Drawing the Sierpinski Triangle with Bitwise Operations: A Stunning Bit Twiddling Hack

2025-05-10
Drawing the Sierpinski Triangle with Bitwise Operations: A Stunning Bit Twiddling Hack

This article unveils a stunning bit manipulation trick: generating the famous Sierpinski triangle fractal using only a simple bitwise AND operation (&). The author meticulously breaks down the bitwise operation, revealing the underlying mathematical principles. It shows how the inherent fractal nature of binary counting and iterative block removal, achieved through bitwise manipulation, generates the classic Sierpinski triangle. This technique cleverly leverages the binary operation capabilities of computers, simplifying the seemingly complex process of generating graphics into concise code, resulting in an astonishingly elegant solution.

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Development

Oregon's $1.5 Trillion Lithium Deposit: Boom or Bust?

2025-05-10
Oregon's $1.5 Trillion Lithium Deposit: Boom or Bust?

A massive lithium deposit in Oregon's McDermitt Caldera, estimated at $1.5 trillion, promises a boost to domestic battery production but sparks concerns about environmental damage and cultural impacts. While proponents highlight the potential for economic development and reduced reliance on foreign lithium, opponents worry about the effects on sensitive wildlife habitats and sacred Indigenous sites. The debate mirrors similar controversies in Nevada, focusing on water resources and the long-term ecological consequences of large-scale extraction. The question remains whether the economic benefits outweigh the potential environmental and cultural costs.

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Legendary Amateur Press Association Magazine Ceases Publication After Nearly 50 Years

2025-05-10
Legendary Amateur Press Association Magazine Ceases Publication After Nearly 50 Years

Alarums & Excursions, an amateur press association (APA) magazine founded in 1975, has ceased publication after nearly 50 years and over 590 issues. This long-running publication served as a platform for many prominent game designers and writers, including Greg Stafford, and won numerous 'best amateur magazine' awards. Its editor, Lee Gold, a legend in the field, was also a prolific RPG writer and novelist. While its closure is sad news, PDFs of all back issues are available for purchase.

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Radxa Orion O6: Promising Arm ITX Motherboard, But Needs More Time in the Oven

2025-05-10

The Radxa Orion O6 is a budget-friendly Arm ITX motherboard boasting 12 cores, up to 64GB of RAM, and Armv9.2 support. Its SystemReady SR certification allows native Windows on Arm and numerous Linux arm64 distributions. However, current firmware issues plague the experience, including subpar multi-core application performance, high power consumption, and incomplete driver support. While its PCIe expansion and Windows 11 Arm support are appealing, the overall experience needs refinement. For average users, waiting for firmware maturity is advised.

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Big Tech: The New Feudal Lords?

2025-05-10
Big Tech: The New Feudal Lords?

This article examines the concept of 'techno-feudalism,' questioning whether large tech companies function like medieval feudal lords in the digital realm. While acknowledging the immense power and influence of tech giants, the author argues against a simplistic analogy. The open nature of digital spaces, voluntary user participation, fierce market competition, and evolving regulatory frameworks differ significantly from feudalism. Data monopolies and platform dominance exist, yet users also derive benefits, and new platforms constantly challenge incumbents. A more nuanced understanding of the digital economy is needed, moving beyond simplistic historical comparisons.

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Giant Bomb Acquired by Longtime Staff: A New Chapter Begins

2025-05-11
Giant Bomb Acquired by Longtime Staff: A New Chapter Begins

Gaming media brand Giant Bomb has been acquired by its longtime staff members, Jeff Bakalar and Jeff Grubb. Fandom, the previous owner, is handing over operations to the veteran duo, marking a new chapter for the brand. Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, but Giant Bomb's programming will resume as soon as possible. The new owners stated that Giant Bomb's future rests with its supportive community, and all support will directly benefit the team.

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How Much Information Is Actually in Your DNA?

2025-05-10
How Much Information Is Actually in Your DNA?

This article delves into the question of how much information is contained within human DNA. A simple calculation suggests around 1.5GB, but this overlooks redundancy and compressibility. The author explores two definitions of information from information theory: storage space and Kolmogorov complexity, comparing their application to DNA. Ultimately, a new definition – phenotypic Kolmogorov complexity – is proposed as a better reflection of DNA's true information content, although its precise calculation remains elusive.

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Google Pays $1.4B to Settle Texas Data Privacy Lawsuit

2025-05-10
Google Pays $1.4B to Settle Texas Data Privacy Lawsuit

Google will pay $1.4 billion to settle claims by Texas that it collected user data without permission, the state's attorney general announced. This is the largest amount any state has won in a settlement with Google over data privacy violations. The settlement covers geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric data, reflecting Texas's tough stance against tech companies exploiting user data. Google stated the settlement addresses older claims and won't require new product changes.

