content:2024:links-kw21

Links für 2024 KW 21

Zusammengefasst von LlongOrca.


Recall is Microsoft’s key to unlocking the future of PCs:

Microsoft is launching Recall for Copilot Plus PCs, a new Windows 11 tool that keeps track of everything users do on their computers and allows them to search and retrieve any information they need. The scope of Recall is vast, including logging activities in apps, tracking live meetings, remembering websites visited for research, and more. It works by using an AI-powered search action called „Recall“ that presents a snapshot of the desired period of time to give context. Recall requires users to have one of several new Copilot Plus PCs powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips, which include the necessary neural processing unit (NPU). Users can pause, stop, or delete captured content and choose to exclude specific apps or websites from being recorded.


AI chatbots are intruding into online communities where people are trying to connect with other humans:

An AI chatbot feature has been implemented in Facebook groups by Meta, responding to questions when there's no human response within an hour. However, critics argue that the presence of chatbots could undermine the value of online communities as they rely on real people sharing experiences and providing support for one another. Some researchers suggest chatbots should be limited in their use, particularly in contexts where incorrect information or misunderstandings could have detrimental consequences.


2023 was the hottest summer in two thousand years:

Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have found that 2023 was the hottest summer in the Northern Hemisphere in the past two thousand years, with temperatures nearly four degrees warmer than the coldest summer during the same period. Despite 2023 being reported as the hottest year on record, instrumental evidence only extends back to 1850 at best and is limited to certain regions. The study used tree rings over two millennia to show how exceptional the summer of 2023 was. This trend will continue unless greenhouse gas emissions are dramatically reduced. The results demonstrate that the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels has already been breached in the Northern Hemisphere. The study is robust for the Northern Hemisphere, but data is sparse for the Southern Hemisphere, which also responds differently to climate change.


VERBI - Voice Assistant 🎙️:

Verbi is a modular voice assistant application for experimenting with state-of-the-art transcription, response generation, and text-to-speech models. It supports OpenAI, Groq, and Deepgram APIs, with the potential for local model usage. This platform is ideal for research and development in voice technology. Users can install the required packages, set up the environment variables, and run the voice assistant using the provided instructions. The project also has a roadmap for future improvements and welcomes community contributions.


Why Fact Checking of Audacious Claims About Nuclear Power Projects is Important:

NBC News, Butte, MT, debunked claims made by a Florida man that he had approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and involvement from Westinghouse to build a 100 MW nuclear power plant in Montana. The article discusses how misinformation can creep into the nuclear energy sector, especially when entrepreneurs make claims about progress without fully understanding the need for documentation and verification. It highlights cases where anti-nuclear interests misrepresent facts and instances of new nuclear firms making incorrect assumptions or predictions. Lastly, the article emphasizes the importance of transparency and thorough fact checking in the nuclear energy sector to prevent spreading misinformation and protect investors' interests.


How a 64k intro is made:

The article provides an in-depth look at how a 64k intro is made, using Guberniya as an example. It covers various stages such as development, design & influences, implementation, and post-processing techniques used in the demo. The author explains how they were able to implement different features and effects like raymarching, distance fields, and shading within the 64k limit. Additionally, the article discusses the challenges faced while creating the music for the intro, including using a tracker module and stretching audio with Paulstretch.


plugin:markdownextra:

TODO


Ask HN: Video streaming is expensive yet YouTube "seems" to do it for free. How?:

The article discusses the costs associated with streaming, encoding, and storage for a platform like YouTube, particularly at scale. The author is considering starting such a platform but wonders if it can be supported by advertising revenue alone. The response to this question involves several factors, including economies of scale, caching content, and leveraging infrastructure for cost savings.

The key points from the article are: 1. Bandwidth costs are a significant factor in streaming video platforms. At large scales, companies like Google can negotiate lower prices through peering agreements and custom hardware solutions. 2. Caching content around the world is crucial to reduce latency and improve user experience. YouTube has edge nodes located in many ISP networks and data centers, which allows them to serve popular content more efficiently. 3. Storage costs have become relatively cheap due to advancements in technology and the ability to purchase drives in bulk. This also allows companies like Google to build their own custom storage solutions for better efficiency and cost savings. 4. Encoding and transcoding video is computationally intensive but can be optimized using specialized hardware or by taking advantage of idle compute resources. 5. Advertisements are a significant source of revenue for YouTube, and the platform has been able to leverage its scale to negotiate favorable terms with advertisers. 6. The success of YouTube also depends on network effects, as content creators want their videos seen by the largest audience possible, and viewers want to visit platforms with the most content. This creates a strong competitive advantage that is difficult for new entrants to overcome. 7. Building a similar platform would require significant investment in infrastructure, marketing, and user acquisition to compete with established players like YouTube. It's unclear if it could be profitable without a substantial user base or alternative revenue streams. 8. There are alternatives to the cloud for hosting video streaming services, such as using cheaper providers like OVH or Hetzner, which can reduce costs by an order of magnitude compared to AWS. However, these options may have limitations and require careful consideration of factors like uptime, support, and scalability. 9. The author suggests that starting small with a simple solution (e.g., storing and encoding content in advance) could be a cost-effective way to get started without incurring significant upfront expenses. This approach allows for gradual scaling as demand increases. 10. Finally, the article emphasizes the importance of being judicious about advertising on such platforms to ensure a positive user experience and avoid conflicts with the core value proposition of the service.


How to read a book: 10 rules from a reviewer - The Washington Post:

The article discusses various habits and practices the author employs while reading books, including being selective with what to read, choosing specific editions, examining small details like copyright dates, and taking notes while reading. The author emphasizes the importance of paying attention, savoring the author's style, keeping books after finishing them, and rereading old favorites.


Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort - PubMed:

The article discusses how women with active sunlight exposure habits have a lower mortality rate compared to those who avoid sun exposure, but are at an increased risk for skin cancer. A prospective study followed 29,518 Swedish women aged 25-64 in the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort from 1990 to 2010. It was found that those with active sun exposure habits had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and noncancer/non-CVD death compared to those who avoided sun exposure, resulting in an increased relative contribution of cancer deaths in these women. Nonsmokers who avoided sun exposure had a similar life expectancy to smokers in the highest sun exposure group, indicating that avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor for death of a similar magnitude as smoking. The study concludes that active sun exposure habits lead to a longer life expectancy due to a decrease in CVD and noncancer/non-CVD mortality, resulting in an increased relative contribution of cancer deaths.


