicles and boosting jet fuel sales via increased air travel. The Saudi Arabian energy ministry did not respond to a request for comment.