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Tech settlement

Linux C Standard Library Showdown: musl vs. uClibc vs. dietlibc vs. glibc

2025-05-10

An Eta Labs project compares several standard library implementations for Linux, focusing on the balance between feature richness and bloat. The article uses tables and notes to compare musl, uClibc, dietlibc, and glibc across size, performance, behavior on resource exhaustion, ABI, algorithms, features, target architectures, and build environment. musl excels in size and performance, glibc offers the most features but is the largest, while uClibc and dietlibc fall somewhere in between. The comparison also considers robustness under resource exhaustion and security implications, offering developers valuable insights for choosing the right standard library.

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Development

EU Lures US Scientists with €500M Initiative Amidst Funding Cuts

2025-05-10
EU Lures US Scientists with €500M Initiative Amidst Funding Cuts

Responding to funding cuts and skepticism towards science in the US, the EU launched 'Choose Europe for Science', a €500 million initiative (2025-2027) to attract researchers, particularly from the US. The program offers long-term stability, streamlined processes, and aims to increase R&D investment to 3% of GDP. With its substantial research programs and supportive environment, the EU hopes to attract top talent and solidify its scientific leadership.

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Intel 2008-2014: A Decade of Giants – From Atom to Broadwell

2025-05-10
Intel 2008-2014: A Decade of Giants – From Atom to Broadwell

This article recounts Intel's key developments from 2008 to 2014. From launching the low-power Atom processor to enter the mobile market, to releasing high-performance Nehalem and Sandy Bridge architectures to solidify its PC dominance, and finally adopting the 22nm FinFET process and 14nm Broadwell architecture to lead the technology trend, Intel experienced a decade of both glory and challenges. During this period, the company underwent several restructurings, acquired McAfee, and launched important projects such as Ultrabook and Thunderbolt. Despite setbacks in the smartphone market, Intel remained a leader in PC, server, and other markets, laying the foundation for future development.

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Tech

Accelerating Sea Level Rise: A Climate Crisis in Progress

2025-05-10
Accelerating Sea Level Rise: A Climate Crisis in Progress

For 2,000 years, global sea levels remained relatively stable. That changed in the 20th century with a steady, accelerating rise. Satellite data reveals a 4-inch increase since 1993, with the rate more than doubling in the last 30 years. Human-caused global warming is the primary culprit, with oceans absorbing excess heat from fossil fuel combustion, causing expansion and ice sheet melting. Scientists project a 6-inch global average sea level rise by 2050, potentially exceeding 3 feet in the coming centuries. Coastal communities face severe consequences: increased flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion. While slow rises are adaptable, rapid increases pose immense challenges, particularly for low-lying island nations and coastal areas. The US Gulf Coast, especially Louisiana, is extremely vulnerable. The Trump administration's rollback of climate policies further exacerbates this crisis.

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Tech

41,000 Years Ago: How Homo Sapiens Survived a Geomagnetic Reversal

2025-05-10
41,000 Years Ago: How Homo Sapiens Survived a Geomagnetic Reversal

A new study suggests that a cataclysmic geomagnetic reversal 41,000 years ago (the Laschamps excursion), which weakened Earth's magnetic field, exposed our ancestors to harmful solar radiation. Homo sapiens adapted by seeking shelter in caves, creating clothing, and using ochre pigments as sunscreen. Neanderthals, however, seemingly failed to adapt, potentially contributing to their decline. The study proposes a novel hypothesis linking this event to the rise of Homo sapiens and the demise of Neanderthals, though further research is needed to confirm the correlation.

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Longtime Google Engineer Leaves After 19 Years, Reflecting on Go's Evolution

2025-05-11

A senior engineer who spent 19 years at Google, heavily involved in the development of the Go programming language, has left the company. The article reflects on their 14-year journey with Go, from contributing to the compiler frontend to shaping language features like generics and influencing the project's overall direction. The author believes Go still has significant room for growth and hopes to contribute to its future development.

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Development

The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of Visual Basic

2025-05-11
The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of Visual Basic

In 1988, Alan Cooper showed Bill Gates Tripod, a groundbreaking shell construction kit for Windows. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface allowed users to create personalized shells without deep OS knowledge. This evolved into Visual Basic, a revolutionary visual programming language that empowered countless developers, especially those transitioning from mainframes. VB's ease of use democratized programming, making it accessible to millions. However, Microsoft's shift to .NET and VB.NET, while adding features, sacrificed the simplicity that made VB so popular, leading many developers to abandon it. This story highlights the tension between innovation and business decisions, and the lasting impact of a seemingly simple tool.