Milk watcher:

A milk watcher, also known as a milk saver or pot minder, is a cooking utensil placed at the bottom of a pot to prevent foaming boil-overs in liquids by collecting small bubbles into one large bubble. It is designed with a notched interior that slants toward the notch, creating a space for water vapor to collect. When trapped underneath the milk saver, it causes the notched side to rise up and release the water vapor, making a rattling noise as it falls back into contact with the pan base. Additionally, the device may help prevent material deposition and burning on the pot's bottom by circulating fluid around its base.


Fediverse Media Server – Shlee:

The article discusses the potential cost savings and environmental benefits that could arise from a shared media server model within the Fediverse, where all instances can access files on demand instead of downloading and uploading them individually. This would reduce bandwidth and storage expenses for each instance as well as lower their overall carbon footprint. The author suggests that by separating the relationship between Mastodon instances and media servers, it could lead to cost savings and improvements in scalability, high availability, failure recovery, API ingestion, and de-duplication of files.


After you die, your Steam games will be stuck in legal limbo:

As Steam gaming platform approaches its US drinking age, concerns about what will happen to users' vast digital game libraries after their death arise. Legally, these collections will likely disappear with the user someday. Steam accounts and games are non-transferable, according to Steam support responses. There might be a potential loophole in the clauses regarding account transfers „specifically permitted by Valve,“ but no response has been received from Valve on this matter. The inability to transfer digital game licenses also has implications for video game preservation work as some agreements could limit legal ownership of these games and accounts, making it difficult for organizations like the Video Game History Foundation to preserve such titles.


What are your favourite websites that display a lot of data / tables?:

The article discusses various websites and tools for data visualization, including Digikey's filterable product search, Open Data Network, McMaster-Carr, Fangraphs.com, Baseballsavant, ourworldindata.org, fred.stlouisfed.org, Weatherspark, gridwatch.templar.co.uk, RAMDDA repository examples, transportation.report, Intel Intrinsics Guide, baseball-reference.com, tradingeconomics.com, city-data.com, plaintextsports.com, BoxOfficeMojo, ALIGULAC, and Koyfin.


Our World in Data:

This article discusses the mission of Our World in Data, which is to make accessible and understandable research and data on pressing problems faced by the world. The organization aims to empower those working towards building a better world by providing free and open-source information on topics such as population growth, health, energy and environment, food and agriculture, poverty and economic development, education, living conditions, human rights, and war and peace. Our World in Data also provides data insights on various global trends and issues, highlighting both progress and challenges.


Aalener FDP-Politiker leckt Urinal in Bahnhofstoilette ab:

In Aalen, a scandal is unfolding involving an FDP-candidate for the municipal elections who has been filmed engaging in obscene activities in public restrooms. The content of the video shows him licking urinals and using toilet brushes as mics. As the context of his statement remains unclear, more explicit scenes from the video have since been removed from social media. The FDP Aalen-Ellwangen has released a statement distancing itself from these actions and stating that they are incompatible with their values. They have also initiated party disciplinary proceedings aiming at expelling the candidate. Despite multiple attempts, the local politician could not be reached for comment.


Cloudflare took down our website after trying to force us to pay 120k$ within 24h:

The article discusses the author's experience with Cloudflare, who suddenly demanded a $120k upfront payment for their Enterprise plan or threatened to take down all their domains. Despite three sales calls trying to reach a reasonable contract within a week, Cloudflare refused to provide any other options and deleted all of their domains after the author mentioned they were also in talks with Fastly. The author shares lessons learned from this experience, such as not registering domains directly on Cloudflare, not using proprietary products like Zero Access or Workers, making backups of configurations, and considering whether Cloudflare is needed at all.


Mediocre Engineer’s guide to HTTPS:

The lifecycle of an HTTP request consists of the following steps: sender makes a request, DNS lookup, TCP handshake, transmit HTTP request, packets routed across the internet to server, server response, content rendering, and layer review. HTTPS is HTTP with encryption and verification, ensuring secure communication between the client and the server. The TLS handshake process determines how the client and server will exchange encryption and verification keys. In a simplified TLS 1.3 handshake, there are fewer cipher suites and parameters that make it faster and more secure compared to previous versions of TLS.


Data Governance Act: Vertragsverletzungsverfahren gegen Deutschland läuft:

The European Commission has sent a letter to Germany, criticizing the German government for not adequately complying with its obligations under the Data Governance Act (DGA). According to the 2022 regulation [1], member states must designate competent authorities responsible for implementing tasks required by the law and demonstrate their authority. The Commission believes that Germany, along with 17 other EU member states, has failed to do this. The letter urges these countries to respond within two months and rectify any identified deficiencies or face further action under infringement procedures.

The aim of the Data Governance Act is to increase trust in shared data usage, create new rules on neutrality for data marketplaces involving intermediaries and custodians, and simplify the reusability of certain public sector information. Citizens and businesses will generally find it easier to voluntarily provide their data „for the common good“ under this legal act. Legitimate areas for such „data altruism“ include scientific research, healthcare, climate change mitigation, or improving mobility.

In Germany, the designated authority responsible for DGA-related aspects is currently the Federal Network Agency [3]. The agency is responsible for registering data-altruistic organizations and monitoring compliance by providers of data mediation services. However, there is no information yet on the establishment of a national public database for this purpose.

To facilitate data reuse within the internal market in line with the Open Data principle [4], the Commission has created the European Register of Protected Data in Public Sector Ownership (ERPD) [5]. The register contains centralized information points established by member states, including 1,347 data sets currently only from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. There is no central information point for Germany as of yet. Member states are also required to designate an organization responsible for supporting public administration in opening up data. The German government has not designated such an organization [6].


Kommentar: Schluss mit falschen Pentests!:

Pentests are a good way to find overlooked security vulnerabilities, but they must be done under the right conditions, according to Janis König. Pentests build upon previously implemented security measures and their effectiveness is greatly diminished without them. Pentests verify the efficacy of these measures by proving the existence of security flaws, which can be found without a pentest. In order to get value from a pentest, there needs to be a foundation of security processes in place such as static code analysis during development, vulnerability scanning at deployment, review procedures, and employee training. If these processes are not in place, it is cheaper and faster to consult with the development team or administrators, who often know where potential issues lie. Pentests can be a good way to increase visibility of overlooked problems and gain an overview, but should focus on improving the foundation rather than just checking off checklist items. Lastly, pentests are not attack simulations; they should identify as many weaknesses as possible, which is better accomplished with a whitebox test conducted with the necessary background knowledge.


