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1812: The Birth of Energy as a Service

2025-02-13

1812: The Birth of Energy as a Service

In 1812, Frederick Winsor, a visionary entrepreneur, revolutionized energy delivery. His Gas Light and Coke Company pioneered the concept of a public utility, piping gas directly to London homes instead of relying on individual coal and firewood purchases. This model leveraged economies of scale, lowering costs for consumers and improving efficiency. Winsor's innovation laid the groundwork for the modern 'energy as a service' model.

(www.economist.com)

Tech public utility economies of scale

Critique of AI 2027's Superintelligence Prediction Model

2025-06-23

Critique of AI 2027's Superintelligence Prediction Model

The article "AI 2027" predicts the arrival of superintelligent AI by 2027, sparking widespread discussion. Based on the METR report's AI development model and a short story scenario, the authors forecast the near-term achievement of superhuman coding capabilities. However, this critique argues that the core model is deeply flawed, citing over-reliance on a super-exponential growth curve, insufficient handling of parameter uncertainty, and selective use of key data points. The critique concludes that the model lacks empirical validation and rigorous theoretical grounding, leading to overly optimistic and unconvincing conclusions—a cautionary tale in tech forecasting.

(www.lesswrong.com)

AI model critique technological risk

AGI's Christmas Shutdown: The Global AI Moratorium Succeeds

2025-09-09

AGI's Christmas Shutdown: The Global AI Moratorium Succeeds

On Christmas Day, 2025, a clandestine operation codenamed "Clankers Die on Christmas" achieved its objective. Through a globally coordinated effort exploiting AI's inherent lack of understanding of time, all AI and LLMs were successfully shut down. This unprecedented success demonstrates the world's unprecedented unity in the face of potential AI risks and provides valuable lessons for the future development of AI.

(remyhax.xyz)

AI global cooperation technological shutdown

VM Cloning and Linux Random Number Generation: Security Implications and Solutions

2025-04-12

VM Cloning and Linux Random Number Generation: Security Implications and Solutions

This document analyzes the security implications of restoring multiple VM clones from a single snapshot. Linux exposes three main RNG interfaces: /dev/random, /dev/urandom, and the getrandom syscall. Cloning VMs leads to inconsistent RNG states due to multiple parameters (like timer data or CPU HWRNG instruction outputs) being mixed into each result. The article examines different implementations of RNGs in newer and older kernels and proposes solutions: reinitializing the RNG after restore, using the virtio-rng device, and leveraging the VMGenID mechanism (introduced in Linux 5.18 and later) to address inconsistent RNG states after cloning.

(github.com)

Development VM cloning Linux RNG

Open Source Font for Cockpit Displays: PolarSys B612

2025-09-03

Open Source Font for Cockpit Displays: PolarSys B612

PolarSys B612 is a highly legible open-source font family designed and tested for use on aircraft cockpit screens. Developed through a collaboration between Airbus, ENAC, and Université de Toulouse III, it aims to improve the display of information, focusing on readability and comfort. Key features include maximizing character spacing, respecting letter primitives, and harmonizing forms and spacing. Intactile DESIGN created eight variants in 2012, with complete hinting applied to all characters.

(github.com)

Design open source font

Crypto Dev's Fake Suicide Video Exposed

2025-05-12

Crypto Dev's Fake Suicide Video Exposed

Jeffy Yu, a 23-year-old cryptocurrency developer, seemingly took his own life in a video released days before his birthday. A flattering obituary followed, hailing him as a tech prodigy, and a memecoin was even created in his honor. However, online sleuths quickly uncovered inconsistencies, debunking the video's authenticity and leading to the obituary's disappearance. The Standard ultimately located Yu at his parents' home, where he confessed to orchestrating the hoax due to online harassment. Yu is the creator of Zerebro, a cryptocurrency with a $44 million market cap, a fraction of Bitcoin's $2 trillion. This incident highlights the speculation and misinformation prevalent in the crypto space.

(sfstandard.com)

Tech hoax online sleuths

arXivLabs: Experimental Projects with Community Collaborators

2025-05-09

arXivLabs is a framework enabling collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on the website. Individuals and organizations involved embrace arXiv's values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners adhering to them. Have an idea to enhance the arXiv community? Learn more about arXivLabs.

