Links für 2024 KW 16
Zusammengefasst von LlongOrca.
WireViz is a tool for easily documenting cables, wiring harnesses, and connector pinouts. It takes plain text, YAML-formatted files as input and produces beautiful graphical output (SVG, PNG, etc.) thanks to GraphViz.
Software optimization resources. C++ and assembly. Windows, Linux, BSD, Mac OS X:
The article discusses a collection of five optimization manuals, catering to advanced programmers and compiler makers, focusing on optimizing code for x86 and x86-64 family microprocessors across various operating systems like DOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, and Mac OS X. The manuals provide advice on C++ optimization, assembly language programming, CPU microarchitecture, instruction tables, and calling conventions for different compilers and operating systems. Additionally, the article provides links to various tools and resources, including a vector class library, object file converter and disassembler, subroutine library, test programs, CPUID manipulation program, and links to other related materials.
The resource curse, also known as the paradox of plenty or the poverty paradox, is a phenomenon where countries rich in natural resources like fossil fuels and minerals have less economic growth, democracy, and development compared to those with fewer resources. The International Monetary Fund classifies 51 countries as „resource-rich“, with 29 being low- and lower-middle-income. Common characteristics include high dependence on resource wealth for fiscal revenues, export sales, or both; low saving rates; poor growth performance; and highly volatile resource revenues.
The Dutch disease is the economic decline caused by natural gas extraction in the Netherlands from 1959 onwards. It led to an appreciation of the currency, which made it harder for other sectors to compete against imported goods. This resulted in a recession and loss of manufacturing capabilities. Similar cases have been observed in Venezuela (oil), Angola (diamonds, oil), and others.
Revenue volatility is another issue as natural resource prices are subject to wide fluctuations. When governments rely heavily on these revenues, sudden price changes can disrupt planning and debt service. This often leads to widespread breaking of contracts or cuts in social programs, eroding trust in the government. Hedging tools like forwards, futures, options, and swaps can mitigate some risks.
Enclave effects describe how resource extraction industries operate as isolated economic zones with limited connections to other sectors. This can lead to neglect of education and infrastructure development, making it difficult for non-resource sectors to compete. The high profits from resources also attract investment away from these sectors.
Human capital could be negatively affected by the resource curse through several channels. High wages in the resource sector might encourage young workers to leave school early for employment opportunities. This can lead to lower skill levels and productivity gains over time. In addition, resource booms can lower teacher wages relative to other jobs, increasing turnover and impairing students' learning.
Incomes and employment are also affected as resource-rich countries may have higher unemployment rates after a boom due to reduced investment in non-resource sectors. The presence of multinational oil companies has been linked to increased state repression.
Tradeable sectors can be adversely impacted by active mining activity, which reduces growth opportunities for firms operating in these areas.
Other effects include violence and conflict, with resource wealth potentially increasing the risk of conflicts due to control over resources or revenues. This can lead to a decline in human rights as governments may use their revenue to suppress opposition. Corruption is also more prevalent in resource-rich countries, affecting governance and distribution of resources.
The curse might be tied only to easily-extractable oil, not complex extraction methods. Other forms of resource wealth have been found to strengthen autocratic rule, reduce democracy levels, and increase gender inequality. International cooperation can be hindered by petrostates' dependence on oil exports, reducing their willingness to join intergovernmental organizations or agree to binding arbitration for investment disputes.
Foreign aid has also been linked to the resource curse, as it might provide perverse political incentives and undermine state-building capacity. The distribution of resources can influence social forces, with more social unrest leading to better public services in oil-rich nations. Gender inequality is another issue, with research suggesting countries with abundant natural resources have higher levels of gender inequality in wages, labor force participation, violence, and education.
Crime rates may also increase in areas with high resource wealth, as seen in Texas where a 1% increase in the value of oil reserves correlated with an increase in murder, robbery, and larceny rates.
In conclusion, while natural resources can provide economic benefits, they can also lead to negative consequences such as the resource curse, which encompasses issues like poor growth, less democracy, increased conflict, and corruption. The extent of these effects varies depending on factors like the type of resources, government policies, and societal conditions.
Sleep apnea: Mouthguards less invasive, just as effective as CPAP:
A new study from the National University of Singapore and the University of Sydney compared the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and a mandibular advancement device (MAD) in reducing high blood pressure for patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea. The results showed that MAD significantly reduced 24-hour mean blood pressure from baseline to six-month follow-up, while the CPAP group did not show a significant reduction. Both groups had similar adherence to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's recommendation for use and both experienced reduced daytime sleepiness. The researchers concluded that a MAD is non-inferior to CPAP in reducing high blood pressure in patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Top 8: Die besten Mähroboter ohne Begrenzungskabel mit Kamera und GPS:
In 2022, mowing robots without boundary wire have emerged as a new trend. These robots offer numerous benefits, including time and nerve savings in comparison to those requiring perimeter cable. The latest generation of mowers eliminates the need for boundary wire and promises more comfort with the use of an app and precise location tracking. However, not all models perform optimally, as they may still have some flaws or missing features. Some robots use RTK technology (Real Time Kinematics) that can lead to issues in certain cases.
Among the best models without boundary wire are: 1. Stiga A1500 - offers precise GPS tracking, efficient navigation, and good steering even on slopes. 2. Mammotion Luba AWD 3000 - has high mowing speed, powerful motor, and comprehensive app features. 3. Segway Navimow - boasts excellent software and low error rate. 4. Ecovacs Goat G1 - utilizes cameras for navigation, making it suitable for areas with obstructed views. 5. Ecoflow Blade - unique design and optional catch bag for collecting leaves or pine cones. 6. Marotronics Alfred - open-source software and community-driven development, but connectivity issues have been reported. 7. Worx Landroid Vision M - uses AI to identify various surfaces and obstacles. 8. Einhell Freelexo Cam 500 - simple design without app control or multiple zones, offering the lowest price in this list.
DMCA Notice Targeting 'Bypass Paywalls Clean' Isn't The Thing to Get Angry About * TorrentFreak:
The early days of the web were characterized by openness and free content, allowing for various specialist communities to thrive. However, as time went on, the definition of 'free' changed, and ads became a primary means of supporting content. Paywalls have become commonplace in the news industry, but users often resist paying for access to information they can easily find elsewhere. Bypass Paywalls Clean (BPC) was a browser extension that allowed users to bypass these paywalls, restoring the news landscape as it used to be. Unfortunately, BPC has been taken down due to a DMCA takedown notice; its creator may file a counter-notice for reinstatement. The debate surrounding paywalls and access to news content is ongoing, with suggestions to boycott sites that plagiarize or create low-quality content in place of genuine journalism.
Hackernews: AI made these movies sharper – critics say it ruined them:
The thread discusses the use of AI to enhance older films, specifically focusing on the work of director James Cameron. It describes how AI can be used to upscale images and improve details in film scenes. However, critics argue that these enhancements can alter the original artistic intent and create a different viewing experience than what was intended by the filmmaker. The article also mentions the potential for AI to introduce errors or inaccuracies in the enhanced images, which could detract from the overall quality of the film. Despite these concerns, some believe that AI technology has the potential to improve the viewing experience of older films when used responsibly and with careful consideration of artistic intent.
A.I. Made These Movies Sharper. Critics Say It Ruined Them.:
Machine-learning technologies are being used in film restoration for new home video releases, but some viewers strongly dislike the results. These advancements have made it easier than ever for filmmakers to fine-tune their work using computers and artificial intelligence. As home video formats reach higher resolutions, such as DVD and Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-rays, restoration tools evolve with them. Recently released versions of James Cameron's films look clearer and sharper than ever before due to AI-assisted restoration efforts. However, some viewers find these pristine new looks strange and unnatural, leading to controversy over the use of artificial intelligence in film restoration.
Hackernews: WireViz: Easily document cables and wiring harnesses:
The article discusses the use of WireViz, a tool for illustrating packets in a simple protocol using bytefield package for LaTeX. It is noted as being heavy but provides great output and clarity. Other tools mentioned include https://wavedrom.com for digital timing diagrams and https://github.com/Deep-Symmetry/bytefield-svg for creating bitfield diagrams in SVG format. A similar tool for complete wiring of a system is not specified within the article, but suggestions are made to use „wiring harness manufacturer“ or „cable assembly“ as search terms and to consider using crimp tools for making harnesses if needed.
