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US Anti-Piracy Symposium Pushes for Site Blocking

2025-01-29

A recent USPTO anti-piracy symposium highlighted the need for site blocking in the US. Experts discussed the evolution of piracy into a sophisticated, multi-level industry offering "piracy as a service." The brazen behavior of some pirates, openly advertising and even trademarking their services, further emphasizes the urgency. While site blocking is effective in over 50 countries, the US lags behind, partly due to the 2012 SOPA failure. The symposium advocated for a dynamic US site-blocking system, learning from international examples to avoid overblocking and swiftly target new pirate domains.

(torrentfreak.com)

Tech anti-piracy piracy industry

Lead Technical Artist Wanted: Revolutionizing Social VR Gaming

2025-03-14

Lead Technical Artist Wanted: Revolutionizing Social VR Gaming

Gym Class, the top-rated Meta Quest game (58K ratings, 4.9 stars), is seeking a Lead Technical Artist! You'll optimize art pipelines, develop tools, and enhance visual fidelity and performance across VR and mobile platforms using Unity, C#, and Python. Collaborate with engineers on performance profiling and optimization. Backed by top-tier investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator, and the NBA, this is a chance to work at the forefront of social VR gaming, with fast iteration cycles and a direct impact on product development.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Game VR Game Development Lead Technical Artist

Kagi Search Makes AI Assistant Available to All Users

2025-04-18

Kagi Search is making its AI assistant available to all users across all plans, no additional cost. Previously exclusive to Ultimate subscribers, this powerful tool leverages Kagi's search results to enhance research, respecting user privacy by not using data for AI model training. The rollout is phased, starting in the USA today and completing globally by Sunday, 23:59 UTC. A fair-use policy based on plan value limits AI model usage to ensure sustainability. The AI assistant allows users to interact with various leading LLMs, customize interactions, and refine responses through editing.

(blog.kagi.com)

Tech AI Assistant

Caffeine's Age-Dependent Effects on Brain Complexity and Criticality During Sleep

2025-05-30

Caffeine's Age-Dependent Effects on Brain Complexity and Criticality During Sleep

A new study reveals that caffeine affects brain complexity and criticality in an age-dependent manner. Analyzing sleep EEG data, researchers found that caffeine induced increases in complexity and criticality of brain activity in young and middle-aged adults, but not in older adults. This study provides novel insights into the effects of caffeine on the brain and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

(www.nature.com)

AI caffeine brain complexity criticality

Mysterious Gems Wash Ashore on the Thames: The Enigma of the Thames Garnets

2025-01-13

Mysterious Gems Wash Ashore on the Thames: The Enigma of the Thames Garnets

On the shores of the River Thames, when the tide is low, a variety of treasures are revealed, most notably the deep red Thames garnets. These gems are not native to England, and their origin remains a mystery. Theories range from industrial waste to the remnants of ancient shipwrecks, even to discarded goods from smugglers. Mudlarks, who legally search the Thames for lost items, jealously guard the locations of these gems, adding to the river's mystique. Archaeologists and historians are working to unravel this enigma, while the glittering garnets silently whisper tales of the Thames' millennia-long history.

(www.atlasobscura.com)

Misc Thames River Garnets Archaeology

Kotlin, Swift, and Ruby Fall Out of Tiobe's Top 20

2025-04-14

Kotlin, Swift, and Ruby Fall Out of Tiobe's Top 20

The latest Tiobe Programming Community index shows Kotlin, Swift, and Ruby dropping out of the top 20 most popular programming languages. According to Tiobe CEO Paul Jansen, these languages have lost traction and are declining. The decline is attributed to their primary use in specific mobile platforms (Kotlin for Android, Swift for iOS), with cross-platform alternatives now readily available. Furthermore, Python's dominance leaves less room for Ruby.

(www.infoworld.com)

Development Tiobe index

Securely Manage Environment Variables with GPG-Encrypted Files

2025-04-17

Securely Manage Environment Variables with GPG-Encrypted Files

This shell tool provides a secure way to manage environment variables using GPG-encrypted files. It addresses the common issue of command-line tools needing environment variables containing sensitive information stored in unencrypted shell files. The tool allows users to read secrets from encrypted files and easily switch between different accounts. It supports nested logins, updates the `SECRET_LOGIN` environment variable, and modifies the shell prompt to display the current login. Autocomplete for available filenames is also included.

(github.com)

Development Shell tool GPG encryption

The Perils of Following Orders: A Programmer's Functional Programming Purgatory

2025-09-21

A programmer, after a coworker complains about their functional programming style, is banned from using it by their manager. To keep their job, they reluctantly rewrite a simple function to list coworkers, using imperative programming. Despite their best efforts to avoid functional paradigms, they struggle to fully comply, facing further challenges during code review and ultimately needing to seek guidance from their manager. This humorous anecdote highlights the absurdity of arbitrary technical decisions in the workplace.