Ukraine war forced eagles to change migration route:

Greater Spotted Eagles have altered their migration routes across Ukraine to avoid war and potential damage to habitats, according to scientists. The eagles skirted dangers such as artillery fire, jets, tanks, and troop buildups during their annual spring migration from Greece to Belarus. Researchers tracked the birds using GPS data from 2017 and found that they deviated from previous routes, traveled farther distances, and spent less time at refueling sites. These changes may have disrupted breeding performance for vulnerable species like this, causing conservationists to worry about their long-term impact on wildlife populations.


Google just updated its algorithm. The Internet will never be the same:

The article discusses the negative impact of Google's recent algorithm updates on small businesses and websites, particularly those in the niche market like House Fresh which provides information about air purifiers. The updates have led to a significant decrease in traffic for these sites while user-generated content platforms such as Reddit, Quora, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Wikipedia have seen an increase in visibility. Google's reliance on ads and big brands has made it difficult for small businesses to compete, leading some to question whether the search engine is prioritizing revenue over quality content. The article suggests that these changes could be driving users towards alternatives like DuckDuckGo or Kagi, which offer customizable results and no ads respectively.


Male birth control breakthrough safely switches off fit sperm for a while:

A new non-hormonal, reversible and non-toxic male birth control method has taken a step closer to reality with scientists targeting a protein essential for producing fertile sperm. The research, conducted by the Baylor College of Medicine, identified a small molecule compound that can temporarily inhibit serine/threonine kinase 33 (STK33), a protein required for male and mouse fertility. While not yet available at drugstores, the team will continue to evaluate this STK33 inhibitor and other potential candidate compounds in primates to determine their effectiveness as reversible male contraceptives. This latest study was published in Science journal.


Abusing Go's infrastructure:

The article discusses the author's exploration of Go's checksum database, where they found unexpected results from Ruby and Rust projects. They explain how Go's documentation allows for modules to be stored on case-insensitive file systems by encoding uppercase letters with exclamation marks. The author then demonstrates a vulnerability in the Go infrastructure that could potentially allow arbitrary data to be uploaded and downloaded through the checksum database and proxy. While there are limits to prevent abuse, this discovery raises questions about why certain non-Go projects are included and whether it is intentional or being exploited for other purposes.


Publishing AI Slop Is a Choice:

The article discusses Google's recent implementation of AI-generated search results and the resulting criticism from tech industry insiders. Financial analysts argue that while there may be growing pains, Google needs to move quickly to keep up with competitors. However, critics argue that Google's decision to enable this feature now could erode trust built over 25 years. The article suggests that taking the time to perfect AI-generated search results would be more beneficial in the long run than rushing to catch up with rivals.


Why People Delay Until Right Before Deadlines – Solving Procrastination:

The student syndrome is a phenomenon where individuals delay tasks until close to deadlines, often causing missed opportunities and lower quality work. This behavior can be caused by motivational problems, psychological obstacles, or underlying issues like depression and lack of sleep. To combat the student syndrome, people should identify the root cause of their procrastination and use relevant anti-procrastination techniques such as breaking tasks into smaller steps, setting deadlines, visualizing future success, and addressing fears. Similarly, those who wish to help others avoid this behavior can guide them in understanding its causes and implementing anti-procrastination strategies.


Giving Windows total recall is a privacy minefield:

Microsoft's Windows Recall feature, which takes snapshots of users' active screens and allows them to scroll through the archives, has drawn controversy due to privacy concerns. The AI-infused tool will remain in preview while Microsoft refines it based on user feedback or abandons it altogether. While all processing takes place on a customer's device, critics argue that Windows Recall stores sensitive information such as passwords and financial account numbers, posing a risk to organizations handling private data. The UK Information Commissioner's Office is making inquiries to understand the safeguards in place for user privacy.


ICQ messenger shuts down after almost 28 years:

The ICQ messaging app is set to shut down on June 26th, marking the end of an influential communication application. Launched in 1996, it was popular for its ease of use, 1-on-1 or group chats, and real-time global communication. With over 100 million users at its peak, ICQ later became a part of Mail.ru (now VK). The shutdown has not provided any specific reason, but the app is being recommended to switch to VK Messenger and Workspace.


Bookmarked | A Book Club for Exploring Big Ideas:

In June 1503, Christopher Columbus was stranded in Jamaica during his fourth voyage to the New World with two ships on the brink of sinking. He sought refuge and converted the ships into cabins before sending crew members to request a rescue boat from another Spanish voyager on the nearby island of Hispaniola. Despite being exposed, starving, and exhausted due to arthritis, Columbus managed to secure food for his men by using lunar eclipse predictions found in his navigational charts to scare the local Indians into giving them supplies. Columbus' resourcefulness and creative thinking ultimately saved him and his crew from starvation and allowed them to return to Spain.


The solar industrial revolution is the biggest investment opportunity in history:

The solar energy industry is poised to disrupt numerous industries as solar power becomes cheaper and more accessible, leading to significant changes in the global economy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power has seen rapid growth over the past few years, with an increasing demand for solar-powered energy solutions across various sectors such as electricity generation, heating systems, transportation, chemical production, and recycling. The transition to renewable energy sources will create new opportunities and challenges for companies and governments alike, as they adapt to the changing landscape of global energy consumption.


Thread by @CupiaBart on Thread Reader App:

The article describes a strange bug encountered while training a neural network to play NetHack, an old roguelike game. The model was developed by Jens Tuyls and improved using reinforcement learning methods. However, during one run, the model's score dropped significantly from 5000 points to 3000 points, which remained consistent across different seeds. After investigating various possibilities, including a bug in the code or CUDA libraries, the issue was ultimately traced back to a full moon affecting the gameplay. The model had not been trained on data that included full moons, leading to lower scores during these phases of the moon.


Optimizing your talking points:

The article discusses the issue of bad coding practices in programming and the challenges faced by programmers when working with others who may have different skill levels. It highlights how mistakes are a part of being human, even for those considered „the best.“ The author suggests that testing is not infallible and that it is important to work together as a team despite individual differences in skills and abilities. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that bad coding happens everywhere and urges programmers to be open about their mistakes and work together to improve.


Fefes Blog:

The article discusses a poll on the CDU's website about whether to revoke the ban on gasoline vehicles. Over 100,000 participants voted with 16% in favor and 84% against. A commenter jokes that „K“ in CDU stands for Kompetenz. The article also mentions a slow-loading page and encourages readers to visit the CDU's Impressum. Additionally, it questions whether Christine Carboni is actually leading the campaign for gasoline vehicles or if it is a pseudonym.