Der große Hack bei Volkswagen - China im Fokus:
Internal documents reveal a massive hacking attack on Volkswagen by Chinese state hackers between 2010 and 2015. The hackers were able to repeatedly infiltrate VW's networks and steal intellectual property. Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, emphasized the importance of fair competition during a visit to China, including no dumping, no overproduction, and not violating copyrights. The Volkswagen hack has implications for the ongoing debate within the German government on how to approach their most important trading partner, China.
Your Vision Can Predict Dementia 12 Years Before Diagnosis, Study Finds:
A study conducted on 8,623 healthy people in Norfolk, England, found that loss of visual sensitivity can predict dementia 12 years before it is diagnosed. People who developed dementia were slower to see a triangle forming in a field of moving dots compared to those without dementia. Visual issues may be an early indicator of cognitive decline as the toxic amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease first affect areas of the brain related to vision, while parts of the brain linked to memory become damaged as the disease progresses. Early signs of Alzheimer's include deficits in eye movement control and difficulty recognizing faces.
This article is an introduction to Bill Wear's personal website, where he discusses his love for UNIX, Linux, emacs, and org-mode. He prefers casual clothing like t-shirts and fishing shirts. Bill avoids social media and television in favor of deep work and focus. He lives with his wife in a 67-year-old house in the South, which they are renovating.
It’s not your age that’s slowing your metabolism, new research says. Here’s what to do:
The belief that resting metabolic rates slow down significantly after the age of 40 has been debunked by a new paper published in Science, which analyzed data from nearly 6,500 people aged between infancy and elderly. The study found that while baseline resting metabolic rate may not change between ages 20 and 60, the factors involved in boosting other aspects of your metabolism likely changed, lowering one's ability to metabolize fat, maximize caloric burn from exercise, increase energy-burning muscle mass, and get quality rest. The paper suggests that lifestyle changes, including regular exercise such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength training, eating protein to maintain muscle mass, staying well-hydrated, and getting adequate sleep can help boost metabolism at any age.
How do you recognize an expert?:
The author argues that true expertise is earned through experience and that relying on lectures or videos alone will not make one an expert. They emphasize that expertise is not easily transferred between fields and that employers seek real-world experience in their candidates. The author suggests that pursuing a career with real-world problems is the best way to gain expertise.
Never struggle to give feedback again (even to your manager):
This article discusses the challenges faced in giving feedback to coworkers and presents a 7-step process for effective feedback conversations, emphasizing the importance of building relationships, showing empathy, and being growth-minded when delivering feedback. The author also provides examples of good and bad ways to approach these situations, ultimately stressing that feedback is most successful when given with care and consideration for the other person's wellbeing.
The Djanibekov effect, also known as the tennis racket effect, is a special form of tumbling experienced by a force-free rotating body when it rotates around one of its main axes. It was observed in 1985 by Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Djanibekov during a space flight. The effect appears to involve a repeated reversal of the direction of rotation, as seen in this video demonstration. This phenomenon can be explained mathematically through the Euler equations of rigid body motion and the concept of energy ellipsoids. Rotations around the first and third axes are stable, while rotations around the second axis are unstable.
The Psychology of Getting High—a Lot:
Rapper Snoop Dogg has sold 35 million albums and frequently uses cannabis in his daily life; however, his habit does not seem to interfere with his business acumen. A recent study by the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School challenges stereotypes of chronic cannabis users as lazy, low-achieving, and indifferent ne'er-do-wells. The researchers recruited 260 participants from online cannabis forums who used cannabis an average of five to six times per week. Surprisingly, many users reported using the herb to help them concentrate and focus. The study found that chronic cannabis use did not make participants less motivated than when they were sober. However, there was a minor impact on self-regulation and conscientiousness.
Bayer, a struggling pharmaceutical company known for inventing aspirin, is planning to claw back $2.15 billion by doing away with middle managers and 99% of the company's 1,362-page corporate handbook. This move will allow nearly 100,000 employees to self-manage and be part of constantly evolving „5,000 to 6,000 self-directed teams“ that work on projects of their choosing for 90 days before regrouping for the next project. The company's CEO believes this radical reinvention will liberate employees while saving the company about €2 billion ($2.15 billion) in annual organizational costs by 2026.
The article discusses how users can save money and improve performance by hosting their own infrastructure instead of using cloud services like AWS. It presents a step-by-step guide on setting up a self-hosted Postgres instance, replicated API service, load balancing, and automatic SSL management without relying on cloud providers. The article argues that while the cloud has its uses at certain scales, many people do not need such complex solutions and should consider simpler alternatives like hosting their own applications and data.
Americans’ New TV Habit: Subscribe. Watch. Cancel. Repeat.:
Many people are switching between streaming subscriptions, potentially impacting the entertainment industry. Over 29 million Americans (about a quarter of domestic paying streaming subscribers) have canceled three or more services in the past two years, according to Antenna, a subscription research firm. This behavior contrasts with the cable era when viewers stuck with one provider and the early days of streaming wars when people frequently added services without canceling others.
Why Everything is Becoming a Game:
The article discusses the concept of gamification and how it can be used in various aspects of life, such as work, education, and entertainment. It highlights that by making people engage in activities through game mechanics, they are more likely to achieve certain goals and behaviors. However, there is a concern that using gamification excessively may lead to negative consequences, such as addiction and loss of purpose. The article also suggests five rules for choosing the right games: prioritizing long-term goals, choosing hard over easy games, opting for positive-sum over zero- or negative-sum games, selecting atelic over telic games, and valuing immeasurable rewards over measurable ones. Finally, it emphasizes that although gamification can be powerful, people still have the freedom to choose which games they want to play and how they interact with them.
Why is the iOS app updated so sparingly?:
The article discusses the limitations of web browsers on iOS due to Apple's restrictions on using third-party browser engines other than WebKit. This is why some features might be exclusive for PCs and Android devices. Brave, a Chromium-based browser, is more frequently updated because it is built on top of an open-source project developed by Google. EU regulations may force Apple to allow other browser engines on iOS, which could lead to changes in the web browsing experience for users within the European market.
Two lifeforms merge in once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event:
Scientists have discovered an ongoing process of primary endosymbiosis, a once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event, where algae called Braarudosphaera bigelowii has engulfed a cyanobacterium that allows it to fix nitrogen directly from the air. This is only the third time this type of merging has been observed in Earth's history and could lead to new avenues for incorporating nitrogen-fixing into plants, potentially improving crop growth.
The article is about a subwoofer made by HK Audio called the Pulsar PL 118 Sub A. The subwoofer has a 600 watt Class D end stage, a maximum SPL of 125db, a phase shift switch, and two XLR inputs that can be used for stereo or mono input. It also has two XLR-Thru outputs and two XLR-Mid/High outputs. The subwoofer has M20 mounting flanges and four handles. It can be optionally roll mounted (sold separately). The dimensions of the subwoofer are 525 x 690 x 691mm and it weighs 40.5 kg.
RayOrbit – handmade Popfusion:
This article discusses live recordings from a rehearsal room that were supposed to be a CD pre-production but sounded official enough to share online. It encourages listeners to check them out on SoundCloud, possibly subscribe and share songs if they enjoy the music. The article also mentions an upcoming concert at Orbit Music Club in Winnendens Birkmannsweiler with a neo-soul style and features band members Sandro Gulino, Lui Ludwig, Uwe Metzler, Selenia Gulino, Hanibal, and Oliver Wetzl.
Thousands protest against Canary islands’ ‘unsustainable’ tourism model:
Thousands of people will participate in protests across the Canary islands on Saturday, calling for an urgent rethink of the Spanish archipelago's tourism industry and a freeze on tourist numbers. The „Canarias tiene un límite“ (The Canaries have a limit) campaign is supported by environmental groups such as Greenpeace, WWF, Ecologists in Action, Friends of the Earth, and SEO/Birdlife. Local people argue that the current model has made life unaffordable and environmentally unsustainable for them. Although tourism accounts for 35% of the archipelago's GDP, local people say it is stressing natural resources and pricing them out of the rental market. The Canary Islands experienced a record-breaking 13.9 million visitors in 2022, leading to calls for a rethink of the tourism model and potential restrictions on the number of tourists allowed in the region.