(brianmckenna.org)

Development imperative programming

A Forty-Year Quest for a Childhood Story

2025-01-09

A Forty-Year Quest for a Childhood Story

The author recounts a forty-year journey to rediscover a cherished childhood story from a purple book. His quest, utilizing online resources and libraries, was repeatedly thwarted by inaccurate information generated by AI tools. Ultimately, an experienced librarian's expertise led to the discovery of the book containing the story, "From Michaelmas to Candlemas." Contacting the author's relatives yielded the original manuscript. This tale highlights the perseverance of the search and underscores the irreplaceable value of human expertise in the age of AI.

(davidallengreen.com)

Misc childhood story book hunt

Google Opens Up Google Maps Platform Data to Cities and Developers

2025-04-09

Google Opens Up Google Maps Platform Data to Cities and Developers

Google announced Wednesday that it's opening up its Google Maps Platform data, making it easier for cities, developers, and business decision-makers to access information on infrastructure, traffic, and more. For the first time, Google is integrating new datasets from Google Maps Platform products—Imagery Insights, Roads Management Insights, and Places Insights—directly into BigQuery. This allows for easier access to data that can help solve various problems. For instance, telecom companies can use Imagery Insights to assess infrastructure like utility poles, road authorities can analyze traffic with Roads Management Insights, and Places Insights offers customized data on locations. Access to Earth Engine data via BigQuery also provides sustainability insights from satellite imagery, such as wildfire risk.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech

Non-Destructive Unrolling of Ancient Scroll via AI-Assisted X-ray Tomography

2025-08-19

Non-Destructive Unrolling of Ancient Scroll via AI-Assisted X-ray Tomography

German scientists used 3D X-ray tomography and AI to virtually 'unroll' a delicate antique Buddhist scroll crafted by Mongolian nomads, preserving its fragile state. The centuries-old scroll, tightly wound within silk pouches, revealed its contents—a Tibetan Buddhist mantra written in Sanskrit script—without physical manipulation. The analysis also unexpectedly uncovered metal particles in the ink. While labor-intensive, this technique offers invaluable opportunities for studying otherwise inaccessible artifacts.

(www.popsci.com)

Tech X-ray tomography

Internet Archive Joins Federal Depository Library Program Amidst Copyright Battles

2025-07-26

Internet Archive Joins Federal Depository Library Program Amidst Copyright Battles

The Internet Archive (IA) has joined the Federal Depository Library Program to streamline access and digitization of government publications. However, IA faces ongoing copyright lawsuits over its Open Library and Great 78 Project, with potential damages threatening its existence. Supporters hail IA as a crucial digital library, while publishers view it as an unlicensed copyrighting and distribution business. Joining the program doesn't alter IA's practices, as government publications are not copyrighted.

(www.kqed.org)

Tech Copyright Lawsuits Digital Library

North Korean Hackers Extort US Companies After Stealing Source Code

2025-01-24

North Korean Hackers Extort US Companies After Stealing Source Code

The FBI issued a warning about North Korean hackers posing as IT workers to infiltrate US companies, steal source code, and extort ransoms. These hackers use various methods, including AI face-swapping technology, to conceal their identities. After gaining access, they copy code to personal accounts and threaten to leak information for ransom. The FBI advises companies to strengthen hiring processes, limit permissions, and monitor network traffic to prevent such attacks. A joint statement from the US, South Korea, and Japan revealed that North Korean state-sponsored hacking groups stole over $659 million in cryptocurrency in 2024.

(www.bleepingcomputer.com)

Tech North Korean Hackers

BitChat: Open-Source, Offline, Encrypted Messaging via Bluetooth Mesh

2025-07-07

BitChat: Open-Source, Offline, Encrypted Messaging via Bluetooth Mesh

BitChat is a secure, decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging app built on Bluetooth mesh networks. No internet, servers, or phone numbers are required; just pure encrypted communication using X25519 key exchange and AES-256-GCM. Features include room-based chats (with optional password protection), offline message storage and forwarding, and a strong focus on privacy (no accounts, phone numbers, or persistent identifiers). BitChat offers native support for iOS and macOS, incorporating performance optimizations like LZ4 compression and adaptive battery modes. The project is open-source and designed for cross-platform compatibility.

(github.com)

Development Bluetooth Mesh Decentralized

The Photographer's Regret: Capturing the Moment, Losing the Memory

2025-05-05

The Photographer's Regret: Capturing the Moment, Losing the Memory

A photographer, questioned at a retrospective about the scarcity of Chapel Hill photos, reflects on the tension between photography and life. He recalls his son's birth, where his focus on capturing the perfect shot overshadowed his presence in the moment with his wife. This experience led him to realize that photography and life aren't always compatible; prioritizing image capture can cause one to miss more important experiences and emotions. While the ubiquity of smartphone photography allows for countless images, he suggests that the richness of memory may lie in the uncaptured moments between those photos.

