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Microsoft to Delete Passwords for 1 Billion Users, Promoting Passkeys

2024-12-17
Microsoft to Delete Passwords for 1 Billion Users, Promoting Passkeys

In response to a surge in cyberattacks, Microsoft announced plans to delete passwords for a billion users and aggressively promote the more secure passkeys. With password attacks nearly doubling year-over-year, Microsoft blocks 7,000 attacks per second. Passkeys, leveraging biometrics or PINs, offer superior security and convenience compared to traditional passwords. Microsoft is actively pushing users towards passkey adoption, aiming for a passwordless and more secure future.

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(www.forbes.com)
Tech cybersecurity passwords passkeys

Microsoft Open Sources Multilspy: Simplifying Language Server Client Development

2024-12-17
Microsoft Open Sources Multilspy: Simplifying Language Server Client Development

Microsoft has open-sourced Multilspy, a Python library designed to simplify building applications around language servers. Supporting Java, Rust, C#, and Python, Multilspy automates downloading server binaries, setup/teardown, and provides a simple API. It interacts with language servers to obtain static analysis results like code completion, symbol definitions, and references—crucial for AI-assisted code generation techniques such as Monitor-Guided Decoding.

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(github.com)
Development language server Python library AI-assisted code generation

Klarna Halts Hiring, CEO Claims AI Can Do All Jobs

2024-12-17
Klarna Halts Hiring, CEO Claims AI Can Do All Jobs

Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski has claimed that AI can already perform all jobs currently done by humans, leading the fintech company to halt hiring a year ago. The company's workforce has shrunk from 4,500 to 3,500 employees through attrition. While Klarna's website still advertises open positions, a spokesperson clarified that the company is not actively recruiting to expand but filling essential roles, mainly in engineering. This announcement has fueled concerns about AI's impact on the job market.

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(www.businessinsider.com)
Tech Employment

Best Practices for Representing Inheritance in SQL Server Databases

2024-12-17
Best Practices for Representing Inheritance in SQL Server Databases

This article explores best practices for representing inheritance relationships in SQL Server databases. Three common approaches are presented: single table inheritance, concrete table inheritance, and class table inheritance. The advantages and disadvantages of each are detailed. Single table inheritance is simple but has scalability and data integrity issues; concrete table inheritance solves these but suffers from inefficient queries; class table inheritance balances simplicity and efficiency, making it the preferred choice in most scenarios. Alternative approaches using JSON for subtype-specific fields and normalized database design are also discussed.

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(stackoverflow.com)
Development Database Design Inheritance

MIT Study Unveils Why Laws Are Written in Incomprehensible Legalese

2024-12-17
MIT Study Unveils Why Laws Are Written in Incomprehensible Legalese

A new study from MIT cognitive scientists reveals why legal documents are notoriously difficult to understand. Contrary to the belief that complexity stems from iterative edits, the research suggests that convoluted legalese serves to convey authority, akin to a 'magic spell'. Experiments showed that even non-lawyers instinctively use complex language structures when writing laws. This finding could inspire lawmakers to simplify legal language for better public comprehension.

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(news.mit.edu)
AI Legal Language Cognitive Science

Running NetBSD on a Vintage ThinkPad 380Z: A Retro Computing Adventure

2024-12-17

The author acquired a 1998 IBM ThinkPad 380Z and embarked on a journey to install an operating system on it. After trying several options, NetBSD proved to be the best choice due to its excellent performance, hardware support, and stability. The article details the process of upgrading the hard drive, connecting to the network, installing NetBSD, and configuring various software components, including the X Window System, WireGuard, and a terminal emulator. The author successfully transformed this vintage ThinkPad into a functional machine suitable for lightweight programming, note-taking, and other tasks.

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(luke8086.dev)
Misc

Make Your QEMU 10 Times Faster: A Weird Trick

2024-12-17

While debugging NixOS tests, Linus Heckemann discovered painfully slow data copying times (over 2 hours) in a QEMU virtual machine. Performance analysis with `perf` revealed that QEMU's 9p server used an inefficient linked list (O(n) complexity) for file lookups. By switching to a hash table provided by glib (O(1) complexity), he reduced the test time to 7 minutes and successfully contributed the optimization to the QEMU project.

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(linus.schreibt.jetzt)
Development 9p protocol

Shanghai's Dual Faces: A Tale of Two Sides of the Huangpu River

2024-12-17
Shanghai's Dual Faces: A Tale of Two Sides of the Huangpu River

This article recounts the author's observations of Shanghai's architecture, focusing on the contrast between Puxi and Pudong. Starting with a 2005 visit, the author describes being captivated by Pudong's rapidly rising skyscrapers. Today, Pudong boasts the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower, forming a stark contrast to the historical European-style buildings of Puxi. The author argues these structures are not just feats of engineering, but also symbols of China's economic development and cultural transformation, reflecting Shanghai's unique duality: a blend of historical heritage and modern dynamism.