Recht auf Leben ohne Digitalzwang:

In this article, the author calls for the German Bundestag to incorporate the right to a life without digital compulsion into the Basic Law. They emphasize that basic rights and provisions such as healthcare, social participation, and public infrastructure should not be dependent on individuals' use of the internet, smartphones, or certain software. The article argues that digital compulsion excludes many people, including the elderly, disabled, and those with low income. It also criticizes the increased surveillance resulting from mandatory use of smartphones or specific apps, which can lead to comprehensive commercial monitoring of individuals' lives. The author advocates for freedom in choosing when to use a smartphone, what software to install, and resilience against societal dependence on digital solutions. The article concludes by highlighting the urgent need for action as existing services are rapidly replaced by smartphone-based alternatives.


Großflächiges Datenschutzproblem: Apple verrät, wo der WLAN-Router steht:

Apple's large database, which records precise locations of Wi-Fi base stations, has been accessible to attackers who can create a „global snapshot“ of location data for all recorded Wi-Fi access points with minimal effort. Researchers from the University of Maryland demonstrated that they could track location changes over an extended period using data collected from Apple's database. This includes sensitive information such as refugee and troop movements in conflict zones like Gaza and Ukraine. The researchers argue that it is problematic that Apple's Wi-Fi database can be accessed without any authentication or authorization, unlike Google's Wi-Fi database which requires an API key for each query.


Studie: Immer weniger Gamer können komplexe Probleme lösen:

A study by market research company Quantic Foundry suggests that the problem-solving competence of computer gamers has decreased over the years, possibly making strategy games more difficult to play. The study found a significant decline in skills such as „planning and complex decision-making with many factors to consider,“ which are crucial to success in strategy games. This trend was observed worldwide among both male and female gamers, but not in China due to different gaming culture. Social media usage is considered one of the possible causes for this decrease in problem-solving competence, although it is not the only factor. Game designers should be aware that modern gamers prefer shorter time horizons and more straightforward decisions with fewer parameters.


Don't Microservice, Do Module | Ali Khaleqi Yekta:

This article argues that excessive use of microservices is not beneficial and can even be harmful for the environment due to increased complexity, harder maintenance, and debugging processes. Instead, it suggests using properly structured modular systems which offer similar benefits without added overhead. The article compares microservices with modules in various aspects such as team autonomy, debugging, fault isolation, versioning, deployment, understanding the codebase, ease of monitoring, modularity/separation, latency, data consistency, languages and when to consider using microservices. It concludes by stating that a well-structured monolith is wiser than microservices unless there's an explicit need for it.


Why Shift Testing Left Part 2: QA Does More After Devs Run Tests:

In the second part of this series, the author discusses the concept of „shifting left“ in software development and how it affects QA engineers' roles. The idea behind shifting testing left is to empower more developers to run and maintain tests early in the development process, leading to a more efficient and effective testing process. This shift does not diminish the role of QA engineers but transforms their responsibilities into strategic leadership, defining automation frameworks, and ensuring quality throughout the development process. The goal is to improve software release speed and quality while scaling effectively without compromising on quality.


Why We Shift Testing Left: A Software Dev Cycle That Doesn’t Scale:

Shift left testing is a practice that moves testing earlier in the development process by integrating it from the beginning and throughout the development cycle, instead of conducting tests after completing features or at the end of the development phase. This method challenges traditional development cycles, which often lead to slow release cycles, stressed-out dev teams, and reduced development velocity. By shifting testing left, developers can run integration or end-to-end tests within minutes of writing their code, ensuring that nothing is tested for pre-release without 95% certainty that everything is working. This approach empowers engineers and enables continuous delivery to production.


Scrum's Built-in 'Get Out of Jail Free Card' Against Criticism:

The article discusses the possibility that Scrum doesn't work and offers three main reasons for its failure: poor implementation, wrong supplementary practices, or inappropriate application context. It also debunks the notion that Scrum is inherently flawed by emphasizing it as a „perfectly incomplete framework.“ To succeed with Scrum, organizations need knowledgeable Scrum Masters and proficient Product Owners who master the framework. The article highlights issues like misinterpretation of sprints, confusion between Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective, lack of ownership by the Product Owner, and a gap between theory and practice. It encourages an open discussion about Scrum's shortcomings instead of immediately dismissing them due to its „Get Out of Jail Free“ card feature. The article concludes that whether or not Scrum adherence is followed correctly, what truly matters is the success it brings to the organization and supplementing Scrum with the right practices.


“How to Be Obscene,” by Upton Sinclair:

The author discusses a discovery that can benefit authors: getting their books banned or advertised by the Boston police due to obscene content, resulting in increased sales across the United States. By writing about real-life situations and facts frankly, without being harmful or obscene, authors could gain free publicity through this controversial method. The author shares their experience with this strategy and highlights that it is essential for authors to avoid mentioning birth control or discussing passionate aspects of love in non-medical contexts. This tactic can be easily applied by referring to famous literature containing such passages, without having to write obscene content themselves.


Day Tripper - Futility Closet:

This article presents a method for mentally computing the day of the week for any given date by Lewis Carroll. The process involves breaking down the date into 4 portions: the number of centuries, years over, month, and day of the month. Then, compute certain items based on each portion and add them to the total when found. Finally, correct the total if it's January or February in a Leap Year. The final result gives the day of the week. Examples are provided for better understanding.


I stumbled upon LLM Kryptonite and no one wants to fix it:

The article discusses the potential risks of using large language models (LLMs) in various applications without proper testing and support systems in place. The author shares their experience where they found a flaw that affected nearly all LLMs tested, which could potentially lead to security threats or other negative consequences if not addressed. The lack of communication channels between model makers and customers raises concerns about the safety and reliability of these powerful AI tools.


The Samsung right-to-repair story just got worse:

iFixit has discovered that Samsung may be forcing independent repair shops to share customers' personally identifying information and report them for using aftermarket parts in their phones. A leaked contract between Samsung and an independent service provider states that each repair requires the shop to send Samsung the customer's name, address, phone number, serial number, IMEI, repair details, and any customer complaint. The contract also instructs shops to remove any aftermarket parts from phones, despite it being legal for customers to use third-party parts. This discovery comes after iFixit shared some of its customer information with Samsung when buying genuine replacement parts. Right-to-repair laws differ by state, and it remains unclear if repair shops are complying with Samsung's contract terms or if they are simply providing customers with the necessary disclosures.


The unexpected connection between the northern lights and Hubble’s death:

In spring 2024, Earth will experience a widespread and vibrant auroral display due to increased solar activity, such as greater numbers of sunspots, more powerful solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. The growing intensity of space weather poses a threat to electronics, power grids, satellites, and observatories like NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. As solar cycle peaks approach in 2025-2026, the risk of satellite decay and orbital drag increases. If no action is taken, the Hubble telescope may face an early demise by the end of the current solar cycle.