Some Volumes Were Slow And We Figured Out Why:
Fly.io experienced performance issues with fast Volumes due to I/O problems, which were resolved after investigating the issue. The problem was caused by a small feature that allowed first-class support for swap devices, moving swap off the root filesystem device and onto a dedicated swap device. This change led to swap devices being rate limited, resulting in throttled IO operations for some Fly Machines. The performance issues were resolved after fixing the flyd code that handled st_rdev and clearing the bad rate limits.
America is uniquely ill-suited to handle a falling population:
Cairo, Illinois, a town founded in the early 19th century, has experienced significant population decline over recent decades, with its population falling to just 1,700 people by the 2020 census. This decline is attributed to several factors including the supplanting of river transport by railroads, civil-rights legislation in the 1970s leading to white-owned businesses fleeing, and the demolition of public housing displacing residents. Cairo's biggest problem now is a national demographic headwind; between 2010 and 2020 over half of America's counties lost population. The town has seen its main grocery store closed due to losses, while the local library remains open but with few visitors. Cairo may become America's newest ghost town.
The article discusses a new declaration signed by three dozen scientists, the New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness, which argues that there is strong scientific evidence supporting the idea that mammals and birds are conscious, and the „realistic possibility“ of consciousness in creatures such as reptiles, octopuses, and insects. The declaration calls for scientists and policymakers to consider welfare risks and use the evidence to inform their responses to these risks. This comes after the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness found that mammals, birds, and other animals have the capacity to exhibit intentional behaviors, and that humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness.
Llama 3 is not very censored · Ollama Blog:
The Llama 3 models offer significantly less censorship compared to their predecessor, the Llama 2. They have lower false refusal rates and can discuss a wider range of topics. Examples show that Llama 3 responds more openly to prompts related to airport activities or formatting a hard drive. The article also mentions resources like Ollama for running Llama 3 locally.
Bärlauchsoße von Spühlchef| Chefkoch:
In this article, a recipe for a Bärlauch-Knoblauch sauce is provided. The ingredients include fresh chives, garlic, olive oil, onion, butter, flour, lemon zest, sour cream or smetana, water, milk, salt, pepper, and a lemon juice. The preparation process involves finely chopping the chives and garlic, sautéing the onions with butter, adding flour, and then gradually incorporating liquids to form a sauce. The final step is to mix in the Bärlauch-Knoblauch mixture and let it simmer briefly. The sauce can be served with fish, potatoes, noodles, rice, or hard-boiled eggs.
The Earth's magnetic field protects the planet from harmful space radiation, but it is not a permanent feature. Scientists have discovered that around 41,000 years ago, there was an 'excursion' during which the intensity of the magnetic field decreased, allowing more cosmic rays to bombard Earth. The Laschamps excursion, one of the best-studied instances of this phenomenon, featured a low magnetic field intensity that could have led to increased cosmic radiation on the planet's surface. Researchers can determine periods with lower paleomagnetic shielding by measuring cosmogenic radionuclides in ice and marine sediment cores. Sanja Panovska will present her findings about the relationship between paleomagnetic intensity and cosmogenic radionuclides during the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2024. Understanding these events is crucial for future predictions of space climate and its effects on Earth's environment.
I hate Rust (programming language):
The author shares their personal experience with Rust, a programming language, and criticizes its community for promoting elitism, smugness, and a false sense of security. They argue that Rust is not a memory-safe language or a solution to the world's technological issues and criticize cargo, the tool used to manage dependencies in Rust. The author concludes by expressing gratitude for those who work quietly on improving the language without causing unnecessary noise.
Expect financial fallout when the fossil fuel bubble finally bursts:
Based on this article, the main point is that the delay in transitioning away from fossil fuels and the increasing risk of climate change are leading to a potential „Minsky Moment“, a sudden and catastrophic plunge in asset values. The article argues that if we are to avoid this, actions must be accelerated to reduce fossil fuel emissions and investments in clean energy. The financial sector should be aware of the climate-related risks and adjust accordingly.
MaziyarPanahi (Maziyar Panahi):
This article discusses the profiles and activities of MaziyarPanahi, who has a strong interest in AI & ML fine-tuning, merging, and quantization. It lists several repositories related to text generation, including Llama-3-16B-Instruct-v0.1, Llama-3-13B-Instruct-v0.1, Llama-3-11B-Instruct-v0.1, and Meta-Llama-3-70B-Instruct-GPTQ among others. It also mentions a dataset called WizardLM_evol_instruct_V2_196k related to viewing activities.
The article does not provide enough information to be summarized properly. It seems to refer to „The Curse of Monkey Island“ by Larry Ahern and Jonathan Ackley, but the context and content of the article are unclear.
I have set myself on fire outside the Trump Trial.:
The article is an account of the author, Max Azzarello, who set himself on fire during a protest outside the Trump trial in Manhattan. Azzarello claims that there is an urgent and important discovery related to a totalitarian con. According to him, cryptocurrency is a global multi-trillion-dollar Ponzi scheme created by powerful individuals from Silicon Valley and Harvard. He also alleges that the bank failures in March 2023 were intentional, with the perpetrators using banks to move stolen crypto money. The author claims that cryptocurrency is an economic doomsday device that is intentionally designed to collapse the world economy. Azzarello urges people to investigate his research and uncover the truth about 'post-truth America.'
Why single vendor is the new proprietary - OpenSource.net:
The relicensing trend towards non-compete licenses has exposed single-vendor Open Source software as neo-proprietary software. This is because, while companies claim to provide Open Source software, they still consider the software produced as their exclusive property and intend to capture all value that derives from it. In contrast, truly open source projects are developed as a commons by a community of organizations and individuals working in open collaboration and guarantee freedoms like the freedom to build on it without asking for permission, and the freedom to use it for any purpose, including making money.
In 1995, New Mexico's state senate considered an unusual amendment that would have required psychologists to dress as wizards while testifying on a defendant's competency. The amendment received unanimous approval but was later withdrawn by its sponsor Duncan Scott, who explained it was meant as satire due to the increasing number of mental health practitioners acting as expert witnesses. It was never signed into law.
Tips on how to structure your home directory:
This article discusses the author's approach to organizing directories and files on their computer, emphasizing efficiency and simplicity. The primary methods for organizing are „category“ and „dates.“ The author uses a directory structure with subdirectories for different types of files (e.g., data, edata) and specific folders within those directories. ZFS snapshots and send/receive are utilized for easy backup to network storage without decrypting the dataset. The article also highlights the importance of keeping long descriptive file names, cleaning up messy folders regularly, and not leaving files lying around forever.
This article discusses various AI and ML models from QuantFactory, including Meta-Llama, SeaLLM, CodeQwen, rho-math, and dolphin. These models are focused on text generation tasks and have been updated within the past few days or hours. The datasets associated with these models are not yet publicly available.
This article discusses various text generation models from different repositories, such as Hugging Face and Mistralai, including their updates and details on the number of followers and downloads. These models are used for tasks like code completion, chatbots, and natural language understanding.
The article discusses the emerging buzzwords in technology such as „native“, „scale“ and AI-related terms, specifically „AI-native“ and „AI-scale“. It criticizes how these marketing terms are used to sell products that don't always deliver on their promises. The author argues that companies often use buzzwords like „AI-native“ or „AI-scale“ without actually understanding what they mean, leading to confusion and disappointment among customers. The article also discusses the potential dangers of allowing AI systems to make autonomous decisions in complex environments.
An experiment using a C64 („Qommodore 64“) outperformed IBM's quantum computer with a sparse Pauli dynamics technique developed by Beguŝić, Hejazi, and Chan to approximate the behavior of ferromagnetic materials. The experiment utilized just 15kB of memory on the Commodore machine and took approximately 4 minutes per data point. This was compared to testing the same code on a modern laptop, which achieved roughly 800μs per data point. The researchers suggest that this may not be applicable to most other quantum problems but highlights the potential of using older systems in similar experiments.
Nestlé adds sugar to infant milk sold in poorer countries, report finds:
Nestlé, the world's largest consumer goods company, has been found to add sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries, contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases. A report by Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, found added sugar in samples of Nestlé's baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. WHO guidelines for the European region say no added sugars or sweetening agents should be permitted in any food for children under three, but there is no specific guidance for other regions. The findings represent a „double standard“ that can't be justified, according to Dr Nigel Rollins from the WHO.