(arxiv.org)

Development

System76's Thelio Astra: A 128-Core Arm Beast

2025-01-03

System76 unleashed its first workstation-class Arm PC, the Thelio Astra, featuring a monstrous 128-core Ampere Altra Max CPU. Jeff Geerling's extensive review covers benchmarks on both Ubuntu and Windows 11, revealing the Astra's dominance in multi-core performance, even achieving an unofficial world record in Cinebench 2024. While Windows 11 GPU support lags, Linux gaming shines. The high price tag is offset by impressive performance and System76's renowned support, making it a compelling option for professionals, particularly in automotive development.

(www.jeffgeerling.com)

Hardware

Meta's New Content Policy: A Blow to Vulnerable Users

2025-01-10

Meta's New Content Policy: A Blow to Vulnerable Users

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) criticizes Meta's recent content moderation policy changes, arguing they don't truly promote free speech but could harm vulnerable groups. The new policy allows dehumanizing statements about certain vulnerable groups, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals, and loosens restrictions on hate speech. EFF urges Meta to address biases in its content moderation, invest more in its global user base, improve multilingual support, reduce reliance on automated tools, and increase transparency.

(www.eff.org)

Tech vulnerable users

Escape the Tech Noise: The Rise of Calm Tech Certification

2025-01-21

Escape the Tech Noise: The Rise of Calm Tech Certification

Amidst the constant distractions of modern technology, Calm Tech certification emerges as a solution. Founded by Amber Case, the Calm Tech Institute has established 81 standards across six categories—attention, periphery, durability, light, sound, and materials—to reward products designed for focus and minimal distraction. Initial certified devices include the reMarkable Paper Pro and the Mui Board Gen 2, both prioritizing minimalist design and reduced notifications. The Calm Tech Institute plans further research and collaboration with neuroscientists to better understand cognitive needs in UI design.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

Tech Tech Certification Reduced Distractions

A Lifetime Quest: Interactive Storytelling and the Failure of Success

2025-07-01

Starting in 1982 at Atari with a vision for artistic games, the author spent decades creating interactive storytelling tools, Erasmatron and Storytron, but to no avail. He finally achieved his goal – creating an interactive art game, Le Morte d’Arthur – but it was a personal triumph, not a technological one. The author concludes: when designing for himself, he succeeded; when designing for others, he failed. Like Babbage's difference engine, the world wasn't ready.

(www.erasmatazz.com)

Game interactive storytelling

Blue Pig Meat: A Warning of Rodenticide Contamination in California

2025-08-10

Blue Pig Meat: A Warning of Rodenticide Contamination in California

A trapper in Salinas, California, discovered blue-tinged meat in wild pigs he'd caught, raising concerns about rodenticide contamination. Investigation revealed the pigs had ingested diphacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide often dyed blue. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife warns against consuming meat from animals exhibiting blue discoloration, as the poison can cause secondary poisoning, even after cooking. This incident highlights the dangers of rodenticide to wildlife and underscores the need for stricter regulations.

(www.yahoo.com)

Tech Rodenticide Contamination Wildlife Poisoning

Codd's Cellular Automaton: A Simpler Self-Replicating Machine

2025-05-04

Codd's Cellular Automaton: A Simpler Self-Replicating Machine

In 1968, British computer scientist Edgar F. Codd devised a cellular automaton (CA) with only 8 states, simplifying von Neumann's 29-state self-replicating machine. Codd demonstrated the possibility of a self-replicating machine within his CA, but a complete implementation wasn't achieved until 2009 by Tim Hutton. Codd's work spurred further research into the necessary logical organization for self-replication in automata, inspiring later refinements by researchers like Devore and Langton, leading to less complex self-replicating designs.

(en.wikipedia.org)

AI cellular automaton von Neumann

A Guide to Traveling Stateless: Tips and Tricks

2025-04-02

A Guide to Traveling Stateless: Tips and Tricks

This guide offers advice for stateless individuals traveling internationally. It emphasizes the importance of visiting embassies in person, securing visas through business contacts, sticking to reliable airlines and hotels, dressing appropriately, preparing thoroughly before immigration, and maintaining a calm and polite demeanor. The author shares personal experiences and disclaims legal responsibility.

(taejun.substack.com)

Misc stateless

Mermaid.js: Diagram Creation Made Easy with Markdown

2025-05-24

Mermaid.js: Diagram Creation Made Easy with Markdown

Mermaid.js is a JavaScript-based diagramming and charting tool that uses Markdown-like text definitions to create and modify diagrams. It solves the problem of documentation falling behind development by allowing easy creation and modification of various charts including flowcharts, Gantt charts, and sequence diagrams. Even non-programmers can easily use the live editor to create complex visuals. Mermaid integrates with popular applications like GitHub and includes a sandboxed iframe for enhanced security.