Spotify is going to break every Car Thing gadget it ever sold:

Spotify has announced that it will be discontinuing its Car Thing dashboard accessory on December 9th. The $90 device was made available for purchase in February 2022 but stopped production just five months later. Spotify is not offering any refunds or subscription credits, instead recommending customers perform a factory reset and responsibly recycle the hardware. There are no plans to release a replacement or new version of Car Thing at this time.


Becoming An Engineering Manager Can Make You Better At Life And Relationships:

This article discusses the importance and benefits of becoming an engineering manager. It emphasizes that managers are force multipliers, ensuring workstreams are staffed and resourced sufficiently, and making sure engineers are trained and improving at their craft. The author also highlights how becoming a manager can make you better at life and relationships, as well as the need to choose a company wisely when deciding to become a manager.


Questionable Advice: “My boss says we don’t need any engineering managers. Is he right?”:

The article discusses the role of engineering managers in startup organizations, addressing the conflict between the author (VP Engineering) and their CEO about the need for engineering managers. The CEO is against hiring managers due to perceived overhead and micromanaging issues. However, the author argues that engineering managers are necessary for coordinating teams, reducing information overload, and facilitating focus on core tasks by engineers. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of management in maintaining a sustainable and efficient organizational structure.


Change the default temp file prefix to be "sqlite" spelled backwards. · sqlite/sqlite@fd288f3:

This article discusses a commit change in a repository that altered the default temp file prefix to „sqlite“ spelled backwards, in order to prevent confusion and false bug reports due to the use of SQLite files in anti-virus products by McAfee. The change addresses user complaints about temporary files being placed in c:/temp folders when using SQLite in their anti-virus product.


security - Make your own backdoor: CFLAGS code injection, Makefile injection, pkg-config:

In the article, Vegard Nossum discusses the process of building a backdoor into the Linux kernel without altering its source code or release tarballs. By exploiting compromised packages and files such as pkg-config and libelf-uninstalled.pc, it is possible to inject malicious code into the build system, setting CFLAGS_sys.o which affects the final kernel output. The article highlights various ways of hiding payloads in build processes, such as using eval, environment variables, search paths, and polyglot files. It also suggests potential mitigations for preventing backdoors from being inserted into software builds.


Ask HN: Discuss ADHD and your use of medication:

The discussion revolves around the idea that late-onset ADHD (ADHD developing later in life) may not exist, and instead it is more likely that individuals who previously did not have a diagnosis or had an undiagnosed form of ADHD are now recognizing their symptoms. Medication is a highly personal choice, with some people experiencing success with stimulants like Adderall while others find alternative coping mechanisms and accommodations to be more effective. It is important for individuals to work closely with professionals such as psychiatrists and therapists to determine the best course of treatment for their specific needs and circumstances.


dyson-washg1:

TODO


Safe terminal escape codes:

The article discusses terminal escape sequences and their usage in various systems such as terminfo and termcap. It mentions that today everyone uses software terminal emulators, which implement ANSI escape codes for common functions. However, if someone wants maximum compatibility or advanced operations, they may need to use terminfo. The article also lists a variety of terminal escape sequences that should work on modern terminals.


A Theoretical Case Against Education:

The article discusses one way to think about education by examining the role of facts in learning and understanding. It argues that although education is not solely about facts, they are important signposts for deeper understanding. Facts are easy to measure and can serve as useful indicators of a person's knowledge base. The article cites several surveys showing how many Americans know basic facts such as the US winning independence from Britain or Shakespeare writing Romeo and Juliet. It also highlights that many people remember these facts through cultural osmosis rather than learning in school.

The article goes on to explore the forgetting curve, which suggests that people tend to forget abstract knowledge over time. However, it introduces the concept of spaced repetition, which can help reinforce memories and potentially make people retain information for life. The author also discusses how people might remember certain facts due to their exposure in everyday life or through media consumption.

The article raises questions about the effectiveness of schooling as it often teaches students facts that they later forget. It suggests that the value of education may lie in putting individuals in situations where they can repeatedly encounter and reinforce learned information. However, the author admits that this theory might not be entirely true when considering various aspects of learning such as coding or cooking that people learn outside of school.

In conclusion, while facts are essential for understanding, the article questions how effectively schools teach them, suggesting that their value may lie in providing a foundation for lifelong learning and reinforcing knowledge through repeated exposure.


Here’s what’s really going on inside an LLM’s neural network:

New research from Anthropic offers a new method for partially explaining how generative AI models create lifelike responses to queries. The company's paper on „Extracting Interpretable Features from Claude 3 Sonnet“ describes a powerful approach that can at least partially explain how the model's millions of artificial neurons fire. This process highlights which groups of neurons tend to be activated most consistently for specific words or concepts across various text prompts. This knowledge can help researchers map out the chain of inference that the model uses to answer complex questions and potentially intervene on certain behaviors to steer them towards desirable outcomes or stop dangerous actions.


Voyager 1 Resumes Sending Science Data from Two Instruments - Voyager:

Voyager 1 has resumed sending science data from two of its four instruments after a computer issue was resolved in November 2023. The mission's teams are working to recalibrate the remaining two instruments, and normal operations are expected to be restored soon. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is NASA's oldest spacecraft and the first to explore outside the heliosphere.


How liberal democracy might lose the 21st century:

This article discusses the shift from liberal democracy and capitalism being seen as the superior political and economic systems, which were believed to foster peace, happiness, and prosperity during the 20th century, to questioning their success in the face of global competition with China. The author notes that although China's cities are cleaner and safer than those in the U.S., it is important not to get carried away as there are still many issues within China. However, the article raises concerns about how totalitarianism might be better suited for the 21st century due to its potential for controlling negative-sum information tournaments, which could sap resources in liberal societies. The author emphasizes that this theory is a conjecture and not necessarily what they believe.


Epic's proposed remedies are bad for everyone but Epic:

The article discusses Google's blog post about Epic Games' proposals to modify app store practices on Android devices. These changes would benefit users who prefer alternative app stores and wish for friction removal, while Google claims that it is twisting facts and almost lying in its title claim. Epic wants to allow third-party app stores access to Google Play's catalog of apps for six years, allowing users to make those third-party app stores perform their app updates. This proposal also requests the removal of Google's ability to offer financial incentives to developers to distribute their apps in the Play Store. However, it has raised concerns about user privacy and Epic's self-serving intentions.