Why you need a "WTF Notebook":
This article discusses the importance of building a reputation as someone who helps solve problems and get things done on a team. The author shares their experience using a „WTF Notebook“ to document issues they encounter while joining new teams, helping them to build credibility by taking a more measured approach to suggesting improvements and offering solutions. This method allows the individual to develop a reputation as someone who effectively contributes to the team's success without coming across as constantly complaining about problems.
A criminal hacking group named GhostR claims to have stolen a confidential database containing 5.3 million records from the World-Check screening database in March. The World-Check database is used for „know your customer“ (KYC) checks, allowing companies to determine potential risks of prospective customers. The hackers plan to publish the data online but did not disclose the affected firm or its location. London Stock Exchange Group, which maintains the database, stated that it was an illegal acquisition from a third-party system and is working with the affected party and appropriate authorities. Privately run databases like World-Check are known to contain errors affecting innocent people. The Information Commissioner's Office has not yet commented on the breach.
Windows 10 will soon start nagging you to switch from local account to Microsoft Account:
Microsoft has released a new Release Preview update for Windows Insiders that includes testing new banners in the Settings app to encourage users with local accounts to switch to Microsoft Accounts. The change is rolling out gradually, and users can force-enable it using a command for the ViVeTool app. Users who prefer not to see these notifications can disable them by going to Privacy > General and toggling off „Show me suggested content in the Settings app.“
Why chocolate is skyrocketing in price:
Chocolate prices are at record highs due to supply chain issues and higher demand. However, for cocoa farmers in West Africa, it has not been a windfall as they face challenges such as severe weather, rising rents, and government price regulations. Despite the soaring chocolate prices in Europe and the US, the increase was not enough to protect West African farmers from inflation and economic struggles. Farmers are hoping that investments made for the fall 2024 harvest will yield better results as some governments plan to increase farmgate prices by up to 50%.
What Myths About the Anthropocene Get Wrong:
The Anthropocene epoch is a concept born from a moment of spontaneity by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen, who observed significant changes in climate and chemical cycles that marked a departure from the relative stability of the Holocene epoch. The term quickly gained traction among earth scientists and other disciplines, but its meaning has been diluted or obscured as it proliferated through various fields. The Anthropocene Working Group proposed recognizing the new geological epoch in 1952, marking a rapid transition in Earth's physical, chemical, and biological systems triggered by human activity. Despite being rejected by the international hierarchy of stratigraphy, misconceptions and myths about the Anthropocene persist, often focusing on what it isn't rather than what it is. Recognizing this epoch can help us diagnose and address current environmental issues and encourage more informed decisions for the future.
Software Developers Have Health Risks:
This article highlights the importance of proper sitting posture for computer programmers who often spend long hours at their desks. It discusses how poor sitting posture can lead to health issues such as headaches and jaw pain, gastrointestinal problems, and even impact job performance. The author shares his personal experience of improving his sitting posture by focusing on strengthening core muscles and stretching opposing muscle groups. He also emphasizes the need for breaks, mobility, and overall exercise to maintain better health and productivity as a developer.
The article discusses the influence of search engines on elections and how technology companies have become the biggest controllers of information in the 21st century, with Google holding over 90% of global market share. Robert Epstein, a researcher, has been studying the effects of search on elections since 2015 and found that biased search rankings can shift voting preferences by up to 80% in some demographic groups. The article also mentions how mainstream media has had significant influence on elections and discusses how digital platforms have been co-opted by capitalist forces, turning the internet against democracy.
Is society caught up in a Death Spiral? Modeling societal demise and its reversal:
The article presents a comprehensive analysis of societal decline and the potential for reversal, drawing on concepts from complex adaptive systems theory, psychological theories, and historical examples. It introduces the term „Death Spiral Effect“ to describe the vicious cycle of self-reinforcing dysfunctional behavior that can lead to societal collapse. The article outlines key characteristics of this effect, such as repeated low-quality decision-making, rising inequalities, and dysfunctional behavior among both the elite and masses. It also explores historical examples of societal decline, including the Roman Empire, to illustrate the patterns observed in these processes.
The authors suggest that a Death Spiral can be broken by implementing strategies such as turnaround leadership, cultural change, compassion, and collective action. They emphasize the importance of decreasing inequalities, which are often identified as markers of societal decline. The article concludes with a discussion on the potential for an upward spiral, where societies can transition from decline to flourishing through effective interventions and strategic leadership.
The article discusses the history and development of motorwheels or monowheels, which are vehicles with a single large wheel containing both rider and engine (if any). Monowheels have been around since the 19th century, with several early patents and designs from Rousseau in 1869 to Venable in 1897. The article highlights various monowheel designs throughout history, including those by Harper, Hemmings, Gauthier, and Finch, as well as discussing the mathematics of monowheel stability by Carvallo.
Halo 2 in HD: Pushing the Original Xbox to the Limit:
This blog post details the process of creating an HD patch for the original Xbox version of Halo 2, which involved modifying both the software and hardware components of the console. The author, with the help of a friend named „doom“ who had been reverse engineering and researching the Xbox's hardware and software, set out to add support for higher video resolutions (720p and potentially 1080i) on an upgraded „god box“ console with more RAM and a faster CPU.
The project involved several steps:
Rendering in HD: This required modifying the game's code to adjust the size of the D3D front and back buffers, set up proper screen dimensions for creating the D3D Device, and set additional flags on the D3D present parameters depending on the video mode. Additionally, the author had to update the dimensions of surfaces/textures created to match the resolution of the back buffer and implement a hook to adjust the size of the rasterizer targets, particularly the texaccum layer.
Memory Management and RAM Upgrades: To run the game in 720p or higher, a RAM upgrade was necessary due to the increased size of the front/back/depth buffers and rasterizer targets. The author modified the game's memory allocator by moving certain allocations to the debug memory region and adjusting the size of the runtime data region to reclaim memory that wasn't being used. Additionally, hot patching the Xbox kernel was required to allow physical memory allocations in the upper 64MB of RAM.
Performance Improvements and Overclocking: To address performance issues, the author implemented triple buffering, which increased the number of buffers in the swap chain from two to three, allowing for more efficient rendering even under heavy load. Overclocking the GPU further improved performance, with the game running smoothly at 30 FPS most of the time. The author also reduced pop-in by increasing the size of the geometry and texture caches and optimizing hard drive transfer speeds.
The final result was a version of Halo 2 that could run in higher resolutions with significantly reduced pop-in, improved performance, and faster loading times.
How One Author Pushed the Limits of AI Copyright:
Elisa Shupe, a retired US Army veteran, filed a copyright registration for her self-published novel using OpenAI's ChatGPT extensively. The US Copyright Office initially rejected Shupe's application due to its policy on work made with AI, which requires would-be copyright holders to exclude machine-generated elements. However, the agency changed course and granted her copyright registration for AI Machinations: Tangled Webs and Typed Words, a work of autofiction self-published on Amazon under the pen name Ellen Rae. The novel draws from Shupe's life and advocacy for more inclusive gender recognition. This case highlights the struggle the USCO is facing with artificial intelligence as more people incorporate AI tools into their creative work.
The article presents the world's smallest Nintendo Wii, known as „Short Stack,“ which is a 1:2.38 scale model. Created by trimming the Wii motherboard and using custom stacked PCBs, the console is smaller than a typical deck of playing cards. The model features HDMI, Bluetooth for Wii remotes and accessories, MicroSD card storage, and four GameCube controller ports. It also uses a custom heatsink and a 5V blower fan for cooling. The console requires motherboard trimming, fine pitch soldering, and PCB assembly, and is not a beginner project.
EU tells Meta it can't paywall privacy:
The EU's Data Protection Board (EDPB) has told large online platforms that they should not offer users a binary choice between paying for a service and consenting to their personal data being used for targeted advertising. This opinion follows requests by the Dutch, Norwegian, and Hamburg Data Protection Authorities as well as complaints about Meta. The board stated that, in most cases, it would not comply with the legal requirements for valid consent if users were only presented with a choice between consenting to personal data processing or paying a fee. However, this opinion is not expected to have an impact on Meta's services.