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(arun.is)
Design Shanghai architecture Pudong development urban development

Waymo's First International Road Trip: Tokyo Bound

2024-12-17
Waymo's First International Road Trip: Tokyo Bound

Waymo is bringing its autonomous vehicles to Tokyo in early 2025, partnering with Nihon Kotsu and GO. This marks Waymo's first international expansion, challenging its self-driving system with left-hand traffic and Tokyo's dense urban environment. The company will collaborate with local partners and officials to understand the local landscape and ensure safe implementation. This aligns with Japan's vision for future transportation, and Waymo will work closely with regulators to meet safety standards. Initially, Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually operate the vehicles to map key areas of Tokyo.

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(waymo.com)
AI autonomous driving international expansion

The Red Beads Experiment: Systems, Not People, Are the Problem

2024-12-17
The Red Beads Experiment: Systems, Not People, Are the Problem

Dr. W. Edwards Deming's 'Red Beads Experiment' vividly illustrates the impact of systems on individual performance. Employees pick beads from a mix containing mostly red beads, with performance measured by the number of red beads. Results show that despite employee effort, system flaws (high proportion of red beads) lead to huge performance differences, with management wrongly blaming individuals. The experiment highlights the importance of systemic issues, emphasizing management's focus on system improvement, not individual assessment, for true efficiency gains.

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(medium.com)
Misc Deming Red Beads Experiment Systems Thinking

Nostalgic Game 'Alley Cat' Remake Released

2024-12-17

Programmer Joflof has finally completed a remake of the classic 1983 game 'Alley Cat' after many years of work. This remake not only retains the original pixel graphics and sound effects but also adds five new levels and multiplayer modes for up to four kittens to play simultaneously. Additionally, Joflof has included special arcade mode configuration options for arcade enthusiasts. Currently, the game is only available for Windows, but the author hopes that enthusiasts will help port it to Linux and Mac systems.

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(www.joflof.com)
Game retro game remake arcade game

Meta to Pay $50 Million to Australian Users Affected by Cambridge Analytica

2024-12-17
Meta to Pay $50 Million to Australian Users Affected by Cambridge Analytica

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has reached a settlement with Meta, resulting in a $50 million payment program for Australian Facebook users affected by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The case involved the unauthorized disclosure of personal information to the 'This is Your Digital Life' app, posing risks of political profiling. The payment scheme offers a base payment for users experiencing general concern or embarrassment and higher payments for those demonstrating specific loss or damage. Applications are expected to open in the second quarter of 2025.

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(www.oaic.gov.au)
Tech data breach

A New Twist: Molecular Machines Loop and Twist Chromosomes

2024-12-17
A New Twist: Molecular Machines Loop and Twist Chromosomes

Scientists have discovered a new function of the molecular motors that shape our chromosomes: SMC proteins not only form long loops in DNA but also significantly twist the DNA during loop formation. Published in Science Advances, the research reveals that SMC proteins introduce a left-handed twist of 0.6 turns in each DNA loop extrusion step. This twisting action is conserved across species, observed in both human and yeast cells, highlighting its evolutionary importance. This finding enhances our understanding of chromosome structure and function and provides insights into developmental diseases like cohesinopathies.

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(phys.org)
Biology molecular motors chromosomes

TSMC Employees' Surprisingly High Fertility Rate: One in Fifty Taiwanese Babies is a 'TSMC Baby'

2024-12-17
TSMC Employees' Surprisingly High Fertility Rate: One in Fifty Taiwanese Babies is a 'TSMC Baby'

The surprisingly high fertility rate among employees of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, has drawn significant attention. While TSMC employees constitute only 0.3% of Taiwan's population, they account for 1.8% of all babies born in Taiwan—meaning one in every fifty Taiwanese babies is a 'TSMC baby'. This phenomenon is attributed to TSMC's family-friendly policies, including childcare services from 7 am to 8 pm, flexible work arrangements, and generous maternity leave. The company's culture, fostering positive peer interactions and encouraging parenthood, also plays a vital role, creating a positive feedback loop that boosts birth rates.