Drone Flying 101 - An Interactive Tutorial for Beginners › FPVSIM Drone Simulator | Lap Timer:

The main difference between flying a drone and driving a car is that drones move in 3D spaces while cars operate on a 2D surface. In aviation terms, this translates to controlling Roll/Yaw/Pitch axes for drones compared to just the Yaw axis for cars.


taco-bell-ebay-mark-smith-paintings-19464177.php:

This article discusses the unusual heist of Taco Bell paintings by artist Mark Smith. His paintings were displayed in Taco Bell locations, but some of them have been stolen and ended up in the underground art market, selling for as much as $10,000 each. Some of the paintings were retrieved during renovations of Taco Bell locations and sold online. The paintings were originally created for Taco Bell in 2003, and despite being taken from the restaurants, they continue to have value.


Systematically Improving Your RAG - jxnl.co:

The article discusses a systematic approach to improving RAG (Reading, Analysis, and Generation) systems. It covers key areas such as creating synthetic questions and answers for precision and recall testing, combining full-text search and vector search for optimal retrieval, implementing user feedback mechanisms, clustering queries to identify topic clusters and capabilities, continuously monitoring performance, experimenting with improvements, balancing latency and performance based on specific use cases. The article also stresses the importance of clear user feedback systems and prioritizing improvements based on high-impact areas for improvement.


Your browser is not supported:

The USA Today website has been optimized to provide the best user experience with the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use. However, in order to access the site optimally, readers are recommended to download one of these browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera or Microsoft Edge, Safari.


On self-driving, Waymo is playing chess while Tesla plays checkers:

In this article, the author discusses Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) software and compares it to Google's Waymo. The recent update of FSD 12.3 has caused excitement among fans, but the article argues that despite improvements, Tesla is still behind Waymo in terms of technology.

The author points out that testing Tesla's Full Self Driving software without a human driver would be too expensive and dangerous for now. Meanwhile, Waymo has been gradually implementing its self-driving technology since 2018, with remote assistance provided by operators to guide vehicles in difficult situations.

The article also highlights the challenges of perfecting autonomous driving systems, including the „long tail“ of unusual scenarios and the need for a balance between caution and efficiency on freeways. It concludes that Tesla's FSD is still far from being fully reliable and safe without human backup.


Willkommen auf Golem.de!:

In order to use Golem.de with cookies enabled, you must have JavaScript activated in your browser. Cookies must also be active in your browser for consent. If iFrame consent is not possible, open the site in a separate window. A temporary approval only applies if the consent dialog cannot load correctly. For further information and troubleshooting, visit our privacy policy or use the Cookies & Tracking link at the end of each page. You can find more information about storage and retrieval on devices. Personalized ads and content, as well as advertising and content measurements, are possible with this consent. Golem may also use precise location data.


How and why to make a /now page on your site:

The article discusses the concept of creating a „/now“ page on personal websites, inspired by Benny Lewis's website. A /now page is an overview of what someone would tell a friend they haven't seen in a year and serves as a public declaration of priorities. Derek Sivers created a site called nownownow.com to showcase these pages from around the world. The article provides instructions on how to create a /now page using popular website platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Bear.


Ceding control: How Copilot+ and PCs could make enterprises beholden to Microsoft:

The article discusses the decline of openness in personal computing, specifically with the rise of AI-powered PCs like Microsoft's Copilot+ line. These machines are designed to funnel users into Microsoft's walled garden, where the company can monitor and control their user experience to an unprecedented degree. As businesses and individuals become increasingly reliant on AI assistants for daily computing needs, power to control the default, most deeply integrated option becomes immensely valuable. This raises concerns about autonomy, security, privacy, and flexibility as users may be steered toward Microsoft's offering. The article suggests that businesses need to invest in open, interoperable solutions that they can control and customize to their own needs.


How the new Microsoft Recall feature fundamentally undermines Windows security:

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella introduced Recall, a new feature for Copilot+ PCs that takes screenshots constantly by design to allow users to rewind back in time. The feature classifies and categorizes almost everything you're doing, seeing, or typing and is instantly searchable. However, Microsoft has implemented some safety measures such as local data storage on the device. This new feature could lead to increased fraud for consumers and security issues for businesses. It is recommended that users disable and reject Recall on Copilot+ PCs unless it undergoes substantial rework to reduce risk.


Clever code is probably the worst code you could write:

Engineer's Codex is a publication that shares real-world technical case studies, outages, and stories from the software engineering industry. The author discusses their experience with code golfing (creating the shortest possible code) and how it contrasts with clear, readable code in the industry. They provide an example of a data enrichment module they worked on, where they initially wrote a disorganized piece of code before refactoring it into more readable pieces. The author emphasizes the importance of coding style and having experienced developers review your code to improve its maintainability and readability.


DNS community blacklist:

The article discusses a GitHub repository of blacklist DNS sources suitable for NethServer Threat Shield. It highlights various hosts files that can be used to block ads, malware, and other unwanted content. The article also provides information on how to update the lists using the download.sh script and commit changes.


Neue Tracking-Firma Utiq: Wie Telekom, o2 und Vodafone im Datengeschäft mitmischen:

The article discusses the formation of Utiq, a joint venture between Telekom, o2, Vodafone, and Orange, to track the online activities of mobile network users in Germany. Utiq's tracking method uses knowledge of which internet connection belongs to which user, allowing websites and online advertisers to personalize content. The digital policy group D64 warns that this new tracking method may lead to the creation of a new surveillance monopoly, which could be exploited by criminals and intelligence agencies. D64 also raises concerns about the potential for abuse by authorities through legal requests. The article concludes by noting that it is unclear if the internet will become a better place if users must continue to opt out of tracking through multiple banners on different websites.


Utiq findet seinen Weg in die deutsche Publisher-Landschaft:

The article discusses Utiq, a newly emerged ID provider for the mobile universe, announcing the first official integration of its supply-side technology in Germany. Utiq has partnered with Traffective, a Munich-based marketer, to implement its solution, which allows users to consent to personalized advertising on mobile devices. The partnership aims to bring together over 20 million mobile visits from the Kreiszeitung and Mopo.