Inside the disinformation industry:
This article discusses the role of government-funded organizations, such as the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), in censoring journalism and controlling media conversations. GDI is an organization that provides ratings on media publications based on their adherence to „disinformation“ standards. These ratings are used by advertising agencies to determine which websites receive ad revenue, potentially causing harm to smaller, independent media outlets that may not align with GDI's perspective. The article raises concerns about the freedom of the press and democracy in the digital age due to the influence of organizations like GDI.
I Know the Secret to the Quiet Mind. I Wish I’d Never Learned It.:
This article recounts the experience of Hana Schank, who was in a car accident that left her with traumatic brain injury and other physical injuries. She details how the accident affected her family, including her daughter's severe injuries, and her own struggle to recover both physically and mentally from the incident. As she goes through therapy and copes with the aftermath of the accident, Schank reflects on the changes in her life and her new perspective on what is important.
The invisible seafaring industry that keeps the internet afloat:
This article explores the world of submarine cable repair, a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of modern technology infrastructure. It focuses on the efforts of Mitsuyoshi Hirai and his team aboard the KDDI Ocean Link to repair damaged cables following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. The article also delves into the broader issues facing the industry, such as aging ships and a lack of new recruits due to the invisibility of the profession. Despite these challenges, the submarine cable repair industry remains vital to global communication and commerce, ensuring that the internet continues to function even in the face of disaster.
In Großbritannien wurde das falsche Ehepaar geschieden, da die richtige Ehefrau Anwälte engagiert hatte, um ihre Scheidung zu organisieren. Scheidungen sind inzwischen vollständig automatisiert und die Anwälte haben den Systemfehler gemacht, der 21 Minuten später zur Bestätigung führte. Die Kanzlei bemerkte diesen Fehler zwei Tage später und versuchte, ihn rückgängig zu machen. Das falsche Paar streitet sich jetzt vor Gericht über Alimente-Fragen. Der Ehemann argumentiert, dass die Scheidung durch ist und es keine Rücknahme gibt, auch wenn seine Frau nicht einverstanden war.
Thread by @LizaGoitein on Thread Reader App:
The article urges people to call their senators and oppose the passage of a law that would force U.S. businesses to serve as NSA spies. The Section 702 reauthorization bill, passed by the House, has been called „terrifying“ by Senator Wyden due to its vast expansion of domestic surveillance since the Patriot Act. If the bill becomes law, any company or individual that provides a service may be forced to assist in NSA surveillance as long as they have access to equipment on which communications are transmitted or stored. This could include barber shops, laundromats, fitness centers, commercial landlords, and even those who provide home services like plumbers and house cleaners. The article argues that this power should not be given to the government in a democracy, as it would inevitably lead to abuse.
Turn Raspberry Pi Zero in USB Keyboard | Random Nerd Tutorials:
This article explains how to turn a Raspberry Pi Zero board into a USB keyboard or HID (Human Interface Device) using Python scripting. The process involves enabling modules and drivers, configuring the gadget, creating the gadget, and writing a Python script for key presses. The Raspberry Pi can be used as a password filler or keystroke injection tool with this method.
This article presents a list of various logic games, puzzles, and activities for players of all ages, sorted by grade levels (3rd-12th) and „For All Ages.“ Some of the mentioned games include Logic3-in-a-Row, Apple Picking, ShapeBilliards Geometry, Blue Dot Solitaire, Bridges, NumberCatch Up, Chameleon Island, Chocolate Fix, ShapeColor Triangles, Colored Loops, Countdown, Crack the Code, Cup Stacking, Digit Sums, Domino Dissection, Doodles, Dueling Dice, Frogs and Toads, Gerrymandering, Graceful Gourds, Hexaflexagons, Jumping Julia, Königsberg, Lots o' Plots, Magic Flowers, Map Coloring, Meeple Town, Monster Town, Mosaics, Poly Puzzles, Pool Testing, Prime Cubes, River Crossings, Rook's Move, Rubik's Riddles, Skyscrapers, Smileys, Sprigs, Star Battle, Stepping Stones, Tile with Style, Tippy Toads, Toothpick Squares, Toothpick Triangles, Tower of Hanoi, and Wolves and Sheep.
Junk food diet can cause long-term damage to adolescent brains:
USC researchers have found that rats fed a diet high in fat and sugar during adolescence experienced memory impairment, highlighting the importance of the gut-brain connection. The study suggests that consuming a junk food diet during teenage years may disrupt brain memory ability for an extended period. By examining acetylcholine levels and running tests on rats, the researchers discovered that poor diet affects memory encoding in a manner similar to Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests intervention might be possible with medications that induce acetylcholine release, but more research is needed for reversing memory problems from junk food diets during adolescence.
TBM 272: The Biggest Opportunity (Part 2):
This article discusses the importance of understanding the motivations behind individuals' behavior in a workplace setting. The author suggests taking a step back and observing one's feelings about a situation, then listening to others' perspectives on why they do or don't engage in certain behaviors. By doing so, it is possible to find common ground and develop solutions that benefit both the individual and the company as a whole. The article also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging biases and embracing diversity within teams to create a more productive environment.
TBM 271: The Biggest Untapped Opportunity:
This article discusses the concept of „skilled pragmatists,“ who are employees that work within the system and do not engage in conflicts or political maneuvering at their workplace. These skilled individuals can be a significant untapped resource for companies but are often overlooked because they don't fit into conventional expectations of high performers. The article argues that many organizations focus on low performers, layoffs, and promoting those who actively poke the system or are politically savvy rather than utilizing the potential of skilled pragmatists.
Django's Journey: The Making of the Nomadic King of French Swing:
Django Reinhardt was a legendary jazz guitarist known for playing with only two fingers on his left hand. Born into the Romani community, he faced adversity early in life but went on to become a virtuoso musician and cultural icon of musical freedom. He influenced future generations of musicians, including Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck, with his unique style and technique. Despite facing health challenges and World War II, Reinhardt left an indelible mark on European jazz through his innovative approach to music.
No, Dubai’s Floods Weren’t Caused by Cloud Seeding:
Heavy storms caused flash flooding across the United Arab Emirates, leading to chaos in Dubai and the cancellation of hundreds of flights at its busy airport. At least 18 people died in neighboring Oman. Some reports have blamed cloud seeding for worsening the floods; however, it's more likely that Dubai is ill-equipped to handle rainfall due to rapid urban expansion and lack of infrastructure like storm drains. Climate change may also play a role in more violent storms in the region.
Joseph Priestley Created Revolutionary "Maps" of Time:
The first modern timeline, A Chart of Biography, created by Joseph Priestley in 1765, has become a subject of interest among data visualization enthusiasts and the focus of an NEH-supported digital humanities project called Chronographics: The Time Charts of Joseph Priestley. This pedagogical tool, which combines meticulous inscriptions of historical figures with precise organization, showcases Priestley's unique ability to synthesize information from various subjects. His time charts not only encapsulate his intellectual gifts but also demonstrate his compulsive need to share knowledge he had acquired. Joseph Priestley was a scientist and theologian who made significant contributions in chemistry, electricity, and politics. The Chart of Biography, along with its companion chart, A New Chart of History, has become a source of fascination among data visualization experts and is now considered a revolutionary design.
How Nestlé gets children hooked on sugar in lower-income countries:
Nestlé's leading baby-food brands, promoted in low- and middle-income countries as healthy and key to supporting young children's development, contain high levels of added sugar. The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and Public Eye have exposed the company's hypocrisy and deceptive marketing strategies. Nestlé uses influencers like Meagan Adonis and Billy Saavedra to promote their Cerelac infant cereals and Nido 1+ formulas in various countries, reaching a wide audience by building on a sense of identification and relatability. These baby-food products with added sugar are permitted under national legislation despite the fact that they go against WHO guidelines. National legislation is often based on the Codex Alimentarius, a collection of international standards developed by an intergovernmental commission based in Rome, which tolerate added sugar in baby foods up to certain limits specific for each type of product – up to 20 percent in infant cereals.
Power-hungry AI is putting the hurt on global electricity supply:
Electricity supply is becoming a major chokepoint threatening the growth of artificial intelligence as power-hungry data centers add strain on grids around the world. Leading tech industry chiefs, including Elon Musk and Andy Jassy, have expressed concerns about not having enough electricity to run new AI services. Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are investing billions in computing infrastructure as they seek to build out their AI capabilities, but some popular data center locations face capacity constraints. The power supply issue has also fueled environmental concerns due to the need for renewable energy commitments and electrification of transportation in response to climate change.