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Development

Viral Chromebook Challenge Sparks Fires and Chaos in US Schools

2025-05-09
Viral Chromebook Challenge Sparks Fires and Chaos in US Schools

Schools across the US are warning parents about a dangerous TikTok trend called the "Chromebook Challenge." Students are deliberately damaging school-issued Chromebooks by inserting objects into ports, causing short circuits, fires, and school evacuations. The trend has led to disciplinary actions and even legal consequences for students involved. One incident in Connecticut resulted in a student being hospitalized after smoke inhalation from a damaged Chromebook, leading to potential criminal charges.

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The Hidden Cost of AI: Boosting Productivity, Damaging Reputation?

2025-05-10
The Hidden Cost of AI: Boosting Productivity, Damaging Reputation?

New research from Duke University reveals a double-edged sword: while generative AI tools can boost productivity, they may also secretly damage your professional reputation. A study published in PNAS shows employees using AI tools like ChatGPT are perceived as less competent and motivated by colleagues and managers. This negative judgment isn't limited to specific demographics; the social stigma against AI use is widespread. Four experiments confirmed this bias, highlighting the social cost of AI adoption, even with productivity gains.

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AI IDE Wars: Cursor vs. Windsurf – A Tale of Two Slot Machines

2025-04-29
AI IDE Wars: Cursor vs. Windsurf – A Tale of Two Slot Machines

The author, a long-time Cursor subscriber, finds its performance inconsistent, sometimes brilliant, sometimes frustrating. A recent foray into Claude 3.7 MAX initially impressed, only to crash spectacularly, like a house of cards. In contrast, Windsurf, with its superior user experience, is gaining ground on Cursor. While all these AI IDEs are VS Code-based, making switching effortless, Windsurf's ease of use is a key differentiator. The author plans to continue switching between them, searching for the ideal AI IDE, highlighting the need for AI IDEs to develop a strong competitive advantage.

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Development

Social Drinking, Not Solitary Drinking, is Key to Understanding Alcohol Addiction

2025-05-09

A new study challenges the conventional wisdom on alcohol addiction. While solitary drinking has long been considered the primary marker of alcohol use disorder, research published in Current Directions in Psychological Science reveals that social drinking is the key factor leading to serious alcohol problems. The study shows individuals consistently consume more alcohol in social settings than alone, and many negative consequences associated with alcohol, such as violence, risky sexual behavior, and binge drinking, are primarily linked to social drinking. Researchers advocate shifting the focus of future alcohol addiction research towards social factors, moving beyond the singular emphasis on solitary drinking.

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Huawei Launches First HarmonyOS Laptop, Breaking Free from Windows

2025-05-10
Huawei Launches First HarmonyOS Laptop, Breaking Free from Windows

Huawei unveiled its first laptop powered by its homegrown HarmonyOS in 2025, marking a significant step in its operating system journey. US sanctions forced Huawei to develop its own OS, breaking free from reliance on Windows and Android. Years in the making, HarmonyOS now boasts its own kernel and user interface, supporting multitasking and AI features like Celia, Huawei's AI assistant. While app support is smaller than Windows initially, over 2,000 applications, primarily Chinese ones, are available at launch. Existing Huawei laptops running Windows remain unaffected.

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Tech

Amazon's Vulcan Robot: A New Breakthrough in Warehouse Automation

2025-05-09
Amazon's Vulcan Robot: A New Breakthrough in Warehouse Automation

Amazon unveiled its new robotic system, Vulcan, at an event in Dortmund, Germany. Billed as having a “genuine sense of touch,” Vulcan is designed to revolutionize how robots interact with the physical world, initially focusing on Amazon's warehouses. In stowing, Vulcan now outpaces the average human worker, though expert humans remain faster and more efficient at packing items densely. Vulcan's strength lies in its advanced planning capabilities; it considers multiple items and storage spaces simultaneously, optimizing storage with impressive speed. After over a year of operation in warehouses in Germany and Washington state, Vulcan has successfully stowed hundreds of thousands of items.

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Tech

Bonfire 1.0: A Slow Software Manifesto and Decentralized Community Building

2025-05-10
Bonfire 1.0: A Slow Software Manifesto and Decentralized Community Building

Bonfire 1.0 is not a typical product launch; it's a manifesto for slow software, community governance, and decentralized networks. Rejecting Silicon Valley's "move fast and break things" approach, it champions slow development rooted in care, listening, and collective stewardship, aiming to build lasting and meaningful digital communities. Bonfire employs a modular design, sociocratic governance, and an AGPL license and decentralized architecture to resist centralized control and safeguard community autonomy. It invites users to participate in governance, co-design, and build a community-led digital commons based on sharing and mutual aid.

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BART Station Closure Sparks Commuter Chaos Amidst Financial Crisis

2025-05-09
BART Station Closure Sparks Commuter Chaos Amidst Financial Crisis

A BART station closure in San Francisco's Mission District caused significant disruption to morning commuters. Riders expressed frustration over rising fares and declining service quality. BART is facing a financial crisis due to decreased ridership post-pandemic and a ballooning deficit, potentially leading to service cuts. State senators have proposed a sales tax measure for the 2026 ballot to address BART's funding issues.