Utiq: So entkommt ihr dem Tracking durch Mobilfunkanbieter:

The Telecom, Telefonica/O2 and Vodafone use Utiq to analyze mobile users' browsing behavior in Germany. The tracking method utilizes a combination of mobile number, SIM card, and IP address to create pseudonymous profiles and display personalized advertising. Although positioned as a privacy-friendly European alternative, there are significant concerns regarding user privacy. To disable Utiq tracking, users must annually opt out through the Consent-Hub on their mobile devices by temporarily adjusting settings like ad blockers and DNS servers. The deactivation process must be repeated for each mobile contract. Users can only access the platform if they are customers of participating network operators (such as Movistar, Orange, Jazztel, and Simyo in Spain; Orange, Bouygues Telecom, and SFR in France; and Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Congstar, Fraenk, and O2 in Germany) and if their mobile connection is not using Wi-Fi. The use of ad blockers or VPN can interfere with the connection. Despite these measures, users may still be asked for consent on participating websites. Utiq's implementation and the annual opt-out process represent a tightening compared to previous technologies like TrustPID, which allowed unlimited withdrawal.


chicago-fake-robbery-visa-scam.html:

This article discusses a Chicago-based scheme in which individuals posed as customers in businesses and staged armed robberies. The goal was to gain favorable immigration status in the US under the U-visa category, reserved for victims of certain crimes. Federal prosecutors announced charges against five individuals involved in this scheme. The victims, many from Latin and South American origin, paid thousands of dollars to be robbed, with the scheme's organizers allegedly pocketing the fees and occasionally giving a small amount to the „robbers“. The article also highlights the issue of police officers denying hundreds of U-visa certification requests from undocumented crime victims in Chicago.


Google Photos is creating a deep fake of you and calling it Cinematic Memory:

The article discusses Google's ability to create animations from still photos and the potential privacy concerns associated with it. It mentions that Google does not need to train on every photo, but rather can use a set of images as reference for an already trained model. One example shown during Google i/o was transforming a photo of someone not smiling into one of them smiling. The article also suggests watching the latest Google i/o keynote for more intriguing capabilities.


Welcome to Microsoft Phi-3 Cookbook:

The Microsoft Phi-3 Cookbook introduces the Phi-3 family of open AI models, developed by Microsoft. These models are the most capable and cost-effective small language models available, outperforming models of the same size and next size up across various benchmarks. Microsoft is introducing Phi Silica, a model built specifically for NPUs in Copilot+ PCs, which will be available in the Windows Copilot Library in June. The Phi-3 Cookbook provides information on using and customizing Phi-3 models across various hardware devices and platforms.


What's new in Kotlin 2.0.0 | Kotlin:

This is a summary of the article about the release of Kotlin 2.0.0, which introduces the new K2 compiler as stable and includes various improvements across different platforms like JVM, Native, Wasm, and JS. The summary covers changes in features such as smart cast improvements, support for named export and unsigned primitive types, and enhancements to exception handling and interoperability with JavaScript. It also mentions changes to Gradle integration, including a new DSL for compiler options and improved dependency management. Additionally, it highlights the standard library updates like stabilization of enum class functions and the AutoCloseable interface. The article concludes by providing instructions on how to install Kotlin 2.0.0 and update your projects.


Apple needs to explain that bug that resurfaced deleted photos:

Apple has issued a fix for iOS and iPadOS 17.5.1 to address a rare issue where photos that experienced database corruption could reappear in the Photos library even if they were deleted. This privacy concern raises questions about how Apple stores photo data, and whether iPhone owners can trust that their deleted data is truly gone. While some users have reported similar issues with deleted voicemails, it remains unclear how widespread this bug is and what caused it in the first place. Apple has not yet commented publicly on the matter, which does not instill confidence that the issue will be fully resolved or prevented from occurring again in the future.


Microsoft's AI will be inside Minecraft, and other Xbox, PC games: new Copilot features will search your inventories, offer tips and guides:

The provided text is not an actual article to summarize. It appears to be the beginning part of a website's footer or a similar information section. Please provide the full content of the article you would like to have summarized.


Microsoft Has Lost its Mind—$450 for a Keyboard, AI Button Included:

Microsoft has unveiled its new Surface Pro Flex wireless keyboard, compatible with Surface Pro 8, 9, 10, and 11 models. Priced at $449.98, this keyboard is specifically designed for AI functionality and features up to 41 hours of continuous typing, a dedicated Copilot key for summoning the AI assistant, and a touchpad with a vibration function for haptic feedback. The keyboard will be available in black or bright sapphire colors starting on June 18th.


Rare things become common at scale:

The article discusses the challenges that arise when scaling a software system, particularly in terms of architecture and automation. As a company grows, rare events become more common, leading to increased problems and customer impact. While automation can help manage these issues to some extent, there are still aspects such as human interaction and problem resolution that cannot be fully automated. Scaling a software system requires constant improvement in various areas, including security, technical automation, specialized customer service, and management.


How Shadow Banning Can Silently Shift Opinion Online:

Legislation forcing TikTok to sell or shut down its U.S. operations has become law due to concerns about potential data sharing with the Chinese government. However, a lesser-known threat from social media platforms like TikTok is the ability to steer public opinion through „shadow banning.“ This technique allows platforms to manipulate content without users' knowledge, effectively promoting or demoting posts and shaping opinions as they see fit. A detailed understanding of shadow banning could help regulators recognize any bad actors out to shape network opinions and could also help social media platforms improve their algorithms to avoid inadvertent pushes into polarization.


CADmium: A Local-First CAD Program Built for the Browser:

The article discusses the development of an open-source CAD program called CADmium. To build a parametric 3D CAD program, key components include a 2D Constraint Solver, B-rep Kernel, History Tracker, and File Format. The developers are seeking help with programming in Rust, computational geometry, Three.js, and finding grant opportunities or benefactors for the project. They aim to create a CAD application where every valid document state is recoverable and can run entirely within a user's browser using webassembly technology.


graphgame.sabrina.dev:

Game to check if you understand neural networks.


How “dark money” groups help private ISPs lobby against municipal broadband:

This article discusses how hundreds of municipal broadband networks have been built in the United States as private internet service providers (ISPs) often fail to meet communities' needs for speed, affordability and accessibility. These public broadband networks face opposition from private ISPs who want no government-funded competition and lobby against them using „dark money“ groups with unclear donor lists. Groups like the Domestic Policy Caucus have been campaigning against municipal broadband projects, including UTOPIA (Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency) in Utah, while ISPs such as Comcast, Charter, and AT&T maintain varying levels of disclosure regarding their donations to 501©(4) groups. Some communities have successfully built their own broadband networks, but the opposition from private ISPs continues to challenge these projects' development and expansion.


Cars & Consumer Data: On Unlawful Collection & Use:

This article discusses the increasing importance of privacy concerns as connected cars become more prevalent. Connected cars collect a vast amount of data about their drivers, including biometric information and location, which can pose threats to consumers' privacy and financial welfare. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been monitoring the issue for years and has issued guidance to remind consumers to delete car data before selling them. Car manufacturers need to take note of the FTC's efforts to protect consumer privacy, as recent enforcement actions against companies highlight the consequences of illegal collection, use, and disclosure of personal data. The article also mentions cases where companies have been found liable for revealing sensitive information or using it for automated decisions. To avoid potential harm to consumers, businesses should consider building products with privacy safeguards in place.