#ChatControl: EU ministers want to exempt themselves:
The European Union (EU) is considering a controversial regulation that would exempt professional accounts, such as those belonging to intelligence agencies, police, and military personnel, from being scanned for child sexual abuse-related content. This comes after an EU Child Sexual Abuse Regulation proposal was leaked by French news organization Contexte. The draft text also suggests that the regulation should not apply to „confidential information“ such as professional secrets. Pirate Party MEP Patrick Breyer criticized this move, stating it shows EU interior ministers are aware of the dangers and unreliability of such algorithms. He argued that chat control is detrimental to digital privacy and secure encryption. The EU governments aim to adopt the chat control bill by June.
I can't use my number pad for 2FA codes:
The article discusses an infuriating bug report experienced by the author when trying to enter a 2FA code on a website. They discovered that their keyboard was working properly, but the website's JavaScript was rejecting any key code that wasn't a „Digit.“ The author suggests that developers should test websites on a wider range of devices and consider allowing users to input numbers using different keys for better accessibility and user experience.
How many bathrooms have Neanderthals in the tile?:
A dentist discovered a human mandible embedded in travertine flooring at his parents' house. Travertine is limestone that often contains fossils, such as algae, plants and small animals, which form when calcium carbonate precipitates from spring water. This discovery raises the question of how many other people have installed travertine with human fossils inside. Researchers are interested in learning more about this individual whose jaw was found in the rock.
COVID infections are causing drops in IQ and years of brain aging, studies suggest | CBC Radio:
A recent study has shown that COVID-19 infections can cause brain inflammation, leading to a drop in IQ and years of brain aging. The virus is believed to be affecting the way the brain functions by inducing inflammation, which can have lasting effects on cognitive performance. Researchers are working to understand these impacts better and develop ways to mitigate them. However, the availability of vaccines and antivirals has reduced the burden of long COVID since the early days of the pandemic.
3D-printed “metamaterial” is stronger than anything in nature:
Australian scientists have developed a new „metamaterial“ using lasers and metal powder inspired by plants' hollow lattice structures. By creating an advanced metal 3D-printing technique, the researchers at RMIT University created a material with evenly distributed load stress, which is 50% stronger than the strongest alloy of similar density used in aerospace. This super strong and lightweight metamaterial could have potential applications in medical implants, airships, and other industries looking to improve strength-to-weight ratios.
Amazon is filled with garbage ebooks. Here’s how they get made.:
The article discusses the rise of low-quality ebooks on platforms like Amazon due to exploitative marketing techniques and incentives. The internet has become a haven for those looking to profit from books without much effort, as the cost of publishing continues to decrease. AI tools have enabled the generation of cover images, outlines, and even text at the click of a button, further facilitating this trend. As a result, readers struggle to find valuable content amidst the flood of garbage ebooks. The article suggests that the incentives for both authors and consumers need to change in order to support the creation of quality books.
This article tells a story about how the author bought an entire Egghead Software store and whether it counted as taxable income. The software was considered a gift under the de minimis rule due to certain conditions being met, such as it being a one-time event, having low value, no administrative tracking, and no actual compensation. Additionally, the story discusses an issue with the hotkey for activating a cloaking device in the video game Wing Commander III, which was fixed by modifying Windows 95.
Stop Acting Like You're Famous:
The article emphasizes that individuals should stop focusing on fame or an imaginary audience while engaging in leisure activities. Instead, they should focus on mastering skills and enjoying the variety these hobbies provide. It's important to be authentic and not worry about creating a personal style, as no one will care. The article also suggests that functionality is more important than design when building apps or websites, and to prioritize the writing process over the final product in blogging. Lastly, it advises against focusing on making money from these activities, as this can suck the fun out of them.
We Need To Rewild The Internet:
This article discusses the need to rewild the internet, which is a metaphor for restoring its diversity, resilience, and openness in response to the concentration and consolidation of power by a few tech giants. The author compares the current state of the internet to the tragic story of scientific forestry in the late 18th century Prussia and Saxony, where forests were transformed into monocultures that led to their destruction due to lack of biodiversity.
The article highlights how the internet has evolved from a dynamic web of human interactions into a system dominated by globe-spanning data extraction engines controlled by a few companies. These platforms, often referred to as „plantations,“ have limited the diversity and complexity of online spaces, making them more akin to industrial farming than ecosystems.
The article emphasizes the dangers of this concentration, such as the creation of single points of failure that can lead to widespread outages, as seen in incidents like the Dyn cyberattack and the WorldCom disaster following the Howard Street Tunnel fire. It argues for a rewilding approach, inspired by ecological concepts, to create a more resilient and diverse internet infrastructure.
The article suggests several strategies for rewilding the internet, including reviving antitrust laws to break up monopolies, promoting interoperability, investing in public-funded tech research, and leveraging legal standards like the California Consumer Privacy Act's Global Privacy Control (GPC). It also proposes innovative funding models, such as a levy on search engines to support browsers and other key internet infrastructure, and emphasizes the need for transparency and multistakeholder oversight.
In conclusion, the article calls for a collective effort to rewild the internet, drawing inspiration from ecologists who are facing similar systemic issues of exploitation and organizing at scale. It encourages technologists to embrace the challenge of restoring the internet's health and vitality for future generations.
The article discusses the Waterfall model in software development and addresses some common misconceptions about it, such as there being no iterations involved and that it is only used by bad people. The author argues that Waterfall was initially not intended to dictate how development should be done but rather to emphasize the importance of additional steps required for a final product. They also mention that Royce's original paper from 1970 contains elements that are now considered outdated or dogmatic, such as the focus on documentation and adherence to a strict process. The author suggests that Waterfall could be beneficial in certain situations and should not be completely dismissed.
This article follows a group of teenagers from 1997 to their late-30s, tracking their lives as part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The research shows that adverse childhood experiences significantly impact an individual's financial situation, health, relationships, and happiness in adulthood. These factors also play a role in shaping individuals' decisions, such as going to college or not. The article highlights the importance of providing supportive environments for children in order to break intergenerational cycles of poverty and poor health.
Half of Ireland’s young people have low level of mental wellbeing, new report shows:
The State of Our Young Nation report highlights significant challenges faced by young people in Ireland, particularly women aged 18 to 29. Compared to men of the same age group, they reported lower mental and financial well-being, dissatisfaction with pay and conditions, and a worse ability to cope with rising costs-of-living. One-in-five people have skipped meals due to escalating expenses. Nearly half of young people are unhappy with their current housing situation, and over 50% of those with rental or mortgage payments have seen costs increase in the past year. The report recommends tackling these issues by introducing rent caps, increasing social and affordable housing supply, abolishing sub-minimum wage rates for under 20s, and reducing education fees.
This article is about defining and achieving product-market fit (PMF) in a B2B context, particularly for sales-led startups. It introduces a new framework that breaks down PMF into four levels (nascent, developing, strong, and extreme), three dimensions (satisfaction, demand, efficiency), and levers to help founders find product-market fit faster. The article uses real-world examples from Looker, Plaid, Ironclad, Verkada, Lattice, and others to illustrate the progression through each level of PMF and the tactics that can be employed at each stage. It also discusses the importance of efficiency, especially in terms of customer acquisition cost (CAC) payback and life time value (LTV) to CAC ratio. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for continuous expansion into new markets and products to achieve extreme PMF over and over again, thus compounding revenue growth.
RICE, an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, is a treatment regimen once recommended for soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains to control inflammation. However, it has been withdrawn due to lack of research proving its efficacy in promoting healing. Early rehabilitation is now suggested instead. Ice, compression, and elevation may temporarily reduce swelling and pain but have not shown significant benefits for healing an injury. The use of ice can potentially delay the body's attempt at healing by inhibiting inflammation. Variations of RICE include PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), POLICE (Protection, Optimal Loading, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), and PEACE & LOVE (Protection, Elevation, Avoid Anti-inflammatories, Compression, Education & Load, Optimism, Vascularization, Exercise).