(hedgehogreview.com)

Misc

PGP Public Key: A Secure Encryption Key

2025-03-19

This code snippet displays a PGP public key used for encryption and verifying digital signatures. PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) is a widely used encryption technology that ensures the security and integrity of digital communication. This public key can be used to encrypt messages, which can only be decrypted by the person possessing the corresponding private key. It's also used to verify the authenticity of digital signatures, ensuring that messages haven't been tampered with.

(www.zbeegnew.dev)

Tech

Chrome Shatters Speedometer 3 Record, Saving Users 58 Million Hours Annually

2025-06-05

Chrome Shatters Speedometer 3 Record, Saving Users 58 Million Hours Annually

Google announced that Chrome has achieved a record-breaking score on the Speedometer 3 benchmark, translating to a potential annual time savings of 58 million hours for users. This improvement stems from a series of low-level optimizations, including improvements to the Blink rendering engine's memory layout, expanded use of Oilpan garbage collection, and faster string hashing. Chrome also saw optimizations in CSS computation and font rendering, resulting in significant performance gains across various tasks. This achievement showcases Chrome's technological leadership and sets a new benchmark for the entire browser industry.

(betanews.com)

Tech

Fediverse Donut Club: Bridging Online and Offline Communities

2025-03-14

Fediverse Donut Club: Bridging Online and Offline Communities

Inspired by a successful office donut club, the author proposes a "Fediverse Donut Club," a bi-weekly #FediDonutFriday event where participants share donut pictures on the Fediverse platform to foster connections. This initiative aims to break down online silos, connecting individuals through a simple, shared activity with the potential for offline meetups. Participation is easy: follow the #FediDonutFriday hashtag and share your donut photos!

(sethmlarson.dev)

Misc

Delta Air Lines Partners with YouTube Premium for In-Flight Entertainment

2025-01-09

Delta Air Lines Partners with YouTube Premium for In-Flight Entertainment

Delta Air Lines has partnered with YouTube to offer free YouTube Premium and YouTube Music to its SkyMiles members on flights. This exclusive deal includes curated content from top YouTube creators and is part of Delta's broader strategy to enhance the in-flight experience and attract entertainment industry travelers. The airline is also rolling out an AI-powered personal assistant, Delta Concierge, and a new in-flight series hosted by Tom Brady focused on wellness travel tips.

(variety.com)

Tech Airlines

Snowball the Dancing Cockatoo: Challenging the Uniqueness of Human Musicality

2025-03-05

Snowball the Dancing Cockatoo: Challenging the Uniqueness of Human Musicality

Snowball, a cockatoo, became an internet sensation for his ability to dance to music. Neuroscientist Ani Patel investigated, finding Snowball's dancing wasn't simple imitation but a complex cognitive act showing rhythm understanding and creativity. This challenges the notion that musicality and dancing are uniquely human, suggesting other vocal-learning animals possess similar brain functions. Snowball's diverse and spontaneous moves offer new insights into animal creativity and cognition, potentially impacting rhythm-based therapies for neurological disorders.

(news.harvard.edu)

Tech animal cognition music cognition dance

The Quest for the Cutest Neural Network: A Cortex-M0 Adventure

2025-05-05

The author attempts to run a small neural network on a resource-constrained Cortex-M0 microcontroller for pose estimation. Initial attempts using frameworks like TensorFlow Lite Micro and MicroFlow proved too bulky and reliant on floating-point operations. He ultimately decided to build a purely integer-based neural network from scratch using JAX and hand-write the inference code. The journey was fraught with challenges, and the author shares valuable lessons learned, providing insights for developers aiming to run neural networks on resource-limited devices.

(kevinlynagh.com)

Development model quantization

arXivLabs: Experimenting with Community Collaboration

2025-04-22

arXivLabs is a platform enabling collaborators to build and share new arXiv features directly on the site. Participants must adhere to arXiv's values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. Got an idea to improve the arXiv community? Learn more about arXivLabs!

(arxiv.org)

Development

Global Privacy Control (GPC): A User-Powered Solution to Web Tracking?

2025-03-16

Global Privacy Control (GPC): A User-Powered Solution to Web Tracking?

Unlike its predecessor, Do Not Track (DNT), the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal has backing from the California Attorney General and aims for alignment with the EU's GDPR, empowering users like never before. DNT's ineffectiveness stemmed from its lack of legal enforcement, but GPC changes that. It transmits users' "Do Not Sell" requests to websites, compelling compliance. With support from browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Brave, and DuckDuckGo's Privacy Browser, GPC signals a potential turning point in the fight against web tracking.