Windows Returns:

This article discusses Microsoft's focus on AI and their recent announcements at an event, such as Copilot+ PCs and Windows-based hardware. The author notes that these developments are the result of CEO Satya Nadella's efforts to transform Microsoft into a services company centered around Azure and Office. Furthermore, the article compares Microsoft's approach with Walmart's e-commerce strategy, highlighting the importance of centralized tech-based solutions for integrating online services and physical stores in an omnichannel manner.


Images that Sound:

This paper introduces the concept of „images that sound,“ which are spectrograms that look like natural images and produce natural sounds simultaneously. The method leverages pre-trained text-to-image and text-to-spectrogram diffusion models operating in a shared latent space. To generate these spectrograms, researchers denoise noisy latents using both the audio and image diffusion models in parallel during the reverse process. By doing so, they obtain samples that are likely under both distributions of images and spectrograms. The method is zero-shot, requiring no training or fine-tuning. Examples are provided, including a gallery with videos illustrating the concept.


Going Dark: The war on encryption is on the rise. Through a shady collaboration between the US and the EU.:

The European Commission attempted to introduce total surveillance of all EU citizens under the slogan 'Think of the children'. The bill, known as 'Chat Control', was rejected by legislative bodies due to violations of human rights and potential mass surveillance. American tech companies and security services were involved in the drafting process. In response, a new initiative called „Going Dark“ was introduced, aimed at providing access to encrypted communication and data storage. The European police chiefs are calling for legal access to stored data and real-time scanning of illegal activity.


CamelCase vs underscores: Scientific showdown:

This article presents a semi-scientific explanation to determine which formatting is best suited for programming, camel case or underscores. The author cites a research paper that claims camel casing leads to higher accuracy among subjects regardless of training and allows them to recognize identifiers in the camel case style faster than those in the underscore style. However, the author also points out flaws in the conclusion and suggests that correctness isn't as important when programming. The article encourages readers to choose independently based on their preferences.


Microsoft’s AI chatbot will ‘recall’ everything you do on its new PCs:

Microsoft has unveiled an upgraded version of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Copilot, to boost productivity and personalization on Windows operating systems for personal computers. The new features include „Windows Recall,“ which enables the AI assistant to remember virtually everything a user does on their PC in a way that feels like having photographic memory. Microsoft promises to protect users' privacy by giving them the option to filter out what they don't want tracked. This announcement comes amidst heightened competition from big tech rivals, such as Google and OpenAI, in pitching generative AI technology for various applications.


How Might We Learn?:

The article discusses the importance of creating an ideal learning environment that combines implicit and guided learning methods to provide a more authentic and meaningful educational experience. It emphasizes the need for effective support systems and scaffolding in various aspects such as project-based learning, authentic projects, and synthesis of the two viewpoints. Additionally, the article highlights the role of AI in personalized guidance, dynamic media, contextualized study, practice, and memory to create a more engaging and effective learning experience.


How terminal works. Part 1: Xterm, user input:

This blog series explains how modern terminals and command-line tools work, with a focus on learning by experimenting using Linux tools to debug every component mentioned in the discussion. The primary goal is to learn how things work and discover why they function the way they do in certain ways. The first two parts of the series discuss how xterm works, while Parts 3 and 4 cover features of tty such as stty raw -echo -isig and UTF-8 encoding.


How (and why) to de-Google your life and protect your privacy | Proton:

This article discusses the growing movement of de-Googling or DeGoogling, which aims to stop using Google services due to concerns about privacy and data control. It highlights how Google's business model revolves around targeted advertising, which relies on surveillance and data mining. The article explores alternatives to Google products, such as Proton Mail for email, Brave Search for private search engines, and Proton Drive for secure file storage. It emphasizes that these options provide a better balance between privacy and convenience while offering control over personal data and promoting a more privacy-focused internet.


Where is the German cockroach actually from? We tested its DNA to trace its true origins:

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica, has been traced back to its origins in East India and Bangladesh through DNA sequencing. It is now one of the most common pests worldwide. It's believed that German cockroaches evolved from adapting to living alongside humans as farmers cleared their natural habitat. The first wave of migration emerged around 1,200 years ago and traveled westwards with the expanding Islamic Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. The next wave moved eastwards around 390 years ago, likely traveling with European trading companies. The German cockroaches arrived in Europe about 270 years ago, then spread to the rest of the world about 120 years ago.


They’re Considered Essential to “Well-Rounded” Kids. Some Parents Are Saying “Hell No.”:

The article discusses how the COVID pandemic has led to an explosion of activities and sports for children, causing stress and overscheduling for families. Many parents are concerned about the impact on their child's mental health, equity issues in access to sports, and the pressure from college counseling services that emphasize „branding“ themselves from a young age. Some families are starting to push back against overscheduling by opting for less structured activities or focusing on unstructured play. The author suggests there is middle ground between competitive sports and other forms of activity, allowing children to have downtime to explore creativity and learn vital life skills through free play.


Apple’s Photo Bug Exposes the Myth of ‘Deleted’:

Last week, Apple acknowledged a bug that caused old photos to reappear in users' Photos app after being previously deleted. The incident underscores the fact that deletion is not as simple or permanent in the digital age, particularly with cloud storage. Deleting files only removes references to them, while the actual file remains on the device until overwritten with new data. This issue can occur due to corrupted metadata during deletion, photos not being deleted at all, or updates not adhering to deletion marking. While Apple has now released a fix for the bug, it serves as a reminder of the complexities associated with managing digital data in today's world.


Ask HN: Why do you all think that Htmx is such a recent development?:

This article discusses the concept behind HTMX, a JavaScript library that simplifies the process of updating and rendering HTML on web pages. The discussion touches on how similar ideas have been present in various forms over the years, such as JSF, Seam, Intercooler.js, Webforms, and DWR+jQuery. The primary reason for its resurgence may be due to a cyclical nature in the technology industry, where developers are eager to move back to simpler techniques after becoming fatigued with more complex frameworks. Additionally, the clarity of HTMX's underlying model and its distillation into a usable form have contributed to its popularity.


Ask HN: Most successful example using LLMs in daily work/life?:

In this discussion, users share various ways they use large language models (LLMs) in their daily lives or work. Some mention using LLMs for tasks such as coding assistance, writing proposals, generating ideas, checking grammar, searching for documentation, learning new programming languages, improving UX of command-line applications, and more. Many users find LLMs to be helpful tools for various purposes, although some also note limitations in accuracy or usefulness depending on the specific task at hand.