Best Python Chart Examples | The Python Graph Gallery:
The Python Graph Gallery offers hundreds of chart examples for data visualization in Python, showcasing the depths of matplotlib's customization capabilities. These examples represent polished masterpieces and serve as inspiration for developers. Many were originally created in R, highlighting its rich visualization ecosystem. This work by Yan Holtz encourages further exploration of the versatility and power of matplotlib.
What would happen to low latency trading if exchanges moved to the cloud? – Diary of a SysAdmin:
The article discusses how stock exchanges like NASDAQ and NYSE are considering moving to cloud-based systems for their matching engines, similar to crypto exchanges. This could potentially change the landscape for high-frequency trading (HFT) firms and small-time traders. Currently, ULL trading firms invest heavily in setting up servers close to exchanges to reduce latency. However, transitioning to cloud-based systems would level the playing field for smaller quant shops and sophisticated home traders while potentially disadvantaging professional HFTs due to their reliance on specialized hardware. Amazon could be a major winner in this shift, as it provides cloud services for exchanges.
Historic Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark goes up in flames:
In April 2024, Denmark's historic Børsen, a 17th-century building in Copenhagen and the old stock exchange, was severely damaged by a fire. The iconic dragon spire collapsed, leading the culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, to mourn the loss of 400 years of Danish cultural heritage. Members of the public and emergency services rushed to rescue paintings, but much of the building was destroyed. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but emergency services faced difficulties due to the scaffolding and protective plastic covering around the building. The Danish chamber of commerce has vowed to rebuild the historic structure „no matter what“.
AI cloud startup TensorWave bets AMD can beat Nvidia:
Specialist cloud operators are emerging to run hot and power-hungry GPUs for AI infrastructure, with some turning to AMD instead of Nvidia. TensorWave, a bit barn startup, has begun racking up systems powered by AMD's Instinct MI300X, which it plans to lease at a fraction of the cost charged to access Nvidia accelerators. By the end of 2024, TensorWave aims to have 20,000 MI300X accelerators deployed across two facilities and plans to bring additional liquid-cooled systems online next year. AMD's latest AI silicon is faster than Nvidia's much coveted H100 in raw specs, and TensorWave aims to address performance anxiety by offering GPU leases for as low as $1/hr/GPU.
IPv6 for the remotely interested:
The article explains various aspects of IPv6, which was developed as a solution to the IPv4 address space problem. Compared to IPv4's 32-bit addresses, IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses. One feature of IPv6 is that it does not require network configuration or a DHCP server to determine an address; instead, devices can acquire their own address using SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration). Additionally, IPv6 supports CIDR addressing and has no NAT, making it easier for devices to connect directly. The article also discusses potential disadvantages of IPv6, such as the difficulty in memorizing addresses, the need for additional encoding in URIs, and reliance on ISPs for subnet information. Despite these challenges, the author believes that IPv6 will eventually replace IPv4 due to its numerous advantages and increased adoption by cellular network operators.
Mastodon: Influencing the Frontend Development Community: Challenges and Pathways to Change:
The article discusses the difficulty of influencing people in a complex social network, using a personal account of attempting to change the frontend development community's focus. It emphasizes the importance of providing better options, simplifying complexity, and considering factors beyond developer experience. The author highlights React as a prime example of an overly complex solution in the frontend development landscape and calls for more trusted professionals to create better alternatives and educate others on the right tools for different projects.—-
Show HN: YouTube Shorts Redirector:
The article discusses various methods to bypass or disable YouTube Shorts, such as changing the URL, using browser extensions, and utilizing third-party apps like Invidious or Scribe. Users expressed frustration with the short video format, citing issues like no scrub bar, no volume control, and auto-scrolling interfaces.
The article discusses the Youtube Shorts Redirector Chrome Extension, which has an MIT license and 13 stars on GitHub. It is a tool used for redirecting users to YouTube shorts, but currently, there are no available actions that can be performed.
My battle with Tesla: I want to clear my name before I die:
A former Tesla engineer, Cristina Balan, has been battling with Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, in courts for almost a decade. She was a rising star at Tesla who had her initials engraved on the batteries of its Model S electric cars. However, her career took a downturn after she raised concerns about a safety issue involving braking. She was dismissed and later accused by Tesla of embezzlement. Balan is determined to prove her innocence and has taken legal action. Her case is pending in California. Balan also recently completed breast-cancer treatment and is currently in remission.
Why child care is so expensive in NYC that it's become a crisis:
The New York City Council is urging the Adams administration to reverse $1 billion in planned budget cuts, including $170 million in funding for early childhood education. Lawmakers warn that any rollbacks to the city's 3-K and pre-K program would worsen the city's childcare crisis and drive more middle-class New Yorkers to leave as housing and food prices also skyrocket. Childcare is already unaffordable for 80% of New York City families, with the 80th percentile of families paying between $14,000 and $20,000 a year for care for a child aged five years or younger.
An unbiased evaluation of environment management and packaging tools:
The article provides an unbiased evaluation of existing packaging and environment management tools in Python, discussing five main categories: Environment management, Package management, Python version management, Package building, and Package publishing. It covers various tools such as pyenv, venv, pipenv, conda, poetry, pdm, hatch, rye, and PyFlow for each category. The article also mentions the importance of pyproject.toml file in packaging, lock files, multi-purpose tools like pipenv, conda, and poetry, as well as tools that don't fit into any categories such as pip-tools, tox, and nox.
California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days:
California's main grid has consistently exceeded 100% renewable energy for 30 out of the past 38 days, with wind, solar, and hydro contributing to the excess demand. Stanford University professor Mark Z. Jacobson highlights that while the continuity lies in these achievements happening on a daily basis, it's not due to renewables running the grid for the entire day. California has the world's largest battery storage facility, which helps store and deploy excess energy from solar power during overnight hours when methane gas generation is still used. The state is committed to achieving 100% net zero electricity by 2045, with a possibility of reaching this goal by 2035.
Tennessee passes 'chemtrail' bill banning airborne chemicals:
In April 2024, Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill banning the release of airborne chemicals, which is inspired by „chemtrail“ conspiracy theories. Critics argue that the bill is based on pseudoscience and lack of evidence, and that it is focused on geoengineering, weather modification, and cloud seeding, rather than addressing the concerns of those who believe in chemtrails.
Meta revealed that Instagram made $32.4 billion in advertising revenue in 2021, outperforming Google's YouTube which earned $28.8 billion in the same period. This figure represents almost 30% of Meta's entire revenue during the early part of 2022. In America, 83% of adults use YouTube, 68% of them use Facebook and 47% of them use Instagram. Each platform boasts over two billion users and has made over half a trillion dollars in advertising revenue from these platforms since 2021. The modern internet is riddled with decay, as tech companies prioritize monetization instead of user experience, leading to an environment where content discovery is more important than genuine connections and conversations.
Psychiatric risks for worsened mental health after psychedelic use:
This article discusses the potential risks associated with psychedelic therapy, specifically focusing on cases of prolonged negative psychological responses. A „bottom margin analysis“ approach was used to analyze data from 807 naturalistic, observational prospective studies. Results show that 16% of the cohort can be classified as „negative responders,“ with a higher prevalence of this phenomenon among those with a prior personality disorder diagnosis. The presence of a personality disorder is inferred to represent an elevated risk for psychedelic use, and the importance of psychological support and a good therapeutic alliance is emphasized for this population.
Why so many of us were wrong about missile defense:
The article discusses Iran's recent attack on Israel with missiles and drones and how almost all of them were intercepted by a combination of Israeli, U.S., Jordanian, French, British, and possibly Saudi forces. It highlights the importance of advancements in detection technology that have made it more feasible to predict where a missile is going and thus be able to intercept it. The author also explores how conventional wisdom about defense spending is often influenced by short-term thinking and fixed beliefs, which can lead to misguided opinions on specific defense programs like missile defense or the F-35.
Open-Source Passive Radar Taken Down For Regulatory Reasons:
KrakenRF team has encountered a legal roadblock with their passive radar code for KrakenSDR, due to potential violation of International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) laws. The team is currently working with legal experts to resolve the issue. KrakenSDR hardware offers a powerful package for various projects, including passive radar, which involves detecting radio waves and their reflections from objects around us. The ITAR laws are under review as the KrakenRF team seeks clarification on its implications.