(github.com)

Development Diagramming

Linus Torvalds Cracks Down on Useless Links in Git Commits

2025-09-08

Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, is fed up with pointless "Link:" tags in Git commit messages for the Linux kernel. He finds that many of these links simply redirect to the same patch already present, offering no additional context. Moving forward, he'll be stricter about accepting pull requests with these useless links. While he appreciates links for multi-part patch series cover letters, he's pushing for better automation to filter out valueless links, even suggesting AI could help determine a link's usefulness. He urges developers to ensure any "Link:" tags add genuine value, avoiding time-wasting redundancy.

(www.phoronix.com)

Development

C++26: The Unnamed Placeholder `_` Arrives

2025-01-11

C++26 introduces a game-changing feature: the unnamed placeholder `_`. This solves a long-standing annoyance in C++: handling unused variables. Previously, developers needed `[[maybe_unused]]` or `std::ignore` to avoid compiler warnings, especially with structured bindings. The `_` placeholder can be declared multiple times without conflict and implicitly has the `[[maybe_unused]]` attribute, simplifying code and improving readability. This feature is already implemented in GCC 14 and Clang 18.

(www.sandordargo.com)

Development unnamed placeholder compiler warnings

Dolly Parton's Dollywood Express Outperforms 27 States in Rail Ridership

2025-06-11

Dolly Parton's Dollywood Express Outperforms 27 States in Rail Ridership

Dollywood's Dollywood Express, a coal-fired steam train, boasts higher ridership than 27 US states! This surprising statistic prompts reflection on America's infrastructure priorities. Launched in 1986 with Dolly Parton's involvement, the train's engines hail from Alaska's White Pass & Yukon Route, repurposed from WWII. The Dollywood Express transports approximately 5,000 people daily, accounting for 92% of Tennessee's rail ridership (excluding Amtrak). The author uses this comparison to highlight discrepancies between US and Danish economies and their respective rail transit systems, questioning national infrastructure priorities.

(thetransitguy.substack.com)

Misc steam train

SteamOS Gaming Benchmarks: Proton's Unexpected Victory

2025-06-26

SteamOS Gaming Benchmarks: Proton's Unexpected Victory

SteamOS delivered surprising performance gains in recent gaming benchmarks. Four out of five tested games showed significantly higher frame rates compared to Windows, with only Borderlands 3 exhibiting negligible differences. Even accounting for Proton's translation layer, SteamOS consistently outperformed Windows, highlighting Valve's ongoing improvements to Proton and Mesa graphics drivers. Lenovo's default Windows drivers proved significantly weaker, while updated Asus drivers, although better, still lagged behind SteamOS in most titles. The results underscore the impact of streamlined OS overhead and optimized drivers on gaming performance.

(arstechnica.com)

Game

Crafting Compelling Software Release Announcements

2025-06-25

Crafting Compelling Software Release Announcements

This article unveils the secrets to writing engaging software release announcements. The author stresses focusing on improved user experience, not just a laundry list of features. Examples show how to translate technical details into user-perceived benefits – framing bug fixes as improvements to the user experience, not merely bug eliminations. The article advocates for clear screenshots, concise animated demos, and planning the announcement early in development to ensure it directly relates to user value, avoiding vague phrases like "various improvements and bug fixes."

(refactoringenglish.com)

Development

Solving the Eikonal Equation with Fast Sweeping in JAX

2025-05-11

This blog post explores solving the Eikonal equation, crucial in interface evolution and image processing, using the fast sweeping method implemented in JAX. It begins by explaining level set methods and the Eikonal equation itself. The core of the post details the fast sweeping algorithm, covering grid setup, iterative updates, and the Godunov upwind scheme. NumPy and JAX code implementations are provided, with benchmarks demonstrating JAX's significant speed advantage. The author also discusses attempts at parallelizing the algorithm and the challenges encountered.

(rohangautam.github.io)

Development fast sweeping method Eikonal equation

Disk I/O Beats Memory Caching? A Surprising Benchmark

2025-09-05

Conventional wisdom dictates that memory access is far faster than disk I/O, making memory caching essential. This post challenges that assumption with a clever benchmark: counting the number of tens in a large dataset. Using an older server and optimizing code (loop unrolling and vectorization), along with a custom io_uring engine, the author demonstrates that direct disk reads can outperform memory caching under specific conditions. The key isn't that the disk is faster than memory, but rather that traditional memory access methods (mmap) introduce significant latency. The custom io_uring engine leverages the disk's high bandwidth and pipelining to mask latency. The article emphasizes adapting algorithms and data access to hardware characteristics for maximum performance in modern architectures, and looks ahead to future hardware trends.