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(www.boomcampaign.org)
Misc fertility rate family-friendly policies

Revolutionary Technique Cuts LLM Memory Costs by Up to 75%

2024-12-17
Revolutionary Technique Cuts LLM Memory Costs by Up to 75%

Sakana AI, a Tokyo-based startup, has developed a groundbreaking technique called "universal transformer memory" that significantly improves the memory efficiency of large language models (LLMs). Using neural attention memory modules (NAMMs), the technique acts like a smart editor, discarding redundant information while retaining crucial details. This results in up to a 75% reduction in memory costs and improved performance across various models and tasks, offering substantial benefits for enterprises utilizing LLMs.

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(venturebeat.com)
AI Memory Optimization Neural Networks

A Million-Dollar Surprise: De Gaulle's Hidden Collection Found

2024-12-17
A Million-Dollar Surprise: De Gaulle's Hidden Collection Found

A forgotten trove of Charles de Gaulle's personal letters, speeches, and manuscripts has been discovered in a safe, set to be auctioned for over $1 million. The collection, found in a bank vault belonging to his son, includes the handwritten manuscript of his famous 1940 speech calling for French resistance against the Nazis, correspondence with Winston Churchill, early short stories, and personal notebooks offering insights into his intellectual development. This unexpected discovery unveils a fascinating glimpse into the life and thoughts of the iconic French leader, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Anne de Gaulle Foundation.

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(www.smithsonianmag.com)
Misc Charles de Gaulle Auction Historical Documents

Advent of Code on the Nintendo DS: A Rust Programming Challenge on an Embedded System

2024-12-16

The author tackled Advent of Code 2024 using Rust on a Nintendo DS. This detailed account chronicles the journey, from setting up a cross-compilation environment and writing Rust code for a runtime-less embedded system to overcoming challenges in memory management, interrupts, and screen output. The author successfully displays the Advent of Code solution on the DS screen. The article showcases strong programming skills and deep understanding of embedded systems, highlighting the techniques and enjoyment of programming in resource-constrained environments.

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(sailor.li)
Development Nintendo DS

U2 Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. Reveals Dyscalculia Diagnosis

2024-12-16
U2 Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. Reveals Dyscalculia Diagnosis

U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. has publicly revealed for the first time that he has dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects mathematical abilities. He shared that he struggles with basic counting and addition, describing the act of counting musical bars as 'like climbing Everest.' This candid admission offers insight into learning disabilities and showcases the musician's remarkable achievements despite facing significant challenges.

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(www.thetimes.com)
Misc Dyscalculia Learning Disability

Always Attend the Funeral: A Father's Lesson in Human Kindness

2024-12-16
Always Attend the Funeral: A Father's Lesson in Human Kindness

The author recounts how her father instilled in her the importance of always attending funerals, a lesson she initially resisted. Through years and personal experience, she realizes it's not just about obligation, but about offering comfort and acknowledging life's inevitable losses. Her father's death solidified this belief, highlighting the profound impact of seemingly small acts of kindness in the face of grief, emphasizing the importance of showing up for others even when inconvenient.

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(www.npr.org)
Misc life lessons family human kindness

CIA's Secret Robot Dragonfly Spy from the Cold War

2024-12-16
CIA's Secret Robot Dragonfly Spy from the Cold War

In the 1970s, the CIA secretly developed a miniature robotic dragonfly, dubbed the "insectothopter," for espionage. The device used laser reflectors as microphones, analyzing laser beam vibrations to capture sound. While successful in lab tests, its inability to cope with real-world wind conditions led to the project's termination. Nevertheless, this ambitious endeavor laid the groundwork for modern micro-drone technology and highlighted the intense technological competition of the Cold War.

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(www.popularmechanics.com)
Tech robot dragonfly Cold War espionage

McDonald's: A Microcosm of American Life

2024-12-16
McDonald's: A Microcosm of American Life

Author Chris Arnade offers a unique perspective on American society by observing McDonald's restaurants across the US. From Trump's political stunt at a McDonald's to its role as a refuge for the mentally ill and a de facto community center, Arnade argues that McDonald's transcends its fast-food identity, reflecting the connections between people and the yearning for belonging in American society. He highlights the elite's tendency to overlook the value of these grassroots communities, emphasizing that these organically formed social hubs are a testament to the resilience of American society.

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(www.thefp.com)
Misc American Society McDonald's Community

Principles of Educational Programming Language Design: Why the Lack of Consensus?

2024-12-16
Principles of Educational Programming Language Design: Why the Lack of Consensus?

This paper explores the evolution of principles in educational programming language design over several decades. While the work of Wirth and others emphasized principles like simplicity and modularity, disagreement persists among educators regarding suitable languages for novice programmers. The article analyzes how the interpretation of these principles shifts in the context of current technologies and why a common, globally used educational programming language hasn't emerged. The authors discuss the relative merits of pedagogical versus industry languages and argue that each generation of learners needs its own language.