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Screenshotbot Ditches GitHub Dependency, Efficiently Uses git-upload-pack

2025-05-09
Screenshotbot Ditches GitHub Dependency, Efficiently Uses git-upload-pack

To enhance security and support more Git platforms, Screenshotbot initially chose not to read GitHub repositories. While this limited functionality, it improved user confidence and security review approval rates. The article details how Screenshotbot uses commit-graph construction and the git-upload-pack protocol to efficiently retrieve necessary information, supporting shallow clones and addressing the time-consuming issue of cloning large monorepos. The new method leverages existing SSH access in customers' CI jobs to directly access commit information via the git-upload-pack protocol, avoiding dependence on GitHub APIs. This improves efficiency, stability, and supports more platforms, including self-hosted Git repositories. Despite the complexities of the git-upload-pack protocol, the author notes several important details, such as the Packfile format and limitations of different Git servers. This article provides valuable experience and references for developers.

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Development

Newark Airport Suffers Second Radar Outage in Weeks, Causing Widespread Delays

2025-05-09
Newark Airport Suffers Second Radar Outage in Weeks, Causing Widespread Delays

Just days after a brief outage crippled radar and communications at Newark Liberty International Airport, a similar incident occurred on Friday morning. A telecommunications outage lasting 90 seconds impacted communications and radar displays at the Philadelphia TRACON, affecting Newark's airspace. The FAA attributes the issue to a July 2022 change consolidating radar and radio communication to a single data feed from New York. The agency plans to replace the copper connection with fiber, add high-bandwidth connections, and hire more controllers. A new backup system is also being deployed. Hundreds of flights were delayed, highlighting the airport's aging control system and staffing shortages. The stress of repeated outages led some controllers to take leave.

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Kraken Foils North Korean Hacker's Job Application

2025-05-10
Kraken Foils North Korean Hacker's Job Application

Kraken, a US-based cryptocurrency exchange, uncovered a North Korean operative masquerading as "Steven Smith" who applied for a software engineering position. Smith fabricated a resume with impressive credentials, including a prestigious university degree and extensive experience. Suspicions arose during the interview process where Smith demonstrated a profound lack of knowledge about basic American culture and even his supposed place of residence. This incident highlights a growing threat of North Korean hackers infiltrating foreign companies to steal funds, funding their weapons programs through multiple jobs and internal access. The incident underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and thorough background checks.

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Tech

Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 Achieves Mach 5+ in Second Hypersonic Flight Test

2025-05-10
Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 Achieves Mach 5+ in Second Hypersonic Flight Test

Stratolaunch announced the successful completion of a second hypersonic flight and recovery of its Talon-A2 vehicle in March 2025, exceeding Mach 5 and confirming its reusability following a successful December 2024 test flight. This achievement marks a significant step for the U.S. return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the X-15 program. The flight was conducted for the Department of Defense's Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program, aiming to accelerate testing of commercially available hypersonic systems.

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Worldcoin: Selling Your Eyeballs for a Digital Identity – Is It Worth the Privacy Cost?

2025-05-10
Worldcoin: Selling Your Eyeballs for a Digital Identity – Is It Worth the Privacy Cost?

Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is creating biometric digital identities ('World IDs') by scanning users' irises. While aiming to combat fake online accounts in the age of AI, the project has raised significant ethical and privacy concerns. The company has been criticized for using financial incentives to collect biometric data in regions with weaker legal protections, leading to investigations and penalties from multiple regulatory bodies. Worldcoin's partnerships with major corporations threaten widespread adoption of World ID across various sectors, raising serious data security and privacy invasion concerns. Its business model itself is highly questionable.

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Tech biometric

The Almquist Shell Family Tree: A Comprehensive History

2025-05-10

This article meticulously traces the evolution of the Almquist Shell (ash) and its numerous variants, from its initial release in 1989 to its presence in various systems today, including Android and BusyBox. A clear family tree illustrates the relationships between different ash branches, while the article delves into major improvements, bug fixes, and differences from other Bourne Shells in each version. It's essentially a chronicle of ash's history.

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Development

The Electrifying History of the Humble Eraser

2025-05-09
The Electrifying History of the Humble Eraser

This article traces the fascinating evolution of the eraser, from its humble beginnings using bread crumbs to erase pencil marks, to the advent of electrically powered erasers. The story highlights how technological advancements impacted even the simplest everyday tools. It explores the design and usage of erasers across different eras, touches upon the debate surrounding the invention of the electric eraser, and ultimately concludes that despite the digital age, the eraser retains its creative and design value as a tool.

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Misc
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