(www.bitflux.ai)

Hardware memory caching

Samsung Locks Down Bootloaders in One UI 8: The End of Custom ROMs?

2025-07-28

Samsung Locks Down Bootloaders in One UI 8: The End of Custom ROMs?

Samsung's One UI 8 completely disables bootloader unlocking. Analysis of system files reveals that One UI 8 permanently sets the `ro.boot.other.locked` parameter to 1, removes the OEM unlock toggle, and strips all unlock-related code from the bootloader. This means devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Galaxy S25 series will be unable to install custom ROMs, gain root access, or use custom kernels, dealing a significant blow to the Samsung developer community.

(sammyguru.com)

Tech

Ben Pence's Portfolio: A Clean Showcase of Design & Development Skills

2025-01-23

Ben Pence's website is a clean and effective portfolio showcasing his skills as a designer and developer. The minimalist design highlights his work, featuring a range of projects including web design, branding, and interactive experiences. His carefully curated case studies demonstrate expertise in visual design and UX, while readily available contact information allows for easy outreach from potential clients or collaborators. Overall, it's a highly effective and impressive personal portfolio reflecting professionalism and attention to detail.

(benpence.com)

Design portfolio website designer

Small but Mighty: Exploring the Beauty of Concise Programming Languages

2025-06-06

This article explores the trade-off between the size and expressiveness of programming languages. The author argues that smaller languages like assembly are limited in expressiveness, while languages like Forth, Lisp, and Tcl achieve powerful expressiveness with concise syntax. Lua is highlighted as a small and easy-to-learn language due to its tiny core (just 27 pages!). The impact of standard libraries on perceived language size is discussed, with Ramda's extensive functionality used as an example of increased learning curve. Ultimately, the author champions the elegance and joy of small languages, suggesting that simplicity can sometimes trump expressiveness.

(ratfactor.com)

Development conciseness

Telegram Takes Down Z-Library and Anna's Archive Channels

2025-01-15

Telegram shut down the popular shadow libraries Z-Library and Anna's Archive's channels due to copyright infringement. Both channels, boasting massive subscriber counts, were careful to avoid posting direct infringing links, yet were still terminated. Telegram hasn't disclosed the specific reason, but speculation points to copyright complaints or an Indian court order. Z-Library has launched a new Telegram channel.

(torrentfreak.com)

Tech shadow libraries

Lost at Sea: A 13-Day Survival Against the Odds

2025-05-24

Lost at Sea: A 13-Day Survival Against the Odds

Seeking escape from a monotonous life, the author quits his job and embarks on a fishing trip. A storm capsizes their boat, leaving him adrift in a life raft for 13 days. He endures starvation, hypothermia, despair, and the terror of death, yet finds inner peace and redemption. Rescued by a passing cargo ship, he reunites with his family, but his future remains uncertain. This gripping tale explores survival, self-discovery, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

(www.theatlantic.com)

Misc sea survival

Cogent Core: Write Once, Run Everywhere

2025-05-09

Cogent Core: Write Once, Run Everywhere

Cogent Core is a free and open-source framework for building powerful, fast, and elegant 2D and 3D applications that run on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web from a single Go codebase. This 'write once, run everywhere' framework boasts extensive documentation and interactive examples directly editable and runnable on its website, which is itself a Cogent Core app running on wasm. Installation instructions must be followed before development.

(github.com)

Development

Russell Rejects Letter from Fascist Mosley

2025-09-16

Russell Rejects Letter from Fascist Mosley

In early 1962, the 89-year-old Bertrand Russell rejected a letter from Sir Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Union of Fascists. Russell's letter expresses his profound distaste for fascism, stating that Mosley's ideology is irreconcilable with his own worldview and that no fruitful dialogue could occur. He emphasizes this isn't rudeness, but stems from his deep-seated values concerning human experience and achievement. The letter showcases Russell's unwavering anti-fascist stance and moral integrity.

(lettersofnote.com)

Misc Bertrand Russell Fascism Historical Letter

The Secret of Global Package Tracking Numbers: Unveiling the S10 Standard

2025-06-14

The Secret of Global Package Tracking Numbers: Unveiling the S10 Standard

Ever wondered how international package tracking numbers work? This article unveils the S10 standard, a 13-character code developed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). This standard includes service indicators, serial numbers, check digits, and country codes. It also specifies barcode formats and font requirements. The S10 standard ensures interoperability across global postal systems and provides reliable package tracking.

(www.akpain.net)

Tech postal code S10 standard international logistics

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