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(infedu.vu.lt)
Development programming education language design educational technology

The Green Fairy's Fall: Absinthe From Muse to Moral Panic

2024-12-16

In late 19th-century France, absinthe, once celebrated as the 'Green Fairy' and muse to artists and poets, fell from grace due to its high alcohol content and societal biases. Medical experts linked absinthe to violent crime, fueling the 'absinthe-induced violence' narrative. Sensationalized media reports, such as those detailing 'absinthe murders,' furthered the negative perception. While it's now understood that absinthe's dangers stem primarily from its alcohol content, not its essential oils, the ensuing panic led to its prohibition in Switzerland (1908) and France (1915). The widening consumption of absinthe, from the bourgeoisie to the working class, fueled its association with crime. The absinthe ban also reveals complex attitudes toward alcohol and societal prejudices. Although absinthe is now legal in some countries, its negative reputation persists.

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(www.historytoday.com)
Misc absinthe prohibition social history

OpenAI Outage: Unexpected Load from New Telemetry Service Causes Major Disruption

2024-12-16
OpenAI Outage: Unexpected Load from New Telemetry Service Causes Major Disruption

OpenAI experienced a major service disruption on December 11th, stemming from a newly deployed telemetry service. Intended to improve reliability, this service unexpectedly generated massive Kubernetes API server load, saturating the servers and causing the Kubernetes control plane to fail in most large clusters. This led to the breakdown of DNS-based service discovery. The incident highlights the unpredictable interactions within complex systems and the challenges of testing for failure modes that only appear under full load. OpenAI restored service by scaling down clusters, blocking network access to Kubernetes admin APIs, and scaling up API servers.

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(surfingcomplexity.blog)
Development API server saturation service disruption

Go Protobuf's New Opaque API Improves Performance and Safety

2024-12-16

The Go team released a new Opaque API for Go Protobuf, coexisting with the existing Open Struct API. This new API decouples generated code from its underlying memory representation, leading to performance improvements, reduced memory allocations, and enabling optimizations like lazy decoding. By hiding struct fields and accessing them only through accessor methods, it prevents pointer-related bugs and accidental sharing. Migration involves enabling the Hybrid API, using the `open2opaque` tool, and then switching to the Opaque API. The existing Open Struct API remains supported.

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(go.dev)
Development

Backward-Incompatible GRUB2 Change Causes BIOS Boot Loop

2024-12-16
Backward-Incompatible GRUB2 Change Causes BIOS Boot Loop

The author's Debian and Kali Linux systems experienced boot loops after a GRUB2 update added the command `fwsetup --is-supported`. Older GRUB versions didn't recognize this parameter. The issue stemmed from an older `efifwsetup.mod` module, leftover from a system backup restoration, causing a conflict between the new GRUB configuration and the old module. Installing the `grub-efi-amd64-bin` package resolved the problem. This highlights the importance of backward compatibility in software updates and the need to consider potential side effects when making partial changes in complex software like GRUB2.

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(op-co.de)
Development boot loop

Unraveling the Mango's Mystery: A Scientific Journey Across Asia

2024-12-16
Unraveling the Mango's Mystery: A Scientific Journey Across Asia

The sweet mango, a beloved fruit worldwide, hides a mysterious past. Dr. Emily Warschefsky, a Ph.D. student at Florida International University, embarked on a scientific journey across Asia to uncover the mango's origins. Visiting botanical gardens and forests, she collected numerous samples of Mangifera species and used DNA sequencing to study relationships between different mango species. Her research revealed genetic differences between Southeast Asian and Indian mangoes, challenging the traditional view of a single Himalayan origin. Several scenarios are proposed, including multiple domestication events and hybridization between different species. Warschefsky's work not only deepens our understanding of mango origins but also offers new insights for mango breeding and cultivation.

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(fairchildgarden.org)
Misc mango origin DNA sequencing

Ruby Conference Roundup: A Global Overview

2024-12-16

Ruby Video Talks is a website that aggregates information on Ruby developer conferences worldwide. From major events like RubyConf 2024 (70 talks) and Rails World 2024 (46 talks) to smaller regional meetups, the site provides a comprehensive calendar. It highlights key speakers like Matz and offers search functionality by date, location, and topic, making it easy to find relevant events. Upcoming conferences in 2025, such as Balkan Ruby and Friendly.rb, are also listed, promising even more opportunities for the Ruby community.

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(www.rubyvideo.dev)
Development Ruby Conferences Developer Events Programming Language
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