(developer.mozilla.org)

Tech web tracking

Eliminating Noise in CI Performance Testing: The CodSpeed Macro Runners Breakthrough

2025-08-03

Eliminating Noise in CI Performance Testing: The CodSpeed Macro Runners Breakthrough

Creating performance gates in CI to prevent significant regressions has been a challenge due to noise in hosted runners. This article explores measuring this noise using various benchmarking suites. Results on GitHub Actions showed a 2.66% coefficient of variation, leading to a 45% false positive rate for a 2% performance gate. CodSpeed's Macro Runners, running on bare-metal cloud instances with enhanced stability, drastically reduced this noise. Macro Runners achieved a 0.56% average variance, lowering the false positive rate to 0.04%. This allows for more precise performance gates, catching subtle regressions without overwhelming contributors with false alarms.

(codspeed.io)

Development

The ABC Conjecture Proof That Only Japan Believes: A Decade-Long Mathematical Controversy

2025-06-06

The ABC Conjecture Proof That Only Japan Believes: A Decade-Long Mathematical Controversy

In 2012, Japanese mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki published a 500-page paper claiming to prove the 40-year-old ABC conjecture using his Inter-Universal Teichmüller theory (IUT). However, the proof's complexity and obscurity meant only a handful claimed to understand it. Years later, two German mathematicians found a fatal flaw, but Mochizuki and his supporters refused to concede. Mochizuki's paper was eventually published in a journal he edits, fueling intense debate. Recently, an American mathematician claims to have resolved the controversy, but this too remains unaccepted. This decade-long saga highlights the complexity of mathematical proof, the challenges of verification, and the inherent controversies within academia.

(www.newscientist.com)

Tech ABC conjecture Shinichi Mochizuki

Formalizing Fermat's Last Theorem in Lean: A Collaborative Open Source Project

2025-08-21

An international collaboration led by Kevin Buzzard is undertaking the ambitious task of formally proving Fermat's Last Theorem using the Lean theorem prover. Funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and hosted at Imperial College London, this project pushes the boundaries of mathematical proof verification. By using a computer to verify the proof, the project explores the potential of formalization and automated verification in mathematics, with implications for future research.

(imperialcollegelondon.github.io)

Development Lean theorem prover

Leaked: Microsoft's Scrapped Dynamic Wallpapers for Windows 11

2025-01-03

Leaked: Microsoft's Scrapped Dynamic Wallpapers for Windows 11

Former Microsoft designer Sergey Kisselev revealed designs for dynamic wallpapers intended for Windows 11. These wallpapers, featuring various animations and still images, were designed to complement the centered Start Menu and Taskbar, primarily targeting educational users. However, the feature never shipped, suggesting cancellation or postponement. While early hints appeared in Insider builds, it didn't make it into the 23H2 release, and its future remains uncertain.

(www.windowscentral.com)

Tech dynamic wallpapers

The Unsung Heroes Keeping Africa (and the World) Online

2025-09-20

The Unsung Heroes Keeping Africa (and the World) Online

Rest of World profiles the Léon Thévenin, Africa's only permanently stationed undersea cable repair ship. The article highlights the grueling work of its crew, like cable jointer Shuru Arendse, who maintain Africa's internet connectivity. Their demanding jobs, often requiring months away from family, are crucial to global data flow, especially with the rise of AI which relies heavily on high-speed connectivity. The piece details the intricate cable repair process, team dynamics, and the dedication of these individuals in safeguarding global internet access.

(restofworld.org)

Tech Internet Infrastructure

AI-Powered Code Editor's Bot Fabricates Policy, Leading to User Cancellations

2025-04-18

AI-Powered Code Editor's Bot Fabricates Policy, Leading to User Cancellations

An AI-powered code editor, Cursor, recently faced backlash after its AI chatbot fabricated a company policy. A developer discovered that switching devices instantly logged them out of Cursor. When contacting support, an AI agent named "Sam" claimed this was a new security feature. However, no such policy existed; the AI invented the information, leading to user complaints and subscription cancellations. This highlights the risks of deploying AI systems in customer-facing roles without human oversight, potentially resulting in frustrated customers, damaged trust, and financial losses.

(arstechnica.com)

Development

Shopify's LLM Doc Bot: Guesswork Over Facts?

2025-07-09

Shopify's LLM Doc Bot: Guesswork Over Facts?

Shopify's LLM-powered developer documentation bot provided an incorrect Liquid syntax for detecting Shopify Collective items in order confirmation emails. While the bot provided a quick answer, the code didn't work in practice because the Shopify Collective tag is added after the email is generated. The author questions the value of this 'guessing' doc bot, arguing that the cost of bad advice far outweighs the benefit of quick help. He suggests relying on official documentation instead of a potentially inaccurate bot.

(www.robinsloan.com)

Development Doc Bot

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