The hero tax: Why 'selfless' workers are professionally exploited:
The article discusses the „hero tax,“ a term coined by psychologists Matthew Stanley and Aaron C Kay to describe the tendency for people to view some professions as selfless and underappreciated, leading to a „hero tax“ in which these professions are ironically underpaid. They argue that this stereotype can lead to exploitation, as people assume that these workers do not care about fair compensation. To avoid this, they suggest teaching the public about the many different reasons someone may choose a heroic profession.
To make sure grandmas like his don't get conned, he scams the scammers:
The article discusses scam baiting, a practice in which individuals aim to waste the time of scammers who are attempting to defraud others. One such scam baiter is Kitboga, a computer software engineer-turned-Twitch streamer. By using various disguises and luring scammers into his traps, he exposes their tactics and educates the public about common internet scams. In 2021, Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to internet crimes, according to the FBI's latest annual report. Scam baiting has become a popular genre on YouTube and Twitch, with some streamers quitting their jobs to focus on full-time scam baiting. Critics argue that it is important for scam baiters to be cautious, as they may unwittingly engage with dangerous criminals.
Open source versus Microsoft: The new rebellion begins:
The state of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany plans to adopt open source software for its official IT needs. This comes after previous attempts by Munich and Lower Saxony, which both returned to Microsoft. This time, the focus is on data protection, privacy, and security as major drivers for the transition. Open source has improved since the last decade, making it more plausible than before. Microsoft will likely try to prevent this transition, as they have in previous cases when their software was banned in schools. If Schleswig-Holstein is successful, it could bring significant benefits to open source and European laws.
The Kapaia solar-plus-storage facility on the island of Kauai demonstrates how grid-forming inverters can help power grids operate at levels of inverter-based resources up to 100%. These inverters improve a grid's resilience and allow it to operate largely on resources like batteries, solar photovoltaics, and wind turbines. Grid-forming inverters are essential for integrating large amounts of renewable energy into the power grid, as they help maintain voltage and frequency stability while increasing inverter-based power sources' penetration levels. Several challenges need to be addressed before implementing such inverters, including creating standard specifications, accurate models to simulate their performance, and validation for GFM inverters.
Citizenship privilege harms science:
This article highlights the challenges faced by scholars from the global south due to visa restrictions and bureaucratic difficulties when traveling for research purposes, especially to countries in the global north. Citizenship privilege creates an uneven playing field, with those from wealthier nations facing fewer obstacles. The article suggests six steps to address these issues: raising awareness of citizenship privilege, providing assistance with visa paperwork, establishing safeguarding frameworks, holding conferences in global south countries, offering lower registration fees and travel grants, and including diverse immigrant perspectives in conference organizing and institutional leadership committees.
How They’re Connected and What to Do About It – Solving Procrastination:
Anxiety is associated with the tendency to procrastinate by increasing aversion to tasks or causing unnecessary postponements in decision-making. Both occasional and chronic forms of anxiety can lead to procrastination, which in turn can exacerbate existing anxiety creating an anxiety-procrastination cycle. However, anxiety is not the only cause of procrastination; other factors such as depression, perfectionism, and abstract goals can also contribute to it. To deal with anxiety-based procrastination, one should first understand the reasons for their procrastination, identify the best anti-procrastination techniques according to their specific situation, and possibly seek professional help if necessary.
This article introduces WizardLM-2, an open-source next generation large language model developed by Microsoft AI. The new family consists of three cutting-edge models: 8x22B, 70B, and 7B. These models have improved performance on complex chat, multilingual, reasoning, and agent tasks. WizardLM-2 is the latest milestone in scaling up LLM post-training, with significant performance improvements compared to other open-source models. The model weights of WizardLM-2 8x22B and WizardLM-2 7B are available on Huggingface, while the demo of all models will be available soon.
Story #1 - Embezzlers are Nice People:
The article discusses the mindset and motivations behind embezzlers who steal from their employers. It highlights how embezzlers often have good work ethics, charisma, and knowledge, making them successful in their jobs. They engage in embezzlement because they enjoy the rush of being smarter than others around them, the quick money, and the challenge of not getting caught. The article also mentions a case where an embezzler had a good relationship with his victims, which may have been due to his honest statements about his actions.
Why making pretend people with AGI is a waste of energy:
The article discusses Binny Gill's perspective on artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial narrow intelligence (ANI). He believes that the push for AGI is misdirected and suggests focusing on ANI, which would involve building application-specific machine learning systems similar to self-driving cars. According to Gill, this approach would be more beneficial in the next industrial revolution as it doesn't aim to replicate human intelligence. Instead, he advocates for the development of machines that serve specific purposes and are designed based on their own merits rather than mimicking humans.
Indien unter Modi： Eine unterschätzte Supermacht？ ｜ Auf den Punkt (Video):
The Transcript eines Youtube Videos discusses the rise of India as a global superpower under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. It delves into various aspects such as economic growth, political reforms, international relations, and challenges like poverty and infrastructure development.
1. Introduction: The video begins by introducing Prime Minister Narender Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP party, which has been in power for the past ten years. It is expected that they will retain power following the six-week parliamentary elections.
2. Economic Growth and Development: India's economy has significantly grown since 2014 under PM Modi's tenure, with a GDP growth rate of 6.2% currently. The nation aims to become the third largest economy by 2030, surpassing Japan and Germany. However, challenges like job creation, education levels, and infrastructure development persist.
3. Political Reforms: PM Modi has implemented several economic reforms during his first term, such as liberalizations and investments in digitalization. He also significantly increased infrastructure spending and social programs. His second term saw a continuation of these efforts. However, structural reforms like improving the share of the manufacturing sector are needed for sustained growth.
4. International Relations: India maintains a non-aligned foreign policy while skillfully navigating between global powers. It is perceived as an emerging superpower due to its large population and democratic values shared with Western nations. India's relationship with the US, China, Japan, and Russia has been carefully balanced to serve its national interests.
5. Challenges in India: Despite economic growth, poverty remains a significant issue. The per capita income is around $2,400, placing India just above countries like Nicaragua. Other challenges include demographic changes, ensuring equal rights for minority groups, and the potential risks of autocratic tendencies in governance.
6. Role of Diplomacy: India's foreign minister has a formula for engagement - „Engage America, manage China, cultivate Europe, reassure Russia“. This approach reflects India's ability to maintain relationships with various global powers while asserting its national interests.
7. The Future of India: Experts believe that India is on the path to becoming a superpower but needs to address several internal challenges. These include creating more jobs for its young population, improving education levels, and addressing poverty.
8. Conclusion: The video concludes by emphasizing the need for a strong partnership between Europe and India to navigate global challenges effectively. It also highlights the potential risks of juggling multiple alliances and the importance of addressing internal issues for sustained growth.
In summary, the Transcript eines Youtube Videos provides an in-depth analysis of India's rise as a global superpower under PM Narender Modi, examining its economic growth, political reforms, international relations, challenges, and future prospects. It emphasizes the need for strategic partnerships and internal reforms to ensure sustained growth and stability.
How Big Business Broke Recycling (And Blamed You) (Video):
The YouTube video discusses the problems associated with plastic recycling as a solution to waste management. Recycling has become a popular method for reducing waste, but it faces challenges such as the low percentage of waste being effectively recycled and the downgraded quality of recycled materials. Additionally, producing new plastic is often cheaper than recycling it, making it economically unviable for companies to focus on recycling. The video also highlights the influence of corporations in promoting recycling as a solution while continuing to produce large amounts of plastic waste. Finally, the importance of focusing on reducing single-use plastics and regulating the industry is emphasized as an alternative approach to addressing the issue of plastic waste.
Corporate Open Source is Dead (Video):
The video discusses IBM's acquisition of HashiCorp for $6.4 billion and the implications this has on open source communities. Key points include:
1. Companies like Redis, MongoDB, Cockroach Labs, Confluent, Elasticsearch, and Sentry have moved to Source Available licenses instead of open source.
2. As corporations struggle for profits, they are cutting headcounts and damaging community trust in the process.
3. There is a philosophical difference between free software and open-source communities, with the latter relying on trust that companies will not rug pull.
4. With more money drying up and layoffs happening, there could be an opportunity for smaller teams to create the next great open-source project.
5. Companies need to show they care about more than just making money by respecting the freedoms of open source developers.